Beats, Rhymes & Life

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The Beats, Rhymes and Life section is in full effect. Big ups must go out to Buddah M.A.C. for some of the news shown here. Plus we do get news from Sohh.com, MTV.com, Sonicnet.com and sometimes, Blaze Online so peep those sites too.

News Archives :
February '99 News
January '99 News
December '98 News
November '98 News
October '98 News
September '98 News
August '98 News
July '98 News

As for the Roots, member Rahzel the Godfather of Noyze has just released "All I Know" as the first single from his forthcoming solo effort, "The Fifth Element: Make The Music 2000." Rahzel's record is due out on May 11 and will include appearances from the rest of the Roots, De La Soul, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Pete Rock, A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip, Branford Marsalis and Aaron Hall.
From Blaze Online:
If you're not ready to see Jason and Freddie Krueger rub shoulders with your favorite hip hopper than you better brace yourself. Coming to a theater near you is 'Fiendz,' a flick that's being described as the first hip hop horror film. The movie, which is currently in pre-production, will feature Method Man, DMX, Redman, Eminem and Fat Joe. Kool G. Rap, Nikki D and Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz have all been slated for supporting roles. The film is scheduled for release mid-2000.
The Italian word immobiliare is defined as real property; tangible assets; i.e. real estate. But leave it to the Wu-tang Clan's resident slang master Raekwon to give the word a ghetto twist on his upcoming album 'Immobilarity....State of Grace, Vol. 1.' Following the platinum success of his 1995 solo debut 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx,' Raekwon is using the term Immobilarity as an acronym meaning I Master More Opponents By Implementing Loyalty And Respect In To Youngsters. According to a publicist, the new album will show Raekwon taking a look at the empire he helped create and the lessons he sees as lost on today's young generation. The Loud release is scheduled to hit stores this summer.
Article taken from Sonicnet.com:
Raymond Rogers aka Freaky Tah of the Lost Boyz, was shot and killed by an unknown assailant early Sunday morning (March 28th) in his native Queens, according to police.
Police have not identified a suspect or motive, Detective Walter Burnes, a New York City Police Department spokesperson, said Sunday afternoon.
Rogers, 28, was approached by an unidentified black male wearing a ski cap as he left a Sheraton Hotel in the Jamaica section of Queens at 3:57 a.m. Sunday, according to Burnes. The assailant shot Rogers in the head and fled, Burnes said.
Rogers, who lived in Jamaica, was taken to nearby Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:20 a.m., Burnes said.
The Queens-based Lost Boyz had been working on and off for several months on their third album, Althea Spellman, a publicist for their label, Universal Records, said earlier this month. The album, 'LB for Life,' was due in June. Representatives of the label could not be reached Sunday.
An officer in the NYPD's 113th precinct, which is investigating the murder, referred all questions about the case to the public information office. The officer declined to give his name.
A Sheraton Hotel employee who asked not to be identified declined to speak about the shooting. R.I.P. Freaky Ty. Props to Jmoney, Buddah M.A.C. and Miz Noreaga for informing me.
Germs2 reported this: Since Tommy Boy's new underground sub, Black Label, hasn't been going too well yet, the label is planning to release a compilation album with a mix between old and new cuts. Artists scheduled to participate on the album are Jigmastas, Medina Green, De La Soul, DV Alias Khrist, Defari and others. A newcomer named Aphillyation will be on with his debut 'Dry Tears'. This compilation will also include the return of the group Natural Elements (heard on the Lyricist Lounge album). After more than two years of silence from this crew, they will be featured on this Black Label compilation with the cut '2 Tons'.
From Blaze online:
Bad Boy Records is gearing up for an album of previously unreleased material from slain MC the Notrious B.I.G. The album, which is due out in July, will be entitled Born Again. New word yet on a first single
Reports from the Prince Paul tour, at the Tramps show where Stetsasonic reunited:
"Stetsasonic played their hit "Talkin' All That Jazz," and followed with "Sally" and "Go Brooklyn 3." Fruitkwon was a particularly striking presence, displaying an unhinged onstage persona that suggested he may have been a precursor to the Wu-Tang Clan's Ol' Dirty Bastard. After Stetsasonic's set, Fruitkwon stayed onstage and was joined by the fellow members of a later Prince Paul project, the "horror-core" rap act the Gravediggaz. Backed by the Stetsasonic rhythm section, the Gravediggaz played several songs and did some freestyling, until Prince Paul called the evening to a close shortly after 2 a.m., informing the audience he had to get up in the morning to take his daughter to school."
