thank you to Jmack and the fellas of HoodHype for a nice audio interview with the homie Joe Budden. Lol, oh, Joe….the freedom of not owing anyone must be so refreshing, lol.

hoodhype-joebudden080208.mp3

“I feel like Nas touched on the whole hip hop is dead thing, but when he did, it was just an empty statement from him, he never stood firm on why that was the case or how you can fix it or who is responsible….and me being an unsigned artist and not giving a f–k about what anyone thinks about what I’m saying….I figured I was the perfect person to deal with it.”

“I can’t find anybody who can tell me how many albums ‘Reasonable Doubt’ sold its first week.”

“‘Padded Room’ is like Mood Musik’s cousin…I dont think there’s more than 3 punchlines or metaphors or similes on there….I’m my only competition at this point…”

Padded Room, Sept. 30 : )

Last week, I asked why it was so bad for Rick Ross to have had a day-job with a good health plan and a pension (read government job) that he would need to release statements and sling threats at the mere mention of rumors of his past.

Me thinks he should not have protested so much….because thanks to the Smoking Gun (oh man, the kryptonite of the rap-actor)…..Ricky’s accusations of photo-foolery have gone up in smoke.

“Ross (real name: William Leonard Roberts) was appointed a prison guard in December 1995 at a salary of $22,913.54, according to the below personnel record, which was provided to TSG by Jo Ellyn Rackleff, a DoC spokesperson. The rapper’s social security number is identical to that of the jail guard. According to the official document, Ross was earning $25,794.34 when he left the department in June 1997. After graduating from the DoC training academy, Ross was assigned to the South Florida Reception Center in Dade County (the lockup is one of three statewide that serves as an intake facility for new prisoners). When a photo of a uniform-clad Ross surfaced last week…the 32-year-old performer claimed that unnamed “online hackers” put “my face when I was a teenager in high school on other peoples’ body. If this shit was real don’t you think they would have more specifics, like dates and everything?” He added, “Fake pictures are created by the fake, meant to entertain the fake.” The photo… shows a 19-year-old Ross at a DoC ceremony (he was part of the department’s 60th graduating class). He is pictured shaking hands with Marta Villacorta, who then headed the South Florida Reception Center. Villacorta, now the department’s South Florida regional director, was identified by Rackleff…”

(more…)

for blessings that are taken away….new blessings are given : )

fingers crossed………..

; )

(…don)

a disturbing tale of what happens when you have the wrong people repping you and claiming to be out to “do good in the hood.”

Also a lesson learned about “Janky Promoters” (c) Ice Cube

This has nothing to do with rap…but its definitely a foul situation that I need to sound off on on the home turf to the family : )

But first, exhale….and even a little sleep.

(dope photo from Grandgood, with an interesting audio interview)

So ever since yesterday I’ve been listening to this Nas “Queens Get the Money” track on continuous loop….well, actually that’s just how it plays when you open up the zshare link….and mentioned yesterday that the subtle pretty sad ominous beat produced by Jay Electronica had me wracking my brain to remember where I’d heard it from.

nas queens get $.mp3

I knew it was from a movie soundtrack….was thinking “Oceans Twelve” but The Real Rosenthals said nope. Then I thought maybe something from a Bourne movie? Or a Wong Kar Wei flick?

Reader Harosa said “The piano loop sounds like a Moby song, was used in Heat, cant figure the name out yet.” Ooooo, thats a good guess! And thats a dope piano loop! But no.

Reader Big Den said “‘Get the Money’ reminds me of DMX walking through Ox’s house in Belly. But then again I might be referring to the bootleg which had a different soundtrack.” Oh hell nope. And what kind of janky bootlegs are you watching out there in Carson, CA, Den?

Reader Dubois said “Thought it might have been from Thomas Crown but figured I was mos prob thinking of the Nina Simone track. Donnie Darko maybe? Somebody get Jay Electronica on the hotline pronto cos it’s iggin me too now!“ Lol, I like that Nina Simone song too, but not even close. Never watched Donnie Darko.

