Blink-182 Drummer Releases A Mixtape With DJ Whoo Kid

Trav Barker doing his thing in the world of Rap...photo courtesy of gegey.com

The former drummer for pop-punk band Blink-182, Travis Barker is set to release a new album with rapper collaborations on it. In recent years, Barker who has been collaborating with rappers such as The Game and Lil’ Wayne, is now set to drop a mixtape entitled “Let the Drummer Get Wicked” to tide fans over until his new album “Give the Drummer Some” is released. Travis Barker has teamed up with DJ Whoo Kid on the mixtape which features collaborations among the likes of Rick Ross, Game, Lupe Fiasco, Wiz Khalifa,  etc. The mixtape is at a hefty nineteen tracks and will give fans a taste of the upcoming album. It seems to me that the whole mixtape scene is getting out of control at this point. I know most of them are free, but do I really want to utilize hard drive space on sub-par garbage? I’ll let you good people decide for yourselves on that last question. Go to XXLMAG.com to download the mixtape.

Story courtesy of XXLMAG.com

50 Cent Vs. Dr. Dre. A Possible Feud?

What once was...sadly will probably be no more...photo courtesy of tha5elements.blogspot.com

In recent news, 50 Cent is hinting at a diss track against Dr. Dre and Interscope Records Chairman Jimmy Iovine. The possible cause of all this…get ready for it…headphones. That’s right you heard it here. According to 50 Cent’s twitter account, the highly prolific rapper from Jamaica, Queens has been airing out some scathing remarks. He quoted the following: “Jimmy Iovine and Dre mad at me cause I’m doing Sleek By 50. The rapper is claiming that a dispute is on the rise because 50 put out a set of headphones called Sleek By 50 that competes with a line of headphones put out by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine called “Beats By Dre”. 50 Cent also added that he wasn’t asked to be on Dr. Dre’s long-awaited “Detox” album. Wow…I would’ve never saw this coming 8 years ago when 50 Cent was a product of Dr. Dre and Eminem who put out the album the put him in the spotlight “Get Rich or Die Trying”. The dog is finally biting the hand that fed him. A damn shame.

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Dipset Capo Being Sued For Videotaping.

A lawsuit thrown at Dipset's Capo...photo courtesy of themavenreport.com

Two women from Texas named Sharie Johnson and Samantha Stotts claim that Harlem rapper Jim Jones’ camera crew videotaped them without permission. An attorney for the two women, Taso Pardalis claims that they knew they were on camera but did not know that they were going to be used in a video without permission. Apparently, Jones used the footage for a music video entitled “Summer Time”. The video has been since taken off of Youtube since the lawsuit is still pending in Manhattan Supreme Court. With all of the speculation regarding a reunion of Jim Jones’ old rap crew “The Diplomats” still in the works, this lawsuit may put a damper on those plans. Not a definite hold, just a temporary one. Can you say “FALLIN’!!!”

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Wiz Khalifa Rises To The Top.

The mighty Wiz from Pittsburgh...photo courtesy of hiphopmusicdotcom.com

The popularity of some songs is surprising to me sometimes. Take for instance the song “Black and Yellow” by Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa. After debuting in September 2010 of last year, the song has now officially claimed the number one spot on Billboard’s singles chart. A very amazing feat considering the song’s hook which reps the Pittsburgh Steelers football team…who lost this year’s Super Bowl game. According to XXLmag.com, the song rose to the top of the top 100 singles chart replacing Bruno Mars’ song “Grenade”. It has also managed to hold onto the number 2 spot on Billboard’s Digital Songs  chart as well. This kind of news is a win for fans of Wiz. Apparently a crushing Super Bowl defeat for Wiz’s team couldn’t derail the rapper from selling two million copies of the song so far. Yes, that’s right, I said “two million”. Makes you wonder huh?

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Dr. Dre To Perform At Grammys With Eminem.

Yeah I called it...Grammy performance...heavily censored. photo courtesy of mtv.com

According to CNN, Dr. Dre is set to perform at this year’s Grammy ceremony with partner in rhyme Eminem. The two are set to perform the lead single from the “Detox” album entitled “I Need A Doctor”. This will be the first time in over 10 years that Dr. Dre has done a live performance. No release date has been officially set for “Detox” as of this time. After nearly twelve years of waiting for this album to come out, I think we can give the good Doctor a few months more to release it. Expect his Grammy peformance with Eminem to be heavily edited for all television audiences. FAIL!

