Common: Obama will change hip-hop's attitude

The rapper Common wants to take hip-hop in a new direction, he says, and he has an unsuspecting ally -- President-elect Barack Obama.


Common says he was looking for a new sound on his eighth album, "Universal Mind Control."

"I really do believe we as hip-hop artists pick up what's going on in the world and try to reflect that," he told CNN, outlining his belief that mainstream as well as so-called "conscious" rappers -- the more socially aware -- will pick up on what he sees as the more optimistic prospects of an Obama presidency.

"I think hip-hop artists will have no choice but to talk about different things and more positive things, and try to bring a brighter side to that because, even before Barack, I think people had been tired of hearing the same thing," he said.


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will.i.am Rumored To Produce On New U2 Album

After serving as producer on albums for artists such as Usher, Flo Rida, Estelle, and Whitney Houston, will.i.am may also serve as producer for Irish rock group U2's newest album. Via his blog, Kanye West stated the multi-talented Black Eyed Peas frontman would be lending his production ear to U2, who have three albums which have sold over 5 million copies.

In an interview with Billboard, will.i.am discussed the Black Eyed Peas' upcoming album The END which will be released next year. Described as a virtual album, The END, which stands for The Energy Never Dies, will be somewhat of a continuous album, with songs being added to the album on a continuous basis.


http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.8230/title.will-i-am-rumored-to-produce-on-new-u2-album

Keys 2 The City Continues With Blu, Concert Tonight

In Imeem's "Keys To The City" series, joined in support by HipHopDX, 2DopeBoyz and Urb magazine, the next tour guide of Los Angeles is Blu.

The new episode can be found [click to read]. “In this first of three Keys 2 The City clips, Blu describes the 'west coast bubble' that makes up LA's inclusive Hip Hop/Jazz/Rock/Soul scene and highlights the musical fusion L.A.'s next movement of artists brings to the game," said Keys To The City producer Will Abramson.


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Akon talks Hip Hop Harmony, Kanye And Michael Jackson

There is an undeniable trend in rap that has emcees trading their 16's for some crooning. Akon has noticed and feels he is responsible for that trend.

"As an artist, depending on who you are, you should never be in a situation where you feel threatened by another artist," he told MTV in a recent interview. "If anything, I embrace the fact that they're doing it. Music changes every year. I'm just happy [about] the fact that people are jumping on what we're already doing. I look at it like a tribute to what we're already doing, and I look at it like a compliment, really."

"I say 'you're welcome' every time I hear [rappers singing]...A melody has a way of describing [words], 'cause of the emotions that come with melody. Melody brings it out better than a bland vocal. It's easier to relate."


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Common Calls Universal Mind Control His New Child

Yesterday, the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune may not have been so enthusiastic about Common's eighth and latest studio release Universal Mind Control. However, the biggest critic for Common can only be himself.

Serving as a rebuttal, Common gave his own assessment of the new album in a video blog from his website Thinkcommon.com today. "I wanna review this album," Common starts off. "After listening to this album extensively and really assessing it and just listening to the songs and seeing how I really thought about it, I would say I'd have to give this album an A-plus. A 10, really an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10. Five stars if I was Rolling Stone, XXL if I was XXL [magazine]."


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Shawty Redd Reacts To "Sensual Seduction" Grammy Nom

After years producing primarily for Young Jeezy as well as Pastor Troy and 8Ball & MJG, Atlanta producer Shawty Redd was honored this year from the Grammy's with his work earlier this year with Snoop Dogg.

Redd was nominated for "Rap Song of The Year" for "Sensual Seduction," a hit from the beginning of this year on Snoop's Ego Trippin'. On the album, the song was titled "Sexual Eruption," a title change was made for the radio single.


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DMX Arrested In Miami, Florida

DMX has been apprehended by FBI Agents at a friends house in Miami, according to reports.

The rapper was arrested today (December 9), after police followed up on a tip in regards to his location.

Police could not confirm if the rapper was being treated at a local rehab facility as his lawyer Bradford Cohen has suggested in previous, published reports.


Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Unauthorized Bobby Brown Biography Hits Stores Today

The tumultuous life of Grammy award-winning singer Bobby Brown is now the subject of The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But…, a new “unauthorized biography” of the artist’s life.

Initially, the book was a private memoir for Brown to reflect on his volatile 20-plus years in the entertainment industry.

Author Derrick Handspike, a longtime friend and co-writer of Andre Rison’s autobiography, urged the singer to seriously consider transforming his memoir into a no frills autobiography.


Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Busta Apologizes For 'Arab Money' Misunderstanding

Only hours after expressing his outrage over Busta Rhymes’ controversial song “Arab Money,” Iraqi-born rapper The Narcicyst told AllHipHop.com that he received a personal phone call from Busta himself last night (December 8), apologizing for the misunderstanding created by the song.

