The Great Hip Hop Music & Entertainment Blog

Laser Light Show In Gillette Wyoming

2011-12-14T16:26:00.000-08:00

Huge Laser Light Show in Gillette Wyoming

Laser and Light Show Friday December 23rd 2011
An ALL AGES EVENT at the Complex Central Pavillion
1635 Reata Drive, Gillette WY. 82718

Cheyenne Frontier days is one of the yearly events that gives all of Wyoming and a few surrounding states something to go to and enjoy in the state of Wyoming. Now an event at the other extreme is coming to Wyoming a huge laser light show in Gillette Wyoming.

With small towns often there is hardly ever anything to do that is extremely fun and out of the ordinary. So when something this big comes in to town it's important to be a part of it. On December 23rd 2011 there will be another huge event happening in Wyoming, a huge Laser and light show at the Gillette Wyoming Complex Central Pavillion.

Now for the First Time EVER in the state of Wyoming Straight from AMSTERDAM to Gillette Wyoming, a huge Laser Light Show and Electronic Music Concert of massive proportions Friday December 23rd at the Complex Central Pavillion.

8pm-12am concert and light show (doors open at 7pm)
Gogo Dancers, Break Dance Crews, Families and Friends all welcome.
Bring your cameras to get great pictures for your Facebook and myspace pages.

$30 Cover Charge
Kids 5years and younger get in FREE

Tell all your friends! Please help promote this huge event so you can enjoy having it return in the future!
Post this on your Facebook pages, Twitter and Myspace!

To Become a vendor or for more information call 970-319-5841

Rapper Too Short Is Not Dead

2011-11-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

Rapper Too Short is Alive and Well

Despite Twitter Rumors Too Short Is Alive And Well

Too Short Pimpin Ain't Easy

Despite what you may be hearing on Twitter ... rapper Too Short insists ... he's NOT DEAD.

The Internet has been on fire with false reports that the rapper died from a heart attack today -- and several pranksters have already attempted to change the guy's Wiki page to reflect his death.

But T.S. just tweeted, writing, "Stop calling my phone. I'm not dead. Been in the lab working on my 19th album."

And just to make sure, TMZ spoke to the guy on the phone -- As TMZ Puts it "we're pretty sure that settles it ... the guy's alive."

Either that ... or ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.

Too Short Is In Studio Recording New Album

Willow Smith Growing Up Too Quickly

2011-11-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

Is Willow Smith Growing Up Too Quickly?

Willow Smith Music Star

New Music phenom, 10 year old Willow Smith stormed onto the music scene last year with her top 10 single Whip My Hair and is set to top the charts again with her new single 21 Century Girl. In addition to breaking into the music scene, Willow Smith also has a great interest in fashion. She has an extreme fashion style and has already been featured in top magazine Elle.

However some say isn’t this all too much for young Willow? Her mother, actress, film producer and wife of Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith disagrees with the rumours stating that she is letting her young daughter Willow grow up too fast. Jada goes on to say, "I don’t look at what she is doing as being an adult mentality. I think she’s simply being a creative child."

Will Smith Family - Will Smith, Willow, Jada Pinket Smith and Jaden Smith

Will Smith and Jada Pinket Smith

It is well know that child stars begin their careers successfully but eventually break down. “The Parent Trap” actress Lindsay Lohan made her big break in the film industry at the age of 11. While growing up, she became addicted to the Hollwood party scene. Lohan was almost fired from the film “Georgia Rule”, went through a series of car crashes, arrests and stints in rehab, she also pleaded guilty to cocaine possession and was sentenced to time in jail. I mean could it get any worse than that?

Willow Smith

As for little Willow Smith who has already made friends with outrageous singer and fashion icon Lady GaGa, I guess we’ll just have to hope for the best and stay tuned in for her future! She does have two very strong parents that also grew up in the music and entertainment business, and both should be able to provide good guidance and balance between her childhood and her celebrity career goals and status.

Her brother, Jaden Smith is also a very talented actor and did a great job in the new version of The Karate Kid featuring Hong Kong Mega Star Jackie Chan. With such a strong pool of talent in her family and the great guidance of her parents who are also very talented actors and musicians, we suspect both Willow and Jaden will go far in their entertainment careers.

Chuck D of Public Enemy Suing Universal Music Group

2011-11-12T11:42:00.000-08:00

Chuck D of Public Enemy is Suing Universal Music Group for Underpaid Royalties

Chuck D of Public Enemy Fight The Power Artwork

Chuck D of Public Enemy filed suit again Universal Music group for allegedly underpaying of royalties on digital downloads

The lawsuit was filed in San Francisco federal court and alleges that UMG routinely miscalculates the royalties owed to artists for digital downloads, such as MP3s and ringtones, by treating them as "sales" of physical records rather than "licenses."

Chuck D Pop Rock Doll Japan

Chuck D's lawyers announced at Hausfeld LLP saying that UMG has underpaid hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties and pointed to a decision in 2010 by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that offers some precedent that digital downloads should be treated as "licenses."

"This complaint suffers from serious flaws and weaknesses, not the least of which is that the claims asserted are not appropriate for class treatment," a UMG spokesperson tells THR. "We will vigorously defend against it."

Chuck D Of Public Enemy (Fight The Power Illustration)

Hip Hop Legend Heavy D Dies At Age 44

2011-11-08T15:38:00.000-08:00

Hip Hop Legend Heavy D Passes Away Suddenly at Age 44

90's Hip Hip Music Icon and rap star Heavy D passed away earlier today.

Heavy D who's real name was Dwight Arrington Myers, was rushed to an L.A. hospital around noon today and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1 PM. He was 44 years old.

An emergency 911 call was placed from Heavy D's Beverly Hills home around 11:25 AM to report an unconscious male on the walkway. Heavy D apparently regained consciousness and was speaking when help arrived. He was was transported to a nearby hospital but unfortunately died a short time after arriving.

Cops are investigating the rapper's death and so far, there are no signs of foul play. Police are currently investigating the home for any other possible signs and checking for cause of death.

Heavy D's last Tweet before his death, written on Monday night, was, "BE INSPIRED!"

Just before that he Tweeted about the loss of boxing legend Joe Frazier, who passed away on Monday following a bout with cancer. stating: "SMOKIN JOE FRAZIER..RIP.. truly one of the best heavyweight champs that ever lived.. GODS SPEED,MR FRAZIER!"

Boxing Legend Joe Frazier Dies at Age 67

2011-11-07T17:50:00.000-08:00

Boxing Legend Joe Frazier has passed away at age 67

Former Heavy Weight Boxing Champion of the World Joe Frazier has passed away from his battle with cancer.

Frazier, who died Monday night after a brief battle with liver cancer at the age of 67, forever will be forever linked to Muhammad Ali. But no one in boxing would ever dream of anointing Ali as "The Greatest" unless he, too, was linked to Smokin' Joe.

"I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration," Muhammad Ali said in a statement. "My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones."

The Two Heavy weight Champions fought three times, twice in the heart of New York City and once in the morning in a steamy arena in the Philippines. They went 41 rounds together, with neither giving an inch and both giving it their all.

In their last fight in Manila in 1975, they traded punches with a fervor that seemed unimaginable among heavyweights. Frazier gave almost as good as he got for 14 rounds, then had to be held back by trainer Eddie Futch as he tried to go out for the final round, unable to see.

"Closest thing to dying that I know of," Ali said afterward.

Ali was as merciless with Frazier out of the ring as he was inside it. He called him a gorilla, and mocked him as an Uncle Tom. But he respected him as a fighter, especially after Frazier won a decision to defend his heavyweight title against the then-unbeaten Ali, in a fight that was so big Frank Sinatra was shooting pictures at ringside and both fighters earned a then-astonishing $2.5 million.

The night at the Garden 40 years ago remained fresh in Frazier's mind as he talked about his life, career and relationship with Ali a few months before he died.

"I can't go nowhere where it's not mentioned," he told The Associated Press. "That was the greatest thing that ever happened in my life."

Bob Arum, who once promoted Ali, said he was saddened by Frazier's passing.

