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.