Alleged album art for Styles P's long-overdue album, Time Is Money, now slated for November 14th. Good to see that Curtis finally gave the go-ahead on this one. I'm sure the art guy didn't run out of colored ink.

Back by popular demand.

Rizoh's Radio 11: Steal This Tape!
1. Rumble [Intro]
2. Where It Started - Hi-Tek ft. Talib Kweli, Papoose, Jadakiss & Raekwon
3. Crooklyn Dodgers - 9th Wonder ft. Mos Def, Jean Grae & Memphis Bleek
4. I Am - Diddy ft. Aasim
5. I Love It - Young Jeezy
6. Weight - The Alchemist ft. Ghostface
7. Watch How It Go Down (Rmx) - Termanology ft. Lil' Fame & Papoose
8. You Don't Know - Eminem, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks & Ca$his
9. Iceman - Lloyd Banks ft. Scarface, Young Buck, 8-Ball & MJG
10. Slash Interlude
11. Roof Top - Raekwon
12. Everything I Love - Diddy ft. NaS & Cee-Lo
13. **Mystery Track**
14. The Truth - AZ
15. Me, My Baby & My Cadillac - Sleepy Brown
16. My Love - JT ft. T.I.
17. Music For Life
18. Outro

| Download |

The Game - Hustler's Dream (poor quality)
Dre or no Dre, about 500,000 people will still go out and cop the Doctor's Advocate within the first couple of weeks. My only gripe with JT is that he's quickly morphing into the "Ludacris of the west coast"; His ability to soar is often grounded by his reluctance inability to push that potential of his to the limit. It's like duke takes two steps forward and 4 back.

Still, Game is 2/3 right now. Notice that there's barely any name-dropping on "Hustler's Dream"? Hopefully, we'll have a better version of later. Stay tuned.

Bonus:
Eminem, 50 Cent, Ca$his, Lloyd Banks - You Don't Know (CD Quality)
The first single from the forthcoming Re-Up compilation, out December 5th.

The Game - 1-800-Homicide
Taken from my current favorite album, Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip out October 17th.

Freddie Foxxx (aka Bumpy Knuckles) - The King is Down (Rakim Diss)
Okay, this guy is not only dissin' Rakim for stuff that happened 50 years ago, he's also going at God's Son just because Nas won't do a track with him. Plus, what's with all the name-calling? I guess he lied about not calling Ra by name.

*Yawn*

-Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the Bird Flu dance. "I called this bird flu because this beat gon kill everyone!" WTF!!!!

-Lost youths find hope in hip-hop, or so says Bakari Kitwana, former Source Executive Editor.

-Video: Fat Joe ft. Lil Wayne - Make It Rain. I actually like this song, but I can't say the same for the music video.

-Beyonce and Jay-Z join Snoop, Mary J., Ciara, Missy and others in Nigeria next month.

-According to WuTangCorp.com Raekwon has now signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath.

-Not hip-hop related, but international border volleyball is something the senate might wanna consider.

A guy who posts as "Lupe" on Atlantic Records message board claims that the 58,000 units reported by Billboard is missing Best Buy's figures:

hahahaha....hi my peoples...actually this weeks Billboards numbers are off because of an error!!!...Best Buy hadnt turned in their sales...I must remind I was the number #1 seller at Best Buy this week...the numbers without Best Buy stand at 57,000...the new numbers will be out this friday after they turn in...hahahahaha...GOD IS GREAT!!!!

Judging by the same user's previous posts, there's no doubt in my mind that Lupe truly made the above entry. I wonder why he didn't post this on his MySpace blog which is more popular and obviously has the capacity to reach more folks. Then again, I wonder why hitsdailydouble.com reported 85,000, while Billboard claimed it was only 58,000.

Not that it's impossible for him to have really done those shitty numbers--after all, he's not dissin' anybody or making up some gimmicky dance moves. However, according to Best Buy's official website, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor is the current best seller in the rap / hip-hop category.

UPDATE: Lupe was absolutely right. Not only did a recent Atlantic Records press release corroborate this claim, Billboard has also noted that "system failure at a significant chain made it impossible for data from that company's stores to be included when Nielsen SoundScan processed the sales charts that were released Sept. 29 on Billboard.com and Billboard.biz."

Caption this pic!

-Chris Martin raps on Jay-Z's album. But, it's not likely to make the cut.

-Finally!A hip-hop action figure that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

-How do you manage to write a best-selling book if you can't read and/or write?

-Foxy Brown reaches an agreement with former employee, charges dropped.

-New book to explore the Bible's influence on slavery.

-YBF has an interesting overview of some questionable media reports surrounding Rev Run's newborn daughter's death.

