bigted

Actually some people protested Pac and Biggie too if I'm not mistaken but they had more people defending them and they weren't trying to get kids to buy their product either the way 50 Cent does.

M.C. Hammer publishing catalog up for sale By Susan ButlerMon Oct 31, 9:20 PM ET Music publishing and other copyright assets of M.C. Hammer have been put up for sale nine years after the multi-platinum rapper filed for bankruptcy in California. The court-appointed publishing administrator says that the catalog is still generating "substantial income." The sale will include a 50% interest in "U Can't Touch This," which hit No. 1 in 1990 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and a 90% interest in "2 Legit 2 Quit," which peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100. Wixen Music Publishing in Calabasas, Calif., has been the court-appointed administrator for the publishing assets of five Hammer companies since shortly after the 1996 bankruptcy filing by M.C. Hammer, whose legal name is Stanley Burrell. The delay in offering these assets is the result, in part, of litigation with EMI Music Publishing, EMI Records and others, Randall Wixen told Billboard. All the claims have been resolved. The bankruptcy trustee is attempting to locate 33 songwriters who had deals with the Hammer publishing companies. They risk losing their royalties if they do not contact attorney Terrance Stinnett with Goldberg, Stinnett, Meyers & Davis in San Francisco by December 31. After that date, the royalties will by paid to the state of California as unclaimed property. According to an ad placed in the November 5 issue of Billboard, bids are due by February 28, 2006. Reuters/Billboard

http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/7757 SOHH Exclusive: 3 Years Later, Jam Master Jay Murder Remains Unsolved Amidst "Drug" Controversy Friday - October 28, 2005 by Dark Kent Sunday (October 30) marks the third "anniversary" of the murder of Jam Master Jay. In this SOHH.com exclusive, questions are raised about the current state of the investigation into the legendary DJ's death and his family speaks out about how he is portrayed in a new book. Jam Master Jay, member of the legendary hip-hop group Run-DMC was killed October 30, 2002 in Jamaica, Queens at the age of 37. According to police reports, Jay was in the studio working on music with another artist when an assailant entered the studio and fired shots hitting Jay in the head and another man, Urieco Rincon, in the leg. Jay was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. A source close to the case recently revealed exclusively to SOHH.com that Ronald "Tinard" Washington, a convicted felon, was granted a "sweet plea deal" in exchange for his testimony against Karl "Big Dee" Jordan, whom he claimed he witnessed entering the studio prior to hearing shots ring out. According to Washington, Jordan was accompanied by his son who was accused of shooting rapper Boe Skagz, Jay's nephew, in the spring of 2004. Despite Washington's testimony, no arrests have been made in the case. According to a 2003 Stuff Magazine article, Jordan has been a confidential informant for the New York Police Department for the last 20 years. According to our source, Jordan is also a "close friend" of Russell Simmons. Meanwhile, the charges against Jordan's son have since been dismissed and the case sealed despite Skagz (born Rodney Jones) positively identifying him to police as his assailant. Skagz was among those interviewed for Ethan Brown's controversial new book, Queens Reigns Supreme: Fat Cat, 50 Cent, and the Rise of the Hip-Hop Hustler. The book, which shows how the streets and housing projects of Southeast Queens influenced the borough's most prominent emcees, documents 25 years, starting with the crack era until Jay's murder and the ongoing feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent. The book, which is already shockwaves through the music industry, has now caught the attention of Jam Master Jay's family. The Mizell family has expressed outrage over allegations of Jay's involvement with the drug trade as reported in a "Page Six" item in last Monday's New York Post. The item, which focused on Queens Reigns Supreme, claims Jay (born Jason Mizell) was involved in drug activity in Baltimore. According to the Mizell family, these and similar allegations had been previously examined by law enforcement as part of Jay's murder case and were determined to be false. Investigators further confirm that the Brown, book's author, never contacted them to discuss his claims or any information about Jay or the case. According to the Mizell family, Connie Mizell-Perry, Jay's mother, and Marvin Thompson, Jay's brother, both of whom have maintained constant contact with investigators during the course of the murder probe, reacted with "disgust"over this "rehash of rumors and claims made about Jason during this investigation which have been confirmed to be untrue," and what is an attempt by the book's author to "resurrect and link Jason's good name to 3-year old rumors [in order] to sell a book. They continued to say via a statement, "Jason hated drugs and the way they destroyed the lives of so many young people and families in our communities. He was never involved with drugs, and many people who know him have related countless stories to us about how he helped them get off drugs and out of the business.50 Cent's story, which he talks about in his book which is out now, is one of the most notable examples. If you want to know the truth, read 50's book." They also express outrage over Brown's inclusion of this information in a book without confirming the accuracy of his claims with those in the know, and view his actions asdetrimental to the efforts of law enforcement to resolve this crime. Mizell-Perry, Thompson and the Jam Master Jay Foundation for Youth are demanding that the publisher of Queens Reigns Supreme, Anchor Books, remove any and all false information about Jay from this soon-to-be published book before its release. "We see this as a clear attempt by the author to exploit Jason's name with the media to focus attention on himself," said the Mizell family, "And [an attempt] to malign Jason's good name with his fans and public by manufacturing controversy to make money from his death. We will not stand for it." In response, Brown told SOHH.com: "While I understand the desire for Jam Master Jay's family to defend and protect him, I (and Anchor Books) feel that the reporting done supports the information and allegations in Queens Reigns Supreme. I hope the Mizell family sees things differently once they read the book and see how Jay is portrayed in it."

