bigted

Well Canibus mentioned something in "Second Round Knockout" about LL and Jay-Z having some tension, they were never really close homies I don't believe but they do got respect for each other musically, really I think it's like the DMX/Jay-Z situation, LL's probably gonna just leave the label, it's probably the best thing for him at this point, Jay-Z got a big ego, he's not gonna promote any great rapper on the same level as him as much as he promotes himself... Now you can't compare Diddy's promotion to LL's promotion, most people don't really consider Diddy an artist, he hasn't had a hit album in almost 10 years, he was basically selling a lot off the hype of Biggie's death, I remember having debates with kids in my school when that album dropped and I told them that Puffy won't be around much longer after the hype of Biggie's death dies down and I was right, that album sold like 8 million 'cause he was Biggie's homie but then "Forever" came out the next year and that didn't go platinum and neither did any of his other albums since then, and plus the fact that everyone in the world knows that he don't write his own raps, and basically he's more of a buisinessman than a rap artist, if his wasn't a smart buisinessman he wouldn't have a career, I give him credit for that, can't knock his hustle, but I could knock his music, lol,but LL's known for having the most consecutive rap albums go platinum so when he don't go platinum it's like Cal Ripken sitting out a game, and now there's no way Young Jeezy is the next Slick Rick LL's better off leaving Def Scam 'cause it's garbage now, it ain't worth staying there the way it is, Jay-Z'll promote C-Rated rappers and r&b singers but no A rated rappers besides himself, if LL and Jay-Z came out in the same quarter Jay-Z'd promote himself much more than LL, if he promotes Nas as much as himself I'll consider it a miracle, which ain't happening, less than 3 weeks and there's no videos? There was advertisements all the time on TV6 weeks in advance for Jay-Z album, Nas should've stayed on Columbia, I think they gave him better promo, "Made You Look" and "I Can" were playing on MTV in heavy rotation by the time "God's Son" was on release,they don't wait till the last week to release the video for his album... Nowif LL puts out a classic album with the type of reputation he has as a respected rapper, he'll still go platinum even with G-Unit on it, if he comes up and performs I don't think he'll be stopped, unless Jay-Z tries to pay the stations not to play LL's songs, lol, and well if LL's selling out for working with G-Unit, Jay-Z sold out by signing Rick Ross and doing songs with him 'cause everyone in G-Unit is a better rapper than he is, well maybe not Tony Yayo, I'll give Ross the advantage there, lol...

Well I'd imagine there would be a lot of guests on this album, there's a reason why he went to Def Jam, he wants this album to sell millions, and I hope he does too, it's time for real mcs to top the charts for a change, yeah basically what's been released so far I think this album's gonna be his best album in quite a while, Nas always delivers though, btw speaking of Game where could you get that extended version of "Why You Hate On The Game?" with Nas featured on it, I remember Game saying there was a 10 minute version of the song but it was too long to go on his album so there was the shorter version there instead, is it on a mixtape?

Rev. Run's Son JoJo Preps Hip-Hop Debut By Alexis Jeffries Date: 11/28/2006 4:00 pm Reverend Run's son Joseph Simmons Jr., or JoJo, is attempting to make a mark on the Hip-Hop scene as one-third of his NYC-based rap group, Team Blackout. "I'm trying to bring Hip-Hop back," JoJo told AllHipHop.com. "I feel like Hip-Hop is a bunch of just dance moves." Currently in the studio, Simmons, 16, and his fellow group mates began rhyming with each other early on in grade school and decided to make their music stint official. Simmons, who raps under the alias "Make It Happen," says he met his group members, "Conscious" from Queens, NYC and "LP" from Hempstead, Long Island, in 7th and 9th grade, and have been working together for the past two years to make an album for fans of real Hip-Hop. Simmons says he is actively trying to get out from under the shadows of his famous father, Rev. Run of Run-DMC. He admits, however, that being around his father has been a good training ground for entering the music industry. "I was on tour with my dad. In London before performing with my dad, signing autographs," Simmons says of the fame he achieved after two seasons on MTV's hit series, Run's House. "So I'm use to it. I'm ready to show what I got." The most valuable lesson he has taken from famous family members and mentors (including his uncle and aunt, Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons and mentor Bishop Jordan), is "if you take shortcuts in life, you get cut short." Even after reportedly approaching his uncle Russell, founder of Def Jam Records, about starting a production company under his new label Russell Simmons Music Group, the young MC has decided to make it on his own in the music game to prove his credibility outside of his famed father. Team Blackout is currently in the studio working on their album. They have seven or eight tracks done, Simmons says, and Hip-Hop fans can only expect the best from Rev. Run's son, JoJo "Make It Happen" Simmons.

