The Hip-Hop Herald 10.22.09: Look Out For Detox!

Posted by Patrick Robinson on 10.22.2009

This week, Soulja Boy faces eviction from his home, Lil Wayne has another child, album and mixtape on the way, 50 Cent talks Game and Dre working together again as well as poking fun at Fat Joe and Birdman gives his opinion as who Number 1 should be on MTV's "Hottest Emcee" list!

Back in the game, ready for more, here I am still slightly jet lagged and seriously confused as to what day it is! Considering I got on a plane from Singapore at 12:25am Saturday morning and touched down in Sydney Airport at 10:30am, then had my cousin's 21st birthday party to attend and have since been back to class, my head's a little confused as to where it's at. Subconsciously, I'm still back in Japan whereas I really need to get my head back onto Sydney time as I have a number of things to do this week.

Before we go on though, a BIG thank you to Michael Melchor for filling in on Thursdays whilst I was away. I did manage to get Internet access at times, but in Singapore you only get 15 minutes free at the airport and in Japan it was about 100 Yen (which is about $1.10 US and $1.20 AUS) for 5 minutes at the hotels and Internet cafes which seemed somewhat ridiculous. Keep your eyes open for a special feature Melchor will be running which is scheduled for November that I can GUARANTEE you guys will like!

Anyway, more tales from the trip on Saturday and in other news why can I smell smoke outside? Australia is having some bizarre weather at the moment.

The News

Top Story

50 Cent Newsbits



After the recent announcement of The Game and Dr. Dre once again linking for the upcoming Detox album, 50 Cent has weighed with his reaction to seeing the former G-Unit member's reunion.

Is it just me, or does Game and Dre's relationship seem like a celebrity on-again, off-again relationship?

Speaking at the "Los Premios MTV Latin America 2009" awards, 50 also said a collaboration next to Game would not likely happen for Dre's Detox.

"You shouldn't really hold your breath [for a Game collaboration], you know, if Dre decides to work with him, that's great. But it's Doc, it's his album, he can do what he wants. It's Dre. I'm getting ready to start shooting the ["Baby By Me"] video tomorrow."

Don't worry 50, I won't be holding my breath, perhaps a wooden stick to hit you with, but that's another story.

While keeping details to a minimum, Snoop recently said Game was needed for a part on Dre's album.

"Yeah, actually, we working on the Detox album right now," Snoop revealed in an interview. "Actually, me and Dr. Dre and D.O.C. and Stat Quo, we in there every day trying to go hard, I came and called Game up so he could come and be a part of this particular record that Dre had that was needing his vocals and needed his assistance on. We just trying to bring it all back together again. One thing about me, I've always been known to bring people together to solidify relationship. It's about what we can do, not what we did. So we doing some things to try and bring this movement back, so that's what this picture was about. It was about symbolizing the West Coast movement..."

"Symbolizing the West Coast movement" by bringing Stat Quo into the picture? Stat left Shady/Aftermath/Interscope in 2008 according to Wiki so perhaps this is actually a case where an artist leaves a label and still maintains good relationships with the former artists.

Dre has promised the project's delivery for sometime in 2010.

Votes for a new Detox name? Mine is Compton Democracy except if every release is accompanied by one of Dre's expensive headphones sets as opposed to a can of drink, I'd definitely buy half a dozen copies of the album on opening day.

"[I'm] only [working] on my album that I've been working on for the last ten years, that's it [laughs]," Dre said about what projects he is working on. "The Detox record. Hopefully I'll get it done by the end of this year and you'll hear it next year. Motivation and other things getting in the way, that's it [has caused the delay.]"

IT'S NOT FUNNY DRE.

The Game emerged earlier this month with an announcement of being in the studio with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg for Detox.

"CAN U SAY "DETOX" ??? IN THE STUDIO WIT DRE & SNOOP. WE BOUT 2 MAKE ALOT OF PEOPLE MAD. RIDE WIT US OR GET RAN OVER ! AFTERMATH OR DIE !"

Well any Detox related news is good news I think, and it seems like we're actually going to GET the album sometime next year (although if it hits 2011 and no Detox I will probably send an angry letter or 300 to Dre). Considering Dre lost his son though, I'm not surprised that there is a lack of motivation involved.



In other news, 50 Cent continues to poke fun at Fat Joe and his latest album J.O.S.E. 2, which was released to stores on October 6. 50 Cent issued a statement that contained Fat Joe's album sales for the week, which totaled 8,343 copies.

"A bad man kicks you while you're down," 50 Cent said in a statement. "Well I'm the worst, I'ma kick Fat Joe in the head."

This kind of made me laugh because I've been playing Condemned 2 on the PS3 recently where you can kick people in the head when they fall onto the ground and it's somewhat amusing to hear them squawk. Perhaps I DO have anger management problems.

