Graphics by Anthoniaa

Jump for joy! Pink Friday is finally here! The album is a poppy mishmash of girly music that sounds like it’s sponsored by Bratz. However, we won’t knock Nicki’s hustle as she works to become a household name.

What we will, knock, though, is some of her choices when it comes to lyrical content. Read the rest of this entry »

Posting piddly little videos of rappers being interviewed during their daily media hour isn’t really our thing, but when the impossible unfolds in front of your eyes it’s hard not to share. In this brief clip with DJ Vlad, watch worlds set on a course for collision, as Tech N9ne – the king of the underground – talks about being put on a list at Rikers to visit the man who wrote “Lollipop.” Read the rest of this entry »

By now, chances are you’ve been subjected to Nicki’s “Your Love” at least once, especially since it’s making noise on the Billboard charts. Previous to watching this video, I haven’t heard it and could have kept it that way honestly. The song isn’t bad but it makes me feel Nicki’s better seen than heard. Therefore, the advisable action plan here is to hit mute and enjoy. Read the rest of this entry »

The Cory Gunz Fan Club meeting is about to commence. All present say “I”.

David D.: I!

Looks like everyone is here.

I’ve called this meeting for us to watch another display of otherworldly lyrical fire from Young Money’s newest signee and, more importantly, Nick Cannon’s favorite rapper. Cory Gunz stopped by MTV2′s Sucker Free this weekend to talk about his new deal, Wayne yadda yadda blah blah holy Lord he kicks a ridonkulous 16 at the end! Read the rest of this entry »

This week, Nashville has temporarily dropped “Music” from the nickname and become “Rap City.”

Not only will we be afforded the opportunity to watch Curren$y’s @ PhatKaps on Thursday, I’ll be following up by catching Drake headlining Vanderbilt University’s annual Rites Of Spring music festival on the weekend. Fellow Torontonian Melanie Fiona and pioneer Doug E. Fresh will also perform as well as Phoenix and Passion Pit too. But obviously, the main attraction for Hipper-Hoppers will be Drizzy.

Say what you will, but the majority of live performance clips I’ve seen have made his show seem energetic & charged. One thing he has – and the case is the same for B.o.B, Spitta, Wiz & YelaWolf – is a fanbase that shows their support. Honestly, I think Drake could roll the the Degrassi wheelchair onstage and mumble his lyrics. The crowd will fill in the gaps without missing a beat. That connection that he & the others mentioned share is unmeasurable, not properly conveyed by words or even video. It’s an experience with the music that has to be taken in live form. Read the rest of this entry »

One of 20 videos that Lil Weezer shot before heading to the clink, the DJ Scoob Doo directed clip for “Single” off No Ceilings. When you’re filming a mass amount of videos in a short time, there has to be inspiration from elsewhere, otherwise you get the usual rapper fare of cars, clothes and a couple of h_es. For the treatment, Martin Lawrence’s work provided the inspiration. Read the rest of this entry »

Here we have Wheelchair Jimmy’s video for his first single off his upcoming debut album. Read the rest of this entry »

She has a level of hotness every rapper hopes to achieve. The kind when you can turn down magazine covers just to “make ‘em pay” when their scope didn’t align with yours. But what’s it really saying when you’re on fire for everything except your music? Aside from a few cameos and provocative poses, Nicki Minaj really didn’t have anything to call her own Read the rest of this entry »

The precedence set with “Best I Ever Had” & “Successful” has been a blessing and a curse for Drizzy Drake. The level of anticipation those particular cuts set for his future endeavors was priceless but the expectations could prove to be very costly all the same. Read the rest of this entry »

After a gazillion pushbacks and continuous restrategizing on the label’s part, Lil Wayne’s Rebirth is finally home at your local retailer. However, after nearly 60 days of “availability,” it’s anyone interested at this point. Even after a a rousing performance at the Grammy Awards, the association of Rebirth and Weezy has relatively loose like his scruples. Which probably explains the reasoning for this track surfacing today. Read the rest of this entry »

Since this is supposedly not slated to be on the retail version of Rebirth that is being released in Spring of 2034, what’s the point of this video? Chris Robinson was going to cash his check regardless and they could have slid this on the bonus DVD of the “real” Rebirth. Read the rest of this entry »