Well LL did mention he's doing a mixtape, maybe that's where he'd maybe make that knockout track, I don't think Jay-Z'll releasing LL's album if he's ripping him on it, lol, I think LL has a legit beef though I mean come on now it's getting ridiculous how everytime I turn on the TV I see Jay-Z, he needs to promote the artists on the label, not just himself, hip-hop don't evolve around only him, he needs to realise that, he don't own hip-hop, btw LL's been through his share of controversey too, that's basically how him and 50 are similar, obviously he wants to be that way again, and well if this makes him create a classic I'm all for it what can I say... I really think this is something that could be resolved behind closed doors but if this is something that could give LL an extra motivation on his album then by all means he should just bust some shots to the dome, how do you know maybe LL wanted to talk to Jay-Z but Jay-Z was too busy to talk to him? This is why probably that's why LL's making these comments 'cause Jay-Z don't want to listen, we know how much of a rat Jay-Z could be, so it's time for LL to make him bite the cheese, lol, remember that Jay-Z went on vacation when he was supposed to shoot a video with DMX, which lead X to leave the label, maybe X should lend a hand in the battle too, I'd love to see that happen, "Year Of The Dog..Again" is an aggressive record, he could bring out the best of LL too, another "4,3,2,1" is needed... I think LL should just let it all out in the music and it'll be something that'll put Jigga in permanent retirement, and of course maybe if LL and 50 have a disagreement in the studio like what happened between Canibus then LL could bury him too, it's gonna be an entertaining 2007

Congrats bro! :2thumbs:

There was a lot of hot albums during the summer too, 2006 was a great year for hip-hop, I don't see how it's dead really, yeah that cover is awesome too, a lot of great guests on there too

Hopefully Nas comes strong here and it lives up to all the hype, btw the one thing I don't get is why does Will.I.Am only sing the hooks when he's featured, why doesn't he rap on any of them?

Chuck D ESPN Theme ALI RAPS Track PE frontman Chuck D is doing his thing on television too. On the ESPN sports network theres a celebration of Muhammad Alis 65th birthday, and with the help of DJ Johnny Juice, and Kyle Jason, 5 tracks have been created and commissioned for soundtracking and score. The basic plans were to make these themes for the broadcast only but its developed into a full blown separate project as well. Video was shot in lower Manhattan by Kevin Shaw, also with Kyle Jason sparring in background ( Kyles a part time boxer as well as adding music, singing and writing the theme chorus), and the main ALI theme is slated for digital release on itunes come December 4th The soundtrack breakdown and credits as follows... 1. ALI RAP THEME ( Get Used To Me) Produced and arranged by Johnny "Juice" Rosado Written by J. Rosado, C. Ridenhour, K. Smith Vocals: Chuck D Additional Vocals: Kyle "Ice" Jason Publishing info: Juice On The Loose Publishing (BMI), Terrodome Music Publishing (BMI),Afro Wop Music (BMI) 2. ALI RAP THEME ( Get Used To Me) INSTRUMENTAL 3. Ali DJ Joint (The Cut Man) Produced and Arranged by Johnny "Juice" Rosado Written by J. Rosado, K. Smith Scratches: DJ Johnny Juice Live Bass: John Montalbano Live Sax: Jeff Sheloff Publishing Info: Juice On The Loose Publishing (BMI), Afro Wop Music (BMI) 4. Percussion Thang (Rumble In The Jungle) Produced and Arranged by Johnny "Juice" Rosado Written by J. Rosado Vocals: Kyle "Ice" Jason Live Percussion: Johnny "Juice" Rosado Live Bass: John Montalbano Publishing info: Juice On The Loose Publishing (BMI) 5. Ali's Horn Discord (CraZy Man) Produced and Arranged by Johnny "Juice" Rosado Written by J. Rosado, K. Smith Publishing info: Juice On The Loose Publishing (BMI), Afro Wop Music (BMI) Also on Friday, December 8th, Chuck D will stop by to chat about hosting Ali Rap , an ESPN Original Entertainment production examining the words and influence of Muhammad Ali. Ali Rap is based on the book by George Lois that highlights the words and witticisms of "The Greatest." For one hour, viewers experience Ali's powerful words not only as said by the three-time heavyweight champion himself, but also from some of today's biggest names in sports and entertainment. The song "ALI RAP (Get Used to Me)," a hip-hop homage to Ali written and performed by Chuck D, serves as the show's soundtrack. As leader and co-founder of legendary rap group Public Enemy, Chuck D redefined rap music and Hip Hop culture with the release of PE's explosive debut album, Yo Bum Rush The Show, in 1987. His messages addressed weighty issues about race, rage and inequality with a jolting combination of intelligence and eloquence never seen before. Be sure to catch Chuck D on Friday, Dec. 1 at a time TBD, and don't miss Ali Rap, December 9 2006