-Paul Wall picks the Phil Collins sampled "I Don't Care" as the first single from his forthcoming Get Money, Stay True. I bet you he'll what it do us to death as well.

-Download: The Game's "Let's Ride" Single [CDS-197kbps]. Includes a capella, clean, dirty, and instrumental.


Photo [Lil Keke] © Rizoh

You probably remember Ms Myles from Rhymefest's first video, "Brand New," with K-West. Since then, she's added more music clips to her resume including, but not limited to, Nelly Furtado's brand new video for "Promiscous Girl." The ever-smiling California-e native recently unveiled a multimedia CD available through her official website, BriaMyles.com. Move over, Buffie.

More Bria Myles Pictorial
1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8

-Not that it's the first time I've noticed this sort of plagiarism, but, there's something unethical about jacking another person's piece word for word. I'm talking about these guys jacking this article. He eventually agreed to add the source.

-Will.i.am says he was nervous when he first met The Game. Duh, he jumped Ras Kass by himself. Who wouldn't be? s/c

Speaking of JT...

-He won't drive Maybachs or wear button-ups, but he sure looks awkward on this cover of the November XXL.

-You know the world is coming to an end when folks like Michael Jackson are getting dropped from their label. What's the word on that Method Man rumor by the way?

-Gnarls Barkley takes the "if it ain't broke..." approach on their second album. (Update: They're no longer sure if there'll be a second Gnarls Barkley album.)

-I was just about to exhale a sigh of relief at the sight of this headline before realizing that The Boondocks comic strip won't return anytime soon. Let me find out Aaron McGruder has joined Dave Chappelle in Africa.

-Bumpy Knuckles takes a break from dissin' Nah'Right.com posters to beef with Rakim...of all people.

-Shots fired atJim Jones concert, two men arrested.

R.I.P. Etta Baker

I'd be surprised if Esco drops earlier than the first quarter of 2007. Apparently, Def Jam wants us to pretend that Reggie is dropping an album anytime soon.

• Redman
  Red Gone Wild
  October 3
  
  
• Shareefa
  Point of No Return
  October 24
  
  
• Lady Sovereign
  Public Warning
  October 31
  
  
• Bobby Valentino
  Special Occasion
  November 14
  
  
• Jay-Z
  Kingdom Come
  November 21
  
  
• Young Jeezy
  Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration
  December 12
  
  
• Nas
  Hip-Hop Is Dead...The N
  December 12

(PSst: These things change by the minute, so I'll try to keep you posted, depending on how often UMG updates their shit.) Updated.

Contrary to popular belief, "It's a Love Thing" is a Pete Rock & CL Smooth throwback that first appeared on PR's Soul Survivor 2. I know you don't buy records, so I had to clarify that.

As far as American Me, Corey Penn's Soul Food kitchen is still open for business. Of course, it's nowhere near Mecca & The Soul Brother, but CL's spit game is still as smooth as ever. I'll have a review on it later. For now, listen to these three songs and let me know if it's 'yay' or 'nay'.

C L Smooth - American Me Track Listing
1. "American Me [Intro]" (Mike Loe)
2. "American Me" (Produced by Rsonist [Heatmakerz])
3. "I Can't Help It" (Produced by Mike Loe)
4. "Call on Me" (Produced by Kaygee & Tramp for Divine Mill)
5. "Black Heart Radio [Interlude]" (Produced by Mike Loe)
6. "CL Smooth Unplugged" (Produced by Squarta)
7. "Warm Outside" (Produced by Rsonist [Heatmakerz])
8. "Terrorism [Interlude]" (Produced by DonJoe & Del)
9. "Gorilla Pimpin'" (Produced by Kaygee & Tramp Divine Mill)
10. "The Impossible" (Produced by Mike Loe)
11. "It’s A Love Thing (Produced by Pete Rock)"
12. "Smoke in the Air" (Produced by Mike Loe)
13. "Travel Sometime [Interlude]"
14. "The Stroll" (Produced by Rsonist [Heatmakerz])
15. "American Me [Outro]" (Produced by Mike Loe)
16. "All We Ever Know" (Produced by Mike Loe)
17. Heaven Is Watching You (Produced by Kaygee & Tramp Divine Mill)

Release Date: October 31, 2006
Label: Shaman Works Recordings


See Also...
-Top 10 Rap Releases for October 2006

Daz Dillinger has quietly dropped a CD laden with "some West Coast G'd Down South flavor" (his own words), and managed to sell 23,000 units so far. Don't be No. 23,001, get it here for free on this west coast edition of the Weekly CD Contest.

Same rules as before.

1) What's Daz's real name?
2) Daz is Snoop Dogg's cousin. True or False?
3) 2Pac's "Got My Mind Made Up" was produced by Daz originally for _________.

Good Luck!

