Atlantic Records New Orleans

New Dee-1 Video "No Applause"

2010-05-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

This video is very well produced, and the song is a beast! Dee-1 continues to amaze us all...

New Dee-1 Mixtape "I Hope They Hear Me!" Awakens Sleeping Fans, Critics

2010-04-20T13:30:00.001-07:00

Dee-1 expands his brand with latest batch of musical mastery

New Orleans, LA- On April 21st, 2010, New Orleans hip-hop artist Dee-1 will release his latest musical effort in the form of a mixtape entitled, “I Hope They Hear Me!”. Fans can download the new mixtape from www.dee1music.com this Wednesday, and Dee-1 is encouraging his fans to bootleg and burn copies in order to “share the wealth” with unfamiliar audiences. When it comes to a wealth of music, Dee-1 is living large.

After the rave reviews and undeniable response to his debut album release, “David & Goliath,” Dee-1 was happy but far from complacent with his early successes. Dee-1 is hitting his loyal fan base with an array of highly anticipated new recordings, and better yet, he is making it available for free download. While many new and old fans will be able to download the music free of charge (and share it virally), he will also be providing them with the option to “Donate” through a PayPal link on his website, allowing his most diehard fans to assign their own value to the project. This “Pay What You Will” model was made famous by Radio Head, however, it’s full potential has yet to be seen in the urban music market.

According to Dee-1, the new material “makes a statement” about his position in the rap game; a position which is continually rising higher and higher, though he is still being denied the recognition he deserves. While music critics and industry shot callers have clearly acknowledged Dee-1’s unique ability to blend lyrical content with mainstream appeal, they tend to underestimate his potential as a major driving force in the forthcoming renaissance of hip-hop music and culture. The demand for Dee-1’s brand of music is clearly there; any astute observer can see the growing indifference to typical terrestrial radio, the discontent with mediocre live performers and the hunger for new fresh sounds found throughout the underground blog sites and social networking sites. For more information, contact Fatima Aarabi by phone (504)-234-8958, email dee1management@gmail.com, or visit www.dee1music.com.

T.I. Makes History!!!!!!!!

2008-10-09T20:58:00.001-07:00

Few in the game have a rap sheet like rapper, Clifford “T.I.” Harris. The rapper, songwriter and actor has become an entity within the Hip Hop realm unto himself.

With Paper Trail [click to read] in stores, the focus hasn’t really been on T.I. – the artist – but more so, Clifford Harris – the man.

Embroiled in a highly publicly legal issue, the 28-year-old self proclaimed “king of the South” has a lot to deal with. Heavy the head that wears the crown they say. HipHopDX sits down exclusively with T.I.P. at Atlantic Records as he discusses his newest project, waves off a history of trouble with Ludacris and hints at a possible collaboration with Jay-Z for The Blueprint 3.

HipHopDX: You always have a good fashion sense about yourself. What do you like to wear more – the clean cut look with the nice pocket or jeans, sneakers and a fitted cap?
T.I.: It all depends on the occasion, the event, what’s going on and my mood. Right now, I’m just cool, calm and casual. I’m really feeling my Jordan Retro’s – I forgot what number they are – they might be the 12's. They came out in ’94.

DX: Your song “Louis Rag” with Swizz Beatz got a lot of play in the clubs amidst all the hype of your case. What is it about “Louis Rag” that makes you feel that that was the right track to put out there.
T.I.: It’s just a party record, man. I want everyone to feel good, relax and have a enjoyable time. Me and Swizz [click to read] linked up to crank the clubs up, period… There’s no serious message behind it. It’s just a record to motivate and uplift the party. “Louis Rag” is something that you can play primetime in a club at 2:30, you know what I’m saying. Everyone pull they rags out they belt loop and if you’re anything like me, you keep your rag in your belt loop – and they’d swing they rag in the club and go nuts.

DX: How was it to go back to writing down lyrics after going off the top for a few albums?
T.I.: It wasn’t hard at all… It’s actually one of the easiest decisions to make. It was an easy transition to go back to writing. I could do it, actually, either way… It just depends on the track and how I feel. It’d be a way to catch the beat and I’ll go either way. I think that on the next album, I’ll do both – half of it off the top and the other half written and let the people judge for themselves. It’s two different sounds to doing that, of course, songs like “Top Back” [click to read], “What You Know (About That)” [click to read] that type of sound – I’ll go off the dome. But for that “I’m Serious” [click to read], “No Matter What” [click to listen] type of sound, then I start writing it down.

DX: It’s good to see you back with DJ Toomp, man. People felt that that one album where you weren’t together that he was sorely missed…
T.I.: Yeah, man… it was just the one album [without each other]. I mean we always family and always gone be it, so it was like… you know… it couldn’t be a reunited thing ‘cause we were never separated. We worked together on T.I. vs. T.I.P. [click to read], it’s just that the work that we did when we worked together, didn’t make the album.

DX: A lot of people would be surprised that you and Ludacris linked up to do a track for his new album. How’d that come together…?
T.I.: It was really simple – we agreed to do a record together. For real, me and Chris [click to read] ain’t never had no real issues between one another, ya dig? We never had a conversation that couldn’t be cleared up. We’ve had conversations where we most definitely had to get some things squared away. He had my number for quite some time and I his, so some times we’ll call each other every now and again to chop it up, unbeknownst to you – the public – of course. But you know everyone has issues. I consider dude, if nothing else, very worthy competition and I’ve never hated on dude, I ain’t never been a hater and never will be. So, since there’s no issue, there isn’t no problem and we ain’t got no beef. There’s no reason why we can’t be able to or why we shouldn’t be able to come together and make music.

DX: As a competitor in the game – do you think that you’re putting out your best work to date, yet?
T.I.: It ain’t my job to judge the music, it’s my job to make the music. I mean… I like all my music, but I wouldn’t make nothing that I wouldn’t like. But I’m going to give it to the people to make their own opinion and assessments. I’m going to let my work speak for itself. I play to win and you know everyone else is going to try to play their cards, well… when I play my hand, I play to win and don’t care what anyone else thinks.
DX: This may seem kind of stale, but a lot of people are still looking at fellow Khaled All-Star, Rick Ross, with the leery eye. Do you think that beef with T.I. isn’t what it seems and do you believe that Rick can come back from such an incident?
T.I.: None of my issues are ever WWE inspired. At the end of the day, with Ross [click to read], it’s none of their business. Real talk, I don’t care… We being stars! And with us being stars that means we put out a record for people to listen to. We put out movies for people to watch it. I mean that to say that you don’t need to know everything about our lives. Matter of fact, you’re not supposed to know anything about our lives because we stars… you supposed to know less about a star, then you do about a normal person. No one ever dug around [1930s villain actor] James Cagney’s closet to find any skeletons. You can’t rate or judge a person for what he or she has been through until one has sat through it or heard the other one say it.

DX: You had your trial and your sentencing are appreciative of the support you’ve received in the mainstream and from the regular folks?
T.I.: I really appreciate it and I know that they wish the best for me. I concur with them wholeheartedly. I wish better for myself, but now… I ain’t got the wish. I just got to make the necessary adjustments.

DX: When does the countdown show run?
T.I.: The show…? Smart guy… It’ll be on TV around the first quarter of the year sometime. We’re still filming, did a few episodes, most of them being in Los Angeles, quite a few in Atlanta. I can’t really tell you what to watch out for, just watch the show, baby…

DX: You’ve done quite a few songs with Just Blaze now – can you talk about the song “Live Your Life”…?
T.I.: Just Blaze did “Live Your Life” and it’s features Rihanna and the song is just talking about what we were just speaking on – how people think that just because you’re a celebrity that they should be so involved in your life. I’m like – well, you can cut your TVs on – and you’re in my world. The rest is just entertainment for you; I’m actually living it. I’m doing the things that you scared to death of doing, surviving the things that you think you’ll never through. So, it’s my life, the entertainer, you know I assumed the position and accept the responsibility of, you know, living through the things that you couldn’t probably make it through in order for you to be thoroughly entertained.

DX: Joe Budden kind of mentioned it by saying that he understood why you needed to get some ratchet. Can anyone understand this game that you’re in?
T.I.: I mean… In order to understand my thinking – and even though it was poor judgment – it was bad decision and to understand my train of thought, you’ll have to live my life and experience my danger. Live through certain situations and circumstances that I have and ask me how you feel. You got to put yourself in my shoes. You can’t think with your mind, being in your situation, about what you would do. You got to think as though you were in my situation and then ask yourself what you would do.

DX: So what advice would you give you the kids on the street who are feeling the crunch during this rough financial crisis we’re going through?
T.I.: I’d tell them straight up and down that I ain’t the last person out there who got guns. It’s other people out there who definitely got guns. Someone can be breaking into your house, right now. You ain’t gonna find out until you see the light, baby. It’s all the same thing, you know… clear and present danger. You need to be aware of that before you get yourself involved in something that could cost you your life or your freedom and they don’t wanna know that first hand.

DX: On “Whatever You Like,” fam… you switched it up a little. You’re not going full-on Ja Rule, are you?
T.I.: A full-on Ja Rule [click to read]… [Laughs] Man, I’ma do whatever my heart desires. Wherever my creativity leads me is where my artistic expression leads me to do. I’m not finna intentionally do something or not intentionally do something. I’ma do whatever is necessary to make some music.

DX: How was house arrest?
T.I.: It was house arrest. I’m blessed. I was able to be around my family and my children. I was able to go in my refrigerator, watch my TV, drive my car around the neighborhood and live my life before I go in the box.

DX: You and Jay-Z have a lot of similarities and are the king’s of your respective crafts. Would you and him ever do a song for Blueprint 3?
T.I.: I don’t know… that’s a good question, man. It would depend on the song, on what kind of song it is. If he gets that record like a “[Dirt Off Your] Shoulder” [click to listen] then I’d probably come off the top of the dome. Whereas, if he gives me a record like “Renegade” [click to read] – that Eminem joint – then I’d probably write things down. In the end though, it’d be classic whatever myself and Hova [click to read] cook up.

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.1232/title.t-i-serious-as-ever/p.2

T.I. "Paper Trail" Review- New Orleans Listening Party

2008-09-29T14:37:00.001-07:00

By Ben Brubaker

T.I. Paper Trail Review- Private Listening Party

A small crowd gathered in a first floor conference room at the Clear Channel radio station, talking quietly amongst themselves in anticipation of the events soon to follow. Just as the crowd began to grow restless, the doors opened up and the Grand Hustle entourage walked in, followed by the station's top radio personalities, the "Q93 Boys". The crowd quickly focused their gazes upon two figures; Grand Hustle's up and coming Atlanta based artist, Big Kuntry King, and of course, the "king" himself, T.I.

Tulane sophomore, "DJ" Miles Felix, stood poised behind a set of turntables in the back corner, and immediately cued T.I.'s latest chart-topping single, "Whatever You Like". After a short introduction, T.I. took the microphone and , with a gentle confidence, thanked the audience members for attending the event. Atlantic Records representatives made another quick announcement that no video recording would be allowed, due to the threat of possible album leaks.

Standing next to DJ Felix alongside the turntables, T.I. proceeded to introduce never-before-heard songs from his new album, "Paper Trail", which dropped on September 30th. T.I. gave some brief background information about each track, explaining, for example, how his recent felony-gun possession case and subsequent sentencing of one year in prison had given him a new perspective on the world and the music he creates. He followed this introduction with the song, "You Ain't Missin Nothing"; a heartfelt look at the experiences of prison inmates and their relationship with the outside world. The song touched upon the difficulty of prison life, which T.I. is soon to encounter first-hand, while still focusing more on the notion that despite his time away, the people he loves and the world he knows will still be there waiting for him upon his release.

T.I. followed up this song with a soon-to-be classic, the recently released "Swagga Like Us", which features rap legends Jay-Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne, over a revamped sample of the popular M.I.A. song, "Paper Planes". Following in the vein of revamped pop classics, T.I. moved on to yet another classic in the making; "Live Your Life", which features Rihanna singing over a sample of the popular dance track "Dragostea din tei" (also known as the Numa Numa dance) by O-Zone.

T.I.'s new album, "Paper Trail", contains a diverse range of sounds and subjects, however, the common themes throughout the album seem to be the refined "popular appeal" of his samples, and an increased awareness of real world issues which seems to stem from the artist's imminent prison time. The album is one of T.I.'s strongest releases in years, thanks in part to the star-studded list of featured artists and producers, including Rihanna, Usher, The Dream, Lil Wayne, Fall Out Boy, Kanye West, B.O.B, John Legend, DJ Toomp, Swizz Beatz, Danja & Drumma Boy.