Prior to Fat Joe releasing his 9th solo album, 50 issued a number of viral videos poking fun at the album was released, while Fat Joe replied in kind with messages via his Twitter page.

"Tell 50 to get off my D*CK already," Fat Joe said. "He was sick that my album is SO HOT that real music not that wack sh*t him and his clowns are making."

Hip-hop cliché #43, claiming your album is that HOT REAL SHIT when it is in fact, not.

Fat Joe also appeared on Hot 97's Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg radio show in New York, where he thanked 50 Cent for the "free promotion" for J.O.S.E. 2.

You know how they say "there's no such thing as bad promotion"? Well I figure that someone drawing attention to the fact that your album sold less copies than Pharoahe Monch's Desire (which is absolutely not a bad album) that had less promotion and label backing than an album of someone flushing a blocked toilet for 90 minutes would have had, is probably bad promotion. If anyone's wondering, Desire sold approximately 12,200 copies in its first week.

No offense to Joe, I think he's got his niche in hip-hop, but if it wasn't for 50's supposed "free promotion", how many copies of the album would have actually sold?

Lil Wayne Releasing Double Disc



So, Lil Wayne had a son last year, another in September with Lauren London, and he's expecting another son soon with Nivea who I actually thought he hadn't seen for a while. Do females just willingly share the man around like some kind of drink? Or is he perhaps a secret manufacturer of roofies?

"What's rest?" Wayne recently told the BBC's Tim Westwood when asked how he makes time for everything. "We don't need no rest around here. I'm 27 years old. I'll rest when I retire."

"We don't need no rest around here. I'm 27 years old. I'll rest when I retire skip out on shows claiming fatigue and needing rest."

Fixed for Wayne's benefit, don't want any misleading statements in The Hip-Hop Herald after all.

Weezy also told Westwood that, contrary to reports, he's not putting out Tha Carter IV and his long-delayed Rebirth albums simultaneously as a double-disc.

"They're pushing for that," Wayne said of his record label. "I ain't trying to give it to them like that. It won't be given like that, trust me. It won't be given like that. Tha Carter IV deserves Tha Carter IV and that's that.

Fair enough, if you're going to release an album that's part of a ‘series' as Tha Carter series is in a way, you may as well dignify it with its own singular release date.

"The Rebirth may come as a double with the Young Money All-Star disc," he added. "It may be the Young Money All-Star and Rebirth."

Now THAT is a smarter idea from a business perspective. If you consider it, most Lil Wayne fans I have spoken to who will actually get Tha Carter IV when it comes out, aren't sold yet on Rebirth (for various reasons). You may as well package Rebirth with something else people aren't always sold on, a compilation album. Although, "Every Girl" has done quite well on the charts from many accounts I've read so who knows?

Wayne is also releasing a new mixtape, No Ceiling, somewhere in there as well. Wayne, some of the Young Money artists and the Birdman are currently in the U.K. on tour.
Before Wayne's comments to the BBC, Birdman had told the U.K.'s Hip-Hop Chronicle that all three albums would drop on the same day in December.

"We coming with Tha Carter IV and Rebirth, it's gonna be a double disc — and the Young Money album, all in the same day: December 15. My album and Jay Sean's album come out November 24."

I'm looking forward to Jay Sean's album. After I heard "Down", and predictably am in the process of getting over it as everyone else gets into it, I investigated some of his older material and it's quite good.

"They think it's rock, to me it's a little more heavy metal, but it's still Wayne and he's doing his thing on that muthaf---a," Birdman continued about Rebirth.

Can we stop asking Birdman what type of rock it is because he's seriously given a different bloody answer each interview. One minute it's NOT a rock album, but uses rock backgrounds, next it's a full-blown rock-style album (whatever the hell that means) now it's a bit "more heavy metal" than anything else. Birdman – Giving a new definition for "flying high".

A rep for Wayne's label confirmed that the Young Money album is scheduled for a December release but did not confirm dates for Wayne's albums. Young Money currently has the record "Bedrock" out on mixshow rotation that features Lloyd.

Actually, I will probably forget, but for anybody looking out for new music, I shall try and remember to mention something I've discovered, if I haven't in the past already on Saturday. Failing that, someone leave a comment and I shall eventually remember on a Saturday to come.

Soulja Boy Facing Eviction



Despite flaunting big jewelry and his braggadocios money talk, Soulja Boy is behind on his rent and is in jeopardy of being evicted from his luxury Los Angeles apartment, according to a report by TMZ.

It's times like this that I am actually thankful for TMZ.

The landlord is upset, claiming Soulja Boy owes around $10,000 in unpaid rent and late fees. Soulja Boy responded by posting a video on his Twitter page, flaunting hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry, luxury bags and backpacks, and a box full of cold hard cash.