I think it's Method Man(from Wu Tang, I think one of his albums went double platinum but sure the hell not his new one, lol), didn't Wendy Williams call him gay recently? Method Man is that dude, I don't think he's gay

Well yeah that's a good point there, more than likely they'll be able to work out their differences behind close doors like grown men, but of course it wouldn't hurt to have a great rap battle like this Yeah that's true LL can't be so relaxed, he gotta get on his grind and put out a classic if he wants the recognition again but that Method Man album is much better than Rick Ross, it wasn't right that it wasn't promoted, what about Lady Soverign? That chick got some serious mic skills but where's her promo at? Most importantly is Jay-Z' new album really that important to promote on TV so damn much to sell 800K in the first week? I'm one of LL's biggest fans and I could admit LL's album wasn't deserving to be his highest selling album, it didn't deserve to be his worst selling album either though, but is this "Kingdom Come" Jay-Z' best album? Hell to the nizzo, it'll be reflected once the hype dies down, the sales will drop mad quick, which'll show that he might've bought some of those albums, lol... It's like Jay-Z promotes the weaker artists so he could make it look like all commercial rap is garbage and he's the only quality rapper out there, until Jay-Z could promote a great rapper on his level the way he promotes himself then that means that LL's right and I'm right with what I'm saying here, Luda's new album got some great promo I'll give Jay-Z that, he's on his 3rd single in less than 2 months but he ain't really on Jay-Z' level though even though it was better than some of his other albums... The test will be now if Nas' album gets major promo that's when I'll shut up a lil' bit but until then it ain't like the Def Jam of the '80s/90s, something needs to be done, it's actually good that LL's stepping up saying this 'cause it feels like everyone kisses up to Jay-Z too much, somebody gotta put him on his toes to get the label to where it used to be, the label's garbage right now, he needs to do better... Def Jam has a legacy that rappers like LL built, no wonder he wants to leaves, he's done so much for that label and hip-hop in general that his opinion should matter, I'm sick of how all the pioneers are being pushed to the side, it's such an f'ing joke that Young Jeezy and Rick Ross are considered the top stars on Def Jam now, even 50 Cent raps better than them, lol,if they're really the best rappers in the game then like Nas said hip-hop is dead, Jay-Z needs to sign new rappers on the level of Lupe and promote the hell out of them to live up to the Def Jam legacy, and dump the Rick Ross wack rappers ASAP...

Well if you check the record LL got Canibus, MC Hammer, Kool Moe Dee, etc. in the rap cemetary right now while Nas is still alive and ticking in the rap game especially since he "ether'd" Jay-Z, LL's just been more laid back since nobody been dissing him lately, he wanted to do more positive, fun, and mature rap records beyond beefing but since people consider him soft lately he gotta go back to the aggressive battle style again, he still showed nasty battle skills on songs like "Feel The Beat" and "What You Want?" so if Jay-Z' pissing him off he'll be in the rap cemetary with the other victims of LL Cool J, he better just pump his brakes and just promote LL's next record the way it should be, his next record's gonna be like Mama Said Knock You Out so it's gonna be a real strong street record that'll please all the rap heads, btw "Favorite Flavor" with Mary J. would've been a huge summertime hit if it came out, "Todd Smith" was a radio friendly record, it'd sold crazy if it had more promotion, it'd went platinum like the rest of LL's albums, that song with J-Lo was a big hit, it was the song with Lyfe that made "Todd Smith" run out of buzz...

