Hip-Hop World Doesn’t Forget Isaac Hayes October 3, 2008

It was nice to read that the hip-hop world, including Cee-Lo, Public Enemy and Scarface, remembered Isaac Hayes, who died in August at the age of 65, at last night’s VH1’s Fifth Annual Hip-Hop Awards at The Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. 

According to AllHipHop.com:

A number of rappers and R&B singers paid homage to the Hayes, who influenced several generations of artists with his musical genius.

Public Enemy performed songs like “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos,” which incorporated a portion of Hayes’ classic track “Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic.”

Scarface rapped his verse on “My Mind’s Playing Tricks on Me,” which utilized a sample from Hayes’ track “Hung Up On My Baby,” from the album Tough Guys.

Scarface was influenced by all of Hayes’ album, including Hayes’ groundbreaking release Black Moses, which earned acclaimed for its fold-out album artwork, in addition to its extended grooves, which was unheard of from a black artist.

“Black Moses, s**t, that’s my n**a, he’s a bad mother f***er,” Scarface told AllHipHop.com. “My most memorable moment [was] with Isaac Hayes in Virgin Studios for four or five hours. I was showing him my reels and we just kicked it talking about everything. After that, he had an interview in The Source, and spoke real highly of me.”

Estelle, Mos Def and Cee-Lo also played songs that Hayes composed or sang.

The awards, which airs Monday, was hosted by comedian Tracy Morgan.

You Haven’t Heard This: T-Pain & Chris Brown October 3, 2008

Everyone “Freeze” T-Pain and Chris Brown are BACK! Hmmmmmmmmm, now this is a club banger for SURE! Chris Breezy and T-Peezy link up once again to tear down every club from here to Alaska (what up Palin, lol????). Not sure whether or not if this is the second single from T-Pain’s ,Thr33 Ringz circus, but it needs to be something and it needs to be something fast.

I can only imagine what the video is going to look like for this tune. Excuse me while I jump on top of my desk and begin to Harlem Shake uncontrollably (Oh, I’m really Harlem Shaking right now). Tell me this, what do you guys think of a Chris Brown/T-Pain album????

T-Pain ft. Chris Brown- Freeze (Produced By T-Pain) 

Swagger Like Us: The R&B Edition??? October 3, 2008

R&B’s top crooners to show off their “Swagga”???I know you guys aren’t swaggered out just yet, are you? Good, because word on the street, R&B’s top guns are gearing up for the “Swagger Like Us”:R&B Edition. Yup, you heard right, the R&B world wants to show off their swagger as well. Ok ladies, I know your itching to find out who plans to lay their swaggerific vocals over the Kanye production, so here it goes. SLU: The R&B Edition participants include; Chris Brown, Neyo, Usher, and T-Pain. WOW!
Though the track has yet to be complete, one of the SLU R&B participants did state all parties have discussed collaborating on the track, but conflicting schedules have prohibited them from coming together to complete the task.

Could this be one of the dopest R&B collabo’s???

Swagger Like Us: The Dipset Edition October 3, 2008

And the battle begins….. Before I dive into this, may I point out that this instrumental has become the new “A Milli” beat. I mean the surge in popularity in regards to this song is becoming astronomical. First it was the OG version that set the industry ablaze, then it was chatter of a remix (distributed by yours truly), then we heard the R&B cats wanted in (distributed by yours truly) and now the exclusive queen herself has revealed them Dipset Dudes are about to take a nice lil stab at the record and its participants.

Miss Info reports, “Now, I’m hearing that Jim Jones, Juelz Santana and Lil Wayne have recorded yet another version….The hook goes: “All these other rappers jack swagger from us.” LOL. And it seems this song, “Swaggerjack from Us” will be on Jim Jones’ solo album, which drops right in the thick of things, on Dec 9th.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa….Wayne’s on this version???? Doesn’t the hook sound like a scathing backhand to Hov, T.I. and Kanye since they’re the ONLY ones to officially rap on the track??? Wayne playing both sides of the fence on this one.

Lil Jon Says Britney’s Album ‘Will Be Big’ October 3, 2008

Britney Spears’s upcoming album, Circus, promises to deliver club-banging dance hits that will land her back on top, according to music producer and rapper Lil Jon.

“It’s going to be a big album,” he told PEOPLE at the VH1 Save the Music Hip Hop Honors after party in New York Thursday night. “Britney is very intelligent and she’s really set up [for success],”says Jon, who is one of the album’s producers. “She is focused and she wants it again, so it’s definitely going to happen for her.”