"He was such an inspirational guy. A decent guy. A man of his word," Arum said. "I'm torn up by Joe dying at this relatively young age. I can't say enough about Joe."

Frazier's death was announced in a statement by his family, who asked to be able to grieve privately and said they would announce "our father's homecoming celebration" as soon as possible.

Manny Pacquiao learned of it shortly after he arrived in Las Vegas for his fight Saturday night with Juan Manuel Marquez. Like Frazier in his prime, Pacquiao has a powerful left hook that he has used in his remarkable run to stardom.

"Boxing lost a great champion, and the sport lost a great ambassador," Pacquiao said.

Don King, who promoted the Thrilla in Manila, said in a statement issued Tuesday that Frazier was "the embodiment of what a great heavyweight champion and person should be."

"Not only was he a great fighter but also a great man. He lived as he fought with courage and commitment at a time when African-Americans in all spheres of life were engaged in a struggle for emancipation and respect," King said of Frazier. "Smokin' Joe brought honor, dignity and pride for his people, the AMERICAN people, and brought the nation together as only sports can do."

Though slowed in his later years and his speech slurred by the toll of punches taken in the ring, Frazier still was active on the autograph circuit in the months before he died. In September he went to Las Vegas, where he signed autographs in the lobby of the MGM Grand hotel-casino shortly before Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s fight against Victor Ortiz.

An old friend, Gene Kilroy, visited with him and watched Frazier work the crowd.

"He was so nice to everybody," Kilroy said. "He would say to each of them, 'Joe Frazier, sharp as a razor, what's your name?' "

Frazier was small for a heavyweight, weighing just 205 pounds when he won the title by stopping Jimmy Ellis in the fifth round of their 1970 fight at Madison Square Garden. But he fought every minute of every round going forward behind a vicious left hook, and there were few fighters who could withstand his constant pressure.

"Good night Joe Frazier. I love you dear friend. George Foreman" read Foreman's Twitter page.

"He would not back up from King Kong," Foreman said later Tuesday. "I know, I knocked Joe down six times. When our fight was over, Joe was on his feet looking for me."

Two fights later, Frazier met Ali in a rematch of their first fight, only this time the outcome was different. Ali won a 12-round decision, and later that year stopped Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle in Zaire.

There had to be a third fight, though, and what a fight it was. With Ali's heavyweight title at stake, the two met in Manila in a bout that long will be seared in boxing history.

Frazier went after Ali round after round, landing his left hook with regularity as he made Ali backpedal around the ring. But Ali responded with left jabs and right hands that found their mark again and again. Even the intense heat inside the arena couldn't stop the two as they fought every minute of every round, with neither willing to concede the other one second of the round.

"They told me Joe Frazier was through," Ali told Frazier at one point during the fight.

"They lied," Frazier said, before hitting Ali with a left hook.

Finally, though, Frazier simply couldn't see and Futch would not let him go out for the 15th round. Ali won the fight while on his stool, exhausted and contemplating himself whether to go on.

It was one of the greatest fights ever, but it took a toll. Frazier would fight only two more times, getting knocked out in a rematch with Foreman eight months later before coming back in 1981 for an ill-advised fight with Jumbo Cummings.

"They should have both retired after the Manila fight," former AP boxing writer Ed Schuyler Jr. said. "They left every bit of talent they had in the ring that day."

"The courage Smokin' Joe showed in The Thrilla in Manila -- answering every Ali onslaught with an equally withering response -- will remain in the hearts and minds of boxing fans around the globe forever," King said of the third fight in the trilogy.

"One cannot underestimate the contribution Smokin' Joe and Ali made to progress and change by creating the space, through their talent, for black men to be seen, visible and relevant. The Thrilla in Manila helped make America better," King said.

Born in Beaufort, S.C., on Jan. 12, 1944, Frazier took up boxing early after watching weekly fights on the black-and-white television on his family's small farm. He was a top amateur for several years, and became the only American fighter to win a gold medal in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo despite fighting in the final bout with an injured left thumb.

"Joe Frazier should be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of all time and a real man," Arum told the AP in a telephone interview Monday night. "He's a guy that stood up for himself. He didn't compromise and always gave 100 percent in the ring. There was never a fight in the ring where Joe didn't give 100 percent."

After turning pro in 1965, Frazier quickly became known for his punching power, stopping his first 11 opponents. Within three years he was fighting world-class opposition and, in 1970, beat Ellis to win the heavyweight title that he would hold for more than two years.

A woman who answered Ellis' phone in Kentucky said the former champion suffers from Alzheimer's disease, but she wanted to pass along the family's condolences.

In Frazier's adopted hometown of Philadelphia, a fellow Philly fighter, longtime middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, said Frazier was so big in the city that he should have his own shadow, like the fictional Rocky character.

"I saw him at one of my car washes a few weeks ago. He was in a car, just hollering at us, 'They're trying to get me!' That was his, hi," Hopkins said. "I'm glad I got to see him in the last couple of months. At the end of the day, I respect the man. I believe at the end of his life, he was fighting to get that respect."

HBO broadcaster Larry Merchant, who became close with Frazier after covering him as a reporter in Philadelphia, was crushed by the news.

"This is a body blow to me because I knew him personally as well as professionally," Merchant told ESPN.com's Dan Rafael. "I thought he was as honest and as real a fighter as there ever was. He followed in a tradition of (Jack) Dempsey and (Rocky) Marciano as the 'Warrior King.' "

It was his fights with Ali that would define Frazier. Though Ali was gracious in defeat in the first fight, he was as vicious with his words as he was with his punches in promoting all three fights -- and he never missed a chance to get a jab in at Frazier.

Frazier, who in his later years would have financial trouble and end up running a gym in Philadelphia, took the jabs personally. He felt Ali made fun of him by calling him names and said things that were not true just to get under his skin. Those feelings were only magnified as Ali went from being an icon in the ring to one of the most beloved people in the world.

After a trembling Ali lit the Olympic torch in 1996 in Atlanta, Frazier was asked by a reporter what he thought about it.

"They should have thrown him in," Frazier responded.

He mellowed, though, in recent years, preferring to remember the good from his fights with Ali rather than the bad. Just before the 40th anniversary of his win over Ali earlier this year -- a day Frazier celebrated with parties in New York -- he said he no longer felt any bitterness toward Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's disease and is mostly mute.

"I forgive him," Frazier. "He's in a bad way."

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jeremih Concert At The Gothic Theater Denver

2011-11-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

Jeremih Concert at Gothic Theater Wednesday November 2nd 2011 & The Game at the Ogden Theater Thursday November 3rd 2011

It's going to be a busy week of concerts and shows this week starting tonight Wednesday November 2nd with Jeremih at The Gothic Theater On South Broadway. Things heat up even more Thursday Night November 3rd with THE GAME at the Ogden Theater on Colfax.

We got this excerpt from our friends Jeremih Concert blog entry:

"It's a snowy day in Denver today but things heat up quickly later on tonight at the Gothic theater with a special KS107.5 Concert at the Gothic theater featuring recording superstar Jeremih. Don't miss this incredible singer tonight performing his hits including "Birthday Sex", "Down on Me" & "I'm A Star"

Jeremih will be joined by Denver's own Rising MTV Star and local artists Ali Pierre, Rocki & Dre Lane. Tickets to this great concert are available at all King Soopers, www.TicketsWest.com and at The Gothic Theater box office.

The Jeremih Concert is tonight, Wednesday November 2nd 2011 at 8pm, Doors open at 7pm at The Gothic Theater 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood, CO."

Jeremih Concert at The Ogden Theater Denver CO on Wednesday November 2nd

Flyer Designs by www.djemir.com/designs.html

The Game "The Documentary" Album Cover

Catch The Game in Concert at the Ogden Theater on Thursday November 3rd 2011 get tickets at http://www.axs.com/denver-co/music-events/game-2011november03-33393.html
or at the Ogden theater box office 935 E. Colfax Denver CO. 80218

The Game Red Tour Picture

I'll be at both concerts this week thanks to some of my industry contacts. Make sure you get your tickets and support these great artists as they visit our fine city of Denver.

