bigted

I think to say Jay-Z' more wittier than LL is a joke, LL comes from the golden era of hip-hop where you had to have the most skills to be on top of the game, today the standards have changed...

Beef is played out these days, at this point it'd be better for hip-hop if LL and Jay-Z collabed with each other rather than dissing each other

:yeahthat: Happy B-Day FP!!!

I got this CD a few days ago and it definately got a lot of dope tracks on it, he puts a lot of thought into his rhymes, I'm feeling it a lot

Nas to Bill O'Reilly "I"ll bite your nose off". New Album in 07 We're going overtime this week because you guys can't seem to get enough of Nas. All week people have been asking us if there is anything else going on with him. Yes — take a gander below. Nas definitely scoffed at Bill O'Reilly claiming he was a poor choice to perform at Virginia Tech a couple of weeks ago because of some of his gun references in records such as "Made You Look" and "Shoot 'Em Up." Nas, who says he's about halfway done with his next album (which he plans to release later this year), spoke exclusively to MTV News last week before the show at Virginia Tech, labeling O'Reilly's comments "racist." Esco had a lot on his mind though, from the "n" word to even Amy Winehouse. So we decided to run more from the conversation with MTV News Hip-Hop Editor Shaheem Reid. MTV News: Bill O'Reilly has leveled a lot of criticism at you over the Virginia Tech concert [which went off without major incident]. Would you ever go on his show to talk about your music? Nas: Whenever he wants a debate, I'll go through it. I know Bill O'Reilly's test scores. I know what he did, what he's trying to be ... I'm a psycho. I'm an American psycho. [Addressing O'Reilly:] "Come to Queensbridge, [record your show] out there. Come to Jamaica, Queens [New York]. Do a show in Red Hook [brooklyn, New York]." ... I ain't got no time to talk to a uncivilized savage. This man will go through all kinds of extremes for publicity. I will tell him I'm an American psycho, I'm his worst nightmare. "They Shootin' " is just the beginning. I don't downplay nothing, that's who I am. When he wants to come holla at me, be ready for Hannibal Lecter. He don't deserve an intelligent explanation. I'll bite his nose off! He wants to talk to me like a animal? I will be — but only to him. With everybody else I'll be a gentleman, including his wife. That's right — I'm crazy. That's how we should be to him. He isn't here to help us, and we don't need his help. If Arnold Schwarzenegger comes to VA Tech, he's gonna come dressed like the Terminator? [O'Reilly] would never say that about Arnold Schwarzenegger. But he'll say that to me because he's ignorant. MTV News: What about this whole new controversy around the word "n---a"? They recently kicked Eddie Griffin off the stage at a Black Enterprise magazine event because they said he offended the onlookers with his use of profanity and the word "n---a." Nas: I mean, it's a human problem. It's reality. There's so many prejudiced people in the world. What you gonna do, Sha? You know what it is. It's an ugliness. Racism is ugly. Our people are faced with a serious dilemma, what do we do? You got conservative, rich black folks that are above the word "n---a." Rightfully so. Then you got the word n---a, which has the genius of the black mind and has been changed into a billion-dollar word through Richard Pryor, who should own it. Paul Mooney should own the word. N.W.A, Dr. Dre, should own a piece of the word. "N---a" has changed into a billion-dollar franchise. It's just a smack in the face to all the races that we've changed that into a positive. You're gonna have brothers and sisters who are educated who don't need it. You also have a world who lives in it, who deals with it every day on levels that are unbearable. MTV News: What about a person like Nas who has made it and does mingle with socialites, but also still deals with the everyday thugs? How do you deal with being in both worlds? Nas: It's not right for all us who have made it to forget about everybody else in the struggle. Everybody ain't make it out to be billionaires or filthy rich. We have to bridge that gap back to not come down on each other, especially hip-hop. Don't come down on hip-hop for it. But at the end of the day? Whatever, man. I ain't got no time for it. "N---a" is a part of my vocabulary — as far as I know — for life. Amongst each other, we say it in jokes. It's really a stupid conversation to even have at this point, on the stage we have it on. If [the people who are against the use of the word] really wanted to have a conversation about it, it could have been done better. We didn't invent the word. We took the word and made it into something positive and we made money off it. God bless Richard Pryor. MTV News: It's wild that we as a people still haven't resolved this. They brought this up 10 years ago with Snoop and them, and back in the '80s ... Nas: You right, Sha. My example is Richard Pryor. Richard is my hero. He made an album called Supern---er where [on the cover] he's in the air like Superman. A few years later, they put him on the poster for "Superman III" with Christopher Reeve. They needed Supern---er to help America's biggest hero, Superman. They needed to sell movie tickets. God bless Richard Pryor! He turned the word into a positive. Of course, there is some f---ed-up rap music out there. That just f---s up the music. But at the end of the day you can't blame rap for everything. MTV News: Last year, your Hip Hop Is Dead declaration was one of the most provocative statements in a long time. Recently though, the whole game has been sparked with the 50 Cent vs. Kanye West showdown. Obviously you've been keeping up because you told me that you felt 50 was going the controversial route, and it didn't sit well with you. Nas: At first I was like, "Damn, he should be embarrassed," but now I get it. I'm excited about his album and Kanye's album, really. [50's] got that street sh--. I wanna hear that. Kanye has that pure music. That wins all the time. This is n---as' third albums. I'm looking at the controversy that they gotta put behind it and I'm like "damn!" It's that competitive hip-hop sh--. But I feel that your third album in 2007, it should be mind-blowing. I'm just happy Kanye got some good sh--. I'm just sitting back in my chair looking at n---as like, "Hurry up!" It's fun from where I'm at. I'm G'd up from where I'm at. Third album? Come on, bring it! Hip-hop needs it. MTV News: Your third album was back in '99. Now you're working on your ninth LP, not counting the Firm, The Lost Tapes or your other side projects. Salaam Remi, who has been a constant collaborator of yours over the last few years, called me up recently. People might not know that in addition to doing your album, he also produced a bunch of stuff for Amy Winehouse's Back to Black album. I was seriously lobbying with Salaam to get you and Amy together for a collaboration. You think that might happen? Nas: Absolutely, people don't know "Me and Mr. Jones" on her album, that's me [she's talking about.]. She mentions my birthday and then Destiny, that's my daughter. Its all based around my sh--. I think she's one of the hottest to hit the scene this year. She's a true artist to the fullest. MTV News: When I heard it, it reminded me of the song you have about Rakim on Street's Disciple. Nas: I felt the same way. It felt like "U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography of Rakim)." I was f---ing with it because it had that sound, the whole album had that sound I been f---ing with. http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/091707/