More legal stuff is that Ghost's weapons charge was delayed again until April, and this lil' bit on Dirt:
"Two days after he was arrested for alleged possession of crack cocaine in New York, a sullen-looking Ol' Dirty Bastard appeared in Los Angeles Municipal Court Wednesday morning (March 24) on a felony charge of wearing a bulletproof vest -- it is illegal for convicted felons to wear body armor under a new California law. The case was continued until April 19, pursuant to the request of Kevin Barnes, the rapper's lawyer. That's the same date he's scheduled to appear in Compton, Calif., for a pre-trial hearing on two separate sets of charges involving terrorist threats. "I'm innocent," ODB, who wore a blue and white jacket and matching pants, said after the hearing."
"BMG Splits With Loud Records Blaze Online has learned that music distribution giant BMG has severed ties with underground hip hop powerhouse Loud Records. The shocking news comes on the eve of high profiled releases by Loud Records acts Mobb Deep, the Wu-Tang Clan's Inspecta Deck and Dead Prez. When Blaze Online contacted BMG, Dennis Petroxsky, a spokesperson for the music entertainment company, would only comment "We think very highly of Loud Recods and are currently in discussions with them." However, a reliable source close to Loud Records, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the much rumored split is true. "BMG has dropped Loud Records," the source said. "I don't know why at this point, but it has happened." A split with BMG would have a dramatic impact on Loud Records' scheduled releases. As one of the world's leading music entertainment companies as well as distributors, BMG moves more than 600,000 units daily throughout the United States. BMG also distributes Arista Records, RCA which is the parent company of Jive, and Loud Records. Loud Records has enjoyed phenomenal success with platinum and gold releases by such acts as the Wu Tang Clan, Big Pun, Raekwon and Mobb Deep."
So what does this mean? Basically no releases from Loud before they hook up with a new distributor. For us Wu headz, that means no Deck, no Rae, and no Bobby Digital movie. This is most likely the reason for all the recent delays (plus a certain web-project apparently dying)
Next up, Def Jam is having a contest to name the Method Man/Redman album:
"Method Man and Redman are currently working a duo album set to be released sometime this coming summer. But... they're not sure what they want to call it! That's where you come in. We'll be announcing a contest shortly to help our favorite artists out! We'll accept submissions for album names -- when the entry deadline passes, Def Jam staff will pick the 10 best titles. We'll post those 10 titles up on the site, where the one with the most votes wins! Of course, the winner will be fairly compensated... we're thinking of a Def Jam 2000 jacket, credit in the album packaging, and free trip to go hang out with Red and Meth for a while"
On Tuesday afternoon, a jury decided that Ice Cube & Mack 10 should be ordered to pay $568,000 to Chris Word and Charles Palmer. As previously reported on March 4th (Ice Cube, Mack 10 Face Lawsuit), Cube & Mack were being sued for breach of a verbal contract where they were in a partnership with the plaintiffs in producing merchandise such as T-shirts and jerseys. Cube & Mack counter-sued claiming that they invested alot of money into this agreement but didn't see one dime. They only won $29,600 each.
Biz Markie is considering becoming a professional wrestler, MTV News reports. "I'm trying out for the WCW," he says. "I just want to be in it because I love it so much, and if I love something so much, I know I could do it."
ODB was arrested again....
BlazeOnline(www.blaze.com) has learned that at 1 a.m. in Bushwick, Brooklyn troubled Wu-Tang Clan rapper was arrested for criminal possession of crack cocaine. The arrest could spell the end for the man born Russell T. Jones, who in the past two years has dominated news headlines with his endless barrage of high profiled brushes with the law.
According to a police spokesperson, cops noticed a double-parked, unoccupied Black Range Rover in front of a Brooklyn store at Cooper/Broadway. ODB walked out of the store when police asked the rapper to move his vehicle. "He complied, but his vehicle had no plates and a temporary registration sticker was unreadable due to his [car] window tint," an officer told Blaze Online. When police asked ODB to show his license and registration he could not produce any identification. However, he identified himself to police as Robert Diggs, also known as Wu-Tang Clan producer RZA and ODB's cousin. Cops then ran a check on the name and found Diggs had his license suspended. When the rapper finally revealed his true identity, police ran a computer check that found his license was suspended seven times and that he has failed to pay child support.
