Clipse's Pusha T Readying Solo Mixtape Fear of God

Clipse's Pusha T is preparing to make a move as a solo artist with the release of a new mixtape set to drop in the fall. Clipse manager Steve Victor confirmed to MissInfo.tv that Pusha has set a September 14 release date for his solo tape. The Virginia MC even shouts out the title, Fear of God, in his "Bidding War" freestyle, which recently surfaced on the Web.

The mixtape due date is an intriguing choice as rumors have been swirling that Push might be joining Kanye West's G.O.O.D. music collective, many of whom — 'Ye, Kid Cudi, Consequence and Big Sean are dropping albums on the same day.

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Ray Charles Musical Pushed Back.

A musical about the life of late singer Ray Charles was set to debut Oct 8th, but was delayed until spring of 2011


Producers announced Friday that "Unchain My Heart" will open in the spring instead of its planned opening Oct. 8. The musical is produced by Stuart Benjamin, who worked with the R&B legend for 15 years and produced "Ray," the hit movie about Charles.

Benjamin cited "logistical reasons" for the date change. The production was to play at the Barry Theatre but will instead open at the Shubert Theatre.

The show is to feature a book by Suzan-Lori Parks, direction by Sheldon Epps and star Brandon Victor Dixon as Charles.

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?uetlove and Amy Winehouse Forming Super Group

This just might be the Amy Winehouse fix I have been longing for. Keeping my ears to the streets, about this album. Philly and the UK soul coming together only great music can come from this!!!!!

Word is that singer Amy Winehouse is trying to form a super group with drummer ?uestlove and Raphael Saadiq. But due to her inability to obtain a visa, the band has gotten off to a slow start. Winehouse was barred from the U.S. following a 2008 arrest. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. And ?uest told The Sun that they’re finding ways around the roadblocks.

"“The group will definitely happen.It’s just the closest she can come to the States is Jamaica. I’m off to France soon so I’ll see if she’s up for discussing it over dinner. We’re Skype-ing the shit out of each other.”

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Ne-Yo Confirms He's Going to Be a Daddy.... Again.

Ne-Yo and girlfriend Monyetta Shaw are expecting their first child together.

EBONY sat down with the singer-songwriter at a super exclusive photoshoot planned to help promote his upcoming album Libra Scale. Ne-Yo, who is preparing to attend the ASCAP Awards Friday night in Beverly Hills, talked about how he had traveled home to Atlanta to get some news about the baby.

Surprise! He had to come home so he could make the first ultrasound visit with his girlfriend. There’s no word on the sex of the baby because the tiny tot curled up in a ball, leading Ne-Yo to joke that his future progeny is “stubborn.” But, he added, “They didn’t get that one from me.”

“I am 30 and I do have my first child on the way, and I’m very, very, very excited about that,” he tells EBONY. “It’s a New Year’s baby and I’m just in a really good place right now.”

He took care of his ex-girlfriend's son like his own, until she started demanding outrages amounts of child support and a paternity test proved someone else was the father.  Congrats Ne-Yo!

Celebrities Respond To Chris Brown's, Michae jackosn Tribute.

Nas and Damien Marley: The Next 48 Hours Part 1 and 2.

The Next 48 Hours With Nas & Damian Marley" is an original 3 part web series that goes behind the scenes during the album release week of "Distant Relatives".


Part 1 - The Day Before The Album Release follows Nas & Damian to MTV, BET 106 & Park and concludes at their Album Release show at Highline Ballroom, New York City.

Cameos from Kool Herc, DJ Green Lantern and Rocsi & Terrence J.

Part 1



The Next 48 Hours With Nas & Damian Marley" is an original 3 part web series that goes behind the scenes during the album release week of "Distant Relatives". Part 2 - Album Release Day follows Nas & Damian Marley to Ed Lover Morning Show on Power 105.1, Best Buy, Green Lantern & Pat McKay Show on Sirius XM Radio and Fuse TV.


