The Exactly

UPDATES: HERE YE HERE YE!!!!

2008-01-22T01:53:00.001-08:00

Zack Lee has packed his office supplies and moved uptown. He will no longer post new blogs at this address. You can find him at his new address Here

See you there!

Holiday Homage: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

2008-01-21T01:21:00.000-08:00

As each generation passes we move further and further from the past which made it possible to be who and where we are today. Its always important to know your history so when it repeats you're prepared for it. I don't have to tell you how important Martin Luther King Jr. was and is. The fact that we're living how we do is in part due to his courageous efforts. I'll keep this short because everyone should know about the man this day is dedicated to.

But, for those who don't...Click Here and learn up: Martin Luther King Jr.

Exactly

NEW VIDEO: Consequence feat. Kanye West - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

2008-01-19T20:20:00.001-08:00

The 4th video off of Consequence's album "Don't Quit Your DayJob" featuring Kanye West. A little too old and a little too late, but the song is still pretty dope.

EXACTLY.

B Young Birthday Bash Part 2

2008-01-19T18:25:00.000-08:00

.....them cats celebrate big. Tomorrow at Sugar they are celebrating both B Young's birthday, and the release party of the F.A.T Boys 08 video. So if you aren't doing anything and wanna come out and support, put on your sunday's best and roll through.

EXACTLY.

Lupe Fiasco Q&A Interview on Rhapsody

2008-01-19T15:38:00.001-08:00

It’s not often that an emcees drop names like Picasso, Nietzsche, Basquiat and Cornel West in conversation, but Lupe Fiasco is that dude.

His debut full-length, 2006’s Food and Liquor, was a dazzling display of technical acumen, and one of the most humble and honest hip-hop albums in a minute. It was a blast of fresh air and solidified his status as one of his generation’s most promising emcees. His follow-up, The Cool, is even more ambitious and tracks the arc of a character named The Cool. It’s part Nathaniel Hawthorne, part Jay-Z, and is probably the most experimental hip-hop release of the year. Here, Lupe explains the in and outs of his brilliant new album.

Rhapsody: The Cool is a concept album. Why go this route?
Lupe Fiasco: I wanted to tell another story, and I couldn’t really tell it as Lupe Fiasco. It wouldn’t have fit. I wanted to tell a story about the streets; I wanted to tell it vividly, and I wanted to tell it supernaturally. I wanted to tell the story of street life -- the downfalls and calls and temptations of the streets. And I wanted to do it in a way that hadn’t been done before, using these three evil muses: The Streets, The Cool and The Game.

How would you summarize the story?
The little boy from [Food and Liquor’s] “He Say, She Say”—which is where his story begins—grows up in a single-parent home without a father. He’s eventually out of the reach of his mother, and he’s raised by The Game and falls in love with The Streets. The Streets promises the boy worldly acclaim and success, and he becomes a big-time hustler. The boy gets set up, killed and he comes back to life as The Cool. It starts on the first album on “The Cool,” where he digs his way out of the grave. He goes back to the block and is robbed by these two kids (ironically, with the same gun that killed him), and they ask him, “Are you scared to die?” And he replies, “Hustler for death, no heaven for a gangster.” It kind of just ends, that’s it, no real solution. It’s more about the risks that we take and the songs that we make. The characters themselves are the [focus].

Did you do character sketches?
I did, but in my own weird way, via freestyles. A lot of these characters came from previous songs, so it was a matter of putting them in a new light and developing them further. And those initial songs were very direct, especially for The Streets and The Game. The song where they were introduced was “The Pills,” which broke down their physical characteristics. I took that and implanted them within these [new] stories.

I know you drop an allusion to Isaac Asimov on “Go Go Gadget Flow,” and “Streets of Fire” tracks an apocalyptic virus. It seems like you’ve been getting into sci-fi.
Yeah. “Streets of Fire” is pulled directly from the pages of [George Orwell's] 1984 -- more the mood of it. The second verse is talking about a disease, but there are all these questions about whether the disease is real. It’s the same rules as doublethink. Is there really a war or was it something that they created to keep the public in check? I injected those really basic structural ideas that were set up in 1984. I always love to have triple and quadruple meanings. I learned in the process [of making The Cool] how to do it on a macro level. I’ve always been able to do it with my rhymes, where a metaphor means many things, but that song represents AIDS, it represents the hysteria around coolness.

But “Streets of Fire” is really the story of The Streets, the breakdown of that particular character, that temptress. The Streets is a walking, talking temptress with dollar signs for eyes and tattoos of her dead boyfriends across her chest. She’s the age-old temptress who tempted everybody from King Tut to Al Capone. But that’s just the literal level. Figuratively, she’s the [real] streets. I represented her as a [female] because it goes back to a biblical story where Jesus asks God to show her the world, and God shows him the world in the form of a woman. She was a princess, she was beautiful. She had these long robes and jewelry. But as he got closer, he saw that she was ancient. Her eyes were sunk in, and she had a skeletal form. Her robe was tattered. Her jewelry was dull and looked fake. Don’t take everything for how it seems, you know.

One thing is that there is no such thing as absolute, not even absolute weather. It’s a false construct. But how much falseness do we chase? One thing that Nietzsche said was that we live in a world full of falseness. It’s weird to believe in the things we believe. To me, the dopest thing that [Nietzsche] ever said was we allow ourselves to be lied to every night, every time we go to sleep.

What’s the thesis for The Cool?
I always say this, but Cornel West is the driving force for me. He said that if you want to effect social change in the world, and make the world a better place, you have to make those things which are cool, uncool. You have to make it hip to be square. Some of the cool things in this world are the most self-destructive things. We chase the cool, as we chase status symbols, or living beyond our means to appease our vanity or appease other people, which is in itself a form of vanity.

So I said, 'Let me make The Cool this rotting hustler who everybody despises so much that he’s not even admitted to hell. He has to go through this very macabre struggle to dig himself out of his own grave. And he’s soaked in alcohol. Every time somebody poured out liquor in his memory, it soaked through to his grave. He’s laying there for eternity soaked in alcohol and memories and regrets. He can’t die. There’s no way to shake that. Let me dress it up, put it in the most macabre fashion possible, and label it as Cool. Subconsciously, maybe someone will look at it and think, "Damn, I don’t want to be like him.” That’s the consequences of the life he led. I wanted to take away the glamour.

Your album seems to suggest that this idea of cool, or hipness, infects people and pushes them towards destructiveness. As if it’s viral.
Definitely, but, at the same time, it’s a vaccine. It builds self-esteem. It creates comfort. It’s a double-edged sword. It speaks towards how I live my life, which is a nice mixture of chaos and order, a mix of the known and unknown, the things you can control and you can’t, but you have to embrace both of them. You can’t run away from what you can’t control, you have to accept it. I always inject that into my music and philosophy.

You said earlier that you created this tale in order to step away from yourself and tell a story. Do you think that hip-hop listeners obsessed with authenticity are willing to accept this artifice?
I don’t know … some are. Some people may not look at their own work as art, but I do. I look at MF Doom almost as if he’s Picasso. I look at the grotesqueness of what he does. It’s so out of the ordinary, that it becomes grotesque the way that some of Picasso’s paintings can be considered grotesque. To really stretch it, you look at Warhol or Basquiat, and they peed on their paintings to find the right color, oxidation or what have you. I look at that.

But that’s me on a deeper level. That’s Wasalu Jaco more than Lupe Fiasco, that’s the crazy little nerd who knows all the words to every "Voltron" cartoon and wants to know the meaning behind Mumrah. This is my entertainment. This is what piques my interest. Some people might just be entertainment. But a lot of people look at it just as deeply, or even deeper.

You’ve mentioned before that Tom Waits is an influence of yours. The only time I’ve ever met him was at a Mos Def concert and he was in front of me, dancing the entire time. It’s kinda strange to see a 60-year-old man dance at a hip-hop show, but especially Tom Waits. Have you met him?
[Laughs.] I’ve never met him, but I’m a huge fan. A very recent fan. I saw him perform when Conan O’Brian did a special from San Francisco, and Tom Waits came out and performed a few songs from his new album, Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards. It was so fresh, classic and vintage, but it still relates. It was mysterious, romantic, exotic … everything that I look for in music. I went back and got all his albums.

I spoke with Rakim recently, and he cited you as his favorite new rapper. How does it feel to be recognized by a legend like Rakim?
It feels good. I feel respected, especially coming from Rakim. I’m a big fan. It feels real good.

OLD SCHOOL SATURDAY: Out Of This World

2008-01-19T14:19:00.000-08:00

Remember this show? It's funny how funny how terrible the special effects look now, but they were the shit back then. How many of you tried touching your fingers together to freeze time back in the day?

The World According To Pretty Toney

2008-01-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

lmfao classic. Make sure you get the book, shit is comedy.

exactly.

