Will Smith has strongly denied rumors that he is a Scientologist, but being best buds with the World’s Most Famous Hubbard Freak (actor Tom Cruise) may have finally gotten to the Fresh Prince.
Life & Style spies claim Will was chatting up the unorthodox religion to anyone who would listen on the set of his new film, Hancock, opening July 4th.
Say it ain’t so, Will?!
“He gave out Scientology-like pamphlets at the end of the shoot,” says biographer Andrew Morton, who published an unauthorized biography on Kooky Cruise last Winter.
“It’s also been said that he and Jada are homeschooling their children in Scientology methods,” Morton insists.
Will and Jada are also rumored to be financing the New Village Academy, a Scientology-associated school to open in Calabasas, California this Fall.
Morton explains: “So between that, the pamphlets, the school in Calabasas, and his close friendship with Tom, it seems all the evidence leads one to conclude that he is a part of this organization.”
In 1988, The Teacher droped the first politically conscious effort in hip-hop. KRS switched up his swag on this lp, and you can tell my the album cover which mimics Brother Malcolm.
Quotable: "Let's begin, what, where, why, or when will all be explained like instructions to a game See I'm not insane, in fact, I'm kind of rational when I be asking you, "Who is more dramatical?" This one or that one, the white one or the black one pick the punk, and I'll jump up to attack one KRS-One is just the guy to lead a crew right up to your face and dis you Everyone saw me on the last album cover Holding a pistol something far from a lover"
Gary Grice, The Genuis, The GZA, Maximillion, Allah Justice, or God Zig-Zag-Zig Allah. Whatever you wanna call him they all equal nice ass emcee. With his second studio album The GZA stopped trying to sound like LL or Kane and brought the real WU sound to the table. This lp has to many classic tracks. From the Shogun Assassin opener to the last track feat Killah Priest. CLASSIC
Quotable: "I slayed MC's back in the rec room era My style broke motherfuckin backs like Ken Patera Most rap niggaz came loud but unheard Once I pulled out, round 'em off to the nearest third Check these non-visual niggaz, with tapes and a portrait Flood the seminar, tryin to orbit this corporate indsutry, but what them niggaz can't see must break through like the Wu, unexpectedly 'Protect Ya Neck', my sword still remain imperial Before I blast the mic, RZA scratch off the serial We reign all year 'round from June to June While niggaz bite immediately if not soon"
#13 - ATCQ - Midnight Marauders
Even though the tribe are the headliners for this years rock the bells tour. The name of the biggest group out of the native tongues begins to fade away. Its sad because not alot of artist drop three straight banging albums. DOWNLOAD IT
Quotable: "I proceed with what ya need like Akinyele a whip looks complete when the tires say Firelli funk monkey, one rapper fell off, now he's a junkie There's eight million stories in the city it's a pity"
From the Comic Book cover to the lyrics and beats this album is just too dope. They're just "Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac)," after all.
Quotable: "Got stopped at the mall the other day, heard a call from the other way that I just came from, some nigga was sayin some'n talkin bout 'Hey man, you remember me from school?' Naw not really But he kept smilin like a clown, facial expression lookin silly And he kept askin me, what kind of car you drive, I know you paid I know y'all got beaucoup buckos from all them songs that y'all done made And I replied that I had been goin through tha same thing that he had True I got more fans than the average man but not enough loot to last me to the end of the week, I live by the beat like you live check to check If you don't move yo' feet then I don't eat, so we like neck to neck Yes we done come a long way like them Slim ass cigarettes from Virginia, this ain't gon stop so we just gon' continue"
Mr. Scarface is a album from a time when Scarface was young, raw, and hungry. I think this is his most complete album, but over time his content expanded and gained more lyrical growth. But it all began right here.
Quotable: "I made a nut as she fell to the floor I heard a knock on the front door I grabbed the twelve gauge from the bed head 'Who is it?' ('Fred') 'What?! Who the fuck is Fred?' I stood by the door By that time someone jumped in the window Now what the fuck was I to do? The bitch packed a twenty-two Hit him in his head, there she laid him The nigga standin' by the door, I sprayed him And headed for the back I seen that same old brown Cadillac It kinda fucked me up at first Cause the nigga that drove that Caddy rode away in a hearse I opened up fire on the ride, G Who I was shootin' for was standin' right behind me I had a double barrel pointed at my ass Could this be the end of Mr. Brad?"
"About the time we think we can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends."
Herbert Hoover
Scripture Of The Day:
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
James 5:16
Video Game Of The Day:Gears Of War - Co-Op (GT: timsAnerd)
I listen to a whole lot of music from almost all genres and I wanted to share some of it with all of you guys out there. Heres some stuff alot of it you've already have and maybe some stuff you don't.
Every member of the Wu experienced a sophmore jinx. Except Tony Starks, infact Supreme Clientele is better than Ironman imo. From the references to the Ironman cartoon from the 60's to Ghost's new style of rap. Where you have to replay every track over and over to try and dechiper what the god said. Every track on this lp including the interludes are bangers which equals a classic.
Quotable: "Aiyyo, this rappin's like Ziti, facin me real TVCrash at high-speeds, strawberry, kiwiAs we approach, yo herb, the Gods bailThese Staten Island ferryboat cats bailFresh cellies, 50 thief up in the cityWe banned for life, Apollo kids live to spit the real"
Although he was outshined by Cube the D.O.C. was the most lyrical out of all the N.W.A. and the West Coast/South (He was from Dallas) at the time before he injured his larynx. NOBODY was spitting like this in '89. The only people who might even come close are KRS-One, Kane, maybe Kool G. Rap. Add the fact that every track is produced by Dr. Dre and you have instant classic.
Quotable: "I am not illiterate, no not even a little bit Nothing like an idiot, get it? You want the record, cool, I'm with it! Let the rhythm take you, shake it cause it makes you As I turn the knob to the door you escape through Go in like a knot, don't be a puff And I let it play cause Dre's gettin funky enough [...] If, you want another reason, why it must be funky Yo I am not a jackass, meaning not a donkey So I will play the game, like it should be played Drop the funk into the mix so the place will never fade Ship it - ship it the the stations, in your jurisdiction Brothers say I'm dope, and the others say I'm bitchin No crowd can avoid, the D-O to the C When I'm P-E-R-F-O-R-M-I-N-G"
Without Kool Genius Rap there would be no Scarface, Raekwon, or Jay-Z when he was raw. Mafioso Drug Rap started right here. Backed by their click the Juice Crew and produced by Marley Marl this album still bumps after 19 years.
Quotable:"I run rappers like races, cut them like razors Burn them like lasers and stun them like phasers Cause my brain thinks and it blanks you memory banks Sharp as shanks and poetry is like big hanks"
Dunn this was the album that made Mobb-phonics and MD beats a way of life. I could end this with Shook Ones, but track after track shines. Eye For a Eye (Your Beef is Mines) with Shallah Raekwon & Nasty Nas makes me wonder how I forgot how nasty Nasir use to get with it.
Quotable: "Condominium, thug dressed like a gentleman Tailor made ostrich, Chanel for my women friend Murderin, numbers on your head while I'm burglarin Shank is servin em, whassup to all my niggaz swervin in New York metropolis, the Bridge brings apocalypse Shoot at the clouds feels like, the holy beast is watchin us Mad man my sanity is goin like an hourglass Gun inside my bad hand I sliced tryin to bag grams"
The second effort from Premo & Guru is much improved over No More Mr. Nice Guy. It was only '91 and Premier was already at a level where his beats couldn't get any better. Combine that with Guru monotone flow that worked so well over these beats.
Quotable: "I was raised like a Muslim Prayin' to the East Nature of my life relates rhymes I release like a cannon Cuz I been plannin' to be rammin' what I wrote straight on a plate down your throat So digest as I suggest we take a good look At who's who while I'm readin' from my good book And let's dig into every nook and every cranny Set your mind free as I slam these thoughts And just like a jammy goes pow You're gonna see what I'm sayin' now You can't be sleepin' cuz things are gettin' crazy You better stop being lazy There's many people frontin' And many brothers droppin'"
Russell Simmons will be paying $480k in support for his two daughters with Kimora Lee. The documents have been located and exposed to the masses. Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons divorce case was a real piece of work.