- Trent W. The Great Hip Hop Blog

Steve Jobs Founder of Apple Computers Dies at Age 56

2011-10-07T23:41:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs Founder of Apple Computers Makers of The I-pod, I-phone, and I-pad Dies at age 56

Apple Computers Co Founder Steve Jobs Dies at Age 56

Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, has died, Apple said. Jobs was 56. Jobs died peacefully, surrounded by family members, his family said in a statement. In recent years Jobs had fought a form of pancreatic cancer and had a liver transplant.

"Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives," read a statement by Apple's board of directors. "The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts."

Apple CO-Founder Steve Jobs

Jobs co-founded Apple Computer in 1976 and, with his childhood friend Steve Wozniak, marketed what was considered the world's first successful personal computer, the Apple II.

Industry watchers called Jobs a master innovator -- perhaps on a par with Thomas Edison -- changing the worlds of computing, recorded music and communications.

"I'm shocked and disturbed," said Wozniak when reached by ABC News. Later, on ABC News' "Nightline," he said it was hard to imagine, in some ways, how the world would move forward without Jobs.

"You get shocked when people you know die," Wozniak said. "And this was closer to when John Lennon died, or JFK or Martin Luther King."

As Jobs' death was announced, the homepage of Apple's website switched to a full-page image of Jobs with the text, "Steve Jobs 1955-2011."

Clicking the image on www.apple.com then took you to additional text that was attributed to Apple's current CEO, Tim Cook.

"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being," the text read. "Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

Reaction to Jobs' death came from far and wide.

"Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs," President Obama said in a written statement. "Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it."

Jobs' rivals in the development of personal computers, Microsoft co-founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen, immediately reacted to his death and highlighted his importance to their industry.

Allen called him "a unique tech pioneer and auteur who knew how to make amazingly great products."

Microsoft Founder Bill Gates

Bill Gates, offering condolences, said, "Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives."

"The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come," Gates said. "For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely."

Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said, "Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you."

Jobs continued to innovate in recent years despite his failing health. He took three medical leaves from Apple.

In 2004, he beat back an unusual form of pancreatic cancer, and in 2009 he was forced to get a liver transplant. Jobs finally announced on Aug. 24, 2011 that he was stepping down as Apple's chief executive.

"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know," Jobs wrote in his letter of resignation. "Unfortunately, that day has come."

He remained as chairman of the corporation, a new position created for him.

Jobs' family released a statement tonight thanking everyone who had expressed concern about his health in the final year of his life.

"In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family," the statement said. "We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief."

One of the world's most famous CEOs, Jobs remained stubbornly private about his personal life, refusing interviews and shielding his wife and their children from public view.

"He's never been a media person," said industry analyst Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies, after Jobs resigned in August. "He's granted interviews in the context of product launches, when it benefits Apple, but you never see him talk about himself."

Apple said it was not planning any public events, though Cook's memo to Apple employees said the company was "planning a celebration of Steve's extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon."

At Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., tonight, people were hugging and crying. Candles were being lit around an iPad with a picture of Jobs on the screen, and observers very quietly stood and looked at the memorial.

Apple fans also gathered at an Apple store in New York City, though a security guard said he was told to pick up any flowers and remove anything like a shrine.

"For all he did -- his inventions, the way he changed technology and communications -- I felt I was obligated, in a way, just to say, "Thank you.'" said David Del Toro, 37, of Miami.

The highlights of Jobs's career trajectory are well-known: a prodigy who dropped out of Reed College in Oregon and, at 21, started Apple with Wozniak in his parents' garage. He was a multimillionaire by 25, appeared on the cover of Time magazine at 26, and was ousted at Apple at age 30, in 1985.

In the years that followed, he went into other businesses, founding NeXT computers and, in 1986, buying the computer graphics arm of Lucasfilm, Ltd. -- which became Pixar Animation Studios and transformed the cartoon world with such films as "Toy Story" and "WALL-E."

He was described as an exacting and sometimes fearsome leader, ordering up and rejecting multiple versions of new products until the final version was just right. He said the design and aesthetics of a device were as important as the hardware and software inside.

Bite That Apple Young Steve Jobs Poster

In 1996, Apple, which had struggled without Jobs, brought him back by buying NeXT. He became CEO in 1997 and put the company on a remarkable upward path.

By 2001, the commercial music industry was on its knees because digital recordings, copied and shared online for free, made it unnecessary for millions of people to buy compact discs.

Jobs took advantage with the iPod -- essentially a pocket-sized computer hard drive with elegantly simple controls and a set of white earbuds so that one could listen to the hours of music one saved on it. He set up the iTunes online music store, and persuaded major recording labels to sell songs for 99 cents each. No longer did people have to go out and buy a CD if they liked just one song from it. They bought a digital file and stored it in their iPods.

"Other companies sold digital music before Apple," said Bill Werde, editorial director of Billboard magazine. "Other companies made digital music available on computers and digital phones and used it in commercials. Apple's brilliance -- and I don't think anyone doubts that this was Steve Jobs' brilliance -- was that Apple made it exciting and simple and effortless and fun. Before Steve Jobs, digital music was math class. After, it was recess."

Steve Jobs Introduces the I-pod to the world

Jobs did not rest. In 2007, he transformed the cellphone. Apple's iPhone, with its iconic touch screen, was a handheld computer, music player, messaging device, digital wallet and -- almost incidentally -- telephone. Major competitors, such as BlackBerry, Nokia and Motorola, struggled after it appeared.

Steve Jobs and The I-Phone

By 2010, Apple's new iPad began to cannibalize its original business, the personal computer. The iPad was a sleek tablet computer with a touch screen and almost no physical buttons. It could be used for almost anything software designers could conceive, from watching movies to taking pictures to leafing through a virtual book.

Steve Job Flaunting the Apple I-pad

Jobs kept a close cadre of friends, Bajarin said, including John Lasseter of Pixar and Larry Ellison of Oracle, but beyond that, shared very little of his personal life with anyone.

But that personal life -- he was given up at birth for adoption, had an illegitimate child, was romantically linked with movie stars -- was full of intrigue for his fan base and Apple consumers.

Jobs and his wife, Laurene Powell, were married in a small ceremony in Yosemite National Park in 1991, lived in Woodside, Calif., and had three children: Reed Paul, Erin Sienna and Eve.

He admitted that when he was 23, he had a child out of wedlock with his high school girlfriend, Chris Ann Brennan. Their daughter, Lisa Brennan Jobs, was born in 1978.

He had a biological sister, Mona Simpson, the author of such well-known books as "Anywhere But Here." But he did not meet Simpson until they were adults and he was seeking out his birth parents. Simpson later wrote a book based on their relationship. Its title: "A Regular Guy."

Fortune magazine reported that Jobs denied for years that he was the father of Lisa Brennan Jobs, at one point swearing in a court document that he was infertile and could not have children. According to the report, Chris Ann Brennan collected welfare for a time to support the child until Jobs later acknowledged Lisa as his daughter.

There were other personal details that emerged over the years, as well.

At Reed, Jobs became romantically involved with the singer Joan Baez, according to Elizabeth Holmes, a friend and classmate. In "The Second Coming of Steve Jobs," Holmes tells biographer Alan Deutschman that Jobs broke up with his serious girlfriend to "begin an affair with the charismatic singer-activist." Holmes confirmed the details to ABC News.

Enigmatic and charismatic, Jobs said little about himself. But then his body began to fail him.

In 2004, he was forced to say publicly he had a rare form of pancreatic cancer. In 2009, it was revealed that he had quietly gone to a Memphis hospital for a liver transplant.

In 2009, sources said, members of Apple's board of directors had to persuade him to disclose more about his health as "a fiduciary issue," interwoven with the health of the company.

He was listed in March as 109th on the Forbes list of the world's billionaires, with a net worth of about $8.3 billion. After selling Pixar animation studios to The Walt Disney Company in 2006, he became a Disney board member and the company's largest shareholder. Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Analysts said Apple performed well during Jobs' absence, partly because he was available for big decisions and partly because his chief lieutenant, Tim Cook, was the hands-on manager even when Jobs was there.

Steve Job Apple Macintosh Operating System X - Lion, Leopord and Snow Leapord

The company has a history of bouncing back. In January 2009, after he announced his second medical leave, Apple stock dropped to $78.20 per share. But it quickly recovered and became one of the most successful stocks on Wall Street. On one day in the summer of 2011, with the stock hitting the $400 level, Apple briefly passed ExxonMobil as the world's most valuable company.

Lil Wayne to Drop The Carter 4 at Midnight Following The Video Music Awards

2011-08-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

Lil Wayne to Drop The Carter 4 at Midnight Following The Video Music Awards

Lil Wayne is going to dabble in a little midnight madness. Scheduled to perform at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Weezy has now announced that he'll also be dropping his highly anticipated new album, Tha Carter IV, at midnight, right after the Video Music Awards Show.

"I am extremely excited to be the first artist to utilize such an amazing idea. I hope that I can open the door for others," Lil Wayne said in a press statement regarding the Carter 4.

The YMCMB rapper's latest will be released digitally via iTunes, Amazon and other legal MP3 download destinations at 12 a.m. on August 29. Those still dedicated to physical CDs need not worry since the album will be in retail stores later that Monday.

The release of Tha Carter IV will be the capstone to a big night for Weezy, who is also up for Moonmen in the Best Hip-Hop Video and Best Collaboration categories. And despite Wayne's skateboarding accident over the weekend (he tweeted that he needed nine stitches for a gash over his eye), he is sure to take the Nokia Theatre stage by storm this week.

"The MTV Video Music Awards are one of the most watched and respected shows in the industry," Ronald "Slim" Williams, CEO of Cash Money Records, said in a statement. "Wayne is one of the most respected and prolific artists in the industry. By pairing the release of Tha Carter IV with the VMAs, it will certainly add to the overall anticipation and excitement for fans everywhere for what will surely be an unforgettable evening."

With Jay-Z and Kanye West throwing a wrench into traditional album-release strategies with their Watch the Throne project, Lil Wayne has chosen to make his own release an event by coinciding with another. "Lil Wayne continues to change the game; this time with a new release strategy that demonstrates the power of the VMAs to grab the attention of music fans," MTV President Stephen Friedman said. "After our millions of viewers experience the VMAs, they can go online at midnight and download the album they've all been waiting for."

Tha Carter IV's latest single is "She Will" and features appearances from, T-Pain, Tech N9ne, Rick Ross, John Legend, Jadakiss, Nas and Busta Rhymes, among others.

The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28, from Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist at VMA.MTV.com.

Lil Wayne is also Scheduled to perform several concerts across the US including One tonight
at Irvine Meadows / Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine, CA Fri, Aug 26, 2011 Tickets available at www.LiveNation.com

On Tuesday Lil Wayne performs for the KS107.5 FM Back To School Jam at The Comfort Dental Amphitheater in Denver Colorado on Tuesday August 30th alongside Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Far East Movement and Lloyd. Tickets available at www.LiveNation.com

KS107.5 Back 2 School Jam ft Lil Wayne, Keri Hilson, Rick Ross, Fare East Movement and Lloyd

This concert will be followed immediately by a concert at The Hard Rock Casino in Albuquerque New Mexico on Wednesday August 31st 2011 again with Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Far East Movement and Lloyd. Tickets available at www.LiveNation.com

- Trent W. Great Hip Hop Music Blog

Tupac Against Being A Role Model

2011-06-18T00:57:00.000-07:00

Had he lived, Tupac Shakur would have turned 40 years old on Thursday (June 16). The sometimes enigmatic, always fiery rapper would have been a grizzled veteran looking back with nostalgia at the exploits that made him the model of hip-hop machismo and passion. But in an interview with MTV News in 1992, the late rapper expressed eloquently why he wanted no part of the "role model" title he was destined to be tagged with.

"I say I don't want to be a role model in the song, because if I let somebody put the role-model label on me, that limits me," Tupac explained, referring to his song "Ghetto Gospel." "Because look at those words, 'role' and 'model.' Both of those are fake words, to play a role and to model, that's fake. I'm real. Being real, I drink, I hang out, I party — I do things that a 21-year-old does. And even worse, because I didn't have a childhood, I'm reliving my childhood. I live life to its fullest, I make mistakes, but I do some stuff that some college kids wouldn't do, because I live from my heart. I have fun. I don't want to be a role model, I just want to be real."

If Tupac was anything, it was real. He openly admitted his flaws in interviews and his rhymes, and was known for being fiercely loyal, almost to a fault. The "California Love" rapper never wanted his success to prevent him from being relatable to his friends in the "outer city." ("It's the outer city because we're always left out," he said.)

Never forgetting where he came from was a theme heard throughout 'Pac's music and was a trait inherent in people he saw as heroes. " 'Role model,' that's the word that they make. In the outer city, we don't have it," Tupac said. "We had [Mike] Tyson, Tyson was the perfect outer-city hero because he was always on the edge, they always wanted to make him a different type of person. But he would never be that, he would always be on the edge, and they hated him for that. They punished him because he never legitimized himself. He hung in clubs. He was the only person I knew that had millions that hung around with rappers. The only black person I know that made it to that millionaire status and then treated rappers with dignity."

'Pac continued, "Every entertainment person who has money looks at rappers as ignorant people with mics, holding our jocks, wearing Kangols and big gold chains. Mike Tyson was the only person I can remember being a millionaire and a real brother. And he was my hero, and I want to be like that. And I want more people like that."

Tragically and ironically, Tupac would be shot multiple times on September 7, 1996, after attending the Mike Tyson vs. Bruce Seldon boxing match at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Although one of hip-hop's most recognizable stars would succumb to his injuries about a week later, his legend has only risen since his sudden death nearly 15 years ago.

Share your memories of Tupac in the comments below.

On Tupac's 40th Birthday Killer Comes Forward

2011-06-18T00:31:00.000-07:00

On the eve of what would have been Tupac Shakur's 40th birthday, an imprisoned man has admitted to shooting the late rapper/actor during a robbery at Manhattan's Quad Studios in November 1994. What's even more startling is that the alleged triggerman, Dexter Isaac, is claiming in a letter that was obtained by AllHipHop.com that 'Pac's former associate, Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond, paid him $2,500 to do the deed.

While this may be a revelation to some, 'Pac's former protégé and Outlawz member E.D.I. Mean told MTV News that he was well aware.

"It's not news for us, because this is information that we been had and that we been knew about. And we always knew that it'll come out one day, because what's done in the dark always comes to light," he said before pointing to Shakur's music as proof. "I just feel like it's verification for what 'Pac said, because a lot of people felt when 'Pac was saying what he was saying on Makaveli that he was out of line for saying that."

The specific lyric E.D. is referencing is from "Against All Odds," a fiery track that appeared on Tupac's The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theoryalbum (commonly referred to as the Makaveli album). On the song, the now-deceased MC implies that Henchman set him up in 1994 as he raps:

"And did I mention promise to pay back Jimmy Henchman in due time/ I know you bitch n---as is listenin', the world is mine/ Set me up, wet me up, n---as stuck me up/ Heard the guns bust, but you tricks never shut me up."

Ultimately, E.D.I. Mean believes that Isaac's confession will eventually help the authorities solve the 1996 murder of Shakur as well as the 1997 shooting death of the Notorious B.I.G. — two crimes that many feel are related. "This will go on for a little bit longer, and I really feel like it's a domino effect," he said. "This will really lead up to their actual murderers. Both Big and 'Pac and everybody can move on, and this will be like some closure for not only the families, but the whole hip-hop community, because it's been an open wound since 1996 and 1997."

In a 2008 interview with MTV News, Rosemond denied any involvement in the 1994 shooting and dismissed the song as a shock tactic that rappers often use. "Absolutely never [had I] even know about it, never heard about it — before, afterward — had nothing to do with it," Rosemond added about the ambush. "Nobody that I know [was] associated with [the attack], and this is why I have confidently, in the last 14 years, told people that they can dig up whatever they want to dig up. And I've been very firm in what I've said to people: that I've had nothing to do with it."