Which is of course, the third way of things to do when facing eviction. With the "Right" way being to actually PAY THE RENT, the "Wrong" way being to run away and the "Soulja Boy" way (which is much like the Max Power way except in this case perhaps, slower and more idiotic) being to post something on Twitter since we've obviously graduated from YouTube.

If I may take a moment aside from my rant, I would like to say that I am also somewhat grateful for Soulja Boy's contributions OUTSIDE of music because they are on par with Kanye's absurd and equally hilarious shenanigans at the moment.

"I see these blog sites trying to tear me down, yall got me f***ed up, you can make up all the stories you won't on me. NUMBERS DON'T LIE!"

Yes and that number is $10,000 owed in rent. It's almost too easy at this point.

On top of that, tenants have complained about the rapper and his crew being too loud, and causing overcrowding in the building. The landlord reportedly sent Soulja Boy a letter last month, which TMZ obtained a copy of, explaining some of the complaints.

"We have received complaints of noise disturbances and guests wandering the hallway and Observation Deck. This is a direct violation of your Lease Agreement," the letter read. "Additionally, we were notified that you had over 10 cars parked in guest parking on the evening of September 25th. This is a violation of your lease ... which states, 'You may have no more than two overnight guests at a time unless we provide specific approval'."

The letter came a week before the landlord sent the rapper a bill for $9,376.10 in unpaid rent.

"What um tryna figure out tho is how u gon hate and say a n**** is broke who is CLEARY gettin money? Sh** makes no since," an upset Soulja Boy later tweeted.

What I'm trying to figure out is what that sentence actually says. Microsoft Word is currently crying in a corner at the prospect of having to spell check it.

DMX Showdown With Police



DMX's scheduled Colorado Springs concert on the evening of October 16 turned into a disturbance after X clashed with local police over his headlining set.

The show was supposed to be for American Charities, and X made it to the venue around 11pm. Upon his arrival, the multi-platinum artist was accosted by a security guard and told he could not perform. DMX was furious, and inquired as to why he couldn't fulfill his contractual obligations. The guard explained that he was allegedly supposed to be there by 9:30PM, and fans had already been told he wasn't coming.

Ok, a rapper actually WANTS to fulfill his contractual obligations and GO THROUGH with a show…and you STOP HIM? Can you imagine the sheer level of irony if we replaced every reference to DMX here with Lil Wayne? I do believe the universe would have imploded from the impossibility similar to trying to divide something by zero on a significantly larger scale of course.

During the back and forth, the security guard threatened to have X arrested if he attempted to get on stage, a warning the rapper scoffed at.

"[Arrest me] for what?! You ain't no police!" DMX argued. "I've been paid to perform."

Again, I have to think that most rappers would have possibly walked away with the cash, although with X's recent string of legal issues, it's probably no wonder that he tried to avoid another lawsuit.

When X attempted to force his way on stage, several authorities tackled him to the ground. His entourage and fans joined the fracas, and DMX's publicist Pam Pinnock reportedly suffered a minor concussion and face laceration after being trampled on the floor. DMX eventually made it to the stage, but was not given the supporting sound system to appease his chanting fans.

While details are still being revealed, the American Charities' strict refusal to let DMX perform is allegedly the result of the non-profit not having the remaining money needed to cover X's performance. The rapper was paid an $8000 deposit, with a remaining amount of $7000 to be delivered upon the show's completion. Instead of informing DMX's management, the show promoters allegedly opted to completely cancel the set rather than negotiate a new arrangement.

Now if you had stressed to X that this was for a charity, perhaps he would have been happy with just the $8000, who knows, but instead (I can see the logic process here using my nefarious scheming mind) American Charities try to get him to go away, and later someone brings a lawsuit against X for no-showing the concert. Nobody believes him, because honestly, who would believe a guy who has a history of crazy, and X loses out again.

/conspiracy theories

Last year, DMX had a similar situation at Indiana University, when police caused a brief riot by shutting down hit set for not taking the stage on time for a scheduled 8:30PM performance. At press time, neither DMX nor a representative from American Charities could be reached for comment.

Local Artists Upset With T-Pain



T-Pain's performance at South Africa's annual Macufe African Cultural Festival has been lambasted by local artists for the star's alleged elitist and disrespectful behavior. Several artists have reported that they were kicked out of the backstage changing area because T-Pain refused to share space with them.

Perhaps he has like, a third nipple he didn't want anybody to see and now I feel sick imagining T-Pain with a third nipple. Damn my overly active imagination!

Others stated they were harassed simply for attempting to watch the American star's set from the vicinity of the stage.

Perhaps the third nipple…NO, NO, STOP. STOP NOW.

One artist, Thembi Seete verified that she had a confrontation with security guards, and feels that the U.S. artists look down on their peers from other countries.

