Yo, where’s my hoodie?

If you’re confused like me about the status of Redman’s career, you are not alone. Reggie quietly dropped a few weeks ago and if you missed out, you aint missing nothing. After scrapping the Reggie Noble 9 1/2 concept, this album is an attempt to show EPMD’s protege’s growth and range. No “Sooperman Lover” tunes. No skits. But sadly, there’s very few good musical moments like the last song, “Tiger Style Crane”. The lyrical punchlines are mostly big misses. But […]

The legendary soul singer has passed away. 1956-2010. Rest In Peace, Lady T.

As extensive as my interview this morning was, Puff and his crew still have a statement to get off their chests concerning SoundScan. Hey, don’t ever underestimate a Bad Boy. Ha! Men lie, women lie… you know the rest. “On Monday, the ‘experts’ projected that our ‘Last Train To Paris’ album would move approximately 65k units in its first week. Well, they were wrong. With the help of our fans and the tremendous power of Twitter our debut album skyrocketed […]

Mr. Combs wasn’t the only legendary hip-hop figure to check into the Shade 45 Morning Show today. Mr. 5 Mics talks his favorite albums of 2010 and his Rice University teaching gig. Yup, YN believes in edutainment, my niggas. Ha! My laugh > Wiz’s.

Get your popcorn ready! Reek’s featured presentation features G-Unit’s Lloyd Banks and these two Big Apple MCs bring the pain. My new fave website? www.shitonniggas.com Ha! The Gift is two days away. Sidebar: Now with trailer.  

Here’s the cover art for Busta’s protege’s new project. The Gift drops the day before Xmas but check dude out on Shade 45 tomorrow along with guest co-host Joell Ortiz. Freestyle session is gonna be fire! Get your tape decks ready!

While out on tour in Nigeria, Bussa Bus sent this heat missile through my in-box. The Conglomerate crew is all here on this leak off Reek’s upcoming mixtape, The Gift, which drops a week from today. I’m gone. PEWMM! Ha!

Image: Anna Bauer Ok here’s the final feature, the fabolous fourth one that I did for the new issue of RESPECT. No one man should have to talk to Jay Elect as long as I did. Ha! Just playin’, 3 hour convos FTW. Now that’s Southern hospitality. Catch the droppin’ gems. Previously: Waka | J.Cole | B.o.B. Sidebar: The conclusion of my convo with our pal Al.

The remix to Nicki’s joint is still a work in progress but finally we get a taste of what the real Dungeon Dragon is cookin’. Damn, Busa-Busss. Ha! UPDATE: Full via Flex UPDATE 2: No tags courtesy of Splash Previously: Nicki Minaj Brings Out Busta Rhymes (Hammerstein, NYC)

Image: Melissa Valladares First Waka, then J.Cole and now comes the third music feature I wrote in the new issue of RESPECT. You think you know but you have no idea. Bobby Ray blew up, went pop but he still got his head on straight. Clap for him.

Image: Dustin Cohen Still don’t like the Waka cover? Well tough cookie. This is probably more up your alley. A profile of Jermaine Cole conducted on the eve of the release of his Friday Night Lights mixtape. Peep what the Roc Boy’s got up his sleeve. RESPECT.

More behind the scenes with Busta’s protege, in the lab, at the B.B. King gig and the “Mechanics” video shoot. Reek’s upcoming mixtape, The Gift gets unwrapped Dec. 24. Previously: In The Lab Pt. 4

Image: Dan Monick Waka’s not your cup of tea? Well take a seat and read this piece and see if YN can’t change your mind. Trust me. Ha! RESPECT. is on newsstands NOW!

Take that. Take that. Take that, Ghostface. Ha! LTTP drops today.

You may have already peeped my talk with Drake and Q–Tip but here are all the highlights from my week of hosting the Shade 45 Morning Show. Props to DJ Wonder, Farragut Foster, AJ The Manchild and Jae Boogz. It was a pleasure.

Image: Dan Monick Like it was during my days at XXL, the editorial was the last thing I penned for my first issue of RESPECT. Was I nervous at first with thoughts of how could I ever live up to the past standard of groundbreaking excellence and not disappoint today’s wide-eyed audience? A lil at first but then the shit just came to me. It always does. Guess it’s a gift that keeps on giving. Feliz Navidad, kids.

The celebrity check-ins continued today on the Shade 45 Morning Show with Bobby Ray taking the time to chop it up with me about his new mixtape and five, count ’em, five Grammy nominations. You ain’t got nothin’ on this kid. Ha!

Q–Tip wasn’t the only guest on today’s Shade 45 Morning Show, the Chef also checked in during the program’s final hour to discuss his next album. Get ready for life after Cuban Linx 2. Shallah ain’t nuthin’ ta f’ with. Still. Ha!

Photo: Ernest Estime Better late than never, another member of the Roc Nation fam, J.Cole, also called in this morning right before the clock struck 12 to talk about his friendship with Drizzy Drake. Europe, get ready! And is Jermaine gonna finally finish that album before Xmas? Hmm.