Rihanna may not have another “Rude Boy” left in her, but she’s definitely got more singles. The next one is “Rockstar 101″ which features appearances by Hip-Hop drummer extrordinare Travis Barker and the incomprable Slash. Add in some unique wardrobe choices – real unique -and that’s pretty much it.
If I had a dollar for every time someone stated “I wish Lauryn Hill would come back,” I’d be one rich man. After years of wishing and near abandonment of the idea, it seems as Miss Lauryn will finally be re-emerging this year at the “Rock The Bells” tour – according to Urb.
The official press conference isn’t until, but we’re ready to call this one like FOX News. Hip-hop enigma Lauryn Hill will be headlining this year’s Rock The Bells tour. The ex-Fugees songstress will be performing her classic solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, as part of a complete album format that has become an increasingly popular way for legendary acts to draw attention to current tours. Also rumored to be performing a full-length at RTB2010 is A Tribe Called Quest. Perhaps they’ll join Ms. Hill in a rendition of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly,†The Fugees’ most infamous hit, which sampled ATCQ’s “Bonita Applebum.â€
Since we’re on the topic on the topic of L-Boogie, a special 35th birthday is wished to her today. Even though she is the one celebrating the milestone, it’s safe to say the entire industry is thanking her for the gift of returning to music. Temporary or not.
For an album that is so anticipated, Thank Me Later is leaking slowly but surely. Depending the type of person you are, that’s a good or bad thing. Good because you’re getting instant feedback. Bad because, in a perfect world, you’d like for people to hear the finished product at one specific time.
DL: Drake feat. Lil Wayne – “Miss Me”
DL: Drake feat. Young Jeezy – “Unforgettable”
Over the years, it has been common to see to some refer to Fat Joe as all types of negative adjectives. Some of those of may warrant a valid reason, but some simply came off as blind hate. For the most part, Joey Crack is good for at the very least a banging single. His last album, J.O.S.E. 2, resulted in one of the worst in 2009, which is why I was glad to hear the Terror Squad general would be returning to his more “street” roots on on his new album The Darkside.
It’s a good and bad thing that Bun B is so closely associated with Pimp C. He’s a reminder that the spirit of Sweet James will always cast over Hip-Hop. However, it’s also a reminder that we will never see another UGK album again. I’ve always said Bun has handled that situation like the OG he is. His propensity to gravitate towards (and accept) the younger generation when it wasn’t the “cool” thing to do was some stand up sh#t as well.
Bun has always been the type of guy to keep it moving. Recently, YN caught up with the Trill O.G. to discuss his new album, Trill OG. Specifically, his studio sessions and respect for Drake.
Chris Rock once joked if you ever wanted to get away with murder, “put a demo tape in their back pocket.” Look no further to the unsolved murders of Jam Master Jay, Biggie and Tupac. Maybe it’s the decree of the streets to not “talk to cops,” but it also deals with the fact murders in Hip-Hop just don’t mean anything. From the outside looking in, rappers “promote” violence. So when it actually happens to them, it is “justified” in a sense.
The latest example is in the trial of of Dolla, who was murdered around this time last year. His trial, which began earlier this month, reached a verdict acquitting the suspected shooter, Aubrey Perry. According to Perry, he shot Dolla (real name Roderick Anthony Burton II), after his life was allegedly threatened. Perry presented the story that Burton and a group of men had jumped him nearly two weeks earlier in an Atlanta nightclub. Perry shot Burton in a Los Angeles parking garage after witnessing the rapper reach behind his back for what he believed to be a weapon. Dolla was shot four times and was found to have no firearm in his possession.
Tupac once said that while he was on trial for sexual assault, the direction of the case changed. It wasn’t about if he committed the crime. Rather it was about “loud, rap music, tattoo having thugs.” Same situation with Dolla. His murder wasn’t on trial. His music was.
