Gillie Da Kid, Meek Mill, Peedi Crakk, Bump J- A Milli
Meek Mill - In My Bag (The Hottest Song In Philly Right Now)
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July 31, 2008
T.I. Introduces Meek Mill To Grand Hustle
New Singles
Tyga Ft Lil Wayne & Rich Boy - Coconut Juice (Remix)
Clipse Present Re-Up Gang - Zen (iTunes Bonus)
Sean Garrett ft. Rick Ross - Six In The Morning (Remix)
Ne-Yo - It's You
Ryan Leslie - I.R.I.N.A. (Remix)
Ryan Leslie - Wanna Be Good
Big Boi ft. Mary J. Blige - Sumthin' Gotta Give
Lloyd - Let Me Know
Sean Paul ft Kelis - Fire
Ciara - Walk On It
Ray J ft. The Game & Lil Wayne - Gifts (Remix)
The Game’s “LAX” Tracklisting
01. State of Emergency (Feat. Ice Cube) (Produced By Jonathan “J.R.” Rothem)
02. Bulletproof Diaries (Feat. Raekwon) (Produced By Jelly Roll)
03. Cali Sunshine (Feat. Bilal) (Produced By Nottz)
04. Game’s Pain (Feat. Keysha Cole) (Produced By Knobody)
05. My Life (Feat. Lil’ Wayne) (Produced By Cool & Dre)
06. Angel (Feat. Common) (Produced By Kanye West)
07. Camera Phone (Feat. Ne-Yo) (Produced By Cool & Dre)
08. A Thug And A Gentleman (Feat. Ne-Yo) (Produced By Jonathan “J.R.” Rothem)
09. Us Live (Feat. Chrisette Michelle) (Produced By Scott Storch)
10. Put Ya Hands Up (Feat. Busta Rhymes) (Produced By Scott Storch)
11. Dope Boys (Feat. Travis Barker) (Produced By 1500 or Nothin’)
12. Touchdown (Feat. Raheem DeVaughn) (Produced By Nottz)
13. Ya Heard (Feat. Ludacris) (Produced By Nottz)
14. Nice (Produced By Irv Gotti)
15. House Of Pain (Produced By DJ Toomp)
16. Letter To The King (Produced By Hi-Tek)
Soulja Boy Looks To Polow For New Album Single
For many, it was not that long ago that 50 Cent dropped "In Da Club" [click to read]. For Soulja Boy [click to read], this takes him back, way back to the time he decided he wanted to rap for a living. Now, the young rapper is ready to hit stores with a new album, iSouljaBoy and he's predicting a take-over. Now, he's also dabbling in clothing, which he's also hyped about.
"It was 50 Cent's 'In Da Club,'" he told MTV. "When I seen that, I was like, 'That's what I wanna do.'"
The young one is now ready to expand his own catalog by adding more material. With iSouljaBoy, he is now no longer alone behind the boards. This time, as we reported earlier this year, he has worked with Polow Da Don.
"I worked with Polow [Da Don] on this album. He did the first single. I remember last year, [when I was] touring, 'Crank That' would be on the radio every five minutes. I was like, 'Man!' This is exactly what this album is gonna do: straight takeover! I did production on this one. I accepted a lot of beats from underground cats on this album. I just shoot my e-mail out on the hip sites. I play off by ear, not off who's doing it. I like music."
Recently, Soulja Boy put more emphasis on clothing. The rapper signed a multi-year deal with Yums Shoes. According to reports, Interscope and Soulja Boy will assist the brand with marketing help.
"The Soulja Boy exclusive shoe will be released in the fall along with my album. The Soulja Boy cartoon will also be released in the fall, so there's three things to look out for," he said, according to Billboard.
He will appear in print ads and television ads and he's also slated to co-design his sneakers.
As stated by Soulja Boy, expect both the sneakers and his new album, iSoulja Boy out in the fall.
Jay-Z Downplays Timbaland's Role, Praises Obama
When Timbaland announced a few weeks ago that he and Jay-Z were planning an album solely between themselves, the memories of “Big Pimpin’” and “Dirt Off Your Shoulders” had Hip Hop fans salivating at the presumptuous thought.
