MissesBluestar

Bun B To Release One Last UGK Album To Honor His Late Partner, Pimp C

2009-01-24T02:56:00.000-08:00

Bun B's "Free Pimp C" campaign ended after the incarcerated half of UGK was released from prison. Moreover, in the wake of Pimp’s death in December of 2007 Bun is doing his best to launch an effort to lionize his late partner in rhyme.

The veteran rapper told MTV News on Friday (January 23) that UGK's next — and final — album is ready for release. The project, titled For Life, is scheduled to arrive March 31 on Jive Records. Bun hopes the album will do for Pimp C what Bob Marley's Legend did for the great Rastafarian star.

"This will be a good bookend to the legacy of myself and Pimp," Bun said. "And definitely take not just the group, but Pimp C, to true legend and iconic status."

The first single, "Da Game Been Good to Me”, recently appeared online and will be serviced to radio soon. The string-laden track features just the two UGK stars. According to Bun, For Life is not likely to feature any outside collaborators.

"This album is not about who I wanna work with and what kind of beats I wanna do," he explained. "This album is about what the people wanna hear, and that's Bun and Pimp. And I wanna try to give that to them in the most purest sense."

The album is expected to be pared down to roughly 12 tracks. Among them, in addition to the single, is a song tentatively titled "Marvin”, for the Marvin Gaye sample used in the production. Bun said Pimp, UGK's main producer, was experimenting with music more and looking to explore new sounds before his death.

In previous interviews, Bun spoke on how difficult it would be recording a UGK album without Pimp C.

"I know people will support it, and I know that I'm strong enough to do it,” Bun told Mixtape Monday last January. "Just the point of understanding from here on out, it's just [me] — I'm probably never gonna be comfortable with it in that sense. It's just a matter of coming to terms with the reality of it and the finality of the two-man situation in a physical sense."

As Bun B puts the finishing touches on For Life, the memories of Pimp continue to stay at the forefront of his mind. Planning a video for the album's release or impending interviews for the project don't stir emotions much for Bun. When it comes to his UGK cohort, who was more family than musical partner, being reminded of Pimp makes the pain palpable.

"That comes and goes. You don't need an album, video, or songs for that to come out," he said of his friend's memory. "I try to tell people all the time: 'It's never the big things that you think, it's the little things.' Interviews and videos, that don't do it. But when you see something that you know they would have loved to do or see or buy or drive somewhere they would have loved to go ... just [being reminded of] their nature and personality makes you realize they're not around anymore."

Will Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 Be Released By Def Jam Or Live Nation?

2009-01-24T02:52:00.000-08:00

Last May, Live Nation made deals with Jay Z , U2 and Madonna in an attempt to transform from a concert-promotion giant into a multimedia behemoth.

The rapper inked a reported 10-year, $ 150 million deal with the company. As part of the pact, Jay would be provided funding for business ventures, which he's already taken advantage of by partnering with producers Stargate to launch the label StarRoc. Other benefits of the deal include Live Nation having a hand in the Roc-A-Fella star's recordings and tours for the next decade. (Live Nation later recruited Shakira and Nickelback into the fold with deals as well.)

But with Jay-Z reportedly still under contract to Def Jam for one more album, where does that leave Live Nation in the equation for the upcoming Blueprint 3? The rapper has already been touring heavily in the past year with a number of Live Nation-owned venues included as stops.

So MTV News asked Jay-Z earlier this week exactly which label his next album will be released on.

"Well, whatever it is, it'll be Roc Nation. It's gonna be a partnership with someone," he said. "So whether it's going to be Def Jam or someone [else], that's yet to be determined."

Since debuting, the rapper has released an album every year from 1996 through 2003, when he announced his retirement from making solo LPs. When he reversed course, Jay released 2006's Kingdom Come followed by 2007's American Gangster, his last release to date.

He recently told MTV News the delay in delivering BP3 is due to him having no quotas to meet. It's not clear if any negotiations between Def Jam and Live Nation are standing in the way. But to hear Jay's take on it, the album could have easily been released by now.

"I don't have any quotas, and that's a good thing," Jay said. "It may be too freeing. It's a good thing and a bad thing. You know, I think I need some restrictions. 'Cause if I had restrictions, I would have done it in three weeks. I would have made what I believe to be a great piece of art."

Usher Talks About Working With Pharrell, Adam Levine

2009-01-24T02:49:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. — When we caught up with him among the inaugural hoopla, Usher made us a promise: new music very soon. Maybe the record could be a Pharrell Williams/ Neptunes production, because a photo of Usher, Skateboard P and Maroon 5 's Adam Levine collaborating in the studio recently hit the Net.

"It's a little bit of everything," Usher said of what they've been working on. "Pharrell has his Website where he lets you come inside his world and lets you know what's happening. A few pictures did leak online, just to let you know what he's been working on. There's some synergy between all of us and the record we're working on is gonna be an incredible record. I'm a fan. Adam is incredible — far beyond what I even fathomed.

"[The studio session] was a loose thing," Ush added. "[Adam] came in, picked up a guitar and went to work."

Usher and Pharrell obviously have a rich history of working together. ”U Don’t Have to Call” was a blockbuster, but the Atlanta crooner says he isn't looking to "yesterday" for inspiration — his sights are on right now.

"We want to create music like you never heard before," Usher explained. "Once we create something in the studio that everybody is crazy about, then we try to beat that. Once we create another one, we try to beat that. It's like we're challenging ourselves in the moment, as opposed to chasing what's in the past. Although 'U Don't Have to Call' is always a great reason for us to come back again — it was more or less a celebration."

Kanye West Denies Porn Rumors, Claims Accounts Have Been Hacked

2009-01-24T02:35:00.000-08:00

It has been a bittersweet week for Kanye West. On the one hand, he performed for President Barack Obama at MTV’s Youth Ball on Tuesday night and then flew to Paris to bask in the glow of the fashion elite as he unveiled the shoes he designed for Louis Vuitton.

On the other hand, according to his blog post on Thursday, someone has been trying to jack his online presence by hacking his personal Web and e-mail accounts and spreading the rumor that he's signed up to appear in a bisexual porn film. (He also complained in an interview Thursday about being insulted by 50 cent.

"Yoooo, why won't you let me be great!” West wrote in his inimitable all-caps style. "I had the two greatest days of my life, and when I get back from the Louie [sic] show, I read some sh-- claiming I said I'm down to do porn and some bisexual porn!!!! I can't believe the AVN [Adult Video News] would post [that story]."