Eminem won the Oscar for his soundtrack song, not the movie itself, I heard "Hustler's Ambition" and it's nowhere near as good as "Lose Yourself" so he won't win no Oscar.

I found more info on Ice Cube's album, looks like Lil' Jon'll be doing most of the production on it: http://www.westcoast2k.net/ Another song which radio listeners were blessed to hear was the street single "A Lotta That" with a simple beat provided by Lil' Jon, who handled the majority of Cube's album. The song features Snoop Dogg on a verse as well as the hook. Cube & Snoop on a track, doesn't sound too bad. Now let's see what 2 of the biggest legends in Hip Hop have cooked up...

http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,69403,00.html Public Enemy Takes It to the Net By Dan Goodin | Also by this reporter 02:00 AM Oct. 31, 2005 PT In 1988, Public Enemy released It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and unleashed one of the biggest changes in popular music since the arrival of Bob Dylan. Its searing critique of American culture and the rhyming anthems of black nationalism, set to a sonic collage of beats and riffs borrowed from R&B, heavy metal and jazz, catapulted the CD to platinum status within a year. The band's popularity has waxed and waned over the years, as the gangster rappers the New York-based collective helped inspire have taken over much of the spotlight. But Public Enemy hasn't lost its edge, as is clear from New Whirl Odor, its latest album, which is set for general release Tuesday. (It is currently on sale exclusively at Best Buy stores.) Three decades after the group formed, Public Enemy's beat and anger are as infectious and inseparable as ever. Like Nation of Millions, New Whirl Odor is a musically and lyrically dense album whose words and melodies take on additional weight over repeated listens. Their verbal avalanche, assailing everything from an unjust war in Iraq, poverty and the injustice in U.S. prisons, renders a potent portrait of modern American dystopia. There aren't many musicians today who so eloquently confront us with the darkness that pervades so much of modern life -- and make us want to shake our hips in the process. New Whirl Odor finds no shortage of injustices and hypocrisies to rail against but prefers to single out the brain-dead apathy engendered by rampant consumerism and mindless escapism. In "Makes You Blind," which lifts a syncopated, electronica-shaped beat, group leader Chuck D raps: Thirty-five years old lost in an Xbox / PlayStation and videos / So that's how it goes / The world begins and ends at the tip of their nose / It ain't Eminem / It's M and M and M / McDonalds, MTV and Microsoft. The hard-edged tinge of the beat and the lyrics are softened by sweet-sounding vocals, which taunt us even as they provide a backdrop of melody that dares us not to sing along. Public Enemy remains defiantly cutting edge, not just in its music but, equally importantly, in its approach to distributing its songs to fans. Ever a proponent of self-determination, the group has done more than any band to bypass the big labels and make music as it sees fit. In the late 1990s, when fellow rapper Dr. Dre sued Napster for making his songs available for free, Public Enemy's Chuck D defended the renegade file-sharing service, arguing that the internet gives artists an unprecedented ability to subvert corporate control and connect directly with their fans. As a jab to PolyGram, Public Enemy's distributor at the time, the group released There's a Poison Goin' On over the internet and on zip drives, until the band was finally released from its contract. Emboldened by the success, they went on to form their own record label. They created Rapstation to showcase new hip-hop talent. And they built PublicEnemy.com into a highly trafficked website, where among other things, they make a cappella versions of their songs available and encourage fans to make remixes. Even more remarkable is the way Public Enemy has structured its distribution deals. Whereas many bands sell publishing rights to their record labels in exchange for an advance, Public Enemy grants its distributors a limited license. After a specified period, the rights revert back to the group. Add to the mix Chuck D's weekly talk show on the Air America radio network, his own channel on AOL Radio and the band's regular tours of Asia, Europe and the United States, and Public Enemy becomes a prime example of the success that follows from a properly executed do-it-yourself strategy. "You're damn right I have more control now," Chuck D told me in a phone interview the other day. "These times are better than any times I've ever been involved in in getting what I think out to the public." To admire Public Enemy's art and marketing prowess isn't to say that either is beyond reproach. For one thing, the band's definition of "escapism" has always been a little bit murky. They have plenty of scorn for the mesmerized masses watching sitcoms and playing video games, but Chuck D, who's known to profess his enjoyment of professional sports, seems to hold fans of Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and the National Football League to a different standard. What's more, Flavor Flav, who as the group's court jester plays comic foil to Chuck D's militancy, is now the subject of a reality TV show on VH1 called The Surreal Life. The group's high-voltage outrage at times can border on arrogance, or defensiveness. "66.6 Strikes Again" (which is way too reminiscent of "Incident at 66.6 FM" from Fear of a Black Planet) wants us to share the band's self-absorbed indignation that a radio talk show host might find things the band says and does "controversial" and "offensive," even as they take pains to digitally excise any of the announcer's specific criticisms. A more open-minded approach would have included them, or cut the track altogether. Similarly, Public Enemy's trademark anti-corporate stance seems at odds with its decision to grant discount giant Best Buy exclusive rights to sell New Whirl Odor for the month of October. With mom-and-pop record stores on the ropes from sales lost to Best Buy, Wal-Mart and other mega chains, the exclusive arrangement leaves me feeling uncomfortable. Ultimately, though, I've got to side with Chuck D -- even when his business instincts seem to run afoul of his artistic aesthetics. Six years ago he articulated a vision of artists using the net to take control of their music. To date, no one has done it better, and it's his pragmatism, as much as anything else, that's allowed him to pull it off. It was Gil Scott-Heron, an important Public Enemy influence, who wrote "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." Maybe so. But if Chuck D gets his way, it just may be available for download. Dan Goodin received a master's in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley in 1996. He covered legal affairs, internet governance and financial markets for publications including CNET News.com, The Industry Standard, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. His blog is RadioFreeDang.com.

Well they're probably hoping that everybody buys them as gifts for the holiday season, that's why they're all coming out now. :stickpoke:

50 Cent responds to the billboard controversey and says that he wants the kids to see the film! :sick: Rapper 50 Cent says billboard flap helps his movie By Larry FineFri Oct 28, 5:11 PM ET Rap star 50 Cent says a controversy over billboards for his upcoming movie, which community leaders claim glorify violence, is helping promote the film "Get Rich or Die Tryin."' Posters for the movie that had been displayed near some grade schools were taken down by Paramount Pictures on Thursday after protests erupted over the gangsta rapper shown stripped to the waist with his bullet-scarred back to the camera and arms stretched out, holding a microphone and a gun. "I do appreciate it," the rapper told Reuters in an interview on Friday. "They are talking about it on media outlets I didn't have plans to market the movie to. They are helping me out." The R-rated film, whose title is taken from 50 Cent's major-label debut album that sold more than 7 million copies, is due to open November 9. It stars the rap artist, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, in a biographical story about a drug dealer who abandons crime to pursue a music career. The rapper said it was ludicrous to single out his poster considering how action movies are routinely marketed. The posters were removed after Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich sent a letter to Paramount, complaining that they promoted gun violence. "I understand people had picket signs protesting, saying my poster is violent because they see a gun," 50 Cent said. But he added: "They've seen a gun in tons of film advertising. If we walk into our local Blockbuster or place where we can rent a video, we'll see every kind of gun they manufacture on the cover of these films as a marketing tool. "Some of these people just have an overall outlook on me that's negative," said 50 Cent, who was once shot nine times. The rap star, whose latest CD, "The Massacre," has sold 4.7 million copies in the United States since its release in March, said he understood the film distributor's decision to take down some of the billboards. "I think Paramount made a business decision. I don't have a problem with it. At the end of the day, those kids are going to see the film. They insult the intelligence of the actual kids. "They read the articles, they've seen the videos, they heard the music. When the film comes out, they're gonna see the film, regardless," he said. Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

I figure that it'd be fitting to start a fresh topic with the season coming, post anything NBA related here! :pony:

Heat look great on paper but I think there are plenty of teams out there that could give them a shock this year, wait and see...

Actions speak louder than words, people like JJFP, LL, Salt-N-Pepa back up what they say by not just being positive influence through music but through real life too, Eminem might spit positive lyrics from time to time but refusing to be a part of Live 8 proves he's not a positive influence in real life, 50 Cent turned down attending it to shoot his movie too I think. :damnlorettas:

After awhile all of Van Gundy's assistant coaches are gonna be ex-Knicks, 1st Ewing, now Charlie Ward, who's next Allan Houston? lol btw, I missed the Michael Jordan interview on 60 minutes so I found the text of it, here it is for those who missed it like me: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/19/...ain955628.shtml

Guy "I Wanna Get With You"

Yeah this is something you'd expect from him, he got no heart. :damnlorettas:

Looks like Jigga's gonna be like Will and just "Wave 'Em Off" by ignoring 50 'cause he's irrelevant, he ain't worth the time to diss, there's more important matters that need to be done, nuff respect for Jigga for being the bigger man!