Though the dream team combo wasn’t necessarily an illusion brought about by Timbaland, Hov recently explained to Rolling Stone that no such project exists. As of now, Jigga also made it clear that he has no material for a new album, but he is creatively open to former producers who have brought the best out of him. “You know I love Timbaland, he is like a brother to me, but until the music is done it’s premature. I’m a person that works off music. If Timbaland makes 10 great tracks then he produces the album, if Kanye West makes 10 great tracks then he produces the album; if he makes three, I’ll take three. I let the music dictate the direction.”
Of course, the bulk of Jay-Z’s time this summer has been spent touring the globe, where his last stop was at the Pemberton Festival in Canada. With the majority of his set a full on display of pure entertainment, he has also integrated a positive message through Barack Obama into his shows, a move that has earned thunderous applause from his audience, and rightfully so. “For America, [Obama] means so much. I believe he can change the perception and relations between America and the rest of the world right now. I am that kid that grew up in [Brooklyn, New York’s] Marcy Projects and thought that no matter who was in office, we weren’t part of the political project. Because our voice didn’t count, and trickle-down politics — we were the last on the totem pole to receive any attention because we couldn’t put a candidate in office.”
Now though, he has found a motivating symbol that everyone, including himself, can grasp on to. “He represents to that kid in Marcy Projects, that we really here… And as your mother says, with the right focus and the right thoughts and determination you can be anything in the world that you want to be. It’s a true statement for the first time; it’s really a special time to be here.”
Obama’s Campaign Denounces Ludacris’, "Politics As Usual"
The Obama campaign on Wednesday blasted Bridges’ “Politics As Usual” song, which is on the “Gangsta Grillz: The Preview” mixtape with Atlanta spinner DJ Drama.
“As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn’t want his daughters or any children exposed to,” Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said in an e-mail statement. “This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain, and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics.”
July 30, 2008
Killer Mike Speaks on the Officer Ross Debacle
From Rhapsody’s Rhap Session with Mike:
On credibility in hip-hop and Rick Ross’ alleged past career as a prison guard
I’m not speaking relative to or in opposition of Rick Ross in this next statement, but I will say this: my father was an Atlanta police officer and my mother was a known drug trafficker, in addition to being a business owner and pretty smart, savvy black woman. And I’ve never hid either of those facts. I’m a man and I am contradictory elements to my past and my personality. I’m the same kid that sold dope on Martin Luther King [Drive], paid for a tutor with that dope money, and got himself into Morehouse College because he knew Martin Luther King Jr. went there. My story is the American story. It’s Joe Kennedy. A grandfather who ran moonshine so his children could be better educated. My mother did what she did so her child could have a better life. I’m from that, and that’s what I wanna present in all it’s beauty. I’ve always told my story in that way because I have integrity. I can’t answer in terms of why other rappers do it; I’m just gonna say I don’t lie to my audience. I just think the true stories, the ones with all of our complexities, make better movies and songs. I would’ve loved to hear a Port of Miami where a guy gets fired from his job as a C.O. and goes on to some dirt. But for everybody who’s judging him now, understand that his next album is called Deeper Than Rap. We are politicians; he can spin this into something bigger. Now that the truth is told, what good is gonna come out of the truth?
Prequel to "I Am Legend" talks resurface
During this past weekend's San Diego Comic Con, I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence revealed he has plans to make a prequel to the blockbuster movie that would have Will Smith back in his role as Dr. Robert Neville. While the plot and script are still in development and Smith is by no means attached to the prequel yet, it would definitely be another sure hit for Smith who is just coming off of $380 million in box office dollars for Hancock.
For those who remember, I Am Legend fills the back story of the virus and Neville's quest to stop it through a series of flashbacks. However, the main focus of the movie was set on Neville's isolation and dealing with living alone and less about the causes and effects of the virus. A prequel though would focus more on the virus, evacuation of the cities and transformation of the "mutated." Is there enough back story here for people to care or is this just another sure way for Hollywood players to ride the success of Will?
Prodigy Dissin Jay-Z! "You Snitch Azz Nicca" (Says Theres Too Many Movies About Snitches, Calls Jay-Z A B*tch For Doin An Album About A Snitch & Cam'R
Footage was taken before Prodigy was locked up.
United States Government Apologizes For Slavery?