NEW JOINT: Ne-Yo - Protect You (prod. by Fisticuffs)

2008-01-19T13:10:00.000-08:00

Fisticuffs with another fly one.

Jay Z Vs. Consequence: Connect 4

2008-01-18T20:07:00.000-08:00

Watch everybody start buying up Connect 4 like its the new thing....

Exactly.

Unreleased Nas Videos: There Are Our Heroes & U.B.R.

2008-01-18T07:25:00.000-08:00

U.B.R.

There Are Our Heroes

Can't say that these are the videos I wanted made from that album...but hey, Nas is no stranger to doing exactly opposite of what his fans wish for..

On that note, the videos are cool...

Crucial Conflict Drops First Album In 9 Years

2008-01-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

By Mike Winslow

Chicago Hip-Hop collective Crucial Conflict will release a new album titled Planet Crucon (pronounced “crew-con”), their first in nine years.

The group, which consists of original members Coldhard, Wildstyle, Kilo and Never, exploded on to the national scene with the release of their hit single “Hay,” which topped the Billboard charts in 1996.

Crucial Conflict followed with singles like "Ride the Rodeo" (Final Tic, 1996) and "Scummy" (Good Side Bad Side, 1998), before disappearing from the national scene, due to a contractual dispute with their former label, Pallas Records.

“Hay” introduced the groups brand of rhyming to the world, which they have dubbed “Rodeo style.”

"We keep it gutter, but we try to make it universal," group member Wildstyle explained. “'Rodeo' also adds a dimension of emotion and ferocity that fans of Crucial Conflict expect.”

According to Coldhard, Crucial Conflict's long awaited third album reflects the group’s mental state.

“We're gonna make Chicago proud because this album represents unity,” Coldhard said. “It's a new and improved Crucial Conflict… We weren't on our time; we were on God's time. Now it's time to give the people what they were missing."

Planet Crucon hits stores via Buckwild Records Entertainment/Scratch Entertainment/Select-O-Hits on January 29.

Source from Allhiphop.com News

Chi-Town Stand Up..!

FRESH: Miguel - Sure Thing

2008-01-16T12:32:00.000-08:00

Miguel back at it again with another heat rock, not quite new, but still fly.

exactly.

BREAK A LEG: Blu's Performance Dates

2008-01-16T12:21:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars and catch Blu at either one of these upcoming shows.

Jan 19 2008 BlindPig Ann Arbor, Michigan
Jan 24 2008 LiveMechanics/AgendaParty San Diego, California
Jan 26 2008 DetroitBar(AbstraktWorkShop) Costa Mesa, California
Feb 1 2008 UCSD SanDiego, California
Feb 2 2008 Boombox Los Angeles, California
Feb 3 2008 TheLoft Tempe, Arizona
Feb 12 2008 ContinentalRoom Fullerton, California
Feb 16 2008 Silk Sacramento, California
Feb 23 2008 MuddyWaters SantaBarbara, California
Mar 20 2008 A3CFestival(20th-22nd) HotLanta, Georgia

exactly.

TALKIES: 2 Million Minutes Trailer

2008-01-16T11:36:00.000-08:00

Had a conversation today about how hard I work and later happened to stumble upon this trailer for 2 Million Minutes, a documentary about the American educational system versus Asia's. Suffice to say, we all gotta step our work game up...

No child left behind...

Exactly..

THE COAL MINE: Jack Sample At Record Plant with 1500

2008-01-16T11:29:00.001-08:00

1500 and Jack Sample (Ty, Kory, and Chordz) in the studio working on the highly anticipated Ty & Kory 'Junior Radio' album. Coming soon on Sony/Epic.

PICTURES WITH WORDS: Eminem - Renegade

2008-01-16T11:25:00.000-08:00

Since I'm in a position to talk to these kids and they listen
I ain't no politician but I'll kick it with 'em a minute
Cause see they call me a menace; and if the shoe fits I'll wear it
But if it don't, then y'all'll swallow the truth grin and bear it
Now who's these king of these rude ludicrous lucrative lyrics
Who could inherit the title, put the youth in hysterics
Usin his music to steer it, sharin his views and his merits
But there's a huge interference - they're sayin you shouldn't hear it
Maybe it's hatred I spew, maybe it's food for the spirit
Maybe it's beautiful music I made for you to just cherish
But I'm debated disputed hated and viewed in America
as a motherfuckin drug addict - like you didn't experiment?
Now now, that's when you start to stare at who's in the mirror
and see yourself as a kid again, and you get embarrased
And I got nothin to do but make you look stupid as parents
You fuckin do-gooders - too bad you couldn't do good at marriage!
(Ha ha!) And do you have any clue what I had to do to get here I don't
think you do so stay tuned and keep your ears glued to the stereo
Cause here we go - he's {*Jigga joint Jigga-chk-Jigga*}
And I'm the sinister, Mr. Kiss-My-Ass it's just a

Feel better big homie.....

exactly.

Details Emerge In Steroid Probe: 50 Cent & Timbaland

2008-01-16T01:06:00.000-08:00

Just days after several big celebs were named in a steroids probe, one might expect the stars' camps to be doing some serious spin work. But only one has proclaimed her innocence, while most others are staying tight-lipped.

As SOHH previously reported, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent Wyclef and Timbaland are among the celebrities who have been named in the New York state steroid investigation.

So far, Mary's the only one to deny the claim. Blige's spokeswoman told New York's Daily News, that the singer "has never taken any performance-enhancing illegal steroids." Associates said she achieved such great shape by working out with New York City-based physical trainer Gregg Miele.

"I'm probably in the best shape that I've ever been in in my life," 37-year-old Blige told Billboard magazine in December. "I'm really healthy."

Timbo's camp sidestepped the allegations, refusing to comment. His manager Marcus Spence would only say, "Legally we're not allowed to make a statement at this time."

50 and Wyclef's reps haven't returned inquiring phone calls and have yet to make a statement
It is not apparent yet if any of the artists violated any drug laws.

Read rest of article @ SOHH News

VIDEO: Vampire Weekend - A-Punk

2008-01-15T19:32:00.000-08:00

Pretty dope...

Check out their Myspace
& their Website

Break-A-Leg Reminder: The Cool Kids @ The Independent Thurs. 17th

2008-01-15T19:09:00.000-08:00

If you're in the Bay Area, roll through and check out the retrotastic Cool Kids..

Zack Lee will definitely be in the building!

Check out their Myspace
Show made possible by Mr. Roboto Presents

PICTURES WITH WORDS: Pharoahe Monch - The Light

2008-01-15T17:39:00.000-08:00

It was like the earth twisted around her
She shifted the ground I was like, "Ohhhhh.. SHIT!"
She's off the hook, I would dress her decently
but look her body is immaculate I'm attackin it from all positions
of thinkin inside my mind-ah
Hopefully it won't be too inappropriate if I walk over there and say,
"Excuse me, can I have your number please?
I'll get on my knees if I have to"
She'll laugh through, the whole episode
Just then I knew I had her locked.
No cock-blocking please this one's
Dimepiece and shit son, shorty was fine
Every line of mine was like a rhyme I wouldn't lie I swear
Sparklin the whole time as I whispered in her ear.

TELL ME WHY: The Bowl Cut

2008-01-15T17:17:00.000-08:00

Tell me why dudes still feel the need to help themselves to a bowl cut? What makes them think that this bowl cut will be different from the last? Does this haircut make them more aerodynamic than the rest of us? Do they think the more they rock this horrendous hairstyle the more we are influenced into acquiring one of our own? Fresh one blade, no chemo....and call it a day big homie.

exactly.

OLD SCHOOL TUESDAY: Monica - Like This, Like That (feat. Malik)

2008-01-15T17:10:00.000-08:00

remember malik? used to be in this old group back in the day called Illegal. BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER!!!! lol@her singing into the big fan.....it should have randomly sounded like it in the middle of the song. hahahaha

exactly.

Radiohead - Nude (Video)

2008-01-14T17:17:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already seen this, watch it. From Radiohead's revolutionary album, 'In Rainbows'.
phew......

exactamundo.

Alicia Keys Goes 3x Platinum!!

2008-01-14T11:32:00.000-08:00

According to Billboard, Alicia's new record 'As I Am' went 3 times platinum in only 8 weeks! Official soundscan numbers come out on Wednesday....you go girl.

PS. Take that Justin.

Exactly.

LOL: The Evil Eye

2008-01-13T20:43:00.000-08:00

hahahahha

Zack Lee loves the kids.....no pervo.

exactly.

FRESH: Wale - Nike Boots (prod. by Osinachi)

2008-01-13T14:20:00.000-08:00

You know about Wale?