I'd imagine that the responses would be divided here since half the board considers LL their favorite rapper after FP and the other half considers Jay-Z to be their favorite after FP, LL's my favorite after FP so you know who I'm pulling for, Jay-Z is like the Terrell Owens of rap, very talented but self centered so his team suffers most of the time while he shines, both played 10 years so far, or maybe he's Kobe of rap but certainly not the GOAT Jordan, Def Jam's not the most respected rap label anymore with Jay-Z at president and the Cowboys won't win the Super Bowl with Terrell Owens on their team, LL's the real Michael Jordan of rap or maybe the Jerry Rice of rap if you wanna make comparisons in the same sport, he's still a better rapper than most half his age and he has as many victories over other rappers as Jordan/Rice has rings while Def Jam was hell of a label(PE, Beasties, Slick Rick, EPMD, DMX, etc. were the dream teammates of the label), it's time for LL to "takeover" Def Jam to build it up like the Bulls/49ers dynasty again :stickpoke:

Yeah Jay-Z' a LL fan so he probably won't even respond but if LL gets Dipset featured on his next record then I'd be thinking even more that LL wants to battle Jay-Z, lol, but more than likely I think all the Def Jam artists need to sit down in a room with Jay-Z and straighten this out like grown men with no camera on and just vent out with each other like athletes do in the lockerroom and then they just do a concert together, really I think beef is played out, but I sure wouldn't mind if people could finally see that Jay-Z' overrated and they start giving mcs like LL more credit that they deserve, if people say LL hasn't put out a hot record since Mama Said Knock You Out then Jay-Z didn't put out a hot record since Reasonable Doubt, simple as that really

Wow I notice quite a bit of people are making it look like LL wants to battle with Jay-Z, or is it really that way? He's slamming Jay-Z for the age comment a few months ago when his album came out that he's still gonna rap in his 40's even though Jay-Z said no rappers in their 40's should rap, he slammed Jay-Z for not promoting his record and now he's slamming Jay-Z for being too busy writing rhymes to promote his artists so that's why he's not gonna resign there, is this all a plan to get Jay-Z' to crack and make a diss record at LL? Is LL gonna spend most of his next album making Mama Said Knock You Out songs towards Jay-Z? This is really interesting to see what's gonna happen, whoever wins could have the title as Def Jam president, lol... I really think people're misunderstanding this comment once again, basically what LL's saying is true, Jay-Z spent too much time writing his own rhymes for his new album then he did to promote mostly every album on that label released this year, I mean where was he when Method Man and The Roots came out? Jay-Z wants to just use the CEO of Def Jam to his own benefit and don't want that many other rappers to shine, he won't promote a hot Method Man album but he'll promote a weak Rick Ross album 'cause he knows that Rick Ross is not competition for him but Method Man is a legend and Jay-Z don't want another legend to take away his shine, he wants to make it look like he's the only platinum legend in the game, that's why he didn't promote LL's record either, Jay-Z rather pad his own stats, nowhe's doing as many duets with Beyonce as LL did r&b duets on his last album so to just nail LL for being soft is weak, and then they turn around and call Jay-Z' rap mature rap? Wtf's up with that for real? Actions speak louder than words, LL's more mature than Jay-Z, Jay-Z is selfish but LL's a team player,Jay-Z said that rap fans ain't that smart and he's right, that's why he's fooling them here,btw I'll be really surprised if Nas goes platinum 'cause it's 3 weeks until his album drops from today and now where's his video at? I actually hope Jay-Z makes a diss record to LL so LL could knock him out for good, but I think Jigga knows better than to do that, he better just make sure he writes Uncle L a nice check and promotes his next record and keep it moving

I disagree about Will starting a beef to sell records, the media twisted his words around when he "had something for Eminem", they do that a lot, like they're trying to twist LL's words around now to make it look like he wants to battle Jay-Z, hey if that happens to help sell more records then it's all good, as long as there's a motive behind the statement being made, Will could make strong statements in interviews that could catch people's attention but really it's hell to the nizzo for Will saying stupid things like Kanye to sell records, that's the dumbest thing I heard, watch Kanye's next album's not gonna sell that much if he keeps it up, people are sick of him now really, he's losing fans, Game talked too much before his album came out that's why he sold 380K instead of 1 million that he would've if he let the album speak for itself, it's a banger but he's such an ass right now really so he's losing fans, now the main point that I was making is that Will and Jeff help hip-hop crossover so they deserve to reap every benefit from it, have a soundtrack, movie, and super bowl concert to go along with the album is what I say, the pioneers of hip-hop deserve to sell millions again

