Raekwon Talks About Only Built For Cuban Linx 2

We caught up with Rae at the LRG gifting suite in Los Angeles and he was getting his free swag on. The Chef talks about the album everyone and their momma wants to hear, OBFCL2, as well as his part time job as a fashion designer. What, you didn't realize?

You know who brought you this exclusive.

Jadakiss Talks New Album.

You know how we get down. Hip Hop Official caught up with Jada at the LRG gifting suite in L.A. last week and he talks about getting free ish and his new album coming this year.

Be Kanye.

Just what we need, more Kanye Wests.

But if you at home ever wanted to be Kanye West, now you can courtesy of this new informercial. Hurry, supplies won't last.

DMX Arrested...AGAIN.

This isn't even news anymore. I should post on days when X isn't arrested. That would be more surprising.

Anyway, DMX (a.k.a. Earl Simmons) was arrested in Miami for allegedly attempting to buy $45 worth of drugs...yes, $45 dollars. Not pounds, not ounces, not G-packs, this broke muthafucka actually asked an undercover knocko for "30 Powder & 15 Weed" -- street slang for cocaine and marijuana. Earl handed over his crumpled $45 -- and was arrested.

He then yelled "what!" and growled.

[NEW] Nas feat. Busta Rhymes - "Fried Chicken" (No DJ)

I posted a version of this earlier that was a radio rip and DJ tags on it, this one is the dirty version with no tags. The track appears on the upcoming Nas album titled, well it's titled, Untitled. It was produced by Mark Ronson, and features Busta Bust.

Now let me tell you, this track is dope and the wordplay is top notch, comparing chicken to a sultry woman. I can't even eat chicken, but Nas and Bus make me want to run out to the local Popeye's and dive into a bucket of extra-crispy.

DOWNLOAD: Nas feat. Busta Rhymes - "Fried Chicken"

Jern Eye - "Burnin'" & "Click" (Live)

The Hip Hip Official Artist of the Week, Bay Area represetner Jern Eye drops 2 gems on us - live from the Hip Hop Official lounge. Get hip to this real hip hop. Dope beats, dope rhymes, what more do ya'll want?

Here's a bonus for ya, another track from Jern Eye. Support good music.

DOWNLOAD: Jern Eye - "U Got It"

Jay-Z + British People = Funny.

Jigga Man does an interview with British comic and talk show host Jonathon Ross. This preceded his huge performance at the Glastonbury Festival in London, in which many locals and even some of the performing acts (yes, you Oasis) questioned the notion of having hip-hoppers play at the infamous festival. Anyway, the interview has it's share of laughs and Jay shows he's a good sport.

Part 2:

Suge Says Goodbye to Death Row Records.

Death Row Records has a new owner. Global Music Group president, Susan Berg, purchased the record label for $24 million dollars after Suge Knight was forced to auction off Death Row due to bankruptcy. I wonder if she can take a punch better than suge?

Burg, who's a former aesthetician, now owns and controls all the masters from one of the most notorious labels in hip-hop history, which includes legendary recordings from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. If i were Dre, i would would have ponied up the loot to purchase my masters, considering he was the driving force behind all that music. I think he was caught slippin on this one.

Also included in the purchase, were 20 unreleased 2Pac tracks...only time will tell if the world will get to hear those...I'm sure we will, considering Berg could get paid large off those tracks, I just hope it not old Pac accapellas thrown over Lil Jon produced beats. I just love it when non-hip hop business people are in control of the music.

[NEW] Nas - "Sly Fox"

Nas takes aim at Fox News, and he goes in. It's about time somebody said something. Watch what you're watching.

DOWNLOAD: Nas - "Sly Fox"

The Headbanger.

EPMD + Redman = Classic. Reggie Noble is one of the greatest of all time. This was one of the hardest songs of the 90s.

True story: I used to listen to this song (on cassette) before basketball games to get me pumped up and ready to play.

[VIDEO] Talib Kweli - "Eat To Live"

The Honey Dips Get the Summer Started Right

The Honey Dips, kick off the summer with a BBQ/pool party,

More Red Carpet at the BET Awards (Part 2)

Rick Ross, Souljah Boy, Shawty Lo, Young Joc, DJ Drama, DJ Khaled and more.

The Red Carpet at the BET Awards (Part 1)

Hip Hop Official comes to you live from the red carpet at the BET Awards that went down Tuesday in Los Angeles. This is Part 1, check back for Part 2 soon.

Your Favorite Rapper's Favorite Rapper: David Banner

The Mississippi lyricist and producer extraordinaire talks about his favorite emcees. We've got more from David in the next few weeks as his highly anticipated album drops.