After 400 years of slavery and decades of Jim Crow, the United States government is making moves to apologize to African Americans for past injustices.
Rep. Steve Cohen, a white law maker representing a majority black district introduced H.Res. 194 introduced the non binding measure, which will come up for a vote today.
Several states have apologized for slavery, but if Cohen's measure passes, it will be the first time the federal government has acknowledge slavery and Jim Crow and its effects on the black community.
"African-Americans continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery and Jim Crow -- long after both systems were formally abolished -- through enormous damage and loss, both tangible and intangible, including the loss of human dignity and liberty, the frustration of careers and professional lives, and the long-term loss of income and opportunity," H.Res. 194 says.
According to a CNN report, the resolution does not address reparations for blacks, a hotly contested issue in recent years.
HipHopDx
July 29, 2008
Hell Rell Ruga Stories Part 8
In the next chapter of the “Ruga Stories” webisode series, take a rare glimpse behind the broadcast booth as the world renowned DJ Kay Slay & co. interview Rell in connection with the release of “Black Mask Black Gloves.”
Rell talks Dipset, the South and its supposed regional “unity” & sheds some light on the business side of hip-hop music and culture.
Billboard Interviews Bangladesh
When barber-cum-producer Shondrae "Bangladesh" Crawford left his native Des Moines, Iowa, he was only armed with a set of hair clippers. However, more than ten years and one beat machine later, he's crafted soundtracks for artists like Ludacris, 8Ball & MJG, Kelis and recently reached a peak with Lil Wayne's "A Milli." The track sat at No. 2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for three weeks consecutively, staved off only by Keyshia Cole's "Heaven Sent." Crawford spoke with Billboard about his beginnings and why his breakout song, "A Milli," was a little disappointing.
Lil Wayne's "A Milli" is now No. 1 on the Urban National airplay chart, but how did you begin working with Lil Wayne?
I got the song to him through a mutual friend. He heard the beat like last year and he loved it, it was a no brainer.
How'd you begin producing and how would you describe your creative style?
I just really starting studying sounds and the know how behind producing. I used to love going into the studio and just watching and it became my passion. I used to cut hair and I saved up to buy my own beat machine in 1998. I began producing with Ludacris. I knew him when he was an Atlanta radio personality, Chris Lova Lova, and he'd come to my barbershop for a haircut. I'd let him hear my beats and he had record deals on the table then but wouldn't sign because he wanted to do it independently first. I did the majority of his first album, "Back for the First Time," along with his first big single, "What's Your Fantasy." I also did "Throw Dem Bows." Most recently, I did 8ball and MJG's "Don't Make" and "Forever" from their "Living Legends" album. I also did Kelis "I'm Bossy," Ciara's "Hotline" and some tracks on Missy Elliott's last album.
Read the rest Here
July 28, 2008
DJ Drama & Ludacris - The Preview Mixtape
01. And Starring…
02. Still Spittin’
03. DTP Magic (Feat. Willy Northpole)
04. Get Up Get Out (Feat. Block Xchange)
05. So Thoro
06. The Vocalizer
07. Bigg Ass House
08. 2 Kings (Feat. I-20)
09. Politics As Usual
10. Look What I Got (Feat. Playaz Circle)
11. Pinky Shinin’ (Feat. Small World)
12. Sho’Nuff Revisited (Feat. Lil Fate)
13. Ordinary Negroes
14. Busta Rhymes - Throw It Up (Feat. Lil Wayne & Ludacris)
15. LA The DarkMan - Coogi Down (Feat. Willie The Kid)
16. I’m A Dog (Feat. Playaz Circle)
17. Smokin Big Kill (Feat. Shawnna)
18. Stay Together
19. We Ain’t Worried Bout You
20. Roll The Credits
21. Been Puttin On / Secret Song
Download here
Nas & Kelis To Record Album Together
Nas and Kelis have been together for quite some time. During this time, the couple has gone into a studio to record their fair share of tracks. Those songs were served up to mixed reviews but they have shared some commercial success with Kelis' "Blindfold Me." Now, the duo is planning something else. This time, the two may be collaborating on an entire album together.
"Me and my wife was thinking about doing this record together," he recently told MTV. This follows last week's report that he had aspirations of doing two albums soon, one entire produced by Dr. Dre and another one entirely produced by DJ Premier [click to read].
