good for hip hop


2pac

It’s been seven years since we last saw a posthumous 2Pac release — with 2006′s Pac’s Life — but it sounds like his catalog is set to grow once again. According to Billboard, the legendary West Coast rapper’s mother, Afeni Shakur, is eager to have his entire body of work made available to his fans. This sounds hopeful as ‘Pac’s estate was recently signed over to Jampol Artist Management. Tom Whalley, the A&R executive who first signed ‘Pac to Interscope in the early ’90s, will be working with Jampol to release the material. In a statement, Afeni said:

I believe it is our responsibility to make sure that Tupac’s entire body of work is made available for his fans. My son left many incomplete pieces and even more unfinished ideas. Using the blueprints he gave us, I am committed to fulfilling this duty.”

Related:
New Music: James Brown and Tupac “Unchained (The Payback/Untouchable)”
Dr. Dre Says Tupac Hologram Was Only for Coachella 2012
Afeni Shakur Approved Tupac Hologram Tribute at Coachella 2012

ghostface killah

It’s been a painful few years of waiting, but the sequel to Ghostface Killah’s classic 2000 LP, Supreme Clientele, will finally see the light of day this year. Tony Starks shared the good news in an interview with Montreality, in which he elaborated that Supreme Clientele 2: Blue & Cream could release anywhere between July and September — but most likely in August (don’t hold him to it, though).

Touching on other upcoming projects, Ghost clarified that his collaborative LP with MF DOOM will also arrive in 2013 (most likely around Halloween) and revealed that RZA is enlisting “real magicians,” no sample-based beats, for the potential 20th Anniversary Wu-Tang album. It sounds like internal disagreements has held up progress thus far, but here’s to hoping the crew put aside their differences and bless us with that good music.

Meanwhile, Ghostface Killah’s collaborative album with producer Adrian Younge, Twelve Reasons to Die, is due out April 16. Listen to its first single, “The Rise of Ghostface Killah,” here.

Watch Ghostface’s interview with Montreality after the jump…

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twelve reasons to die

Late last year, Ghostface Killah announced his 10th solo album, Twelve Reasons to Die, to be released Nov. 20. It was never made clear why it was delayed, but that doesn’t matter a whole lot today as The Ironman finally provides an update on his upcoming LP — including its first single.

Twelve Reasons to Die, which is produced entirely by Adrian Younge and executive produced by RZA, will hit stores April 16 through Soul Temple Records, and will come complete with a six-issue comic book series and collected graphic novel. The album’s lead track, “The Rise of Ghostface Killah,” clearly lends to its cinematic theme, as we hear Starks wax super sharp rhymes over a crisp, vintage Wu-Tang beat.

In related news, Ghostface recently confirmed that he and DOOM (formerly MF DOOM) are working on a long-speculated collaborative project. Also, his classic 1996 debut, Ironman, is to be reissued as “Premium Collection: Gold Edition” CD box set by Get On Down later this month. Goodies include a 48-page hard-cover book and puzzle of the original artwork! More info here.

Check out “Rise of Ghostface Killah,” plus details on the DOOM collaboration and Ironman reissue, after the jump…

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Justin_Timberlake_and_Jay-Z

After rocking The Grammys with their new “Suit & Tie” collaboration this weekend, Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z may be taking their new-found friendship on the road. According to the New York Post, the pair are planning a 10-city stadium tour together. No official word has been given yet. This does, however, come just a few days after Justin told E! that “we’re definitely going to go on tour” — but who exactly he was referring to when he said “we” was not made clear.

Related:
Justin Timberlake Rocks with Jay-Z & Timbaland at Post-Grammy Concert in Hollywood
New Music: Justin Timberlake “Mirrors”
2013 Grammy Awards Performances: Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Miguel, Wiz Khalifa & More

kendrick lamar bristol

Kendrick Lamar brings us the first episode in his new vlog, which recaps his recently wrapped-up World Tour — a road trip which took him to 29 cities in 15 countries to play 30 shows for his growing global fanbase. This first video invites us across the pond to Kendrick’s gig in Bristol, U.K. where, needless to say, it looked like he put on a helluva performance. We also get up close and personal with his fans on the street and at the meet-and-greet. Good kid, great city!

Watch the first episode of Kendrick’s World Tour vlog after the jump…

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kanye high school 2

In light of Kanye West’s continued success at The Grammys (while he was busy taking in the sights in Brazil with Kim and Will Smith this weekend, he scooped three awards: Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration), CBS Chicago 2 decided to meet up with some of Ye’s old High School teachers to reflect on his climb to “the top of the totem pole.”

