Drake's 5 Hip Hop Idols

As he releases his debut album Thank Me Later, he also reveals his musical heros.

                                              
Lil Wayne                                                                         

It's hard as a rapper not to be repetitive,                                  

he always has a new way to make it fun.                                   

And I get to witness his work ethic                                        

(being on Waynes label, Young Money):

He's working when you're sleeping.

     

Andre 3000 

If I wasn't myself, I would want to be that guy

He's so well-rounded, so intelligent. And The

  Love Bellow is my favorite album of all time.

                                     

Kanye West                                                                        

I've never been so moved by a person's                                  

entire career. He's the guy I'll tell my                                       

kids about. His genius is to be feared.       

 

  Nas

He influenced this album a lot. I had to break 

down how he raps. Im just very intrigued by 

 his cadence and his stories.

Jay- Z

You look at (other) rappers from his era,

 and they couldnt transcend generations.

But he's still completely relevant.

He inspires every move all the kids my age make.

When Im recording, I ask myself,

"Would Jay and (Beyonce) party to this song?"

Source: People Magazine

Drake Concert Cancelled in NYC

Rapper Drake was scheduled to perform in New York City Tuesday (Jun 15) to support the release of his debut album Thank Me Later,  given by Paper Magazine at NYC's Seaport (Pier 17).

The Young Money artist was scheduled to perform during Paper Magazine’s “Sounds Like Paper” concert series at the South Street Seaport in NYC yesterday, along with recording artists Hanson and Ninkasonik.

But due to an overwhelming turnout of  fans, NYPD was forced to shut the show down. The show was to start at 6pm but once fans began going crazy (throwing chairs, bottles, etc.) the police had no choice but to cancell the show. There was supposed to be an estimated amount of 10,000 people showing up, instead over 20,000 were present. Paul Browne of the NYPD revealed that two people were arrested on minor charges and six others suffered slight injuries.

Paper Magazine:

Feels that word got out on the street, probably via radio and moved up the number of people estimated to show. Truth is they were not prepared, and now the NYPD is blaming them also.

  

Drake:

“I am humbled by the crowd that showed up in support of my performance and the release of Thank Me Later. I love performing for my fans but unfortunately the show was canceled by the NYPD

due to over crowding, leaving me without the chance to give my fans a real show I’m thankful for the support that the fans have been giving me. I thank you now.”

 They've should've known better The words FREE & BLACK PEOPLE just DON'T MIX!

Nicki Minaj Covers VIBE

Nicki Minaj is one of June/July's cover subjects. In the feature titled "Character Study," written by Siobhan O'Connor and photographed by Jill Greenberg, rap's latest "it" girl shares some interesting insight to her new found fame, female MCs before her and her weird voices. Check out some experts from the cover story which hits stands June 15

“People don’t get when you’re off, or you’re having a bad day,” she says, obliquely referring to the photograph that bounced around the blogs of her hand- in-hand with Diddy, looking especially miserable. The speculation was inevitable: Had she been crying? Was she just tired? Are they doing it?"

“When I grew up I saw females doing certain things, and I thought I had to do that exactly,” she says. “The female rappers of my day spoke about sex a lot . . . and I thought that to have the success they got, I would have to represent the same thing. When in fact I didn’t have to represent the same thing.”

“I’m not abandoning the funny voices. I just did a crazy tribute to ODB’s ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya,’” she says, perfectly impersonating the late Wu-Clansman. “But it’s coming up more with the album. I had a teacher in elementary who would stand on her table and whisper. We’d all turn around like, ‘What is this lunatic doing?’ But she would achieve what she wanted. She wanted us to stop talking and listen. I feel like I need to mellow it down so people can hear what I have to say.”

Jay-Z & Beyonce @ The French Open

Jay-z and Beyonce were spotted in the Presidential Box at the French Open.

Can you feel the ♥?

Mrs. Knowles Reppin' Brooklyn Harder Than Hubby?!

I've  learned that Beyonce was sporting a new tattoo yesterday at an NYC event. As the below photos show, the tat is on her left hand and says "Brooklyn."Beyonce was sporting a new tattoo in NYC last night. The big question is whether it's real or fake? 
It's not yet clear whether the tat is permanent or temporary. But I'm guessing it's TEMPORARY!

They're Definetly Implants. . .

So you know who Nicki Minaj is. The HBC (Head Barbie in Charge) recently spoke on the rumor about her having booty pads! O_o
If you're a REAL Nicki Minaj fan, then you know that her butt and hips werent always as big/wide as they are today. 
Below are before and after pictures.