"I'm doing my dream. If you could, wouldn't you do it? What else would you do?" Nas said last week. "Every time I do something, it's, 'Oh, he's doing it because this and that.' Since my first album, everybody has an explanation of why. What am I supposed to be doing here? So I wanna drop the Dre album and the Premier album on the same day. That's what I'm thinking."
Nasty's mind is still on Untitled, though. Soon, the Queens emcee is expected release a single to follow "Hero," which has been getting healthy spins on radio stations. While some may have been blindsided by a Polow Da Don produced track for the LP, Nas spoke on why he went that route.
"I was almost gonna not do a single, but I wanted a song I could hear in the clubs, 'cause I knew the album didn't have that. I wanted a song that I could hear when I'm poppin' bottles. That's what 'Hero' was for me. Polow was one of my favorite guys; he's just a nice-ass guy. ... I was like, 'No single, no video. Let's just make this a record that we talk about.' "
July 27, 2008
July 26, 2008
Game tells kids 'Stop the Violence'
The Game shows love to the students in New Jersey, tells them to 'stop the violence' and talks about getting shot.
Hell Rell Presents Ruga Stories Pt. 7 (Visits The Streets & Best Buy For His Album "Black Mask Black Gloves" ) Plus Freestyle
In the next chapter of the "Ruga Stories" webisode series, Rell hits the streets (and Best Buy) on the day of the release of "Black Mask Black Gloves," chops it up with some locals on the streets of Manhattan and stops by Sirius radio for some on-air interviews.
Did Trick Daddy Leak Rick Ross Pictures?
Rick Ross previously being employed as a corrections officer has been making waves on the net for the past week. While Ross has been adamant that a C.O. has never been his occupation, The Smoking Gun revealed otherwise. Lost in the mix has been how these revealing pictures surfaced in the first place.
There have been accusations that have linked Trick Daddy to being the one responsible for leaking these pictures to sources. Many may know that Ross and Trick haven’t always been on the best of terms so the rumors incited Ross to call Trick Daddy a "sucka."
Today, HipHopDX caught up with Trick to get his side of the story that he has remained mum on since the beginning. Trick adamently denied he had anything to do with the pictures reaching the internet.
“Where’s the blog or the video that shows me saying I leaked the pictures?” Trick asked. “Somebody tried to use me to try to start some mess. They wanted to use Trick and I won’t let it go down like that. Whoever did leak the picture, why don’t they just be a man and say it? Don’t try to lean on my shoulder and put shit off on me.”
“I don’t have no comment to say about the picture and no comment to say about the situation,” Trick said to DX. “I am not going through no type of problems with Rick Ross or nobody else in this Hip Hop game. Definitely not anybody from my hood. Anybody know, love or respect Trick knows that is out of character for me. I don’t do shit like that!”"
So does the fact that Rick Ross called Trick Daddy a “sucka” change anything?
“What does a person say when someone says somebody did something like that? It’s just a lot of bad judgment,” Trick concluded. “All of the instigators out there always want to compare (me to Rick Ross). The only way to get around all that is to truly show that we have love for one another.”
HipHopDx
July 25, 2008
Fabolous, Clipse, Maino Weigh In On Rick Ross Prison-Guard Past
MTV"I think real n---as won't think so," the Clipse's Malice said a couple of days ago in New York when asked if this episode will hurt Ross' credibility. "That don't mean what he's talking about [in his rhymes] ain't true. The thing I wish is he came clean, if in fact that is him [in the photos]. 'Cause you ain't gotta make no excuses for whatever you did. You might have thought differently at one point in time. I don't think that should discredit that man."
"I'm not even going to go that far into it," said Mal's brother, Pusha T. "I don't know what it's gonna do to him, what it can or what it should do to him. I know the hip-hop community has given passes for much [worse]."
Fabolous suggested that his Def Jam labelmate keep making hits and not to let the banter get to him.
"I don't know if it will really hurt him," Fab said on the set of Ryan Leslie's "Addicted" video. "As an artist, I think Rick Ross makes great music. He's always shown me love and respect whenever I met him. Everybody has a past. I don't know if [being a prison guard] is his past or not. That's not my place to say. I think if he continues to do what he does, sweep all that garbage under the rug — you know what? That's success. That's success taking a shot back at him. All of a sudden past pictures come up. He should just keep doing what he do."