Isaac, who is currently serving life in prison for murder, robbery, fraud and witness-intimidation charges, tells a different story. "I want to apologize to his family [Tupac Shakur] and for the mistake I did for that sucker [Jimmy Henchman]," Isaac told AllHipHop.com from prison. "I am trying to clean it up to give [Tupac's and Biggie's] mothers some closure."

Rosemond himself is facing legal trouble. On May 17, news broke that federal authorities issued an arrest warrant for Henchman in connection with a drug case. Henchman, who runs Czar Entertainment, a company that manages the career of the Game and other rap artists, fired back in a letter, lashing out at the "slanderous media" coverage he has received about the case. He also went on to call out Isaac's credibility. "If the government is relying on informants like Winston 'Winnie' Harris, a convicted drug dealer and Jamaican deportee, who came to me and motioned via hand signal that he was forced to wear a wire and begged me to skip town, or Dexter Isaac, who is serving life in prison plus 30 years, then I'm sure I will not be offered a fair trial."

Take a look back at what Tupac told MTV News about the idea of being a "role model," and celebrate his birthday on the Rapfix blog.

Social Media Rules of Engagement

2011-06-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

Social Media, Social Marketing and The New Rules of Engagement

Social Media Marketing is does not work the same as advertisements and marketing in the old days. It used to be you would set up a clever advertisement and try and get it in front of as many of the projected demographic as you could. The Rule was to have it seen by hundreds of thousands if not Millions to get a small percentage of them to become buyers. After all, a small percentage of a huge number is still a decent sized number. If you placed your message in front of One Million people you could expect a Hundred-Thousand of them to become customers so long as your ad was provocative, thought provoking and drove them to your product.

Fast forward to the turn of the century and you see many of us now bombarded every single day with too much ADVERTISEMENT-Clutter. We are hit with Ads on the radio, On TV, On The Internet, On Social Networking sites, now even in the movies you see commercials that were once only on our televisions. The rate of return has diminished because our tolerance level for ignoring the media has been heightened due to overexposure.

The Fail Whale is not the only thing that fails on Twitter so do over 75% of the so called marketing experts, they just don't get it. Twitter is about engaging in conversations, and NOT YELLING YOUR PRODUCT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS EVERY TIME YOU TWEET!

Today's Social Media Are About Engagement:

Social Media, sites like Twitter, Face Book, MySpace and Beebo as well as social bookmarking sites like Digg and Delicious.com provide us all with ways to connect with other people, share our thoughts, our likes, grievances and favorite sites with other like users that may have similar interests. Social media sites are powerful tools of engagement and yet many use it simply as another form of advertising. Many marketers and advertisers just don't get the true power of social media.

It is not as important that you have more "Followers" on Twitter or more "Friends" on any given social media site, what is important is how often and how engaging your interactions are with them. Do you offer console, advise or better their lives in any way so that they remember you? Or do you simply try and stuff your products and services down their throat all the time without giving anything of value to the "Relationship" Being a real friend online is about forming real relationships, it's a give and take.

Online, word of mouth is all about value, great customer service and great products, but people also have to like you to "Spread the Word" and that takes real engagement.

New Rules of Engagement:

Don't Dictate to the World, Engage With it - meaning, get involved with people don't just post your advertisements or links to your blog, give them information they can use, advise, have a two way conversation and find out what makes them happy.

Re-Tweet More Than just compliments about you - If you find someone posts something that is helpful to you or you think maybe helpful to others re-tweet it. Don't just Re-Tweet things when they mention you. You'll get more followers if you are someone that posts interesting things versus only things about you, your company and your products.

Response Time is Critical - Don't just start a conversation and then not be a part of it! Social media is about interaction and engagement, make sure you are there to talk about the subject you brought up. Comment back when people comment your thoughts. It doesn't have to be all the time, but it is better for you to spend 15 minutes every few days verses be on one social media site for several hours One day and then be absent the rest of the month. This way if you someone asks something of you you can respond with a few hours or a few days verses a month or two.

Be Wary of What You Put Out And What You Allow Yourself to grasp - Remember that while it may feel like an intimate conversation, what you are saying is being broadcast to the entire world or at the very least your entire circle of friends. It takes thousands of tweets to create a reputation and only one to completely ruin it. Remember to be polite courteous and above all ignore the trolls, those that are distasteful, arrogant and out to make you mad just to see if they can. Just ignore them and they will move on to others.

Remember Every Post is An Extension of You, Your Website and Your Brand - posts like "Your breasts look juicier than the watermelon I just ate" will not reflect well on your company's image. And it just comes off as creepy anyway. Be respectful and you will command that same respect back at you. Compliment people on their successes, accomplishments and achievements instead of only shouting about your own and they will most likely do the same for you when you do shout out about yourself.

Top of Mind Means You Have To Be Consistent - You have to Tweet consistently, comment consistently, update your status consistently with engaging interactive thoughts and useful articles, videos etc. The average shelf life for a tweet or a status update is very short, but don;t let that fool you into thinking it isn't powerful. You simply have to stay involved. Make it a habit. In the old days it was about having your AD play over and over now it's being active online that plays a huge role in top of mind and brand awareness. Get into the habit of being present on Facebook, Twitter or whatever social site you choose and people will get into the habit of reading what you write.

Tweet Quality / Status Update Quality - The Quality of what you post is just as important than the frequency of your posts. Tips, advice and useful articles are always good, and helping people with helpful answers to their questions is always the fastest way to connect with someone online.

Repost And Re-Tweet Helpful or Humerous Content - You don't have to always rack your brains trying to be witty or helpful yourself when people are already posting similar items every day. Read and re-post or Re-Tweet what you feel may help your friends or what has already helped you

If Possible Use a Face Picture - A picture can familiarize other people with who they are talking to. Then when you see them at a real event it's as if you really are old friends.

Automation and Engagement Are the Exact Opposites - Nothing says I'm not really talking to you I'm just marketing, like an automated post. What's the point of asking a provocative question if you aren't really going to be involved in the discussion? Check back often enough to comment and respond to others when they comment and answer your questions and you will create much greater involvement and really learn to engage people online. This way they will be more receptive when you do mention your services or your product as they will view you more a s a friend than just an advertiser.

- Trent W. The Great Hip Hop Blog

Batman Mixtape Is An Instant Classic

2011-05-18T22:45:00.000-07:00

DJ Emir Batman Mixtape is An Instant Classic!

Wow! what can we say? DJ Emir has done it again! Another hot mixtape project that shows why DJ Emir is a true mixtape genius. The DJ Emir Batman Mixtape is a wild ride through the depths of Gotham City as Batman rises from the ashes of Bruce Wayne's tragic past. Re-experience Batman like never before in this epic 80 minute mixtape CD. A thoughtfully put together mixtape featuring cool quotes, great music and a strong mix of the best Hip Hop, Reggae and remixes automatically making this this yet another classic mixtape to add to any collection from the mixtape master himself, DJ Emir!

DJ Emir Batman Mixtape

DJ Emir Batman Mixtape Back Cover

DJ Emir Batman Mixtape Sample by djemir

Check out the preview and get your copy of the Batman Mixtape at www.djemir.com/batman-mixtape.html TRUST ME! YOU WANT THIS MIXTAPE!
*Be warned though unlike many of his other mixtapes, this one is dirty and has some curse words in it and may not be appropriate for young children.*

- Trenton W.
Writer at The Great Hip Hop Blog

Motive for Waka Flocka Tour Bus Shooting

2011-02-28T00:21:00.000-08:00

Atlanta rapper Waka Flocka Flame's tour bus was shot at while a stereo was being installed Wednesday in North Carolina. Rumor has it that the gunmen who opened fire on Waka Flocka Flame's tour bus on Wednesday were after his $1.2 million dollar necklace.

Waka Flocka Flaunting his Fozzie Bear and Gumbi n Pokey Custom Chains

Waka Flocka Flame with Fozzie Bear Chain

The photos above shows the hip hop artist wearing the expensive bling.

Charlotte Police have now arrested six suspects in connection with the shooting -- each is charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon and two felonies of shooting into occupied property. Each is being held on at least $200,000 bond.