He also expects the record to be a mainstay in the clubs. “Her stuff is all about making people party,” he says.

Spears’s last album, Blackout, stalled due to her much-publicized personal drama. Rapper Fabolous, who remixed the single “Break the Ice,” told reporters at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors taping earlier in the night that “we weren’t able to do a video because of her condition at the time.”

He adds: “A lot of people count her out, but she’s been able to bounce back from adversity. She’s back looking, if not as good as before, even better. I would love to do more remixes for Britney.”

Spears is set to release Circus on Dec. 2, her 27th birthday. She debuted the first single, “Womanizer,” last month on New York’s radio station Z100. She told the radio show that a tour is “definitely” in the works for next year.

Can A Man Be Faithful? October 3, 2008

By The Fly Guy

Fly Guy Note: I have already taken the time to send a personal email back to this reader sharing my views on her situation. She did, however, ask that I also share the letter with the group to also gain a sense of the thoughts of her peers. So after reading the letter, please share your thoughts.

Hi Fly Guy.

I am a lurker on your site and one day I will have the nerve to comment. I love your site! In the meantime, I would really like your advice on something that’s really bothering me. A love interest of mine (soon to be former) has told me that he believes that no man can be faithful. He hangs around younger and older men (say early 40s) and he says that they all cheat on their wives and girlfriends. Due to this, he says he will never be faithful. He says that at some point in every man’s relationship, he will go on a “date” or step out on his woman:::piece of my heart just died:::

Anyway, I know better than this. I am not so scorned to believe that every man I date is going to cheat on me. I just want you and your followers to chime in on this subject. Maybe you guys will inspire me to continue on in the dating game or maybe you all will prepare me for a spinster life living with my nine cats. lol! Either way, what say you?

Thanks for your time.

No ‘Rap City’; Oscar Robinson lawsuit; ‘L Word’ return; Whoopi’s “Heroes,” Tiger’s tournament; Diddy scared of Sarah Palin October 3, 2008

BET is cancelling its 20-year-old series “Rap City,” according to the network’s Sound Off blog.  The show has reportedly lost financial sponsorship this year and ratings have been sliding for some time. The show began in 1989 with host Chris Thomas (known as “The Mayor”). In 1999, the show changed its name to “Rap City: Tha Basement” and featured host Big Tigger. The show will be replaced on Nov 10 by “The Deal,” which will play “the latest and great videos that include pop-up information, facts and quirky tidbits on the artist and/or the song itself,” notes BET.

 

      *Basketball legend Oscar Robinson is being sued for allegedly fleecing a company he controlled and sharing the money with his family. According to TMZ.com, the federal lawsuit was filed in Pennsylvania by Leo Kelly, who claims he partnered up with Robinson to run a document management company – only to find that Robinson was drawing more than 90% of the company’s funds for himself and his family for things like travel and entertainment. Kelly said he was fired after complaining.

 

       *Showtime has announced that its original series “The L Word,” will premiere its sixth and final season on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 9 p.m.  Core cast members, including Jennifer Beals and Pam Grier, will return for the eight-episode closing run. Showtime previously announced that series creator Ilene Chaiken is writing a pilot presentation for a spinoff built around Leisha Hailey’s Alice character.

 

       *Whoopi Goldberg joins Bruce Springsteen, Ricky Gervais and more celebs for the second annual “Stand Up for Heroes: A Benefit for the Bob Woodruff Foundation” at Town Hall in New York City at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Whoopi and James Niven of Sotheby’s will serve as special guest auctioneers. In honor of the United States’ injured service members, the evening promises unforgettable performances, laughter, and sincere gratitude, with proceeds going to the BWF. Tickets for this event are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com and www.nycomedyfestival.com. 

 

       *Tiger Woods’ AT&T National golf tournament will return to Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. for an additional three years after members voted to bring the successful event back to the Blue Course. The new term for the PGA Tour event runs from 2012-2014 with an additional three year option for 2015-2017. Woods will return to Congressional Country Club for the 2009 AT&T National that will be held on July 1-5. The tournament has not yet announced a location for the 2010 and 2011 events while Congressional Country Club hosts the U.S. Open.

