Say That Then!

News From Around The Way...

August 15, 2004

Method & Red is cancelled & dead. Add another tombstone to the Hip Hop Television Graveyard, it looks like the dynamic chronic duo won't be back for another season. The ratings haven't been spectacular and the Ticallion Stallion has been bringing da ruckus (allegedly) on the set, complaining that among other things, the show isn't ghetto enough. Damn homie.

Seattle beatsmith Jake One is submitting beats for WWE wrestler/rapper John Cena. You might remember Cena as the cat who was supposed to battle the F-A-B-O at Wrestlemania a few years back. You can also check out Jake's work on the upcoming De La Soul Album. Every time I see him, the nicest guy in the world. Keep grindin'...

Ja Rule is teaming up with R. "I Need A Hug If You're Underage" Kelly and Ashanti for the first single off the upcoming R.U.L.E., "Wonderful."

The illest emcee alive, Royce 5'9" will drop on Oct. 26. M.I.C. is a collabo with producer Nottz. I can't stress this enough - Royce will merc your favorite emcee. Buy this album.

Lil' Kim has denied the perjury charges against her. The indictment is the still-lingering fallout from a shootout at Hot 97 ‘tween Kim and her crew, and Foxy Brown and Capone & Noreaga's peoples a few years ago. As is inevitable when someone is up on charges, their PR people start trying to rehab their image. I'm not saying that's what LK is doing, but she just announced the creation of her Lil Kim Cares foundation. Timing is everything.

Bad Luk, who crushed the competition at the Seattle Brainstorm 4 regional last Thursday, is looking to drop the inevitable mixtape sometime before the Brainstorm Finals at Bumbershoot. For those of you who missed it, this kid is kinda nice with his and figures to bring some heat when the joint drops. If the battle was any indication, he's got a good sense of humor, can ride a beat pretty well, and after the show he tried to make it clear, he ain't just a battle rapper; he trying to put out solid music. Keep those eyes peeled.

Bad boy, bad boy, whatcha gonna do? Kirk Burrowes, who had his fifteen minutes not long ago, when he sued former boss P. Diddy for $25 million, is now under indictment for laundering something in the neighborhood of a million dollars of drug money. He denies it, of course. The government's case relies on a snitch who had Burrowes discussing business on tapped phones. Ya gotta keep the grass cut to see the snakes coming.

Snoop Dogg, who just got free of a suit relating to his Girls Gone Wild: Doggy Style DVD, was hit upside the dome with more legal drama. A promoter for one of his shows was arrested on drug charges after picking up a package allegedly addressed to Snoop that contained seven pounds of herb. She wants $5 million. Yo Snoop, we thought you quit? C'mon man, be that role model you kept telling us you wanted to be.

G-Unit's in house DJ Whoo Kid is bringing the best of the West, past and present, together. After getting his hands on a never before heard Eazy-E acapella and talking it over with producer Red Spyda, he flew out to L.A. and got The Game to spit with the late, great E on the track. Check the Web and your mixtapes, this is fuego x 20.

The Black Eyed Peas done got so retarded they supposedly left candles burning in their studio while they went to eat. The resulting blaze destroyed instruments and recording equipment. The Peas weren't slacking when the found out about the fire. They rushed in to fight the fire and their efforts spared the rest of the building. Love out to the Peas, keep ya heads up. And if Fergie needs some comforting, holla at me...

Where was the love at the Slick Rick/Kool Keith show at Club Premier this weekend? Word around the way is that there weren't even a hundred people at the joint. What the...? This is The Ruler, how does he not draw a crowd? Three choices: 1) nobody likes Rick and Keith; 2) the Promoters fell off; 3) the tickets were too expensive. Take your pick. What I do know is that the Showbox Model Expo afterparty was crackin' and Yo Son was goin' off.

So ya thought dude was crazy, huh? Anybody who's seen Outkast's Andre 3000 has wondered at one time or another if he was eating those magic mushrooms, but whatever it was, Esquire magazine has named him the best dressed man in the world. How ya like me now?

Pharrell Williams, one half of the Neptunes, has decided that rappers shouldn't be the only cats to have their own shoes. He's getting down with Reebok for his Ice Cream line. Be on the look out, the marketing campaign and packaging will reflect the line's name.

A crew of Russian skinheads were sentenced to jail for assaulting some Public Enemy fans after a show in Moscow. Stupidity knows no nationality.

Rumors are still flying left and right over Jay Hova's future. Is he staying with Def Jam? Is the R-O-C done? Will the fans ever get the alleged Dr. Dre/S. Carter album? The Frank Sinatra of his day.

Brand Nubian is back suckerrrrrrs! Grand Puba, Sadat X and Lord Jamar are back to beat down punks that jump up. Fire In The Hole, their latest effort on Babygrande is in stores.

News From the Butcher Shop: 50 Cent might be getting a break from the shots ex-homie Bang 'Em Smurf has been letting loose at him. Smurf is starting an 18 month bid. We haven't heard why, but we hope when the Silverback Guerilla gets out he can keep his legal BI under control and give Hip Hop that jolt he's been aiming to deliver.

Common is making a return to Resurrection form for his debut on Kanye's Very Good Music label. The bulk of the production duties are said to be handled by Detroit producer Jay Dee. Although the release date has - surprise, surprise - been pushed back, word is, it'll be worth the wait.

The next Jill Scott album looks like it will include this gem: a Premo produced joint with a guest appearance from God's Son, Nasir Jones.