Snoop Dogg Presents Newest West Coast Recruits And More In “The Roundup”

Snoop Dogg is set to introduce his latest proteges Dubb Union, it was announced today; the group is set to release their debut album, Snoop Dogg Presents Dubb Union, September 2 via Doggystyle Records/Koch Records. The trio is comprised of veteran Soopafly, Damani and Bad Lucc. Their LP is scheduled to feature appearances by Tha Doggfather, Kurupt, and Daz. “Dubb Union has accomplished what few can d–create an incredible album that you’re gonna want to bang from top to bottom,” Snoop said in a statement. “Damani, Bad Lucc, and Soopafly have crazy chemistry! And they represent that West Coast unity that I’ve been pushing hard. This is Los Angeles music at its finest- with fresh, new music for the streets, the clubs, and the ladies.” Their first single, “Westurn Union,” will be releases soon and feature a video clip directed by Rik Cordero.

Ludacris is making headlines, but not for an movie or his upcoming headline. Barack Obama’s press aide denounced the Atlanta-based rapper for his recent track “Politics,” where Luda takes Hillary Clinton, Jesse Jackson, and a number of Obama’s rivals, to task, even calling Clinton a “b*tch.” Obama’s camp stated their surprise that an intelligent artist like Ludacris would put together such a song. The song is featured on Luda’s new mixtape with DJ Drama.

Heavy D recently released a new single, “Long Distance Girlfriend,” from his forthcoming album Vibes. However, the Hevster has been credited as working with Junior Reid on the track. The song is all Hev, but the Jamaican artist will appear on the New York’s rapper on a different song. Vibes is due in September.—XXL staff

KRS-One Issues Call To Action For Deejays

Danielle Harling

Former deejay and Hip Hop icon KRS-One is calling for all DJ's to join himself and others for the Million DJ March in Washington D.C. on August 29.

Founded by A. Shaw the purpose of the Million DJ March is to create unity in the DJ community and to inform and inspire through workshops and performances.

"I am a deejay. I started my career as a deejay and a collector of records," KRS-One said in a statement. "The Million DJ March speaks to the longevity of the deejay community. If deejaying is going to survive in to the future, we are going to have to take it a little more seriously than just a party past time."

Music lovers are also encouraged to attend the event since most of the issues concerning the deejay are also relevant to the general public.

"Once and for all, the American public needs to hear from the deejays in a unified voice," KRS-One continued. "There are questions that the American public has for for the deejay and one of the concerns of the American public, for DJ's in every medium, is the lack of responsibility that deejays show to younger ears. The DJ's I know care about the public they play for; many of them are responsible parents themsleves. It is not that DJ's are irresponsible, it is that deejays do not speak in one unified voice on anything."

Speakers and performers at the event will include KRS-One, DJ Chuck T, DJ Dirty Harry, Joell Ortiz [click to read] and more.

For more information on the Million DJ March visit www.themilliondjmarch.com.

Hip Hop Brushes Ludacris/Obama Controversy Off Its Shoulders

Anthony Springer Jr

While the latest controversy involving Ludacris and presidential hopeful Barack Obama continues to be debated amongst pundits and news papers, many in Hip Hop and the black community have brushed the dirt off their shoulders.

In a recent report by the Associated Press, “Cousin” Jeff Johnson and conservative professor John McWhorter, author of "All About the Beat: Why Hip-Hop Can't Save Black America” weighed in on the issue.

While “Politics As Usual” stirred some ire, many are calling Obama’s dismissal of the song little more than politics as usual.

McWhorter: "Of course, Obama and his people have to condemn the rap, because it does say some vulgar things. If you're running for president, you're supposed to be an upstanding individual."

Johnson: "Hip-hoppers and black folks understand the game. They're thinking, 'An Obama who knows how to play the game is still better for me than a McCain.'