I know this ain't new.....but I still felt I should put this up since a lotta folks aren't up on game about this kid. And also, cause it's fresh.

And if you heard that, have you heard the remix feat. Lil Wayne?

exactly.

Focus: Underbelly By Ben Tour

2008-01-12T19:59:00.000-08:00

Last night, San Francisco's FIFTY24SF opened the doors to it's latest show Underbelly. Featuring art by Canadian Ben Tour, the exhibition includes mural installations, paintings and framed & dry-mounted works on paper. Each piece embodies Tour's style of contemporary portraiture. Handling subject material such as prostitution and street culture, Ben Tour managed to achieve an equilibrium through his unique brush styles. He describes his style as a more aggressive approach with rough and quick lines. The exhibition is currently running until January 31st at FIFTY24SF.

FIFTY24SF
252 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA 94117

So if you're in the SF area or will be before January 31st, check it out!

Source from Hypebeast

EXCLUSIVE: Pacific Division - F.A.T Boys 08 Video

2008-01-12T01:20:00.000-08:00

We are proud to present Pac Div's new video, F.A.T Boys 08, produced by Swiff D. Directed by Ethan Lader.

*Sidenote - F.A.T (Fashionable Artistic Trendsetters)

EXACTLY.

NEW JOINT: Pacific Division - Taste (prod. by DJ Khalil)

2008-01-11T13:24:00.001-08:00

Pac Div back with another heat rock. Produced by DJ Khalil.

F.A.T LP Coming Soon

They say the love it......exactly.

Lupe Fiasco Interview On Tavis Smiley

2008-01-11T09:22:00.000-08:00

Lupe Fiasco joins Tavis Smiley and talks about his new album The Cool.

Part 1

Part 2

BREAK A LEG: New Kingdom @ El Rey Theatre

2008-01-11T09:17:00.001-08:00

New Kingdom is performing @ El Rey Theatre, if you don't know about these cats....get familiar. Noah King and Yoel make a serious team.

exactly.

J Davey's Letter To The Record Industry

2008-01-11T09:14:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of the incomporable Miss Jack Davey of J*Davey, posted on her blog. This is some REAL SHIT. Take a second to read:

“”lights out !” : an open letter to the record industry & the idiots who work for the fascist regime .

read this out loud !

this is intended for all of you lowly puppets who sit in your big offices in big buildings that will soon be out of business & thus, forced to hold vacant memories of an industry that once was . this is for all of the big wigs in suits & ties who sit at the head of the conference room table with creative opinions as empty as the “music” they force down the throats of the now bored & uninspired creative consumers . this is for all the idle assistants who only work hard enough to get their names on the grammy party lists, or whose only existence remains obsolete if he/she can’t get into the hot new band’s hollywood show debut . this is for the borderline retarded a&r guy who should in fact abandon his dreams of changing the failing record industry to become a highly paid talent scout at a modeling agency . this is definitely for all the marketing low lives who fail to avidly push great talent because the world’s fave reality slut randomly decided one day while botoxing her armpits that she wants to be a rockstar .

yes .
this open letter is for all of you .
come feast your eyes upon the truth behind your insolence for 5 minutes , if you even have your job for that much longer.

your blatant lack of respect & worship for the oldest & dearest artform has brought a once thriving & artistic industry to a grinding halt . your willingness to believe that the world wide web has killed the consumers’ thirst for new & exciting talent is wildly ignorant & safe . you would like to feed into this stupidity because you are too lazy to stand behind substance ; you’d rather take the low & easy road than take the time to nurture true talent . you’d rather tirelessly feed us the same carbon copied , lip synching , sex dripping , faux punk “i got my entire outfit from hot topic” rocker , buffoonishly ghetto “are they even speaking english?” hip hop , “same old same” sound from song to song type image & force us to believe that this is all the world’s artists have to offer . you’d rather watch your company stocks & yearly record sales severely plummet than take strong initiative to fix the current problem . you’d rather see hundreds of employees laid off & out of work during the holidays because you’re too afraid to stand up for something new & different . you’re content with creating a 1-hit wonder society , where any idiot with anything shockingly catchy can enjoy a sorry 15 minutes of fame & a future segment on vh1’s “biggest 1-hit wonders of 08″ extravaganza .

where is the new generation of legends ?

beyonce & alicia keys are old shoe ins . r kelly , sure , but his personal dramas easily overshadow his genius . radiohead & outkast comes to mind , & then i draw a big blank .

the latest thrill in music has been an over abundance of great dancers with mediocre voices , albums , singles , concert ticket sales , etc . thank god the internet allows every joe blow in the universe a free forum to overexpose every little thing , especially mediocre celebrities . thank god for online music forums , such as myspace . artists are able to directly connect with the people & expose themselves & their art to everyone everywhere at the click of a button . myspace proves that music can no longer fit into a box . long gone are the days of urban vs pop vs alternative radio . gwen stefani had hit songs for years on the pop & alt charts , but she records a song written by pharrell & she’s instantly on top of the urban charts as well . this new r&b dance pop music crosses over to white kids & that kelly clarkson “since you’ve been gone” song was smeared across the lips of many a young black girl last year . m i a is all over the indie alternative stations , & lets not even get started on gnarls barkeley .

all signs point to the obvious : true music consumers right now are a ) young , & b) smart . young kids are able to point & click their way to every new trend . they arguably have short attention spans & they want to be in on what’s cool & personable to them . when madonna emerged in the ’80s you had tons of girls around the world imitating her every move & style down to the mole . kurt cobain turned grunge commercial when he was exposed to millions of kids who felt like society’s outsiders looking in . hip-hop has been a huge influence on mainstream culture since the early ’80s because of it’s relativity . kids have not changed . young people are not mindless robots who like what you tell them to like with no opinions . the youth are always looking to be enthralled .

they want to be entertained . they want to feel as though they are a part of something that will be written about , studied , & revered 20 years later . they , like all of us old & young alike , want to be inspired . when i was a kid i saw prince prance around on stage & dazzle people with his art & i felt inspired to do the same thing . why are you music industry idiots attempting to tell us that we don’t want to be touched ? why are you trying to rob us of new musical experiences ? will there ever be another motown 25 / michael jackson moonwalk experience ? will we never again hear a single like queen’s “bohemian rhapsody” on the radio because the hook isn’t catchy enough ? will we never see another band like the talking heads & joy division or parliament ? will there never be another artist to rival frank zappa ? will we be forced to hear different versions of the same dumb song on every single radio station every 5 minutes simply because the record label had enough money to pay off the station manager ? are we still supposed to care about mtv when there are hardly any videos in rotation ? do i even need to mention b e t or v h 1 ? are any of the classic record industry outlets working these days ? as of late it seems that artists are independently breaking ground with their own efforts . songs are being licensed for national commercials from artists’ myspace pages & personal websites . ellen degeneres has been known to book musical guests from videos seen on youtube , & as i aforementioned , gnarls barkeley not only created a new genre , but they also won grammy awards for an album that was recorded in home studios & released through an indie label .

why should artists even seek major label deals ? they are completely outdated & obsolete . artists are sold the dream that talent can secure superstardom , but it becomes evident that labels only sign bands nowdays because of the band’s existing fanbase & record sales , or because they dig the artist’s look & want to cash in . they don’t want to develop the art . they don’t want the artist to express his/herself entirely . they just want the artist to comply with what will get the company a big monetary return . they sign you for millions , pimp you for pennies , then drop you a year later when the music they made you record & release is no longer relevant . you’re left on the streets unsigned & irrelevant & ready to infect the world with the music you’ve always wanted to make , but no one will take a chance on you due to your previous material . meanwhile , the label has already put white out over your signature on the slave deal & replaced it with a younger version of you . cold game , ain’t it ?

the age old model is failing . as an industry based on faithful consumers you have lost your connection with the people who matter most : the PEOPLE . you have yet to show them that you are with the changing times & able to adapt to something new . you are proving that you are too afraid to promote good music . you would rather let the monotonous drone of what is today’s music remain unbalanced by substance . you would rather watch more legendary artists abandon you for direct deals with itunes & touring companies . you would rather allow the internet to defeat what should be your life’s work . maybe you should excuse yourself from the next a&r meeting to go take a look in the bathroom mirror . stand there & ask yourself why you took this job , & when you realize it’s simply because you wanted to be cool & “in the mix” then return to the conference room , take that gun out of your pocket , & shoot yourself in the head in front of your coworkers so that you are made an example of . if you can in fact leave that conference room & look in the bathroom mirror with pride & hunger to break the monotony then head back into that conference room , jump on top of the table & read this manifesto .

this is a challenge .
we’re calling your bluff .
record labels are nothing but banks that give artists hi price loans in exchange for artistic control . put your money where your cocks are . go out on a limb & support real music for a change . find the line where the internet & the real world meet & infect more people with something magical . start building more legends . it’s almost too late . interscope is dead . def jam is next . motown who ? mca what ? warner , you’re not too far behind . the war sirens are ringing & you’re content with playing deaf & dumb .
we’re calling your bluff !
we’re here to reprogram how you & the rest of the world listen to music .
we can do this together , or you can stick to your own devices & peril in the process .
we are the people . we are the future . we are the present .
who are you ?