When she was asked if the butt pad rumors bothered her she replied:
“Absolutely not!” the Queens-bred rapper and Lil Wayne protégé says with a laugh. “People will pick anything to talk about, and that happens to be the thing at the moment. I love being a conversation piece.”

She calls her self a "barbie" right? Yes we know they're plastic but is she the one we want our teens looking up to as a "Role Model?" Thinking that its perfectly fine to do crazy things to their bodies? Now I'm not knocking her, I actually like Nicki.
 PS: Does her butt look real!! Anyone with good eyes can tell the difference. Im just saying!

Beyonce & Jay-z Perform @ The Cochella Music Festival

Mrs. Carter was all smiles last night as Jay performed at the Cochella Music Festival. She later joined him on stage to perform "Forever Young." Wearing jean shorts, a white shirt, a black hat and a big smile, Beyonce sang the chorus of "Forever Young" while fans screamed with glee. Beyonce wasn't the only Knowles in attendance, however, as her younger sister Solange appeared on the side of the stage along with California’s First Lady Maria Shriver and her daughter, Katherine Schwarzenegger.

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Tiny & Toya Premiere Party in ATL

Tuesday night Tiny and Toya's Second Season premiered on BET. There was a party to start off the new season. Below are a few pictures.

If you missed the first episode click here to watch it

Ciara's Back

She's got a new single called "Ride" featuring Ludacris.

This is her first single from her upcoming fourth album called "Basic Instinct."

The entire album is produced by The Dream and Tricky Stewart, and it's set to be released some time this year.

Click Here to Listen to "Ride" by Ciara

TV: "The Game" Soon to be back on the Air

The CW series "The Game" has been picked up by BET for its fourth season.

It's still unclear whether or not all the cast mates will return, but at least the back and fourth speculation will end!

EX Disney Star Addresses Video: Spectacular

We havent really seen Ms. Kiely Williams very much after the last  Cheetah Girls Movie. So on Tuesday the singer/actress premiered her video Spectacular. 
In the video, Kiely is shot at a bar taking shots with a suitor whom she ends up having a shameless one-night-stand. The lyrics—written by Williams— include lines such as: "Last I remember I was face down/Ass up, clothes off, broke off, dozed off/Even though I’m not sure of his name/He could get it again if he wanted." The video and song gained Williams plenty of backlash from critics who thought it to be too strikingly salacious, advocating promiscuity and unprotected sex. 


Williams also went through a list of other female celebrities who she feels created controversial art with metaphoric meaning. "Are Lady Gaga and Beyonce advocating murder with the 'Telephone' video? Of, course not. Was Rihanna encouraging suicide with 'Russian Roulette?' No. Was Madonna suggesting that young unmarried girls get pregnant with 'Papa Don’t Preach?' I don’t think so. Is Academy Award winner Mo'Nique a proponent of incest because of her portrayal of Mary in the movie 'Precious?' Clearly, the answer is no." she says. "I wrote 'Spectacular' and made the video to bring attention to a serious women’s health and safety issue. Don’t shoot the messenger."


Watch What I want to say, but They've done it for me!!




Haven't seen the Controversial video as yet? Watch it Below!



Sources: VIBE, Youtube

Lil Wayne's Letter to His Fans #1

During my prison stint, I want my fans to know I love you. I want all of you to know that I appreciate all the mail I get, and this is my way of saying thank you. The F is for Family, Friends, and Fans.

