The Hip-Hop Herald: 03.20.08
Posted by Patrick Robinson on 03.20.2008
The Fat Joe/50 Cent/Papoose love triangle is joined by another artist, Ghostface Killah preparing ANOTHER album, Ca$his and his involvement with the Royce beef, details on the new Usher album and Master P dressing up as a Pig? You'd better believe it. All this and more (including last week's Sales Figures) inside!
Some impressive news pieces this week, Rick Ross' album debuting at number 1 on the Billboard charts for one and Game IS actually out of prison, contrary to the contrary statements I featured here last week. Hear that?
It's the News!
The News
Top Story
Jeremy Geffen Charged With Rape
Jeremy Geffen, current manager of D12 and Sean Paul of the Youngbloodz will be arraigned today for four counts of oral copulation of a person under 18, and up to two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse. Geffen is suspected of being involved in three sexual assaults involving two 16-year-old girls.
Investigators believe the alleged assaults took place at local nightclubs and at Geffen's Hollywood residence. After being hit with 14 felony counts including rape by use of drugs, rape of an unconscious person and furnishing cocaine to a minor, Geffen is looking at up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Whilst he's currently being held on $2 million bail, his lawyer, Danny Davis remains optimistic.
"I strongly respect my client's presumption of innocence. I like to think I specialize in cases of innocent clients, and that is why I am attracted to this case."
I think he's attracted to the case because win or lose, it's going to be a pretty high-profile one. What honestly possesses somebody to do something like this? He's got money and (relative) fame, so why feel the need for rape? Buy a hooker or something geeze!
Ghostface Killah To Release ANOTHER Album
Despite only selling 35,000 units in his first week of sales for his previous album, The Big Doe Rehab, Ghost is preparing a new release featuring previously unavailable b-sides and out of print recordings. I'm as surprised as you are as The Wallabee Champ is set for release on March 25 and is available for pre-order on Amazon.com. The track most interesting to me though, is one labeled "93 Freestyle" with Method Man. If that is actually a freestyle from 1993, that would be NUTS! Method Man and Ghost on a track from back in the day? Sign me up!
Game Time A Go-Go!
So, the rumors circulating last week were that Game had been released from prison. Representatives for Game said that he had been moved to an unnamed prison due to his gang affiliations. Well contrary to those statements released last week, he WAS indeed freed from prison on March 10. He's still not off the hook yet as he has to serve 150 hours of Community Service and is on three years probation.
Game released a statement through his publicist on March 13, which said:
"I apologize for the conflicting news on my release, but due to the sensitive negotiations on this matter I felt it appropriate not to give an exact date on my release. I am truly grateful to my attorney, family and management for doing a great job in this respect"
Well, that's ok Game, just don't do anything stupid…oh wait.
The Game Joins The Fat Joe/50 Cent/Papoose Love Triangle
So, with all the drama going on with Fat Joe and 50 Cent, Game has decided to lend his support in the ongoing war of words.
Fat Joe stopped by Baltimore radio station, 92Q Jam to promote his Elephant In The Room album and whilst he received a number of calls, including some hip-hop artists, he was particularly excited about one.
"Ayo Crack, I got your back. Soon as I got home, I see you sitting on the couch on 106 & Park talking crazy. I'm like yo Joe is my man, I'm going in with my man"
The Game supposedly sent Joe into an "ecstatic frenzy" (which doesn't bear thinking about for too long to be honest) and encouraged Joe to go at 50.
I'm a bit disappointed because a Game/Papoose collaboration was high on my list of tracks I'd like to see come to fruition. With Game's new album, L.A.X. set for release this June, a Joe/Game collaboration will have to do instead.
Ca$his Explains Royce Beef
A while back, a video surfaced of Ca$his threatening Royce for ‘talking shit' about Eminem. This was actually the best thing that could happen as Eminem and Royce immediately got into contact with each other and ironed out any differences they had. Whilst they squashed their beef years ago, there was still no contact between them until now. As Phill Watts reported last week, the two merely talked for hours about their favorite movies and realized how much they had in common.
Eminem apologized on Ca$his' behalf, vouching for him with Royce likewise agreeing not to further the issue.
So where does that leave Ca$his? Well according to the man, the video that was released was 5 months old, and whilst he won't take back what he said, he says there's no bad blood between him and Royce. He went on to express his interest at recording a track with Royce as Royce and an associate of his were recently in Australia so the groundwork has been laid.
With Royce, Ca$his and Eminem making peace, we can only hope that the Game/50/Joe/Papoose situation diffuses in an equally peaceable manner.
Details On New Usher Album
After holding the Number 1 spot on the Billboard singles chart for a second week, details on Usher's new album, Here I Stand are being released.
Polow Da Don has revealed that he has worked with Usher on two tracks, one being called "Angel" with the first verse being a dedication to his mother, and the remaining verses describing what he feels in his marriage.
Dre & Vidal have also worked on 15 records, but how many of these will make the final cut are undecided as of yet. One track that WILL make the album, the title track has been described by Vidal as "A classic. It's a smash. It shows that despite all the things he's been through, he's still here"
Oh DMX, Just Stop
As Mitch reported the other day, DMX is on one of his rants again. In an interview with XXL magazine, DMX goes off on a lengthy tirade about Barack Obama. Some highlights:
XXL: You're not? You know there's a black guy running, Barack Obama and then there's Hillary Clinton.
DMX: His name is Barack?!
XXL: Barack Obama, yeah.
DMX: Barack?!