MSNBC Thinks Joe Budden is Jay-Z.

The Today Show ran a piece of the next President of the United States Barack Obama and his new Rolling Stones Cover. During the segment, they mention that the Senator enjoys listening to Jay-Z, but rather than use a photo of Hova, the Today Show decides to run a photo of Joe Budden instead.

Now, call me naive, but isn't jay-Z one of the most recognizable faces in music? Even if you don't listen to hip-hop, you know that he's married to one of the biggest pop stars in the world, Beyonce. I mean, not ONE person who works on the Today Show noticed that that photo WASN'T Jay-Z? I'm sure there was a P.A. or intern who could have properly identified Shawn Carter. That's pathetic. I mean, if you google image Jay-Z, you get pages and pages of his face. Not one image of Joe Budden. Come on now, do all black people REALLY look the same?

Well, at least Joe Budden is having a good day. He took a W with this one, his face is getting plastered all over the internet. Ha.

[NEW] Common feat. Pharrell - "Announcement"

Another collab between Common and Pharrell. This may or may not be on Common's new album which may or may not still be called Invincible Summer because it's not coming out in the fall. Maybe.

Common drops a dope first verse out the gate, mad lyrical and heavy on the word play that we used to remember Comm for circa 1994. I also like the mad Biggie references in the song. You can't beat that with a bat.

DOWNLOAD: Common feat. Pharrell - "Announcement"

Stop Bootlegging Dilla.

Man, this is sadder than sad. Evidently, the DIlla estate is struggling to ward off bootleggers and is facing major debt after his astronomical hospital bills and death at the early age of 32. According to an L.A. Weekly article, after his death in 2006, the man born James Yancey left behind a catalogue which cemented him in the pantheon of great producers. He also left behind what the executor of estate says is a "six-figure IRS debt and few tangible assets - save for a few hard drives of beats and a publishing deal with Universal Music."

"Ironically, as Dilla’s stock is at an all-time high, the executors of his estate have been bedeviled by a one-two punch: scrambling to pay his tab while fighting rampant Internet piracy of his material, both aimed at the ultimate goal of providing an inheritance for his two young daughters. “It’s frustrating,” says Arthur Erk, the estate’s executor and Dilla’s former business manager. “People have been cropping up left and right, trying to make money off Dilla’s name and likeness. There was something called the Dilla Foundation, which doesn’t even exist legally, yet it was trying to host charity events, claiming authorization from the estate."

Explains Erk: “The problem is that Dilla was friendly with a lot of people — many of whom I know, many of whom I don’t — and there have been dozens of bootleg situations we’ve had to expend estate cash on to shut stuff down. If we don’t, it cheapens the value of his brand. We’re trying to protect his legacy and his heirs.”

Keeping track of the wealth of Dilla beats floating around the Web is practically impossible. Most notably, Busta Rhymes released a free Dillagence mixtape last year, featuring an introduction from Dilla’s mother, a matter that Erk claims is currently in mediation. This April, the recording masters of Pay Jay, Dilla’s never-released MCA record, were illicitly leaked to the Internet, sabotaging an estate plan to rerelease them at a yet-to-be-determined date.

We’re not sure how many Dilla beats are floating around,” says Micheline Levine, Dilla’s former lawyer. “It’s been an absolute nightmare. [Erk] and I have been working without fees, and neither of us dreamed that copyright infringement would be so extensive and harmful to the estate. We’re trying to get the message out to third parties, who may in some convoluted way think they’re helping out the heirs but are really depriving them of income.”

All ya'll internetters need to read the full article and recognize. Look, we all download music. It's the day and age. But I've bought every Dilla album released. Support the artists that deserve your support. This dude literally gave his life to Hip-Hop, the least you could do it support his family and his legacy.

[VIDEO] Wale - "Artistic Integrity"

DMV representer Wale (a.k.a. the New Hot Guy To Keep Your Eye On), debuts the first video off The Mixtape About Nothing, produced by Rik Cordero and Three/21 Media. Co-starring Chris Partlow from The Wire Gbenga Akinnagbe.

Unreleased Kanye.

Here's some unreleased Kanye West from a few years back. Big ups to the Louis Vinton Don, who took home a few awards from the BET Awards, including Best Male Rap Performer.

Kanye West - "Gotta Pose"

Courtesy of Boogz.

Artist of the Week: Jern Eye

Originally from Los Angeles, Jern Eye now resides in Oakland, California. The true school emcee has been making noise with his group Lunar Heights and is affiliated with Bay Area acts Zion I, Crown City Rockers, Quannum, and Hiero. Nice with the beats and the rhymes, Jern is on a mission to elevate Hip Hop music and keep your heads nodding in the process.