I'm in

That's amazing Kanye went almost platinum in just one week these days, Interscope was hoping that 50'd do "GRODT" numbers by releasing that many singles but really most of those singles weren't hits on the charts so that ain't happening, it's clear to see his career's on a decline

This sounds promising, it could be the thing that'll bring more life to hip-hop

Method Man feat. Ginuwine "Let's Ride"

:rofl: :rofl:

Thanks for the review, I'll be sure to check for this album when it comes out

Dope video! :thumbsup:

Wyclef Jean Goes Back To "The Carnival," Links With T.I., Akon & Lil' Wayne Friday - August 31, 2007 by Anthony Roberts Founding Fugees member Wyclef Jean has returned to his former recording home Columbia Records and is putting the finishing touches on his fifth solo LP The Carnival II: Memoirs Of An Immigrant. The album, which is Clef's fifth solo set, is slated for a fall release and will be his first full-length album for the label since 2002's Masquerade. The disc's first single, "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" featuring Akon, Lil' Wayne and Niia, was released earlier this month and has been gaining momentum for the album which Clef calls "a continuation of 'Gone 'Til November.'" "I focus a lot on the songwriting," said Clef via a statement, who also produced the entire new album alongside long-time partner and cousin, Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis. In addition to a healthy dose of Clef's production, the album will also feature a diverse list of collaborators including Paul Simon , Mary J. Blige, T.I., Norah Jones, Akon, Serj Tankian ( System Of A Down), Lil' Wayne, and Shakira, among others. As SOHH previously reported, T.I. will be executing producing the upcoming project. "It was definitely an honor," T.I. told SOHH. "I'm pleased to be involved. The album is outrageous. It's out of here. It's better than the last one. I think it's more of an infusion of one side of the urban market and the worldly market." No release date for The Carnival II: Memoirs Of An Immigrant was given at press time.