The quote in question was allegedly from an interview West did with the adult magazine, but according to a correction posted on AVN.com, the false story originated with an anonymous poster on the AllHipHop.com Web site who "launched a thread containing what he claimed were quotes from an interview West did with 'writer David Watts.' “The thread has since been removed and AVN, which said it does not employ a writer by that name, has apologized for picking up the false item.

A clearly upset West, still stung after someone pretending to be him started a Twitter feud with Stephen Colbert in December, said this is the latest case of his online profile being jacked. "First people believed the Twitter/ Stephen Colbert thing, Rolling Stone even printed it!!!!" he said. "Now somebody has been hacking into my MySpace and somebody's actually hacked into my personal GMail account and has been e-mailing people from it. ... Hey, world, I no longer have GMail! I found out I had twelve unauthorized Skype accounts under my name!!! This all in the past four days. Welcome to Kanye West World!"

On the upside, 'Ye brags about giving "the performance of my lifetime" for the new president and brags about immediately jetting off to Paris to debut the new shoes he designed for Vuitton, "which was a dream come true."

"Please I beg you, give me a break!!!!!" he concludes. "Let me be great!!! Who have I hurt so bad that they want to destroy me? Who have I ever spoke about so negatively? I just was speaking with our new president two days ago ... and now this."

Diddy, Swizz Beatz Celebrate Damion 'D-Roc' Butler's Freedom At NYC Party

2009-01-24T02:15:00.000-08:00

Diddy,Swizz Beatz and members of Junior M.A.F.I.A were among the many in attendance at Imperial nightclub Thursday night for Damion "D-Roc" Butler's welcome-home party.

Butler was released from prison late last year for his involvement in a shootout between members of Lil’ kim’s and Capone N Noreaga’s campsC-N-N had collaborated with Foxy Brown, with whom Kim was embroiled in a feud at the time.

The 2001 incident resulted in the imprisonment of Butler and another shooter,As well as Lil’ Kim. The female rapper was sentenced to one year and a day in prison for perjury and conspiracy. The shootout and aftermath fractured the relationships among many in Biggie’s Junior M.A.F.I.A. circle.

New York radio station Hot 97 DJs Mister Cee and Funkmaster Flex spun sets at Imperial. "If you lived in Brooklyn for more than five years, put one hand in the air for B.I.G.," Cee told the crowd. Memphis Grizzlies players Darius Miles, Rudy Gay and Hakim Warrick were also in attendance.

Diddy arrived near 1 in the morning in his Maybach and quickly entered the venue past “ hip-hop cop” Derrick Parker, who was working security for the club. Butler and his entourage immediately followed.

Butler grew up in Brooklyn with biggie, and in the B.I.G. biopic “Notorious,” his character is shown taking the fall for his friend on a gun charge in order for Big to try his hand at a professional music career. The Junior M.A.F.I.A. member was later released before being imprisoned again years later following the Manhattan shootout with C-N-N.

Butler had a hand in the production of the popular DVD "Chronicles of Junior M.A.F.I.A.," but he hasn't spoken out much since his release or in support of "Notorious."

Lil Wayne's Rock LP, Rebirth, Due April 7

2009-01-24T02:01:00.000-08:00

Can he do another Milli the first week? We'll know in a couple of months!

Lil Wayne announced the official release date and title of his next album: Rebirth is due April 7 — and his publicist has confirmed to MTV News that it will be a rock album. Of course, Wayne has been rocking with a guitar for some time now.

The first single is called "Prom Queen" and will debut on the Internet right after a live stream of his concert in San Diego on January 27. The show will be available for stream on MySpace.com.

Wayne — who will perform at the Grammy Awards on February 8 — hinted at a change in direction for his next LP in October during the BET Hip-Hop Awards.

"I don't know if we're gonna release Tha Cater IV now," he told MTV News on his tour bus. "I think we're gonna release Tha Carter III — a new Carter III with none of the same songs, though. None of them. Not one! We don't wanna call the [next album] we got coming out Tha Carter IV. That was the dilemma we were in. We want Carter IV to be what everybody wants it to be.

"This is something brand new, so we don't want it to be some experimental thing, 'cause some people are not gonna like this. I don't want them to not like Tha Carter IV. But I do have an album coming soon, very soon, and it's gonna be called ... Tha Carter III: The Rebirth. The birth of a new beginning."

Those plans have been changed a bit. Wayne's rep told MTV News that the April 7 release has absolutely nothing to do with Tha Carter III or any of his previous hip-hop efforts.

Demi Lovato Says Playing For Obama Girls Was 'Surreal'

2009-01-20T16:19:00.000-08:00

Demi Lavato may be a star to teenage girls all across America, but performing at the”Kids’ Inaugural; We Are the Future” show on Monday gave the 16-year-old a chance to meet some of her own favorite celebrities, including the new first family.

"Honestly, it was a blur, because it was like, I'm standing in the presence of the first lady, but then you kind of forgot about it because she's so normal," she told MTV News after the show. "And she's like way down to earth. She gave me a hug, and her daughters were so sweet, and you could tell they are not fazed by anything.

"The president was not there," she added, joking, "One day, we will hopefully play golf or something."

In addition to meeting the Obama ladies, she got the chance to meet one of her idols, Usher, who was one of the celebrity guests at the show. "I met a lot of really cool people, but Usher was really cool because I got to meet him," she shared.

"For my birthday, when I was like 10, I went to his concert, so it was like surreal to be on the same stage with him and hanging out backstage just being like, 'A few years ago, I was at your concert for my birthday and freaked out when you looked my way.' "

Lovato said that getting the chance to sing for such a prestigious crowd didn't make her too nervous, because she performs a lot, but instead it gave her a different kind of emotion.

"I think it was more moving than nerve-wracking — just knowing that you are performing in front of the troops' families," she said. "It was just an honor that I could make them smile when their parents are fighting in another country. And especially looking down in the first row and seeing the Obamas there, it was awesome. And to see them dancing, singing, clapping, it was so surreal."

The concert, which Lovato described as "one of the coolest nights of my life," also gave her the chance to catch up with her "Camp Rock" co-stars and friends, the Jonas Brothers, as well as fellow teen queen Miley Cyrus "We always say 'hi' before, and I got to say 'hi' to them afterwards," she said. "At the end of the show, we all got onstage together, and I was standing next to Miley and the boys."