Perhaps even more striking than the quality of his latest musical efforts was the way in which T.I. interacted behind the scenes at the private listening party. As the mainstay of Atlantic Records' Atlanta-based sub-label, "Grand Hustle", T.I. is not only a musical powerhouse, but also a business man. Just prior to the event, T.I. requested to meet with the station manager personally; though it was not his album he was most concerned about. Instead of focusing on his own radio spins, the superstar requested the meeting in order to lobby on behalf of his Grand Hustle label-mates, Big Kuntry King and New Orleans legend, B.G.

Knowing full-well that prison would soon limit his ability to generate income, T.I. set out to make sure that his label would continue to grow and thrive. Grand Hustle is a powerhouse in the world of independent labels, however its success seems intrinsically tied to the young rapper's star status and popularity. T.I. wanted to make sure that while he was gone serving his time, his label-mates would be able to continue to grow in their own careers. Still, with the superb quality of the "Paper Trail", T.I. is in a good position to maintain his career in spite of all the challenges he faces, as top industry analysts predict this release has the potential to break Lil Wayne's "Carter III" sales records.

Pictures:

T.I. "Paper Trail" In Stores 9.30.08: CELEBRATING GRAND HUSTLE DAY!

2008-08-21T19:29:00.000-07:00

TI, the King, Dropping the New Album "Paper Trail" on 9.30.08

And of course, Grand Hustle Day wouldn't be complete without BIG KUNTRY KING, dropping his new album "My Turn to Eat".

IT'S BIG KUNTRY KING'S "TURN TO EAT"
07.14.08

Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist Big Kuntry King has announced early details of his much anticipated new album, MY TURN TO EAT. The collection – which features the single, "Da Baddest (Feat. Trey Songz)" – drops into stores and all digital retailers on September 9th.

"Da Baddest" Video premiered on Wednesday, July 16th on Allhiphop.com. The clip sees the ATL-based rapper joined by a star-studded roster of guests, including Songz, T.I., Young Dro, B.o.B, Fantasia, DJ Drama, and Maino. Produced by Shawty Red (Snoop Dogg, Young Jeezy), "Da Baddest" mp3 is available now at the Atlantic Records Store for $0.99.
(www.atlanticrecords.com/bigkuntry)

Pretty Ricky Interview with DJ Mike Swift on 102.9

2008-08-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

Pretty Ricky Interview with DJ Mike Swift on 102.9

Download T.I. - 'No Matter What' Video

2008-07-02T17:22:00.000-07:00

FROM THE FORTHCOMING ALBUM
PAPER TRAIL
08.12.08

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1641243974

Plies: Definition of Real on HipHopGalaxy.com

2008-06-29T21:07:00.000-07:00

Plies
Album : Definition Of Real
Release Date : 6/10/2008

Slip N Slide Records

Review :

Success hasn’t changed Plies ; it has just made him more real. After selling over a half million copies of his 2007 debut album, "THE REAL TESTAMENT," the rapper hailing from the streets of Fort Myers, Florida returns with the release of his sophomore set, "DEFINITION OF REAL." "I feel like what I try to stand for in this game and what I reflect and represent is the extinct individuality in terms of being real," explains Plies. "It was only right for me to embody my sophomore album with the whole definition of what I like to call real. It’s a term that I looked up and I dissected and I feel like it fits me as a person ; better than any term I ever ran across."

Led by a pair of powerful singles, Plies has created an unstoppable movement with "Bust It Baby, Part 1" and "Bust It Baby, Part 2." The two-part ode to the women who have supported the rapper’s career goes beyond mere radio records. Instead, Plies has an unprecedented marketing campaign that is sure to keep him at the forefront of hip-hop. The first installment of the series is a southern-cooked dedication to the rapper’s faithful female fan base, while the second part is a largerthan- life tribute featuring production from JR Rotem and an infectious hook by R&B superstar Ne-Yo. If 2007’s "Shawty" was a pop-hit with a ghetto twist, then "Bust It Baby, Part 2" is that to the tenth power.

Still, don’t expect too many features on the album, as Plies pledges to give his fans exactly what they pay for. "There ain’t no other rappers on my album, that’s important for me. I don’t believe in having seven or eight features on an album - to me that’s a compilation album." So, much like Plies’ debut album, "DEFINITION OF REAL" only boasts R&B features. "I think I’m alright when it comes to talking about certain issues, so I don’t really need the support of n****s to help me fulfill that vision.

"I never try to be defined by how many records I sell. I think it’s more important for my mark to be made on what I stand for," says Plies.

Track listing

1. I’m Da Man feat. Trey Songz -
2. Ol’ Lady -
3. Bushes -
4. Worth Goin FED Fo -
5. Dat Bitch -
6. Somebody (Loves You) -
7. Feel Like Fucckin -
8. Watch Dis -
9. Who Hotter Than Me -
10. 1 Day -
11. Bust It Baby (Part 2) feat. Ne-Yo -
12. Shit Bag -
13. Please Excuse My Hands feat. Jamie Foxx, The-Dream -
14. Rich Folk -
15. #1 Fan feat. Keyshia Cole, J. Holiday

http://www.hiphopgalaxy.com/Plies-Definition-Of-Real-hip-hop-7020.html

Plies ft. Jamie Foxx- Please Excuse My Hands

2008-06-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

New Missy Elliot... "Best, Best" Video

2008-06-29T20:34:00.001-07:00

Maino 'Hi Hater' Featured as the Fader Freeload

2008-06-29T19:50:00.001-07:00

Freeload: Maino "Hi Hater"

It's been a particularly rough few years for the three then-rising stars of F35's New York Rap feature. Stack Bundles was killed last June, Papoose got dropped from his million-dollar major label deal (and has been making more noise with his prison nupitals than with any actual music as of late), and Maino—our personal favorite of the bunch—has simply been AWOL, emerging every so often with a signing rumor or internet banger only to sink back into the fog of BK rap anonymity just as quickly. So you can imagine our collective elation to hear Maino over a classic Jimmy Spicer breakbeat on his new single "Hi Hater." Yes, an actual single! On the radio! It hit NYC airwaves last week at the same moment as our long-delayed springtime, and the backstory can't help but make "Hi Hater" feel even more triumphant. "You see me!" You're gotdamn right we do.

http://www.thefader.com/articles/2008/5/1/freeload-maino-hi-hater

Musiq Soulchild: New Song for the Streets and the 'Radio'

2008-06-29T18:40:00.000-07:00

Musiq Soulchild's new single "Radio" is already taking over the country, blending his Philly-born style with the swagger of the South. His talent alone continues to bring listeners back again and again, but with this new single, Musiq is taking his game to a whole new level. Look for his new single to be a summer classic.

Musiq Soulchild Biography:

"The aim for this record," says Musiq Soulchild about "LUVANMUSIQ," his first album for Atlantic Records, "is basically to reintroduce myself."

As if he really needs an introduction. After debuting in 2000 with the brilliant "AIJUSWANASEING," and following that up with "JUSLISEN" (2002) and "SOULSTAR" (2003), Musiq Soulchild became known for creating some of the most compelling soul of the new millennium. Crafting ear-caressing tracks that blended old-school soul fervor with new-school hip-hop rhythms, he went on to sell three million albums in the U.S. alone, gathering a string of major awards in the process.

It is Musiq's quiet devotion to his sonic impact as a musician that drives the man to want to re-introduce himself, to set up his return to the airwaves and the clubs as a new beginning of sorts, and not take for granted his status in the music industry. "I've been away for a little while," he says. "The industry's changed and so have I - personally, mentally, psychologically. I look at my previous three albums as grade school, middle school, and high school. Now with this new album, "LUVANMUSIQ," its like I'm going off to college."

And college never sounded so good.

If college is that place where you learn who you are and what you want to contribute to the world, "LUVANMUSIQ" is the album Musiq Soulchild was meant to make, crammed with full-bodied tracks that take soul music to the high level he has always reached for. From the funky, hip-hop-inflected, "Heartbeat"-throwback "Buddy," to the stunningly beautiful "Teach Me" and the Stevie Wonderesque "Questions," "LUVANMUSIQ" is a generous, open-armed declaration of heart and soul. It is a collection full of the musings of a man who appreciates the perks of maturity, and who doesn't have time for the child-like games and sounds that seem to define so much modern music.

It sounds like the music of a Man, a man trying to maintain, a man not driven by the more youthful priorities that seem to dominate music today. Which is exactly what Musiq was aiming for.

"I like to write and perform songs that have a more realistic perspective on things," says Musiq. "A lot of people use songs for escapism and poetic aesthetics, but I would like to think that humanity has evolved. I would like to inspire people to start thinking that way. Look, man," he adds with a laugh, "I'm not twenty-one anymore, so I'm not talking about that same stuff."

What he is doing is trying new things.

Check out "Buddy," featuring the MC-ing of one of the best singers that modern R&B has to offer. "I'm kind of easing my way into MC-ism, even though I've wanted to do it for a loooong time," says Musiq. "I hadn't really warmed up to it before because I respect the craft. It's not something you can just jump into and do. I love hip-hop, the idea of it. I love the culture of it, the basics and the foundation of it. And I want to contribute to that culture. Bit by bit, I'm doing my best to contribute to the culture because there's more to me musically than what has been put out there."

There's more to Musiq on many, many levels. The Philly native, the oldest of nine kids (and the self-described "black sheep of the family"), found himself homeless after dropping out of high school at seventeen. Knowing what he knows now, he believes he could have handled things differently. "I could have used that forum to my advantage 'cause there were people whose job was to teach me," he says now. But at the time he just "felt patronized. When you're young, you just want what you want and you don't see better." Much to his parents' chagrin, he found himself working menial jobs and sleeping on friends' couches just to get by. But even when things were at their worst - when he couldn't find a friendly sofa, for instance, and found himself sleeping on the train or on a bench in the park - Musiq found a creative way to get himself through the hard times.

"It's crazy," he remembers, "because when I look at my life now, I realize it was pretty bad back then, but I didn't look at it like that. You can call it wishful thinking or you can call it neurotic, I don't know and I don't care, but I knew that it was all just a movie and I was just going through the part of the movie where I was down. You couldn't tell me different; I just knew. That's how I chose to look at it."

But even at the worst of times, there was always music. He remembers playing dresser-piano and air guitar when he was a kid, and singing along to his father's Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway records before he really knew what they meant. But then he realized that "I can sing. I just looked at it as something I could do and something I wanted to get better at and something I could get attention from."

So much attention, in fact, that the thing he loved - the thing he was known for when he was gigging around Philly and hanging out with other musicians - became his actual name: Musiq. "There were people who knew of me but didn't really know me; they just knew me as 'that music dude.' So after getting that so much, I was like 'Just call me Musiq.' It was so fresh to me because if I had to be called anything, I would have wanted to be called Music. That's how much I dug it; when you see me, I want you to automatically think of music." And the Soulchild? "Musiq Soulchild is technically two ideas. 'Musiq' is the front man and 'Soulchild' is the idea behind it. It's basically me as an artist in this generation, representing the traditions and the legacies of the past soul stars."

Legacy: The best artists understand it, cherish it, revel in the possibilities of adding their own struggles and voice to the continuing legacy and love of music that defines what caresses the ears of the world. Musiq Soulchild - whose new CD contains lyrics that get right to the heart of that legacy ("Show me the way to surrender my heart... Teach me how to love") - understands that idea more than most. Music, for Musiq, is salvation, love, mystery, community, life. And he appreciates his position within it.

"I have to lead by example," he says. "So many artists bitch and complain, but I'm like, 'Dude, what are you doing to contribute to the change?' I'm manning up and contributing to the change. And hopefully I will inspire enough people who are willing to help contribute to the change. The change I'm trying to contribute to is about things going back to how they used to be - not just because stuff was great then, but so that we can take it to another level, in the present as well as the future."

* * * * * *

Inspired by such icons as Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and Ray Charles, Musiq made a blockbuster debut right out of the gate with 2000's acclaimed "AIJUSWANASEING." Fueled by the breakthrough singles, "Just Friends (Sunny)" and "Love," the album went on to earn RIAA platinum for sales exceeding 1 million. In addition, Musiq was honored with a number of awards, including Billboard Music Awards for "Best New Artist," "Top R&B Artist," "Top R&B Male," and "Top R&B Single" (for "Love"); the Soul Train Music Award for "Best R&B/Soul Single" (for "Love"); and the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Award for "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song" (for "Love"). Further nominations came from the Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, The Source Awards, BET Awards, and NAACP Awards.

In May 2002, Musiq unveiled his second album, "JUSLISEN," which entered both the Billboard 200 and Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" chart at #1. The collection, which featured a pair of hits in "Dontchange" and "Halfcrazy," was soon certified RIAA platinum and again earned Musiq a variety of prestigious awards. Among the trophies were Soul Train Awards for "Best R&B/Soul Album" and "Best R&B/Soul Single" (for "Dontchange"); an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Award for "Award Winning Song" (for "Dontchange"); and a BMI "Urban" Award (for "Halfcrazy"). What's more, Musiq received nominations from the Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, BET Awards, NAACP Awards, and Billboard Music Awards.