I don't think Will's retired from music yet, I think he's just frustrated with the state of rap like he was after he stopped rapping for awhile after code red, when the right time comes he'll release another album I'm sure, K.Smith don't have no reflection on his career whatsoever either

Heavy D's one of the greatest mcs ever, he got a great flow

Yeah it's not looking too good right now with Will doing all these films and not doing any music

Yeah like everyone says LL's trying to sound too much like 50 and that's not a good thing, he needs to do his own classic LL style again, I ain't feelin' this :thumbdown:

I don't think either 50 or Kanye are gonna sell as much as they used to, a lot of people are tired of their egotistical tantrums at this point, but at least Kanye does put out some quality music in between to back up some of his talk, you can't really say that about 50 so that's why Kanye'll probably outsell him

Personally I don't have a problem with ghostwriting as long as the songs are hot

100,000 albums sold worldwide is impressive for an independent album, go Jazzy!! :wickedwisdom:

Ted you talk a lot of sense.. what you been up to, how's life? Life's good for me right now, been working a lot recently so I haven't had much time to come on here as much as I used to

Well I don't think Will's gonna lose any sleep over not being on this list, I find it wack that people care more about what rapper makes the most money than who puts out the most quality, that's why the rap game is the way it is right now :thumbdown:

K.Smith's rapping ability is... :thumbdown:

I would be very surprised if 50 wouldn't release anymore albums even if he gets outsold by Kanye