Cameos from Ed Lover, DJ Green Lantern, Malikha Mallette & Rocky Thunda.

Part 2



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Common Inteview With MyFox Chicago.

Students at three Chicago high schools today went to an assembly that they'll remember long after graduation. Rapper Kanye West, along with fellow Chicagoans Common and Lupe Fiasco, performed at Marshall, Farragut and Julian high schools as part of the Kanye West Foundation's third annual "Stay in School" event. The performance rewarded schools whose students worked to improve their grades, attendance and behavior.




Words of wisdom. Damn I love this man.

"New York State of Mind" Replaces Frank Sinatra "New York New York" At The Belmont Stakes.

Jay-Z's "Empire State Of Mind" will replace Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" at the 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes.
The New York Racing Association said it will play "Empire State of Mind" as the horses are brought out on the track for tomorrow's race.

Jigga's track is featured on his latest platinum selling album Blueprint III and features Alicia Keys.
Sinatra's version has been played since 1997. Prior to that, a vaudeville tune called "Sidewalks of New York" was the race's main song.
Teenage singer Jasmine Villegas will perform Jay and Alicia's version.
The Yankees also previously took a liking to the song and played it throughout their champonship run.

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Diddy Wants to Replace Simon Cowell on American Idol

Every since American Idol announced that Simon Cowell would be stepping down as a judge on the popular television show, everyone including Diddy has been trying to fill his spot. Diddy is very interested in replacing Cowell on Idol and has even requested that his fans support him in this possible endeavor. “I have been fronting all this time, trying to act like I don’t want that spot,” he said in an interview. “[But] I spoke to Simon’s business manager, and I found out how much that boy makes a week. I am praying right now to ‘American Idol,’ … I want everybody to get on Twitter, MySpace, Facebook and say that Diddy should get the Simon spot — but for the same amount of money that Simon was getting, else it’s a deal-breaker. I’m tired of being cool: That number that Simon was getting a week is ridiculous. I can’t even be cool with that. Please, can I have the job, whoever’s in charge of giving that job?” What do you think; could Diddy fill Simon’s shoes?

I would like to see Diddy take Simon's spot. Why not? 

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Kanye West To Release New Album This Summer

According to a report by HipHopUpdate.com, Chicago rapper Kanye West will be releasing his upcoming album in late summer. The new release date was reportedly revealed at an event held by Def Jam last weekend in Santa Monica, California. The HipHopUpdate.com source stated that while a specific date was not announced it was revealed that the album, which is entitled Good A** Job, will be released some time in September. Good A** Job was initially expected to be released next month on June 29.

Young Guru Speaks on 9th Wonder.

In this excerpt of 9th Wonder’s upcoming documentary, Hov’s engineer and DJ, Young Guru reflects on the time he met the producer and how in 20 minutes, during 9th’s first encounter with Jay, created the beat for “Threat” off Jay’s The Black Album.

 
Young Guru speaks on 9th Wonder from Pricefilms on Vimeo.


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Honey Mag: Ella Ann: First Girl on the Moon

The fashionably-futuristic, nail spitting, take-no-ish-from-nobody certified Honey girl always stepped out flossing nothing less than fierce, rocking to the beat of her own bass track. But on September 15 of last year, none of that mattered when stray bullets struck Ella Ann twice.

The 20-year-old of the Cali duo The Bangz, born Kourtney Elliott, waited in her Benz in front of an acquaintance’s home one late summer evening. Her racing psyche was most likely on the anticipating studio session that would seal the paint on their next single, ”Found My Swag,” when bullets that were allegedly intended for someone else found their way to her. As untouchable as her longtime boyfriend, KC, thought of his free-spirited girl, the merciless streets of Watts, California proved him wrong. For months, Ella Ann lay in a doctor-induced coma fighting for her life.