XXL: Barack.
DMX: What the fuck is a Barack?! Barack Obama. Where he from, Africa?
XXL: Yeah, his dad is from Kenya.
DMX: Barack Obama?
XXL: Yeah.
DMX: What the fuck?! That ain't no fuckin' name, yo. That ain't that nigga's name. You can't be serious. Barack Obama. Get the fuck outta here.
XXL: You're telling me you haven't heard about him before.
DMX: I ain't really paying much attention.
XXL: I mean, it's pretty big if a black…
DMX: Wow, Barack! The nigga's name is Barack. Barack? Nigga named Barack Obama. What the fuck, man?! Is he serious? That ain't his fuckin' name. Ima tell this nigga when I see him, "Stop that bullshit. Stop that bullshit" [laughs] "That ain't your fuckin' name." Your momma ain't name you no damn Barack.
You know, I vaguely remember Phill Watts reporting a couple of years back on DMX turning up to a radio station for an interview a day early. When he was turned away, he proceeded to gather a group of supporters who immediately joined hands in a circle and ‘prayed' for DMX.
Whilst he did make some intelligent comments on why sales are dropping in hip-hop, DMX has a new album coming out and one can only wonder how much of this is attention seeking promotion. Though, if I was the reporter for XXL, I probably would have reached over and slapped him saying "Well your name is DARK MAN FRIGGIN X!" or something along those lines.
Anyway, DMX's new album looks like it's going to be a double album in the same vein of Nelly's Sweat / Suit effort from a couple of years back. Walk With Me Now and You'll Fly Wit Me Later is currently due for a late 2008 release.
Master P And Romeo And Pigs
Now I normally don't like copy/paste jobs as I like to add my own input to the news but this…this is fantastic.
Father and son duo Master P and Romeo, are staring in an upcoming, big screen horror film, touted as having franchise potential. The two are no stranger to TV, both having previous rap careers and starring in the Nickelodeon show "Romeo!" but this time P is putting on a new face for the camera. Something like a pig.
The flick, "The Pig People," tells a tale of five college kids who take a trip into a haunted forest to shoot a documentary for class. They fearlessly go looking for answers behind the 18th century Louisiana myth about half-man, half-swine creatures, pig people.
Romeo plays TJ, one of the curious students, while his dad acts opposite him as the movie's villain.
"I've never done a horror movie before," Romeo said on set. "It's a different kind of acting and the challenge is really allowing me to take my game to the next level. We're gonna make the audience jump out of their seats with this."
After filming wraps, the younger Miller will head off to college to be a film major and a student athlete at the University of South Carolina.
The movie, a Vault Load film production, also features Daeg Faerch (of Halloween), is directed by David Gueringer, executive produced by Jimmy Finkl and is due out in 2009 .
WOW. Just…WOW. Seriously, "The Pig People"? THE PIG PEOPLE?! And just how scary can Master P actually be? Well, if he dusted off the old "unghhhhh" thing from the late 90s maybe but words fail me.
Gnarls Barkley Album Leaked
A while back, the sophomore album by Gnarls Barkley was leaked. I don't like to report on leaks because I figure the less people that know the better but in a smart business move, the album's release date has been pushed up from an early April release to sometime later this week. Possibly even as early as today (March 20). The album is also currently available on iTunes.
Eminem ‘Scared' To Record With Lil Wayne?
Lil Wayne sent a song to Eminem to see if he would be interested in a collaboration but has since declined the offer. Wayne stated "I sent him a song and he ain't do it. I didn't like that but it's all good. People be busy and stuff or a.k.a. just scared to get on a song with me". No in actuality Wayne, I think Eminem IS too busy as he's just squashed a beef with Royce, had to calm down Ca$his, work on his new album and most likely bully Dre into doing Detox still.
He also addressed the syrup situation saying:
"I'm me and I do what the fuck I want to do and I'm going to keep doing what the fuck I want to do. And if syrup is what the fuck I want to do. I'm gonna do it until I can't do it no more, and if you are worrying about me, I promise to God I appreciate it but keep your worries and worry about more important things like yourself."
So, when he dies, I don't want to see any R.I.P. Wayne anywhere. He doesn't care alright?
Sales For The Week Ending 03.16.08
Since I'm writing this piece approximately 12 hours later than I normally would, I'm able to include sales figures for the week just gone. Now if this article isn't late and therefore I don't get in trouble from Ashish, I'll continue to report on sales for the week, personal schedule permitting.
Rick Ross has debuted at Number 1 with close to 200,000 units being sold making it the highest selling hip-hop album of 2008 so far. Snoop Dogg took out the number 3 spot with just under 140,000 units.
Despite Fat Joe's claim that the beef with 50 Cent would push his sales up another 250,000 units, Elephant In The Room didn't manage to even break the 50,000 mark. 50 Cent claimed that Joe's latest album wouldn't reach 100,000 units and depending on what next week's figures are, I wouldn't be quick to dismiss that claim.
Lupe Fiasco's The Cool continues to creep towards a Gold plaque with just under 410,000 units sold in total whilst Del The Funky Homosapien's new album only manages to sell 5,810 albums in it's first week of sales.
With new albums from Sheek Louch and Flo Rida coming this week, will Rick Ross be able to hold onto the number 1 spot?
Before we go…
The job interview went really well last week. Whilst I won't be able to get the job (not properly qualified), by this time next year, I should have. Which suits me just fine as I promised my current place of employment I'd be staying there until at least the end of this year.