"There are a ton of people who clearly are looking for (Obama) to denounce this in order to continue to view him as credible. He, for political purposes, has to separate himself from anything controversially black."

"I'm not aware of hip-hop music [sic] affecting any election so far, and I don't think that this is going to be one, either," McWhorter added.

With voter registration drives occurring all over the country, including one spearheaded by the Obama campaign, record participation from young and black voters could tip the scales in Obama’s favor in a number of southern, typically Republican leaning states.

Plies Lied About Criminal Past?

Paul W Arnold
Hip Hop icon, and creator of the term “thug life,” Tupac Shakur, once confessed that although occasionally sprinkling his rhymes with mentions of felonious activities, he never actually had a record until he made a record.

So too appears to be the case with the arguable Tupac of 2007/2008, Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic Records recording artist, and promoter of his own criminal exploits, Plies. HipHopDX has obtained documentation from the state of Florida that lists the “definition of real” rapper’s first real run-in with the law to have not taken place until two years ago, on April 12, 2006, when Plies - real name Algernod Lanier Washington, born May 22, 1976 - would have been on the eve of his 30th birthday and just beginning his ascension to his current status of gold-certified rap star.

The email printout of the documentation, which appears at the end of this report, was obtained from the Florida Department Of Law Enforcement (FDLE) by paying the $24 fee and searching here [https://www2.fdle.state.fl.us/cchinet/] in the FDLE’s criminal history database for Algernod Washington.

The FDLE’s criminal record for Plies shows that the self-described “goon affiliated, ex drug dealer” who’s “resume solid, street cred bigger” has been arrested just twice within his home state of Florida during his adult life, with both arrests taking place two years ago.

The 32-year-old was arrested for the first time at the age of 29 on April 12, 2006 for the misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence.

The latter of his two adult arrests came during a well-publicized shooting at a Gainesville, Florida nightclub after a Plies performance on July 2, 2006. According to reports, members of the rapper’s entourage, including his older brother, Ronell “Big Gates” Lavatte, pulled out guns and fired in the club after Plies, who’s performance was running long, became angry when his microphone was cut off so that Lil Boosie could begin to perform.

Plies’ career guide/older brother, and another man, Troy Denard Carnegie, were both charged with attempted murder, each accused of firing at least three rounds in the club that night. According to reports, Big Gates has only one more year to serve on his sentence for his involvement in the shooting, but a Ronell Lavatte cannot be located in the Florida Department Of Corrections offender search here [http://www.dc.state.fl.us/InmateInfo/InmateInfoMenu.asp] to verify that claim. However, a search for Mr. Carnegie here [http://www.dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=522963802] revealed that he is scheduled to be released from custody on June 20, 2010.

Unlike his brother and Mr. Carnegie, Plies was charged with just a misdemeanor count for possession of a concealed weapon after police found loaded firearms in the vehicle he and his entourage were riding in. He posted a $50,000 bond shortly thereafter and was released. Plies served no known jail time after later pleading no contest to the charge.

He has however subsequently been sued by five Gainesville residents who claim they were the victims of the shooting at the concert and are seeking $10 million in damages [click to read]. Plies’ attorney has publicly stated in response to the lawsuit that if they’re suing the rapper, they’re “suing the wrong person.”

HipHopDX’s search of the FDLE’s database for Plies’ entire criminal history was pursued after learning that records existed in another criminal database available to the public, that of Lee County, Florida, home to Plies’ native Fort Myers, Florida, which showed that the rapper had been cited for a handful of traffic offenses but never had any criminal charges brought against him.

This record was obtained by searching here [http://www.leeclerk.org/Crim_defendant_Name_sel.asp], with results showing that Plies run-ins with the Fort Myers Police Department during his adult life appear to have been limited to five traffic stops (two in 1997, one in 1999, and two in 2002) and citations for unknowingly not having his driver’s license on him, having too dark of tint on his car windows, and playing his car stereo too loud.