"SOULSTAR," Musiq's third album, arrived one short year later and he was once again greeted with both critical and popular success. Hailed as one of the year's finest collections of contemporary R&B, the album featured two radio smashes, "Forthenight" and "Whoknows." The winner of the Soul Train Awards' "Best R&B/Soul Album," "SOULSTAR" also reaped nods from the Grammy Awards and BET Awards.

In addition to the many honors he has received for his solo albums, Musiq also scored a 2004 Grammy Award nomination in the "Best Urban Alternative Performance" category, acknowledging his take on the classic "Are You Experienced?," found on the "POWER OF SOUL: A TRIBUTE TO JIMI HENDRIX" collection. Other extracurricular efforts include contributing guest vocals to the Roots' "Break You Off" (found on 2002's "PHRENOLOGY") and Carlos Santana's 2002 "SHAMEN."

And now, with "LUVANMUSIQ," the evolution continues...

http://www.atlanticrecords.com/musiqsoulchild

Pretty Ricky-"Cuddle Up" New Single Video & Interviews

2008-06-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

Maino- "Hi Hater" Video

2008-05-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

www.atlanticrecords.com/maino
www.neworleansstreet.blogspot.com

Rolling Stone: "Breaking Artist to Watch: Estelle"

2008-05-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

Breaking Artist to Watch: Estelle
November 21, 2007 12:34 PM

WHO Talk about a self-made star: British singer-rapper Estelle spent her childhood "flipping secular music to gospel" with her eight siblings. "We'd take Brandy's 'Best Friend' and make it about God being your best friend," says the twenty-seven-year-old West London native, born Estelle Swaray. Years later, she took a job at a London record shop frequented by stars like Talib Kweli, and started making her own rap albums. But local labels were baffled by her unique style. "That's been the story of my career," Estelle says, sighing. " 'We don't know what to do with you because it's not been done before.' So I just do it myself."

SOUND Estelle started a label, released mix tapes and approached a pre-College Dropout Kanye West cold after spotting him outside Roscoe's House of Chicken 'n Waffles in Los Angeles. Kanye hooked her up with John Legend, and the two R&B singers hit it off at a studio the next day, and later collaborated on The 18th Day, her debut full-length, which got play nearly everywhere but the States. Together, Legend and Estelle also prepped her forthcoming album, Shine, the first release on Legend's Homeschool Records. Kanye, Mark Ronson, Swizz Beatz and Cee-Lo make cameos on the disc, which swings with the boogie funk of "American Boy" and reggae-rooted tracks like "Magnificent."

REMINDS ME OF . . . When Estelle jumps from singing the hook of the Will.i.am-produced soul-hop single, "Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)," into a laid-back but feisty rap, it's nearly impossible not to mouth the words "Lauryn Hill" — even Wyclef Jean says Estelle's an artistic dead ringer for the Fugee. But Legend says his protégé holds her own creatively. "I think because she's West African and West Indian and British, that unique blend comes through in the eclectic nature of the album," he says.

Cementing that point, Estelle reveals, "Freddie Mercury is my dude, and I loved Guns n' Roses, Aerosmith and Duran Duran." And if that sounds like a strange combination of influences to you, she doesn't really mind. "Love me or hate me, who gives a damn?" she says with a laugh. "I'm a real chick."

>> Watch every episode of our weekly New Breaking Artist video podcast by subscribing via iTunes (when prompted, click "Launch application"). Every Wednesday, an exclusive video profile of an emerging artist will be delivered to your iTunes. [If you don't have iTunes, download it here.]

http://www.rollingstone.com/blogs/breaking/2007/11/breaking-artist-to-watch-estel.php

Plies Set to Release Sophmore Album!

2008-05-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic recording artist Plies has announced early details of his hugely anticipated new album, entitled “DEFINITION OF REAL.” The collection – which features the buzz track, “Bust It Baby, Pt. 1,” and his first official single, “Bust It Baby, Pt. 2” ft. Ne-Yo – arrives in stores and at online retailers on June 24th.

Plies is currently featured on the cover of Don Diva Magazine, heralding their partnership on the upcoming “Plies/Don Diva Prison Tour.” Further details of Plies’ historic pairing with the “Original Street Bible” will be announced shortly. For up-to-the-minute news and information, visit www.pliesworld.com.

www.atlanticrecords.com/plies

Lupe Fiasco Performs "The Coolest" in New Orleans

2008-05-14T16:17:00.000-07:00

www.neworleansfiasco.blogspot.com
www.atlanticrecords.com/lupefiasco
www.myspace.com/atlantic504

About Big Kuntry King

2008-05-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

While the P$C's (Pimp Squad Clique) T.I. reigns as the self-proclaimed King of the South, it would be easy to call Big Kuntry King The Prince." But according to him, he already occupies a totally different position in a separate hierarchy. "Thats [T.I.s] thing," says Kuntry. "Im a muthafuckin Mobster."

Some dedicated P$C followers already know him as the husky brother featured on T.I.s street anthem "Heavy Chevys,"(Im Serious) while others simply know him as the voice behind P$C's "I'm A King". He is an instantly recognizable figure, but, he says, Its not about fame, its about letting the country hear my voice. I just try to keep it up and be consistent. Consistency and all-around grinding are qualities that are promoted to the max in the P$C and the offices of their record label, Grand Hustle. Big Kuntry has relentlessly pounded the pavement with a wave of freestyles and songs popping up on DJ Dramas Gangsta Grillz, Atlanta radio stations, and his own independent mixtape effort My Turn to Eat. I do three songs a day,"says the Atlanta,GA (Born in Charleston,S.C.) native. Im always in the studio."

As for his first official album, Kuntry plans to stick it out independently so the dollars will make sense. "'Still Kuntry' and Throwback have both been on the radio, Now currently playing is Old Skool and Yeah, Who else can get to song on the radio at one time? See I'm ready to bring my tracksheet to [major] labels, and see whos ready to brake bread. But Im sticking with Grand Hustle, 'cause that's where the real papers gonna be."

Maino- "Hi Haters"- Walk through Atlantic Office

2008-05-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

Shout out to the whole Atlantic Records staff, I see ya'll getting your shine on in the video! Big shout outs to Frank, running things up there in the NY! Tell all our haters I said "Hi".

Maino is a beast... if ya'll don't know, you better call somebody!

www.atlanticrecords.com/maino

T.I.- "No Matter What" Video and Lyrics

2008-05-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

LYRICS
Never have you seen in ya lifetime
a more divine southern rapper with a swagga like mine
Facin all kinda time but smile like I'm fine
brag with such passion and shine without tryin
believe me, pains a small thing to a giant
I was born without a dime, out the gutter i climbed
Spoke my mind and didn't stutter one time
Ali said even the greatest gotta suffer sometime
so i huff and puff rhymes, lyrics so sick wit it
set the standards in Atlanta to get get get it
so you up and coming rappers wanna diss, just kill it
I'm officially the realest, point blank, period
whether i still live in the hood or just visit
Whatever you can do in the hood i done did it
that's why the dope boys and the misfits feel it
this still the city long as tip live it, listen

I ain't dead (nah) I ain't done(nah)
i ain't scared(of what), I ain't run(from what)
still I stand (yeah)
no matter what VA here I am
I ain't break(never), I ain't fold(never)
they hate me more(so?)
yeah I know
but there I go
no matter what shortie, here I go
no matter what shortie
You let the blog sites and the magazines tell it
I'm showed to b jail until 2027
rather see me in the cell then
instead of this new McLaruen
God will take you to hell, just to get you to heaven
so even tho it's heavy, the load i will carry
?grands is still buried, wayen is still sharin?
apologies to the fans, i hope you can understand it
like a change in direction, even when you ain't planned it
All you can do it handle it, worst thing you can do is panic
Use it to your advantage, avoid insanity matters
to conquer, every obstacle, make impossible possible
Even when winning illogical, losing is still far from optional
yeah they wanna see you shot up in the hospital
but, one life like punches, block the counter like a boxer do
been locked inside this casa too long, i did a song
to make it known that the king lives on

I ain't dead (nah) I ain't done(nah)
I ain't scared(of what), I ain't run(from what)
still I stand (yeah)
no matter what VA here I am
I ain't break(never), I ain't fold(never)
they hate me more(so?)
yeah I know
but there I go
no matter what shortie, here I go
no matter what shortie

Even the solitude, that still know how to do
i show you how to do, what you do, you ain't gotta clue
all you do is follow dudes, sound like a lotta dudes
ill weather whatever storm, make it out without a bruise
I understand why, now when my hands tied
They take shots cause if I'm out it's a landslide
but revenge is best served as a cold dish
and suckas will get served better know this
guess it was understood, for me it was over with
but i don't quit, if you ain't noticed yet
they couldn't wait to say goodnight shorty
so they can try to rhyme, act and look like shorty
go get a beat from toomp, and make a hook like shorty
before ya know it I'm back what it look like shorty
I lost my partner and my daughter in the same year
somehow I rise above my problems and remain here
yeah, and I hope the picture painted clear
if your hearts fill with faith then you cant fear
wonder how i face years and I'm still chillin
[732 stand up]
easy, let go and let god deal with it, ya dig

I ain't dead (nah) I ain't done(nah)
I ain't scared(of what), I ain't run(from what)
still I stand (yeah)
No matter what VA here I am
i ain't break(never), I ain't fold(never)
they hate me more(so?)
yeah I know
but there I go
no matter what shortie, here I go
no matter what shortie

#62 - Most Discussed (This Week)
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DAMN!

Lupe Fiasco- "Hip-Hop Saved Me" ft. Nikki Jean VIDEO

2008-05-14T16:05:00.000-07:00

LYRICS
(feat. Nikki Jean)

[Lupe speaking]
Dedicate dedicate
Uh this one right here goes out
To my homie with the drink
Know what I mean

He said I right what I see
Write to make it right
Don't like where I be
I like to make it like
The sights on tv
Quite the great life
So nice and easy
See now you can still die from that
But it's better than not being alive from straps
Agreed
A mead notebook and a bit that click
When it's pushed and a wack (echo) beat
That's a track that's weak
That he got last week
Cuz everybody in the stu?
Was like that's that heat
A base heavy medly with a sample from the 70s
With a screwed up hook that went
STACK THAT CHEESE
Something somethin somethin
STACK THAT CHEESE
Mother sister cousin
STACK THAT CHEESE
He couldnt think of nothin
STACK THAT CHEESE
He turns down the beat writers block impedes
Crying from the next room a baby in need
Of some pampers and some food and a place to sleep
That plus a black cadillac on D's
Is what keep him on track to be a great MC

[Chorus: Nikki Jean]
One you never heard of
I push it hard to further the
Grind I feel like murder but
Hip Hop just saved me

One you never heard of
I push it hard to further the
Grind I feel like murder but
Hip Hop just saved my life

Reps Northside so he rocks them braids
Eleven hundred friends on his myspace page
Stack that cheese got seven hundred plays
Producer made him take it down
Said he had to pay
Open mic champ 2 weeks in a row
Ex dboy with a bboy flow
Glow like leroy you should see boy go
Got a daddy servin life and a brother on The Row
Best homie in the grave
Tatted up while in the cage
Minutemaid got his momma work like a slave
Down baby momma who he really had to honor
Cuz she was his biggest fan
Even let him use the honda
Drive up to dallas went to open up for amatuers
Let him keep her debit card
So he could put gas in it
Told her when he get on
He gon take her to the gallery
Buy up everything but the mannequins ya dig

[Chorus: Nikki Jean]
One you never heard of
I push it hard to further the
Grind I feel like murder but
Hip Hop just saved me

One you never heard of
I push it hard to further the
Grind I feel like murder but
Hip Hop just saved my life

His man called said "your time might be now"
They played your freestlye over "Wipe me down"
They played it two times
Said it might be crowned
As the best thing out the H-TOWN in a while
He pickd up his son with a great big smile
Rapped every single word to the newborn child
Then he put em down and went back to the kitchen
Put on another beat and got back to the mission
Of get his momma out the hood
Put her somewhere in the woods
Keep his lady lookin good
Have her rolling like she should
Show his homies it's a way
Other than that flippin Yay
Bail his homie outta jail
Put a lawyer on his case
Throw a concert for the school
Show this that's it cool
Throw some candy on the cadi
Chuck the duece and act a fool
Man it feels good when it happens like that
Two days from goin back... yessir

[Chorus: Nikki Jean]
One you never heard of
I push it hard to further the
Grind I feel like murder but
Hip Hop just saved me

One you never heard of
I push it hard to further the
Grind I feel like murder but
Hip Hop just saved my life
[Repeat 3x]

Hip Hop just saved my life [2X]

Real Talk with PLIES #5 - Street Tides

2008-05-14T13:17:00.000-07:00

Tune in each week, as we bring you, the second installment of the PLIES "Real Talk" series. Get to know PLIES, as he shares his views on a range of topics including the NEW album, what it means to "Be Real," "Bust It Babies," and his brother, BIG GATES.