Love. Live. Life. Proceed. Progress. That’s who I am and who I’ll always be. You see, we’re all living on borrowed time, so I’m not worried about this situation. Life happens quick. The more time you spend contemplating what you should have done…you lose valuable time planning what you can and will do. Trying to tear down the past prohibits you from building up your future. So for my time here, my physical will be confined to the yard. My love and my spirit, however, know no boundaries.
I’m in good spirits man, for real. My kids race through my mind all day. They know they were created with love, so love is how their life will be defined. I just hope my love and adoration for them provides a temporary bandage on a wound I unknowingly inflicted on them.
Real soon, you can catch me blogging for ESPN again thank you espn for not letting my passion for sports perish. I work out a lot because it helps pass the time. I read the Bible everyday. Jail didn’t make me find God, He’s always been there. They can lock me up, but my spirit and my love can never be confined to prison walls.
But this isn’t all about me, you are the reason for this letter. It’s because of you Rebirth went gold when critics aborted it. It’s because of you Young Money is and will always be a movement. If the weight of the world is on your shoulders, I beg of you, place it on mine. That’s the least I could do for you, after all you have sacrificed for me. If I could, I’d write each one of you back. Because of this, my team and I have created a website where you can view my letters. Each week I’ll answer as many questions as I possibly can.
Mia Edwards (Southern California) – I wish you nothing but the best for you. Earning your Masters in Library and Information Science is beautiful. I’ll keep you in mind whenever I decide to do an autobiography on my life.
Kelly Holloman (Brooklyn) – I still remember your letter. You have a great spirit. Thank you for the words and being a real fan. I love you.
Nurris Terrero (New York) – Your letter was so thoughtful and sincere. The way you worded everything left me in awe. Please send suggestions on books I should read. I look forward to checking them out.
For real, this will be the best way we can communicate for the coming months. The same way yall miss me, I miss yall, only 100 times more. To those who hate. Hate is only a form love that hasn’t found a way to express itself logically. Keep sending the letters and I promise keep responding. Thank YOU, thank YOU, thank YOU. No matter what they do to erase me, my love for you will always be permanent. Remember that. Take care. God bless.


Give me the patience that I need
To keep my piece of mind,
And with life’s cares, I hope, Dear God,
Some happiness to find.
Give me the courage to face life`s trials
and not to from troubles run.
let me keep this thought in mind.
“Thy Will,” not “Mine,” be done.
- “Pray”

Do you want to write Lil Wayne?
Eric M. Taylor Center (EMTC)
Dwayne Carter NYSID# 02616544L
10-10 Hazen Street
East Elmhurst, NY 11370

FREE WEEZY!!

Sources: Weezythanxyou

New Movie: Lottery Ticket Starring Bow Wow & Ice Cube

 Kevin Carson (Bow Wow), a young man living in the projects, wins $370 million in a nationwide lottery. When his opportunistic neighbors discover he has the winning ticket in his possession, Kevin must survive their greedy and sometimes even threatening actions over a three-day holiday weekend before he can claim his prize.

Below is the trailer to the movie "Lottery ticket"starring Bow Wow, Teairra Mari, Natari Naughton, Mike Epps, T-Pain, and many more!

Drake & Nicki Minaj take over XXL

Nicki Minaj and Drake take center stage next month as Weezy’s protégés grace the cover of the May 2010 issue of XXL. Both have built a deafening buzz throughout the past year and change, with standout verses and chart topping singles under their respective belts. With fans clamoring for their highly anticipated debut albums, Drake and Nicki stand on the cusp of being crowned hip-hop’s new reigning king and queen. XXL’s May 2010 issue with Nicki Minaj and Drake hits stands nationwide on April 20.

Source: XXL

Erykah Badu Contraversal Video "Window Seat"

In Badu's video for "Window Seat," she strolled Dealey Plaza removing her layers of clothes until she was completely nude. According Badu’s Twitter page, the controversial video was filmed in one take. She walked through the plaza prior to taping to set up the shot and then arranged to meet her videographer the following day. In order to have shot the video legally, she would have had to have a police officer present while filming, which wouldn’t have been allowed on Dealey Plaza anyway.
“This happened almost two weeks ago and it's hard to prosecute someone who is charged with a Class B or C misdemeanor, someone would have had to call the cops right away and filed charges right then, but right now it’s probably not going to happen.”-Senior Corpal Janice Crowther, a spokeswoman for the Dallas Police Department
Public nudity in Dallas is considered a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable with up to 180 days of jail time and a maximum $2,000 fine. But, if Badu had been arrested, she would have been charged with a Class A misdemeanor—because children were present—fined up to $4,000 and face a maximum of one year in prison for indecent exposure.
“She got up and ran away so fast,” says Crowther. “People were too distracted and shocked to call 9-1-1 [but] even if they did, this is a hard case to prove because any witness who comes forward would have to prove they were there.

Click Here to See the controversial video "Window Seat"

Source: VIBE, Twitter

Massive Attack: Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj recently filmed the video for her new single "Massive Attack" featuring Sean Garrett. Amber Rose is featured in the video.

Check out some of the photo's from behind the scenes!

 

Nicki Minaj & Amber Rose

 

Dancers

 

Nicki Minaj & Amber Rose

 

Nicki & Amber in the Lambo

 

Sean Garrett

Dancers

Source: VIBE

Congrats Luda!!