These traffic offenses are not included in the FDLE’s report on all of Plies’ criminal history within the state of Florida because according to the FDLE website no results are returned for “a misdemeanor other than those required to be submitted to FDLE under Florida Statutes.”

DX also searched the public criminal records databases for Hillsborough County here [http://www.hillsclerk.com/publicweb/Search_Court_Records.aspx] (which houses Plies’ current known residence in Tampa, Florida), and Miami-Dade County here [http://www.miami-dadeclerk.com/cjis/search4.asp] (which is home to his record label, Slip-N-Slide Records) prior to confirming all of Plies’ criminal activities within the state of Florida via the FDLE’s report. Both countywide searches yielded no records of criminal activity for an Algernod Washington. The Hillsborough County search revealed only a handful of civil filings against Plies, including for unpaid rent.
t should be noted however that none of these county databases nor the FDLE’s report includes any juvenile criminal record that might have existed for Plies prior to his 18th birthday in 1994, or any federal criminal charges that might have been levied against the rapper in the 14 years since.

And, as is commonly understood, the absence of an arrest record is never absolute proof of the complete absence of one’s criminal activity.

However, it’s been documented in previous articles on the “realest” street scribe in Hip Hop today that Plies’ time was mostly consumed in the mid-to-late ‘90’s attending college at either Miami University in Oxford, Ohio – where he reportedly played on the football team – or the University of South Florida in Tampa, or both schools (there are conflicting reports regarding his collegiate career, and DX was unable to substantiate any as of press time).

And while crime has clearly hovered around the rapper’s day-to-day life in recent years, impacting him indirectly via the aforementioned incarceration of his older brother and the recent arrest of his manager [click to read], first person accounts of criminal activities on Plies’ part are conspicuously scarce in his raw rhymes. Instead, sympathetic laments on the cruelties experienced by family members and friends at the hands of an oftentimes merciless justice system, and not his own personal experiences, can be found in most of his material.

But there are the occasional past tense references to what appear to be claims of his own criminal activity. One glaring example can be found during his lament on the suffering his alleged criminal activities caused his mother on “Runnin My Momma Crazy,” in which he recollects: “Remember the nights, me sittin' up in a cold cell/I'm wakin' ya up out'cha sleep, it's me callin' you from jail.” While passionate, his verse’s claim that he was ever in a “cold cell” now appears to be untruthful, as according to the FDLE’s report Plies was never in jail for any period of time prior to 2006.

In addition to fallacious statements in song, Plies has also produced a contemptuous image for himself on the screen, including his portrayal as a high rollin’ drug dealer in the video clip for “Worth Goin Fed Fo” [click to watch ].

Recent “outings” of fellow Floridian, and Slip-N-Slide labelmate, Rick Ross [click to read], as well as “Hypnotized” collaborator Akon [click to read ] have shone a new light on the exaggerated, and in some instances completely fabricated, biographies crafted by too many of today’s Hip Hop artists.

These personal “stories” highlight phantom criminal backgrounds in an attempt to boost so-called “street cred” with fans who often are not living such lives and are therefore attracted to these tall tales of Tony Montana-esque (or in Plies’ case, O-Dog-style) criminal prowess and/or success. These fake personas proving to be alarmingly irresponsible when absorbed by the equally impressionable, but oftentimes far more impoverished, segment of the Hip Hop audience who believe with a dangerous literalism that they too can lead lives of crime ala fictional movie criminals or equally fictional rap criminals and yet in still eventually become an unimprisoned Hip Hop celebrity.

And while fabricated bios are nothing new to Hip Hop, even claiming the careers of some artists (see Vanilla Ice), unlike most emcees of yesteryear like the aforementioned Tupac, who balanced his occasionally outlandish claims of dope dealing and gang banging with cautionary tales of the pitfalls involved in a life of crime (see “Shorty Wanna Be A Thug,” “Young Niggaz,” etc), Plies seems more oblivious to maintaining any artistic responsibility, instead recklessly crafting a seemingly strategic image and seeking to capitalize on fraudulent claims of criminal activity all the while declaring to be Hip Hop’s undiluted truth teller, personifying all that is “real.”