Check back in every Tuesday, through May 27th, for a new topic to be revealed.

Brought to you by your #1 Certified Goon!

Big Kuntry King Feat Trey Songz - Da Baddest (Grand Hustle)

2008-05-02T03:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.skylinemixtapes.com For More Hip Hop Like This - Big Kuntry King Feat Trey Songz - Da Baddest (Produced By Shawty Red)

Tracklisting

1. Big Kuntry King - Cops And Robbers
2. Big Kuntry King - Forgot 2 Put The Album Out (Prod. By Marvelous J)
3. Big Kuntry King - Da Unda Boss Speaks
4. Big Kuntry King - The Mobb (Prod. By Nard And B)
5. Big Kuntry King - How I Do (Feat. Macboney) (Prod. By Nard And B)
6. Big Kuntry King - Straight Thuggin' (Prod. By Nard And B)
7. Big Kuntry King - Steering Wheel (Prod. By Khao)
8. T.I. - Speaks
9. Big Kuntry King - I'ma G (Feat. T.I.) (Prod. By Nard And B)
10. Big Kuntry King - Anthem (Feat. B.G. And Twista) (Prod. By Nard And B)
11. Big Kuntry King - Crazy (Prod. By 2-Tall)
12. Big Kuntry King - Swagger (Feat. Shawty Lo) (Prod. By Nard And B)
13. Big Kuntry King - Da Unda Boss Speaks About New Single (Da Baddest)
14. Big Kuntry King - Da Baddest (Feat. Trey Songz)
15. Big Kuntry King - Sun-Glasses (Feat. Lil 3rd) (Prod. By Nard And B)
16. Big Kuntry King - Killing (Feat. Yung L.A.) (Prod. By Raz)
17. Haitian Fresh - Fast Lane (Feat. Big Kuntry And Rick Ross)
18. Dunk Ryders - Fuck Da Other Side (Remix)
19. Big Kuntry King - Da One (For The Ladies)
20. Big Kuntry King - Da One (Feat. Rashad) (Prod. By Black Mob Group)
21. Big Kuntry King - Mixtape Better Than Album (Interlude)
22. Big Kuntry King - How We Rocking (Prod. By Keith Mack)
23. Big Kuntry King - Gangsta Life (Feat. Governor) (Prod. By Khao)
24. Big Kuntry King - Give It Up (Prod. By Black Mob Group)
25. Big Kuntry King - Drugs Changed Everything (Outro)

Flo Rida Interview on ArtistDirect.com!

2008-05-02T02:49:00.000-07:00

Interview
Flo Rida
Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:18:57

You knock on enough doors and eventually someone has to let you in. Flo Rida, the newest edition to Florida's rap high council, should know. Early in his career, he came out to Los Angeles without a contact to call on and ended up traversing the city, hitting up record labels for a chance to audition on the spot. No one wanted to hear him at the time, but that didn't mean he was going to keep quiet.

After years of perseverance, Atlantic Records finally cracked the door an inch, and he took the opportunity to kick it wide open with his monster first single, "Low." The song, featuring hit-machine T-Pain, spent 11 weeks atop the Billboard 100, and set a new record for digital downloads in a week with over 417,000 copies sold. We sat down with the rapper as his debut album, Mail On Sunday, hit shelves to the delight of fans everywhere. He talked to us about his dirty days hyping for 2 Live Crew, his insatiable drive to succeed and how you can't leave your bags unguarded in a place like Beverly Hills.

The single "Low" is everywhere, even setting records on iTunes. How are you feeling about the success?

I feel really unbelievable right now, like I’m dreaming. With all the grinding that I put in and the hard work, I expected something to happen, but I didn’t know it would be to this magnitude.

Some rappers will never see numbers like you’ve got, and this is just your first outing. That’s crazy.

It’s a blessing, and I thank God for it everyday.

This definitely isn’t an overnight success story. You’ve definitely been on your grind for a while. I read that you used to run with 2 Live Crew back in the day. What was that like, and how old were you?

That was a situation where my group Groundhogz opened up for Scarface, and someone who was down with Fresh Kid Ice saw me perform. They were going over to Hawaii and they needed a hype man, so that was one of my first big gigs. From that point one, he would call me to hype for them on tours.

What were those tours like? I can only imagine.

I’d be up there and the ladies would damn near be trying to perform oral sex on me [laughs]. It was crazy, man.

Sounds crazy to me. When did you first link up with Groundhogz?

When I was around 8th, going into the 9th grade. I had another dude I was rapping with at the time but he went off to college. I got with Groundhogz cause a couple of us were working on the same projects. So one day, I just auditioned for them and they made me part of the family. From that point on we’ve been doing our thing.

You moved out to California at one point in your career. What prompted that move?

My first time out to Cali was me chasing the Hollywood dream. I went out there to the Beverly Center thinking that no one would take my bag off of the bus bench, cause it was Beverly Hills. Thing was, the police confiscated the bag cause they thought it was a bomb. Then I went over to Death Row, but they weren’t taking auditions at the time. So I went to different record labels out there, and ended up being on the streets for a couple of days. But the second time I went to LA, it was a situation where one of the guys in my group was cousins with a guitar player in the Blind Boys of Alabama. He knew Devante, so we got a demo together and he gave it to Devante when they were writing together. Devante loved the demo and called me one day when I was at home just writing on the couch. He was like, “I want you to come out here. I love your music, and I want to sign you.” The next day, I went out there and I stayed for three years with him. With Devante’s work ethic and his creativity, I learned a lot of things from him. When I came down to Miami to get a deal, it was a situation where my manager said that different A&Rs were coming in the building for Rick Ross, but heard my stuff and wanted to put a face with my demo. At first I was hesitant to leave Cali cause I thought I was close to getting a deal out there, but I came back home and four months later I had a deal with Atlantic.

It’s not a guarantee that you’ll ever make it in this business. Was you’re family always 100% behind you?

Most definitely.

What is it down in Miami that’s got it popping off with so many artists right now?
What you do in the dark, has to come to the light. We’ve been grinding the whole time, it’s just that one person got to shine, and we let it carry on from there. We call it "the movement." We’re just showing each other love and continuing to be creative artists.

I talked to Pitbull a little while back and he said the same thing about the Florida movement. Everybody just gives each other props.

You get out what you put in, and love is stronger than hate. You feel me?

Your flow definitely has a lot of harmony to it. How did you develop your style?

Growing up, my Dad sang, and played different instruments. My sister had a little gospel group too. I can’t sing, but I know how to harmonize. I might rhyme a little hard, but I still put that melodic feel behind it. I’ve been inspired by people like Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin. Plus rappers like Nelly and Andre 3000. I’m trying to bring every element to my music, so I’ll have a universal feel.

Speaking of artists that inspired you, don’t you have a Jimmy Hendrix tattoo on your arm?
Yeah. My brother listened to dudes like Otis Redding and Jimmy Hendrix. Jimmy stood out to me—the way he played the guitar left-handed. With my music, I wanted it to come from left field and still have people understand it. Plus, he burned guitars, so I try to be very entertaining when I’m on stage. His whole persona just stood out to me. I didn’t really want to get tattoos, than one day when I decided it was time, I wanted to get something very creative that was clever.

Who did you get a chance with to work with on the album?

We’ve got Timbaland for the next single. Weezy, Yung Joc, Rick Ross the Boss are on it too. It’s gonna be a classic album!

That’s some serious heat backing you up. Anything you want to say to the fans?

I want to say thanks to the fans for making me #1 in all the categories that I am. Without them it wouldn’t be possible.

—Chas Reynolds
03.20.08

source: http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,4608421,00.html

**************************************************************
NEW FLO RIDA VIDEO feat. Will.i.am & Fergie - In The Ayer [OFFICIAL]

Plies "Who's Hotter" Turns Up the Heat @ Hookah w/ DJ EF Cuttin!

2008-05-02T02:36:00.001-07:00

DJ EF Cuttin keeps the party live every saturday night at the Hookah Bar on Frenchman St, New Orleans, LA.

PLIES WHOS HOTTER THAN ME VIDEO

2008-05-02T02:33:00.001-07:00

PLIES NEW ALBUM "DEFINITION OF REAL" IN STORES 6/10/08!!!!

Estelle Album Review on AllHipHop.com!

2008-04-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Reyes

It’s John Legend’s protégé! In the context of music today, some might say it took him a little long to give all-due shine to Estelle, who co-wrote on Once Again.

English-native Estelle can now join the English-female artist invasion that was headed by Winehouse and Lily Allen.

The buzz around Estelle revolved heavily on Lauryn Hill comparisons because of her rapping/singing abilities. With the dropping of Shine, the comparison can come to a screeching halt.

Less Lauryn Hill and more Lily Allen singing and of Natalie Stewart (former Floetry member) rapping can sum up the vocal familiarity in Estelle.

Shine has on board the typical array of writers, producers and features you would expect from a new artist with strong backing. Kanye West features on “American Boy” throwing raps over a disco-beat that was a musical track called “Impatient” on Will.I.Am’s solo project.

With a little creativity and signature, Estelle made it into her debut single, and what many know her for. Never has a foreign artist’s commitment to woo us Americans been so unconcealed – “…take me to NY, I’d love to see LA.”

Grammy winning John Legend co-writes 9 out of 12 tracks, makes a couple of audible backing vocals, and a feature with “You Are.” You guessed right, a love song. You wouldn’t be able to guess other wise if it weren’t for the lyrics.

It’s difficult to get any feeling from the songs, as Estelle’s infliction only leads you to believe that she’s singing. It’s still a sultry combination as Estelle and Legend’s tones intertwine coolly.

As the flagship artist for John Legend’s label “Old School Records” Estelle dabbles into very familiar sounds, like the neo-soul “Back In Love” with speak-sing vocals that sound like Jilly from Philly.

“In The Rain” plays with a sample loop that may take you back to last year on Lily Allen’s debut album. If you listen closely, both Lily and Estelle could sing that track. What happened? No duet?

Estelle covers pop/R&B, Hip-Hop, and reggae ground and swings it out of the park when the focus is on reggae.

The Supa Dups produced “Come Over,” the Mark Ronson produced “Magnificent,” “More Than Friends” and “No Substitute Love” (sampling George Michael’s 1988 hit “Faith”) really carves out Estelle’s uniqueness– and the fact that she might have just made an album for the 2008 summer season.

Ultimately, it’s all very English pop with a tad bit of Caribbean zest. For that, kudos are in order for an original combination.

Estelle: Shine Album Review
Published Monday, April 28, 2008 9:00 AM

Web Link:
http://allhiphop.com/stories/alternativesreviews/archive/2008/04/28/19698233.aspx

ESTELLE'S ALBUM, "SHINE", IN STORES APRIL 29TH!!!

FLo Rida: New Orleans On-Line Listening Party on Myspace.com!

2008-03-10T04:13:00.000-07:00

Check out www.myspace.com/atlantic504 to join in on Flo Rida's On-line listening party! Stop by this page for the latest updates, videos and articles about Atlantic Records' Urban artists like Flo Rida, Lupe Fiasco, B.G., Estelle and more!

Flo Rida's album- "Mail On Sunday" Hits Stores March 18th!

T.I. Talks About “American Gangster,” New Album, Jay-Z

2008-03-10T03:57:00.000-07:00

2/19/08, 12:39 pm EST

In American Gangster, Clifford “T.I.” Harris plays Frank Lucas’ nephew, who gives up dreams of being a baseball star after moving from North Carolina to New York to help build Lucas’s drug empire. In real life, T.I. is stuck in Atlanta on house arrest for owning weapons (a violation of the terms of his probation), but he checked in to talk about American Gangster, which comes out in DVD today, and his “eloquent” new album Paper Trail.

RS: Your character in American Gangster is, like you, from the south. Did you feel like you could relate?
T.I.: In some ways I could. I believe that I had an uncle myself that I looked up to as a youngster, but I didn’t intend to follow in his footsteps, you know. And I wasn’t as wild as my character was. I had a little more understanding of the circumstance.

RS: Right. Your uncle was kind of a hustler?
T.I.: Yeah. He did a lot of things (laughter). He wasn’t a Frank Lucas, but he was a Frank Lucas.