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In Memorium: Big Pun (1971-2000)

The first Latin rapper to bring home a Platinum plaque...photo courtesy of xxlmag.com

How do you put into words the short but impactful career of the “first Latin rapper to come home with a platinum plaque”? It’s no secret. Ask any self-respecting rap fan who the greatest rap lyricist of all time was and you’re likely to hear Pun’s name mentioned. Christopher “Big Punisher” Rios had a hard life growing up. A mother’s drug addiction, a dead biological father, and a super rough stepfather caused him to drop out of high school and become homeless for a bit. It was only when he linked up with fellow Bronx rapper Fat Joe that he would get to release his masterpiece of a debut album “Capital Punishment”. To hear this man’s musical journey on compact disc when it first dropped was like watching a superhero tale come true. This giant statured Puerto Rican made a lot of big dudes happy. Happy to be alive. Happy to know that we weren’t alone. When the news of his death hit in February of 2000, we all collectively held our breath. When I first saw the video for “It’s So Hard” off of his second album “Yeaahh Baby!”, I cried because it was like watching a farewell video of a hero that wasn’t around anymore. Seeing how many people who had love for him was equally heart breaking because you could see the impact he made in the rap world within a short time. It’s been eleven years since then. We still miss you Pun!!

Save Kool Herc!!

All hail the Father of Hip-Hop! photo courtesy of newblackman.blogspot.com

In recent news, Kool Herc, who is considered the ‘Father of Hip-Hop’ has been having health issues due to kidney stones and internal bleeding. Kool Herc admitted to not having health insurance and not having the funds to take care of his massive hospital bills. In a world where today’s current crop of rap successors owe a huge debt to the pioneers who started this genre of music, you would think the artists and fans would be lining up to help Kool Herc. Alas, that is not the case. Rick Ross could’ve ponied up a million bucks to help him out instead of wasting it at a Miami strip club (somebody’s got to put these girls through college). Radio personalities The Wonder Twinz have now set up a fund to aid Kool Herc and his ongoing health problems. It’s about time somebody has done the right thing. Get well Kool Herc!!

Story courtesy of XXLmag.com

What The Hell Is Up With Funkmaster Flex?

Damn Flex...what happened?...photo courtesy of chimovement.com

Crazier things have been known to happen in the world of rap music such as the recent actions of famed New York City DJ Funkmaster Flex. I don’t know what the deal is, maybe it’s just me, but it seems apparent that the more older people get, they eventually begin to commit actions that make absolutely no sense at all. First he goes on a tirade and disrespects late rapper Tupac Shakur over a dispute that happened some time ago. And now Flex is getting arrested for beating up his wife and partner of ten years plus, Joseph-Taylor. My question to Funkmaster Flex…is there something wrong Flex? Usually matters of this magnitude take place behind closed doors. But here in the hip-hop world, nothing is ever what it seems to be.

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Rock Music Outsells Rap In 2010.

Sad but true...photo courtesy of rap.about.com

They say Rock & Roll will never die and judging from new sales figures that it may actually be true. While rap is getting more mainstream airplay, it looks as if rock music albums sold more in 2010 that all rap albums sold. Jim Farber of New York’s Daily News ran a story after discovering Nielsen Soundscan figures that showed rock music as the most profitable genre of 2010. According to the figures, rock albums sold last year totaled out to 103 million albums compared to rap music’s dismal 27 million figures. Queensbridge rapper Nas once said the “Hip-Hop is Dead”, he made a whole album with that title. With more ringtone rappers and no love for the genre from current fans, rap music may actually be dying a slow death. To some of us that heeded Nas’ advice back in 2006, this is nothing new.

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It’s Official! Wale Signs To Maybach Music Group.

The newest prospect of Maybach Music Group...and Officer Ross...photo courtesy of killerhiphop.com

Amid speculation since December, rumors were going around to who Washington D.C. rapper Wale was going to sign a deal with. In the unlikeliest pairing of entertainers, Wale had decided to sign with Miami gangsta rapper Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group. “Same music, better energy, that’s all I’ve gotta say. I’ll let the records speak for they self”, said Wale in a viral video that has him in the studio with Ross. Wale will continue to be managed by Roc Nation. Wale looks primed and ready for his new venture with Maybach Music and he’s looking to bring new energy to the music. It’s a good look for both entertainers and should leave fans of both artists anticipating a new Wale album in the near future. I wish Wale all the best on his deal.

Story courtesy of XXLmag.com