Jern Eye Interview



BONUS: Download one of my favorite Jern Eye tracks, this one is a fly ode to the fly ladies:

Jern Eye - "la, la, la"

Shaq vs. Kobe (Again)

Shaq grabbed the mic kicked a freestyle at a party in NY last night...he takes some shots at Kobe. People are making a big deal out of it. It thinks it's all in fun. In 98% of every freestyle I've ever heard, that cat spitting is big-upping himself, and shitting on everyone else. That's basically was Shaq was doing. It's no big deal, world. Stop trying to make something outta nothing.

I do hope Kobe comes back at him though. Maybe he'll make a video of himself jumping over a shack. That would be the hotness.

Ali Vegas - The Town Bought It (Live)

The Hip Hop Official Artist of the Week, Ali Vegas, delivers another live set from the HHO studios. Here he performs the single "The Town Bought It" off his upcoming album Generation Gap 2: The Prequel

Fashion Feature: Scifen

We take you inside the new Scifen store in Hollywood to check out their new summer line and get insight into the concept behind the Hip-Hop clothing label. They've been in the game for over 10 years and work hand in hand with a grip of hip hop artists like Killah Priest, Yak Ballz and Planet Asia.


To get dipped in the latest Scifen gear, check their website.

Summertime.

Tomorrow is the official first day of summer, so it's time to break out this Classic. It's hotter than 50 Cent's Baby Mama's house today in L.A....last i checked, it was 103 here. Boy, I can't wait until August when it really starts to get hot, and gas costs $5.00 a gallon.

50 Cent - "Sincerely Yours" Mixtape

Curtis is getting is old school on. This new mixtape is a collection of Fif spitting over classic R&B beats. I don't know what to even say about this, so I'll let he music speak for itself.

I'll admit, it's a dope idea. I mean, who doesn't love classic R&B jams? 50 has always had a good year for music and he picks some great classics to rock here (even though they have ALL been sampled already), but I really can't listen to this dude yelling at me for 12 straight tracks. I'd rather cool out and listen to the originals while sipping ice cold lemonade on my porch, ya nahmean?


DOWNLOAD HERE.

Tracklisting

1 I’m Rising to the Top
2 Moonman
3 My Heart
4 Don’t Stop 50’s Music
5 Before I Let Go
6 Thanks A Lot
7 This is For You
8 When I Get Out
9 I Wanna Be Your Favorite
10 That Girl
11 Cruising Music
12 My Name Ring Bells

Common says Fall is the New Summer.

Common's upcoming album, specifically Invincible Summer, is being pushed back to, ummm...the Fall. The album was set to drop in the summer (hence the clever name), but it's new release date is slated for September 23rd. Please tell me he's going to change the name. I'll feel mad stupid bumping an album made for the hot ass summer in October.

His new album will take a new direction:

“You can expect some fresh music that you’ve never heard from Common before…definitely a new sound. The inspiration came from me being out at them clubs. I said I want people to feel my music in that way… Not only do they know Common as this conscious artist who brings thoughtful lyrics, but we can dance to some of his music, too, and just smile and let go of our problems.”

The first single is the Pharrell produced track "Universal Mind Control"

[NEW] The Game - Taped Convo (G-Unit Diss)

Game steps up and decides to join the ongoing Young Buck/50 Cent beef stew. Game comes with some heat, and some tapped conversations of his own. The rap game is turning into an episode of The Wire, but with horrible acting.

The Game - Taped Convo (G-Unit Diss)

Pacific Division Hearts McDonald's.

Pacific Division - Big Mac Chant

Looks like they're already eating good off that Universal paper. I hope they're not blowing that advance check on Big Macs. Congrats to Pac Div, they just a inked a major record deal.

L.A. in the building.

Spotted this one down on Eazee St.

New Music from Busta Rhymes

Here are two new tracks to bump this hot ass summer weekend. These surfaced from his upcoming album, Blessed, which is scheduled to drop this summer Lord knows when.

Busta Rhymes - "Blackout"

Busta Rhymes - "You Don't Want None"

Taco Bells Ask 50 Cent to Change His Name.

This really happened.

To promote it's new value meal for broke ass muthfuckers, Taco Bell has offered 50 Cent to change his name to either 79 Cent, 89 Cent, and 99 Cent for one day this summer. The fast food chain also offered to donate $10,000 to the charity of 50's choice. As part of the deal, 50 Cent...I mean, 79 Cent would be required to head over to a Taco Bell of his choice and rap his food order through the drive thru speaker, using his new name of course.

Curtis wasn't amused.

He released a response saying, “When my legal team is finsihed with them, Taco Bell will have a new slogan: We messed with the bull and got the horns.” Come on, Fif...it's for charity, Think Outside the Bun, fam...