It’s now abundantly apparent that Plies has forsaken being fully forthright with his fans, failing to make the crucial distinction that those around him, and not he, are the real victims of our nation’s often flawed justice system, and that he is merely observing and reporting their experiences within a life of crime and not his own.

Representatives for Plies could not be reached for comment on this report as of press time.

FDLE record for Plies is below (each charge and date of the two offenses have been highlighted)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: internetcriminalresults@fdle.state.fl.us
Date: Jul 25, 2008 1:39 PM
Subject: FDLE Criminal History Search Results
To:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Criminal History


--FLORIDA CCH RESPONSE--
ATN/ANONCCHINET/CCHINET/
FC.DLE/6531501.PUR/P.ATN/ANONCCHINET/CCHINET/
SID NUMBER: 6531501 PURPOSE CODE:P PAGE: 1
BECAUSE ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS MAY BE MADE AT ANY TIME,
A NEW COPY SHOULD BE REQUESTED WHEN NEEDED FOR FUTURE USE
- FLORIDA CRIMINAL HISTORY -
NAME STATE ID NO. FBI NO. DATE REQUESTED
WASHINGTON, ALGERNOD FL-06531501 07/25/2008
SEX RACE BIRTH DATE HEIGHT WEIGHT EYES HAIR BIRTH PLACE SKIN DOC NO.
M B 05/22/1976 5'06'' 155 BRO BLK FL
--CONTINUED--
SID NUMBER: 6531501 PURPOSE CODE:P PAGE: 2

FINGERPRINT CLASS SOCIAL SECURITY NO. MISCELLANEOUS NO. SCR/MRK/TAT
XXX-XX-5534 TAT R ARM
IN AFIS - 2
OCCUPATION ADDRESS CITY/STATE
ARTIST TAMPA, FL

AKA DOB SOC SCR/MRK/TAT

WASHINGTON, ALGERNOD LANIER

ARREST- 1 04/12/2006 OBTS NO.-5801089558
--CONTINUED--

SID NUMBER: 6531501 PURPOSE CODE:P PAGE: 3

ARREST AGENCY-SARASOTA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE (FL0580000)
AGENCY CASE-5802005471 OFFENSE DATE-04/12/2006
CHARGE 001-RESISTING OFFICER-
OBST OR OPPOSING WO VIOL
STATUTE/ORDINANCE-FL843.02 LEVEL-MISDEMEANOR,1ST DEG
DISP-

ARREST- 2 07/02/2006 OBTS NO.-0102078353
ARREST AGENCY-GAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT (FL0010100)
AGENCY CASE- OFFENSE DATE-07/02/2006
CHARGE 001-CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON-
ELECTRIC WEAPON OR DEVICE ,PRINCIPAL
STATUTE/ORDINANCE-FL790.01(1) LEVEL-MISDEMEANOR,1ST DEG
--CONTINUED--

SID NUMBER: 6531501 PURPOSE CODE:P PAGE: 4

DISP-HELD
CONCEALED WEPON
JUDICIAL-
AGENCY-8TH CIRCUIT COURT - GAINESVILLE (FL001015J)
CHARGE 001 -COURT SEQ COURT NO.-012006CF003156XXXDXX
SUPPLEMENTAL ARREST DATA-
STATUS- LEVEL-FELONY ,3RD DEG
PROSC DATA-AMENDED ,CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON-
POSSESSION OF CONCEALED FIREARM
STATUTE/ORDINANCE- LEVEL-FELONY ,3RD DEG
DISP DATE-03/05/2007 DISP-N/A
COURT DATA-REDUCED ,CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON-
CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON ELECTRIC WEAPON OR D
--CONTINUED--