Lovato said being involved in the "Kids' Inaugural" emphasized what she already believed during last year's election: The youth of America are more political than ever.

"I think even teenagers or tweens are getting involved, and it used to only be the people that are old enough to vote," she said. "But that's the great part about the 'Kids' Inaugural' that we just performed at. I got to be involved in something that was history-making, so it's just an honor. And I think everyone's inspired."

Beastie Boys Fight For Their Right To Party ... For Barack Obama

2009-01-20T16:11:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Ad-Rock, Mike D and MCA performed their civic duty Monday night at a sold-out Rock the Vote concert. Sheryl Crow and Citizen Cope joined the guys onstage for the show at the 9:30 Club, the proceeds of which are all to go to the charity.

Along with millions of other Americans, the Boys schlepped here to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama.

"Being here and seeing the huge amount of people and seeing how meaningful it is to them — that was kind of amazing to see," Mike D told MTV News. To him, it was "surreal." The guys planned to brave the crowds for Brarack Obama.

It's been a long time coming. They teamed up with Sheryl Crow on the campaign trail, touring battleground states to help raise voter awareness. "We're going to have a president who's this really super-smart person — who's really present, awake and alive. It's exciting," said Ad-Rock.

The Beastie Boys continue to give props to the new commander in chief.

"Congratulations are in order," said Mike D. And while the boxes aren't even unpacked at the White House yet, he added, "And when can we come over to the Oval Office and hang out?"

Michelle Obama’s Outfit: What Was She Wearing At The Inauguration?

2009-01-20T16:07:00.000-08:00

While most people were talking about Barack Obama’s historic Inauguration, every fashionista was asking just what the first lady, Michelle Obama, was wearing at the inauguration.

According to New York Magazine’s Blog, Michelle chose a yellow dress with silver overlay, some embellishment on the neckline and matching jacket. The designer is Isabel Toledo. The dress, a throwback to the retro fashion that made women clamor to look like Jackie Kennedy, was paired with Glacier pumps by Jimmy Choo and matching yellow scarf.

Toledo told the New York Times that the coat and dress were made of Swiss wool lace, backed with netting for warmth and lined in French silk. “I wanted to pick a very optimistic color, that had sunshine,” she said. “I wanted her to feel charmed, and in that way would charm everybody.”The look was simple, sophisticated and appropriate for such a momentous occasion. With her hair down and just a pair of earrings to go with the outfit, Michelle’s look did not overpower this important day for her husband, who wore a simple black suit and a red tie.

Of course, people are still wondering whose gown Michelle will wear for tonight’s celebrations, including the Youth Ball. Everyone from Michael Kors to Diane Von Furstenberg have sketched possible options for the First Lady.

Aretha Franklin's Performance At Barack Obama's Inauguration: A Milestone In A Historic Career

2009-01-20T15:37:00.000-08:00

Aretha Franklin’s rousing performance of Samuel F. Smith's "My Country 'Tis of Thee" in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. — celebrating the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States — was an extraordinary moment (and she certainly was wearing an extraordinary hat). But it was also one of many, many milestones in her long and illustrious career.

Franklin, 66, is universally recognized as the greatest female soul singer in history. She has won 21 Grammys and has had a long string of hits stretching back to the mid-1960s, including such classics as "Respect," "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," "Chain of Fools," "Rock Steady" and many others. In 1987 she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 1993 she performed at the inaugural gala for President Bill Clinton. But today marked the first performance at an actual inauguration.

She grew up in Detroit, singing in the church of her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin (a close friend and colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King's), and was signed to Columbia Records in the early '60s by famed record producer John Hammond, who called her "the greatest voice since Billie Holiday." Yet her Columbia career was commercially unsuccessful, as the label attempted to craft her into a mainstream entertainer.

Franklin didn't become a star until she was snatched up by Atlantic Records in 1967 and scored her first hit with "I Never Loved a Man." Over much of the next decade, Franklin was a staple of the Atlantic Records roster and played a pivotal role in incorporating gospel vocal styles into pop music, paving the way for countless future superstars, including Natalie Cole, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

In the '80s, Franklin recorded hit duets with James Brown, Whitney Houston, Keith Richards and George Michael, whose "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" was a #1 single. She has also worked with Carole King and Diddy and in 1998 scored a hit with the Lauryn Hill -helmed "A Rose Is Still a Rose."

In addition to being a consummate singer and gifted performer, Franklin was also a vocal civil-rights activist in the '60s. She performed in support of Martin Luther King Jr., and later sang at his funeral.

On Monday night in Washington, D.C., Franklin performed at a free concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Songs she sang at the event included "Old Landmark," "Precious Memories," "Chain of Fools" and an encore of "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Singing alongside her was the Let Freedom Ring Choir, which was composed of Georgetown University students, faculty and staff.

Jay-Z, Diddy Comment On Barack Obama's 'Beautiful' Inauguration Jay says, 'We have to absolutely have [Obama's] back.'

2009-01-20T15:36:00.000-08:00

Jay-Z is arguably the greatest rapper of all time but it turns out Hov is not so bad at another profession: reporting.

Jay called in to New York radio station Hot 97 on Tuesday (January 20) as "D.C. correspondent Jay-Z."

"Hold one moment," he jokingly told DJ Angie Martinez. "We have Puff Daddy here on this historic event."

Diddy then jumped on the line to talk about the amount of security on hand throughout President Barack Obama’s Swearing in ceremony earlier in the day.

"Hundreds of Army cats," he said. The Bad Boy impresario then said he was going to cry before handing it back over to Jay. "It's a beautiful day”, he finished.

Jay-Z has been on hand for a number of festivities during the inauguration proceedings. He told Martinez he's been in Washington, D.C., for four days now and plans to stay for two more days "to soak it all in." The rapper is scheduled to perform at the "Neighborhood Ball" Tuesday night. He has already appeared at Love nightclub this past Sunday and his own show at Warner Theater Sunday night.

Hov said the vibe of the events has had an "incredible energy”, and he hopes the good will from Tuesday will extend for President Obama throughout his first term.

"We have to help him," Jay urged. "We have to absolutely have his back. We have to do all we can. We have to do whatever community service or whatever to help him. This is not an easy job. You do not clap your hands and this thing goes away. He took on a hard job. The worst job in the world — the best job and the worst job in the world, because he has so much to do. In addition, people really have to understand that. There are gonna be some days where you don't agree with what he does and you don't think he kept his word, or different things like that. However, we have to be there to support him for these next four years or, if they do it right, the next eight years. And we absolutely want eight years."