Maino, on the other hand, wasn't as forgiving. During a recent listening session for his album, he gave his opinion on Ross. (The footage was posted on Blogxilla.com.)
"I'm disappointed," the Brooklyn MC said when asked about Ross. "I'm really disappointed. I pride myself on being 100 percent who I am. If I went to college and had a job before, I would just say that. ... Him, in my opinion, I just think he should have just addressed it. ... 'Look, man. I was 19. It was a part of my life. ... I got to the coke later.'
"I don't have a problem with what he was doing before the rap game," Maino added. "That ain't my beef with him. The thing is, he was denying he was doing it. He said [the pictures] was Photoshopped and wasn't real."
Fat Joe didn't speculate on the authenticity of the pictures, but he did give a little insight into Ross the person. "He's a great dude. He's my friend," Joe said. "We'll just wait to see what [else] he has to say about it."
In n videotaped interview that recently hit the Web, Rick Ross denied ever being a prison guard.
MTV
Black In America "The Black Man"
In the "The Black Man," Soledad O'Brien evaluates the state of black men in America and explores the controversial topics of black men and fatherhood; disparities between blacks and whites in educational, career and financial achievement; and factors leading to the dramatic rates of black male incarceration. The documentary also examines the achievements of black men and the importance of the positive influences of black fathers
Real Talk With Lloyd: Lessons In Love Coming Soon
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Sex Education
2. Girls Around The World
3. Treat U Good
4. Year of the Lover
5. I Can Change Your Life
6. Lose Your Love
7. Have My Baby
8. Love Making 101
9. Party All Over Your Body
10. Touched By An Angel
11. I'm Wit It
12. Heart Attack
Download Here
July 24, 2008
Gucci Mane Arrested On Gun And Drug Charges
Atlantic Records rapper, Radric "Gucci Mane" Davis was arrested early Wednesday morning (July 23) in the Atlanta area. He was taken into custody by the Henry County Police Department after a routine traffic stop in which the rapper was thought to be under the influence of drugs. After searching Gucci's vehicle, a small amount of marijuana and a gun were found in his possession.
Gucci Mane was taken to the Henry County Jail in McDonough, Georgia a approximately 6:00am, where he was booked under charges of driving under the Influence of drugs, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
He was released approximately three hours later, after posting a $3,300 bond.
Hell Rell: Ruga Stories Part 6
In this chapter of the "Ruga Stories" webisode series, Rell hits us with a raw and gritty street video for "Black Gloves," one of the inaugural tracks off of the new album, "Black Mask Black Gloves (the Ruga Edition)."
July 23, 2008
Lloyd - Lessons in Love
1. Sex Education
2. Girls Around The World
3. Treat U Good
4. Year of the Lover
5. I Can Change Your Life
6. Lose Your Love
7. Have My Baby
8. Love Making 101
9. Party All Over Your Body
10. Touched By An Angel
11. I'm Wit It
12. Heart Attack
Download Here
Hip Hop Album Sales
After endless weeks of controversy, Nas' Untitled album reigns the charts with 186,600 copies sold in its first week. Grabbing the #2 spot is Lil Wayne's Tha Carter 3 with just under 105,500 copies sold. If Wayne's sales continue at this pace, he'll be due for a double platinum plaque by next week! David Banner's latest effort The Greatest Story Ever Told debuted this week at #8 selling 51,800 in its first week. Rihanna maintains her spot in the top 10 with the re-release of Good Girl Gone Bad selling 41,200 copies in its 59th week on the charts. Usher's Here I Stand rounds out the top 5 leading Hip Hop/ R&B artists at #19 with 26,000 copies sold this week.
G-Unit takes a drop from #9 last week to #24 this week with Terminate On Sight selling 21,200 copies this week--a 42% decline from last week's numbers. Plies' Definition of Real comes in at #26 selling 20,500 copies. Three 6 Mafia grabs the #29 spot with Last 2 Walk selling 18,431 units this week. After reports surfaced that the self-proclaimed drug pushin', gun toting "boss" Rick Ross is in actuality a former corrections officer, his sales have yet to suffer this week. Trilla sold 9,700 copies this week, only a 4% decline from last week. However, next week's numbers (the first full sales week after this week's revelations about Ross' past) will be the true sign of any fan backlash.
