Rap Radar

Game’s new mixtape Purp & Patron has been on the ‘net for a few hours now, and if you haven’t downloaded it yet, here’s an in-studio performance of one of the standout tracks. Sounds like Game may have finally found his footing.

Rich Boy isn’t showing signs of slowing down anytime soon and whether you like it or not, here’s another leak off his upcoming mixtape, Living Lavish. Put that in ya face and ears.

While chowing down Chinese cuisine, MTV‘s Rya Backer gets Lil B to spill his turn-ons and his ideal first date. Nice grace Brandon. Thank you Based God.

To support his upcoming mixtape, DJ OP drops off some new music featuring some familiar names. Good life. Bad hook.

Smoke DZA and Mac Miller put some visuals behind their collaboration off DZA’s April release, T.H.C. Produced by Big K.R.I.T. You might wanna cut off the lights for this one.

Dee Vazquez rounded up a few good men for another sit-down on Shade 45. This time, the panel discussed Bloggers vs. DJs. A few weeks ago on Twitter, I opened a Pandora’s Box on a similar topic: Do DJs even break new artists anymore? Once upon a time, a jock would actually spin a record if they believed in it. But now, it seems as if they’re second guessing themselves.

Personally, it’s not a blogger’s responsibility to break a new act. It’s certainly not in my job description here at the Double R. Truthfully, sites play a small role in an artist’s success, more specifically, a rapper’s. A majority of people are exposed to up and comers through radio. So if a jock gets hip to a dope track, what’s stopping them from playing it? Is it money? Politics? Both? Honestly, I can’t think of the last prominent DJ to break a hit record—especially from a new artist. Kay Slay comes to mind with Papoose, but the music just wasn’t there. (I doubt it ever will be).

At the end of the day, DJs ought to step up to the plate and take more of an authoritative stance when it comes to this thing of ours. Video killed the radio star, don’t let some kid with WordPress do it too.

Game’s ready to get slizzered with his new mixtape, Purp & Patron hosted by DJ Skee. With any luck, this could lead into his long delayed R.E.D. Album. Download available here.

UPDATE: Disc 2 available here.

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People can’t be this naive. Earlier this afternoon, popular video site worldstarhiphop was taken offline. Most likely due to a technical glitch or oversight. Soon after 50 Cent claimed responsibility for the shutdown via Twitter.

I don’t know why people underestimate me. I just shut down WORLDSTAR for future advertising contact thisis50.com suckers lol. I put worldstar to bed, you don’t believe try me I will shut your sh*t down. Lol. I predict 2 more web sites will shut down this week. Take a guess who they are. I’m sick of the hate I’m to strong. Me and @FloydMayweather don’t thing worldstar was good representation of black people as a hole. We will present better.

Fif  then called Angie Martinez on Hot 97 and reiterated the claim.

WSHH’s proprietor “Q” phoned in after and shot down the accusation. Meanwhile, his site became a trending topic on Twitter and was promoted on the biggest radio station in the country. Yep, the joke’s on you.

Sidebar: Off air footage.

Diggy keeps the ball rolling with a new track featuring D.O.E. produced by Jahlil Beats. It’s never too late to take a listen.

Director Michael Rappaport tells MTV how disappointed he was that Phife Dawg was the only member of the group in attendance for A Tribe Called Quest documentary that premiered at Sundance Festival in Utah on Saturday.

“The last time I was with Q-Tip, he was fawning over the movie, [saying] ‘I love the movie. I think it could do this, I think it could do that.’ His feeling about the movie was even higher than my feelings about the movie. It’s disappointing that the rest of the group isn’t here. They were offered everything they needed … to get here. They chose not to be here. I felt like Phife last night at the world premiere handled himself as a gentleman and was so honest and sweet and vulnerable, the same way he is in the movie.”

The group issued the following statement below.

“Thanks to our fans for their support through the years and for the enthusiasm around the documentary. We hope that the film’s perspective conveys our love of hip-hop culture. We could not attend Sundance, but we want to express our love and appreciation for the support that we have received in advance of the film’s premiere tonight. We hope that it is well received.”