*******************************************************************

copy this , paste this , & repost it wherever you see fit . email it to those who you believe can benefit from somethin like this . this is from the heart in jerry maguire “who’s comin with me?” fashion . lets open our eyes , our ears , & our hearts . lets stop standin for the bullshit & start demandin these idiots to take charge & make change . substance has the right to be heard . support real shit & start takin it to the streets !

c’mon people .
it’s 2008 . diddy killed music in 94 . it’s time for some better shit .

pass it on . .”

source from the good folks over @ Inverse.....good lookin out.

Lil Wayne In 7th Grade production of The Wiz

2008-01-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

This is a video of Lil Wayne in 7th grade acting in The Wiz. Just a reminder that we were all young once.......

I remember dancing to Vanilla Ice - Ninja Rap in elementary for a talent show. Ended up kicking my partner in the head because he didn't duck as I tried to kick over him, remember that old school dance? haha

exactly.

Break-A-Leg: The Morning Benders @ Bottom of the Hill SF (Jan. 28th)

2008-01-11T01:28:00.000-08:00

Be sure not to miss this show, Dope Band + Dope Venue = Dopetastic Show!

Check a song out.!!

Check out a page or 2.!!
The Morning Benders Myspace
The Morning Benders Website

Exactly..

Update: Kanye West's Mother Died From Heart Attack, Says Autopsy Report

2008-01-11T01:20:00.000-08:00

The LA County Coroner has concluded that Donda West - mother and manager to son Kanye - died of a heart attack after her cosmetic surgery.

As SOHH previously reported, West, 58, died on Saturday, November 10, 2007 after complications from cosmetic surgery.
According to TMZ, the coroner's report says West died of "coronary artery disease and multiple post-operative factors due to or as a consequence of liposuction and mammoplasty."

The report could not state with certainty what exactly killed her but there was no evidence that anesthesia or even the surgery is to blame.

Donda was very close to her son. Kanye often spoke of her in his music, and dedicated the track "Hey Mama" to her off his second release, Late Registration. Chicago rapper, Rhymefest, said that Donda was like a mother and mentor to the entire circle.

"She was a mother to everybody ... We all came in the crib and she fed us when we had nothin', when there was no record deals. She brought us in," he said. "She was a mother for a community, and a mother for one of Chicago's greatest heroes."

Source from SOHH News

TALKIES: Cloverfield Premiere Invitation

2008-01-09T11:09:00.000-08:00

So I got my invitation to the premiere of J.J Abrams new film Cloverfield...and finally the mysterious monster will be revealed. The premiere is on January 16th at Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles and I must say they did a pretty good job of keeping this movie a secret and out of the public. The movie comes out next week and people still have no clue what kind of monster is attacking the city. My guess is that because of this, the movie will make a lot of money opening weekend. If only the music industry had this much control and patience over it's releases. In any case...I'll let you know how it goes....

If you are interested in going, call (323) 956-7810 and RSVP.

Check out the new trailer..

Opens nationwide on Jan 18th.

exactly.

Self Edge X Superfuture Party 2008

2008-01-09T02:40:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I attended the wonderfully stylish Superfuture party held at Self Edge, a premium denim store located in San Francisco. Along with a bevy of fashion heads, the party included free giveaways of exclusive items from select Japanese denim brands like Sugercane & Skulls Jeans. Style was threatening to explode from the walls of the not so big Self Edge Denim Boutique. Toss free beer, Fernet-Branca, and La Copa Loca Gelato into the equation and you have good times.

Check out a few pictures from the party:

Overview of the party from the balcony, free gelato

Free Fernet-Branca

Definitely one for the books...denim contest to see who could fit into a size 28 pair of $400 Self Edge x Ironhearts and button them all the way up resulting in that person winning the jeans for free

Check out the sites Superfuture and Self Edge

Good Times...Exactly.

Eminem Rushed To Hospital

2008-01-09T02:11:00.000-08:00

Slim Shady may not be known as such for much longer. The rapper's weight is said to have surpassed 200 lbs. which may be the least of his health concerns.

According to TMZ, Eminem was rushed to a Detroit-area hospital over the holidays due to a serious heart condition and pneumonia.

This health scare comes just a month after Eminem's mom, Debbie Nelson, released a book where she claimed her son had lost control of his life.

As SOHH previously reported, Nelson recently released the tell-all-book, entitled My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem in the U.K. In it, she claimed Em has battled depression for quite some time. Nelson also alleged that her son's mood was at its worst following his 2006 break up with long-time girlfriend and mother of his only child, Kim.

Eminem's publicist told TMZ: "Over the holidays, Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem, was under doctor's care at a Detroit-area hospital for complications due to pneumonia. He has since been released and is doing well recovering at home."

Source @ SOHH News

GearHeads: Nike Air Force 1 Supreme Max Air Stingray

2008-01-09T01:57:00.000-08:00

I must admit, as much as I dig tastefully colorful kicks, nothing beats plain ol' BLACK. It's a classic color. What's beautiful about these lovely upcoming releases are the materials. We've all seen horsehair, ostrich, cement, elephant print, etc. But this one has STINGRAY. Yea I said it, STINGRAY. Anywho, if that ain't something to brag about in yo raps then I don't know what to tell you. Dropping later this weekend in Japan, but check your local Nike dealer otherwise.

View more pics here @ Hypebeast

NEW JOINT: The Cool Kids - What It Iz

2008-01-08T21:16:00.000-08:00

This joint was so fresh I had to put it up again, so it stands out more....

exactly.

ROLL CALL: Brian Aragon - Iconz Section

2008-01-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

From a video called Iconz....

pretty fly.

exactly.

WTF!: Man Caught On Tape Beating Toddler

2008-01-08T10:14:00.000-08:00

I don't have to say what should happen to this man...

My thoughts Exactly.

GearHeads: Nike Year of the Rat Wildwood 90

2008-01-08T09:46:00.001-08:00

Every year Nike creates shoes dedicated to the Chinese New Year. According to the Chinese Calendar, February 7, 2008 is Chinese New Year and this year is the Year of the Rat.

While I haven't been the biggest fan of many of Nike's recent releases, every now and then, they drop a gem. This Wildwood 90 is a hybrid of the Wildwood, Air Max 90 and the Free Trail. Nike's meshing of these sneakers resulted in a pretty stylish and simple shoe with a very fresh design. There are two versions, one with white "rat" hair, and one with grey "rat" hair. The white sneaker is actually horse hair, which in my opinion, is the DOPER one of the 2. And the grey sneaker is suede.

And to top of the theme, the Chinese symbol for the word "rat" is printed in red on each outside heel of the shoe...And guess WHAT, they're available right now at select Nike retailers...click link below for more info, or just check your local nike retailers..

View More Pics of the white and grey @ My Air Shoes

Exactly!

Nas dropping tidbits on upcoming album Nigger

2008-01-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

"I feel like Cassius Clay right before he took down Liston," Nas said a couple of weeks ago in New York. It's almost time for the release of his album ******, and he even teased us by dropping a couple of lines from the album backstage at the Hammerstein Ballroom before a recent concert

"Ay, yo, Queens get the money, n---as still screaming paper chase/ But presidential candidates ... ," he began reciting, the first time any media outlet has heard lyrics from the upcoming album.

"But the new album, man, this is an important piece for me," he said. "I'm proud of myself for doing it and taking it on. It looks like Black History Month [February] is gonna be the month to drop the album. If not, it comes when it comes. But it'll be here soon — soon like right-around-the-corner soon. It's not gonna be a waiting-for-a-long-time type thing. I'm blessed to be in this state of mind I'm in to do this music. ... I love what this whole thing is all about. I'm working with so many people. It is a lot of people I'm working with: Puff, Jermaine [Dupri], some underground cats. Some surprises."

Maybe he'll be working with Snoop Dogg again. The Dogg — who appeared on Nas' last album, Hip Hop Is Dead — supports Nas' concept behind the controversially titled new album. "I'm down with you, Nas," Snoop saluted. "Call me if you need a verse."

Another West Coast legend, Ice Cube, is also down to collaborate with Nas. "I'm totally open to working with him," said Cube, who has the first great song and video of 2008 with "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It." "I just got back in town, I'm looking for him to reach out. I think me and Nas are, in a lot of ways, mirror images of each other. We try to make street knowledge and connect the streets with the politics of today. That's always a challenge. If we don't get together [on his album], we gotta tour together."