Will August heat up on the charts with new albums on the horizon from heavy-hitters like The Game, Ne-Yo and Nelly? Or will the youngins get schooled by new projects from Ice Cube and LL Cool J? Can femcee/ producer Missy Elliot come in for the sneak attack and shock the charts?
HipHopDx
Trouble The Water [2008 Movie Documentary About Hurricane Katrina]
The theatrical trailer for the Sundance Grand Prize-winning documentary TROUBLE THE WATER. Directed and produced by Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine producers Tia Lessin and Carl Deal and featuring Kimberly Rivers Roberts and Scott Roberts. Opens in New York and L.A. on August 22 with a nationwide release to follow.
July 22, 2008
Hell Rell: Ruga Stories Part 5
In the next chapter of the "Ruga Stories" webisode series ("Black Mask Black Gloves" in stores now!), Ruga gets up close and personal as he hits the road in between promo for the album and also blesses us with a heat rock of a freestyle.
Apple’s October Surprise: MacBook Touch?
We love rumors, especially when it comes from Apple. Now use your imagination:
Think MacBook screen, possibly a bit smaller, in glass with iPhone-like, but fuller-featured Multi-Touch. Gesture library. Full Mac OS X. This is why they bought P.A. Semi. Possibly with Immersion’s haptic tech. Slot-loading SuperDrive. Accelerometer. GPS. Pretty expensive to produce initially, but sold at “low” price that will reduce margins. Apple wants to move these babies. And move they will. This is some sick shit. App Store-compatible, able to run Mac apps, too. By October at the latest.
TechFresh
Is T-Wayne Album Really Coming Out?
Love him or hate him, T-Pain is a hard working man in the music business. He's already got a new album coming out this year titled Thr33 Ringz. He's also been featured on more than a few singles this year with a variety of artists in the rap and R&B worlds and he's already building buzz for the upcoming T-Wayne collaboration with Lil Wayne.
"T-Wayne is an entity that's just gonna take over a side of the game," Pain told MTV recently. "It's two artists that done collaborated with every artist in the industry except each other. Being that we getting together, this T-Wayne movement is getting crazy."
He went on to explain that even though they both have incredibly busy schedules, they are taking time to make sure the T-Wayne album begins taking shape as they continue recording away from one another.
"He's sending me blank tracks, I'm sending him blank tracks. He's sending me tracks with hooks, I'm sending him tracks with hooks. It's just our hectic schedules are keeping us from recording. ... But we both have studios on the bus. So we take that tour bus anywhere we go...it's a done deal."
Fans of the two or those anticipating the collab album will not really have to wait for work from the pair. They have already worked together on Wayne's Tha Carter III and they have a single coming out for Thr33 Ringz. Pain spoke on their most recent duet, the first official single off of his album, a track called "Can't Believe It."
"'Can't Believe It,' I just wanted to simplify things. Basically I got a lot of stuff on my albums that's not that simple. I'm not getting away from the simplicity of things, it's just basically a way to calm things down. Then I put Wayne on it and he keeps murdering tracks I'm sending him. It's just another world, it's unexplainable."
HipHopDx
Bobby Valentino Signs With EMI/Blu Kolla Dreams
Bobby Valentino announced today that less than three months after his amicable departure from Disturbing Tha Peace/Def Jam Records, the crooner is headed to another major, Blu Kollar Dreams, a new boutique label under the EMI umbrella. The deal announces a day after "Mrs. Officer," Lil Wayne's next single was announced, featuring the singer.
"I have been blessed to be in the music industry for over 10 years, and my past endeavors have been great learning experiences. Now I have the opportunity to step out on faith and use the knowledge and experience that I have gained to take my career to the next level," said Valentino in a statement.
Bobby's next album is called The Rebirth, to be released late this year. It will be his third full length, with the debut and sophomore releases going platinum and gold respectively.
