Hip Hop NEWS

[Top-Dogg2001]

source: hiphopsite.com

Rawkus is getting sued for half-a-million dollars due to an uncleared sample. The song? None other than their biggest hit, Pharoahe Monch’s “Simon Says”. Unfortunately, Toho isn’t too happy with the song’s unauthorized use of the Godzilla sample. The song will be pulled from all versions of Internal Affairs and the rest of the 12” singles will be destroyed. Simon says - get the fuck outta here!  



Is Alchemist going back to his rhyming roots? Apparently so, on his new track “Different Worlds” (feat. Twin), which will be featured on his upcoming solo project, Alchemist is rhyming, just like he did back in the days with the Whooliganz – although now his flow has matured since those early days….



Speaking of Alchemist, word has it that Ras Kass has taken a pot shot at him on his “Van Gogh” LP, regarding Al’s selling of the same beat to Jadakiss. Apparently, “Home Sweet Home” begins and Ras Kass cuts the song off and says, “Man, fuck this beat.”  Then he disses Alchemist on the track that follows, “Kiss U”. The first single will be the Ric Rock produced "Back It Up" f/Kokane.  Other producers include Battlecat, Rockwilder, Mike City (Carl Thomas) and Jelly Roll (Snoop Dogg).  Look for collaborations with Tash, Nate Dogg, Tray Dee and a new Golden State track with Xzibit and Saafir..



Rumor has it that Def Jam is putting legal pressure on Def Jux regarding similarities in the two label’s names. Apparently, threats of a lawsuit have been made, but a simple solution would be for El-P and company to use the label’s proper name – Definitive Jux. Look for the label’s next project, Aesop Rock’s “Labor Days”, due out on Labor Day, as well as the Fondle Em compilation album in the fall, and El-P’s solo album, due winter.



Word has it that Snoop’s Dogg House Records imprint will be distributed by MCA. No word if this means that Snoop himself will be putting out his next album on his own label, or if future albums from The Eastsidaz or Doggy’s Angels will be distributed through MCA, but it seems likely. Still no conformation on whether or not rumors of Lady Of Rage signing to the label are true or not. (Hopefully so.)



Speaking of Snoop Dogg, reports of a melee breaking out at a concert in San Diego on July 29th. According to eyewitness Elowends from Long Beach, who was working security at the event, here is what happened. “Snoop brought out Tha Dogg Pound to perform “Serial Killa” from Doggystyle. Snoop must of had over 80 people on stage smokin’ and drinkin'. It was a cool show until Daz said "I represent the Pound, Fuck Death Row". About a good 30 seconds went on until a group about 10 deep in red t-shirts rushed towards the stage. The stage was evacuated but before that, some members of the dogg pound threw things at the guys rushing the stage. I think a 40 was thrown at one of them, making things more heated. As soon as everyone was in the back, the guys in red shirts took the stage and were booed by a sold out audience who was mad about what happened. About 5 minutes after that happened, the cops appeared and also got booed by the angry audience.”



Speaking of beefs, things in New York have escalated once again. Last night, Funkmaster Flex broke a brand new Nas track, which samples Eric B & Rakim’s “Paid In Full Cold Cut Remix” going all out on Jay-Z. Meanwhile, Beanie Sigel has a three-minute freestyle circulating on NYC mixtapes over Jadakiss’s “Put Your Hands Up” track, dissing Jada all over it. Hopefully, this beef stays in the studio and nobody does any retarded shit.



Look out for the Training Day soundtrack hitting stores in September, with all new music from the new film starring Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawk, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Macy Gray. The album will contain all new music from M.O.P., Nelly, The Lox, Snoop Dogg, Gang Starr, Clipse featuring The Neptunes, Pharoahe Monch, Golden State (Ras Kass, Xzibit, Saafir), Cypress Hill & Kokaine, and Dr. Dre. The lead single will be a remake of “This Is Not America”, with David Bowie and P.Diddy.



The Juggaknots will be returning very soon! Fans of their early Fondle ‘Em release will be happy to know that they are coming out with a new single at the beginning of August. They have a couple of their new cuts on their website at http://www.juggaknots.com.



J-Live’s album will be dropping officially on Coup D’Etat this winter. Fans will be happy to know that it will be finally available on CD, but no word on if it will be the same version that was pressed up by Fat Beats last year.



Automator is pretty busy working on several new projects. As we reported earlier, he is working on a collaborative record with El-P, plus an instrumental record under his Handsome Boy alias, Nathaniel Merriweather called Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By. He and Prince Paul also plan to work on a follow up to the Handsome Boy Modelling School record due out in 2002.