Well at least this spam is clean :wiggle:

Yes to all but the last question. The days of what we now think of as commercially successful are numbered. There will probably always be mega-stars of some sort, though the route to mega-stardom will likely change. However, the NEW form of commercial success will be better, because artists will have much more direct control over their craft and it's marketing and profits. The days when going gold is an immense achievement are returning, and 100,000 sales will be thought of as highly successful. The key to remember, is that an artist on a major is lucky to clear 50 cents per CD..... Yeah what's the point in buying every mainstream album if the artists only get a real small percentage anyway? Those rappers really rent cars in the videos, they ain't really that rich either, they're just frontin',lol, the only real ballers in rap are those like Will Smith, LL, Puffy, and Jay-Z but that's mostly from making money outside of their albums, although there are those out there like Jim Jones that're ballin'!! 'cause they're independent, now to get back to the main purpose of this thread, I think hip-hop will be ruined if nobody listens and just complains but as long as people listen to hip-hop it won't be ruined, that's the main essence of hip-hop is enjoying the quality, there is quality music out there, and no matter how people enjoy it as long as they listen that's the main thing and what it comes down to, people can't afford to buy every hot album out there at $15 a pop so if it's more convienent for them to download then god bless them, as long as they enjoy it as the main thing... At the end of the day the real artists care about what the peeps think about their albums but the money hungry rappers just look at the audience as numbers and don't care whether they like it or not so **** them and just support real artists...

I think he has a right to speak too since his new album's better than 90% of the rap industry, Snoop's bringing it hard again, I think "Pump Ya Brakes" with FP would've been a huge hit if that came out last year

