As the headline suggests, Miguel Castillo of the Wall Street Journal analyzes the effects of the recession.

“‘A lot of these rappers simply don’t have the money for real stuff anymore,’ says Jason Arasheben, who crafts custom jewelry for wealthy clientele, including Saudi royals and Hollywood movie stars, at his California boutique called Jason of Beverly Hills. ‘It’s to the point where they are wearing imitation jewelry, and that’s ridiculous.’

Mr. Arasheben designed the colossus of hip-hop jewels three years ago for rapper Lil Jon: an enormous gold necklace that spells out “CRUNK AIN’T DEAD” with 3,756 round-cut white diamonds (Crunk is a southern rap subgenre that Lil Jon — real name, Jonathan Mortimer Smith — has struggled to keep alive).”

Ha!

Spotted: SRD

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl-LKu4SCHk]

Not sure if or when this aired. But, if anyone has this episode in its entirety, mankind would greatly appreciate the liberation.

Props: Lupe End

Hey, I’m just the messenger. Read more at Rolling Out.

“Two years ago, before Ice-T had a verbal

‘I was getting $10,000 a show before I [was] signed,’ says the now

… it wasn’t a good look.'”

*Rips pay stub. Pics up mic.*

Props: Maurice Garland

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.891316&w=425&h=350&fv=]

Tia tells Tim about the motive behind her autobiography, Tia’s Diary — Deeper Than Rap: Clarity, Truth and Exposure. 

“Revenge. Who’s to say this is gonna be a success for me?” I accomplished my goal. Sometimes you have to do it,

hold in, you gotta let it out.”

Yep, on harcover or paperback.

According to the NY Daily News, Lindsay made a three hour trek to University of California to see Asher P. perform. But instead of enjoying the show, she wouldn’t hop off his nuts.

“Lindsay was bugging both Asher and his management team to get onstage

during ‘ She Don’t Want a Man,‘ but Asher was so annoyed by her requests

that he actually skipped performing the single.”

Hip-Hop: 1- Hollywood:0

Here’s how the back of Jermiane’s CD will read on June 30th

1. “MILLION BUCKS” (FEAT. SWIZZ BEATZ)

2. SCENE 1: IF TOMORROW COMES…

3. “BACK TO LIFE” (FEAT. PUSH! MONTANA)

4. “REMEMBER MY NAME”

5. “GANGSTA” (Feat. B.G.)

6. SCENE 2: THE MEETING

7. “ALL THE ABOVE” (FEAT. T-PAIN)

8. “HERE COMES TROUBLE”

9. SCENE 3: HATING

10. “HI HATER”

11. “LET’S MAKE A MOVIE”

12. “KILL YOU”

13. SCENE 4: CONTEMPLATING

14. “RUNAWAY SLAVE”

15. “SOLDIER”

16. “HOOD LOVE” (FEAT. TREY SONGZ)

17. “FLOATING”

18. SCENE 5: THE PHONE CALL

19. “CELEBRATE”

Props: XXL

  Nick Cannon sports his Sunday best on the July 2009 cover of GIANT. *Runs to Mens Warehouse*

 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5HsOqYKFnI]

Here’s the sanctioned version of Kanye’s clip featuring Rihanna. About time, L.A. About time.

Mr. WP

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpL2mxWoi5w]

Biggavelli makes his way up North. No Clinton Correctional.

Spotted: Broken Cool

Yeah, we’re a day late and dollar short. But this week’s freestyle is even shorter. See, even trade.

{mp3}9-01 gunz vinny freestyle{/mp3}