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 and Sonicnet.com.

Chip Banks of Wu-Tang affiliated and Raekwon headed rap group American Cream Team was gunned down last night (Nov. 25th) over what was called a minor dispute. R.I.P. Thanks to Kromeleon for the info.

From the Davey-D Newsletter:
28 year old Robert E Davis aka DJ Screw passed away in his sleep the other night. For many, especially those in his native Texas and Southern part of the country, DJ Screw was bigger than life. He was the undisputed king of the mixtapes and was on par with legendary DJs like Funkmaster Flex, Kid Capri and others. In fact earlier this year he was honored by Hot 97 and Funkmaster Flex for his efforts. DJ Screw was best known for his unique style of mixing where he slowed down the music and would 'chopped and screw' it. It was known as 'screw' music. Many would flock to his two record stores in Houston and Beaumont to get his music.

A popular individual, Screw appeared in a number of local straight to video movies including 'Dirty Bird'. He also rapped on various projects including one involving Lil Keke. Screw was also known for his monthly columns in Platinum Magazine...He penned columns called such as 'What's The Damn Deal?, 'Straight From The Streets' and 'What's Dirty Down South'? The next issue of Platinum magazine will be dedicated to him. Finally DJ Screw will be missed for his philanthropic work. there are a number of individuals that are sitting in colleges thanks to Screw's efforts. He died of a heart attack.

At the time of Screw's passing he was working on a couple of album projects including one with his brother Al D who raps as well as one with Black Child Jones.

While folks down South are dealing with Screw's passing, folks in Oakland are reeling from the tragic shooting of Oakland rapper E-Klipz. He was one half of Cydal who folks may recall for their hit song Hollywood which borrowed from Malcolm McClaren's 'Buffalo Scratch'. They also put out the album 'Cydalwayz.' The causes leading up to the shooting are still unclear.

Well, as far as I know we have it first, and DJ Sharp is to thank for that. The Eminem diss track by Everlast can be heard here. My personal opinion is that Eminem's joint was a little better than this and Everlast's reply didn't make the impact Em's joint did. Not a bad diss track, but not as good as it could have been. It does grow on you...Others probably will and shall disagree. Anyway, peep the track and props to DJ Sharp for the hook-up. And watch for a well known Eminem fansite to bite this shortly!

Rumour has it that Eminem's tour bus was burned down in Denver over the weekend with many thousands of $'s of equipment being damaged.

A second posthumous collection of Big Pun's work is being put together nine months after his death. Previously unreleased Big Pun material will turn up on 'Endangered Species,' a collection dubbed a "tribute" to the late rapper, according to a Loud Records press release. The album also will feature some of Big Pun's high-profile collaborations, as well as material from Pun's two studio albums. 'Endangered Species' is due to hit stores February 6th, 2001 one day short of the first anniversary of the rapper's death.

E-A-Ski was signed to 75 Ark Records.

Del & Automator will be teaming up with Damon Albarn from Blur to form the group 'Gorillaz' for a forthcoming project, the first joint which is floating around is hot, so keep your eyes pealed for it.

MF Doom was in the studio with PNS from the Molemen crew and they knocked out a new joint that also features Aesop Rock and Slug. Look for that to be coming out on the new Molemen album and that track will be the first single that will drop in Jan. 2001.

Next up for MF Grimm is his new single "Scars & Memories/WWIII" on Fondle Em Records to be released in December or early January. It looks like MF Grimm's new album "The Downfall of Ibliss (A Ghetto Opera)" will be dropping in Jan. 2001. Featuring MF Doom, Megalon AKA Tommy Gunn, and J-Zone. Plus some more special guests to be named later.

Snoop Dogg's 'Last Meal' will feature Eve, Master P, George Clinton, Eastsidaz, MC Ren, Nate Dogg, Lady of Rage and Kokane. The album drops Dec. 19th.

On Nov. 15th Self Scientific will release the single 'Three Kings' with Planet Asia and Krondon. On January 29th, 2001, Self Scientific will release 'The Self Science,' the debut album by Self Scientific.

Eyedea, who people will recognize from his affiliations with Atmosphere and Anticon, won the Blaze Battle beating the likes of Young Zee and Ali Vegas in the process...Several fights broke out during the night, including one with Shyne involved, one with the Outsidaz click beating on a guy who "disrespected" Young Zee on stage and one with a female emcee named Reese reacting to a heckler.

Rumour has it that Amil has been dropped from the Roc-A-Fella click.

BMG bought Napster, so soon Naspter users will be charged $4.95 a month for bootlegging privaleges.

Blahzay Blahzay news - Outload did a track in Paris with a french group called Triptik on a french produced track called 'Dat shit' released a couple weeks back over there. Blahzay then releases a 12" with the same track (and same title) but exit Triptik and enters Darku & Champ. Outload stole all the credits on this track but also on the other one 'Not Now' which is also produced by Drixxx from Triptik ! The original track is released on Double H productions. Big ups to Dakaya for the info.

Rapstation.com and CafePress.com announced that they will launch an innovative cooperative that will allow Rapstation's music artists and djs to personally create and market a wide range of merchandise directly through Rapstation. Rapstation's more than 4000 artists will be able to promote themselves, without any costs, by creating top-of-the-line merchandise including concert t-shirts, coffee mugs, and other items using the CafePress.com/ Rapstation service. After creating their own designs to put on the merchandise, the artists are then able to sell these items to their fans via Rapstation.com without pre-printing or bulk order quantities that normally are associated with music industry merchandising.

Suge Knight could leave prison in April, after serving roughly four years of a nine-year sentence.

Eminem lost his notebook with lyrics for the new D-12 LP in it. Eminem last saw the notebook on Friday during a Delta Air Lines flight from Cincinnati to New Orleans, according to a statement from his Interscope. The notebook sports a picture of Britney Spears on its cover.

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