There Can Only Be One.

Streetwear clothing company Undrcrwn is releasing a brand new Biggie and Pac T-shirt based on the recent NBA Playoff ad campaign with the split screen of two basketball players talking to you. (did you know can make you're own image?) This is a fresh ass spin on an already dope concept, and it conjures up that age old question, "Who's bettter, Biggie or Pac?" If you ask me, Biggie Smalls is the illest.

I will own this T-Shirt.

Backstage @ Paid Dues Festival NYC: Part 2

Part 2 of our backstage coverage of the Paid Dues festival in New York City. We On The Run.

If you missed Part 1, peep it here.

[INTERVIEW] Problem

We gotta Problem here!

Hip Hop Official sits down with the man behind the banging single, "I'm Toe Up." Straight Outta Compton, Problem, is here to let you know he's more than just a one hit wonder and not a typical Westcoast rapper. Dude has got lyrics to go. He's worked with cats like Snoop, Warren G, Kurupt, DJ Quik, and Terrace Martin. Keep your ears open.

Hip Hop Official Interview w/ Problem

Kidz In the Hall - Driving Down the Block (Live)

Live at MTVu in front of thousands of white college kids. Some of them look like they even know the song.

[NEW] Wale - "Hey...Mr. Carter"

DMV representer, Wale, does his thang thang over Weezy's "Mr. Carter" insrumental, which is my favorite track on Tha Carter III. Thank the hip-hop heavens he didn't choose "A Milli"...it's time to retire that beat for freestyle purposes. Please send out the memo.

Mr. Nike Boots provides some dope wordplay and lyrics. I'm a fan. I'm really looking forward to this guy's debut album on Interscope. Maybe there is hope...

Wale - "Hey...Mr. Carter"

[NEW] Buff1 feat. Black Milk - "Never Fall"

Buff1 has been dropping some dope new music as of late. This time is no different. Black Milk shows off his mic skills, don't know if he produced it or not.

Buff1 feat. Black Milk - "Never Fall"

Phonte Loves the 80's.

Phonte of Little Brother is teaming up with producer Zo! to release an album of slammin 80's covers titled, Zo! and Tigallo Love the 80's. And really, who doesn't?

"It just started with me and Zo doing covers for fun, but then we kept recording and decided to release it," Phonte says. "It's our way of paying homage to the stuff we grew up listening to."

Many LB fans are familiar with Phonte's singing capabilities through his hilarious comedic alter-ego Percy Miracles, don't expect to get many laughs from this upcoming project:

"We had fun recording the record, but its not a 'joke' album at all," says Phonte. "We were very serious with everything, from the vocal side, to the production side, to the final mixing and mastering...it was a real painstaking process to recreate it all.

The Zo! and Tigallo Love the 80's EP will be available in early July as a limited edition CD. Only 2,500 copies will be pressed, all individually numbered. "No iTunes, Amazon, or other any digital spots will have it; once we sell out, its gone forever," Phonte warns.

I heard the first one they did a whiiiiiile back on Little Brother's MySpace, it was a cover of "Africa" by Toto. And they recently covered "Take on Me" by AHA.

UPDATE: I the got downloadable audio, courtesy of Shake at 2dopeboyz.com:

Zo! and Tigallo - "Take on Me"

Zo! and Tigallo - '"Steppin Out"

50 Cent Sues His Baby Momma For Defamation.

Fitty Cent and his ex, Shaniqua Tompkins, are headed back to court again as the drama between the two continues to roar. I swear, this dude sees more court than the Harlem Globetrotters.

After a fire burned down 50 Cent's Long Island home where the rapper's ex, Shaniqua Tompkins, and his 11-year-old son Marquise lived (the same house he was trying to kick them out of), Tompkins made claims that 50 was responsible for the blaze.

"He tried to kill me and his own child," stated Tompkins. "I know this came from 50 Cent."

Well, Fif didn't like that very much so he's suing her for defamation of character. Come on, Curtis, you're a rapper. You defame your own character. This is the same cat who starts beef with every rapper in the industry; including, but not limited to Game, Young Buck, Ja-Rule, Fat Joe, Cam' Ron, T.I., Kanye...the list continues to grow. Looks like he can't take his own medicine.

Meagan Good in Complex.

Meagan Good recently did a photoshoot for Complex Magazine. No words are really necessary. I'm a fan. Enjoy the photos and make sure to watch the behind the scenes video.

Warm It Up Kris.

What you are looking at is http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifa 2008 version of Mack Daddy and Daddy Mack, a.k.a. Kris Kross. I didn't recognize them without their clothes on backwards. I still don't know which one is which.