RS: Jay-Z said the scene with you and Denzel where you tell him you’re giving up baseball to follow in his footsteps is sort of the one scene that inspired his album. Did that scene make you reflect a lot on you and your uncle?
T.I.: Absolutely. Life experience is one of the most important things for actors to have, to be able to draw from some experience that you have actually been through and apply it to a scene is probably the most valuable thing that you could have as an actor. After that scene, Denzel actually said, ‘Hey man, you know what? You’re a real actor,’ and that kind of give me my wings. That was outstanding.

RS: What did you think of Jay-Z’s interpretation of the film?
T.I.: I’m a Jay-Z fan and I think it was definitely one of his best albums since The Black Album. His best album was definitely The Black Album, and a lot of people were saying Jay couldn’t do it again. They didn’t think that he was capable of making the same music as he did once upon a time. I think that he definitely showed and proved. I’m proud of him.

RS: Did you think about doing music yourself related to the film?
T.I.: I actually reached out to Jay about doing some music for the movie, but I guess he was already a step ahead and getting his album done.

RS: Are you still working on your album?
T.I.: Absolutely. It’s called Paper Trail. It’s going great.

RS: How many tracks do you have done already?
T.I.: I’ve got about thirty-some tracks done, but I’ve got like sixteen that I’m in love with and I’m still working. After you get those sixteen, you try to make sixteen more to top them and you pick the best.

RS: Who have you been working with?
T.I.: I’ve got records with Danja, I’ve got one record so far from DJ Toomp. I’ve got records from Little C and Keith Mack from Grand Hustle Productions, and records from J.R. Rotem and Jay Rock. Quite a few people.

RS: Do you have a sense yet of how this album is going to be different from the last one?
T.I.: I don’t know if I can put into words how it will be different from the last album, but I know you’ll definitely be able to tell the difference. The people who I’ve played it for, they say it reminds them a lot of the earlier albums I’m Serious and Trap Muzik. It’s called Paper Trail because for the first time since my very first album, I’m actually writing the lyrics down, pen and pad, old school style. I used to just listen to the music and go in the booth and rap. And now that I’m writing things down, I think it’s a little more eloquent.

RS: What made you decide to start doing that?
T.I.: People were saying how they missed the old sound, they missed that I’m Serious T.I., so I figured that I would try to tap into that element.

RS: You’re working from your home studios these days, I imagine, you have everything you need there?
T.I.: Absolutely. Man, more than I need.

RS: I imagine you also have enough time to get everything done?
T.I.: Time has never been and issue for me, man. It don’t take all day to do nothing.

Estelle Feat Kanye West - American Boy (Music Video)

2008-03-10T03:55:00.000-07:00

Check out Estelle's "American Boy" video feat. Kanye West

New Gnarls Barkley Video: "Run"

2008-03-10T03:52:00.000-07:00

Check out this new video of Gnarls Barkley's "Run." It's crazy!!!!

FLo Rida: "Mail On Sundays" Hits Stores on March 18th!!!

2008-03-10T03:49:00.000-07:00

FLO RIDA's debut LP "Mail on Sunday" is in stores on March 18th including the hottest single (from Step Up 2: The Streets soundtrack) "Low" feat. T-Pain, and the new single "Elevators" feat. Timberland. Also on the CD is Trey Songz, Lil' Wayne, Rick Ross, Brisco, Yung Joc, Will I. Am., Birdman, and Sean Kingston.

Also, in stores now, Webbie's "Savage Life 2" including the single "Independent" feat. Lil' Boosie and Lil' Phat.

Flo Rida Ties Kanye & Beyonce for 10-Week Single Run

2008-03-06T19:45:00.000-08:00

Flo Rida’s smash single “Low” has landed on top of the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart for the tenth consecutive week, which puts the up and comer in the company as such superstars as Kanye West and Beyonce. The R&B princess was the previous record holder for her single “Irreplaceable,” which enjoyed a 10-week run during 2006 and 2007. Prior to Bey, Yeezy’s ubiquitous 2005 smash “Gold Digger,” with Jamie Foxx, held down the top spot for two and a half months. In related news, Flo may have another smash hit on his hands. His latest single, the Timbaland produced “Elevator,” shot up 72 places on the chart to land at No. 28. The Miami native’s debut album, Mail on Sunday, hits stores on March 18.
--------------------

New Gnarls Barkley video too crazy for MTV!

2008-03-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

New Gnarls Barkley video too crazy for MTV

03/05/2008 4:00 AM, Reuters
Jonathan Cohen

The video for Gnarls Barkley's new single, "Run," may feature a cameo from Justin Timberlake, but it's still not quite ready to air on MTV.

That's because of its strobe effects, which caused the clip to fail the Harding Test -- guidelines established to prevent TV images from triggering epileptic seizures.

However, the video is available on various online outlets, and Gnarls Barkley member Danger Mouse was hopeful the situation could be resolved shortly.

"I don't know exactly what's going on, but we're having issues. I think (the video) is cool. It works for me. But I'm not necessarily that easily seasick," he told Billboard.com. "We can't predict how people are going to interpret it."

"Run" centers around the fictional public access TV show "City Vibin"' and is set in the early '90s. Timberlake appears as the host of the program, on which Danger Mouse and fellow Gnarls Barkley principal Cee-Lo then perform the track.

With its new album, "The Odd Couple," nearing its April 8 release date, Gnarls Barkley are about to shoot a video for the second single, "Who's Gonna Save My Soul."

The group is also rehearsing for summer tour dates, which include a July 27 show at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl and both U.S. and European festivals.

"We didn't plan last time to do a whole bunch, and we don't plan to do a whole bunch this time, but you just never know how it's going to feel until you go out there," Danger Mouse said.
--------------------

WEBBIE AOL PREMIERE OF I MISS YOU

2008-03-06T18:08:00.000-08:00

Check out this link for the new video!

WEBBIE: I MISS YOU VIDEO PREMIERE!

Mail on Sunday: Flo Rida Tour In Your Area

2008-02-24T23:26:00.000-08:00

Flo Rida:

Flo Rida is coming through your area on a promotional tour for his new album, Mail on Sunday.

Popular Singles: Low ft. TPain, Elevator ft. Timbaland

Upcoming Shows
( view all )

Feb 24 2008
8:00P

WQUE

New Orleans, Louisiana

Feb 25 2008

8:00P

TBA

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Feb 26 2008

8:00P

TBA

Houston, Texas

Feb 27 2008

8:00P

TBA

San Antonio, Texas

Feb 28 2008

8:00P

TBA

Austin, Texas

Feb 29 2008

8:00P

TBA

Dallas, Texas

Mar 1 2008

8:00P

TBA

Meridian, Mississippi

Mar 2 2008

8:00P

Dj Nasty’s Birthday Bash

Orlando, Florida

Mar 17 2008

8:00P

TBA

New York, New York

Mar 22 2008

LUPE FIASCO SCORES GRAMMY GOLD

2008-02-11T16:46:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 11, 2008

LUPE FIASCO SCORES GRAMMY GOLD;
"SUPERSTAR" MC'S "DAYDREAMIN'" HONORED AS
2007'S "BEST URBAN ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE";
"THE COOL" CONTINUES TO REIGN AS AMERICA'S #1 RAP ALBUM,
WHILE "SUPERSTAR" ROCKETS UP THE AIRPLAY CHARTS

1st & 15th/Atlantic recording artist Lupe Fiasco earned his first-ever Grammy Award on Sunday, bringing home the "Best Urban Alternative Performance" trophy for last year's hit single, "Daydreamin' (Feat. Jill Scott)." The Grammy triumph further establishes Lupe's elevation to the upper echelon of hip-hop stardom. The Chicago-based MC's second album, "LUPE FIASCO'S THE COOL," debuted on Billboard's "Top Rap Albums" chart at #1 upon its December 2007 release, and has remained in the peak position for what is now seven consecutive weeks.
"Superstar (Feat. Matthew Santos)," the album's first single/video, is currently exploding across the board, climbing 11 spots to #25 on this week's Billboard "Hot 100." The track is now a top 5 sensation on the "Hot Rap Tracks" ranking, while still ascending a variety of other charts, including "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" and "Hot Digital Songs."
"Superstar" is also lighting it up at radio, where it has just hit the top 10 at Rhythmic outlets nationwide, while also scoring the week's "Most Increased Plays" at Urban, placing it at #20 with-a-bullet on the latest airplay tally. In addition, the single is proving a true crossover smash, bursting onto the current CHR/Top 40 chart as the week's #4 "Most Added" track, with serious play at such influential pop outlets as New York's Z100 and Los Angeles' KIIS-FM.
This week sees Lupe starring as the featured artist on MTV's 52 Bands, a special segment that highlights one new act per week, throughout the year. Furthermore, the "Superstar" companion video - directed by the great Hype Williams - is a top 10 clip at both MTV and Fuse, while also drawing major play at MTV2, mtvU, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, MTV TR3S, VH1 Soul, the N, and Music Choice. In addition, "Superstar" is in "Heavy" rotation on BET's Rap City, as well as in "Medium" rotation on the network's overall playlist.
What's more, Lupe has been all over TV in recent weeks, performing live on CBS' Late Show with David Letterman, CBS' Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, PBS' Tavis Smiley, MTV's TRL, and the syndicated Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Unquestionably among hip-hop's most electrifying and active live performers, Lupe has just been unveiled as one of the performers set to rock Manchester, Tennessee at the upcoming Bonnaroo Music festival, slated for Friday, June 13th. The MC - who recently closed out a series of sold out concert dates in such major markets as Seattle, San Francisco, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington DC, and New York City - is currently planning a number of eagerly awaited concerts at some of America's finest institutions of higher learning, including Yale University, Brown University, Ohio State University, and others (see attached itinerary).
Full details of all upcoming appearances can be found at Lupe's official MySpace page, www.myspace.com/lupefiasco. One of MySpace's top 10 current artists, Lupe maintains a vibrant online presence, including his own LupeFiasco.com (recently updated with a wide range of interactive features such as "THE COOLest" video game). Also, Lupe's very own YouTube channel - located at www.youtube.com/lupefiasco - has logged over one million plays, with videos including "Superstar" and the banging street anthem, "Dumb It Down."
* * * * *
Lupe Fiasco has quickly established himself as among the most compelling and creative artists of the era, offering a rare combination of complex, thought-provoking lyricism coupled with sure-fire beats. "LUPE FIASCO'S THE COOL" sees the critically acclaimed rapper following up on 2006's breakthrough debut, "LUPE FIASCO'S FOOD & LIQUOR," by kicking and pushing against the boundaries of modern hip-hip. Loosely structured as a multi-character concept album detailing the "damaging influences' and 'corrupt allure" of post-millennial Urban America, the set features such special guests as the one-and-only Snoop Dogg, with diverse and inventive production from Soundtrakk, UNKLE, Chris & Drop, and Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump.
The MC first made himself known with his featured appearance on Kanye West's hit single, "Touch The Sky," followed by the anthemic hit single, "Kick, Push." As a result, "LUPE FIASCO'S FOOD & LIQUOR" debuted on Billboard's "Top Rap Albums" chart at #1 upon its September 2006 release, while also entering the Billboard 200 at #8.
The 25-year-old rapper soon proved to be the year's biggest hip-hop breakthrough, garnering a trio of 2006 Grammy Award nominations, including "Best Rap Album," "Best Rap Song," and "Best Rap Solo Performance." Other honors include his being named one of Rolling Stone's "10 Artists To Watch 2006" as well as GQ's 2006 "Breakout Man of the Year, "not to mention an array of nominations from the BET Hip Hop Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, the mtvU Woodie Awards, and the Soul Train Music Awards.
"LUPE FIASCO'S THE COOL" drew instant critical acclaim upon its December release, coming in at #10 on Entertainment Weekly's "The Best" list for 2007 - no mean feat considering the album was released with just two weeks left in the year. The album "recalls (Kanye) West's pop versatility and positive flair," EW declared, adding "Fiasco seem ready to join his former mentors in the big leagues." The New York Times was equally effusive, calling "LUPE FIASCO'S THE COOL" "one of the year's best hip-hop albums." USA Today awarded the album four stars, praising it as "a 19-track gem that showcases (Fiasco's) intricate wordplay on everything from the rap industry and celebrity life to gun-toting youth and sexual violence."
Online outlets were also quick to commend the collection, with Pitchfork giving it an 8.1 rating, declaring it "sprawling, grandiose." "Lupe Fiasco is undoubtedly one of 'The Coolest' rappers to come along in the last ten years," noted RapReviews.com in a 10-out-of-10 rave. HipHopDX.com rated "LUPE FIASCO'S THE COOL" 4.5-out-of-5 Xs, pointing out that the set "proves that 'FOOD & LIQUIOR" was no accident and it's quite possible that the best has yet to come." "Lupe demonstrates an innate virtuosity in his brainy approach to an often over simplified craft," hailed AllHipHop.com in its 8-out-of-10 starred review, while Yo! Raps awarded the album 5-out-of-5 stars, explaining that it "has pushed the genre of hip hop music into a place where no emcee or artist will be able to lead hip hop into for awhile."
Among Lupe's biggest fans are hip-hop's best and brightest stars, including Jay-Z, who told Blender that, "I love Lupe. He's a genius writer." What's more, the legendary Rakim - without question one of rap's all-time greatest talents - recently named Lupe as his favorite current MC, explaining that "there's still a lot of artists and a lot of songs out there that's good for you and still sound like that real hip-hop. The positive rap doesn't get as much coverage as the negative rap, but people (like Lupe Fiasco) are trying to get back around to the lyrical stuff."
For more information, please visit www.myspace.com/lupefiasco, www.lupefiasco.com and http://lupefiasco.imeem.com.