“[He used to tell me] he was going to be the best rapper in the whole world,” his old P.E. teacher beamed. “There were times during class where he would be doodling or drawing or he would be writing; back then I would have called it poetry, but it was really rap,” another remembered. Even Kanye’s unforgettable outburst during Taylor Swift’s VMA acceptance speech didn’t surprise some of his teachers; he would often speak out before he thought about the consequences, apparently. Sounds like his teachers always had a hunch about the kid.

Watch the video after the jump…

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eminem

There’s been plenty of talk (including from the man himself) over the past year that a new Eminem album is in the works. The rapper’s long-time manager, Paul Rosenberg, offered the latest update on the forthcoming record today. Speaking to Billboard, Rosenberg revealed that Em is “far into the process” of recording his eighth studio album, and that it is due post-Memorial Day (which falls on May 27 this year).

We fully expect to be releasing a new Eminem album in 2013. He’s been working on it for some time. It’s safe to say that it will be post-Memorial Day at some point, but we’re not exactly sure when. We’ve got some dates locked in for him to perform live in Europe in August, so we’re trying to see what else lines up.

Rosenberg also discussed Shady Records’ other future releases. He reassured us that 50 Cent’s Street King Immortal will arrive in the first-half of 2013, and that new solo projects from Yelawolf, Royce Da 5’9″, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Joe Budden are all in the works.

Related:
90′s Throwback Gold: NORE’s “The What What” Footage Feat. Eminem, 50 Cent, Cam’ron, Big Pun, etc #NSFW
New Video: Skylar Grey Feat. Eminem “C’mon Let Me Ride”
Big Sean Says Eminem Invited Him to the Studio (Video)

pusha t mtv

Pusha T has been keeping us occupied with a slew of solo material, including the very recent Wrath of Caine mixtape, but he’s once again reassured us that a new Clipse album is on the way. Pusha shared the good news during an interview with MTV on the set of his “Doesn’t Matter” video shoot, in which he also revealed the LP will be titled As God As My Witness. That’s as much as he elaborated on the project, but he did promise it will be “super special” for the fans. The album will serve as Pusha and No Malice’s fifth together, and the first since 2009′s Til the Casket Drops.

When it comes to Clipse, that’s a special brand to me. Me and Malice talk about doing a Clipse album. I’m not into toying around with that, just dropping records that ain’t related to an album; we owe our fans something super special. So when it’s time to do that, we’re just going to zone in and focus in on that… I know the title of it is going to be ‘As God As My Witness.’ I just think it’s fitting, I mean, come on. [Laughs]

Watch the interview after the jump…

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big pun

Just a day after celebrating the 10-year Anniversary of 50 Cent’s blockbuster debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, we remember one of hip-hop’s most beloved MCs, Big Pun. Hot97′s Mister Cee dedicated his Throwback at Noon mix to the late rapper today, commemorating the 13th Anniversary of his untimely death. Revisit some of Pun’s greatest hits in the hour-plus mix below.

Stream Mister Cee’s “R.I.P. Big Pun” mix after the jump…

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grodt

It’s hard to believe, but today marks the 10th Anniversary of one of hip-hop’s best-selling albums of all-time, 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin (makes you feel old, doesn’t it?) Commercially, it was a storming success: The album sold 872,000 first-week copies (over 12 million to date), spawned three top 10 singles (“In Da Club,” “21 Questions,” “P.I.M.P.”), and earned 50 a joint North American tour with rap titan Jay-Z. Culturally, the record didn’t fare too bad, either, introducing Curtis Jackson as the archetype of an authentic street MC to a new generation of rap fans around the globe and cementing him as a future hip-hop Hall of Famer. And, let’s not forget how it made him Public Enemy number one for paranoid suburban parents.

To commemorate the success, impact and lasting influence of Fif’s debut album today, many of our friends from around the Internet have penned their own tributes, re-reviewed the 16-track LP, dug up unreleased trivia, gathered the memories of 50′s peers and even sat-down with the man himself to look back on his blockbuster record. So, dust off the CD, pull out the durag and yell, “We say you a wanksta and you need to stop frontin’!” like it was Feb. 6, 2003 all over again.

Check out our 10 favorite Get Rich or Die Tryin’ tributes after the jump…

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