Will.I.Am Premieres Latest Barack Obama-Inspired Anthem 'America's Song'Song features Seal, Bono, Mary J. Blige and others.

2009-01-19T16:15:00.000-08:00

Will.I.Am has never been shy about his love for President-elect Barack Obama. In addition, in honor of the future president, Will.I.Am has written "America's Song”, which features appearances by Seal, Bono, and Mary. J. Blige and others. It is the first collaboration between the Black Eyed Peas MC and composer David Foster.

The song made its debut on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Monday (January 19), with the chorus "America is beautiful/ My America, your America, our America is beautiful."

"The meaning of this song is being proud of America," Will told Oprah. "I wanted to write the new American anthem for this day and age — for this generation."

It will be available as a free download for 24 hours on Oprah.com

This is not the first time Will.I.Am debuted a politically charged song on Oprah's show. In November, just days after Obama won the election premiered the video for his new song “It’s a New Day” The video flashed pictures of Obama on election night and crowds celebrating the Illinois senator's victory, alongside images of historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman. It also featured celebrity appearances from his bandmate Fergie, as well as actors Olivia Wilde, Jonathan Schaech, and Kerry Washington.

When he released his first song about the then presidential hopeful, “Yes We Can” Will gathered celebrity friends including John Legend, Scarlett Johansson, and Common for the video. The next song,” We Are the Ones”, also had a star-filled video, featuring George Lopez and Jessica Alba.

The Clipse Hint At Kanye West Collabo: Mixtape Monday

2009-01-19T15:44:00.000-08:00

411: The Clipse came back with a lyrical snow flurry recently on the mixtape Play Cloths Presents: Road to Till the Casket Drops. The brothers actually killed two birds with one stone, promoting their new clothing line (the Obama inauguration tees are dope) as well as pumping out energy in anticipation of their third LP, Till the Casket Drops.

"We're all consumed with the album," Pusha T told us via cell from Canada late last week. "It's very close to being done. We are just trying to piece these little pieces together. It is the last 20 percent. I'm loving it. I am feeling this is the make-or-break album for the Clipse. This is the album that's gonna define us as far as showing we can stretch in both worlds as far as the underground and as far as the mainstream."

Two Sony Music executives who were instrumental in bringing the duo's Re-Up Gang imprint over to the record company — Al Branch and Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua — were recently let go. Pusha said the label's reshuffling should not hurt their project.

"It's not gonna affect us. We're too far done with the album," Push explained. "The thing about us, it was never lack of music. Our problems have been an executing and marketing issue. I think we got a pretty good stronghold on it. I heard about the Hip Hop and Al Branch situation. I'm sure all of that is going to work itself out in our favor."

The remaining production on Till the Casket Drops is being kept under wraps, but the bulk of the album is pretty evenly distributed thus far.

"I got a few from the Neptunes. I think the Neptunes have maybe four, three, somewhere in there. I got a few from [DJ] Khalil”, Push revealed. "Got a couple from Sean C. and LV. One from Swizz Beatz. Nottz! I got one from Nottz. The next few I don't really wanna say, but I got a few more people committed to lacing this tail end of it."

We will hear the first single around February 1. "We have the record. It's getting mixed," Pusha said. "It's already ready. That cake is baked. It's called 'Kinda Like a Big Deal.' It's about being kinda like a big deal. The collabo on there, the record in general, it's kinda like a big deal."

When asked if the collaboration in question is with Kanye West, Pusha got tight-lipped: "Hey, man, it's just one of them joints."

Joints To Check For

» "The Intro." "We got this beat from Fabolous' album from a song called 'Gangsta,' “Pusha described“. It was produced by Reefa. Soon as I heard it, I knew I had to jack it."

» "Big Dreams”. "One of my favorite tracks is 'Big Dreams,' " Malice said. “ It's off the Game's album [L.A.X.]. We thought it was hot. The reason why it's one of my favorites, I think Pusha totally killed it. We were trying to wrap up the mixtape, and on deadline, I heard this and did not know what to do with myself. I was in a total frenzy. There are a lot of issues on that song I felt needed to be addressed."

»"Addicted”. "The difference between this mixtape and the other ones we did, we rapped over some R&B joints that are hot in the club right now," Pusha added. "The Ryan Leslie song is definitely one of them joints, and we killed it. It's a wide array of things on there. The mixtape was inspired by the whole Play Cloths clothing line. Pure fun, just fly street sh--. The sh-- that sparks the nostalgia of what you wanna hear when you puttin' on that 'fit and what you want to hear when you hit the streets and dropping your top. That's the sh-- you do. The mixtape was something of everything, night life, women — everything festive."

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

Busta Rhymes is on another rampage (no intentional reference to his disgruntled Flip Mode family member by the same name). A bunch of songs of his are floating around the Net now: the "Blame It" remix with Jamie Foxx, Lil Wayne and T-Pain; "Conglomerate" with Young Jeezy and Jadakiss; and too many others to name.

"Busta, man, he's still in the studio working like he just got signed," Bus' right hand man, Spliff Star, told us recently. "He's still relevant. Those that do not know, he is 20 years in the game. I am 16 years in, but Busta is 20 years in and still coming. Out of 20 years in his career, the man never took a vacation. He stayed in the studio trying to give y'all nothing but hot stuff."

Bus and Spliff have been all over the country promoting the album Back on My Bullsh--(due March 24), and Spliff said "Arab Money" is still a strong point in the show for them.

"Shout-out to Florida — everybody was doing the dance," Spliff said. "Three-thousand people. We was in Connecticut, the whole arena was doing it. If you go to YouTube, black, white, everybody does the dance. 'Arab Money' — that means it's good to be rich, but better to be wealthy."

Busta himself is proud of his work. He's also excited that ”Notorious” the life story of his friend the Notorious B.I.G., finally hit theaters Friday.

"You see it happen for the generation of artists before us, and you wish it would happen for our generations and the artists that come from our era of the game," Bus said about having a hip-hop biopic. "It's one thing to have a flick, but it's one thing to have the value of that life story mean so much to the people that the flick now becomes more than a flick. It is a moment. It's a captured moment in time.”...

Lil Wayne said he is the only Southern rapper that could have been down with the Wu-Tang Clan. While the RZA is not ready to knight Weezy as a Shaolin soldier yet, he does respect the New Orleans nightmare's spit game.

