The Hip-Hop Herald: 03.06.08

Posted by Patrick Robinson on 03.05.2008

Details on Bun B's new album, Fat Joe acting a complete and utter fool, Snoop possibly showing signs of aging and which rapper will be making an appearance at Wrestlemania?
The answer is just one click away!

You know it pisses me off when doctors don't tell you things you should know. I went for a blood test today and when I got to the admin desk, I was asked if I'd been fasting. Given it was midday and I have rather fond feelings for breakfast, I said no. Therefore, no blood test and I have to go back tomorrow at 8am. Tomorrow was the one-day I actually get to sleep in too.

Oh well, welcome back to the Hip-Hop Herald. Get ready for the news!

The News

Bun B preparing new album

Bun B is planning his new album II Trill for an April 29th release. The lead single for the album is called "That's Gangsta" featuring Sean Kingston and produced by JR Rotem.

There is also a long list of guests slated to feature on the album including a post-humus verse by Pimp C, Lupe Fiasco, Lil Wayne, Chamillionaire and Mike Jones (who?).

I can't help but think that the album is going to be a little crowded. The above is only a small part of lists published elsewhere as I'm not going to do a copy-paste job. Anyway, I think Lupe and Bun could end up making a really good track, they're both musically orientated (i.e. they have an understanding on both the lyrical and production side knowing what will work and what won't) and we're probably in for a treat.

However, don't get your hopes up. Many times lists like this are released merely to generate interest rather than state who is going to appear on the final product. "Card Subject To Change" and all that you know. Often an artist will make a track with another, but for whatever reason, the song won't make the final cut of the album.

Putting Sean Kingston on the first single is a good idea from a sales standpoint. He's arguably one of the most commercially friendly artists out there and he's had a great deal of success recently (even over here in Australia).

I'm looking forward to this, Bun's previous solo album, Trill is currently near the top of my "To Listen" list and this, along with a couple of other releases are indicating a good few months for hip-hop.

When did Curtis get new teeth?

Fat Joe took shots at 50 Cent last Friday stating "He's mad. We never fought a one-on-one. He should win. I'm being honest with you. You can put your money on that guy. I just want to bust his fucking new teeth he got. Wide-open, B,"

This stems from Fat Joe and Jadakiss collaborating with Ja Rule on 2004s(!!) "New York" track. So, four years later, and the two children are still agitating each other. Seriously, guys, knock each other the fuck out and be done with it you know?


This is one of those eternal pictures that you can reference anytime, anywhere, so long as 50 Cent is involved

In more "Fat Joe looking like an idiot" news…

Fat Joe was involved in an altercation with Papoose in North Carolina. Papoose was talking to fellow rapper Cassidy when Joe and his entourage burst into the room. Joe kept asking Papoose if he had a problem with him, to which Papoose denied. After the two continued exchanging words, Papoose offered a one-on-one fight with Fat Joe who refused. Pap took the first swing and after that, Joe's entourage stepped in to stop the fight.

The stupidity continues as a photo appeared on ThisIs50.com, which featured an image of Joe with gashes and bandages on his face. Joe posted a video up on the Internet dispelling the rumors the photo was generating saying it was over a year old whilst simultaneously displaying his unscathed face.

You know what this smells like? A Processed beef sandwich.

Fat Joe's album, Elephant In The Room (still the forerunner for Worst Album Title Of The Year) is being released on March 11 and this will probably generate (some) interest for it. Furthermore, 50 has dipped into his news sales strategy and is intending to release a mixtape called Elephant In The Sand (which is still making me laugh) on the same day. The album features a photo of Fat Joe supposedly at the beach (which you really don't want to see).

The funniest thing though?

Fat Joe claims, "We just shipped another 250,000 because of you. You making me rich." In this day and age of incredible poor sales figures, can you really see this happening? I mean, if the album sells say, (being incredibly optimistic here) 300,000 in it's first week, that means it was only going to sell 50,000 to start with.


Nom, nom, nom…

Juvenile's daughter killed

On Thursday evening 17 yr old Anthony Tyrone Terrell gunned down his mother and two sisters in their Georgia home. Police responded to reports of gunshots and found a bullet lodged in the house next door. Upon entering the home, they discovered the bodies of Joy Deleston and Micaiah (aged 39 and 11) and the body of Jelani (aged 4) upstairs in her room. Terrell returned to the house whilst officers were still at the scene and the gun was recovered after he told them where he had stashed it.

According to child support papers, the youngest daughter, Jelani's father was rapper Juvenile. Juvenile had been making regular child support payments since 2006 after a peaceful consent in regards to a paternity suit that had been filed.

Juvenile's manager released a statement saying "It really shocked him and devastated him to the point where I've never seen him before".