After being searched, cops found three glassine envelopes of crack cocaine on ODB. He was immediately charged with being an unlicensed operator of a vehicle and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police told Blaze Online that since ODB has yet to be tried in court, no further information on the legal ramifications for the arrest could be given. However, according to the federal drug laws the penalty for a first time crack cocaine offender can get up to five (not more than 20 years) and a minimum fine of $5,000.
Earlier this year ODB was cleared of charges that he fired his gun at police when he was pulled over in Brooklyn. He was in the process of suing the police department for shooting at him. The rapper already faces 16 months to three years in jail for wearing a bulletproof vest in Los Angeles California on February 16. The charge stems from a California law that says it's a crime for a convicted felon to wear body armor. ODB was arrested in 1993 of second degree assault for attacking a man in a bar, making him a convicted felon. He would later claim hardship and said he was no longer able to pay an attorney. He was also unable to pay the $115,000 bail and was in police custody up until last week when Vibe Online insiders saw ODB in Fort Greene, Brooklyn making a phone call.
Busta Rhymes was charged with criminal contempt, a misdemeanor for violating a restraining order. He allegedly called his son's mother and began threatening her. Knowing he violated the order and after his mother's son called the authorities, Busta turned himself in. No court date has been set.
Eminem Tour Dates :
April 7; Chicago, Ill., House of Blues
April 9; Pittsburgh, Pa., Metropol
April 15: New York, N.Y., Hammerstein Ballroom
April 22; Lake Buena Vista, Fla., House of Blues
May 2; Denver, Colo., Lodo Music Hall
May 8; West Hollywood, Calif., House of Blues
Jesse Washington, editor of Blaze magazine was handed his pink slip. For those unfamilar with Washington, he's the same person who accused Wyclef of pulling a gun on him and was recently assaulted by Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie a.k.a. The Mad Rapper. The reasons for his termination is not known yet.
Ice Cube has finished writing his sequel to 'Friday' and will begin filming it soon. It's cleverly entitled 'Next Friday.'
Puff Daddy recently revealed on Rap City that 'Born Again' will be released in June of '99
The following 3 news snippets are here thanks to HipHop Reviews
MCA says that the Genius himself will be dropping an album around June 16.
Wu-Syndicates will be on the soundtrack to 'Thicker Than Water.'
The latest Source has True Master doing a clothing ad. I dunno if it's his clothing line or anything, but we should know more by the time his new website drops at www.true-master.com
The rumors of there being a Wu-Tang game were off a little. The game is gonna be based on the REAL Wu-Tang Clan legend.
Rahzel, known for his jaw dropping sound effects and dead on impersonations, has just finished his first solo album. The untitled release, which is scheduled to drop May 11, features production by Pete Rock, De La Soul and of course the Roots. The project also includes guest appearances by Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Branford Marsalis, A Tribe Called Quest's Q Tip and Aaron Hall.
As hip hop fans eagerly await the release of Dr. Dre's Chronic 2000, Death Row Records is planning to release an album of the same name before the Aftermath's CEO's project. Death Row's incarcerated leader Marion "Suge" Knight will release the Chronic 2000 next month, with the album featuring remixes and previously unreleased tracks that were recorded when Dre was still on Death Row. The album also includes unreleased songs from Snoop Dogg, the late Tupac Shakur, and an obvious Shakur sound-alike. On the other hand, Dre's Chronic 2000 will feature all new material from new rapper Eminem, Snoop Dogg and new Aftermath artists. A spokesperson for Suge Knight told MTV News that Death Row had been planning to release its Chronic 2000 compilation for more than a year. Dre says he has no plans to change the title of his album.
Ol' Dirty Bastard appeared in Los Angeles Municipal Court Wednesday morning (March 10) to plead not guilty to a charge of possession of body armor, which stems from a Feb. 16 arrest in Los Angeles. He arrived without a lawyer and requested and received a public defender in the case, claiming financial hardship. His bail was raised to $115,000, based on his previous 1993 felony assault conviction and on the two felony terrorist-threat cases pending against him in Los Angeles. His next hearing will be March 23. If convicted, ODB faces up to three years in jail, according to a spokesperson for the district attorney's office. ODB's arrest is believed to be the first under the new law that forbids convicted violent felons to wear body armor.
Redman & Method Man are gonna hook up to make a collaborative album called 'America's Most Blunted.' They're saying it'll drop in the fall.
Prince Paul said that he and RZA will be doing an album together too, and will start recording later this year.