SID NUMBER: 6531501 PURPOSE CODE:P PAGE: 5

STATUTE/ORDINANCE-FL790.01 LEVEL-MISDEMEANOR,1ST DEG
STATUTE DESCRIPTN-CONCEALED WEAPON
DISP DATE-08/09/2007 DISP-ADJ WITHHELD
COUNSEL-PRIVATE TRIAL- PLEA-NOLO CONTENDRE
SENT DATE-08/09/2007
FINE- COURT COST- $176
SPECIAL SENTENCE PROVISIONS-NOT APPLICABLE

THIS RECORD CONTAINS FLORIDA INFORMATION ONLY. WHEN EXPLANATION OF A CHARGE
OR DISPOSITION IS NEEDED, COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THE AGENCY THAT CONTRIBU-
TED THE RECORD INFORMATION. IF YOU DID NOT SUBMIT FINGERPRINTS, THIS RECORD IS
PROVIDED AS A RESULT OF A NAME INQUIRY ONLY. POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION CAN ONLY
BE VERIFIED BY SUBMISSION OF A FINGERPRINT CARD AND COMPARISON BY FDLE. THIS
--CONTINUED--

SID NUMBER: 6531501 PURPOSE CODE:P PAGE: 6

RECORD WAS REQUESTED PURSUANT TO 943.053(3), F.S.
AS MANDATED BY FLORIDA STATUTE 119.071(5), FULL SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBERS ARE NOW EXEMPT FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
AND MAY BE DISCLOSED ONLY TO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND
CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ENTITIES (UPON A SHOWING OF BUSINESS
NECESSITY AS DEFINED BY THE LAW). FDLE WILL, HOWEVER,
RELEASE THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
EXAMPLE: XXX XX 1234.
THIS CONTAINS FLORIDA RECORD ONLY.
UNKNOWN AS TO NATIONAL RECORD STATUS.
END OF RECORD

--END--

hiphopdx.com

Kidz In The Hall Assaulted By Club Security, Arrested and Hospitalized

Jake Paine

Kidz In The Hall [click to read] are currently on tour with Rock The Bells. After stellar performances in Chicago last week, the duo of Naledge and Double O did not appear in yesterday's performance at Columbia, Maryland due to an altercation after a Saturday performance in Tempe, Arizona.

Although formal details have yet to be released, a reported eyewitness contacted HipHopDX over the weekend to claim that they witnessed group producer Double O in a physical altercation with several club owners and bodyguards. Although the source was not sure why the club staff was involved, suggesting it may have been from a dispute with another patron. The report stated, "After being grabbed up by one bouncer and put in a headlock, at least four other bouncers came over pulled Double O to the floor, and began kicking and beating him."

Following that, police intervened, arresting partner Naledge for what appeared to be taking pictures of the aforementioned beating. Rock The Bells reps told HipHopDX in Maryland that injuries resulted in Double O going to the hospital on Saturday. There was no additional information available on either Kidz In The Hall's present whereabouts or condition.

hiphopdx.com

Las Vegas Hosts National Hip Hop Political Convention Aug 1st

Author: Anthony Springer Jr
The City of Sin will turn into the city of progress this week when the National Hip Hop Political Convention holds its third bi-annual convention at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 1-3.

Workshops and panel discussions will anchor the meeting of the minds, with several prominent artists and activists scheduled to attend.

“We’re going to have a number of panels featuring Jeff Chang, Rosa Clemente and other artists and activists in the Hip Hop community,” Heather Sanchez of the Las Vegas Local Organizing Committee says of the event. “The most important thing is the agenda, how we come together collectively to decide on the issues that affect us the most.”

The agenda Sanchez speaks of is the living document, meant to be a starting point for the Hip Hop community to identify and then address issues affecting poor, urban communities and the Hip Hop generation as a whole. Due to the diversity of the culture, Sanchez anticipates a variety of issues will be reflected in the final document, which is updated at every convention.