(TOUR ITINERARY ATTACHED)

LUPE FIASCO
On Tour 2008

FEBRUARY
26 Valencia, CA Occidental College

MARCH
1 New Haven, CT Yale University
25 Fredricksburg, VA Great Hall
29 Pittsburgh, PA University of Pittsburgh

APRIL
9 Ferrum, VA Ferrum College
10 Philadelphia, PA St. Joseph's University
11 Providence, RI Brown University

JUNE
13 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music Festival

ADDITIONAL DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED

# # #

Estelle Bio

2008-02-01T13:50:00.001-08:00

The UK's finest, multiple award-winning artist Estelle is back with 'Shine' - her stunning new album, set for release in February 2008. The first artist signed by US soul sensation John Legend, to his new Homeschool Records label, Estelle's new album features collaborations with Wyclef Jean, will.i.am, Swizz Beats, Mark Ronson and Kanye West, as well as a beautiful duet with John Legend. 'Shine' is a joint venture with Homeschool and Atlantic Records.

"I have known John for a while now...We worked on my first album '18th Day' before he was signed. He featured on 'Hey Girl', played piano on 'Free', and appeared in the video. As I went to do my second album I asked him to help exec-produce it. As I progressed with it, I left my label and he said he'd sign me… and here we are today! We always make great songs together. While I like and listen to a lot of musicians - there aren't many that I respect on a level to help me write songs or upgrade/push me as an artist… but John is one of them."

John Legend continues: “I'm thrilled to be a part of Estelle's career. This album is truly an accomplishment. She will be one of the most of exciting breakthrough talents of 2008. Mark my words."

http://www.atlanticrecords.com/estelle

CHECK OUT MISSY ELLIOTT ON MTV and BET on Monday, Feb 4th!

2008-02-01T11:40:00.000-08:00

B.G. on XXL Video Chopper City / Grand Hustle Records

2008-02-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

B Gizzle's Live Performance from the T.I. & Friends Concert

2008-02-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

B Gizzle's live performance from the T.I. & Friends concert.

2008-02-01T11:25:00.000-08:00

TUNE IN FOR THE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE DRAMA QUEEN, AND B.G.(THE ORINIGAL HOTTBOY) AS HE EXPLAINS HOW HE TURNED FROM A HOTT BOY TO A HOTT MAN, IS NEW ALBUM,POSSIBLE FEATURE WITH LIL WAYNE, HOW T.I. IS AS AN EXECUTIVE,AND HOW HE REALLY FEELS ABOUT BABY(BIRDMAN)

B.G.'s NEW ALBUM "TOO HOOD FOR HOLLYWOOD" COMING SOON!

B.G. "For A Minute" Video

2008-02-01T11:16:00.000-08:00

BG's hot 1st video from the highly anticipated Chopper City Records/Atlantic Records upcoming release "Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood"!

This video shows the essence of New Orleans and will be proof to Hoods across America that B.G., The #1 Original Hot Boy, still reigns as The Heart of Tha Streetz!!!

The street banga "For A Minute" features T.I. and is produced by Scott Storch.

New Missy Video "Ching-A-Ling" Premieres on February 4th!

2008-02-01T05:42:00.000-08:00

Gucci Mane, T.I., Plies, Saigon & Drama on MTV.com Best of 2007

2008-02-01T03:40:00.000-08:00

Mixtape Monday: Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Gucci Mane And More Make Our Best Of 2007

— Shaheem Reid and Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes

This year will go down in history as the year the mixtape game changed forever.

As melodramatic as that sounds, the two-double-oh-seven began with a bang louder than any bomb Funkmaster Flex could drop: On January 16, the underground industry's biggest star, DJ Drama, was arrested along with his partner, Don Cannon, after the Feds raided their Atlanta office in conjunction with the Recording Industry Association of America. The pair were brought up on felony racketeering charges after police seized more than 50,000 CDs containing unauthorized recordings. The entire hip-hop community — fans, artists and executives alike — was rattled by the news, and the mixtape market was momentarily brought to a standstill. It's hard to believe that almost a year later, Drama hasn't even been indicted on the charges.

But the past 365 days weren't all dark for the rap world. In the aftermath of Drama's bust, DJs and artists embraced technology more than ever by transmitting their music directly to their fans via MySpace and their personal Web sites. As a result, record labels, bootleggers and distributors were left out of the equation, and the relationship between artists and fans was never purer. The proof was in the unfiltered, unadulterated and unpredictable hip-hop that was produced. No MC benefited more from this new, streamlined process than Lil Wayne. Crowned the Hottest MC in the Game by the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust back in July, Weezy delivered to the Net a flood even Moses would have had a hard time navigating. Every week (at times, it seemed, every day) the Cash Money star had a new, buzzworthy mixtape being pumped out of computer speakers.

That Wayne was from New Orleans only cemented (once again) the South's takeover of hip-hop. The usual New York mainstays have been missing from our Mixtape Monday list more than ever. Rappers like Gucci Mane and Rick Ross are now the big dogs in the circuit. The Big Apple still made noise courtesy of Fabolous and 50 Cent. But with independent albums selling as many units as major-label projects, while once-Internet-only videos are making it into MTV rotation, the mixtape world is as fluid as ever. Who could have predicted at this time last year that Soulja Boy would be nominated for a Grammy Award?

Here, however, your trusted Mixtape Monday crew (Shaheem Reid, Jayson Rodriguez and Rahman Dukes) delivers the recognition that really matters. From the top new jacks to the biggest tracks to the top online videos of 2007, chances are we told you about 'em first. These are our picks for the best of the year.

Mixtapes of the Year
Lil Wayne - Da Drought 3
DJ Whoo Kid and 50 Cent - G-Unit Radio, Part 25: Sabrina's Baby Boy
Saigon - Just Blaze Presents: The Moral of the Story
Kanye West - Can't Tell Me Nothing
Mister Cee - The Best of Biggie: 10th Anniversary Mixtape

Mixtape Artists of the Year
Lil Wayne
Gucci Mane
Rick Ross
Styles P
Saigon

Bangers
50 Cent - "I Get Money"
Kanye West - "Can't Tell Me Nothing"
Kanye West (featuring Lil Wayne) - "Barry Bonds"
Swizz Beatz (featuring Lil Wayne and R. Kelly) - "It's Me Bitches" remix
Foxx (featuring Lil Boosie and Webbie) - "Wipe Me Down"
Playaz Circle (featuring Lil Wayne) - "Duffle Bag Boy"
Gucci Mane (featuring Ludacris and Lil' Kim) - "Freaky Gurl" remix
Cassidy (featuring Swizz Beatz) - "My Drink N' My 2 Step"
Fat Joe (featuring R. Kelly, Lil Wayne, Birdman, T.I., Rick Ross and Ace Mack) - "Make It Rain" remix
U.S.D.A. - "Corporate Thuggin"
Freeway (featuring Jay-Z) - "Big Spender"
T.I. - "Big Things Poppin' "
DJ Khaled (featuring T-Pain, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross and Plies) - "I'm So Hood"
Jay-Z (featuring Nas) - "Success"
Ghostface Killah (featuring Beanie Sigel and Styles P) - "Toney Sigel a.k.a. the Barrel Brothers"

Singles
Fabolous (featuring Ne-Yo) - "Make Me Better"
DJ Khaled (featuring Akon, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, T.I., Lil Wayne and Birdman) - "We Takin' Over"
Yung Berg (featuring Junior) - "Sexy Lady"
Rich Boy (featuring Polow Da Don) - "Throw Some D's"
Young Jeezy (featuring R. Kelly) - "Go Getta"
Kanye West (featuring T-Pain) - "The Good Life"
Kanye West - "Stronger"
MIMS - "This Is Why I'm Hot"
UGK (featuring Outkast) - "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)"
Timbaland (featuring Keri Hilson, D.O.E. and Sebastian) - "The Way I Are"
Shop Boyz - "Party Like a Rockstar"
Hurricane Chris - "A Bay Bay"
U.S.D.A. - "White Girl"
Jay-Z - "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is ...)"
Plies (featuring T-Pain) - "Shawty"

Mainstream Albums of the Year
Kanye West - Graduation
Jay-Z - American Gangster
Common - Finding Forever
T.I. - T.I. vs. T.I.P.
50 Cent - Curtis

Fire Starters of the Year
Lil Mama
Joell Ortiz
Plies
Rik Cordero
The-Dream

Flo Rida Featured On Q93- Call In and Request "Low" and the new song "Elevator"

2008-02-01T03:28:00.001-08:00

Flo Rida, unsurprisingly a native Floridian, is an MC who toured as a teenager with 2 Live Crew's Fresh Kid Ice and began popping up on high-profile mixtapes by 2006, most notably DJ Khaled's We the Best -- on "Bitch I'm from Dade County," he appeared with the likes of Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, Trina, and Dre (of Cool & Dre). Signed to the Atlantic-distributed Poe Boy that year, he recorded Mail on Sunday, which was scheduled for release during early December 2007. "Low," featuring T-Pain, was the album's lead single. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

href="http://www.q93.com/iplaylist/artist/923332/"

LISTEN!

href="javascript:openNew4Player('/cc-common/new/4/player.html?art=1412&loc=1')"

Online Review: Lupe Fiasco ‘The Cool’

2008-02-01T02:13:00.000-08:00

Artist: Lupe Fiasco

The Cool
Atlantic Records
5/5

Words by Emmanuel J. Ezugwu

In 2003, the Grammy Award winning country group, the Dixie Chicks went from being America’s darlings to unpatriotic defectors in one fail swoop following an ill fated critique of George Bush made at one of their concerts. And in some ways the rise and subsequent fall from grace of Lupe Fiasco can be seen in the same way as what befell the country trio.

His came following an appearance on October’s VH1 Hip Hop Honours where he was to perform ‘Electric Relaxation‘ as a tribute to A Tribe Called Quest and fluffed the lyrics. To be fair the major repercussion the rap newcomer faced was in the Internet world where his forgetting the words was seen as a blatant disrespect to one of Hip Hops pioneers especially seeing as he was personally asked to perform the track by Q-Tip himself. Places like XXL reprimanded him as a “fruit” who didn’t care enough to learn four bars and in the aftermath, relationships between him and various US media sources remain strained (following some disparaging remarks, it’s said that Fiasco refuses to talk with AllHipHop.com)

Given the chance, you could easily imagine that the release of his latest LP would slip under the hip hop radar but Lupe’s lyrical clout alone makes this one of the most essentials albums of the year (or next year when it’s released in the UK).

Conceptually, ‘The Cool’ expands upon the first CD over 18 nail biting tracks sparked by Lupe’s comic book obsession. Packed full of characters, alter-egos and split personalities that at best, make ‘TI vs. T.I.P’ seem embarrassingly mild, Fiasco raises the rap bar to newer altitudes. For example ‘Gotta Eat’ sees Lupe rhyme from the perspective of a cheeseburger “fishing for chips”.

Kept under lock and key in the Atlantic Records Headquarters to avoid the many leaks that saw ‘Food and Liquor’ chart at a disappointing 8 in the Billboard charts and 31 in the UK charts, the album opens up with his sisters spoken word. “They thought it was cool to burn crosses on the lawn” she says, explicitly setting the tone for the rest of the LP.

Fiasco begins properly with ‘Go Gadget‘, where he compares his lyrical flow to the 80’s cartoon detective over subtle electric guitar and string productions. Having birthed the talents of Kanye West, Common and Rhymefest, Chi-Town has a definite affinity for the discernable rapper so when he ends the tracks by bigging up Chicago and the mid-west as the “best city in the whole wide world“ you realise that the Muslim rap star isn’t just saying it for bravado.

Lyrically, ‘Intruder Alert’ is the most superior track on the album though. It has a deft outspokenness to it that gives him and Kanye West a similarity more then their same area code and Lupe spits consciously about issues from homeless drug addicts to the devastating floods in New Orleans. There’s hardly any let up in this thought-provoking assault with the next track ‘Streets on Fire’ featuring Matthew Santos. “some call it a prevention// some call it a cure” begins a riled up Fiasco on the track about HIV that addresses the various misconceptions about the virus.