On the set of Oliver Stone's football epic Any Given Day LL Cool J reportedly sucker punched Jamie Foxx on a Miami movie set, causing the funnyman to file assault charges against rapper-actor. The New York Daily News reports that LL, born James Todd Smith, hit Foxx in the face while they were shooting a film scene in Pro Player Stadium on February 27. According to Metro-Dade police, LL began shoving Foxx during a scene, which was not a part of the script. "Foxx told Smith to let him know before he punched him, so he can be ready," a police spokesman told the paper. But as Foxx began to walk away, the rapper "struck him on the back of the head with his arm and Foxx turned around and struck Smith on the face in self-defense," cops say. However, LL claimed that he only gave Foxx a nudge to add realism to the scene at that he co-star was wearing a helmet. Both actors suffered minor facial injuries but refused medical treatment. Its almost too funny to be true. Comedian/actor Jamie Fox has filed assault charges against LL Cool J.
Cash Money Records rapper Juvenile will be hitting the road this month. It doesn't look like he'll be going west of the Mississippi, here are the dates:
3/11 - Tampa, FL @ Garage
3/12 - Northwood, FL @ Don T's Palace
3/13 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Dillard Gym
3/13 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Guard Armory
3/14 - Orlando, FL @ Rink
3/16 - Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues
3/27 - Columbia, SC @ Township Auditorium
3/28 - Tampa, FL @ Empire
3/28 - Fort Myers, FL @ Everglades Arena
4/1 - Savannah, GA @ Civic Center
4/2 - Dayton, OH @ Memorial Auditorium
4/3 - Albany, GA @ Civic Center
4/4 - Mobile, AL @ Civic Center
4/5 - Panama City Beach, FL @ Club LaVela
4/6 - Columbus, GA @ Trade Center
4/7 - Raleigh, NC @ Ritz
4/8 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ Attic
4/9 - Daytona Beach, FL @ Ocean Front Band Shell
4/10 - Akron, OH @ TBA
4/14 - New York, NY @ Tramps
4/16 - New Haven, CT @ Palace Theater
4/17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Philly Live
4/18 - Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Live
Sugar Hill Records founder, Sylvia Robinson, has filed a lawsuit against Blaze magazine for libel and defamation. Robinson claimed that in Blaze's February issue, that they gave her praise for her career but also said that she "jerked many artists".
Ghostface Killah's track 'Hassan' is now called 'Ghostbond.'
Tommy Boy Black Label is coming with their compilation, Black Label The Album. It will feature new music be De La Soul, Defari, Medina Green, DV Alias Khrist, Jigmastas and Natural Elements
The solo album from Freddie Foxxx's album will be called Follow Me and will come out KJAC Entertainment
Prince Paul is going on tour, and this sounds like it's gonna be ill ! This one will have a reuniting of Stetasonic, so I think it's kinda big.
Prince Paul dates:
03-14 Miami, FL: Prince Paul
03-16 Tampa, FL: Prince Paul, Max Glazer, El Pus, Breeze
03-18 Jacksonville, FL: Prince Paul, Max Glazer, El Pus, Breeze
03-19 Atlanta, GA: Prince Paul, Max Glazer, El Pus, Breeze
03-20 Athens, GA: Prince Paul, Max Glazer, El Pus, Breeze
03-23 Tramps, NYC: Stetsasonic (reunited for their first show in twelve
years-- full live band) Big Daddy Kane, Chubb Rock, Special Ed, Breeze,
Prince Paul, Non Phixion, Missin Linx, and DJ Max Glazer
03-25 Victoria, Canada: Prince Paul, Mr. Len, Breeze
04-02 San Francisco, CA: Prince Paul, Max Glazer, Dilated Peoples
04-04 Los Angeles, CA: Prince Paul, Max Glazer, Dilated Peoples
04-05 Seattle, WA: Prince Paul, Max Glazer, Mr. Len
Ice-T is still working on his new LP, rumours are though, that it will drop later in the year. Also, Ice-T is working on a new film, 'Point Doom' alongside comedian Andrew Dice Clay.
Inspectah Deck, along with Rob Swift of the X-Ecutioners, Dead Prez, and some other hip-hop acts, is scheduled to perform at South By Southwest (SXSW) here in Austin, Texas on Friday, March 19. It'll be at Bob Popular and he's supposed to start at 1:00 am. Big ups to Dean for that.