Where are they now? Who knows...but they missed the bus.


This photo is taken from the recent interview in Jet magazine. I forgot how huge these dudes really were back in the day, they made a cameo in a Michael Jackson video with Michael Jordan for chrissakes. They came into the game at he ages of 12 and 13. They are both 29 now. Damn, I'm old.

Read the article here and here.

Lil' Wayne & T-Pain form Supergroup.

In an MTV report, Lil Wayne has confirmed that he and T-Pain are forming a supergroup, and are planning to release a "Best Of Both Worlds" type album. I just hope the album isn't one big autotune clusterfuck.

"We both have the same energy," he said in the report. "I don't sleep. If you ask anybody, I don't sleep. I think it's the cousin of death. As much as you sleep, you're impersonating death to me. He don't sleep. I play all day. He plays all day and all night."

“The connection is crazy,” he says about T-Pain. “He loves to be creative, he loves to work; I love to create, I love to work. He really wants people to respect his rapping; I really want people to respect my harmonizing.”

Same energy? Crazy Connection? Like to play all night? Are they forming a group or a domestic partnership? This seems maaaaad suspect, homie.

Word around the campfire is that Timbaland is going to produce the album. I don't think the internets will be able to handle that much hype in one place. We shall see.

[NEW] David Banner feat. Nas - "Middle Finger"

New music from the heart of Mississippi. Did you know David Banner has a Master's degree? Did you know he was awarded a Visionary Award by the National Black Caucus of the State Legislature in recognition of his work after Hurricane Katrina? Did you know he testified in front of Congress at a hearing about African American Media Stereotypes, in which he spoke about his lyrics and whether or not they were appropriate or stereotypical. In his opening statement, Banner was applauded by several in attendance for saying, "I can admit there are some problems in Hip-Hop but it is only a reflection of what's taking place in our society. Hip-Hop is sick because America is sick."

And they say all rappers are idiots.

David Banner feat. Nas - "Middle Finger"

Westcoast Wednesday.

Dr. Dre - Lil' Ghetto Boy

This might be my favorite song off the legendary Chronic. And that's saying something with heavy hitting classics like G-Thang, Dre Day, and Let Me Ride.

The video is mad random and super low-budget, and Nate Dogg looks uncomfortable as hell, but I love the Wizard of Oz-style floating head effect. It's like the icing on this hip-hop cake. Enjoy.

Method Man Still Raps.

Mr. Mef, Johnny Blaze, Iron Lung, Hott Nickels, Ticallion Stallion. Method Man is a man of many names, and many pursuits. The Wu-Banger got his start as the face of the Wu, but since has been getting his face plastering across TV and film screens across this great land (Go see The Whackness). It got me thinking, does one of my favorite emcee's from the mid-90's still bless the mic? I remember this dude appeared on almost everyone's tracks in the 90's, and he killed every collab. Aside from his recent apperances on the new Wu-Tang album, 8 Diagrams , the M-E-T-H-O-D Man has been M-I-A, man.

What happened?

Have no fear, Methtical isn't hanging up the mic any time soon. Before his next solo effort, he'll reunite with Redman, in hopes of recreating the chemistry from 1999's Blackout.

"I still gotta reacquaint myself with the Hip Hop audience," Method Man tells Entertainment Weekly. "The way music is being churned out now, like fast-food, man — it's hard for [fans] to grasp onto anything anymore."

"We're going to get Erick Sermon up in there, my man Kwamé of course, DJ Scratch," says Meth. "Right now we're just piecing together more beats, and what direction we're gonna go. 'Cause this just can't be, like, 'You rhyme, I rhyme.' Nah. We want it to actually feel like so much of a collaboration that it's in unison, it clicks together. Like, you can't have your cereal without your milk. That's the best analogy I can come up with right now."

Method Man says the collaborative album Blackout 2 is tentatively scheduled for a fourth-quarter release on Def Jam, with his solo effort following sometime thereafter.

50 Cent & Young Buck Beef Over the Telephone.

Remember when rappers just beefed on record? Now it's on telephones, YouTube, and the internet. Technology is fun!

So let me break it down. Young Buck used to be in G-Unit, but he got kicked out because 50 claimed he abused drugs. Young Buck spent all his money on said drugs and then came to 50 asking for royalties he was owned from his G-Unit days. Curtis said no, so Buck started popping off and dissing G-Unit. He even came out in concert and said "Fuck G-Unit."

50, never to be outdone, then released a recorded phone conversation between him and Buck, where Buck actually begs to come back to G-Unit and then breaks down and starts crying. It's quite painful. (But on the real, why is 50 recording his phone conversations? That's some Shady ass shit...no pun intended.)