However the subject matter is not all dreary, ‘High Definition’ featuring Snoop Dogg and Pooh Bear is unlike the previous singles and injects some much needed funk into the record. “I don‘t need no intermission// my life‘s in high definition” swoons Snoop on this sure to-be-a-single-release. ‘Paris Toyko’ also provides a swift departure from Lupe’s rap signature and sees him name checking everything such as the iPhone with charismatic flair, half singing the chorus “lets go to Paris and wake up in Tokyo// Have a dream in New Orleans and fall in Love in Chicago”.

Musically, ‘The Cool’ allows Lupe to have his cake and eat it and aptly demonstrates his gifted story-telling abilities like that of a young Bob Dylan. The various alter-egos he displays allows him to rap about the kind of clichéd materialistic subject matter of money, guns and women without it being a detriment to his well earned backpack rapper status. It also allows for him to highlight America’s social unrest, touching on subjects such as Hurricane Katrina and the HIV epidemic with a brutal honesty.

Overall, the album makes no qualms in shattering the illusion that life is anything but rosy and it’s genius is in treading the fine line between being thought-provoking and purely sensational. I'm sure the resurgence in popularity of the Dixie Chic whose latest album went in at No 1 in the billboard charts means Lupe can look forward to being an unappreciated maverick for not too long now.

‘The Cool’ is out now in the US

Lupe Fiasco's "The Cool": THE FIGHTERS

2008-02-01T01:52:00.001-08:00

This song is so incredible, I had to share it with you. Only Lupe and Matthew Santos could pull off this magic together and come up with a completely new sound that redefines hip-hop's current styles. Not to mention the lyrics are insightful, and to a large extent, universal in their appeal. Lupe does a great job throughout "The Cool" of creating suggestive art which allows it to speak to the listener on a number of levels. How does this song make you feel? It's hard to define, but to me, it is this tension or complexity that makes it so relevant and real. In one way or another, this music is bound to move you. I think the most interesting thing about the album is what Lupe is ultimately trying to convey, or perhaps, what it is that has inspired him to create these certain songs. To me, the "Fighters" embodies much of what Lupe seems to be aiming for in the album, yet seems in many waysto be the most intriguing. One thing I think I have picked up on from watching, listening and talking to Lupe is that there is always something beneath or behind what he is doing, and most often, it is not what you would expect. All the better.

((LYRICS))

When the fighters all around
All the lovers are on the ground
Noone will save you anymore
So whats happenin
Whachu you rappin about
Little Boy
Is it cars
Is it girls
Is it money
The world

Or is it somethin they could never believe
Or is it somethin you could never acheive
Is it beyond your means
Is it inside your dreams
Can it
Never come out
Cuz its scared to
Unprepared to
To worry about the words of the people is weird too
You dont want em to hear you
You just wish it was a door that would appear that you can go disappear through
Well im feelin your pain
I was feelin the same
But I said id never feel that again

When the fighters all around
All the lovers are on the ground
Noone will save you anymore
So whats happenin
Whachu rappin about
Little Boy
Is it cars
Is it girls
Is it money
The world

Man
I really miss my pops
Hope that god watches over him
And that hes on top
That there is no more disease
And that he's alright
That hes one of the generals inside the army of the light

And grandma
You know I had to bite somethin from ya
So after every show its
Peace and much love to ya
Auntie tweetys on the way
Please look out for that girl
I know we'll meet again
So it's never me against the world

When the fighters are all around
All the lovers are on the ground
Noone will save you anymore
So whats happenin
Whachu rappin about
Little Boy
Is it cars
Is girls
Is it money
The world

I hope that god forgive us
All of us sinners
Turn us back into beginners
Put us up where the winners go
Holy apartments in the gardens
In which the rivers flow
Thank you for all your blessins
And all of your miracles
I thank all my fans and all my supports
Shout out to bishop g
Congrats on ya new baby daughter
I tip my hat to all my family and friends
Now we just got one more to go
LupEND

When the fighters all around
All the lovers are on the ground
Noone will save you anymore
So whats happenin
Whachu rappin about
Little Boy
Is it cars
Is it girls
Is it money
The world

Memorable Lupe Performance @ New Orleans House of Blues

2008-02-01T01:47:00.000-08:00

Ya'll remember that show? That was when I knew Lupe was FOR REAL! He rocked House of Blues so hard... Can't wait for him to come back here on tour for his new album "The Cool".

Estelle Featured on ConcreteLoop.com!

2008-01-31T23:24:00.000-08:00

Concreteloop is a leading urban blog and averages 1,000,000 unique users per month.

URL: www.teenmusic.com

Estelle's "American Boy" audio is featured on the "Audio" main page!

http://www.teenmusic.com/audio.asp

TREY SONGZ "Can't Help But Wait" Remix Video ft. Plies debuts on AOL this Thursday!

2008-01-31T23:14:00.000-08:00

TREY SONGZ "Can't Help But Wait" Remix Video ft. Plies debuts on AOL this Thursday!
Log on to AOL this Thursday for the World Premiere of the "Can't Help But Wait" Remix Video featuring Plies. To view the video, simply go to music.aol.com. If you want to get your hands on this track, pick up a copy of the original motion picture soundtrack STEP UP 2 THE STREETS, in stores and online February 5th.

Plies "I Am The Club" Video First Look on TRL!

2008-01-31T23:00:00.000-08:00

PLIES "I Am The Club" TRL First Look this Wednesday!
Tune in to TRL tomorrow at 3:30pm ET for a First Look at Plies' "I Am The Club Video." Check your local listing for more info.

Watch "I Am The Club" on BET Rap City!
The "I Am The Club" Video made its Television debut, this past Monday, on BET Rap City. If you didn't get a chance to check it out, make sure you tune in to Rap City Weekdays at 5pm to catch a glimpse of Plies' latest video to hit the networks, from The Real Testament!

In other news...

Can't Help But Wait" (Remix) Video Premieres on Music@aol.com this Thursday!
The Trey Songz "Can't Help But Wait" Remix Video ft. PLIES will premiere on AOL Music this Thursday! To view the video, log on to music.aol.com. To get your hands on this track, pick up a copy of the original motion picture soundtrack STEP UP 2 THE STREETS, in stores and online February 5th!

B.G. "For A Minute" Added to Rap City!

2008-01-31T22:47:00.000-08:00

CONGRATS TO B.G.

“FOR A MINUTE”

WAS ADDED TO RAP CITY!

DRAMA RISES UP FROM THE STREETS WITH DEBUT ALBUM

2008-01-25T18:35:00.000-08:00

Aphilliates/Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist Drama has announced this week's release of his eagerly anticipated debut album, "GANGSTA GRILLZ: THE ALBUM." The collection - which features the banging hit single, "5000 Ones" - is available in stores and online now.

The ATL-based Drama is known far and wide for his legendary "Gangsta Grillz" mixtapes. "GANGSTA GRILLZ: THE ALBUM" follows that same flowing formula, only with all-new original material that gathers together a veritable who's-who of modern hip-hop. Among the rap icons included are T.I., Young Jeezy, Outkast, Lil' Wayne, Rick Ross, Young Dro, B.G., MJG, Eightball, Jadakiss, Paul Wall, Lloyd, Lil' Jon, Pharrell, LA the Darkman, Willie The Kid, Freeway, and The Clipse, with production contributions from such studio luminaries as Don Cannon, Jazze Pha, Drumma Boy, Khao, and The Runners.
"This album is going to bring the movement of southern rap culture, the mixtape game, and quality hip-hop to the masses," says Drama, "where they no longer have to go to a street corner or a bodega or the Internet to know about 'Gangsta Grillz.'"

"5000 Ones" - which features Nelly, T.I., Diddy, Yung Joc, Willie the Kid, Young Jeezy, and Twista - is currently impacting at Urban radio outlets nationwide, while the track's companion video clip has just been added into rotation at MTV Jams. The video premiered last month on BET's Rap City with a special episode filmed during the clip's production. Drama recently heralded the release of "GANGSTA GRILLZ: THE ALBUM" by appearing as guest DJ on BET's 106 & Park.

Drama will spend December on a whirlwind promotional tour, with stops slated in major markets coast-to-coast, including Philadelphia, Dallas, New Orleans, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, and of course, Atlanta. For up-to-the-minute news and tour details, please see Drama's official MySpace page, www.myspace.com/djdrama.
For additional information, please visit www.gangstagrillz.com.
###

"5000 Ones" - Drama ft. Nelly, T.I., Diddy, Yung Joc, Willie the Kid, Young Jeezy & Twista (BRIGHTCOVE VIDEO LINK)
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1315775866

B.G. "For A Minute" Video Shoot

2008-01-17T19:35:00.000-08:00

Check that out... All you people that I called to be extras in the video who missed my call, I'm sorry, but you gotta be on top of that ya'll! Its all good though, you know B.G. reps New Orleans real hard so make sure you keep your eyes and ears open for up and coming events and performances.

Missy Elliot News: Ching-A-Ling!

2008-01-17T19:27:00.000-08:00

New Music From Missy Elliott! - 01-09-2008
Check back tomorrow to hear the world premiere of Missy Elliott's new single "Ching-A-Ling" from the original motion picture soundtrack 'Step Up 2 - The Streets' & from her forthcoming album!

'Step Up 2 - The Streets' Soundtrack available in stores February 5th! Missy's new album coming soon!

_________________________________________________________

Mix It Up With Missy! - 10-16-2007
Missy Elliott has teamed up with Doritos Collisions, a brand new snack combining two flavors in one bag. "The idea of Doritos Collisions mixing those great flavors is an original idea- just how I like my music", says Elliott. "I'm all about new experiences and new sounds."

Doritos and Elliott have launched a HOT new interactive site called 'Collisions' at www.snackstrongerproductions.com where you can listen to tracks created by Missy and create your own mixes using different instruments and effects. Click here to hit the studio with Missy right now!
_________________________________________________________

Missy @ vh1 Hip Hop Honors '07 - 10-01-2007
Tune in on October 8th at 10/9c to see Missy Elliott being honored at the 2007 VH1 Hip Hop Honors from The Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC.
Other Honorees include Snoop Dogg, New Jack Swing, A Tribe Called Quest, Whodini, and Wild Style.
Don't miss it! For more information log on @ www.vh1.com today!
_________________________________________________________

Missy's New Album Scheduled for Spring 2008! - 09-18-2007
Keep it locked here at missy-elliott.com to hear the latest on Missy's new album and upcoming appearances.
_________________________________________________________

Missy back in the studio - 08-07-2007
Missy is back in the studio working on her next album. Be sure to stay tuned as we fill you in on who she is collaborating with and when to expect the first listen to her new single.
_________________________________________________________

Missy Receives Grammy Nod - 12-07-2006
Congratulations to Missy Elliott for picking up the Best Rap Solo Performance - "We Run This" at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards!

http://www.missy-elliott.com/index.php

B.G. Doing It Big In the N.O.

2008-01-15T22:06:00.000-08:00

B.G. is back in a BIG WAY... that is to say, HE IS KILLIN IT DOWN HERE! Once again, B.G. is back in great form, putting out club singles that would make any New Orleans rap fan proud. Check out the latest news.

News:

Watch A B.G. Exclusive On Streetcred.com!

01-03-2008

Be sure to watch BG's Beyond The Video exclusively on Streetcred.com right now!

B.G.'s New Album 'Too Hood 2 B Hollywood' featuring the hit 'For A Minute' Coming Soon! Stay tuned to bgizzle.com & myspace.com/bgizzle for updates!

BG Set To Drop New Album

10-30-2007

BG's new album TOO HOOD 2 B HOLLYWOOD drops this coming February! Check out BG's new song 'For A Minute' ft. T.I. on his Myspace page by clicking here.

B.G. Gears Up For Solo Album!

09-04-2007

Former Hot Boyz group member B.G. is flexing his solo muscle as he gears up to drop his latest album. Keep a look out for the new album coming soon, featuring collaborations with several of hip hop's elite producers and up and coming beat makers.

Flo Rida, Missy Take It To The 'Streets'

2008-01-15T21:53:00.000-08:00

Flo Rida, Missy Take It To The 'Streets'

January 14, 2008, 3:15 PM ET

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003696192

Mariel Concepcion, N.Y.

Flo Rida's smash hit "Low" and two new Missy Elliott tracks will be found on Atlantic soundtrack to "Step Up 2 the Streets," due Feb. 5.

"Streets" is the sequel to the August 2006 "Step Up" film about a street dancer trying to fit in at a new school by forming a dance crew to compete in Baltimore's underground dance battle. It opens Feb. 14 in U.S. theaters.