One of the suspects is aspiring rapper Antonio Stukes, who was shot in the shoulder by one of Waka's security guards. Stukes tells WCNC that he was an innocent bystander, who was caught in the crossfire and was merely trying to get his demo CD to Waka Flocka.

Waka's publicist, Kali Bowyer said, "We are pleased with the attentiveness by the Charlotte Police Department in capturing these individuals in such a timely manner. It is such a shame that one would risk the lives of innocent women and children in hopes of stealing one's jewelry."

Waka Flocka Tour Bus Hit With Gunfire

2011-02-28T00:02:00.000-08:00

Waka Flocka Flame should be counting his blessings as he has survived yet another shooting incident (February 16th), as his tour bus was shot at four times while traveling in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Atlanta rapper sustained no injuries, but was detained for a short while after the incident. Waka Flocka's bus was hit four times and per TMZ, members of Waka Flocka Flame’s security team fired back at the assailants, managing to hit one of them in the shoulder.

The shootout occurred while Waka’s tour bus was parked outside of a stereo shop, awaiting a stereo installation. Two cars pulled up on the stationary vehicle and opened fire.

Waka sent a note out to fans on Twitter, advising that he was fine.
“To my fans N world, I’m good nothing is wrong with my health,” he tweeted. “See yall in Cali for all-star #im1realassperson.”

This isn’t the first time Waka Flocka has been involved in gunfire incidents. Last year the rapper was shot in the arm while fighting at a carwash in Georgia over his jewelry. And late last year Waka Flocka was arrested after a raid at his home that also netted his friend and rap mentor Gucci Mane.

The rapper, his brother and another person -- someone not involved in Waka Flocka's entourage -- were briefly detained and questioned after the shooting outside the Car Stereo Warehouse in east Charlotte, according to Fox and other Charlotte television stations.

Waka Flocka, the alias of Juaquin James Malphurs, spent two days in a Henry County jail in January after turning himself in to authorities. He was booked on charges including drug and weapons possession, as well as criminal street gang activity and a probation violation, according to jail records.

In December, police arrested two people at Malphurs' Henry County home for possession of a minor amount of marijuana. The rapper wasn't home at the time but still was charged.

He was arrested in Houston County last March for leaving Georgia for a concert, which violated his probation from a 2006 incident. At the time, he pleaded guilty to possession of a sawed-off shotgun and received four years' probation, according to the Houston County Superior Court Clerk's office.

"Why would I rap and go try to street gang bang? That's hustling backwards" Waka told a radio station at the time. "Why would I wanna rap all around the world and then go hit the streets and gang bang? I'm a rapper, I'm not a [gang-banger.] How can you gang bang and be a rapper? I don't understand that," he said. "I would love to find out where their information is coming from. I can't wait."

Lil Wayne Searched For Drugs By Federal Agents

2011-02-27T23:50:00.000-08:00

Lil Wayne was searched at Opa-Loca Airport in Miami by federal agents after he got off his plane sources have said.

Lil Wayne on Stage Shirtless w Microphone

Law enforcement sources say multiple agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency performed a contraband search on Lil Wayne who’s currently on felony probation stemming from incidents involving drugs and guns.

But Lil Wayne was clean so the Federal agents let the Lollipop rapper go on his way with no further incident.

Lil Kim Will Do Track With Nicki Minaj if it Means Money

2011-02-21T13:40:00.000-08:00

Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim to produce a track together after all the beef?

Well not quite just yet, but it may still be a possibility in the future.

Lil Kim in Black and Red Lingerie with a Crop Whip

Lil Kim is doing all she can to keep her name in the blogs and Hip Hop News. She says she will consider doing a track with "Everything about me is fake Nicki Minaj" for the right price. This is never going to happen it is just words to keep Lil Kim in the spotlight which is dimming very quickly. The Old heads don’t buy music anymore and rarely go to live appearances, so all that leaves is the young crowd to entertain and sell music to, which is a hard thing to do if you are real hip hop. Lil Kim is too real for them.

Nicki Minaj in Pink and Black Dress

When asked if there is any possibilty that she would ever do a track with Nicki Minaj Lil Kim had this to say:

"The only way that’s gonna happen is it’s definitely gonna take a check. At the end of the day, I’m a boss. I was a hustler before I was an entertainer. What I mean by that is, I love music–love, love, love music. I love entertaining, I love being in the industry, but the truth of the matter is if music and the industry didn’t bring me money, this would not be my first occupation. I also am a businesswoman and I know that living life, you have to eat. If the industry was designed where you didn’t make money from it, it was just music to produce, I would still do it, but it wouldn’t be my first occupation."

Usher in a Monster of a Song Rights Scandle Battle

2011-02-13T23:25:00.000-08:00

Usher Raymond

Usher has been pulled into a lawsuit by a student songwriter who has alleged he was cheated out of ownership rights for the hip hop star's hit number 'Monster'.

The 'Yeah!' hitmaker included the song in his 2010 release Raymond vs Raymond, but Kameron Glasper claims he was conned into signing away half of his interest in the tune, which was part of a 10-track package deal he entered into in 2009 for Legendary Poets Music Publishing.

Glasper, also known as Kam Parker, insisted he was a "young, inexperienced college student" trying to break into the music industry when he agreed to the contract with publishing company owner Bethel Harris.

He alleged that Harris "exploited" his talents and claimed to be "the only person that Usher Raymond's representatives would negotiate with for the song Monster", reported Contact music.

Legendary Poets shut down in February 2010 – before relaunching that summer - and Glasper argues his contract should be dissolved too.

Check out Usher's album Raymond Vs Raymond which includes the hit singles "OMG", "Monster", "Hey Daddy, (Daddy's Home)" and "Hot Tottie" which features Jay-Z.

Usher Raymond vs Raymond Deluxe Edition Album Cover

Jamie Fox and Ex Manager Fight at Usher Concert

2011-02-13T22:34:00.000-08:00

Jamie Foxx had a battle royale with his former manager at an Usher concert in Hollywood. According to One witness "Jamie and the other guy started fighting about half way through Usher’s set at around 11.30pm. The fight spilled to the outside area and I don’t think Usher even noticed because the place was so packed with people.When they got outside security intervened and after some cops approached both men seemed to make-up with one another before they leaving the scene."

Jamie Foxx - Best Night of My Life Album

This type of altercation is unusual for the normally laid-back star, but I’ll tell you one thing: I wouldn’t want to piss him off. His publicist does not want to comment at this time about the situation, but you know the details will unfold sooner or later as to what happened. Don’t worry about Jamie Foxx, as it seems no charges where pressed. Thank goodness. For all we know it could have been just two really big egos in the middle of some testosterone-fueled fight. It had to be bad for Jamie to step out of character like that. Every time I see Jamie at an event he always seems to be a ladies man. Very social.

Jamie Foxx Unpredictable Album Cover

After the show Damien Dante Wayans, nephew to Damon and Keenan Ivory Wayans, said he saw the fight inside and described it as "a little altercation … between two friends."

Singer / Actor Jamie Foxx

Perhaps the two were able to hug it out after all. The Usher concert went off without a hitch in spite of the drama that unfolded. I guess Usher didn’t miss a beat, and neither did Jamie. I imagine people near the altercation got a great two for One deal they got to watch Usher perform live in concert and got to see the debut of Jamie Foxx the fighter in his debut fight, I'm sure people would have paid to watch either of these events. All kidding aside, hopefully Jamie Foxx and his ex-manager can settle this without lawsuits and lawyers.

Jamie Foxx as Wanda on In Living Color TV Comedy Show

Jamie Foxx started his career as a comedian and actor with shows like In Living Color, Roc and The Jamie Foxx Show. A man of immense talent, Jamie Foxx has released four Albums the second Album being the multi platinum hit album "Unpredictable" which debuted at Number Two selling 598,000 in it's first week of sales and quickly climbing to number One with an additional 200,000 sales in it's second week of sales. To date the album has sold over 1.98 Million copies in the United States alone and is still one of our personal favorite albums of all time.

