To help sell some tickets for his upcoming show at Highline Ballroom, the 18th Letter actually sat with the NY Post and revealed that The Seventh Seal will include a touch of Trevor.

How about guest spots? I heard Jay-Z and Nas were on board.
I’m trying to keep everything a secret. I want people to be surprised. I will give you one name, though: Busta Rhymes. He’s an amazing NY artist who I really wanted to work with. I’m laid-back and he’s all over the place, wild and very colorful. It’s a great mix.

He also made it clear they’ll be no Eric B. here. Damn. Peace God!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5D7JiAw6DA]

Here’s some rips of Joe’s blogtv stream which he started right after posting his latest YouTube video. Grab some popcorn, this is entertaining. Don’t take the bait, Shallah.

WtHgt7zf3wc

Props: Hip Hop’s Heartbeat 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKrZV6Z_3bY] 

Mouse calls it a “square dance.” SMH. It never ends.

Spotted: DDot

Right now: He’s on his blogTV channel talkin’ more shit. Sure somebody’s rippin’ it.

Let’s have a drink and talk this track over, Killa. A couple hours ago, DJ Drama passed this off to XXL. If it weren’t political connects, I’d pass this one over completely. Vado, I’m disappointed in you as well. Let’s get it together gentleman.  

{mp3}hustle www.xclusiveszone.net{/mp3} 

Again: X

This is fairly better, but not by much. I stand by what I said.

{mp3}02 pop off feat vad{/mp3} 

Here’s the remix to Dezzy Dez’s cut with Brandy’s brother Ray J. I swear, no matter how many time I hear this sample, I always trace it to this. 

{mp3}heard of us remix www.xclusiveszone.net{/mp3} 

Props: X 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_zbilkrkX4] 

OK, still confused by the latest in the Budden-Raekwon beef timeline? Well, YN’s here for ya. After all the drama that occurred on Saturday (Find a site that was more on top of it then the Double R), both Raekwon and Budden’s Slaughterhouse group were scheduled to perform the next day in San Fran and, in fact, both acts did so. Rae actually had multiple appearances, including the above video with Big Boi. Now how’d that happen without more fisticuffs? Well the Rock The Bells founder gave XXL the scoop.

Weisberg said at first both rappers were not being cooperative, but before Sunday’s show he was able to get Budden and Rae in a room to shake to settle their differences and shake hands. “It was heated,” he told XXL, “people were not feeling some situations and at the end of the day sometimes the best action is no action at least in L.A. But in San Francisco, yes, everybody got in a room, there were a lot of discussions and were able to keep it moving. “

“I don’t believe they’ll be any more issues moving forward,”  he continued. Weisberg credits several key people for being able to defuse the tension. “At the end of the day a lot of other really good people got involved and made sure that we kept things on a positive note,” he said. “You walked into hip-hop summer camp, From KRS-One to Busta Rhymes, to Joell [Ortiz], to Royce [da 5”9”] to our entire staff, there’s a lot of people that have a lot of really good relationships. Helped to lend perspective.”

Thankfully, the tour ended yesterday and we still haven’t heard from Budden and/or Raekwon for confirmation on these recent developments. Last we left, Mouse texted this cryptic message mere minutes before taking the stage last night.

Slaughterhouse album in stores tmw, y’all. Ha!

Sidebar: Escape Route released on the same day? OK, I’m confused like Young Buck again.

Sidebar 2: IceWaterTV just uploaded a video today and it had nothing to do with fighting.

Update: OK, one more note. Although Rock The Bells (the main tour) did end yesterday, there is a second leg of RTB that launches tonight in San Diego. Slaughterhouse are booked on this tour from now until Aug 31st and Raekwon is slated for select markets. The saga continues.

Oprah phoned in to Gayle King’s radio show this morning and spoke on her new BFF, Jay-Z. Apparently, their meeting yesterday was for a profile in an upcoming issue of O magazine. She also commends him on his scent and intellect. Mama ain’t raise no fool, ya smell me?

{mp3}gaylecallsoprah{/mp3} 

Salutes: JayZfans

Look out Q, word on the curb is that a company called InterMedia Partners is close to purchasing the trademark of VIBE. InterMedia currently owns the Soul Train catalogue and UPTOWN magazine. If the sale goes through it’s rumored that Len Burnett (pictured above), a former VP of VIBE, would be placed in charge and the brand would indeed relaunch as a website. We’ll see about that. Ha!

The G.O.A.T. pours one out for the King on his new ode. In an interview with Billboard he says the tribute was manifested in a dream:

“After hearing the tragic news of Michael Jackson’s death, the lyrics

for the ‘Billie Jean’ remix came to me in a dream,” LL Cool J said. “Michael was one of my childhood idols and has always been a great

inspiration to me.”

Props: X

{mp3}billie jean dream{/mp3} 

Jay Rock’s month of madness continues. And today he doubles your pleasure with two new cuts. By the way, that “Drop” instrumental is bananas. Good shit Polow.

{mp3}09 thug it out mixed feat. trey songz{/mp3} 

{mp3}rich boy-jay rock{/mp3} 

Props: NR