I found the lyrics to that song you was talking about fuq, it's a lot more effective than 50's "What If", Fredro don't really seem to be dissing anybody in there either: (*puffin in background*) Yo what up son? Yea happy new years man,you too Yea but its crazy cold out here right about now man Yea I'm jus chillin in the coupe, k'nawm sayin? Windows up, drivin through the city, smokin an L for dolo You know how we do This **** I be thinkin about is crazy son What if Notorious was here? What if he was around? would all these niggas claim to be king? Who would wear the crown? Yo, what if 'Pac was still thuggin? What if he was alive? Would all these niggas still be screamin out "ride or die"! What if Milli Vanilli's record never skipped on stage? They'd be the illest con niggas in the game today Yo, what if Jordan never had Scottie? What if Sammie never ratted Gotti? What if New York without Giuliani? What if Mike Tyson fought Ali in his prime? What if Will Smith got gangsta, and start cursin rhymes? What if Erick never met Parrish? think they'd be makin dollas? What if they neva made candy paint for Impalas? my down south niggas'll wil' out,word up my west coast niggas'll wil' out,word up What if computers shut down for the Y2K? What if N.W.A never had Dre? What if Eminem was black? Would he have sold five mill'? or would he be 1 out of 5 million rappers with no deal? What if you had to pay for air? a dollar a breath half the hood would ****in pass out and choke to death What if hip hop was banned in 52 states? they'd give you 5 years a piece for wreckin cd's and tapes What if the world stopped? no more time,**** a watch What if there's no laws no jails,and no more cops? **** is crazy **** I be thinkin about yo, it's just questions that I ask myself when I analyze the world when I'm by myself I think some bugged out **** when I'm by myself drinkin weed smokin hennessee all by myself questions,that I ask myself when I analyze the world when I'm by myself I think some bugged out **** when I'm by myself drinkin weed smokin hennessee all by myself its questions...that I ask myself **** is craaazy,**** I b thinkin about,thinkin about Yo, what if Snoop was the President? **** we'd all be high Blowin chronic in the White House, smoke in the sky What if they neva made the Coupe 5, what would I drive? Probably a 430 drop, ruthless, wit buggy eyes What if Red and Meth freestyled and battled on stage? What if Daz had bald head and Onyx had braids? What if history was changed? Slavery reversed Would black ladies see white boys and clench they purse? What if Diallo Dege is shot, 41 times? What if the kids was popular that went to Columbine? What if Ewing would have dunked it, instead of fading away? The Knicks woulda been the champs, he wouldnta got traded away Yo what if +Run+ never met +D+ would I'a been an +MC+? What if its c-lo? You in my rollin 1,2,3 What if the world stop? No more time, **** a watch What if there's no laws, no jails, and no more cops? **** is crazy **** I be thinkin about yo, it's just questions that I ask myself when I analyze the world when I'm by myself I think some bugged out **** when I'm by myself drinkin weed smokin hennessee all by myself questions,that I ask myself when I analyze the world when I'm by myself I think some bugged out **** when I'm by myself drinkin weed smokin hennessee all by myself its questions...that I ask myself **** is crazy,thinkin about lookin out the window all I see is rain feelin the pain gunshots out my window ugh,ugh,ugh anotha nigga gets slayed wit a mots to big drinkin this weed smokin this Hennesey aint anotha like,me craazy **** all yall **** the world **** america

