Rap Radar

Still trying to adapt to rap? Well the second part of the series, How To Rap 2: Advanced Flow & Delivery Techniques by Paul Edwards is set to drop featuring Pusha T and Slaughterhouse on their art of “flow”. Above is the cover by Philip Pascuzzo.

Drizzy’s got a mouth full of gold on the cover of the 14th annual Power 30 issue of The Source. The cover story was penned by former Editor-In-Chief Kim Osorio. Funny how things come full circle. Issue and Take Care arrives November 15.

“When I was a kid trying to figure out what I liked, it was [Kanye] who I related to the most. He was an artist, in every sense, from his cover art to his music. Now, I would say he was a really great competitor.”

The new paperback edition of Jay-Z’s memoir, Decoded is set to hit shelves on November 1. NY Mag got an excerpt of one of the three additional songs, “Lost One” that’s featured in the expanded copy.

 [7]/ It’s like having your life restarted / Can’t wait for your child’s life, to be a part of it / So now I’m childlike, waiting for a gift / To return, when I lost you, I lost it // Lose one, let go to get one / Left one, lose some to win some [Colleek, I lost one] / Sorry I’m a champion, Colleek, you’re a champion / I lost one /

7 Just when you’re on the verge of giving up hope and losing faith, the universe reveals unexpected consolations. My nephew’s girlfriend was just a couple months pregnant when he died, which none of us knew, maybe not even him. But the son she gave birth to looked just like his father, like Colleek reborn. The last verse is the most powerful example of the paradox of the song’s chorus, that even the greatest loss holds the possibility of redemption.

Read the full verse here. Pre-order the Decoded paperback here.

In T.I.’s first post-jail interview, he said he had two titles in mind for his next album. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the Kang revealed the two potential titles he’s currently juggling with. Decisions, decisions.

“The first of two album titles I’m debating is Kill The King because in all that I’ve gone through I’ve observed how people respond to my circumstances, and I always wonder ‘Why ya’ll coming at me like this?’ But I thought, ‘How do you expect them to act?’” he explains. “Life is a game of chess and the object is to kill the king. If you anoint yourself king, you have made yourself a target. The second one is self-explanatory – Trouble.

Gentlemen’s Quarterly has named Eminem and Lil Wayne “Gods Of Rock” for the print’s “The Survivor” November issue. The two share the cover with Keith Richards and 43 other artists are featured in the music package inside including Raekwon and Erykah Badu. Issue on newsstands October 25, but the online interviews will be available October 18. Photo shoot below.

Thanks to Italian artist Francesco Vezzoli, Nicki takes us back to YN’s days the 18th-century for the November issue of W magazine. More photos from the feature below.

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Common’s video girl returns to the cover of KING. Issue hits newsstands November 1st. Peep the rest of the fan favorites here.

50 puts on his finer threads for the cover of the upcoming JET magazine. In the issue, Fif discusses his Street King project, relationship with his son, being a bully and his latest publication, Playground.

“I was [a bully] at different points during my childhood,” the 36-year-old shares. “I was dealing with my emotions the wrong way. From a child’s perspective, you don’t understand. As an adult, you get that’s not the way to deal with things.”

The story follows Butterball, a youngster who hits a kid on the playground… with a sock full of batteries. Butterball comes from a broken household and is dealing with relocating and feelings of powerlessness. “It’s for everyone,” he adds. 

hhnm via Bossip

Commemorating 20 years in the game, Nas returns on the cover of XXL. Issue hits newsstands on October 25, but peep an excerpt between he and guest interviewer, Tyler, The Creator. Cover designed by Mister Cartoon.

“God’s Son is my favorite album by you,” Tyler said. “And my second is probably Street’s Disciple,” he continued.

“Get the fuck outta here,” Nas responded.

Awkward and quirky exchanges aside, the discussion quickly picked up with the 20-year-old Tyler asking Nas for advice.

“You, Em, Jay, Snoop, like, you guys all started when you was exactly my age,” Tyler said. “The fact that you guys are still here makes me just always think, like, Fuck, could I?”

“Oh, you definitely can,” Nas replied. “Someone like you is, you’re interesting, for a lot of reasons. So someone like you, you can’t wait to see what’s next.”

Crowned Esquire’s sexiest woman alive, Rihanna bares all for the magazine’s latest cover. Issue hits newsstands on October 16, but here’s an excerpt of her discussing Breezy’s success.

It was too much anger. I’m really excited to see the breakthrough he’s had in his career. It’s incredible to see how he pulled out the way he did. Even when the world seemed like it was against him, you know? I really like the music he’s putting out. I’m a fan of his stuff. I’ve always been a fan. I would never wish anything horrible for him. Never. I never have.

Sidebar: Photos via HCO