Many rap crews are formed but very few are poised to be shaped into dynasties. 2009 will undoubtedly go down as the year of Young Money as Lil’ Wayne rode his popularity wave in from 2008, while staff sergeants Drake and Nicki Minaj shone bright on their own reconnaissance. The next step could be foreseen by the blindfolded: the Cash Money junioraires assemble to release an average compilation to capitalize on their current omnipresence. We Are Young Money, a platform to launch the careers of lesser known acts such as T-Streets, Lil’ Chuckee & Twist, doesn’t quite meet its goal with musical significance that’s less than stellar. Not to mention all of the album’s content is more shallow than a Kardashian. Read the rest of this entry »

Snowstorm be damned… Wale still has beats to demolish. Read the rest of this entry »

When word came out that Amazon had inadvertently shipped out a handful of Wayne’s Rebirth album the net was dumbfounded.  How could they make such a boneheaded mistake?  Unfortunately, they’ll more than likely be the scapegoat for this when it’s all said and done.  But the brunt of this mishap falls squarely on the shoulders of Universal Music Group; guilty of pushing Rebirth back so many times that I didn’t even think they were actually close to a finished product.  Which apparently wasn’t the case:

The release date change – the sixth time Rebirth was pushed to a new date – was made earlier this month by Universal Motown, the distributing label for Cash Money, and its distributor Universal Music Group Distribution. Universal Motown and UMGD recalled the album, but roughly one million units were manufactured and about one-third were shipped to accounts when the decision was made to pull Rebirth from the schedule, sources say. – Billboard

I was always under the impression, that these delays were about stringing along a cash cow until he lost interest in his passion project getting samples cleared and reworking/re-doing/replacing songs to make the album better.  Now I see the labels just wait for enough mainstream buzz and radio spins to maximize sales.  In a time when nothing is guaranteed sales wise, at some point you have to cut your losses.  As far as timing goes, a Dec. 21st release would have been a perfect.  Potential buyers will be out finishing their holiday shopping.  So, the potential for sales is even greater than an early February release (which also sees a sales bump due the Grammys).

Rebirth could have also been doubled up with We Are Young Money, to boost sales for that album which despite Drake & Nicki Minaj’s appearances, isn’t highly anticipated nor expected to light Soundscan on fire.  It would have increased both albums (We Are Young Money more than Rebirth) chances of going platinum and given his Young Money imprint more exposure.

Now, in efforts of retaining that potential big sales day they were hoping for, the Young Money camp has announced that the leaked version will not be the Rebirth released in 2010.

If Wayne can drum up a completely new “rock” LP in under two months, it speaks highly of his work ethic but what does that say for the record’s quality? We shall see. The current Rebirth will now be judged in the court of public opinion and most likely become a frisbee collector’s item.

But wait, there’s always more. TMZ reports Wayne & Co. were stopped at the Texas border with Miss Mary Jane playing a key role in the incident.

Universal, your work is now cut out for you and outlined in magic marker with smiley faces. Good luck.

Stray Shots

The ILLZ – The Pursuit LP

Mac Miller – The High Life Mixtape

Snoop_Dogg_-_Ego_Trippin

Miami Beat Wave Presents: The Launch

Sade-Love Deluxe

MeLo-X – Mustafa’s Renaissance: MR 1.5

Chaundon-Carnage

Kanye_West_Cant_Tell_Me_Nothing__The_Official_Mixtape_(Mixed_By_Plain_Pat)

Notorious_B.I.G_and_Big_L-Live_from_Amsterdam-(VLS)

Short Dawg – Southern Flame Spitta Vol. 3

The_Diplomats-Built_this_City-BW-Im_Ready-VLS

VA-DJ_Delz-Souths_Most_Wanted_Vol._6-(Bootleg)

VA-DJ Delz-Souths Most Wanted Vol. 6

Cartune Netwerk & Muzik Fene Present 3 The Tennakey Way (Hosted by All $tar)

Cartune Netwerk Presents USDA – Black Friday (Hosted by Boo Rossini)

Stray Shots

I was ready to write off Rebirth before this rock-esque track surfaced.  Even though it will probably get a ton of spins in its own right, it’s been damn near a year since “Prom Queen” leaked and so it wouldn’t too far off base to assume the project would never see the light of day.  That belief was furthered after they decided not to bundle the release with We Are Young Money. Read the rest of this entry »