Rap Radar

Alicia did her thing in Central Park this morning as part of Good Morning America‘s summer concert series. For the first time, she spoke on her pregnancy and her trip to South Africa. Performances after the jump.

hhnm

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With today marking the one year anniversary of MJ’s passing, The Evil Genius Green Lantern composed this mix for Atlanta’s V-103. It airs later today at 9 P.M., but you can download here.

GA’s Most Wanted delivers an in-studio performance for the final track off Mr. Zone 6. That’s big money.

For the first time, the Artist of the Decade covers this week’s edition of Billboard. Peep a couple of quotes below.

On being the best-selling artist of the last decade
“I don’t think I’ve actually stopped to think about it,” Eminem says by phone from his home in Detroit, while on a brief break between trips to promote Recovery. “I never thought that my life would amount to this. But to be able to sit back and digest it is so strange to me, because I still feel so regular. I don’t understand what people think the big deal is about me. It’s a very strange relationship that I have with fame.”

On his approach to “Recovery”:
“I would go back and listen to songs off The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show and some of Encore and ask, ‘Why don’t my music feel like this anymore?’ ” Eminem recalls. ” ‘The Way I Am,’ ‘Criminal’ and ‘Toy Soldiers’ were songs that meant something. I wanted there to be a reason why I was making each song, instead of making it just to make it.”

On taking his time before touring:
“I’ll do these shows and see how I feel afterward, then set up a couple more,” Eminem says. “I’ve had to relearn to do shows sober, because there were so many years that I didn’t know how to do it. Alcohol, Valium — all these things were crutches for me so that I didn’t have to feel anything when I went onstage. Everything right now is a step at a time, a day at a time.”

On caring more about critical reception than sales:
“Honestly, as long as people enjoy the music, that means the most to me,” Eminem says with unabashed sincerity. “I could sell 80 million records in the first week, and if my peers or fans of real hip-hop didn’t like it, it really wouldn’t mean anything.”

More on the quality of his past albums:
“I was pretty much in full-blown addiction while I was creating ["Encore"],” he says, “and as far as Relapse, when I first got sober I got really happy because I was not a prisoner of addiction anymore, so life was brand-new to me. I was like, ‘Shit, man, trees are beautiful again. What a nice day it is.’ I don’t think I was paying attention to what the average listener might like or not like.”

Last night, Drake took over Jimmy Kimmel Live. Up top, Aubrey and Jimmy perform a skit inspired by Twitter. After the jump, you catch Drizzy’s interview and recitals of “Over” and “Bedrock” with Nicki Minaj.

Sidebar: Game & Drake Collab On The Way

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K-Dot replaces Jay Rock with one of his West Coast brethren for the remix to “I Do This”. The original can be found on The Kendrick Lamar EP.

Pour out a lil’ liquor as Capone and N.O.R.E. take to the cemetery for their latest visual. Produced by Alchemist, this is the album’s opener. The War Report 2 arrives July 13th.

wshh

Virgina’s N.E.R.D. were recently in Paris to promote their upcoming album, Nothing. In the first clip, Pharrell explains the meaning behind the title and the project’s overall sound. Below, he charms one of the reporters. Ooh baby she want, P!

In observance of the one year anniversary of his passing, we decided to re-post this. We miss MJ!

In tribute to the best to ever do it, I personally put together seven comps of some of my favorite MJ joints. Shout-out to EMZ for the help out. R.I.P. The King.

YN’s MJ Music Vol. 1

YN’s MJ Music Vol. 2

YN’s MJ Music Vol. 3

YN’s MJ Music Vol. 4

YN’s MJ Music Vol. 5

YN’s MJ Music Vol. 6

YN’s MJ Music Vol. 7

UPDATE: Tracklists after the jump.

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