 

       *Sean “Diddy” Combs has released another vlog – this time about Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. He films the video under bedsheets to underscore how afraid he is of the Alaska governor possibly becoming the next President of the United States should John McCain win and die while in office. View clip below: 

 

Diddy’s Latest Vlog “Sarah Palin Scares Me”

OBAMA BITS October 3, 2008

NBC and MSNBC have forced YouTube to remove an ad supporting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Entitled “Bad News,” the clip features the voices of NBC news vet Tom Brokaw and MSNBC host Keith Olbermann in a mock report of Republican Sen. John McCain winning the election. The sibling networks have been accused by McCain supporters of showing favoritism to Obama. When the two networks initially sent a cease and desist letter to the Obama camp last week demanding that it withdraw the ad, the campaign instead merely attached a disclaimer, reading “NBC and MSNBC did not cooperate in the making of this video.” “That is not good enough,” an NBC spokeswoman said afterwards.

 

      *Gossip blogger Janet Charlton is reporting that Oprah Winfrey gave Obama a special present following his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. “She wanted to give him an exceptional gift suitable for a presidential candidate and she turned to a private dealer who specialized in historical items,” wrote Charlton. “Price didn’t matter and Oprah found the perfect gift for Barack – she gave him a rare and highly collectible fountain pen that belonged to JFK.”

 

       *Republican John McCain has called it quits in Michigan after recent polls suggest the important battleground state is leaning toward Obama. The GOP nominee is reportedly removing staff, halting advertising and canceling visits to the Midwestern state, which offers 17 electoral votes. Resources will be sent to Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida and other competitive states, reports the AP.

METH AND RED REUNITE FOR FALL TOUR October 3, 2008

Method Man and Redman will reteam for a headlining tour scheduled to hit more than 35 cities through late November and will feature opening support from New York rapper Termanology, reports Live Daily.

 

      The pair kicks things off Oct. 10 in Providence, RI, with stops along the way in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, Seattle, West Hollywood and Dallas. [See full itinerary below.]

 

      Redman and Method Man, who have released a pair of albums together, co-starred in the 2001 comedy film “How High.” According to reports, Redman recently announced to a festival crowd in Boston that the duo were working on a sequel to the movie, with filming set to begin early next year, as well as a true follow-up to their 1999 debut together, “Blackout!”

 

       Method Man’s most recent release is “Back to Back: Raw & Uncut.” He’s said in several interviews that he is working on a new solo album set for release later this year or early in 2009, to be titled “Crystal Method.”      

       Redman released his sixth solo effort, “Red Gone Wild,” in March of last year after numerous delays.       

       Below is the tour itinerary for Method Man and Redman:

October 2008
10 – Providence, RI – Lupo’s
12 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
13 – Worcester, MA – Palladium
14 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
15 – Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
17 – New York, NY – Nokia Theater
18 – Richmond, VA – Toad’s Place
19 – Baltimore, MD – Sonar
21 – Bloomington, IN – Bluebird
22 – Cincinnati, OH – Mad Hatter
23 – Detroit, MI – Crofoot Ballroom
24 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues
27 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
29 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
30 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Tavern
31 – Salt Lake City, UT – Murray Theatre

November 2008
2 – Bellingham, WA – Western Washington University
4 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theatre
5 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
6 – Arcata, CA – Humboldt State University
7 – San Francisco, CA – Grand Ballroom
8 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst
9 – Petaluma, CA – Phoenix Theater
11 – West Hollywood, CA – House Of Blues
13 – San Diego, CA – Cane’s
14 – Phoenix, AZ – Marquee Theater
15 – Albuquerque, NM – Albuquerque Convention Center
16 – Dallas, TX – House Of Blues
18 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s BBQ
19 – Houston, TX – House Of Blues
21 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theater
22 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
23 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
25 – Norfolk, VA – NorVa Theatre
26 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
28 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony
29 – Hartford, CT – Webster Theatre

JAMES EARL JONES TO RECEIVE SAG HONOR October 3, 2008

 

       “James Earl Jones’ distinguished career on stage, in film, on television, in commercials and as a vocal presence without peer commands our admiration and respect,” says SAG president Alan Rosenberg. “His long and quiet devotion to advancing literacy, the arts and humanities on a national and local scale deserves our appreciation. It is our honor to bestow the Guild’s highest tribute on this extraordinary actor.”

 

       Jones’ Broadway debut came as an understudy in 1957’s “The Egghead.” In 1969, the actor won his first Tony for his role as Jack Johnson in “The Boxer.” In 1970, he nabbed Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for the screen adaptation of the Rialto production.       

       His screen resume includes “The Hunt for Red October,” “Clear and Present Danger,” “Coming to America” and the voice of Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” franchise.       

       The 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be held Jan. 25, and simulcast on TNT and TBS.