“Everything from health care, lack of jobs in urban communities, police brutality… a number of different things.”

With 2008 shaping up to be one of the most critical elections in the history of the country, many are wondering where Hip Hop fits into the equation. “We start with grassroots activism,” Sanchez says. “We have to come together to establish our own issues first. We do it as a collective”

The coming together part has often been a daunting task. When it comes to Hip Hop’s love affair with politics, the audience can often become polarized, divided by those who listen to artists who speak on social issues versus those who make more commercial music. Despite the labels and the battles the Hip Hop generation places on itself, the NHHPC is an inclusive organization, and needs input from all facets of the culture.

“Overall we try not to put that barrier on ourselves. Those of us who are true Hip Hop heads don’t see [labels]. We’re not very critical of one another, how we dress, look, or think. The NHHPC is comprised of a lot of people who don’t see conscious vs. street. We don’t criticize either side, we try to stay in the middle so we can reach more people. We want everybody to come and build with us regardless of what kind of music they like."

“If you consider yourself part of the Hip Hop community, it’s in your best interest to attend. We’re going to give you the tools to go out and make change in your community.”

For the first time in NHHPC history, the convention will be able to address a presidential candidate. Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney is scheduled to speak during the closing session.

“Cynthia is a long time supporter of the NHHPC. We’re non partisan so we don’t back any particular candidate. However, we like some of her views and believe she represents the Hip Hop community. She got in touch with us and we invited her out. She’ll be addressing the body at Sunday’s closing session.”

Coming second to the formation of the agenda is perhaps the convention’s aspect of educating its participants, something Sanchez feels is lost in many of the voter education drives that take place throughout the country.

“Voter education is important. We have kids voting based on what their parents’ affiliations are or what their friends are saying or because Barack is black or Hillary’s a woman. Conventions like this will allow people to make a more informed decision when they vote.”

For those who cannot make the trip out, there are a number of ways to contribute to the cause of the NHHPC.

“They can visit the website (www.NHHPC.org) and see if there’s a local organizing committee in their area. We have MySpace pages, and the links are on the web site. We can help people get one started in the area if one doesn’t already exist.”

Tentative schedule for the NHHPC Convention in Las Vegas:

Friday, August 1, 2008

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Attendee Registration

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Morning Caucusing

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM Opening, Convention History & Purpose (TJ Crawford)

9:30 AM – 10:45 AM Plenary A – Criminalization of A Generation

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM Break Out Sessions (workshops & panels)
Killing Me Softly: Tasers and Other Lethal Weapons
• NHHPC - Starting Up a Local Organizing Committee
Genvote Track
Developing and Effective Message
- Making Voter Guides
- Visionary Audacious Actions
- Bogart the Media

Film Screening: Black August (116 mins)

Noon Caucuses

12:15 PM – 1:30 PM Black and Brown Solidarity Luncheon

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM Break Out Sessions #2 (workshops & panels)
• Speak Youth to Power-Media Justice
• The Transformative Power of Broadband Technology
• Climate Justice: A Generations Challenge
• Asian/Pacific Islanders in Hip Hop Culture and Activism
Genvote Track
• Ideas into Action- YP4
• Strategy Session (3 hours)
• Introduction to Nonviolent Direct Action (3 hours)
• Bogart the Media (3 hours)


3:00 PM – 4:15 PM Breakout Session #3 (workshops & panels)
Media Literacy – OneHood
Grassroots Lobbying
Know Your Rights
Who You Callin' a B!@tch?