Rewind the Rhyme: Snoop Dogg By Amanda Diva As the end of the year approaches, labels are scrambling to drop a slew of heavy hitters hoping to rake in that last bit of bread before '06 is a wrap. Among them, The Game, Young Jeezy, The Clipse, Pitbull, and Lil’ Scrappy are holding it down for the new jacks and Jay-Z and Nas' releases have been the biggest news of the year. With Nas', Hip Hop is Dead, and Jay's Kingdom Come, both are addressing the notion of bringing the music back to its essence. Though they've been getting the press they aren't the only legends looking to rejuvenate quality and creativity in the music by not only having good concepts and dope beats but by going back to focusing on doing what they do best: rhyme. The first time I interviewed Snoop Dogg, he said that his main objective when he originally started working with Dre was simply to be the “baddest rapper alive.” Over 15 years later and nine solo albums deep, he has no doubt achieved that goal on more than one occasion. With a unique voice, quiet thoroughness, and a flow sharp like the canines on his namesake he has managed to remain relevant throughout the many metamorphoses of the game. Though with his latest albums lyrics have taken a back seat to catchy hooks, with the release of his new album, Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, he says he's decided to go back to basics and bring back the Snoop that the world of Hip-Hop came to know and love. In this installment of Amanda Diva's "Rewind the Rhyme" we spoke to the Doggfather about not only his inspiration for writing three of his best known and most lyrical records but also about where he, an O.G., fits in today's game, and how his son, his hardest critic to date rates his lyrical skills. ["Murder Was The Case" featuring Dat N***a Daz - Doggystyle, 1993] AllHipHop.com: So tell me about “Murder Was the Case”… Snoop Dogg: Damn. I wrote that song on the floor at Larrabee Studios with my cousin Daz. We had a song called “Dave”. “Dave” was about a young kid that was misled, and then I was like, “You know what? I wanna make a song about me being killed, and right before I get killed, I make a deal with God and I cross him and do a deal with the Devil and he takes my life.” I was just on something devilish. I don’t know why I was thinking that I wanted to make a song like that. I just went in to write that muthaf**ka, and Daz was right there with me, so that’s why he [was on the record saying], “Bring your lifestyle to me I’ll make it better.” He was like right there with me when we was getting to the part where I done been shot. I’m dead and making a deal with God then I come back and he gave me everything that I ask for, then I cross him. And then the third verse I end up in jail, you know what I’m sayin’, [and] I end up getting killed in jail. The s**t was like real heavy and deep. To me, I don’t even know what the f**k I was thinking about when I wrote this s**t. I wasn’t goin’ through no problems. Nothing was going wrong with my life. I was just so f**king creative I was like, “I need to make a song that’s different.” I don’t wanna make a party song. I don’t wanna make a happy song. I don’t wanna make a song where, you know, mothaf**kas gonna dance. I wanna make a song where the song is gonna make a mothaf**ka cry. AllHipHop.com: So how did you feel when it actually came to fruition, in 1994, that you were being charged with murder? Snoop Dogg: It was f**ked up ‘cause they thought that I really made that song for the event that happened. It wasn’t. It was nowhere near it. It was like, “Damn, this s**t don’t even got nothing to do with that.” But where I was really inspired is there was an Ice Cube song ["Alive On Arrival"] where he had [reciting lyrics] “Down at the best spot/ it’s me and JD and they sellin’ more birds than a pet shop.” Damn, I forgot the name of the song but he got shot in the song and that’s where I got the idea for this mothaf**ka at. At the end they like, “Cube! Cube! Wake up! Wake up!” After he got shot he comes back, “Woke back in the back of a tre`/ on my way to MLK.” That s**t was harder than a mothaf**ka and I was like, “Damn, that s**t is dope!” That’s what I was inspired by to do this, and then it turned to a real life situation and it f**ked me up. I don’t think I ever made another song like that after. ["B*tches Aint Sh*t" - Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg, Kurupt, Dat N***a Daz, and Jewell -The Chronic, 1992] Snoop Dogg: That song actually happened when we did the remix for [“Nutin’ But a 'G' Thang”] and it was off of that beat. Dre made that beat for the remix and I did a freestyle on it [reciting lyrics] “Now I be mobbin’ like a mothaf**ka every single day”, some s**t I said, and I just bust on the muthaf**ka for a long time and then Kurupt… I had brought Kurupt and I said, “Kurupt the Kingpin, he’s killin’ em slow” and he was like, “B***hes ain’t s**t but hoes and tricks.” When he came on with that s**t like that Dre was like, “Hold on, n***a! Hold on! We gonna make that muthaf**ka a hook for this beat and ya’ll gonna write some more s**t.” D.O.C. wrote Dre’s s**t. Daz wrote his s**t. Kurupt wrote his s**t. I did my lil’ piece [and] put the hook in. Then we had Jewell sing at the end of it and it became like one of our biggest records on some humbug s**t. We wasn’t even really trippin’ off of it, it was some remix beat, but when Dre heard Kurupt for that one piece on the freestyle we redid it put our verses on there and what da ya know? AllHipHop.com: How do you feel about a lot of your classic records being stuck in Death Row right now? Snoop: I would like to see all of those reels, mastering and publishing and s**t turned over to me. If Dre don’t want it, I do. Suge Knight, you had your run. [You did what you knew.] Let me go on and get it. I was the main writer in the s**t. It’d be nice if I could get my mothaf**kin’ portion. I never said I didn’t want mine, I just you know, left. ["Vato" featuring B-Real - Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, 2006] AllHipHop.com: So tell me about the song “Vato” featureing B-Real of Cypress Hill. The song originally had a positive intention but there’s been a negative spin put on it. Tell me about that. Snoop Dogg: It’s a record with me expressing myself. It’s a story about me almost getting jacked for my chain and me having to do some things to get out of the situation. One of my ese` homeboys had seen it and he brought it back to his homies, just saying what he had seen and the story got repeated three or four different times and whatnot. But the whole actual reality of it is it’s a gangsta record. It was an opportunity for me to capitalize off of a negative situation, because Blacks and Mexicans are fighting and killing each other and I didn’t know how to put that situation in a positive light other than doing a video that could have us working together, working our problems out, and just showing us on the same page moving as one team. You know, I believe people believe in what they see. If you put on TV a bunch of negative s**t about, “I don’t like you, you don’t like me,” you gonna believe that s**t. But if you see something on TV that says, “Hey these guys are working together. They’re trying and making an effort,” It’s gonna make you say, “Well s**t, if they try, I’m gonna try.” We only believe what we see. So instead of putting a negative visual out there I wanted to put something positive out there. AllHipHop.com: You said earlier that when you do your albums, you do what’s missing for you. What would say is missing from the game right now? You’ve been in it from when this music was at its highest caliber of illness and dopeness. Where would you say it’s at right now? Snoop Dogg: I think it’s watered down right now, ‘cause they’re letting everybody get in. There’s a lot of gimmicks and s**t going on, but the real artists always tend to rise to the top. Real music is what it is, you know? Can’t fool people too long, you know what I’m sayin’? You could force a lot of s**t on ‘em and MTV ‘em to death and BET ‘em to death and force it on a n***a like, “Yeah, this that s**t!” But n***a, after a while that soft ass s**t don’t last long. Real n***as want to hear real s**t. AllHipHop.com: Lyrically, on a scale of one to 10, where would you say the game is right now? Snoop Dogg: My game or the game as a whole? AllHipHop.com: Well let’s ask you first. Lyrically, where would you say you’re at? Or better yet, you say your son is your hardest critic, so where would he say you’re at? Snoop Dogg: Well my son would say I’m about a seven-and-a-half, but I’ve been in the game for about 10 years so, ya know, I don’t disapprove. That’s a good thing to even be in that caliber after being in the game for so long. But when I’m challenged, whenever I’m on a song with somebody else, I like to f**k them up, or f**k they song up. And it ain’t personal. It’s business. That’s why you payin’ for me. You’re payin’ for me to get on your record and make your s**t that s**t. So at the same time, when I’m doing my records I like to make my records like that. I don’t want to be in the club just hearin’ your s**t. I want to hear my s**t. I want my s**t to stand out and not just the old s**t. I want my old s**ts to be like, “Hey!”, but I want that new s**t to make you do that too. I’m very competitive, but at the same time, I’m very respectful so I don’t disrespect nobody. I don’t never come at nobody wrong and everybody know that when they ask for Snoop Dogg, they get Snoop Dogg. So, when you ask me to be on your record you know I’m really finna try to gun you down! And it ain’t towards you. It’s in general to make the folks wanna like this record. AllHipHop.com: In one word how do you define an MC? Snoop Dogg: That word been thrown out of context since the creation of the master of ceremonies. To me, an MC is somebody that can control the crowd. That can rock the crowd. That can make a dull situation hype. That can make a sad man happy. Make a girl that never danced before dance and make somebody that can’t really party loosen up and have fun. That’s what a real MC is, whether they got a hit record or not. You should be able to MC regardless, like me.