Source from Mixtape Monday

OLD SCHOOL TUESDAY: The Coup - Fat Cats and Bigga Fish

2008-01-08T07:39:00.000-08:00

Due to technical difficulties, the Digital Underground video was replaced. But we found a good substitute.

*AHEM*

Takin it back like slap bracelets and pogs bitch!!!

exactly.

NEW JOINT: Pacific Division - Mayor prod. by Swiff D

2008-01-07T20:03:00.000-08:00

Another hot joint from Pac Div produced by Swiff D!

Nas On The Cover Of The 100th Issue Of XXL

2008-01-07T18:49:00.000-08:00

Damn I hope this album doesn't end up like The Minstrel Show, where the title of the album seems promising but it ends up being just another regular ass rap record. Don't let us down Mr. Jones.

exactly.

Jay Z Performing Party Life w/ Bilal In Las Vegas

2008-01-07T16:06:00.000-08:00

This is what I was talking about, Jay Z performing Party Life with Bilal as a special guest. We didn't film this footage, and whoever did definately did a great job.

*clip taken from hhnlive.com*

exactly.

Pictures With Words - Phonte of Little Brother - Step It Up

2008-01-07T00:14:00.000-08:00

She said we should go out on a date
I said that's cool you can come to my house.
She said "Nigga please! Do better than that.
Why the fuck I wanna come over and chill on yo couch?"
I laughed cause it seemed she had me all figured out
And my game ain't work like it did before
Them are days long gone, cause once they get grown
These hoes ain't impressed by Applebees no more
Gotta dig a little deeper for that PF change, for PF Chang's
And if you can't afford it
You can still do thangs to show you ain't on no dumb shit
Take her to a gallery, museum or some shit
Thank God for you and all the crew that you run with
Givin new meaning to the blind date
You so official, but a nigga can't attract Cristal with a Boone's Farm mindstate..

Stills From Pac Div's F.A.T Boys '08 Music Video

2008-01-06T23:36:00.000-08:00

I got an exclusive peek at Pac Div's new video and it's pretty fly....lotta cameos, lotta labels......100 percent Cali.

BREAK A LEG: The Cool Kids @ The Independent in SF

2008-01-06T23:15:00.000-08:00

Tour Schedule
Jan 18 - Univ. of Washington Seattle, Washington
Jan 19 - EchoPlex LA
Jan 22 - Sloppy Seconds "CANCELLED" Atlanta
Jan 24 - Studio B NYC, New York
Jan 25 - Natural History Museum/Flavorpill NYC, New York
Jan 26 - Wrongbar in Toronto, CA

Intl.
Jan 31 - Malmo Sweden
Feb 1 - Pustervik Gothenburg
Feb 2 - Debaser Medis Stockholm
Feb 4 - Bla Bla, Oslo
Feb 7 - Sub Club w/ HYP Glasgow
Feb 8 - Fabric ,, London and South East
Feb 8 - Vapor Dijon, Paris
Feb 9 - Arhus Arhus
Feb 10 - TBA Copenhagen, Hovedstaden
Feb 12 - Crawdaddy ,, Dublin
Feb 14 - YOYO London, London and South East
Feb 15 - Plastic People London
Feb 15 - Plastic People London
Feb 16 - Blast at the Croft Bristol
Feb 17 - TBA Edinburg, Scotland
Feb 19 - Stealth Nottingham
Feb 20 - Helllooo Down there....Australia.....you’re up next!! ,
Feb 22 - Bakery Artage Complex Perth
Feb 23 - Miss Libertine Melbourne
Feb 23 - ST Jeromes Laneway Festival@Caledonian Lane Melbourne
Feb 28 - Life Lounge SoCo Cargo Adelaide
Feb 29 - Empire Hotel Brisbane
Mar 1 - ST Jeromes Laneway Festival Brisbane
Mar 1 - Oxford Arts Factory Darlingquist
Mar 2 - ST Jeromes Laneway Festival Sydney
Mar 5 - Paradiso Amsterdam
Mar 6 - Trix Antwerp
Mar 7 - Tryptique Paris

DAMN!

* note to upcoming artist * That's how it's done.....WORK!

exactly.

Pictures With Sound: Blu - Fly (Song Of Liberation) prod. by Exile

2008-01-06T22:40:00.000-08:00

Song Found On Exile - Dirty Science

Jay Z Live In Las Vegas

2008-01-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

It was cold as hell, parking was a bitch, smoking indoors is legal, and the show took a good hour and a half to begin....but it was worth it. The show kicked off with an intro by ?uestlove and the band, it was a 5 minute medley of a bunch of Jay Z songs that were either on his album or songs he was featured on. ?uest is definately a beast, no question.
Almost immediately after Hovi Baby winds down, the band starts playing Takeover and everyone kinda gets ansy, and right before the beat drops in he switched it up and went right into You Don't Know, which was pretty live.
Following that was the classic, everybody go crazy, PSA produced by Just Blaze, who was the DJ of his set.

As a matter of fact...here is the set list:

Hovi Baby
You Don't Know
PSA
99 Problems
Jigga What Jigga Who
Dirt Off Your Shoulders
Jigga My Nigga

Then performed Heart Of The City....and I truly apologize for not having the next 4 songs I name on video. Replacing Jaguar Wright was the MUCH BETTER CANDIDATE.....*drum roll* Bilal, who MURDERED IT. The video was accidentally deleted over, and trust me, I KNOW!

Blue Magic
Sweet (which was bananas with the lighting cues on POINT)
American Dream

Then Party Life feat. Bilal, which was incredible. The lighting went red and females were grooving, I felt on a few booty's...good times.

Pray with a Jesus Walks Intro (which got everyone hype cause they thought Kanye was gonna pop out any minute) Instead this nigga brought out Neyo....which was boring as hell. Eventually, he shuffled off stage and on came The Roc.....which was also boring...to me anyway, probably cause everytime I've seen clips of Jay Z performing live, he always does this shit, so it wasn't anything new. They performed the You, Me, Him, Her (minus her), Change the Game, and Roc The Mic (which was a nice surprise), no Freeway though....which would have been dope. Then the Intro to Diamonds Are Forever came on, and the crowd started bubbling again only to be faked out by Jay Z just doing his verse....and right when he finished all you could hear was LA LA LA WAIT TILL I GET MY MONEY RIGHT!!!! And out popped Kanye, and the crowd went bananas!!
After he finished that song, he went into Good Life which was pretty incredible....and I don't even like that song.

After Kanye walked off stage, the band started to go into Song Cry....and Mary J Blige came out and blessed it. This part was kinda boring to me, because Mary went into Be Happy, Im Going Down (which was pretty dope), and her new single Just Fine. Mary's mini set was kind of a downer in my opinion, as far as energy goes, but it was brought back up with Can't Knock The Hustle which followed immediately after. Then he performed I Know from American Gangster, I Just Want To Love You, Big Pimpin, Roc Boys (which im really upset we couldnt get cause we ran out of space on the tape), and Encore feat. Kanye......trust me, I know. :( All in all it was a pretty fly show, and I definately suggest that all Jay Z fans go check him out live. Good shit big homie....take a bow.

exactly.

Sidenote: Folks online stole the first video we posted (the Hovi Baby performace)...so if you see that video anywhere else, you might not even think we were in the building.

Jay Z Rehearsing w/ The Roots

2008-01-05T14:19:00.000-08:00

it definately paid off....

exactly.

Rumor Mill: Jay Z Launching Record Label w/ Apple

2008-01-03T02:42:00.001-08:00

This one’s been floating around like a hot air balloon, but we’ve just about confirmed it. For those that don’t know, Jay-Z left Def Jam as President last month, and everyone’s been talking about where he’s heading. While this might be one of his many other venutures, we just heard that Jay-Z is launching a record label with Apple. No, Beyonce will not be formally attached. This is from a high-up person attached to Jay (no, not who you’re thinking), and it’s said to be a go! Jay is supposedly totally into the business model, and really wants this to happen. Hey, Apple! Send us some MacWorld passes, and we’ll cut down on the leaks, ‘kay?

Source @ The Boy Genius Report

The Grub Zone: Wolf Gang Puck's Spago

2008-01-03T01:10:00.000-08:00

During our recent visit to Las Vegas for the New Years coverage we happened upon this delightfully tasty hot spot. Its located in The Forum Shops @ Ceasars. While we were prepared for the long wait, the culinary bliss we experienced, left us with no complaints. Here's a few F.Y.I.'s.

The price range is Mid to Pretty expensive (this may be a (-) or a (+) depending on your love for food)
-For example: my pizza (BELOW) was $15
The wait is typical of any popular restaurant (30mins-1hour)
The service is good (not great, but then again it was very busy)
The cranvodka's are mediocre but the long islands are bombtastic
The food came out pretty fast

Feast your eyes on this grubtastic beauty....chicken sausage, sweet Corn, roasted pasilla peppers, and oregano:

So basically, if you live in the Vegas area, or plan on visiting, hit up Spago, and tell Wolf Gang I said whaddup!