According to Narcicyst, the two rappers spent nearly half an hour on the phone discussing Busta’s original intent in making the song, which the veteran rapper says was meant to pay homage to Arab culture.


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Violator All-Star DJ's Drop K-Swift Dedication Album

Violator All-Star DJs and M.I.A. are partnering with Koch Entertainment to celebrate and support the release of the late K-Swift’s Greatest Hits album.

K-Swift, real name Khia Edgerton, died in a tragic pool accident on July 21.

A growing star, Swift at the time of her death had the one of the top rated radio shows in the Baltimore market, and a wildly popular mixtape series entitled The Jump Off.


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Grandmaster Flash Enlists Snoop, Q-Tip, Busta for New Album

Pioneer Hip-Hop turntablist Grandmaster Flash is set to kick off 2009 with a brand new studio album entitled The Bridge: Concept Of a Culture.

Backed by Strut Records and Flash’s very own Adrenaline City Entertainment, the LP marks the DJ's first major label release of all original material since 1988’s On the Strength, the last album that featured the original Furious Five lineup.



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Big Boi, Ludacris, Others Unite For Urban Ball Inaugural Celebration

Ludacris and Big Boi are teaming up. The Atlanta duo is reportedly putting together a show for President-elect Barack Obama. According to a variety of reports, Ludacris and Big Boi have joined forces to host the Urban Ball, part of the American Music Inaugural Balls, an event set to take place in Washington, D.C. on January 20.

T-Pain, David Banner, Cedric the Entertainer, Bobby Valentino, Lil Jon, The Cheetah Girls, Monica and Fantasia Barrino are confirmed to perform, according to various news outlets. Former NBA players Alonzo Mourning, Kenny "The Jet" Smith and Jalen Rose are also said to be confirmed to attend.

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MC Eiht & Nik Bean Talk Mixtape, Squashing CMW Beef

West coast Hip Hop fans this morning may have noticed "Def Wish V" in HipHopDX's audio section. The MC Eiht track comes from Nik Bean's new mixtape with the Compton legend entitled All Starz & Strapz (Streetz of L.A.)

The latest entry in the "Def Wish" series may have come as a surprise to some. Whereas the series began over 15 years ago in Eiht battling DJ Quik in the highly publicized Compton feud between rival gang members and emcees, the latest edition was turned on longtime collaborator and Comptons Most Wanted member Tha Chill.

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T.I. Addreses Young Buck And Killer Mike Rumors

Since moving from LaFace to Atlantic, T.I. has enjoyed a string of success matched by few artists. While his current deal gives him the ability to sign acts to his Grand Hustle imprint, artists such as Big Kuntry and Young Dro have yet to attain a level of critical or commercial success anywhere near that of Tip. According to his recent interview with MTV, two additions to Grand Hustle--one rumored, and one very much in the preliminary phase--may change things

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Sterling Simms Talks Hip Hop, Debut, Soul Renaissance

Listeners first heard Sterling Simms on Jay-Z's "Dig A Hole" from 2006's Kingdom Come album. In the two years since, the 26 year-old Def Jam artist has appeared prominently with rappers, with his Jadakiss-assisted "All I Need" in rotation now.

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Lil Wayne Documentary Will Premier At Sundance

Although a teaser trailer of Lil Wayne's The Carter documentary has been around since the summer, it was recently revealed that it will be unveiled in its entirety at the Sundance film festival.

The film is directed by respected music documentary film maker Adam Bhala Lough. According to various sources, Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Wayne's manager Cortez Bryant will also be featured in the film.

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Topps and Funkmaster Flex Create First DJ Card

Influential New York DJ Funkmaster Flex has announced a brand new partnership with The Topps

Company to unveil the Funk Master Flex autographed card, the first ever awarded to a DJ.


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OJ Simpson Drops Gangsta Rap In Outrageous New Video/DVD

O.J. Simpson’s recent 15-year jail sentence hasn’t prevented him from releasing “Get Juiced,” the NFL Hall of Famer’s first ever rap video.

O.J. Simpon’s new rap video was conceived as a prank for a DVD entitled Juiced, which showcases the controversial football great performing pranks on unsuspecting victims, in the vein of Ashton Kutcher’s Punk’d.

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Actor De'Angelo Wilson In Eminem's '8 Mile' Found Dead

An aspiring Dayton, Ohio actor who starred in Eminem’s hit movie 8 Mile has been found dead of an apparent suicide, AllHipHop.com has confirmed.

Actor De'Angelo Wilson, who starred as “DJ Iz” in 8 Mile, apparently hung himself on November 26, just one day before Thanksgiving.

According to police, Wilson, who also had a role in the hit movie Antwone Fisher, was found dead in the back room of a Los Angeles business, although it took police a week to locate his next of kin.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop