bigted

You know I'm down

Busta Rhymes Confirms Album Will Be On Aftermath July 14th, 2008 | Author: Jake PaineAfter speculation last week that Busta Rhymes had severed ties with Interscope Records, or vice versa [click to read], it has been confirmed today that the veteran rapper and Flipmode Squad leader will indeed drop his Blessed album on Aftermath Records, Dr. Dre's imprint at Interscope. "I want everybody to know that the new Busta Rhymes album is coming through blazing the streets crazy. It's the most incredible album in Hip Hop. Stay tuned – it will be out late September on Aftermath, all day, every day," Busta Rhymes told Chris Faraone of The Boston Herald this afternoon, who shared the information with HipHopDX. The album is said to feature Lil Wayne [click to read], Pharrell and Ludacris [click to read].

Happy Birthday Silver Tiger! God Blessa!!!! :wickedwisdom:

Definately looking forward to this, Skillz' one of the rare true rappers left out there

This is a great song, check it out: http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...9/20272963.aspx

I heard a lot of these tracks recently and I'm very impressed, Nas never seems to dissapoint, I can't wait until the album drops a week from today

By Hillary Crosley Reuters - Saturday, June 21 01:13 am NEW YORK (Billboard) - As Def Jam's first signee in 1984, LL Cool J has spent two decades balancing love songs with braggadocio, setting an example that most contemporary MCs have followed. Now the rapper, who also has appeared in 30 films and is producing a new untitled drama for CBS' fall season, is working on the final album in his Def Jam deal, "Exit 13." Due August 5, the set is led by the single "Baby" featuring the-Dream. (Advertisement) Q: You recently told the audience at WQHT (Hot 97) New York's Summer Jam that people have forgotten about you but you're going to jog their memory. What did you mean? LL Cool J: I plan to deliver some great material this year, and I think it's important that people understand my level of passion for "Exit 13." My music suffered a bit on my last two or three records because I made my decisions as an actor and businessman first. Q: One of the new songs, "I Cry," features Lil' Mo. How did that collaboration come about? LL Cool J: People suggested other artists, but Lil' Mo delivered the quality of singing that I wanted on the record, and I believe in her as a talent. Talent doesn't always give you the ability to make great records. Those elements are separate, but I was able to harness her talent and put her in a position to sound great on a song. From the response we're getting at radio, people agree with me. Q: What producers are working on "Exit 13?" LL Cool J: I'm working with a lot of young, burgeoning producers, not many well-known guys. DJ Scratch is the most famous producer thus far on "Exit," and he produced the song "Rockin' With the Goat." The same way I worked with a lot of producers early in their careers and they became popular, these guys -- Raw, Uncut, Illphonics and Suits -- will be the next crop of A-list producers. There are a lot of symphonic instruments on this record, and it has a melodic musicality that I think goes beyond anything I've done in years. Q: Since this is your last album via Def Jam, are you looking to sign with another major label? LL Cool J: I'm not looking for a record deal right now because I'm not looking past this project. "Exit 13" is too important to start thinking about where I want to go label-wise. I want to give people the best record I possibly can, service this project completely and tour. I'll deal with that afterward. Q: Focus is understandable, but as a marquee artist, it's odd that you're not considering other labels. LL Cool J: After 24 years, I'm on my 13th record. so why would I be thinking about labels? I have so many other things going on in my life. If I only rapped, then I would be focused on my next situation. But I have a dramatic TV show with CBS that I'm getting ready to film, I've shot 30 movies, and I have a digital distribution company, LL Cool J Enterprises. It's not about looking to the next deal. That would be almost arrogant. Strategically, it's all about "Exit 13" being great, because whatever I want to do is based on what this record does. I'm better off making sure that this record is successful so that I have more options. Q: Will labels be hesitant to sign you after you publicly challenged former Def Jam president Jay-Z's business decisions last year? LL Cool J: I didn't say anything that wasn't valid. I'm not looking for another deal, but I wouldn't be uninterested either. Regarding my comments about Def Jam, if I make the world's worst record and you accept it, then your responsibility is to promote it. If you think it's the world's worst record and you can't promote it, then don't accept it. I never made my views a personal attack on anybody at Def Jam or tried to degrade anyone's reputation. I'm just glad that there's been a regime change. It feels like the new Lakers. I'm not going to focus on the negative. Reuters/Billboard

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jspymd=200...8&fext=.jsp 07/06/2008 8:15 PM ET Midsummer Classic has 25 newcomers Bumper crop of first-timers highlights new wave of All-Stars By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com The fans have voted. And now so have the managers and players. This year's All-Star squads are now set to represent the National and American Leagues in the annual Midsummer Classic at Yankee Stadium on July 15. Again they offer the best and brightest of Major League Baseball's veterans and talented younger set. From Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones and Lance Berkman to Chase Utley, Joe Mauer, Ryan Braun and Geovany Soto, it's the finest of the old and the new. Twenty-five players are on an All-Star roster for the first time -- 11 for the NL and 14 for the AL. Seven of them are starters. The Cubs and Red Sox each have seven players on the squad. "Because of our success, and I think, the popularity of the team, that has shown in the number of Red Sox that are on this team," said AL manager Terry Francona, whose Boston club has won the World Series twice in the past four years. "I don't want to sit here and apologize for that. We have won, and we have good players. Next week, to be able to represent the American League with that number of Red Sox will be very exciting. I'm very proud of that." The Cubs' club-record-setting seven are Soto, Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Dempster, Kerry Wood and Carlos Zambrano. The Red Sox's seven are Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Jonathan Papelbon, Jason Varitek and J.D Drew. It will be the fifth time that the Red Sox have had at least seven players selected to the All-Star Team. The seven All-Star selections for the Cubs and Red Sox are the most for a team since seven White Sox were chosen for the 2006 game at Pittsburgh's PNC Park. The host Yankees have three players on the team: mainstays Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Rodriguez, the third baseman for the Yankees and now a 12-time All-Star, was again the top overall vote-getter with 3,934,518. Last year, for the game in San Francisco, A-Rod out-polled all 16 elected starters with 3,890,515 votes. "As a kid, I never missed an All-Star Game," Rodriguez said. "It's such a fun game. I really enjoy it. Right now, it has tremendous ramifications with home-field advantage in the World Series, and it's something that I take tremendous privilege in -- receiving these votes." Utley, the six-year second baseman with the Phillies and a .299 hitter this season with 24 homers and 67 RBIs, paced the NL with 3,889,602 votes. A record 214.7 million votes from 16.5 million ballots were cast online via MLB.com and the affiliate 30 club sites. The 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the last to be played in the current Yankee Stadium -- which closes at the end of this season -- will be televised nationally by FOX, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. It will be shown live in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of next Sunday's XM All-Star Futures Game. As in recent years, the winner of the game will determine which league has home-field advantage in the World Series. The "This Time it Counts!" rule was implemented in 2003. The AL, which has won 10 games in a row (not including the 2002 tie at Milwaukee), has enjoyed that advantage every postseason since. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It's amazing to me where I was and where I am now." -- Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The AL will look to keep that string alive led by the contingent from the World Series champion Red Sox. Francona, along with his Red Sox coaching staff, will also have Tigers manager Jim Leyland and Yankees manager Joe Girardi on his bench. These are the AL starters going around the diamond: Youkilis is at first base, making his first All-Star appearance; ditto for teammate Pedroia at second, Jeter is at short, making his ninth appearance; and A-Rod is at third. Mauer of the Twins is making his first start behind the plate and second appearance. The outfield is made up of old standbys Ramirez, making his sixth start and 12th appearance; and Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners, making his seventh start and eighth appearance since his arrival from Japan in 2001. Josh Hamilton, who is in his second season and first with Texas, is the newcomer, making his first start and first appearance. "It's amazing to me where I was and where I am now," said Hamilton, who has overcome drug and alcohol problems to get to this point. "Getting back to the big leagues and being able to go to the All-Star Game is a dream come true." Fans could choose an AL designated hitter for the game, because it's being played this year in an AL park after a two-year run in Senior Circuit yards. Ortiz got that nod, but he won't play because he's on the disabled list with a hand injury. He'll be replaced by Milton Bradley of the Rangers. The players selected these reserves: Bradley, catcher Varitek and outfielder Drew, first baseman Justin Morneau of the Twins, second baseman Ian Kinsler and shortstop Michael Young of the Rangers, third baseman Joe Crede and outfielder Carlos Quentin of the White Sox and outfielder Grady Sizemore of the Indians. Francona added infielder Carlos Guillen of the Tigers, catcher Dioner Navarro of the Rays and pitchers George Sherrill of the Orioles, Justin Duchscherer of the A's, Joe Nathan of the Twins and Joakim Soria of the Royals. The AL pitching staff is as follows: Duchscherer is joined by