According to Global Grind, Ludacris and girlfriend Eudoxie, are now engaged. The couple have been seen together at parties, basketball games, and Luda's concerts. She attends the University of Miami.


When Luda was asked about his love life by Honey magazine he said:
 "I try to preserve certain things and keep things special, and that is one thing I would like to keep private." 

Source: Global Grind, ATL Pics, Honey Magazine

These two are back for a brand new Season!!!

Don't miss a brand new season of Tiny & Toya on BET! Season Premiere is TUESDAY, April 13 at 10/9c!

BET Videos

            

Album Review: Still Standing

Monica's 6th Album is Titled Still Standing.

  This album is the culmination of hours of hard work and personal sacrifice!

Production was handled by Dallas Austin, Johnta Austin, Babyface, Drumma Boy, Bryan-Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri, Missy, J Ferrari, Sean Garrett, Jazze Pha, Ne-Yo, Pollow Da Don, Ester Dean and a few others.

Monica worked on hundreds of songs with these producers.

In an interview she stated:

"I am going back to where I started. The next album I would like people to get more songs like "Why I love you so much," "Angel of Mine," or the things they really, really love from me." And that she did!

Originally titled Lessons Learned Monica decided to change the project recently as she felt that Still Standing was more appropriate for the body of work that she and Bryan-Michael Cox pulled off.

Monica provides a new spin on an old school classic. Unlike the original, which finds a heartbroken and disheveled woman realizing her stupidity at the hands of an uninterested lover, “Everything to Me” illustrates the happiness in finding true love. Songs following the same pattern include “Love All Over Me,” and “Superman.”

The album continuously straddles the lines between the good, bad and ugly of relationships but isn’t sappy where one may expect that it would be. She admits wrongdoing in “One In A Lifetime,” but then flips over and resiliently steps out of a bad relationship by way of “Stay or Go” and “Here I Am.”

Track Listing 
1. Still Standing (Feat. Ludacris)
2. One in a lifetime
3. Stay or Go
4. Everything to me (Single)
5. If I were you're man
6. Mirror
7. Here I am
8. Superman
9. Love all over me
10. Believing in me


My Top Picks
"Everything To me," "If I were your Girl," "Love All Over Me" & "One in a Lifetime"


Source: iTUNES, Concrete Loop

Diggy Simmons Has Signed With Atantic Records!

Monday March 22nd, Diggy Simmons Announced that he has signed to Atlantic Records (via  twitter page)

There were very small hints going around but the word wasnt official until it came from the horses mouth itself!

Big sister Angela Simmons snapped pictures of him as he signed papers
"Supporting @diggy_simmons signin on the line proud of him I use to change his pampers lol http://tweetphoto.com/15440174" (Posted Above)


Atlantic Records announced it by Atlantic Records Tweeting
  AtlanticRecords 

  

Welcome to @AtlanticRecords@Diggy_Simmons



Twitterers even tried to get family to go head to head with a #jojomustfeellike TT. But the family sticks together no matter what.
Jojo replied:
@YoungSimmons:
"#jojomustfeellike Diggy is gon take over and I'm there to support him! Family don't compete with each other we complete each other."
Then he said:
"Yall all wilding I knew about it congrats to my bro @diggy_simmons we major now bro!simmons taking over again and ima keep pushing Young!"


Big Sis Vanessa tweeted: "i pray for all ya'll tryna make siblings go against one another! shame on yall fools.. smh! good luck #simmonstakeover"


Twitter is a great networking tool, and a great way to keep up with whats in the now!
BTW Congrats Diggy!


Source: Associated Content, & NecoleBitchie, Twitter, Angela Simmons

T.I.P & Tiny Finally Begin to Plan For A Wedding

The wedding bells are ringing for T.I. and Tiny soon, she says they want to take their time, and she is fed up with people asking what's taking so long.

“There are wedding plans coming soon, sometime this year,” said Tiny.

Tiny says that there is no rush! She wants it to be a small affair, with about 200 guests. But not to big because they want as much of their privacy as possible.


"There’ve been a million rumors about us getting married. It’s taking away from the day that we really do get married so I just want to kind of have that moment for myself.”
“I don’t really worry about what people say about what’s taking so long. Like, it ain’t none of your business what’s taking so long.”



“If we happy, why are you so concerned? We living, we’re happy, we’re in love. I mean, it’s no doubt in my mind that he doesn’t love every piece of me and vice versa so we’re just doing what’s comfortable and what works for us. Tiny and T.I.: Not for the world. When we get ready to make a move, we will make it. We just can’t do it for everybody.”