HipHopDx
The Smoking Gun Verifies Rick Ross’ C.O. History
Department of Corrections (DoC) records show that Ross, whose raps detail the Miami gangster lifestyle and his supposed days trafficking cocaine, did, in fact, work as a correctional officer for 18 months. Ross (real name: William Leonard Roberts) was appointed a prison guard in December 1995 at a salary of $22,913.54, according to the below personnel record, which was provided to TSG by Jo Ellyn Rackleff, a DoC spokesperson. The rapper’s social security number is identical to that of the jail guard. According to the official document, Ross was earning $25,794.34 when he left the department in June 1997.
Full Story: Smoking Gun
Cornell Dews gives his opinion on the matter below:
What the fuck is wrong with us? A hip hop community is arguing whether or not an artist was once employed as a correctional officer. I’m certain this is an effort to refute his street claims and credibility. So after the pictures and negatives have been carefully scrutinized and it’s discovered that the photos are legitimate, we’re no longer supposed to enjoy his music? Oh I forgot, there’s an unwritten rule in hip hop that boldly states “if an artist uses the art form to fabricate tales by use of his imagination, death by sales is his immediate doom and to be ostracized from the hip hop community is peril.”
Which means if you haven’t lived the “gangster” lifestyle that you depict in your rhymes then you’re not real and undeserving of the consumers attention? However, if you have lived the “gangster” lifestyle that you depict in your rhymes, which consist of death, murder and imprisonment, you’re keeping it “one hundred” and are well deserving of the attention you get from the consumers and our dollars. What the fuck is wrong with us?
Has the COINTEL PRO infiltrated hip hop? I swear we’re working on some counter intelligence shit. As a community we’re thinking the wrong way; contrary to the right course; in the reverse or opposite direction, which is by definition counter intelligence. Check this out. We’re mad if you “lied” about knowing Noriega and the claim that he owes you a hundred favors. But we applaud if you do know Noriega from (we’re assuming) past dealings which meant that you was involved in drug trafficking that helped lead to the destruction of the same community from which we come. We’re mad if you “lied” about the money you made on the streets and the “bodies” you caught in the process, when in actuality you graduated high school and attended a historically black college on an athletic scholarship. Which we can derive meant you were a decent student athlete. We’re mad if you “lied” about going to prison, when instead you worked at one. Can’t yall see that we’re mad about the wrong shit?
I don’t care if William Roberts was a correctional officer. As a matter of fact, I’d prefer that he was a correctional officer instead of the drug trafficking would be murderer that’s illustrated in his lyrics. Can you imagine if our young people who aspire to live the life that’s portrayed by these artists knew their actual road to success? It’s obvious that they’re willing to follow these superstar leads, but unfortunately they’re being misled. Hip hop is such a strong influence that I’d bet if the artist spoke more from the heart on some “keeping it real” shit that it could help positively influence change in the urban community. And when I say “keeping it real” I’m speaking about some shit that they have really done, like graduate high school, get accepted into colleges, interned at record labels, or held side jobs outside of the industry as they pursued their dreams. True, some artist have lived the “gangster” lifestyle, but honestly what has talking about it ever done for our community? Some will argue that they have shined a light on the ills that negatively affect our community to the world. This is true, but then I ask, what social programs can be attributed to these artists from shining the light on societal ills that so negatively affect the urban community? According to Wikipedia, gangsta rappers often defend themselves by claiming that they are describing the reality of inner-city life, and that they are only adopting a character, like an actor playing a role, which behaves in ways that they may not necessarily endorse. However, with that being said, as soon as someone question their authenticity based on their own lyrics and call them actors, they’re ready to kill something. But when they’re asked to be held accountable for their lyrics they’re back to being thespians. Stop playing all of the time!
Trick Daddy has been accused of revealing these photos to the public. The same Trick Daddy who appeared on Rick Ross’ Trilla cd. The same Trick Daddy, who a few months ago, was accused of being knocked and stomped out in a club in his own hometown. Now, according to our counter intelligence, that must be “gangsta.”
Listen kinfolks, these dudes are just rapping to make some change. Unfortunately, the change I’m referencing is monetary and not social. I’m quite sure that we would all be surprised to know what many of our “gangster” rappers did prior to becoming “gangster” rappers. Surprised in the sense that most did not live the lifestyle that they portray in their songs. And it’s alright that they didn’t do those things, just admit it because we as consumers already know. Don’t we?
Written by Cornell Dews
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