Visit The Rap Up Forums

In case you didn't know, The Rap Up message board has been up and running for about four years now. That's where I honed my craft prior to the whole blog thing. We don't do Cd contests there, but you're welcome to add to our collection of celeb mug shots and wack album covers.

JD, who recently turned 34, was seen celebrating his birthday at Hennessy Paradis in L.A. This showcase is nothing compared to Nas' birthday party in terms of hip-hop celeb turnout.

While you were busy googling that fake Kingdom Come tracklisting, the album art & tracklisting for Hi-Teknology 2 stealthily invaded the 'nets. I already love this album on paper.



















Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip Tracklisting

1. "The Oracle (Intro)"
2. "The Chip"
3. "Keep It Moving" (feat. Dion, Q-Tip & Kurupt)
4. "I Think I Got a Beat" (feat. Lil' Tone)
5. "Can We Go Back" (feat. Talib Kweli & Ayak)
6. "Josephine" (feat. The Willie Cottrell Band, Ghostface Killah & Pretty Ugly)
7. "March" (feat. Common)
8. "Where It Started At (NY)" (feat. Dion, Jadakiss, Papoose, Talib Kweli & Raekwon)
9. "1-800-Homicide" (feat. The Game & Dion)
10. "Money Don't Make U Rich" (feat. Strong Arm Steady)
11. "Baby We Can Do It" (feat. Czar*Nok)
12. "Let it Go" (feat. Dion & Talib Kweli)
13. "People Going Down" (feat. The Willie Cottrell Band)
14. "So Tired" (feat. Dion, Bun B, Devin the Dude & Pretty Ugly)
15. "Music For Life" (feat. J Dilla, Nas, Common, Busta Rhymes & Marsha)
16. "How We Do It" (feat. Snoop Dogg, Talib Kweli & Slim Thug)
17. "Time is Now" (feat. Reflection Eternal)
18. "We Get Down" (feat. Mos Def, Raphael Saadiq & Bootsy Collins)

Release Date: October 17th

Good to see Slim back doing videos, but you already know how much I love the song. Seriously, how do you go from "Locked Up" and "Ghetto" to "Smack That"?

-Video: Young Buck - I Know You Want Me. All I can say is that it doesn't deserve its own post.

-Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor on pace to shift 100,000 units next week. Better than I expected. If you're one of those "hip-hop is dead" types, do yourself and the rest of us a favor: stop complaining and go cop this album as well as Game Theory.

-Mario Etheridge (man who shot proof) found guilty on two counts.

-Play and Dana Dane teach Hip-Hop Class

-Dave Mays and Benzino's new publication, Hip-Hop Weekly, gets a street date. Those guys are some comedians.

-Jay-Z adds a MOBO to his awards tally. But, he didn't show up for the obvious reasons.

-Hip-Hop Caucus to protest at the White House.

The Game - Strip Club (Let's Ride) [CD Quality]

A solid single once you get past the uninspiring title.

-Game's radio interview right before they premiered "Let's Ride."
-He runs through the list of producers and collaborators on The Doctor's Advocate which doesn't include Dr. Dre.

-Drops a subliminal diss to Black Eyed Peas, then turns around and says that the will.i.am-produced "Compton" is his favorite track on the album

-Interesting Allhiphop.com interview with Game. Apparently, he's still beefing with his brother. This guy really needs to switch to vegetarian.

-Again, he dodges the Dre factor tactfully in that AHH interview. Last I checked on UMG's site, The Doctor's Advocate was labeled "Aftermath"...Interesting.

-Oprah for President?

-Weird Al Yankovic murders Chamillionaire (on his own sh*t, that is.)

-Another teenybopper violates rap.

-Eminem expands his hu$tle.

-Speaking of Em, his divorce proceedings will now go through a mediator. Huh?

-Uncle LL will co-develop, poduce and star in a new TV series.

-DMC of Run-DMC to be honored for helping abandoned children. Who said hip-hop was all about negativity and violence.

(PSssst: Posts will be sporadic for a while, owing to Blogger's incessant hiccups + the death of my laptop's hard drive last week. Unless, of course, 'Pac returns from Cuba anytime soon.)

Take a crack at these three questions for a chance to snatch this week's CD contest. Same rules as before.

1) What's the name of Lupe's old group? Hint: The group disbanded after their first single failed to take off.

2) Former B.I.G. manager Mark Pitts helped bring Lupe to his current home at Atlantic. Name the three record companies that failed to put the Chicago emcee on the map.

3) What was the main thing Lupe said he wanted to have on his contract? (e.g. full ownership of his masters; an expensive Porshe; a $500,000 rolex, access to Mya's phone number, etc)

What better way to show off bling than to paste them on Bey's hangers?