Yeah LL said in the new interview on MTV.com that he wants to make another Mama Said Knock You Out, now that's what I've ultimately wanted, the smooth songs are cool but he's best when he's aggressive, I think the GOAT LL will bring the best outta 50 too, he might start rapping like he did on his mixtapes again and he'll stop doing that pop candy shop rapping too, lol, Jay-Z'll know better to promote LL more this time if he knows what's good for him :bowdown:

Usher got some nice dancing skills so I could see why he's playing James Brown

Jamie Foxx wants to beat up Kramer, Usher to play James Brown -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jamie Foxx Threatens Michael Richards Jamie Foxx has threatened Michael Richards, who you might know as Seinfeld’s neighbor Kramer, with bodily harm after watching video of Richards yelling “******” repeatedly at 2 black man heckling him. Although Richards has publicly apologized, Foxx says that is not enough; “When I see him, it’s on. I’m not going to let him get away with it.” “If I’d have been in the audience he would’ve had to put his dukes up. He probably should go get a private island somewhere, cause if I see him…”..man, that guy sure is uppity! Usher to play James Brown R&B megastar Usher is set to play James Brown in a big screen adaptation of his life. A source tells PageSix.com the movie is “still in an options state” but a script is in the works and BLACK EYED PEAS singer FERGIE is vying to play “one of Brown’s wives”. Brown’s manager, SUPER FRANK, adds, “Mr Brown is a true legend of our times, and he is very excited about making this film.”

I don't know man I don't think Lil' Wayne's verse ruined Outkast's album, it's probably one of the top albums of the year, it never left my CD player since I bought it it seems

New Edition "I'm Still In Love With You"

Thanks, I'm gonna check it out later