4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Plenary B - Gender

7:00 PM – 11:00 Pool Party @ Alexis Park Resort

Saturday, August 2, 2008

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Attendee Registration

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Morning Causing

9:00 AM – 10:15 AM Plenary C – Hurricane Katrina/Rita Victims and Advocates

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Break Out Sessions #4 (workshops, panels and trainings)

Genvote Track
• Strategic Campaign Planning (3 hours)
• Nonviolent Direct Action Planning (3 hours)
• Bird Dogging (3 hours)

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM Break Out Sessions / Panels
• Economic Justice
• Unlock the Future: Prevent Youth Incarceration
• Political Prisoners, Prisoners of War and the SF8
• Conscious Contradictions: New Modes of Sexism, Racism and Consumption in Rap and Hip Hop
• Using the Art Form Inside and Outside the Classroom
• Climate Justice 101
• Climate Justice: A Generations Challenge
• Media Boot Camp
Genvote Track
Voter ID, Registration, and Get Out The Vote
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch
“The Cipher Live” Meet & Greet Luncheon

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM Plenary D – Electoral Politics and the Social Justice Movement

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM Panel
The Artists as Activists
Turf Unity: Can Hip-Hop Stop the Violence?

3:00 PM – 5:30 PM The National Hip Hop Political Convention
Agenda, Resolutions


3:00 PM – 4:15 PM Break Out Session (workshop)
Peer-to-Peer Organizing: How to Get Your Friends Voting and Engaged
Youth Speaks Creative Writer's Workshop
Krumpin' 101

3:00 PM – 5:30 PM Film Screenings: Beyond Beats and Rhymes with Byron Hurt 3 The Corporation

8:00 PM – 11:00 PM Awards Banquet @ Alexis Park Resort (appetizers)
featuring the Welfare Poets
Sunday, August 3, 2008

9:00 AM – 10:15 AM Interfaith Worship Service/Choir


10:30 Am – 11:45 AM Where and When Hip Hop, Spirituality, the Spirit of Resistance and Liberation Theology Meet

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Presentation by Cynthia McKinney, Next Steps, Announcements, Closing

12:45 PM - Finalization of the National Hip Hop Political Agenda (if needed)
hiphopdx.com

Spice 1 Rides For Ice-T Against Soulja Boy

Author: Edwin Ortiz

Being from California himself, it would be obvious that Spice 1 was on Ice-T’s side in the war of words with Soulja Boy [click to read]. Talking to PushinTheBayTV, Spice had some words of his own in the dawn of the feud.

Amazed by the change that has taken place since he came out the gates in 1991, Spice explained the way in which the streets would handle a verbal bashing like that of Soulja Boy’s. “We are in 2008 man, that’s all I know. When I think like that I’m like damn we are really in the fuckin’ future. This nigga’s got balls to say something to Ice…nigga’s will look for you and hunt your ass down and take your head off partner. They will cut your balls off and hand them to your little young ass.”

Belittling his name, Spice 1 ridiculed Soulja Boy on his attempt to be something he isn’t. “You think you a soldier, boy? You’re not a soldier, you a boy, nigga. I respect what you doing cause you dancing for the kids, but don’t try to take it there with these G’s out here in Cali, nigga.”

Spice 1 ended his statement with words of caution, hoping to get through to Soulja Boy. “I don’t know who listens to Spice 1. Soulja Boy could be a fan, I don’t know. But as far as you going against Ice-T, let that shit go.”

hiphopdx.com

Rappers Weigh In On Rick Ross

Author: Andres Tardio

As we reported earlier this month, reports have been surfacing regarding Rick Ross' past. According to reports from TheSmokingGun.com, "The Biggest Boss We've Seen Thus Far" may have worked as a correctional officer when he was 19. The reports cite social security numbers, photos and graduation documents from the Florida Department of Corrections Training Academy.

Ross has vehemently denied that the claims have any truth to them. Now, other emcees are responding to the allegations and giving their take on the situation.

The Clipse's Malice spoke on his views, saying that he wished Ross would have never denied the allegations if they were indeed truthful. When asked if this would affect him, he replied that it wouldn't do much.