Producer Ric Rock – best known for creating hits for Jay-Z (“Change The Game”), Xzibit (“Drugs N Alcohol”), and Fabolous (“Can’t Deny It”), is working on his own compilation album, Rick Rock Presents: The Federation, featuring his beats and an unnamed list of guests rhyming on the tracks. Currently, he is working on albums for Heavy D, Cocoa Brovas, and Busta Rhymes.    



DMX will return with his fourth album by the year’s end. Originally titled, “The Ears” (?), the rapper has gone with a better title, “The Great Depression”, with the LP set for a late fall / winter release.



Attention faithful readers: Matthew Conaway will be now helping with News On The D.L. – with that, I’m out – let me pass the mic to Matty….. – Pizzo



Besides releasing yet another LL Cool J diss track, lyrical dynamo Canibus has been officially dropped by Universal. Though he was rumored to be singing with the ever-expanding Koch Records roster, Canibus has actually inked a deal with Indy label, Gladiator, and he is currently in the studio working on new material with producer Mark Sparks (Grand Puba).    



Goodie Mob member Cee-Lo has put the finishing touches on his solo-debut, Green and His Perfect Imperfections, and it is currently slated for a 10-9-01-release date.  Look for the self-produced debut to follow in the footsteps of Lauryn Hill, as Cee will predominantly flex his vocal chops.  While the first single will be “Closet Freak”, L-Boogie and Carlos Santana will guest on the LP’s second single “Lady Bird Blues”. Other guests slated to appear include Common, Mos Def and Busta Rhymes.  If Cee-Lo’s contribution to the Violator 2 Compilation, “Sexual Chocolate”, is any indication of where his musical ambitions lay, look for some freaky ish.  Also, though the majority of the highly anticipated Dungeon Family LP is done, don’t look for it to drop this summer.  Reason being, the click’s hectic schedules; Outkast prepping their upcoming greatest hits package, and subsequent touring (Moby’s Area One festival), and fellow Goodie members, Bigg Gipp, and T-Mo recording their perspective solo-debuts, has put a crimp on finishing the LP in a timely-manner.



Speaking of L-Boogie, Lauryn Hill recently taped an unplugged segment for MTV, where she debuted 14-new songs.  During her prolonged absence, Ms. Hill has taught herself how to play acoustic guitar, and she will be strumming more pain on her as of yet untitled follow-up to the Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill.  Lauryn hopes to have her sophomore effort in stores for a late September release, but don’t count on it.  



With Cuban Link’s debut, 24-K, becoming a victim of mass bootlegging, Link has asked for, and been granted his release from Atlantic Records.  Yet, his dismissal from Fat Joe’s Terror Squad, and a reported physical altercation with Joey Crack himself is also making the rounds.  



If you have peeped my review of O.C.’s Bon Appetit, then you know my personal feelings about Omar Credle’s new smoothed out/thug direction.  Needless to say, I have caught some flack from O’s camp regarding the content of my review.  So, in an effort to discuss O’s fluctuating mind state, I will break bread with him for what promises to be a very revealing interview.  Here’s hoping I don’t bring a pen to a knife fight…



Although, we don’t highlight many happenings on the R&B/Soul circuit.  You would be amiss to not check out the debut, First Born Second, from Soulquarian affiliate Bilal.  Though the Prince/D’Angelo pupil offers up many stylish efforts, his high-pitched octaves burn incessantly on the Dr. Dre/Scott Storch produced “Fast Lane” f/Jadakiss, and “Reminisce” f/Mos Def and Common.  



While LL Cool J may have made the mistake of coining himself “G.O.A.T.” (Greatest Of All Time) on an LP that proved otherwise, his Swizz Beatz produced contribution, “Put Your Hands Up”; on the Violator 2 Compilation is a new, entirely different virus.   What’s with the electronic call and response alter ego?  Come on LL, Swizz Beatz? This does not bode well for LL fans, as Swizz is rumored to be handling the production chores for Uncle L’s last Def Jam sponsored project.



Lastly, just two weeks after the Gravediggaz’ Too Poetic succumbed to a long-battle with Cancer.  This disease has also claimed former No-Limit soldier Big Ed.  Our condolences go out to Big Ed, his wife, and two-children.   In other unfortunate news, Cash Money member, B.G., went into a coma after overdosing on Heroin.  He has since been released from the hospital, and is now at home recovering. - Matt Conaway

[Sikotic™]

Props on the news dawg. That's messed up those BG rumors are true. Its coo that Snoop is gonna distribute his stuff thru MCA too. More people will be able to get it.

[Hittman]

Cheers for the update.

[Don Jacob]

cooooooool