Bonds Breaks All-Time Home Run Record SAN FRANCISCO - Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants set the all-time home run record by belting No. 756 in the 5th inning of last night's game against Washington Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik. The Nationals won the game 8-6. For one spectacular moment, Barry Bonds and everybody cheering him could forget about the controversy surrounding his chase and appreciate the phenomenal feat: 756. Nobody in the majors - not Hank Aaron, not Babe Ruth - has ever hit more home runs than the San Francisco star. On Tuesday night, in his home ballpark, it didn't matter how many of them might have been fueled by steroids or performance-enhancers. Bonds has the title of home run king all to himself, ending Aaron's 33-year reign. "This record is not tainted at all. At all. Period," Bonds said. And more than 43,000 adoring Giants fans, including his godfather, Hall of Famer Willie Mays, surely agreed. Bonds raised both arms over his head like a prize fighter in victory, fists clenched - and then he took off. It was over at long last. Bonds did it with a shot to the deepest part of the ballpark with one out in the fifth inning against Washington's Mike Bacsik. Bonds sent the 84-mph fastball arcing high into the night, 435 feet into the right-center field seats. And then, the celebration began in force - fireworks, streamers, banners commemorating the accomplishment, and even a party in McCovey Cove. Conspicuous by their absence were the commissioner and Hammerin' Hank himself. Though he was on hand for the tying homer three days ago, deciding to put baseball history ahead of the suspicions plaguing the Giants slugger, Bud Selig wasn't there for the record-breaker. Instead, he sent two emissaries, Major League Baseball executive vice president Jimmie Lee Solomon and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. Selig also issued a statement. "While the issues which have swirled around this record will continue to work themselves toward resolution, today is a day for congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement," Selig said. Bonds also heard personally from the commissioner with congratulations. "I was very happy about that," Bonds said. As for Aaron, he said all along he had no interest in being there whenever and wherever his record was broken. He was true to his word, but he did offer a taped message of congratulations that played on the stadium's video board during a 10-minute, in-game tribute. "It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity and determination," he said. "Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement. "My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams." A woman who answered the phone at Aaron's home in Georgia shortly after Bonds' homer said that Aaron was asleep. "When I saw Hank Aaron that made everything," Bonds said. "We've always loved him. He's always the home run king." With a long, satisfied stare, Bonds watched as the ball sailed over the fence and disappeared into the scrum in the first few rows. Then he raised both arms over his head like a victorious prize fighter, fists clenched, and took off. "I knew I hit it," Bonds said. "I knew I got it. I was like, phew, finally." His 17-year-old batboy son, Nikolai, was already bouncing on home plate as Dad rounded third and ran the final 90 feet to make it official. After a long embrace, the rest of the family joined in - his mother, two daughters and wife. And then there was Mays, who removed his cap and congratulated his godson. Bonds saved his most poignant words for last, addressing his late father, Bobby. "My dad," he said, looking to the sky and choking back tears. "Thank you." Bonds had wanted to break the record at home, where he would be assured of a friendly crowd. They were all right, unlike in San Diego where some fans held up signs with asterisks. Bonds has always denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. After doubling and singling his first two times up, Bonds hit a solo home run. Bacsik put his left hand to the back of his head as soon as Bonds connected. "I dreamed about it as a kid, but when I dreamed about it, I was the one hitting the home run and not giving it up," Bacsik said. "I didn't really want to be part of history as a bad part, but I am," he said. "I'm OK with it." Bacsik later spoke with Bonds and got an autographed a bat from the Giants star. Bonds took his position in left field to start the sixth, then was replaced and drew another standing ovation. The Nationals won the game, 8-6. A fan wearing a Mets jersey wound up with the historic ball. Matt Murphy of New York emerged from the stands with the souvenir and a bloodied face, and was whisked to a secure room. Even with Bonds at the top of the chart, fans will surely keep debating which slugger they consider the true home run champion. Some will continue to cling to Aaron while other, older rooters will always say it's Babe Ruth. "It's all about history. Pretty soon, someone will come along and pass him," Mays said before the game. Aaron held the top spot for 12,173 days after connecting for No. 715 to pass the Babe on April 8, 1974. "This is the greatest record in all of sports," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We are all fortunate to witness it. It's awesome. This road to history has been a lot of fun." Bonds homered exactly three years after Greg Maddux earned his 300th victory at the same ballpark. It's been quite a week of baseball milestones - over the weekend, Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th home run and Tom Glavine won No. 300. A seven-time NL MVP, the 43-year-old Bonds hit his 22nd home run of the year. Bonds broke Mark McGwire's single-season record by hitting 73 in 2001 and while he's no longer such a force, opposing pitchers remain wary. Bonds and Giants management bickered in the offseason over contract issues. This big night was the main reason owner Peter Magowan brought back the star left fielder for a 15th season in San Francisco, signing him to a $15.8 million, one-year contract. Bonds' once-rapid quest for the record had slowed in recent years as his age and balky knees diminished his pace. He hit 258 home runs from 2000-04, but has only 53 since then. While steroids have tinged Bonds' pursuit, it was race that was the predominant issue when Aaron broke Ruth's mark in 1974. Aaron dealt with hate mail and death threats from racist fans who thought a black man was not worthy of breaking the record set by a white hero, the beloved Babe. Bonds was destined for stardom at an early age. The son of All-Star outfielder Bobby Bonds and the godson of one of the game's greatest players, Bonds spent his childhood years roaming the clubhouse at Candlestick Park, getting tips from Mays and other Giants. "I visualized him playing sports at a high level. He was 5 when he was in my locker all the time," Mays said. In a matter of years, Bonds went from a wiry leadoff hitter with Pittsburgh in 1986 to a bulked-up slugger. That transformation is at the heart of his many doubters, who believe Bonds cheated to accomplish his feats and should not be considered the record-holder. There are plenty of fans already hoping for the day that Bonds' total - whatever it ends up - is topped. Rodriguez may have the best chance, with his 500 home runs at age 32 far ahead of Bonds' pace. Bonds said he hadn't yet thought beyond 756. He plans to play in 2008. "I'll tell you one thing: I'm going to hit a lot better from now on," he said after a champagne celebration in the clubhouse.