Exactly

Video of Jay Z Performing Live @ The Pearl in Las Vegas

2007-12-30T15:12:00.000-08:00

Jay Z performing Hovi Baby live in Las Vegas. We will definately show you all of the rest of the footage from the show very soon......sorry about the quality.

exactly.

NEW VIDEO: Lupe Fiasco & Gemini - We On

2007-12-30T14:07:00.000-08:00

jaguar skills......hooooooooooooooooo

exactly.

NEW JOINT: The Roots - Please Dont Go (prod. by Dilla)

2007-12-28T18:46:00.000-08:00

Big Up To Okayplayer for this gem.

exactly....

SPOIL'D MILK & WTF COLLABO: Meet The Spartans

2007-12-28T18:30:00.000-08:00

* makes the ultimate thizz face *

Visual terrorism.

George Bush's Childhood Home Burns Down

2007-12-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

Someone burned down George Bush's childhood home in Odessa, TX. The house is located directly behind The Presidental Museum. No leads, no witnesses.....hmmmmm American Terrorists? No Matthew Santos.

* this isn't actually his home, but since I couldn't find this story online ANYWHERE I borrowed this from some random flickr site....it's a loft belonging to a n-word named Andre. (shouts to Tunj)

exactly.....

Lupe Fiasco's First Week Sales Of The Cool

2007-12-27T11:18:00.001-08:00

Lupe's first week numbers are in, and it's pretty much what I expected. The chitown native managed to rake in 144,079 and debuted at number 15 on the Billboard top 200. I believe he was projected to do about 150 to 200 thousand his first week....sa'll good Lu, still a pretty damn good album.

PICTURES WITH WORDS: Jay Z - Can I Live

2007-12-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

While I'm watchin every nigga watchin me closely
my shit is butter for the bread they wanna toast me
I keep my head, both of them where they supposed to be
Hoes'll get you sidetracked then clap from closed feet
I don't sleep, I'm tired, I feel wired like codeine, these days
a brother gotta admire from four fiends away
My pain wish it was quick to see, from sellin 'caine
til brains was fried to a fricaisse, can't lie
At the time it never bothered me, at the bar
gettin my thug on properly, my squad and me
lack of respect for authority, laughin hard
Happy to be escapin poverty, however brief
I know this game got valleys and peaks, expectation
for dips, for precipitation we stack chips, hardly
The youth I used to be, soon to see a mill'in
No more, Big Willie my game has grown prefer you call me William
Illin for revenues, Rayful Edmonds like
channel 7 news, round seven jewels, hand gettin the mic
Forgettin all I ever knew, convenient amnesia
I suggest you call my lawyer, I know the procedure
Lock my body can't trap my mind, easily
explain why we adapt to crime
I'd rather die enormous than live dormant that's how we on it
Live at the main event, I bet a trip to Maui on it
Presidential suites my resedential for the weekend
Confidentially speakin in codes since I sense you peekin
The NSX rental, don't be fooled my game is mental
We both out of town dog, what you tryin to get into?
Viva, Las Vegas, see ya, later at the crap tables
meet me by the one that starts a G up
This way no fraud Willie's present gambling they re-up
And we can have a pleasant time, sippin margaritas

ROLL CALL: Razors Iconz Video - Introduction

2007-12-27T10:50:00.001-08:00

This is the intro to a pretty crazy skate video....

exactly.

Zack Lee's Official Bucket List

2007-12-27T09:57:00.000-08:00

So, I saw this movie called The Bucket List a few days ago and it really got me thinking. If money weren't an issue, what are some of the things I would want to do before I leave this Earth? Sounds easy at first, but when you start actually writing it out you find out how meaningless material possesions are.....here's mine:

1. Reconnect with my distant family.
2. Backpack in every continent with my 4 closest friends.
3. Write my life story in a script and have it made into a cliche Spike Lee film.
4. Board a jet plane and catch New Years around the world in every timezone.
5. Visit the Bermuda Triangle and go fishing.
6. Take an extreme hallucinogen and watch the scariest movie ever made.
7. Base jump off of the Empire State building in a Superman costume
8. Listen to 2Pac - Hit Em Up in a ritzy French restaurant on a ghetto blaster.
9. Visit every home I've ever lived in
10. Have a kid.

What is your bucket list?

Trailer for The Bucket List

Mad Skillz 2007 Wrap Up

2007-12-27T09:55:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Mad Skillz.....

exactly.

Jay Z Steps Down As CEO of Def Jam

2007-12-27T09:41:00.000-08:00

Universal Music Group said on Monday that rap artist and hip-hop mogul Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter is stepping down as president of its Def Jam Records unit, effective by the end of the year.

Carter, 38, has been president of the rap label since 2005, and has signed acts including R&B singers Rihanna and Ne-Yo.

Universal said Carter, a top-selling rapper who performs as Jay-Z, will continue recording for its Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam label. But the company did not give a reason for his decision to quit the executive suite.

"Now it's time for me to take on new challenges," he said in a statement. "I am pleased to have had the opportunity to build upon the Def Jam legacy," he added.

Carter will focus on his expanding franchise of 40/40 Nightclubs over the next year and other businesses, according to a source familiar with his plans.

Carter regularly tops the lists of richest hip-hop moguls, and was No. 9 on Forbes' Celebrity 100, the annual roster of the world's most powerful -- and best paid -- celebrities, with an estimated compensation of $83 million.

Carter, who has said he was a street hustler growing up in the Marcy public housing project in a tough section of Brooklyn, New York, has sold millions of records and launched an array of media and fashion businesses.

Though known for his cutting-edge rap lyrics and rags-to-riches story, Carter often is mentioned in local gossip columns because of his romantic relationship with R&B singer Beyonce Knowles. Last week, he denied rumors that the couple had married in secret.

The rapper joined Def Jam as president to help turn around the fortunes of the then-struggling seminal rap label. His move to management followed his 2003 retirement from recording. His albums, including "Hard Knock Life" (1998), "The Blueprint" (2001) and his classic debut "Reasonable Doubt" (1996).

He returned to recording last year with the album "Kingdom Come" and this year followed up with an album inspired by the movie "American Gangster."

Def Jam's successes during his tenure as president, included Rihanna and Ne-Yo, who this month racked up 11 Grammy nominations between them.

"Jay made it clear to us that he feels the time has come to take on different challenges in his life. While we regret his decision to move on, we certainly respect it," said Antonio 'L.A.' Reid," chairman of Island Def Jam.

Universal Music, a unit of French media and telecommunications group Vivendi, is the world's largest music company with 30 percent of the worldwide market share.

-article taken from Yahoo-

Hov definately disappointed a lot of folks on that label, and this move disappoints a lot of up and coming musicians trying to get their shot. Is this a bad look for hip hop?

Ghostface Killah Action Figure

2007-12-27T08:59:00.000-08:00

I felt funny calling it a doll......

I kinda want one though......* pause * N/H

LMAO: Tourettes Guy Interview 4

2007-12-27T08:06:00.000-08:00

And I know I shouldn't be laughing at this....

Exactly.

HAPPY XMAS EVERYBODY!

2007-12-25T09:42:00.001-08:00

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday food, love, company, joy etc...

This one goes out to ya'll!

F.O.R. Monogrammed Leather Backpack

2007-12-23T21:12:00.000-08:00

I finally came across a closer view of the Fall Of Rome leather backpack, and its pretty fly. The only picture I had seen of it was on Lupe's back in the Fall Of Rome photoshoot, but you couldn't really see the detail on it. Eventually I came across this site called Choice Is Yours and they have that bag and other F.O.R. merchandise for sale. P.S. the cashmire scarf would be a nice stocking stuffer....just sayin.

NEW JOINT: Naturel - The Bullets (Prod. By Illmind)

2007-12-23T20:48:00.001-08:00

pheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew........

* lets off 6 rounds in the air *

Naturel and Illmind make a pretty dope team.

exactly.

BREAK A LEG: 9th Wonder, Kev Brown, D.Biase, Pac Div LIVE Sat. Feb 9th!

2007-12-23T17:03:00.000-08:00

Beat Showcase feat. 9th Wonder, Kev Brown, and Dibiase with a performance by Pac Div!

The Blue Cafe
210 the Promenade North
Long Beach, CA 90802

18+
Doors Open at 8 PM.

Check out the new Pac Div EPK!

FANFARE: OKAYPLAYER AWARDS RESULTS

2007-12-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Blu for winning Rookie Of The Year!!!

Shouts to everyone else that won too....