"I want to thank Macufe organizers for allowing me to perform there, but what happened to me was unacceptable," she explained to the Sunday World. "I wasn't allowed to stand next to the stage when T-Pain was performing. It is sad that these U.S. artists think they are all that and [can] treat local artists the way they treated us."

Seete's manager Kgomo Modise said these issues are nothing new, and happen every time an international star makes their way to the country.

"My artist was seated next to the stage waiting to perform when local security guards came and ordered us to leave the vicinity," Modise explained to Sunday World. "We asked him why because we had ‘all access' cards and artists tags but he insisted we leave the place. It was only when we threatened to expose them in the media that they left us alone. It is bad that local artists are treated like this every time an international artist is here."

Uh…haven't you exposed them to the media anyway? Nice.

Festival organizer Joe Chakela vehemently denied the accusations, but conceded there was a policy in place to make sure no artists remained on stage after a performance.

"People must not come with their own stories. Nobody was manhandled or chased away from the stage," he stated. "The policy was that artists who had finished performing must not go on stage or near it to watch T-Pain perform."

The thing is, and this is something I'm learning at the moment in class, policies only work if they are clear and understood by everyone involved. If they DID have a policy in place, what's the bet that it was mention in passing such as "please read the following page and a half of policies" like the "I Accept" button on computer software with the license agreement. Does anybody actually read those? I remember reading one once and discovering they wanted to install some ‘third party software' from some well known Internet company that puts out bullshit ads constantly, or in other words, some pleasant spyware, and sent the company an equally pleasant email telling them I would rather eat my own right foot than install their program.

Big tangent there, but the point remains that a policy is only good if it actually gets read or explained beforehand.

According To Birdman, Lil Wayne Is Better Than Jay-Z



Birdman is expecting an abundant amount of success in the upcoming months under his Cash Money umbrella. He said in an interview recently that the label will release ten albums (including Drake's Thank Me Later, Wayne's previously mentioned albums, and Bow Wow's forthcoming CD) and that he is striving to have each of them fill up a spot on the top ten music chart. Although the idea of Cash Money monopolizing the entire top ten chart may be a stretch, the second portion of the interview was even more interesting. Birdman spoke on Jay-Z's MTV crowning of "Hottest Emcee in the Game", calling the music television channel wrong for its choice.

Not sure what's funnier, the story to come, or the fact that Birdman is bothering calling MTV out for something music related.

"I don't think [Jay-Z] is the number one emcee in no kind of way," he told Tropical TV. "Wayne's the best. He do the most and he make the most money. I don't think no nigga in the business make more money than us. How can you be the best if you don't make the most money? And you don't do the most? Lyrically, come on man, be for real, can't nobody f*** with Wayne...if you number one and you ain't getting no money it don't mean nothing."

So Jay's spot in Forbes Magazine's Richest Lists was just a lie? I mean, hasn't the Top 3 in hip-hop been Jay, Diddy and 50 for like, the last 2 or 3 years now? Sure Jay's albums haven't sold as well overall as they have in the past, but until Wayne has been President of a record label like Def Jam, brought forth a clothing line, alcoholic drink and opened up a nightclub, not to mention partial ownership in a sports team, I doubt he's got as much money as Jay does. Equally as noteworthy, Birdman expressed his belief that lyrical skills don't matter if an emcee isn't big in the bank.

"To me, it's 'who's making the most money," he continued. "That's number one to me. F*** all that rap shit. They got cold rappers you never even heard. Then they got niggas who really can't rap and making money. It's about whose making the most money to me. I don't give a f*** about the rest of that shit. Maybe other ones do, but if you making money, that matters to me."

Or, "Kicking hip-hop when it's down".

Sales Figures

Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 remains strong selling 55,000 copies this week for a total now of 1,116,000. Further down the charts, Ghostface Killah's Wizard Of Poetry sold 4,600 copies with a total of 31,000. If you want some actually GOOD R&B mixed with hip-hop, please pick it up!

The More Than A Game soundtrack, featuring "Forever" sold 3,600 copies this week with 15,000 sold in total. Fat Joe's J.O.S.E. 2 came in at Number 176 with 2,900 copies sold for a total now of 11,000. Joe's total this week was only marginally higher than that of T.I.'s Paper Trail which is up to 2,023,000 now.

Debuts this week include Mario's D.N.A. selling 32,000 copies and the new Death Row release, a collection of unheard or different versions of known songs by Snoop Dogg, The Lost Sessions Vol. 1 sold 4,400 copies this week.

Next week, there's releases from Royce Da 5'9" and Cormega to look out for, how well will they perform?

The Signoff

Well, I'm off to get some sleep and try and work out what day it is tomorrow. In the meantime, expect stories from the trip and photos if I can motivate myself to get them off the laptop on Saturday!