Along with current music from Cherish ("Killa" feat. Yung Joc) and Cassie ("Is It You"), who also stars in the film, the album includes the new Elliott songs "Shake Your Pom Pom" and "Ching-A-Ling," which will appear on her upcoming album due in May.

In addition, a remix of Trey Songz "Can't Help But Wait" featuring Plies, and a new version of Plies' own "Hypnotized" assisted by Akon are included.

Companion videos for a number of songs from the soundtrack are currently in production, with tracks also set to impact multiple radio formats statewide.

Upcoming Shows

Jan 19 2008 8:00P
Club Esko Detroit, Michigan
Jan 21 2008 8:00P
Polk County Polk County, Florida
Jan 21 2008 8:00P
TBA Tampa, Florida
Jan 22 2008 8:00P
BET & MTV New York, New York
Jan 23 2008 8:00P
TBA New York, New York
Jan 24 2008 8:00P
TBA Jacksonville, Florida
Jan 25 2008 8:00P
TBA Miami, Florida
Feb 4 2008 8:00P
TBA Atlantis
Feb 5 2008 8:00P
TBA Atlantis
Feb 7 2008 8:00P
Disney "Step Up 2" Movie/Myspace ’Black Curtain Screening’ Performance Miami, Florida
Feb 8 2008 8:00P
WKGS TBD Rochester, New York
Feb 9 2008 8:00P
TBA Los Angeles, California
Feb 10 2008 8:00P
TBA Los Angeles, California
Feb 11 2008 8:00P
TBA New York, New York
Feb 12 2008 8:00P
TBA New York, New York
Mar 1 2008 8:00P
Funk Master Flex South Padre Island, Texas
Mar 13 2008 8:00P
MTV Spring Break Panama City, Florida
Mar 14 2008 8:00P
MTV Spring Break Panama City, Florida
Mar 15 2008 8:00P
MTV Spring Break Panama City, Florida
Mar 16 2008 8:00P
MTV Spring Break Panama City, Florida
Mar 17 2008 8:00P
TBA New York, New York

Travis Barker Remix Video of Flo Rida's "Low"

2008-01-15T21:49:00.000-08:00

Lupe Fiasco Tour Schedule

2008-01-15T21:44:00.000-08:00

Find Out When He's Coming to Your Area!

Upcoming Shows:

Jan 17 2008 5:00P
In Store Signing @ Midnight Records Los Angeles, California

Jan 17 2008 8:00P
House of Blues Sunset Strip Hollywood

Jan 18 2008 5:00P
In Store Signing @ Zia Records Las Vegas, Nevada

Jan 18 2008 8:00P
House of Blues Las Vegas, Nevada

Jan 19 2008 8:00P
Sunshine Theatre Albuquerque, New Mexico

Jan 20 2008 5:00P
In Store Signing @ Independent Records Denver, Colorado

Jan 20 2008 8:00P
Gothic Theatre Englewood, Colorado

Jan 22 2008 5:00P
In Store Signing @ Waterloo Records Austin, Texas

Jan 22 2008 9:00P
Emos Austin Austin, Texas

Jan 23 2008 5:00P
In Store Signing @ Xperience Music (formerly Eargazum) Dallas, Texas

Jan 23 2008 8:00P
House of Blues Dallas, Texas

Jan 25 2008 8:00P
The Roxy Atlanta, Georgia

Jan 27 2008 8:00P
Sonar Baltimore, Maryland

Jan 28 2008 8:00P
The Norva Norfolk, Virginia

Jan 30 2008 8:00P
9:30 Club Washington DC, Washington DC

Jan 31 2008 8:00P
The Fillmore at TLA Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Feb 1 2008 8:00P
Stuar C. Seigel Center

Lupe Fiasco's Video for the New Hit Single "SUPERSTAR"

2007-12-10T15:39:00.000-08:00

Lupe Fiasco: Hip-Hop for Hope Forum

2007-11-28T17:50:00.000-08:00

http://democracyandhiphop.blogspot.com

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Lupe Fiasco at N.O. Hip-Hop Panel Discussion

Friday, November 2, 2007, NOLA Hip-Hop for Hope sponsored a panel discussion featuring artists, professors, teachers, and community folks, followed with a talk with Lupe Fiasco.

Among the eight panelists were a mixture of hip-hop cultural conservatives, social conservatives, and social and liberal democrats, and only two or three offered anything of value.

Most of the discussion situated around the "unholy trinity" that sets the parameters for most hip-hop discussion today; that of misogyny, violence, and materialism. The few of the Left perspective tried to give a broader social context for why themes like these predominate within hip-hop, while those on the Right attributed them to bad parenting, inferior education, depraved morals, etc.

Dr. Shayne Lee, while appealing to the logic and parameters given, argued that hip-hop has many different sub-genres, not all of them misogynistic or violent. He affirmed this by his belief in the free market that lends itself to the variety of tastes of listeners. Additionally, he stated that if one genre becomes the most popular it is because of some abstract economic law.

His flawed economism aside, hip-hop does manifest many different categories to give a broader, fuller expression of its content. But these categories cannot be treated as immutable; as if they have always been with us. These categories move, develop, grow, and are eventually superseded by new categories that act as mere forms for hip-hop's actual beats and rhymes substance.

For instance, gangsta rap and bling rap are two different sub-genres, but bling is a negation of gangsta; a renunciation of its poverty context and a break with both its militancy and embrace of poverty. But bling was an undercurrent within gangsta that eventually came to dominate and absorb the other. This doesn't mean that gangsta rap is dead, but the gangsta rap of today is hardly the gangsta rap of the early and mid 1990s. Labelling it the same tends to blur this distinction.

Betty Washington, a teacher and publisher of Hip-Hop Teen Magazine, took a hardline social conservative approach to hip-hop; an approach that is strikingly reminiscent to C. Delores Tucker and Dionne Warwick's assailing of hip-hop in the mid 90s. Her view is that we (meaning the Jazz generation) need to create and inject from without a mechanical, positive hip-hop and pressure the ruling class to create unprofitable music.

The problem with this view is in treating hip-hop as if it is something external to begin with and not a living, breathing organism from below. The artists scapegoated for all the aforementioned contexts within the music are valid and authentic manifestations of black and working class reality. How does creating such fake music erase violence and drugs? As long as these realities prevail, people will find ways to give expression to them in art and music.

One of the more vocal and animated of the panelists, who was literally all over the map when it come to her position, was adamant that hip-hop takes the blame for everything wrong in society precisely because of the demonization of black people. We couldn't agree more on this question. But her contributions ended there.

When Lupe made his way to the microphone, he was immediately bombarded by the backpack, cultural conservatives with questions as to how he feels about being a 'conscious rapper'. Witty though he was, he answered with a question, "Do you think Jeezy and 50 Cent are conscious artists?" to which the questioner replied, "No." He then stated that he feels that consciousness is an awareness of your surroundings and that Jeezy and 50 are very aware of their own. Whereas Lupe says he talks about the surroundings as they are, Jeezy and 50 embrace them.

Lloyd Banks was asked in an October 2006 interview, "Do you listen to a lot of 'conscious' artists? And how do you feel about their rapping as opposed to your own?"

Banks responds, "Well not a lot. I don't really buy their albums or nothin' like that, but I can appreciate the music. I acknowledge what Mos Def brings to the table and Talib Kweli, even The Roots, they're just another branch of Hip Hop. There's so many different styles that make up the Hip Hop culture. I can't even really... The difference with mine is, my music is 'conscious' also, I guess the difference is just the two labels. Maybe it's just more 'in your face' with me. I mean I'm totally and completely conscious with what I'm saying, when I'm saying it so I don't even know why people acknowledge that as different."

"Conscious rap" as a label is ultimately Theses on Hip-Hop point five, dogmatism, and an attempt to divide hip-hop.

What the panelists missed in the end was that hip-hop is a direct and universal outgrowth of life under capitalism and white supremacy and it reveals humanity's striving for real universality in all that we do, especially in our labor. It is a yearning for true freedom; for emancipation from the chains of the old society and that is what the intellectuals, the bewilderers, and the bureaucrats will never understand.

The D&HHP strives to capture hip-hop's totality and to validate all of its component parts, not divorce them from one another because it doesn't fit into our own thought categories. If any round content, any object, doesn't accept the square pegs of our thoughts, we need a new peg. Many of the above panelists and their ideas represent those square pegs that need to be dispensed with.
*****************************************************************

Lupe Fiasco at N.O. Hip-Hop Panel Discussion

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Dj Drama: Gangsta Grills

2007-11-28T17:21:00.000-08:00

DJ Drama Bio

Ask any rap fan to name the one of the most talked-about DJ's right now, and the name Drama is sure to spew out of their mouth. Introducing the rap world to platinum-selling Def Jam artist Young Jeezy and ATL sensation Young Dro as well as keeping fans satisfied with exclusive pre-albums from Lil Wayne, Young Buck, Bun-B of UGK, Eightball & MJG and Project Pat with his Gangsta Grillz mixtape series, Drama has supplied stirring street soundtracks to every block, back alley and trap house like a pirate radio station on disc.

For this, he has had the doors of his offices kicked in by the boys in blue, was hauled off to jail with fellow record spinner DJ Don Cannon and federally charged like he was a disciple of Freeway Ricky Ross. Refusing to go down without a fight, the Atlanta-based mix tape messiah brings his street music and struggles with the law to the mainstream with the release of his Grand Hustle/ Atlantic full length album Gangsta Grillz: The Album.

In light of criminal allegations and an impending trial, the grimy lead single "Feds Taking Pictures" seems most appropriate to fuel the album. Young Jeezy, Willie the Kid, Jim Jones and T.I. rip through mid-tempo production, a shrill horn section, deep-bottomed synths and your favorite DJ screaming overconfident adlibs over the chorus.

"You roll down your window in any hood and you'll hear a Gangsta Grillz drop," says Dram. "You can go to any hood in any city and ask somebody if they got a Gangsta Grillz mixtape. They gone tell you yes. If you don't know who Drama is, you don't know nothing about hip hop right now."

Born and raised between West Philadelphia and the city's Germantown sections, Drama moved to Atlanta to attend Clark Atlanta University. A fan of DJ culture since seeing Omar Epps' character DJ Gee Q on the big screen in classic hip hop film Juice, Drama first stepped behind the ones and twos after copping his very first mix tape- DJ S&S's Old School Part 2 during a trip to New York City with his older sister as a kid. He found his calling and knew it.

Early on, Drama created a local buzz selling tapes in his high school and naturally brought his hustle with him when he relocated to Atlanta and began peddling mix tapes on campus. Offering a catalog that included reggae, instrumental and neo-soul mixes, his bread and butter came when he dropped his first southern-based tape Jim Crow Laws- his fastest-selling tape at the time.

He renamed the series to Gangsta Grillz and asked then-upcoming crunk king Lil Jon to host. He used that drop as roll call for every following edition. Before long, Drama got a call from Grand Hustle co-CEO Jason Geter, who wanted Drama to do something that had never been done before- compile an album-like mix tape with only artists from the label's group Pimp $quad Click. Like a domino effect, classic mix tapes from many of the rap game's top players came back to back.

"The brand has been the success of many careers- myself included. It's helped Young Jeezy's career; it's helped DJ Don Cannon's career. It's helped T.I.'s career. It's helped the streets," Drama insists.

Following the same formula that branded his trademark, Gangsta Grillz flows with blended, mix tape transitions between songs and features many of the hottest names in rap music. The album's opener is a recreation of the police task force just minutes before they stormed into Drama's downtown Atlanta offices. Lil Jon follows up as he welcomes listeners with his boisterous baritone screaming over jarring, high-energy production.

On the stinging, Cannon-produced "The Art of Storytelling Part 4," Andre 3000 and Big Boi take us back to the days of Aquemini as they spit abstract rhyme patterns over futuristic instrumentation and jazz horns sprinkled with a hook from Marsha Ambrosius, the stunning vocalist from Floetry.

"This won't be the first time that street music came to the table, but I'm going to show them what I got. I introduced a lot to the world, and now I'm gonna introduce it on a bigger plain," Drama explains. "This album is going to bring the movement of southern rap culture, the mix tape game, quality hip hop to the masses where they no longer have to go to a street corner or a bodega or the Internet to know about Gangsta Grillz."

Already ghetto gold from mix tape downloads, bootlegs and Ipods, Gangsta Grillz is packed with more hits than your favorite rapper's Myspace page and certified platinum before it even hits the stands.

6/07

Check out DJ Drama's new album on iTunes!

DJ Drama- 500 1's Video Premiere!

Atlantic Recording Corporation

1290 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10104

212.707.2000 Fax: 212.405.5475

3400 W. Olive Ave. Burbank, CA 91505

818.238 6800 Fax: 818.562.9211