Album Art of the Year: Kanye West - Graduation

Album of the Year: Common - Finding Forever

Album of the Year - Hip Hop: Talib Kweli - Eardrum

Album of the Year - Hipster: M.I.A. - Kala

Album of the Year - R&B/Soul: Amy Winehouse - Back To Black

Album of the Year - Rock: Radiohead - In Rainbows

Banger of the Year: Kanye West - "Can't Tell Me Nothing"

Most Anticipated Album of 2008: THE ROOTS - Rising Down

Most Slept On Album: Pharoahe Monch - Desire

Most Slept On Artist: Cunninlynguists (WORD!)

The Dilla Award (Producer of the Year): Madlib

BONUS: Blu and Exile - So(ul) Amazing

GO GET THAT BLU & EXILE - BELOW THE HEAVENS LP!!!!!!!!!!!!

exactly.

NEW JOINT: Esthero feat. Miguel - The Many Times

2007-12-21T14:13:00.001-08:00

Shouts out to the homie Miguel

exactly.

CLASSIC: Ghostface Killah - All That I Got Is You ft. Tekitha

2007-12-21T12:18:00.000-08:00

Since we didn't get a chance to post an old school video on Tuesday, we felt it was only right to at least hit you with a classic......Happy Friday everybody, enjoy.

SAY WHAT?: Inverse - So Far Interview

2007-12-21T11:54:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles hip hop has definately been missing that soul that we used to have in the early days, it almost seems as if every emcee or group from the West Coast is either a NY knockoff or on that SMACK DVD battling type shit. So these cats are like the twinkle of light in the dark......pause.....no pun intended and no homo. Say hello to Inverse

this interview was taken from Descry's Blogspot.......

Descry: Do you guys have certain themes carried out in your songs? Have you developed the Inverse sound since that early beginning?

Tunji: Umm...I think, first and foremost, we're both songwriters and really focused on lyrics...so you're always gonna get some well written and thought out words from us...But overall, we just try to make really honest music with a soulful vibe. The songs are usually pretty personal too, but we try to keep the hooks real catchy and memorable as well.

Toby: I would say that I don't think we particularly try to carry any specific themes in our sound....there's some combination of the music mixed with our life experience that leads us in one direction or another....so that can carry us in a lot of different directions...as long as we're being honest and it's done well...then I think we're doing what needs to be done.

Tunji: Our songs are about life...and we try to make soulful, honest hip hop.

Descry: Honest hip-hop...hmm. What artists inspires the "Inverse sound" as a group?

Tunji: Waaaaaay too many to name....I mean, all the people you would expect...OutKast, Jay-Z, Nas, Common, etc. But also, all the really dope artists around us who we are friends with and learning from like Brother Ali, CunninLynguists, OneBeLo and whatnot. I'm also inspired by great songwriters like the Beatles, Bob Marley...all the Motown era soul groups, Sly Stone, Stevie, I could go on forever. Music is like oxygen to me, I'm listening 24/7.

Toby: I loved Michael Jackson! My dad listened to country and blues while my mom listened to more classic rock, Beatles, etc. I listened to radio rap growing up, until i was about 12--some kid from my school (he was 17 so i looked up to him) made a copy for me of Resurrection by Common and Illmatic by Nas...and man that shit blew my mind. I was always a fan of words and writing stories and poems and shit like that...but it wasn't until I heard that stuff then it all came together. Those two albums opened the door to a LOT of dope stuff...94 was a great year for discovering hip hop....Nas, Common, Outkast, Wu-Tang, Dr. Dre, Goodie Mob, etc. All kinds of stuff came out that year and I was obsessed. You know, I actually started trying to write like Common.

Descry: Haha, I bet those early tapes are dope. Your inspirations have taken you both a long way. Now, you're a part of the new reformed LA Hip-Hop scene--how do you feel about all the new talent emerging out of LA?

Tunji: It's amazing, man. I feel lucky, because there is so much talent here...I feel like we're in the middle of something huge. The world is gonna see in the next few years, and it's already starting to happen. I feel like a lot of the people around us are really going to be a part of hip hop's future. You've got artists like Blu, Exile, Aloe Blacc, Pacific Division, TiRon, U-N-I, J Davey, Noah King...all young, hungry and creative. All making honest music, and unafraid to have fun with it. Also, there are lots of transplants from Detroit [Ta'raach...House Shoes...etc.] who are really putting some life into the local scene as well. Then you've got the new generation of Project Blowed cats who are ridiculous [Nocando...Dumbfoundead...etc.]. LA is too dope right now.

Click to read the rest of the interview.

Inverse's album, 'So Far' drops on 1/1/08.

Album Of The Year?

2007-12-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

The year is almost over, and it was definately one of the finest years hip hop has seen in a long time. Even though Dre didn't release Botox, there were a lot of exciting releases that almost made you forget about it. Kanye released the highly anticipated 'Graduation', Little Brother proved they can hold it down pretty well without 9th Wonder on board, extra'd out ass Amy Winehouse made her debut, even Jay Z dusted off the cape and blessed us with American Gangster. So the question that remains on everyone's mind is, which album was the best album of the year? The answer to this question seemed so set in stone a few months ago, but then Alicia Keys dropped, Radiohead shocked the industry and even Lupe Fiasco dropped a pretty nice one. In your opinion, what do you think was the best album of the year, and why? And heres a bonus question: Did anyone drop a classic album this year?

Also check out what Spin Magazine had to say about the best albums of the year.

exactly.

Pictures With Words: Lupe Fiasco - Streets On Fire

2007-12-21T10:57:00.000-08:00

Disease the virus is spreading in all directions
No safe zone no cure and no protection
No sense of surviving or signs of an infection
No vaccines remedies and no corrections
Quarantines the dreams and cut off our connections
Don't let em in not a friend not a reflection
Everybody's got it and want you to have it next and
Don't accept em if you wanna stay that's an exception
Appeal
The Heal
The I'll of this
Sickness some are still in doubt of it's existence
Some call it forgiveness and some call it the vengeance
Some say it's an exit and some say it's an entrance
The poor say the rich have the cure
The rich say the poor aren't the source
Revolutionaries say it's psychological war
Invented by the press
Just to have something to report
Some say the first case came from a maternity war
Some say a morgue some say the skies some say the floor
Whores say the nuns, nuns say the whores
And everybody is sure

The scientists said it only infects the mind
The little boy said it only infects the girls
The Preacher said it's gonna kill off the soul
A bum said it's gonna kill off the world

VIDEO: CRS - US Placers

2007-12-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

CRS (Lupe, Pharrell & Kanye) - US Placers [NEW]
Uploaded by PeteRock

Exactly

LMAO!: Bow Wow Demands His Respect!

2007-12-19T11:53:00.000-08:00

Wow, of all people to "BOSS UP" on, he's gonna try to boss up on Toure. LOL@his bodyguard eating food talking about "handle what?" Toure was just laughing at him..

Toure was sorta being overly disrespectful though, but that just may be the editing...

Comedy.

UPDATE: Apparently this was supposed to be an episode of Punk'd. If you pay attention, Toure says something along the lines of "didn't anyone tell them what this was"? Which leads me to believe that Punk'd is scripted also, and that makes sense considering those episodes that never made it because of the "punkee" wildin' out, e.g. The Black Eyed Peas actually getting into a fist fight with the Punk'd crew.

Britney Spears' Sister Jamie Preggo @ 16!

2007-12-19T11:43:00.000-08:00

Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney's Sister, Is Pregnant

'Zoey 101' star is 12 weeks along in her pregnancy, she told OK! magazine.

By Kurt Orzeck

Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney's sister, is pregnant, the 16-year-old told OK! magazine. The father is her longtime boyfriend, Casey Aldridge, she said. "It was a shock for both of us, so unexpected," Jamie Lynn Spears, who is 12 weeks along in her pregnancy, told the magazine for its new issue, which hits stands this week.

"I was in complete and total shock, and so was he," she said. "As soon as I found out for sure from the doctor, I took two weeks to myself where I didn't tell anybody. Only one of my friends knew because I needed to work out what I would do for myself before I let anyone's opinion affect my decision. Then I told my parents and my friends. I was scared, but I had to do what was right for me."

According to the interview, Jamie Lynn confirmed the pregnancy through a home test. She later paid a visit to the doctor, who corroborated the news. She said she revealed the news to her parents shortly before Thanksgiving.

Read rest of article @ MTV.com

Wednesday Laugh: Husband walks in on wife having threesome

2007-12-19T11:15:00.001-08:00

*Shakes head* mmmmmHmMmmm

What would Jesus do?

Exactly...

THE DROP: Lupe Fiasco's The Cool

2007-12-18T00:34:00.000-08:00

I strongly recommend that you go out and get this album, wether its ITunes or your local record spot.