"It was crazy. I seen him every week,” said Tiny over the phone from Atlanta. “We just picked up where we left off and we just, you know, I’m just in love all over again.”


T.I. and Tiny have been together for almost 10 years now. After Tiny had a miscarriage in 2007, the couple reportedly broke off their engagement but later rekindled their love and T.I. proposed soon after.


Source: VIBE, MTV

Jay-Z & T-Pain Cool Now?

If you're a Jay-Z fan, you've heard his recent project "Blueprint 3!" 

And you know D.O.A (Death of Auto Tune) 

But for those who dont know Jay-Z came out with D.O.A to say that there is too much Auto Tune going on and Its just WACK now. T-Pain felt some kind of way against the track.

 (I would too if all I did was Auto Tune Music)

T-Pain later insulted Jay during a show in Las Vegas. However, T-Pain, speaking to MTV News, revealed that there is no more animosity between the two of them.

"We talked at the Grammys,” T-Pain said. “It was a pretty big thing. Word for word, he said, ‘That's [messed] up the way you took that song.’ I’m [crazy], so we gonna take the song like that. That’s how we take songs.

 “He [Jay-Z] was like, ‘I didn't mean nothing by that,’” T-Pain continued. “I was like, ‘I already put out my apology song [“More Careful”]. So there you go. My bad. I apologize. Apologize for taking the song like that.’ We shook hands, did the little chest bump. That was the end of that.”

The short-lived feud between Jay-Z and T-Pain has finally been put to rest.

 T-Pain is currently hard at work on his next album, "Revolver."

Source: BET, MTV

He's Back!

August 24th will be a big day for T.I. 

He recently released a new song titled "I'm back." (Listen Below)

Before releasing the record to the masses, Tip held a conference call with an assortment of DJs around the country thanking them for their ongoing support during his brief bid.
“I figured there were a lot of things that needed to be spoken on in my absence,” Harris said of “I’m Back.” “There were a lot of things that went down and a lot of matters that needed to be addressed and this was the greatest platform for me to do it.
Tip explained that “I’m Back” isn’t the first single from his upcoming album, an opus scheduled to hit stores August 24. “This isn’t an official first single, just something to re-introduce myself to the market place,” T.I. told the DJs. “This is more of a statement record.”


Source: BET, TrapMuzik

Lil Wayne && Jail

How does Reginae feel about her Dad?

In the days leading up to his incarceration, Reginae, who is hoping to also pursue a career in music, took to her twitter page to show love for her dad.
 "Daddy I love you so much," she wrote. "You're the best daddy in the world. I'm happy that you're my dad. 

"It was up and down. One minute we thought he was going and she'd be sad and then he don't go," Toya said in an interview. "We [were] in New York like two times and we ended up turning right back around because he didn't go."

"The last day he finally went in, we didn't go," she continued. "My daughter was like, 'I wish I would've went.' It was just too much. I just didn't want to let her see that again cause both times she took it real hard." On his final day of freedom Wayne spoke to Johnson and Reginae over the phone. He told his ex to "be strong" and that his time behind bards was going to "fly by."



No Signing Autographs?
According to TMZ Wayne will not be signing autographs in prison, because he’s not a celebrity in the Rikers facility.
Wayne is being treated like a normal inmate, and if he stays on his best behavior he will be released in October 2010.

What'd they Say?

"I think we gonna miss a certain energy that Wayne has. The beauty about it is, he'll be back, and hopefully he'll come back a better person."
 - Diddy


" feel bad, because I don't think anything like this has happened in music since Elvis got drafted into the Army"- Bun B.

"It's f---ed up. I don't like it all. I don't have one good feeling about it. I'm happy Tip is coming out, but sad that Wayne and Gucci gotta go in. I don't like to see that. I like for my n---as that co-exist with me in hip-hop to win." - The Game




"He just told me to be strong and don't really trip. Don't let her see me down. At first my daughter would see me a little sad and you know kids they react off of your feelings sometimes, so he was just like, 'Be strong, make sure you take care of her. Make sure she straight and keep her phone on all the times so I can call her. The time is gonna fly by."- Toya

 "It's sad, because he doesn't deserve to go to jail,I'm a crybaby.You shouldn't ask me stuff like that. Reality hasn't set in that he has to go to jail. He shouldn't have to go to jail".

"Law is mind without reason. I'll return." - Lil Wayne

Sources: BET, TMZ, The Boom Box, MTV