fellow starters Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays, Cliff Lee of the Indians, Scott Kazmir of the Rays, and Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana of the Angels. Sherrill, Soria and Nathan are joined by fellow relievers Rivera, Papelbon and Frankie Rodriguez of the Angels. With that roster, the NL will have its hands full trying to take back the Midsummer Classic. But if anyone knows the importance of securing home-field advantage in the World Series, it's the man at the helm of this year's NL squad. "This is not a celebrity golf tournament anymore, where everybody gets together, shakes hands and has a lot of giggles," said Clint Hurdle, manager of the defending NL champion Rockies and the skipper of this year's NL team. "We're going to have fun the day before, and we're going to have fun during the workout. Come game time, we're going to have fun, but we need to play, and we need to win a game because of the significant value it adds to the World Series. Four games vs. three, it's the biggest thing out there to get out on that initial foot." Chicago manager Lou Piniella is one of Hurdle's coaches. Piniella is a former Yankees player, manager and general manager. The other NL coach is Padres manager Bud Black. "I'm excited. I'm flattered I was asked," Black said. "To be part of that event is special. Yankee Stadium is a great place, and this is the last go-around. To be part of that in a place where I always enjoyed going as a player and a coach. It's going to be a great three days." No other NL team has more than two players on the squad, including the Rockies, who have outfielder Matt Holliday and pitcher Aaron Cook on the roster. Soto, Soriano and Fukudome were all elected to the team by the fans. Soto and Fukudome are the first rookie starters for either league since the Yankees' Hideki Matsui did it for the AL team in 2003. Soto is the first rookie catcher ever on the NL team, and first rookie backstop to start in an All-Star Game since Cleveland's Sandy Alomar Jr. opened for the AL in 1990. Fukudome is the first rookie outfielder in the NL starting lineup since Frank Robinson in 1956. "Let's hope we win," said Wood, whose NL Central-leading team finished action on Sunday with the best record in the circuit at 53-36. "We could have a chance to benefit from that maybe this year. It would be an important game. It's nice to have your teammates there for sure." The starters around the horn in the NL are Berkman of the Astros at first, making his second start and fifth appearance; Utley at second, making his third consecutive start in as many appearances; Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins at short, making his first appearance; and Jones of the Braves at third, making his fifth start and sixth appearance. Soto, in his first full season after shining as a callup last September, is behind the plate. Soriano, making his fifth start and seventh appearance, joins teammate Fukudome, the do-everything rookie from Japan, and Braun of the Brewers, in the outfield. Soriano, who is currently on the disabled list with a broken finger, has just begun taking batting practice and is doubtful for the game. "The swing, it doesn't feel like it's supposed to," said Soriano, adding that his hand still felt weak after taking BP. "I think it will take time, maybe a week, to feel good again. I'll be ready to play in the second half." The players elected these reserves: catcher Russell Martin of the Dodgers, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres, second baseman Dan Uggla of the Marlins, third baseman Aramis Ramirez, shortstop Miguel Tejada of the Astros, and outfielders Holliday, Nate McLouth of the Pirates and Ryan Ludwick of the Cardinals. Hurdle selected shortstop Cristian Guzman of the Nationals, catcher Brian McCann of the Braves, first baseman Albert Pujols of the Cardinals, plus pitchers Zambrano, Dan Haren of the D-backs and Billy Wagner of the Mets. The NL pitching staff is as follows: Zambrano and Haren are joined by fellow starters Dempster, Brandon Webb of the D-backs, Edinson Volquez of the Reds, Tim Lincecum of the Giants and Ben Sheets of the Brewers. Wagner is joined by Wood, relievers Brad Lidge of the Phillies and Brian Wilson of the Giants. As in the AL, the players made all the other pitching selections. Now in its seventh year, the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Final Vote gives baseball fans around the world the opportunity to select the final player on each All-Star team. Balloting began immediately following Sunday's Major League All-Star Selection Show presented by Chevy, continues until 5 p.m. ET on Thursday and is unlimited. The winners will be announced on MLB.com shortly thereafter. Here are the Final Vote candidates for both squads: In the NL: third baseman David Wright of the Mets and outfielders Pat Burrell of the Phillies, Corey Hart of the Brewers, Carlos Lee of the Astros and Aaron Rowand of the Giants. In the AL: first baseman Jason Giambi of the Yankees, third baseman Evan Longoria of the Rays, second baseman Brian Roberts of the Orioles and outfielders Jose Guillen of the Royals and Jermaine Dye of the White Sox. There are two ways for fans to vote for the 2008 All-Star Game Final Vote -- online now at MLB.com, or on-the-go from their cell phones. Fans also can text the word "VOTE" to 36197 to have the All-Star Final Vote candidates sent to their phones. To vote for a specific player, simply reply with your choice. In Canada, fans should text the word "VOTE" to 88555. Standard text messaging rates apply -- please check with your mobile carrier for details.