Jamie Foxx is the second male in history to receive two acting Oscar nominations in the same year for two different movies, Collateral and Ray. The only other male actor to achieve this was Al Pacino. In 2005

Jamie Foxx also became the fourth artist to have won an Academy Award for an acting role and to have achieved a number-one record album in the US. (The other three to accomplish this feat were Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Barbra Streisand.)

Make sure you check out the new Jamie Foxx album "Best Night of My Life" released in late December of 2010.

Also check out Usher's album Raymond Vs Raymond which includes the hit singles "OMG" "Monster" "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" and "Hot Tottie" which features Jay-Z.

Funkmaster Flex Arrested For Alleged Domestic Abuse

2011-02-13T10:25:00.000-08:00

Funkmaster Flex, One of New York's leading Nightclub and Radio DJs whose real name is Aston G. Taylor, was picked up by the Greenburgh police early Friday morning following a 911 call from a woman identified as his wife.

The 40-year-old wife accused Taylor of allegedly pushing her to the floor, and slapping the phone out of her hand, while she was trying to call the police for help in the couple’s bedroom. The victim also added that Taylor sent her threatening text messages after a domestic dispute.

Funkmaster Flex was not at his Westchester County, New York home when police arrived, but authorities later caught up with the commercial radio DJ a short time later and arrested him.

According to sources, Funkmaster Flex posted bail for $500.00 and will only face domestic harassment and criminal mischief charges, and is due back in court, February 18.

Waka Flocka Flame New Face of PETA

2011-02-13T10:16:00.000-08:00

Waka Flocka Flame has been announced as the new face of animal rights group PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals).

The Brick Squad rapper and Gucci Mane associate, who was recently arrested on drug and weapons charges, has revealed that he will be taking part in PETA’s Ink, Not Mink campaign in Los Angeles, alongside Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey and Pink.

“Animals should be treated the same as you would a kid. Would you want someone just to walk up and skin your kid? Hell no!” Waka said, in regards to his interest in animal rights.

Jack LaLanne Dies at Age 96

2011-01-23T21:58:00.000-08:00

Jack LaLanne The Godfather of Fitness Passed Away at age 96

Jack LaLanne The Godfather of Fitness shown here fit and healthy at age 94

Jack LaLanne, The godfather of fitness died from respiratory failure due to pneumonia at his at his coastal California home in Morro Bay. He was 96 years of age whe he passed away.

"He was surrounded by his family and passed very peacefully in no distress ... and with the football game on Sunday, so everything was normal," his daughter Yvonne LaLanne, 66, told Reuters.

Only two years ago, LaLanne, still a poster boy for vitality, told PEOPLE MAGAZINE that young stars such as Britney Spears – who was going through physical and emotional problems at the time – needed to "develop pride and discipline" and watch what they put into their bodies, or as he put it: "the right fuel in the machine."

As for keeping body and soul together, "It's got to start with young kids," LaLanne told PEOPLE.

Jack LaLanne, didn't start watching how he lived until he was 15 years old. Born Francois Henri LaLanne in San Francisco (his parents were French immigrants), he felt the effects of sugar and bleached flour in his diet. After hearing a health lecture, he devoted his life to following a diet of raw, unprocessed foods. His staples: two meals a day, no snacks and a healthy dose of old fashioned excercise.

And did he ever exercise, relentlessly. At age 60, noted The New York Times, he swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf while pulling a 1,000-pound boat – and while handcuffed, as a proving point that convicted felons could have made the swim even handcuffed even though they had been told that the swim from Alcatraz was not possible. At 70, shackled again, he pulled 70 people in 70 boats 1½ miles through Long Beach Harbor.

As he liked to say, "I can't die. It would ruin my image."

LaLanne opened the nation's first modern health club in California's Oakland, in 1936, and it featured exercise equipment, a juice bar and health food store. Eventually this developed into a 100-strong Jack LaLanne gym chain across the country. He would also market a highly successful juicer.

Jack LaLanne doing Finger Tip stretched out Pushups at Age 90

His syndicated TV show, The Jack LaLanne Show, which opened with his performing jumping jacks under the credits in his signature belted jumpsuits, debuted in daytime in 1959 and ran for 34 years, solidifying his reputation. After more than 3,000 shows, LaLanne, who owned all rights, repackaged the program and leased it to ESPN Classic.

Besides his daughter, Yvonne, he is survived by a son, Dan Doyle; his wife, Elaine; and their son, Jon.

Check out the comment section to see what other readers have to say about this story or add a comment of your own.

Nicki Minaj vs Lil Kim Beef Goes On

2011-01-18T15:56:00.000-08:00

The whole LIL Kim Nicki Minaj beef has gotten heated with the Releases of several dis verses from both rappers. We feature two of the harder sections here... The Nikki Minaj mini Dis of LIL Kim on The Diddy Hello Good Morning Remix and supposedly on Roman's Revenge and of course the full length dis song reply by Lil Kim on "Black Friday"

Nicki Minaj Lines from The P Diddy Dirty Money Hello Good Morning Remix

[Nicki Minaj verse]
I came up in it a little bit self centered
but did I kill a Queen
Alexander McQueen’s got a wrist on glow
the bottles is on po’
got that shibby shibby yeah shibby yeah ayou!
what the f-ck I look like b-tch I run this town
I aint coming out for less than a 100 thou
man, the last time I checked I was bubbling out
got to turn down shows, out in Dublin now
wait wait hold on, maybe they didn’t get that here
like 11 hundred horses when I switch that gear
swerve on them sorta like I missed that dear
press that little button on the sit back chair
lyrics courtesy of www.killerhiphop.com
b-tch I do it cause I get it
I got billion dollar credit
if you got a million dollars you could put it up and bet it
I just be like hello hello but I never could salute them
young money I do it for the yout dem!

Nicki Minaj Ft Eminem Roman's revenge Music Video

Nikki Minaj "No Entry Lil Kim Dis Song"

Nicki Minaj "No Entry Lil Kim Dis Song" Lyrics

Yo, young money right here,
bike here, throw it up, no high chair,
cold like a white bear,
freddie Kruger Im a rap b-tch nightmare,
and I'm rich I could buy you,
kill b-tches leave ya body in a bayou,
more brain than an IQ,
more head than a dread (my youte),
and my bank account ain't hardly empty,
so I come through in a Barbie Bentley,
but please mamacita, please no envy,
when you come around it reads no entry,
who's next to go,
my flows so flexible,
get gas, then get at me, Texaco,
shoot yourself in the leg, plexico
white jag with the twisted lip,
I aint Mike Jack but This is it!
b- b- b- boo Im everywhere,
your like balloon boy mama you was never there!
I am the kung fu panda,
f-ck all o' ya blogs, f-ck all o' ya propaganda,
good for the goose then its good for the gander,
nicki aint a rapper, nicki is a brander,
please you can never compare to me,
all these b-tches is scared of me,
I am who they couldn't even dare to be,
so thats all folks, badibadee
I go hard pause,
Hospital flow get more gauze,
Imma bad b-tch on all fours,
the president be like its all yours,
Weezy and Nicki bring the A-game, high stats,
go together like Ricky and his eye patch,
go together like a team in the gym,
Kareem in the ring, the queen and the king

Nicki Minaj Verse from DJ Khaled All I Do Is Win Remix Version

Lil Kim Black Friday Full Length song dissing Nikki Minaj

The full uncensored version of The LIL Kim "Black Friday" Dis track dissing Nicki Minaj and her Pink Frida album

The beat to Diddy's Hello Good Morning Remix is an automatic banger so it makes it much easier to feel the flow and get the juices flowing on a song of that magnitude and the fact that it is a banger means it definitely will be heard by more people giving Nicki Minaj the upper hand in that respect, but LIL KIM definitely came back super hard over the classic underground East Coast Banger beat of Pharoahe Monch's "Simon Says" (get the f up) Lil Kim of course flips it and says "Shut The F Up" to Nicki Minaj. While Nicki beats around the bush in all her songs only making references to "The Queen" Then eventually came out with an actual dis song.