"I heard the song he did with Robin Thicke," RZA told us recently about Wayne. "He got a song about him on the album where he talks about Louisiana. I did not expect that. I was just going off the TV vibe [of him]. I was impressed to see that son had that wisdom in him. When he sold that million records that first week, it is definitely gonna be some kids that were dancing and doing the 'Lollipop' sh--, but they got a bit of wisdom stuck in there. I felt proud for him as an artist. I was like, 'I'm glad he got a couple of joints that's hitting the people with some information.' "

RZA also is big on what Kanye West has been bringing to the table. 'Ye's beats, such as the one in "Heartless," have brought forth that hard soul like RZA's initial offerings in the early 90s.

"All good," RZA said of the comparisons between him and Kanye. "Kanye West, I got super respect for Kanye. He came up to me about a year or two ago. He gave me mad praising and blessings. He had a lot to say about things I did. He knew me, he knew my sh-- — 'When you did "Ice Cream" ... ' — I was like, 'Wow, this is a dude who knows.' It is like when I met Isaac Hayes. I knew his sh--. Isaac Hayes took time to give me more sh--. For people to say Wu-Tang inspire Kanye, Kanye is one of the biggest artists in the world. That goes back to what we say: 'Wu-Tang is forever.' Kanye is going to inspire people to be like him."

RZA was especially moved by Kanye's work on Jay-Z's Blueprint.

"One day, Jay-Z [called] me on the phone," RZA recalled. "I was proud. ... More proud because at one time, it felt like our relationship was shaky over some old hip-hop grudge sh--. When he finished The Blueprint, I heard it and was like, 'Yo, this sh-- is dope.' I called him to congratulate him, and he said, 'You made the original Blueprint, yo.' I said, 'That's peace, yo.' At the same time, I was proud what they did, because at that time, I was having a hard time getting my boys to listen to me. The shoes gotta be filled. If you ain't gonna do it, somebody else is gonna do it. That's how I feel about rap today."

Lil Wayne, T-Pain Thrill The Crowd At New York Concert

2009-01-19T15:16:00.000-08:00

It might not seem that way, but this is probably the most pivotal point in Lil Wayne’s career.

No, he is not in trouble professionally. He continues to blow up like the planet Krypton: his records are selling, magazines still want him on their cover, and artists still want them to guest on their songs. For the immediate future, he is doing about 10 times better than great. Now he has more responsibilities: Can he hold the weight of headlining an entire arena-concert tour?

Obviously, with Tha Carter III being not only lauded as a classic but also the to selling album of last year, Weezy has had no problem filling venues for his I Am Music Tour Especially with a lineup consisting of the almost equally hot T-Pain, Gym Class Heroes Gorilla Zoe and Keri Hilson, the show has a little something for everybody. However, let's face it, as big as Wayne’s right now, he could have Conrad Bain from "Different Strokes" opening for him and he would sell tickets.

Friday night at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, Wayne, and company showed that getting people in is easy — the venue was packed. Nevertheless, the question is, can Weezy have a show so dope they want to keep coming back every time he comes around with future projects?

The answer is, do not doubt the Kobe Bryant of rap. Immediately, the audience saw production values bigger than anything he has done as a solo artist. His band members were lowered on separate structures from the ceiling to the stage, as were his DJ and the DJ's turntable set. A cube of big screens surrounded the DJ. While everybody came down, Weezy jumped up from under the stage.

"Mr. Carter" hit a few moments later, and the whole Coliseum started singing, "Hey, Mr. Carter, tell me where you been?"

"It's about to get real stupid in here!" Wayne smiled as the crowd rapped along with every lyric. Jay-Z did not come out for his part of the song (he was probably on his way to D.C. for inauguration weekend), but Wayne's partner in crime T-Pain came out — via a Segway scooter! Pain had entertained earlier in the night with a circus-like stage show that included a stripping midget who mimicked Britney Spears. Pain and Wayne told the audience they wanted to battle.

"Pain, skate your a-- back out here”, Wayne said to his friend after they performed "Got Money”. Pain had sung his part on the song while driving.

"Am I trippin', or aren't I the feature king?" Weezy asked the crowd, who approved with screams. "Thank you very much. I'm here all night!"

T-Pain countered with, "In 2008, was I not on the most features?" The concertgoers once again gave loud approval.

They decided to have a "feature-off”, where both played portions of songs on which they had made cameos, from "Out Here Grindin’” to “Swagga Like Us”

"I got so much swagga, I am not doing the muthaf----n' verse!" Wayne insisted.

Like the great Anaheim Angels-turned-New York Mets save King Francisco Rodriguez, Weezy closed out strong with "Lollipop" and his last number, "A Milli”.

After spending most of the night suspended in the air, the guitarists put their feet on the stage for the first time all night, rocking out as Weezy laced the crowd with his record's popular quotable.

The New Orleans king exited the same way he came in: through the stage floor. He had Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" playing — as he always does — when he left. See you on the next run, Wardie!

"I got so much swagga, I am not doing the muthaf----n' verse!" Wayne insisted.

Like the great Anaheim Angels-turned-New York Mets save king Francisco Rodriguez, Weezy closed out strong with "Lollipop" and his last number, "A Milli."

The Cool Kids Biography

2009-01-19T15:05:00.000-08:00

Part of the mid-2000s hip-hop movement that found kids in all-over prints rapping about their shoes and their favorite forms of transportation (which often weren't cars), the Cool Kids proved to be both an Internet and live show phenomenon. The duo of Mickey Rocks (born Antoine Reed) and Chuck Inglish (or Evan Ingersoll) met in mid-2005 after Mickey came across some of Chuck's beats online and liked what he heard. They met up in their Chicago-area homes (where Mickey was born and raised; Chuck lived in Mount Clemens, MI, about 30 miles north of Detroit, until he was 11) with the intention of making beats to sell to other artists, but soon realized their own measured, smooth flows and lyrics fit best over their production. In 2007, though they had yet to release any material outside of what was posted on their MySpace site or MP3 blogs, the group started receiving a lot of press attention from fellow-Chicagoans and tastemakers Pitchfork, who invited them to play at their summer festival. This led to a spot at New York's CMJ Music Marathon, where they shared a showcase with DJ A-Trak -- who offered to put out their EP -- and an opening spot on M.I.A.'s solo tour. However, that same year, the Cool Kids signed to Chocolate Industries, who released their debut, The Bake Sale EP, in January 2008, with plans for a full-length to follow. -AMG

Watch the "We Are One" Inaugural Celeberation on HBO

2009-01-18T18:50:00.001-08:00

Televised to the nation, the "We Are One" Opening Celebration is a declaration of common purpose and new beginnings. Today's performance will be grounded in history and brought to life with entertainment that relates to the themes that shaped Barack Obama and which will be the hallmarks of his administration.