Busta Rhymes The Next To Go In Interscope Housecleaning? July 7th, 2008 | Author: Allen JacobsAccording to inside label sources at ThisIs50.com, Busta Rhymes is the next artist to be dropped from Interscope Records. The announcement comes less than a week after Shady Records artist Obie Trice was released from his contract [click to read], and in the same year Joell Ortiz severed ties with Aftermath Records [click to read]. Per the reports, the veteran rapper and Flipmode Squad leader had a conflict with Interscope President Jimmy Iovine that ended with the two parting ways. Busta Rhymes had been working on his second Aftermath/Interscope album, Blessed. A number of songs from that album have already surfaced on the Internet, including "Don't Touch Me (Remix)" [click to listen] featuring an all-star list of emcees new and old. Since signing with the label in 2005 after a tenure at J Records after starting his successful career with Elektra Records, Busta Rhymes released The Big Bang [click to read]. After appearing on Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III, Busta Rhymes also has confirmed appearances on Nas' Untitled album and The Game's L.A.X., making him the only artist to appear on what many are billing, the three biggest rap albums of 2008. Interscope and Busta Rhymes have yet to confirm these reports. HipHopDX will keep you posted.

Allhiphop.com just posted the song: http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/20256593.aspx

Allhiphop.com mentions the JJFP performance in their news: http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/...4/20254408.aspx

This is a great song, the king is back y'all! :wickedwisdom:

Hey y'all check out the "Pain" remix feat. Keyshia Cole, Jadakiss, Bun B, Pusha T, Fat Joe, Young Buck, and Queen Latifah, figure I put it here instead of starting a new thread: http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...2/20250325.aspx

Hey The Definition I sent you a pm, looking forward to hearing this, I definately wanna see MJ come back big

I find it interesting that LL might stay with Def Jam now that Jay-Z ain't there and I've playing that mixtape he released a lot ever since it came out, he seems very hungry again LL Cool J Talks "Exit 13" And Staying With Def Jam? July 1st, 2008 | Author: Omar BurgessLL Cool J has not had a platinum-selling album in nearly ten years, and he says he has himself to blame. "With all my television and film projects, the quality level of my recent albums has suffered," LL said, while speaking with Rolling Stone. "This is a record that I actually, honestly believe from the deepest part of my soul, I would buy- every record you make is not like that." "Mr. Smith" credits his lyrical improvement to the Hollywood writer's strike, which gave him more time to focus on music. He estimates that he threw away two full albums worth of material from his original version of the forthcoming Exit 13. Fellow Queens native 50 Cent will likely lend his support, and LL says the album showcases "a whole other level of dedication, commitment, creativity." Wyclef Jean, Lil Kim, Jim Jones, KRS-One, Method Man and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora are all slated to be featured. Will LL Cool J's 13th album be his last at the only label he's ever known? In past years Def Jam's longest tenured emcee has not been shy about voicing his displeasure with the label's former president Jay-Z. With Shakir Stewart taking Jay-Z's vacated spot, "The G.O.A.T." even hinted that the August 5 release of Exit 13 may not be his final Def Jam effort saying, "It's my last record on the contract, but that doesn't mean that our relationship is over."

Congrats to Kel for the nod, you know I'll be voting! :thumbsup:

:yeahthat: I think Game keeps getting better and better

Happy B-Day Wildchild, Enjoy It Bro! :wickedwisdom:

Well I'm personally not gonna stop being a fan of Will but that doesn't mean I have to like everything he does either, time will tell what's gonna happen

Shaq's not on the level of KRS or Will but I'd personally rather hear from him than a lot of other rappers out on the radio, his raps are fun, Kobe sucks anyway so I think he deserved it too.