"I think real niggas won't think so. That don't mean what he's talking about [in his rhymes] ain't true. The thing I wish is he came clean, if in fact that is him [in the photos]. 'Cause you ain't gotta make no excuses for whatever you did. You might have thought differently at one point in time. I don't think that should discredit that man," he told MTV.

The other half of The Clipse, Pusha T's didn't speak much on the matter.

"I'm not even going to go that far into it. I don't know what it's gonna do to him, what it can or what it should do to him. I know the hip-hop community has given passes for much [worse]," he added.

Fabolous' advice is simple: keep making hits.

"I don't know if it will really hurt him. As an artist, I think Rick Ross makes great music. He's always shown me love and respect whenever I met him. Everybody has a past. I don't know if [being a prison guard] is his past or not. That's not my place to say. I think if he continues to do what he does, sweep all that garbage under the rug — you know what? That's success. That's success taking a shot back at him. All of a sudden past pictures come up. He should just keep doing what he do," Fab told MTV.

Maino's take came in a video interview over at Blogxilla. He voiced his disappointment.

"I'm disappointed. I'm really disappointed. I pride myself on being 100 percent who I am. If I went to college and had a job before, I would just say that. ... Him, in my opinion, I just think he should have just addressed it. ... 'Look, man. I was 19. It was a part of my life. ... I got to the coke later.' I don't have a problem with what he was doing before the rap game. That ain't my beef with him. The thing is, he was denying he was doing it. He said [the pictures] was Photoshopped and wasn't real."

hiphopdx.com

Murs & 9th Wonder Give Third Album Away For Free

Author: Jake Paine

After critical success in both Murs 3:16 [click to read] and Murray's Revenge [click to read], Los Angeles emcee Murs and Raleigh producer 9th Wonder [click to read] are giving their third album, Sweet Lord, away for free. Made available for free, unlimited download at MursAnd9thWonder.com, Sweet Lord features 10 originally composed and written tracks.

The effort, which is sponsored by skateboard company and clothier Hurley, is also accepting free donations via Paypal, similar to the approach used by Radiohead with last year's In Rainbows. The release comes as the second this month for 9th Wonder, who produced the entire Jeanius album [click to read] by Jean Grae.

As for Murs, he is planning a mid-September release for his Murs For President album, the emcee's major label debut on Warner Brothers. The album features guest appearances, including Snoop Dogg.

Sweet Lord can be streamed in its entirely on HipHopD

Young Jeezy "Puts On," Goes At Fox News

Author: Edwin Ortiz

Young Jeezy’s single “Put On” has been a hot commodity these days as it currently sits at #28 on the Hot 100 billboard chart. Speaking with Fader TV, Jeezy talked about his description of “putting on,” the music video for “Put On,” and his opinion on Fox News.

Setting up the current scenario of a dope dealer attempting to maintain his look, Jeezy put into context the reality of the situation. “Every other Friday he gonna take $200 and get some new kicks, new pants, new fitted hat, and he’s puttin’ on. He fucked up, but it don’t matter…No matter what’s going on with them, they never let you see that. And I feel like that’s what we going through right now. The government’s got us fucked up, they got us down. You can’t ever see us sweat though, [we] just put on.”

Earlier this week, Young Jeezy released the music video for “Put On” featuring Kanye West. The image of a black and silver flag is spotted throughout, to which Jeezy explained as a historic symbol. “To me it symbolizes change…The flag has been red, white and blue forever. And look what we’ve been going through. Black and silver to me are strong colors. It’s like when the Raiders was the greatest. You just wanted to wear black and silver.”

When asked if he was ready for media backlash because of the rogue flag colors, Jeezy immediately fired away at Hip Hop’s most hated TV network. “Man, fuck Fox News, like for real. They tried to ban me on my first album. Look what you teach our people every day. It’s poison, almost like brainwash.”

Young Jeezy has also announced that every Tuesday at 9:02 pm, he will put out a new song on usda2day.com until The Recession comes out on September 2nd.

hiphopdx.com