Listen here: Part 1. Part 2.

So Buck has now fired back with his response to the Phone Call heard 'round the world.

Young Buck - "The Taped Conversation"

Rappers are silly.

Young Jeezy Doesn't Know How to Drive.

Young Jeezy was arrested in Atlanta last night around 2:30 AM. The cops hit the rapper with a list of charges, including DUI, speeding, reckless driving, no tags, driving with an open container, no proof of insurance, and most of all, stupidity. Jeezy -- whose real name is Jay Jenkins -- was released this morning on bail.

Jeezy was in the news lately, after being implemented in a cocaine trafficking drug ring. He wasn't charged, but the courts are throwing his name around, and now this fuckery, is not a good look for the Snowman. I hope he has R. Kelly's lawyers.

On a side note: I wonder who would win in a race, Jeezy or DMX?

Lil' Wayne Sells 1 Million Albums in 1 Week.

1,005,545 to be in fact.  Weezy's album Tha Carter III went platinum in it's first week, becoming the first artist to crack the Milli barrier in a single week of sales since 50 Cent released The Massacre in 2005.

That's pretty impressive, Weezy (especially considering his joint leaked to the internets a week prior to the release).  I was expecting big numbers (750,000), but selling a million copies in the first week is almost unheard of, especially in this day and age of the internet, bootlegs, and overall shitty music. 

And Dwayne says he couldn't have done it without you, America. Here's his official thank you in his customary native martian speak. Na-Nu, Na-Nu. 

He also mentions something about book drives, or something.

[VIDEO] Fresh Daily - "Assassination Tango"

Here's your daily dose of Freshness from Brooklyn emcee, Fresh Daily. This cat has an old school, early 90's feel to him. He makes rap sound fun again. Imagine that?

He comes off as mad creative, and describes himself as so:

"If you took alot of Jay-Z's swagger, a little of Kanye's flow, some of Pharrell's fashion sensiblity, a touch of Common's consciousness and style, Boot Camp Clik's Brooklyn pride and underground appeal and mixed in MF Doom's and Andre3000's creative wordplay and swirled it in a pot with a poverty-stricken childhood and throw in the mind of Larry Davi,...well then you'd be Fresh. Daily.

...I am the flyest nerd you'll ever meet. I am Brooklyn. I am Ft. Greenes mayor. I am 1996 seen thru '89 Cazals rocking a dookie gold rope chain. I am the Blackstar video for "Definition" riding in a van with Jay-Z and Slick Rick."

I can dig it.

I Love It When You Call Me Big Poppa.

Nothing like some Biggie Smalls in the morning to make you feel better after the Lakers get their asses handed to them to lose the NBA Finals. Sigh.

I love this remix, I remember bumpin this on the cassette single (RIP), which has this So-So Def remix, the OG version and Warning as the b-side. Damn, I miss Hip-Hop. This was originally aired on the Jon Stewart show (long before the Daily Show), I don't know the year, but I know this is dope. Enjoy.

Ice-T is Hip-Hop.

He tells Soulja Boy to eat a dick, and basically blames him for the fall of hip-hop. I love it.

Artist of the Week: Ali Vegas

The Prince of New York, Ali Vegas, is Hip Hop Official's Artist of the Week. Ali has been in the game since he was 12 years old, and has been a fixture in the mixtape circuit since the late 90's. Now, after years of paying dues and dealing with label drama, he's finally getting the opportunity to drop his debut album, Generation Gap 2: The Prequel. To say this album has been a long time coming is the understatement of the year.

[VIDEO] Shawn Jackson - "Feelin' Jack"

That's what I'm talking about. Some new goodness. Here at the Notorious B.L.O.G. and Hip Hop Official, we love bringing new music to your guys. This is no different. Shawn Jackson is an independent emcee from L.A., who's signed to Tres Records, and down with acts like Time Machine, Blu, House Shoes and C.R.A.C. Knuckles. Stay tuned.

New Releases: June 17th

Tomorrow is new release Tuesday, and here's a look at what's dropping.

2 Pistols - "Death Before Dishonor"

First up, Mr. “She Got It” -- 2 Pistols drops his long awaited album Death Before Dishonor. The Florida rapper linked up with the grammy winning team the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League (Mary J. Blige) for production on his album.



Blood Raw - "My Life the True Testimony"

Staying in Florida, Blood Raw drops his debut album, My Life the True Testimony. A member of Young Jeezy's crew USDA, the self described “Mr. Florida” began his rap career while incarcerated in the 90's. His name is derived from Florida slang, blood raw means "The Truth" in the sunshine state.