Despite rumors, Ella Ann is awake — struggling with the aftermath of a stroke and physical therapy, but Honey girls are strong. So we sat down with her partner-in-rhyme, Sabi and boyfriend KC to talk candidly about Ella Ann’s rehabilitation and recovery and why she is truly “The First Girl on the Moon.”

Below is the world premiere of The Bangz’s exclusive video “The First Girl on the Moon.”




Another act of senseless violence that has almost claimed the life of an innocent person. SMH.. When will this end. This story seriously brought tears to my eyes. Praying for a miracle.

People Fueled and Shocked By Guru's Farewell Letter.

One of the first thing's I heard when I woke up this morning was that Guru had passed away. Shocked, I logged onto my twitter and immediately my time line was filled R.I.P. Guru and Gangstarr quotes. A farewell letter that Guru wrote before he died to his fans has the hip hop world going crazy. In the letter he dismissed his former partner DJ Premier and said that he didn't want any association with him even in death. He also revealed that he has been beaten by cancer and gave praise to Solar. A lot of people are refusing to believe


"In the letter, Premier is not even referred to by name, but expresses the wish that Guru's "ex-DJ" not have anything to do with "my name likeness, events, tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ."
In addition to showering praise on the MC (born Keith Elam), a number of commenters expressed their concern that the posthumous letter from Guru's partner, Solar, supplied by a PR firm handling press inquiries about the rapper's health, was suspect.

"The Guru 'farewell' letter reeks of fakeness," wrote Rob, who said he found it hard to believe that Guru was so bitter in death that he would go out of his way to diss his longtime music compatriot Premier. A spokesperson for the PR company that distributed the letter said it was submitted by Solar and approved by Guru and Solar.

"No real fan of Gang Starr is going to believe this letter!," said Louis. "It sounds like something that was written between Solar and his lawyers while Guru laid in bed unable to write or speak. It sounds more to me like a letter bragging about Solar than about Guru's personal legacy. How can you not want Premier to be involved in the death of Guru?"
In the end, though, they were mostly just sad that the world had lost such a gifted lyricist.

Sad day in hip-hop despite the letter we lost a great man. RIP.

I also ran across this video old video of Young Guru talking about the beef between him and Guru and all the respect he had for him.


Around the 2:50 mark.  

	Gang Starr's Guru: A Life In Photos

Fabolous "I'm Raw" Video Pics.

Over the last few weeks, Fabolous has teamed up director Aristotle and his company By Any Means (the same team who he worked with on the Loso’s Way movie) to shoot five music videos from his There is No Competition 2: The Funeral Service mixtape for a series they’re calling “The Funeral Arrangements.” We’re excited to announce that the video for “I’m Raw”—definitely one of the hottest songs off the mixtape—will be premiering next week, exclusively on Complex. To give you a sneak peek, we got our hands on some stills from the set, where you can see Loso keeping it extra raw in a meat locker. NICE.

Looks interesting. 

If You Got Soul Let The World Know!

When I Think of Philadelphia one of the first things that come to mind is not the Philly Cheesesteak, not the liberty bell, not Rittenhouse Square, South Street, or The Philadelphia Museum of Art. I think of the sound. Yes, Philadelphia Soul Music, nothing is better. The sound of Philadelphia can be traced back to the colonial days, but nothing has stuck like the sound created by Philadelphia International Records. Founded by legends Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in the early 1970's Philadelphia soul music took and has yet to slow down. With artist from the late great Teddy Pendergrass and Phyllis Hyman, Patti Labelle to, Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, The Roots, Jazmine Sullivan and most recent upcoming soul singer taragirl.

Growing up in northern New Jersey, with the encouragement of her father taragirl began singing at the age of six. After four years at New York University she made her way to Philadelphia and has been blowing down local Philly spots every since. Influenced by our forefathers and mothers of soul music Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Dinah Washington, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Lauryn Hill. Taragirl is the voice and the pen, singing and songwriting. In my opinion she can easily be compared to a young Teena Marie or Joss Stone.