HBO is televising the event on an open signal, working with all of its distributors to allow Americans across the country with access to cable, telcos or satellite television to join in the Opening Celebration for free.

You can also watch the Inaugural Celebration online HBO.com/weareone.

Open Thread: A Call to Serve

2009-01-18T18:49:00.000-08:00

President-Elect Obama at the Lincoln Memorial: "You made this belief real"

2009-01-18T18:47:00.000-08:00

During today's Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial, President-elect Obama spoke to throngs of gathered supporters about the road traveled and the road ahead, as well as the role that they played in making this moment possible:

As I stand here tonight, what gives me the greatest hope of all is not the stone and marble that surrounds us today, but what fills the spaces in between. It is you - Americans of every race and region and station who came here because you believe in what this country can be and because you want to help us get there.

It is the same thing that gave me hope from the day we began this campaign for the presidency nearly two years ago; a belief that if we could just recognize ourselves in one another and bring everyone together - Democrats, Republicans, and Independents; Latino, Asian, and Native American; black and white, gay and straight, disabled and not - then not only would we restore hope and opportunity in places that yearned for both, but maybe, just maybe, we might perfect our union in the process.

This is what I believed, but you made this belief real. You proved once more that people who love this country can change it. And as I prepare to assume the presidency, yours are the voices I will take with me every day I walk into that Oval Office - the voices of men and women who have different stories but hold common hopes; who ask only for what was promised us as Americans - that we might make of our lives what we will and see our children climb higher than we did.

Jennifer Hudson To Sing National Anthem At Super Bowl

2009-01-18T18:41:00.000-08:00

At this years Super Bowl, singer and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson will make her first public appearance since the tragic murders of her mother, brother, and nephew as she performs the national anthem.

Hudson's Super Bowl appearance was first reported by E! Online and later confirmed by NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.

Hudson will join the likes of Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Luther Vandross, Vanessa Williams and Mariah Carey when she performs the national anthem for the 43rd annual Super Bowl.

Other artists scheduled to perform at this years Super Bowl include Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Bandwho will be performing as part of the half-time show.

The 27-year-old actress/singer has seen a number of highlights in her career after her stint on "American Idol". Hudson has appeared in several movies including Dreamgirls, Sex And The City: The Movie, and The Secret Life Of Bees.

Her performance in Dreamgirls even led to an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

As far as her music career, Hudson released her self-titled debut album on September 30, 2008. The album received four Grammy nominations and sold over 500,000 copies worldwide in the first six weeks.

Late last year, rumors of a potential inauguration performance by Hudson began to circulate but were never confirmed although Hudson did perform at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in August of last year.

J.Holiday Speaks On New Album, Grammy Nomination.

2009-01-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

On December 3, 2008 nominee’s for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards were announced in a live television special. One of the artists nominated was Washington D.C. native J Holiday.

The R&B singer’s debut album Back Of My Lac’ was announced as one of the nominee’s for the Best Contemporary R&B Album category. Pitting the singer against veteran’s like Mary J. Blige and other newcomer’s such as Jazmine Sullivan, both of whom are also nominated for Best Contemporary R&B Album.

“It feels good,” J Holiday told BET.com of his Grammy nomination. “For me I was on the grind, for a lot of people who don’t know, [for years] just to get my name out there. Just to finally come from 2005 to 2009. And now my peers are like, ‘Yo aight, J he’s the new cool kid’. So it feels good.”

Aside from the Grammy nomination, J Holiday is also looking forward to releasing his sophomore album entitled Round 2.

“It’s a lot more R&B,” J Holiday explained to BET.com after his show at New York’s SOB’s. “I feel like the first one we were just trying to solidify me as an artist without scaring the crowd because we didn’t know if the people really still wanted to hear straight up and down R&B. So now that we know that they do now that’s what you’re gonna hear on this album.”

J Holiday’s first single off of Round 2, “It’s Yours”, has already reached radio and is even available for download on iTunes.

“It’s not that I feel R&B is dead I just feel like for all the people that love it and love to do it and love to write it it’s hard for us to get through now because you got so many people out here that water it down,” J Holiday explained. “It’s more so for the money for them, and for me it’s the love. I don’t feel like it’s dead. I just feel like it’s tainted.”

J Holiday’s sophomore album Round 2 will be released in March and the 2009 Grammy Awards will air on February 8.

Beyonce Closes 'We Are One' Inaugural Concert With Unifying Performance

2009-01-18T18:07:00.000-08:00

Beyonce brought down the house Sunday afternoon (January 18) as she closed out the"We Are One" INAUGRATION CELEBRATION with a soaring version of "America the Beautiful."

A massive choir backed the singer, who donned a brown winter coat and leather gloves, with members alternately wearing red and blue jackets to symbolize the unity between political parties during this historic moment.

The gesture was not lost on anyone.

The concert's previous performers reappeared onstage with Beyoncé in an awe-inspiring sign of inclusion. Rockerand Bruce Springsteen rapper Will.I.Am joined Samuel L. Jackson, Queen Latifah, Tom Hanks and others. Stevie Wonder also took part in the festivities, playing harmonica during the song's bridge.

President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, incoming first lady Michelle Obama, were seated just before the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. As Beyoncé belted out the patriotic number from the stairs of the iconic monument, the Obamas also sang along. Seated nearby were Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, who joined in as well.

Comedian George Lopez and U2's Bono were also spotted onstage during the commencing performance.

"We are one," Beyoncé shouted as she wrapped the song.

Other notable appearances during the afternoon included actors Jack Black, Steve Carell and Jamie Foxx. Garth Brooks, Usher and Mary J. Blige also performed. Denzel Washington opened the celebration with a speech.

"Be the change: Live From the Inauguial" will air live on MTV on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. MTV News will have wall-to-wall coverage of the event and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya in the days leading up to the event and in the days that follow.

