With all the controversy around the latest VIBE magazine issue with Eminem on the cover, one important thing has gotten lost in the sauce. That’s right, YN’s return to print with the extremely rare freelance byline. Ha! Yup, in a package of the great rap albums of 1998, I reflected on two of the biggest: Jay-Z’s breakthrough Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life and DMX’s rap game-changing It’s Dark and Hell is Hot. I chose the one on the dog to share since it has the crazy personal backstory of me gettin’ to know a gentlemen named Irving Lorenzo. That’s guy’s always been loud. No Monopoly games.

Sidebar: Oh for all you list fanatics, VIBE got another one in the issue to piss you off. They ranked the Top 50 albums of 1998. And surprisingly, the Dog got the bronze medal. I’ll let you guess what two are above him. Or get off your ass and get to a newsstand. A boost counts as a sale. But you didn’t hear it from me.

Well if you were lost on the Special Ed post, you might wanna skip this one too. OK. Up in the Bronx where the people are still fresh, was a group called the Ultramagnetic MC’s—Kool Keith, Ced Gee, TR Love and Moe Love. Long story short, they were kinda a big deal. One of the most influential groups of the 80’s/early 90’s. If you haven’t heard their classic debut, 1988’s Critical Breakdown don’t make eye contact with me when you see me on the street. Ha!

Anyways, the one that started it all was their second 12 inch vinyl which features “Ego Trippin’,” the song that currently serves as the backbone of Amerie’s new banger. After seeing so many kids screwing up the info of who the author of this song (Fearless Four?) was and the title (There’s another song called “Funky”), I felt compelled to share a smidgen of my infinite knowledge. Also included is the “Substitution” break from which they helped craft this gem. Yup everything comes from something.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LliFimOlO0I] 

According to MTV, “We Made You” co-producer Doc Ish (no Dre) claims he played Em’s first single for another MC first. Here’s a hint: What Else?

“He [Doc Ish] originally shopped the record — with the same hook, sung by Charmagne Tripp — to Red Café, before D12 member Bizarre picked it up.

But after writing his own version of ‘We Made You,’ Bizarre called Doc Ish with news that Eminem wanted the record. Because Bizarre is such a jokester, though, Doc didn’t believe him. So he hung up on him.

He called me at a bad time, so when he was like, ‘Marshall wants the record,’ I was like, ‘Yeah, right,’  Doc told MTV News. ‘He was like, ‘No, seriously, I’m not playing.’ And Bizarre is a comical dude, so it’s hard to know if he’s playing or not. I didn’t have time that day; I was busy mixing a record for Saigon. So I basically hung up on him. So he called me back with his cousin, Gambino, from Hartford, and he’s who I know Biz through. And [Gambino] was like, ‘Ish, he’s for real, he’s not playing.’ So they put me in touch with [Eminem’s] management. I was still like, ‘OK,’ ’cause Bizarre plays jokes on people. But within five minutes, his management called, and they said they wanted the song. I believed in that song, but I didn’t know it would make it to where it did.” 

Guess one man’s ceiling is still another man’s floor.

{mp4-flvremote width=”540″ height=”350″}http://video.ak.facebook.com/video-ak-sf2p/v2685/101/65/1038891063800_53919.mp4{/mp4-flvremote}

True story: Not to throw my man under the bus, but I gotta do it: B.Dot didn’t know the original author of Officer Ricky’s composition. Yup, he’s still on probation. Anyways, the delusional Black Jackie Gleason finally said something true: Youngest In Charge is a classic. Props to Ross for referencing the Rodeo joint a.k.a. “Hoedown.”

According to Hits Daily Double, early reports say it’s gonna be a close race to see if Killa can top his former partner Jim Jones’ last album in first week sales. Pray IV Reign sold 42, 820 units.

CHART FAILURE: If you’re looking for sales relief, don’t expect any this week. The two top debuts appear to be a pair of Asylum rappers in Cam’ron (40-45k) and Paul Wall (15-20k) (5/13p)

Poor Paul Wall.

UPDATE:  Asylum adamantly denies this report and promises XXLmag.com that Cam will hit numero uno.

Hey I did my part. It’s on you, hip-hop nation.

The NMC unleashed this last night. But the homie from the U.K., Adanan “Killer” Khan just hit me with the CDQ. The inside word from Atlantic is this is one of the five new songs included in the Paper Trail re-release due in early Sept. Joint is a lil’ overly dramatic, but I can dig it.

{mp3}dont forget feat. mary j. blige{/mp3}

Once Again: Team Supreme

Guess it’s time for Kanye to fully present his new protege, Mr. Hudson a.k.a. the blonde-haired white boy from the U.K. And you say Chi-City?

{mp3}supernova mastered{/mp3} 

Bonus: On the telly from Hawaii, Mr. West reveals to Radio One that this song was originally intended for 808s. He also plugs his upcoming “Paranoid” video featuring Rihanna. Is ‘Ye quietly planning to give Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” a run for summer banger? Hey, he’s got a shot.

{mp3}mr. hudson x kanye west interview{/mp3}

Big Props: Team Supreme

Fresh from Shade 45, The Ratchet goes in with a 1,000 bars over Red Cafe and David Banner beats.

Sounds like you-know-who to me. Just think, a whole new generation of young MC’s inspired by Lil Wayne. Guess Weezy doesn’t have to impregnate every girl in the world to have a village of kids. The future’s bleek/bleak like Memphis. Ha!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Wasv0EOu4]

So the VIBE Best Rapper Alive contest has officially turned into a Joe Budden vs. Method Man battle. Both parties called into Ed Lover’s show this morn’ on Power 105.1 in New York. Crazy how you can’t predict this stuff. Jump Off wants to rap. Tical wants to fight. Let’s be careful out there. © Hill Street Blues

Joe Budden Call Part 1

{mp3}els – track 02 – joe budden{/mp3}

Joe Budden Call Part 2

{mp3}els – track 03 – joe budden{/mp3}

Method Man Call

{mp3}els – track 06 – method man{/mp3} 

Skimming through my B.O.M.B. download and I finally found one I like. “Staaaarrssssss!!!” Ha.

{mp3}04 shoot for the moon prod. by focus 1{/mp3}