The Los Angeles Superior Court handed down their judgment and he’s got to pay 40k a month for both daughters. That’s how much they are worth – 20k a month. Russ will continue these payments until 2019 for Ming Lee and 2022 for Aoki.
Snoop Confirms Detox; Dre Producing Upcoming Album
Rapper Snoop Dogg recently left the recording studio, recording tracks for Dr. Dre's highly anticipated album, Detox. "That record is real it's coming," Snoop Dogg said during an interview today (June 25) on Big Boy's Neighborhood. "You know me, I was starting to doubt it myself and then I went up in there and he played so much music for me it knocked my head off."
Snoop Dogg confirmed the fabled, decade-long project was finished and that the Doctor was selecting tracks for the album. "I see what he got them waiting for, it's on and poppin," Snoop Dogg said. "He got records, he got heat."
Dr. Dre will also sit in the producer's seat for Snoop Dogg's upcoming album. "Yea he's doing my next album. I got the title and everything," Snoop confirmed without revealing the album's title.
In related news, Snoop recently released a country-themed video for his single "My Medicine," which features a westernized Snoop alongside Willie Nelson, Julianne Hough, Brad Paisley and others. The song is taken from Snoop Dogg's latest album Ego Trippin'.
Kix and the City recently did an interview with TV and Hip Hop pioneer Uncle Ralph McDaniels, creator of the legendary Video Music Box. Many of us know it simply as "The Box" and have a fond memory of our first Bone Thugs-N-Harmony video or tracking the East Coast West Coast rivalry through which videos were getting called in the most that day.
Uncle Ralph McDaniels is the original. Twenty five years ago Uncle Ralph McDaniels created the first ever urban music video program, Video Music Box. Video Music Box spawned the urban video music programming that we all take for granted today. If it were not for Video Music Box, programs like Yo MTV Raps, the Basement, 106 and Park, etc. may have never existed.
2008 marks the 25th Anniversary of Video Music Box. In celebration of the 25th anniversary, Uncle Ralph has planned 25 Video Music Box events, with the first taking place last weekend in Harlem NYC. At this kick-off event, DJ Clark Kent presented Uncle Ralph McDaniels with a gift, the "Video Music Box 25th Anniversary" Nike Air Force 1 Low.
In this video feature, Uncle Ralph McDaniels speaks on the history of Video Music Box and exclusively unveils the "Video Music Box 25th Anniversary" Nike Air Force 1 Low
Collider.com talked to producers Mark Canton, Gianni Nunnari and Bernie Goldmann, who revealed that they are working on a new Blu-ray Disc edition of 300 and... that they're trying to make a sequel/prequel! The first film's director Zack Snyder confirmed it and they said Frank Miller is working on a new story for the film. You can watch that video interview here.
The site also got a chance to talk to Guillermo del Toro, who said he'd like to do Hellboy 3 when he finishes the two "Hobbit" films. You can watch that interview here.
Meet the woman who just bought the Death Row records empire out from under Suge Knight -- former aesthetician Susan Berg.
A bankruptcy court judge ordered that the label be put up for auction yesterday, so Global Music Group -- Susan's their president -- plunked down the $24 mil to purchase Tha Row.
She must be celebrating hard core because included in the deal are 20 unreleased Tupac Shakur tracks. Those'll have her rolling in Benjamins.
What makes this album so special? Two of the most versatile artists in underground rap collaborating on one album? And performing as demented monster men straight out of comic book lore? AND planning to take over the world through dope hip-hop music.
Quotable: "Just remember all caps when you spell the man's name..."
Everyone knows "My Mind Is Playing Tricks On Me", but this album is so much more. Weak moments on this album are few and far between, and the only entirely unnecessary track on the whole LP is the "Rebel Rap Family" intro.
Quotable: "Yo Flav, I give a fuck about a God damn Grammy But them motherfuckin hoes won't hand me one At least you was invited by the bigots The motherfuckers told me to buy a ticket! To their phony ass ceremony Fuck Oscar, Emmy, and Tony! Cause when it comes to award time Niggaz be standin on the God damn sideline I'm loadin my nine, cause I got a lot of grudges I'm 'bout to take out the judges Willie D won't shit 'cha, but hit 'cha Take a look at the overall picture Every year it's the same old story Same faces, same categories I sold a lot of records and a lot of people know me NOW WHERE'S MY GOD DAMN TROPHY!"