WATCH T.I. PERFORM ON THE ELLEN SHOW

2009-01-18T17:55:00.000-08:00

Spend your MLK day with Tip...or at least make sure ya'll watch him perform on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, this upcoming Monday (1/19) at 3pm (ET) on NBC. T.I. will also debut his brand new documentary series titled "T.I.'s Road to Redemption: 45 Days to Go", which will premiere Tuesday, February 10th on MTV at 9 pm ET/PT. Oh and don't trip, you know the the most bangin' album of '08, PAPER TRAIL, is available in stores and online.Tip gives viewers an intimate look at his family life at home. He shows the extremes he has go through to maintain his accustomed level of fan love and media exposure while giving talks to kids as part of his community service. In the show, the rapper also tries to motivate seven at-risk teens across the country to change their lives.

No Nonsense: Singer Estelle climbing the charts with her brash style

2009-01-18T17:51:00.000-08:00

Her name is Estelle Swaray (though she just goes by Estelle), a steadily rising British soul singer/reggae-steeped rapper who'd just as soon bite your tongue before she bites hers.
"I just have a way about me where people know that they don't tell me what to do, they kind of just wait for me to do it," she chuckles. "It's like, 'Don't hem at me. I won't do it. You're wasting your time.'
"It was fun coming over here for the first six months, because I got a lot of, 'Oh, I think you should do this,' and I'm like, 'I think you should get out,' " she continues. "I'd say it in the same tone of voice, and they'd be completely like, 'Did she just tell me to leave?' 'Yeah, I did. Go. Now.' I'm very much myself. People get it now."
If they do, it's likely due to Estelle's brassy breakout hit, "American Boy."
"I like the way he's speaking, his confidence is peaking," she purrs over throbbing chunks of disco keys and a slinky, high-stepping bass line. "Don't like his baggy jeans, but I might like what's underneath them."
Much to Estelle's surprise, the song became a smash Stateside -- she'd already scored numerous hits and become a star in her native England -- topping the charts this past summer.
"I was like, 'Are you serious?' " she gasps, her voice as animated as a cartoon character. " 'Cause we wrote that song as a joke. If you listen to stuff like, 'Don't like his baggy jeans, but I might like what's underneath them,' I was not serious on that song. I'm like, 'If my mom hears this, she's going to cuss me out.' "
Be that as it may, the single, which also featured Kanye West, recently earned Estelle a pair of Grammy nominations for "Song of the Year" and "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration."
"It was fantastic," Estelle says of the Grammy nods. "I was in Vienna, on my way back to Miami, it was like 5 in the morning, and I just had the biggest smile on my face.
"This is amazing," she adds. "Going to the VMAs (MTV's Video Music Awards) and not being nominated for anything, and then Britney Spears wins, like, two awards, we're all like, 'What did she put out?' It was just kind of fantastic to even be nominated, and it shows what the real awards are."
As her words suggest, Estelle is a no-nonsense kind of gal.
On her records, her voice is tough and tensile, a blend of silk and sandpaper set against a shifting backdrop of comely R&B, street-hardened hip-hop and touches of sunbaked reggae.
On her latest disc, "Shine," she plays both seductress and leering, self-assured lioness.
It's all a distillation of a stridently independent persona, which is rooted in Estelle's childhood.
The second of eight children raised in a house where her mother forbade secular music, Estelle was forced to assert herself at a young age.
And 20-some years later, she hasn't let up any.
"I remember being, like, the age of 7 and just always being in control of something or someone, a baby somewhere," she says. "I had lots of cousins and brothers, and we were all taught that's how you are, you know, things don't just run themselves, you have to make them run.
"So, it's not anything that feels strange to me," she continues. "It's kind of like, 'This is what you do.' 'Oh, you don't have a record deal?' You don't sit around waiting for someone to drop it in your lap," she finishes. "You go and get one."

"Notorious" The Movie

2009-01-17T22:12:00.000-08:00

The movie "Notorious" hits the big screen this weekend, highlighting the tragic life of Brooklyn hip hop legend Biggie Smalls and bringing notoriety to his old neighborhood. NY1's Borough reporter Jeanine Ramirez filed the following report.

The corner of Fulton Street and St. James Place in Bedford, Stuyvesant, Brooklyn is relatively quiet these days. But on March 18, 1997, hundreds came out to that corner to bid farewell to one of their own - Christopher Wallace, the rapper who became known as the Notorious B.I.G.

"This is where he's from. Right there, right on the corner, St. James and Fulton. It's where B.I.G. comes from. Right here," said resident Gerald Powell.

That street corner takes center stage in the big new movie about the slain rapper's life, "Notorious," as well as the streets of Bed-Stuy which inspired Wallace to rhyme.

"Coming back to Brooklyn to make this film was great. Just to recreate what it was like in the '90s during that time was absolutely incredible," said director George Tillman.

Making sure Brooklyn and Biggie were portrayed correctly was Voletta Wallace. She produced the movie and hand picked Bed-Stuy resident Jamal Woolward to play her son.

"Ms. Wallace was there every day. She made sure everything was right," said Woolward. "Just doing my thing, there was no pressure to it. You know, we got that swagger. B-K [Brooklyn], baby!"

Biggie rapped about Brooklyn and his mother made sure the film had its own premiere in the borough.

"Christopher was Brooklyn all the way," said Voletta Wallace.

The rapper's son, Christopher Jordan Wallace, is now 12 years old.

"He had a gift and that gift was shown to everyone," said the boy.

Brooklyn residents say they won't forget the Notorious B.I.G, who died at just 24 years old.

Some fans waited in line for hours in the below-freezing temperatures to watch the premiere in Brooklyn Heights.

"I'm from Brooklyn, born and raised, not too far from where he grew up at, so yes, I'm a big fan of his," said one local.

"It was worth it, to tell you the truth you know. Biggie's a legend, you know, and he's Jamaican, I'm Jamaican myself, you know. We just come out here to show some love," said another.

Such sentiment was shown on the streets back in 1997 and captured again on film in 2009.

NOTORIOUS BIGGIE MOVIE Exclusive MySpace Screening w/DJ Knuckles

LIL' WAYNE HATES DUMB PEOPLE, DMX IS PRETTY IN PINK AND YUNG BERG THINKS RAPPERS ARE ABOVE THE LAW AND MORE!!!!!!