Mack 10 and Ice Cube were in court Tuesday to face a suit brought against them by two apparel manufacturers. Chris Word and Charles Palmer claim that they came to a verbal agrremant to make and market t-shirts, jerseys and bandannas to be sold through mail order forms on the rappers' albums, online and a 1-800 number. Word and Palmer then signed a five-year lease on a building for two businesses-WESTSiiiiDesign and WESTSiiiiiDE Graphic. But in October of 1997, the rappers told them that they didn't want to do business with them anymore. Word then claimed that he was threatened with physical violence when he tried to find out what was going on. Mack 10 and Ice Cube claim that Word and Palmer were abusing the money that they had given them by writing themselves checks in excess of $27,000. They claim to have put in a $70,000 investment into the project but saw no product, which led to the end of the business deal. The suit continues.....
Missy revealed that her upcoming album titled, 'She's A Bitch,' will feature several guest artists such as Aaliyah, Li'l Kim, Da Brat, Juvenile, Lady Soul, Major, and Outkast.
Coolio's fourth album, Dead Man Walking, featuring collaborations with Krayzie Bone and country artist Kenny Rogers, is due out this summer on his own label.
Well, as expected Eminem ranked up really high in the charts (#2), so Slim Shady is a success. But, the thing which I'm most happy about is the usually slept on group The Roots got up to #4. Pretty dope aint it ?
Everybody seems to be e-mailing me asking about 'Hate Me Now' by Nas and apparently we have it in full on this site, well, yes we do. Peep the Reviews section and check out the Old Ish pages. It's on there. Also, apparently Nas got 4.5 mics in The Source. Well, wait 'till you see our review. You can bet that one will be on point (no diss to The Source but as far as scores they aren't always too accurate).
Oh yeah, Pun will be performing at some concert type thing for the WWF's Wrestlemania party, it happens in the arena that the event will be at but it's on the night before the event.
Hip-hoppers the Lost Boyz are working on an album, LB for Life, which is due in stores in June, according to Althea Spellman, a publicist for Universal Records. She said the band has been in the studio on-and-off for several months.
Rapper Heavy D's album Heavy is slated to hit stores in May, according to a Universal Records spokesperson. Joining the hefty MC at the mic are Big Punisher and Eightball on "Big Shots," and Mase, Q-Tip and others elsewhere on the album. The disc's first single should hit radio this month.
Coolio is scheduled to appear in Southwest Superior Court in Torrance, Calif., Wednesday on charges of drug and gun possession. The Grammy-winning rapper, who was arrested in September, has pleaded innocent to charges of carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and possessing less than an ounce of marijuana in a vehicle. If convicted, he could face up to a year in county jail and a fine.
After announcing his boycott of the Grammys, Jay-Z decided to keep his award for Best Rap Album. In statement before the Grammys aired, Jigga requested that his name be removed from the three categories that he was nominated for. He was upset how Hip-Hop was being over-looked and disrespected by the Grammy officials.
Universal Records has just purchased the remaining 40% of Def Jam Records. The cost? Well Russell Simmons finally gave it up for $100 million, about $30 million more than the first offer. Simmons sold the first 60% in 1993 for $33 million, but with the recent success of artists such as DMX, Redman, Method Man & Jay-Z the worth of the label has risen drastically. Simmons will stay with Def Jam as Chairman while the label's CEO, Lyor Cohen will run the urban music department at Universal.
R. Kelly will launch a U.S. tour this spring, and he'll be bringing along some high profile help when he does. The self-proclaimed King of R&B will bring Foxy Brown, Busta Rhymes, and Deborah Cox on the road with him when he hits the road May 5 at the Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia. Tour organizers may add one or two more acts to the bill before cracking a two-month itinerary that is expected to play 12-22,000 seat venues in some 30 cities.
DJ Jazzy Jeff is hard at work to putting tracks together for his solo album. So far guests slated to appear are Eminem, The Roots, De La Soul, Common, King Brit and his old partner Will Smith. The album will showcase Jeff's turntable and production skills. Jeff and Will are now in talks of putting together a tour
This Friday (March 5th) Eminem will be performing at The Sound Factory in NY. Funkmaster Flex will be handling the music.
After Marley Marl released 'The bridge 2000' back in 1998 he has turned back to one of his Juice crew classics to bring us 'the Symphony 2000'. The original 'Symphony' appeared on Marleys 'In control volume 1' on Cold Chillin' records which featured Kool G rap, Big daddy kane and Roxanne shante among others. The classic was followed up in 1991 with 'The Symphony 2' another classic which featured G rap, Big daddy kane, Craig G and Masta Ace. On the 25th of February 1999 hip hop history was made when 'The symphony 2000' was recorded with Big Pun, Truck Turner, Kool G Rap and KRS one (Proving once and for all that beef no longer exists between him and Marley). Tha Real can exclusively brought you two verses from it as well.