:yeahthat: There are a lot of great musicians who do music at age 70 and beyond, the true artists don't stop what they love to do... Besides "Lost and Found" did very well for record sales these days and anytime really, how many other artists could go platinum or gold with every single album, that's very hard to do, not many do that, if 30 million record sales over 20+ years ain't good enough then what the hell is, for him to disregard his rapping career like that is a slap to us music fans and that's why we're mad, I want him to clarify that statement myself, it pisses me off really... I agree with Tim's point about how Will could do both effectively if he wanted to, he could put out the top album and movie of the year in the same year, it's been done in '93 so why can't it be done again, Will's great at both rapping and acting so why should he have to stop either

Shaq got at Kobe hard there, way to kick him while he's down :stickpoke:

This song's great, Saigon is the truth

This song is fire, check it http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/20196502.aspx

Producer wraps life lessons into music Thursday, June 19, 2008 BY JEFFERY C. MAYS Star-Ledger Staff In a small recording studio in a Newark public housing community center, hip-hop legend Eric Barrier advises an aspiring performer how to improve the verse of a song. When nothing had changed by the fourth take, his 19-year-old student, Rahman Henderson, grew frustrated. Barrier, a record producer who is half of the duo Eric B & Rakim, picked up a set of headphones and walked into the booth. "When you make records you gotta think about what's going to be happening at the concert," Barrier told Henderson. Later, he said he was less concerned with Henderson's verse than teaching lessons about following directions, learning from others and pushing yourself to make good into great. "Kids have this resistance to listening to adults and authority, period. He didn't understand all the ins and outs of recording, but he thought he knew everything. He was hard-headed," Barrier said about Henderson. "I'm out to teach more life lessons than recording." Barrier, 40, hopes to impart those lessons through the studio program he's running with the Newark Housing Authority. Operating out of The Clubhouse on Irvine Turner Boulevard, the studio is equipped with professional equipment. In addition to singers, rappers and producers, the free program is looking for Newark students and housing authority residents ages 13 to 19 who want to learn all aspects of the music industry. "We are using this as a trap to get them off the streets and to go to school and college," Barrier said. Before his hip-hop career took off, and while working as a disc jockey at a local radio station, Barrier, a native of Queens, New York, would sneak into LaGuardia Community College to sit in on classes. "I was just trying to learn," said Barrier, who wanted to be a dentist. Barrier's ability to sample and scratch old James Brown beats and Rakim's intricate rhymes gained him recognition as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Then came the international stardom associated with hits like "Eric B for President" and "Paid in Full." Eric B & Rakim traveled the world, from Frankfurt and Russia to Japan and Dubai. Though Barrier, a father of five, never made it to college, he calls his years of traveling and learning the music business a first-hand education The duo produced four successful albums before they split in 1993. There are no plans for a reunion. Barrier said he regrets some of the time he didn't get to spend with his kids. "This is what I'm doing now and it feels good," said Barrier who owns a home in Essex County. Despite his status, some of the kids Barrier works with aren't sure who he is. They look him up on the internet or ask their parents, who often come to the studio in half disbelief. "Then they think I'm important," he said. The idea for the program gelled a couple of years ago when he was talking to Keith Sheppard, a former homicide detective with the Newark Police Department, who now works for the Inspector General's office. The pair knew one another from Sheppard's days as security for Newark native, rapper and actress Queen Latifah. Barrier heard about the authority's plan for a studio through Rahaman Muhammad, president of Service Employees International Union Local 617. Muhammad suggested Barrier to Newark Housing Authority Executive Director Keith Kinard. "Our thought was we wanted to do something creative and challenging because not everyone wants to play basketball or box," Kinard said. "Eric B understands the music business from every angle and he also understands this isn't just about music, but being successful in life and making positive choices." Barrier decided to name the program the Keith Sheppard Studios to honor the source of his inspiration. "It blew me away. I almost fainted," Sheppard said. "It's amazing that a guy like Eric B that can be anywhere with his experience is here to give back." Barrier said he has the connections to help the talented kids he finds through the program. There are already a few who have real musical potential, but his focus is on getting kids to consider college and the business side of music. "You might not be the greatest rapper or singer, but the businessman always outlasts the talent. That's what I teach them," said Barrier, who hopes to expand his program to other cities after it is fully established in Newark. Noah Lynch, a 21 year-old sound producer and engineer, is working with Barrier on the program. A graduate of Arts High School, Lynch earned a bachelor's degree in business entertainment from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, where he learned how to operate a studio and other business skills. Top notch engineers can earn $150 per hour. "I tell kids you can go anywhere in the country and use your credentials," Lynch said. "You can do this for as long as you want." After ending his first session in a professional studio, Henderson appreciated Barrier's efforts. "It's like someone trying to direct and mold you," he said.