Well 50's just jealous of everybody that he referrenced there 'cause he knows that he can't be half as good as any of them.

I think Damien got it right there as far as who he dissed and who he gave props too, well even giving Will props ain't gonna make me wanna go see his movie, I actually hope he'd diss Will so Will could finish 50 off, lol.

He basically says in the beginning of the song that Puffy's a wimp since he's on some pretty boy s*** and people'd think he's crazy if he wore suits like Jay-Z, like he's too hardcore to wear a suit, that sounds like he's dissin' them if I'm not mistaken.

I see he's biting The Game's style in referencing all those rappers, it actually looks like he disses a few in there but he gives Will props though. :sick:

Yeah well "The Definition" had 2 hit singles in rotation over 5 months so if he released one more single at least it would've been certified platinum in the US last spring, it's kinda amazing that "Lost and Found" would even come close to selling as much as "The Definition" with only one hit single in "Switch" since it came out in February, "Party Starter" has been flopping here in the US, not to mention that black radio has been resistant to playing Will's songs, they always play LL. If Will got a lil' bit of support from black radio when "Switch" was out he would've hit platinum already even if "Party Starter" still flopped, Def Jam rappers always get on black radio though so it makes sense to go there.

Well it took Interscope 2 months to release the video for "Party Starter" after Will shot it in July, if it dropped in late July early August at the latest "Lost and Found" would be past platinum now and "Parter Starter" would be a top 10 hit, Def Jam'd probably released it faster. LL's videos seem to come out pretty rapidly but even he shoulda shot a couple more though and "The Definition" would've made it to double platinum status by now but he did the same thing Will did when he went to go shoot a movie, I guess they ain't really that much concerned about selling as much as we are.

:word: When will people stop buying into gimmicks? :therain:

LL basically did the same numbers with "The Defintion" on Def Jam that Will did with "Lost and Found" on Interscope so it might not make too much of a difference if Will goes there, those are probably the best numbers that he could do at this point and that's still pretty well, it'd be nice to see other ol' school rappers get signed on major labels and do those type of numbers too.

Yeah most artists do release catchy songs as singles, those are the type of songs that entertain people the most, that's why the commercial audience doesn't like "Code Red" and "Lost and Found" that much, I think even "Born To Reign" had more catchy songs on them then those 2 albums combined and if that was promoted better it might've came closer to "Big Willie Style" numbers than those would've with the right promotion.