[vodpod id=Video.3494441&w=425&h=350&fv=] Don’t know much about M.I.A. Truthfully, I’ve been avoiding her music like a plague for the past few years. Even the “Paper Planes”/”Swagger Like Us” movement didn’t pull me in. I really don’t know why. I mean, my music taste can be broad at times. Plus all the critics I know dig her. I mean she did win the 2009 Best Female Hip-Hop Artist at the BET Awards. Owww. Still the hot talk yesterday was ole girl and […]

This Thursday on our homegirl’s show, The Morning After With Angela Yee, Em will appear at 10 am EST and premeire his new single, “Not Afraid”. Stay tuned. Sidebar: Boi-1da on the beat. No Jonsin.

Last night at the House of Blues, the Laser guy brought out the hometown legend for II Trill‘s track number six. Reminds me: I might have to hit H-Town for Drake show’s next month. Right, Uncle Bun? Sean Via WWM

“Not Afraid”? Not yet. Instead Slim blacks out over “Over” and that “Beamers” shit. It’s a freestyle. What the fuck you want for free? Recovery on the way. 6.22.10. The end.

“Like straight up, as far as Premier’s beat style and my rhyme styles. That shit we own. You can’t duplicate that shit. Never in a fuckin’ million lifetimes.” DJ Premier speaks with his hands. “Scandalous, money, greed and lust. In this trife life, there ain’t nobody you can trust.” In deep concentration, Preem cuts the opening lyrics of Moment Of Truth‘s “Betrayal” which now have added significance. The scratches are slow and plodding. Kinda like a funeral march. But tears […]

[sparkart-clique site=”rap_radar” video=”preem_and_pete”] During the opening set of his Guru Salute mix, DJ Premier is greeted by Pete Rock who has a show at the same time on Shade 45. Of course, the chocolate boy wonder had to make time to pay his respects. Remember the two do battle next Sunday May 2 in Japan. Who’s comin’ with me? Ha!

[sparkart-clique site=”rap_radar” video=”preem_on_guru_visit”] I was honored and humbled to be an invited guest to DJ Premier’s Live From Headqcourterz Hip Hop Nation radio show last Friday night. Not only did Preem pay musical homage to his partner, he more importantly, for the first time, revealed that he did visit Guru in his last days. The details are heartbreaking. Damn you, Solar. Previously: DJ Premier’s Guru Salute Mix

Game, Game, go away. Please come back another day. Ha. Seriously, I shrug when talk of Chuck Taylor comes up. (Does he still call himself that anymore? Oh well. Insert shrug.) Mr. Miller has done a thankless and tireless job of keepin’ you up to date with dude’s stop-and-go path to album number four. But now with a legit single with Pharrell (“It Must Be Me“) and a mixtape droppin’ on Monday, am I really supposed to get excited… again? […]

Dear Kelis, They hate you so much right now. The hip-hop community. If Solar is Satan, you’re the Wicked Witch Of Rap. Shit, you even had Just Blaze talkin’ crazy about you and he’s genuinely a nice guy. I’m gonna say this directly to you, what’s on the mind of most hip-hop heads: Why must you destroy our icon? The mighty Nasir Jones. You must like his pockets flat not fat. I don’t wanna be all up in your business […]

B.Dot and I weren’t the only ones in the house for Tha Doggfather’s NY invasion last night. Photographer Ernest Estime shot the following flicks of Donnis, Peter Rosenberg and Frank Lucas. Now that’s gangsta.

What does it take to be #1 ? Plenty of things. And patience is one of ’em. I first heard of B.o.B. in the fall of 2007 when we were working on XXL‘s Leaders Of The New School issue. “He could sing. He can rap. He’s got this song, “Cloud 9″. He’s dope!,” the staff told me. So even though he was less established than most of his counterparts on the 10 runners-up list, his profile was featured first. Seems […]

From the VIP, I captured Snoop’s opening act at The Fillmore last night. Here the ATL brave tells the crowd to look for his next mixtape on May 4th. Then he launches into “Yupp”. Yupp, we’re all excited this shit is finally comin’ out.

We told you that the next VH1 Hip-Hop Honors would be dedicated solely to the South. Well here’s the King in NYC being interviewed for the show. According to the homie Maurice Garland, the honorees include JD, J Prince, Luke and the 2 Live Crew, Master P and the fellas below, Organized Noize. Nice! Exec Producer: Nelson George

[vodpod id=Video.3464129&w=425&h=350&fv=configParams%3Dinstance%3Dnews%26amp%3Bvid%3D507207] Wise words from a decent man. My 1515 boy from the ‘Town. Great speech.

“And if you thought we lost our niche in this rap shit, you’re way wrong.” I haven’t listened to this album in a long time. Gang Starr’s Moment Of Truth. I think it’s because it’s too personal to me. Reminds me of too much. Takes me back. Way back. To D&D Studios with Guru. Where after cracking a bad joke about him nappin’ on the studio couch, we chopped it up. It was for an ego trip cover story while […]

Wow the Finisher really went in on this one. A loving salute to Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal. Essential listening. Link (Ripped from radio not stream. Better sound quality. If you’re in to that sort of thing.)

R.I.P. Keith Elam. Solar sent this letter out and after speaking to a few sources, I believe one fact is true, he’s gone. Yesterday morning, Guru lost his bout with cancer. He was 47. Let’s now celebrate his life and put the final soap opera to the side. Dude’s contributions to hip-hop culture will never be forgotten. Gang Starr Forever!

Shyne keeps callin’ me, but I don’t wanna pick up. I hate it. Hate that he keeps callin’. Hate what I would have to say him. Hate the way he sounds. Hate what people are saying about the way he sounds. Really hate what people are saying about him. Ask around. Find out, he wants to sound like that. Doesn’t ever want to be viewed as a Big soundalike again. Never again. Won’t accept criticism. Constructive or not. But then, […]

Here’s a new one from Terius featuring the guy with the terrible album title. Is this a Love King leftover or off Fuck A Mixtape? I don’t know. Oh well. Point out the bounce! AHH UPDATE: The track’s called “F.I.L.A.” and is indeed off, Love King. HHNM

Oh, hello Marshall: “I had originally planned for Relapse 2 to come out last year,” says Eminem. “But as I kept recording and working with new producers, the idea of a sequel to Relapse started to make less and less sense to me, and I wanted to make a completely new album.  The music on Recovery came out very different from Relapse, and I think it deserves its own title.” Album due June 22. UPDATE: Just Blaze isn’t the only […]