Well, Merry Christmas! Jay E saved me from my own not-knowing by emailing over the real sample source for the best Nas track in many moons.

Jay says:

“Yann Tiersen is the composer. the movie score is from ‘goodbye lenin’.”

Listen to the original score after the jump…

(more…)

***which means, she totally is.*

 **because where there’s smoke (and prescription anti-anxiety medication), there’s (unattractively low bodyfat, disgruntled british-housewife, judaic mystical) fire.

*cuz need I remind you: of this guy? or this guy? or this guy?

Madonna’s  publicist has released this statement to People Magazine regarding the rampant rumors that Madonna is getting divorced from her husband Guy Ritchie, and possibly having an affair…..”Madonna’s husband Guy arrived in New York last night to be with his wife and family (not in a last ditch attempt to save his marriage which does not need saving). There are no plans for Madonna and Guy to divorce. It’s nothing new that people are airing tons of dirty laundry Madonna’s way lately – much of it untrue. By the way, rumors of Madonna and Lil Wayne are quite exaggerated, as well.”

huh? ha!

the full statement after the jump (more…)

He’s just not that into her….. Here’s a peek into Jeezy’s interview…..

Jeezy’s comments when asked about his rumored relationship with Keyshia Cole as told to VIBE in the August 2008  “The Real Rap Issue.”

Jeezy’s response when questioned about his engagement to Keyshia Cole:  “Keyshia asked me to marry her, bought me a ring and everything.  She not gonna tell you different.  I was grown enough to tell her, Look baby, that isn’t what it is right now.  I’m trying to get my shit together. I’m trying to get my money, take care of me and mine.”

Jeezy’s comments on his rumored relationship with Keyshia Cole:
To be honest, it was more what she wanted.  She was cool and we had a cool friendship.  The media made it out to be something crazy.  We kicked it.  We hung out.  Thing is, you can’t be cool with somebody you wanna be cool with [without the media thinking it’s a relationship

Ice-T thought his legacy would earn him a pass for this ridiculous rant about Soulja Boy and his role in “single-handedly destroying hip hop.” But instead, Soulja Boy hears Ice-T’s foul message, responds…..and checks him.

Trust me, I can’t believe it either. In fact, I would have never known, because I didnt bother to watch Soulja Boy’s response until FWMJ told me to. Now for the first 4 minutes, Soulja Boy clowns Ice-T with a litany of “old” jokes. Some of them are actually pretty funny (sherm perm), all of them are very kindy-garten. But somewhere around the 4:20 mark….Soulja Boy gets a little more serious, and takes the rap legend to task (with, dare I say, a bit of class?). My world is crashing down around me. SB gets the nod.

Ice-T, you should be ashamed of yourself. Talking about fellating teenage boys. Special Victims Unit.

(unrelated observation…..you know what’s some super ballerific ish? not only having entourage at the club, or at the show…but having web-surfing entourage. oooo)

Elephant Man sends a stern message to a female fan with an overactive libido in Ohio. And oddly enough, the fact that he relays this message while holding his fly closed with his hand, does not diminish the power of that message. (via Fly Paper Blog via Crunktastical)

(oops, I fixed the link)

Well, well, well, what do ya know? And here I thought, Khia was gonna have the best backstory on the “Miss Rap Supreme” show…..think again!

Turns out, there’s another contestant who’s gotten a lot closer to rap stardom than that “My Neck My Back” chick will ever get, lol.

Atlanta-based contestant Ms Cherry and human parappa rappa T-Pain have an adorable baby boy together. And while, its unclear if the couple is together or not, just the thought that this woman got drinks, to drink, and drunk ‘em (got knocked up) with T-Pain….is a feat of superhuman endurance.

Ms Cherry already is my favorite to win, and “Miss Rap Supreme” hasn’t even started yet. Check it out Monday at 10pm, on VH1. Much love to my Ego Trip family. (and Naomi B.) Click here to see clips of the season premiere!