Tanya Morgan - "The Bridge"

Next up is Tanya Morgan. No, it's not what you're thinking< i know it's sounds like a Neo-Soul songstress, but Tanya Morgan isn't one person, in fact its not even a woman. It's a group consisting of three emcees: Von Pea, Ilyas, and Don Will. They broke onto the scene a few years back, and now they drop their EP, The Bridge which is chalk full of classic jazz-influenced hip hop, and classic headnodic stylings.



Craig G & Marley Marl - "Operation Take Back Hip-Hop" EP

And legendary Juice Crew members Craig G & Marley Marl team up to release Operation Take Back Hip-Hop. Marley still lights the boards on fire, and Craig G proves why he's one of the most respected lyricists in history.

Backstage @ Paid Dues Festival NYC: Part 1

Our New York correspondent Shani Kulture goes backstage at the Paid Dues Festival in New York City. It all went down at the Nokia Theater in Times Square. Hip Hop Official was definitely in the building.

Check for Part 2 on Friday...you know we got you covered. We on the run.

When Albums Used to Mean Something.

Jay Smooth drops knowledge.

[NEW] John Legend feat. Andre 3000 - "Green Light"

Hotdamn, this is fire. I usually don't post too much R&B, but John Legend is smooth with it and Andre (minus The Love Below) is one of my top 5 emcees of all time, and he absolutely murders this. That dude continues to amaze me, I just wish he would commit himself to emceeing, and drop another dope album (minus his singing). The world needs it.

This is a mos def a slammin summer jam, and I think the ladies will enjoy this one.

John Legend feat. Andre 3000 - "Green Light"

Happy Birthday Pac.

Today is Tupac Amaru Shakur's birthday, he would be 37. Rest in peace. He was one of the most famous rap stars the world has ever seen. He passed away 12 years ago. Can you believe it's been that long ago? I wonder if heaven's got a ghetto.

In tribute, we pour out a little liquor...

2Pac - "Pour Out A Little Liquor"

2Pac - "So Many Tears"

2Pac - "I Ain't Mad Atcha"

In addition, here's one of my favorite Pac songs of all time:

2Pac - "Got My Mind Made Up"

Happy Father's Day.

J Dilla + Ghostface + MF Doom = EPIC.

Holy shit...my boner just got a boner.

These three dudes evidently made music together. Stonesthrow is even more evidently releasing it.

“In late 2005 Ghostface Killa and MF DOOM were both recording over tracks from J Dilla’s instrumental opus, Donuts, which saw release the following February. Some of these were released on Ghostface’s Fishscale in 2006, while others, including a Dilla-Doom project, were postponed indefinitely after J Dilla’s passing. Two of these tracks, “Sniperlite” and “Murder Goons,” will be released digitally, exclusively through Stones Throw’s webstore, due to launch in late June.”

Could you imagine a full Dilla/Doom project? Could my speakers even handle that much dopeness oozing out of one place?

Nike Air Yeezy - Tan Colorway

The good people over at TSG just got their hands on pictures of the latest colorway of the Air Yeezy (Kanye West x Nike), a buttery dark tan. Kanye and Nike still have the release dates on lock so only time will tell once the shoes finally hit the streets. If you thought the anticipation for theTha Carter III was too much to bare, then the release of the Air Yeezy must be killing ya'll.

Ying Yang Twins Interview.

Sometimes we give love to those who get it crunk in the club. That time is now.

Guilty Simpson - "Beast" (Live)

Detroit's own, Guilty Simpson performs his song "Beast" off this Stray Bullets mixtape, as part of Hip Hop Official's Soundcheck feature.

R. Kelly Found Not Guilty?

I wasn't going to post this, because there's nothing really to say except for the fact that our Justice System has more flaws than Craig Mack's complexion.

But After seven and a half hours of deliberation over the course of less than two days, the jury in R. Kelly's child-pornography trial reached a decision: not guilty on all counts. The 41-year-old singer, whose real name is Robert Kelly, long denied charges that he videotaped himself engaging in a variety of sex acts with his then-underage goddaughter.

'Robert has said all along that he believes in the system,' Kelly's spokesman says.


Only in America.

So why was he found not guilty after he was ID's by several people as being the man in the video who had sex with a 13 year old and then urinated on her?

Here's why:

Mike Tyson is Gangster.

Once the most feared man in the ring, now it looks like he's trying to instill that same fear in the streets. It's being rumored that Iron Mike helped orchestrate the murder of Brooklyn gang members, and offered up $50,000 for the hit. You can't make this kind of stuff up.