Sources close to the family said there was no outward indication for these kind of actions and that he was a "good kid". Terrell currently stands charged with three counts of murder and three counts of aggravated assault. Due to his young age, prosecutors cannot call for the death penalty but as the saying goes, there are "fates worse than death".

My condolences to the family's relatives and Juvenile.

Snoop showing signs of aging?

Snoops latest album, Ego Trippin' is set for release on March 11 but in the latest issue of XXL, Snoop reveals he's had ghostwriters for this album.

"I was watching Diana Ross get inducted into a Hall of Fame, and she got up there and named all of these great songwriters. Her biggest songs were written by somebody else, so I'm thinking, Wow, there's nothing wrong with my pen, but I'm going to let other people write for me."

In all honesty, this might not be such a bad thing. From a conceptual standpoint, it's not the best as the album was originally meant to be Snoop going at it solo the whole way through, and if you're going to call something Ego Trippin' you'd figure you would need the ego to back it up. However, Snoop's latest tracks have been a bit hit or miss lately. The Blue Carpet Treatment was alright and showed flashes of the Snoop we once knew and loved but was bogged down by some very sub-par tracks. Whilst we're certainly not going to see anything of Doggystyle quality, it could well be his best album in years.

Snoop also goes into depth in the interview on 2Pac's final days as well as his participation in the Death Row / Bad Boy beef, definitely worth checking out.

Game time on hold

The Game is currently serving out a 60-day jail sentence after a no-contest plea stemming from an incident that occurred in February last 2006. Game supposedly got into an argument with two men after a basketball game, assaulted them, and eventually pulled a pistol on them.

Game's next album, L.A.X. set for release some time this year, is also supposedly his last. It's also serving as a reunion of sorts between himself and his mentor, Dr. Dre after the well-publicized falling out because of the conflict with 50 Cent.

I get, I get, I get money!

For any non-wrestling fans reading, the WWE is holding their Pay-Per View event called Wrestlemania in a matter of weeks. It's a huge event and pretty much the equivalent of the Superbowl in the wrestling world.

This year's event is set to feature a bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and wrestler, The Big Show. Whether or not it will be a boxing match or a more wrestling-based match is yet to be seen but either way, it's bound to increase the buy rate of the event.

Mayweather has been pushing for 50 Cent to make an appearance as you may remember, 50 performed "I Get Money" live for Mayweather's entrance for a fight a few months back. Mayweather has been using "I Get Money" for his appearances on weekly WWE programming so it makes sense given the ‘big time' nature of the event. This wouldn't be the first time that the WWE has used the actual musicians to perform entrance music live. Limp Bizkit, Three 6 Mafia and Motorhead have all performed at various times.

I doubt 50 Cent's appearance will push the buy rate up significantly though. Wrestling fans will either be buying Wrestlemania regardless of whether 50 shows up or not and hip-hop fans probably wouldn't buy a $40 event just to see 50 Cent.

Now if 50 is going to get involved in a match somehow…possibly taking a chokeslam or being put through a table, then yes, I would buy the event. And the replay. And download the clip off the Internet and post it up in The 37th Chamber via YouTube. But of course, the chances of that happening are pretty small unfortunately.

This year's Wrestlemania also has John Legend singing "America The Beautiful" to start the show and Snoop Dogg taking part in a WWE Divas "BunnyMania Lumberjack Match". Sadly, you can't make this stuff up.


Hey 50, John Morrison called, he wants his coat back

Quickies

Akon's planning to release a new album in May called Acquitted. Can we please move away from the whole convict gimmick please? Konvicted had nothing to do with it so please stop. And give Nate Dogg his job back. Dude needs money, he's recovering from a stroke you know.

I read over on HipHopDX that Kool G Rap's newest EP, Half A Klip sold a whopping 690 copies in it's first week of sales. Look, I know it's an EP and all, but seriously, 690 copies?

DJ Muggs has a new album in the works too. Muggs will be score for the new movie, Street Kings as well as release an album inspired by the movie. Kind of like Jay-Z and the American Gangster movie.

Jae Millz has signed with Lil Wayne's Cash Money Records after working the independent route for the last two years. Here's hoping he actually puts an album out now.

Lloyd and Lil Wayne are in talks about working on an album together tentatively titled, Best Of Young Worlds. Responding to similarities between this and the album that Omarion and Bow Wow recently released, Lloyd said, "We appeal to a much older crowd, and we a little bit more hardcore with our style". I agree, and given my newfound respect for Lil Wayne, I think I'd be willing to check this out.

Before we go…

Thanks for reading everyone, I'll catch you next Wednesday in The 37th Chamber!

I'm out!