Fuck it, here's a sample....

Now get fly....

exactly.

WTF: Whopper Freakout

2007-12-16T19:58:00.000-08:00

The experiment of what happens when you take an incredible burger taken away for a day.

TALKIES: The Dark Knight

2007-12-16T13:23:00.000-08:00

At first, I didn't really dig the idea of Heath Ledger playing The Joker. I'm a big fan of the first Batman with the Prince soundtrack, and Jack Nickelson always held the illest Joker title to me. But now, I'm kind of intrigued by this new Joker, seems like he's gonna be real disturbing. I'm waiting for the day they quit bullshitting and make a Batman movie that's Rated R.

NEW JOINT: Miguel - Away

2007-12-16T12:55:00.001-08:00

Bridgetown affiliate, Miguel, back with another crazy joint....what else is new?

PARTY LIFE: Crash Mansion w/ DJ Premier

2007-12-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

DJ Premier came out to bless a set at Crash Mansion last night, but most of my attention was locked in another room. Next door was this small room with its own little bar inside called the Lunchbox, the homie Diz helps throw it. The only reason I left the room DJ Premier was spinning in was because of a random performance that went down, unexpectedly non entertaining. A lotta familiar faces graced the spot, Pac Div came out, Rozzi Dame, DJ Gomez(who was spinning in the Lunchbox), Fonzworth Bentley and a lot of females. The sound went out right when Gomez was about to start spinning, and the room turned into a bar for a minute. A lotta folks shook out and went into the Primo room, but like 10 minutes into the set, everything got live again. Shouts to the female bartender with the crazy mohawk hair, brilliant Long Island Ice Teas ma'am. The night was definately blessed with different grooves, I found myself with a drink and a two step at one point. By 1:45, I was steppin it out chitown style to the R Kelly joint...

All in all, it was a good Saturday night.

Exactly.

Mr. Lee Prepares For Vegas

2007-12-15T12:52:00.001-08:00

As the end of the year approaches I find myself becoming really impatient. I've never really been to Las Vegas, but if it's anything like i've been hearing then this should definately be one for the books. I have my outfits laid out like a kid preparing for his first day back to school with his brand new clothes....yes.....I got me some good clothes. Bottles will be popped, pictures will be taken, and I've also decided that I will not be gambling. I work hard for my money and a few bright lights isn't enough to make me put it in a machine only for the machine to say, "Now get the fuck out my face!".I guess one of the main highlights will be Jay Z performing at the Palms, and you already know.....I must be in attendance. I wanted to actually get a seat so I can drink and be merry, but it's peace. Either way....break out the red lights, welcome to the party life.

Suite :-)

Spoil'd Milk: Adidas x Looney Tunes EQT B-Ball Hi

2007-12-15T12:37:00.000-08:00

What the hell?

Adidas and Warner Brothers got together to create this clusterfuck of a remix shoe for the Looney Tunes. The EQT B-Ball Hi comes in a "Tweety Bird" version. The upper is dominated by yellow, orange and baby blue. The Tweety Bird character is embossed on the ankle. The basketball shoe comes with two kinds of inner socks. One style is in all yellow, the other one comes in baby blue with Tweety printed all-over.

WOW!

Found this wack shit @ Highsnobiety

NEW JOINT: Dave Young - Let It Go (Prod. by Just Blaze)

2007-12-15T11:33:00.000-08:00

Say hello to Dave Young

exactly.

Crooked I On The Wake Up Show

2007-12-15T10:48:00.001-08:00

Tech believes Crooked I is smashin on Jay Z and also feels that he is the illest on the West...Zack Lee definately does not agree, but its peace.

Bobby Ross Avila (Avila Brothers) on keys....phew.

TALKIES: Official Ironman Trailer

2007-12-14T11:55:00.000-08:00

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges

Ghostface should get a song on the soundtrack....

Pictures With Sound: Nikkel Plate the Great

2007-12-14T08:01:00.000-08:00

Multitalented as an engineer and producer, Nikkel Plate stays with some heat. Along with a slew of other producers on the west coast, Nikkel Plate shows you that it AIN'T just about synths and g'funk on this side of the states. Enough words, check the vid:

Check out his Myspace!

Exactly

Break A Leg: The Morning Benders (Dec. 13th)

2007-12-13T08:03:00.000-08:00

The Morning Benders is comprised of 4 of the most jovial, talented, crazy guys ever! How do I know this? Well, because I said so! The bands only been together a little bit over a year and is garnering a serious SERIOUS buzz. If you're in the LA area, The Exactly definitely recommends you check them out LIVE TONIGHT and see if they're as dope as we say they are.

And also, stop by their Myspace.The Morning Benders
And Website TheMorningBenders.com

Focus: The Underwater Sculpture Garden

2007-12-13T07:33:00.000-08:00

As if you ever needed more coaxing to get into the waters of the Caribbean, artist JASON TAYLOR has made the island of Grenada a mecca for snorkeling art lovers with his unique underwater sculpture garden, the first of its kind in the world. Covering an area of several hundred square feet just off the island’s southern coast, the “gallery” features hundreds of carefully placed objects and human forms created by Taylor (with the permission of the government) that coexist with the island’s natural reef systems without interfering with their function or damaging their structures. Since debuting last year the site has proven to be a magnet for divers who have flocked to the site by the thousands.

HAVE A LOOK:

View more images @ Supertouch

R.I.P.: Ike Turner Dies At 76

2007-12-12T15:58:00.000-08:00

Music legend Ike Turner has passed away today (Dec. 12) at age 76 in his suburban home outside San Diego.

"He did pass away this morning," Scott Hanover, of Thrill Entertainment Group, which managed Turner's musical career told the Associated Press. A cause of death has not been reported.

Turner, whose career in music spanned five decades, was as much known for his musical prowess as his familial problems, which were often referenced in rap songs, including Notorious B.I.G.'s "Machine Gun Funk."

His marriage to famed singer and musical partner Tina Turner, which ended in 1976, was allegedly an abusive one. The couple's troubles were depicted in the 1993 movie What's Love Got To Do With It?

Following the couple's split, Ike Turner released a pair of unsuccessful solo albums and served a stint in prison for drug and weapons charges.

He was inducted into the Rock & Roll hall of Fame in 1991 and released the Grammy-nominated Here & Now in 2001.

The Exactly Blogspot says farewell to the inspiration for many a "Slap" reference in Hip Hop Music.

GearHeads: Nike Tech Pack Air Max 1

2007-12-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

Nike knows how to start '08 off with a bang. With the upcoming release of the Tech Pack & Safari Air Max 1s. Each model features two different colorways. While the first releases of the Tech Pack were much more subdued and rather colorless, these upcoming packs are a bit more over the top. You'll have to wait for 2008 before these drop.

Only the freshest..

Is the Era of baggy pants coming to an end?

2007-12-12T12:44:00.000-08:00

By Jermaine Dupri

"Last night the Atlanta school board voted unanimously to ban students from wearing baggy pants. This has been goin’ on all over the South lately, in Louisana and other parts of Georgia. It’s been on the radar in New Jersey, Oklahoma and even Yonkers, New York. They also talked about outlawing baggy pants in Baltimore, until they had the good sense to drop it. It’s some of the dumbest shit I have ever heard and now it’s in my backyard. It’s time for me to speak up.

This is basically all about the older generation hating on hip hop. They can’t ban it, so instead they’re gonna try and turn kids into criminals just for being themselves. Kids have been wearing this look for more than two decades. Since before I first discovered Kris Kross, and they wore their oversized pants backwards, kids have been dressing this way, and all of a sudden local governments and school boards all over America are deciding it’s “indecent”. So why now?"

Read rest of blog @ Bridging The Gap

In Zack Lee's opinion, banning baggy jeans is absurd. Granted, a certain stereotype comes attached to the baggy pants image, with 'Thug' being the most prominent. Of course, this mainly stems from an older generations point of view. While we believe its deeper than the older generation's disdain for it, we understand that's where majority of the heat is coming from. Basically, as Andre3000 put it, "Is every nigga with dreads for the cause? Is every nigga with golds for the fall?" Don't get caught up in appearance.

In The Studio: Ryan Leslie Creating Diamond Girl

2007-12-12T12:31:00.000-08:00

"Me (the Artist), Myself (the Producer), and I (the Engineer) get together in the studio to create my single “Diamond Girl”. Great fun as usual:

Reviewing and re-sequencing the footage from this session revealed that it was possible to edit the video with an interesting twist: as though all of my alter egos were recording the song simultaneously, and even interacting with one another.

Please enjoy, request the song at radio, and share my music and vids with anyone else you think may appreciate them." - Ryan Leslie

This is pretty fly!

Source from Next Selection.com
Check out Full song @ Ryan Leslie's Myspace

Exactly..