During a Thursday trial against alleged Cash Money Brother gang member Abubakr Raheem, witness Dwayne "Thor" Meyers claimed Tyson and Muhammad Nur helped orchestrate the hit on CMB leaders Damion "World" Hardy and Edward "Taz" Cooke. Although the contract was never carried out, Meyers says it was solicited in retaliation for the June 2000 killing of Tyson's bodyguard and close friend Darryl "Homicide" Baum, who authorities believe as the man who allegedly fired nine shots at 50 Cent during an unrelated, failed murder attempt. So, does Tyson have beef with Fiddy? Is Fiddy gonna come at Mike on wax? Can Mike rap? Will Curtis try to burn Mike's house down? Will Mike eat Fif's children? These questions need to be answered.

50 Cent Takes Aim at T.I.

I swear, this dude is either must be the most bored cat in Hip Hop, or the most genius. He's constantly taking shots at people, stirring up that beef, and getting people to talk about 50 Cent. He's a marketing genius. I can't front on that.

This time, 50 points the heavy artillery at T.I. by questioning his non-snitching ability regarding his latest legal trouble. On the song "You So Tough" of the upcoming Terminate On Sight album, Curtis spits:

“Nowaways this rap shit aint adding up. How n—-s get caught with 10 machine guns, only get 12 months?

Oo-weee, don’t talk to me. If you talking to him, you talking to them…

I got the best lawyers that money can buy….they say at best they woulda got me 10 or maybe 9.

I said, how do you explain how the homie breezed? They said, you keep your mouth shut or you eat the cheese.”

Stay tuned...I'm sure this isn't finished.

Time 4 Sum Aksion.

Here's a vintage video of Redman performing "Time 4 Sum Aksion" live in 1994. Back then I thought Reggie was one of the craziest emcee's in the game, not a dude you'd want to run into in a dark alley. I love how's he's performing with a baseball bat the whole time. You know, just in case...

Courtesy of The Meaning of Dope.

I Got 99 Problems, Being Rich Ain't One.

Jay-Z landed at #7 on this year's Forbes ”Celebrity 100,” the magazine announced yesterday. He was the highest ranked rap star on the list, and the only rapper in the Top 25, unless you want to count Will Smith but he's an actor now. Jay-Z raked in $82 million last year in a number of deals, including his recent deal with Live Nation. This dude has more money than he knows what to do with, but the funny part is, his new wife, Beyonce was ranked higher at #4. Looks like she's the breadwinner in the family. Jay needs to stop slacking and pull his own weight around the house.

The other rappers rounding out the Top 100: 50 Cent was #26, Kanye was #27, and Puff Diddy landed at #33.


So, who's number 1? Like you even have to ask... Oprah wins by a landslide. She pulled in $275 million dollars last year ALONE, over twice as much as number 2 on the list, Tiger Woods ya'll.


For the full list, click here.

I Used to Sell Mixtapes...

...but now I just download them.

A handful of new mixtapes just dropped (including that Nasir Jones one) on the internet, so I scooped 'em up for ya and put them all in one place. (Don't ever say I didn't do anything for ya.) If you're looking for some new music, you came to the place.




88 Keys - "Adam Case Files"

88 Keys is one of the best producers in the game, he's also slept on like a Serta. This tape features Guilty Simpson, Grafh, Mr. Bentley, Serius Jones,and a handfull of other up and coming bar spitters and it's a precursor to the debut solo project The Death of Adam dropping in October. BTW, that album is being executive produced by Mr. Kanye West, so you KNOW that's a good co-sign.

Download.



DJ Whoo Kid & Capone-n-Noreaga - "Back On That Q.U. Shit"

The Queensbridge duo, CNN, return (daaaaamn, remember them? War Report was the shit.) with this street banging mixtape. N.O.R.E. and Caponne at it again. This is their first joint together since 2000.

Download.



Charles Hamilton & DJ Green Lantern - "Outside Looking In"

This kid is out of Harlem and is supposed to be the next big shit. I’ve heard his name, but I’ve never heard any of his music...until now. It's always weird to me when rappers go by their real names.

Download.



Kardinall Offishall - "Limited Time Only"

Kardinal, Akon, and Clinton Sparks present this tape. The last time Kardi and Clinton teamed up for a tape, it was one of the year's best, sticking to it's then-novel '90s throwback theme all the way from the Photoshopped Do The Right Thing cover to the loving Cypress Hill and Redman tributes. Their latest project previews six tracks of hot fiya from this summer's Not 4 Sale LP. Kardinal reresents Toronto and has been killing it in Canada forever. If you don't know, get up on this.

Download.



Supa Mario & D-Block - "So You Wanna Be a Super Hero?"

Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch bring you this D-Block mixtape. Not much to say, other than it's that typical D-Block street shit that you already know and love.

Download.