2009-01-17T20:40:00.000-08:00

1. Wayne's World

This is Wayne's World, caution before you enter. The "best rapper alive" opened up his mind (world) to GQ magazine during a revealing Q&A where he was asked, among other things, to paint a picture of what his world would look like. Here's what he said:

"Weed about to be legal everywhere. I would make it that there's no such thing ever as crack. Nor heroin. I don't feel that. It kill my city that's why I say that. And violence? Instead of going to jail, you just evaporate from my world just like that. I don't know where you go, but you gone. You know where you go? Back to earth! Picture that. Back to earth."

Too bad we couldn't make George Bush and Dick Cheney evaporate eight years ago.

"...School would not be optional. It would mandatory. Because I do not like unintelligent people; it's a pet peeve. If you dumb, you not around me, so that says a lot about the people you see around me, because I hate dumb people..."

Ummm, I'ma leave that one alone.

2. Higher Power

Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks? After a couple months in an Arizona prison, DMX is already talking like a reformed man. The troubled rapper/actor sat down for a one on one interview with Arizona's local FOXnews station, to discuss what life's been like for him throughout this ordeal.

The one-time hip-hop sex symbol looked like a shell of his former self, yet when it came to his appearance he was more peeved by the mandatory attire he is forced to wear in the poky.

"This jail is ridiculous. It's disrespectful. Come on, pink? What does that have to do with being in jail? Why the pink? Why the pink shirts and underwear? What is that all about?..."

That stampede you hear is Cam'ron and his cronies rushing to Arizona to commit a few petty crimes so that they can spend the night dip-out in pink.

Still rather than lash out aggressively over the pink gear, X is taking a more humble spiritual approach to that and more.

"I pray for everyone. Whether I know you or not, I pray from my friends, family, loved ones, and as well as my enemies every night, because we're all God's children..."

Rather than ask, where this is coming from, I'll tell you where it's going.

"...It has gotten me closer to my true calling in life. Closer to realizing, actualizing my true calling, which is to be a pastor..."

Pastor Mase, Pastor DMX, Rev Run, Hip-Hop's House Of Religion is starting to take shape nicely. All they need is for T-Pain to head up the choir. I'm curious as to how "Amazing Grace" would sound in autotune.

3. Sound Of Da Police

Rick Ross has heard enough of the negative talk about his checkered past and he's dropping two new singles to clear the air. After recently severing ties with his long time label Slip N Slide Records, the rotund Miami rapper told MTV news he's preparing his third album Deeper Than Music, which will be on his new imprint Maybach Music, and the disc has two upcoming singles that will clear the air on everything about his life, once and for all.

"It just takes everybody a little deeper into my world. Everybody can just musically hear the growth. The content is something that's most definitely something real special. The track was produced by theJ.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. I got John Legend himself on the chorus. It's something real big and creative. I haven't heard John on this type of vibe."

Officer Ross on a track produced by the J.U.S.T.I.C.E League, yeah that sounds more than appropriate. Maybe he should axe John Legend from the hook and get The Police. Sting killed that Biggie record. Remember?

As for you all you haters, Ross has something for you on the B-Side.

"It's a scathing four-and-half-minute nonstop flow, me being autobiographical about my life and my come-up and my triumph. Of course, I had to address a few things, I had to address a few people. I love it. The thing is, some people are gonna be -- um -- they're gonna be f---ed up. That's the best way I can put it."

Can't wait to hear how Ross fires back.

4. Coppin' A Plea

It's a new year and Yung Berg is still making news for making an ass of himself. Video of the pint-sized rapper being arrested in Miami hit the net this week. The clip appeared courtesy of TruTv. Though the arrest seems like it occurred sometime last year, Berg is probably just as embarrassed today. Clearly intoxicated Berg recklessly crashed a motor scooter in front of police. Once arrested, Berg tried to talk his way out of it by telling the officer a pointless fact. "I'm signed to Universal Records, I'm an artist." Adding even more drama to the mess was Berg's manager Justin who fled after hitting a cop who wouldn't allow him to take Berg's jewelry before they took him away.

SMH. The fact that the manager wanted to take jewelry from Berg is a big clue the footage is old. I don't think lil homie has anything left after Detroit. Right now, I'm convinced that Aston Kutcher is filming a really long episode of Punk'D on Yung Berg and he doesn't know about it yet. You can't be that unlucky or that stupid.

5. Story To Tell

At some point this weekend, you or someone you know is going to head to the movies to watch the Notorious B.I.G biopic Notorious. The film starring Brooklyn rapper Jamal Gravy Woolard, Derek Luke and Angela Bassett follows the life and death of the iconic MC. The build up to the film's official release has been nothing less than impressive. The marketing has been relentless and the big city premieres have been star-studded events. DJ Drama can attest to that as he was allegedly assaulted and robbed at the Atlanta premiere. (Clearly some people didn't get the movie's underlying message.)

Still, keeping on a positive note for this potentially history-making event, Diddy decided to build up to the occasion by posting some blogs in which he opens up about his "best friend" Big. The four part series finds the music mogul being really forthcoming and emotional when he speaks about how Biggie's death affected his life.

He even tells a never before told story of how Big could have avoided death on that faithful night by taking a scheduled flight to London.

"The call just plays over and over in my head. What if he had just got on the plane?..."

I think I can answer that question for you Mr. Combs... "Who's the best emcee Biggie, Jay-Z, or Nas..." would be a two-man race.

Someone would have been able to talk Lil' Kim out of getting knifed up.

Lil' Cease wouldn't be a yoga instructor right now.

And you Mr. Combs would be twice as rich. Imagine that.

Kanye West Plans on Making a Nude Photo Shoot

2009-01-17T20:28:00.000-08:00

Kanye West Plans Nude Photo Shoot was a top story for this week. Here it is again: (antiMusic) Kanye West saying something really stupid in an interview isn't news (it's expected) but since today is a slow news day, we decided to bring you this report about just one of his recent stupid comments. Angry Ape reports: Kanye West says one day he will pose naked for a magazine shoot.

In an interview with the latest issue of Vibe, the rapper explained his decision, saying he wants to challenge society's perceptions of what is acceptable.

"It's like Björk. If she wanted to pose naked, you'd be like, 'Oh, that's Bjork.'" says Kanye. "But if I wanted to pose naked, people would draw all type of things into it… I definitely feel like, in the next however many years, if I work out for two months, that I'll pose naked, people would draw all type of things into it."

"I definitely feel like, in the next however many years, if I work out for two months, that I'll pose naked. I break every rule and mentality of hip-hop, of black culture, of American culture."

Kanye West recently delivered his fourth studio album 808s and Heartbreak to critical acclaim.