Addikted2Fame: For our readers that aren't familiar wit your music explain your sound in 5 words?

Taragirl: Fresh, soulful, sassy, emotional, melodic

Addikted2Fame: I see you write your own music, where do you draw inspiration from when you write songs and what's your favorite part about the process?

Taragirl: Songwriting is a great outlet for all of the really great and really messed up things that happen to you. My emotions usually build up to the point of release and whatever the issue, it'll come out in the song. I was writing lyrics before I even considered myself a songwriter; in the beginning I didn't think I had what it takes, but its all just storytelling, in the end. Relationships, break-ups, grief, hope, frustration, my feelings, towards Philly- I've used all of these for songs at one point or another. I think my favorite part is arranging.  I like when the bulk of the piece is written and now you play with where to put what when and cool vocal transitions, harmonies, etc... That stuff is fun to me.

Addikted2Fame: Everyone talks about the ups of the beginning in the industry , what do you find are some of the hardships of the music industry?

Taragirl: There's a new song that I've yet to record called "Shoutin at the Wall" and that, to me summarizes my feelings towards the music industry right now. I feel like I have so much to offer and I'm putting it down on stage working on my records my promotion etc...basically jumping up and down saying "hey world! Check me out! Listen to What I Gotta Say!" and as far as the industry is concerned nobody really cares. Now don't get me, I know my fans care - a lot. And each and every listener I gain cares. But, I'm the type of artist that really wants to take this thing to a higher level, expand my audience and the industry isn't really in tune with good, quality artist anymore. They're signing 3 acts every year and that's it. And most of what they put out is crap. Straight up crap.


Addikted2Fame: What do you want your listeners to get from your music?

Taragirl: To me connecting with music fans is the whole point to music as an art form. Music is the closest thing we have to a universal language. All of my songs are from an autobiographical standpoint and I always hope that my listeners can relate to the situations and feelings that I've experienced through lyrics and the emotion in my voice. I also like to concentrate on material that is uplifting or has a positive vibe to it. I have some songs that talk honestly about the end of a relationship like "Voicemail" but in general I like to keep my message hopeful.


Addikted2Fame: If you could work with or go open up for any artist on tour right now who would it be?

Taragirl: I would love to open up for Jazmine Sullivan or Katy Perry. Even though they're both different types of artist, I think I hit like this cross section of their audiences and they would really  dif some taragirl. I think Pink would be a pretty awesome person to collaborate with on a record and there's this artist/producer Novel who I would love to work with. Holla!Lol :)

-Shaquane D.

Guru Will Pull Through.

There is nothing like hearing good news. Yesterday rapper/producer Guru from the duo Gangstarr suffered a heart attack and despite the rumors of him being dead, he will pull through after a sucessful sugery.

AllHipHop.com reported:

Gangstarr founding member rapper Guru is recovering from a successful surgery yesterday (March 1) , after suffering a massive heart attack over the weekend.


Sources close to Guru told AllHipHop.com that the rapper is doing “fine” and should make a full recovery, despite chatter on the Internet that the 43-year-old artist had died.

“Guru is alive and recovering from his surgery. Doctors are expecting a full recovery luckily,” a source told AllHipHop.com.

Guru's partner DJ Premier also confirmed the news on his official Twitter page.

Kelis Performs In Vegas.

Kelis brought her milkshake, gray mullet, and some of that Nas sponsored spousal support to Eve Nightclub in Vegas to perform her new single "Acapella" produced by David Guetta. First single off her upcoming album "Flesh Tones"

Maxwell and Jill Scott Come Together For A Tour!

Maxwell and Jill Scott will kick off their 20-city U.S. arena tour (produced by LiveNation) on May 21st in Cleveland with additional dates to be announced through June. The fab duo will make other tour stops in Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York.

 

 Can't Wait!

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