If this were a single disc album; it'd mostly likely be a top 10 or even 5 album imo. But 24 tracks spread over two disc wears a little thin. Some cuts were uninspiring, like Niggas Bleed, Miss U, and Another. The guest raps from Diddy could be done without, and it would be nice to see more of the newfound spirituality Biggie professed in the interviews before his grim death.
Quotable: "Your reign on the top was short like leprechauns As I crush so-called willies, thugs, and rapper-dons Get in that ass, quick fast, like ramadan Its that rap phenomenon Don-Dadda, fuck Poppa You got ta, call me, Francis M.H. White in tank-light totes, tote iron Was told in shootouts, stay low, and keep firin Keep extra clips for extra shit Who's next to flip, on that cat with that grip on rap The mo shady, "Tell em!", Frankie baby Ain't no tellin where I may be May see me in D.C. at Howard Homecomin with my man Capone, dumbin, fuckin somethin You should know my steelo Went from ten G's for blow to thirty G's a show to orgies with hoes I never seen befo' so, Jesus, get off the Notorious penis, before I squeeze and bust If the beef between us, we can settle it With the chrome and metal shit I make it hot, like a kettle get You're delicate, you better get, who sent ya? You still pedal shit, I got more rides than Great Adventure Biggie, "How are you gonna do it?"
Prince Po & Pharoahe Monch formed one of the most underrated East Coast rap groups ever. And this is the last of three album they put out as a group. This album is pure dopeness.
Quotable: "Nine times out of ten, a nigga wanna shine But nobody shines brighter than the light Organized Extra-tight, one hundred percent, drama full armor The persona is to "Crush Kill Destroy" the bad karma that hums superb, lyrics emerge from the slums of the latest gun drug runs, fun feds and dum-dums Priority and confidential Organized mission is rippin any instrumental, believe that"
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone magazine gives the sequel three-and-a-half out of four stars, describing it as “raw and elemental,” and marveling at how director Chris Nolan “brings pop escapism whisper-close to enduring art.”
And at AICN a reviewer calls Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker “truly one for the books.” That’s something echoed by Travers, who dubs the late actor “mad-crazy-blazing brilliant” in the role.
Since its launch in 2006, Sony's PlayStation 3 has incurred losses of some $3.3 billion dollars due to 'strategic pricing' that sees the console sold under its production costs.
Sony's annual report – cited by Forbes - admitted that, "Even if the platform is ultimately successful, it may take longer than expected to recoup the investment, resulting in a negative impact on Sony's profitability." Kotaku broke down the numbers to reveal that the PS3's pricing led to a loss of $2.16 billion in 2007 and a $1.16 billion loss in 2008.
With neither Grand Theft Auto IV or the exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4 having a significant impact on console sales, it could well be some time before Sony sees a profit from the PS3, with analyst Michael Pachter telling Forbes, "The console is still too expensive for the masses. A recession isn't going to help HDTV or Blu-ray sales."
Complex Mag's blog recently had a few cuts off of a new project from Little Brother's Phonte and producer Zo!, riding the wave of pseudo-80's backwash. Expect satire, poignant remarks, and mad chuckles while nodding your head to some surprisingly good music. OOOOWWW!
There’s a lot of ’80s nostalgia going on in hip-hop right now, but most of it has more to do with Rakim than A-Ha. But judging from Zo! & Tigallo Love the 80’s!, the new cover album from Little Brother’s Phonte (a.k.a. Tigallo) and Detroit producer Zo!, ’80s pop was just as influential on some MCs as golden age hip-hop.
After showing his crooning skills on past LB projects and Playaz Circle’s “Paper Chaser,” Phonte’s left field full-length side project left shouldn’t really surprise anyone. Zo! & Tigallo Love the 80’s! is set to be released this July in a limited quantity of 2500 copies. Before it hits stores, listen to Phontigga’s version of three ’80s bangers below.
“Take On Me” feat. Carlitta Durand (originally by A-Ha)