Lil Kim flat out makes sure everyone knows she is aiming directly back at Nicki Minaj with "Black Friday" specifically calling out Nicki's album Pink Friday saying she's "turning Pink Friday to Friday the 13th"and "I've seen em come, I've seen em go and still I remain, sweetie your going on your fourteenth minute of fame, I'm over Ten years strong still running the game cut the comparisons I'm in the legendary lane."

Kim goes in hard on her Dis Track "Black and yellow, will pull up in your ghetto, Giuseppe’s when I step out, posted up in stilettos, P-ssy so pink like my kitty saying hello, If I whistle, they’ll pistol whip you in all five borough’s" Peep the full Lyrics to Black Friday below:

Lil Kim Black Friday Lyrics (Niccki Minaj Diss song):

Roman’s Revenge, um,
You know, she just really jumped out the window
And you gotta be careful when you pick fights
And that’s what I’ve learned in this business
You just never know…

Shut the f-ck up

Who the f-ck want war
FedEx beef straight to your front door
It’ll be a murder scene
I’m turning Pink Friday to Friday the 13th
Aight you Lil Kim clone clown
All this buffoonery, the shit stops now
Time for you to lay down, I’m sick of the fraud
I put hands on this bitch like a spa massage
We all know your last name is what got you a job
You use to put together gimmicks something like a collage
Since you putting on a show, you gon’ get the appaulse
Clap clap, lift your frame like a f-cking garage, yeah
This hood sh-t you and Drake ain’t built for
This the same sh*t the other bitch almost got killed for
I’m still counting what hardcore generated
Bet my sh-t keeps spinning like it’s syndicated
Corny broad I’ll you bloody like you menstruated
Your hot air ass bitch should have been deflated
This aint a championship fight I’ve been the greatest
See the fact is, what you doing I did it
Lames trying to clone my style, run with it
Thats cool, I was the first one with it
You deluded kim wannabe you just hate to admit it
I’m the Blueprint you aint nothing brand new
Check ya posters and videos, you’ll always be number 2
I seen ‘em come, I seen go, I still remain
Sweety, you going on your 14th minute of fame
I’m over 10 years strong still running the game
Cut the comparisons, I’m in the legendary lane
Fighting for ya spot, y’all please, I’m solidified
With my hands tied, you couldn’t beat me if you bitches tried
Either you high, or sipping that sh-t Wayne on
I get top dollar for whatever my name on
Go stick your head in a tornado, brainstorm
I drop bombs, FLex, Napalm
Black and yellow, will pull up in your ghetto
Giuseppe’s when I step out, posted up in stilettos
P-ssy so pink like my kitty saying hello
If I whistle, they’ll pistol whip you in all five borough’s
I’m in Brooklyn, I’ll be everywhere comfortably
Who pumped you and told you to come rump with me
You the type to run your mouth and then run from me

I’m poppin’ off in your hood with no company
Come on, Queens aint showing you no love
I was there the other night poppin’ bottles with the thugs
You like Washington Heff(?) I’m Benjy.
You got a buzz right now, an’ I had a frenzy
Oh yeah, welcome to the fam’, Fendi
You need to stop, you’re not hot, you’re a burning match
That means the end is near soon, copy that
Oh I see, they really got you gassed like
I’mma thing of the past
Better slow down dummy, you bout to crash
Stink p-ssy hoe, I’m giving you a bath
Thermometer in hand and I’m coming for your ass
Who you think you getting past
I see right through you, you’re whole sh-t is made of glass

[sound of breaking glass]

Lil Kim Black Friday Nicki Minaj Diss Lyrics Continued Second Verse:

[Nicki Minaj]
You see right through me
How do you do that sh…

[Lil Kim]
I draw back, I’m a Brooklyn thorough bred bitch
Rep for my borough bitch
Never been the type to have beef and try to settle sh-t
I ride out till the wheels fall off
And my n-ggas squeeze til the last shell go off
F-ck ya whole team, all I see is a bunch of weirdo’s
You’s a airhead bitch, scarecrow
Haha, aint nothing old but my money bitch
Hahaha, this is grown liquid assests
Benjamin’s my daddy you Young Money bastards
You and Diddy, sorry bunch of swagger jackers
I mothered you hoes, I should claim you on my income tax
Bobby Fischer in the flesh, taught by the great
So on my next move, I’m yelling checkmate

Lil Kim Black Friday Nicki Minaj Diss Lyrics Continued Third Verse:

I smell a massacre
Charles Manson you don’t stand a chance with her
Jeffrey Dahmer you looking like lunch to me
I’m bout to kill all you bitches like Ted Bundy
Leave you’re whole head red like Peg Bundy
You’re hilarious, thanks for all the laughs
You’re garbage so I’m taking out the trash
You sh-t on me, come on baby girl
Ain’t enough ass shots in the World
You’re a nuisance, you porbably steal my new sh-t
But you could never f-ck with me so chuck it up, Deuces
All around the World I ball like a ball team
I stack chips, call me Mr’s Rosteam
Tricks is for kids, silly rabbit, your my offspring
Kim more anticipated than a Lebron ring…

Leave comments and let us know your opinions and who you think wins / is better LIL Kim or Nicki Minaj and why.

Kim Kardashian Rings In The New Year At Tao Nightclub Las Vegas

2011-01-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

Kim & Kourtney Kardashian Celebrate New Years in Two of Americas Largest Party Cities

Keeping Up with the Kardashians became a little harder on New Years Eve. With Kourtney Kardashian celebrating New Years Eve in Miami and Kim Kardashian Celebrating New Years Eve at Tao Nightclub Las Vegas with her Singing Debut.

Leading revelers into 2011, Kim Kardashian hosted a New Year's Eve bash at TAO Nightclub at the Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada. Looking fabulous in a white frock, the E! hottie was joined by brother Robert and Harold "Hype" Williams while tweeting to her millions of fans, "Who's excited for the new year? Let's leave the past behind us and move forward! Do better and push yourself in 2011!"

And while Kim was busy partying it up in Sin City, sister Kourtney Kardashian happened to be hosting a fete in the sunshine state at The Rooftop of The Gansevoort Hotel in Miami Florida. Also looking stunning, Kourtney was the center of attention at the Ciroc New Year's Party with Newyearseve.com, tweeting during the soiree, "Happy New Year! I am having SUCH a great time in beautiful Miami!"

Looking as if 2011 is starting off on a musically-focused note, Kim Kardashian made her singing debut while ringing in the New Year in Las Vegas on Friday night (December 31). Looking absolutely stunning, the E! babe took to the stage at the TAO Nightclub venue to the screams of gathered holiday revelers. Once in front of the mic, Miss Kardashian said, “I didn’t mean to, but I did this song with The-Dream, and it’s really fun! I hope you guys like it!”

Tweeting about her big plans for the upcoming year, the 30-year-old tweeted, "2011 is all about trying new things and going for it! I’m starting mine w something fun and crazy! Sneak peaks coming soon!”

Meanwhile Kourtney was the cener of attention in Miami at the Gansevoort Hotel in her beautiful Aqua Blue dress and her stunning smile.

New Years Eve Tickets

2010-12-28T18:48:00.000-08:00

New Years Eve Parties In Hollywood can sometimes be hard to get into. Don't fret we have the perfect website to go to if you are looking for great New Years Eve parties in Hollywood. Check Out GETNEWYEARSTIX.com

For Tickets to the best New Years Eve parties in the Hollywood and Los Angeles area go to: http://www.getnewyearstix.com/ they have discount New Years Eve Party tickets to several of Hollywood's hottest nightclubs and can get you table reservations as well.

J's VIP List promotes several nightclubs in Los Angeles California including Mansion, My House, Industry and My Studio. This New Years Eve he has the hook up on New Years Eve Party Tickets for many of these hot Los Angeles nightclubs. Call him at 213-864-9601 or visit http://www.getnewyearstix.com/ to purchase your tickets today.

DJ Emir Mixtapes Ring In The New Year

2010-12-28T18:04:00.000-08:00

There is something to be said for a mixtape you can listen to on a consistent basis and still enjoy every time. DJ Emir consistently delivers classic mixtapes that do just that. Whether it's his instant classic Michael Jackson Mixtape , His amazing Iron Man Mixtape, or the latest two we picked up his Gold Member Mixtape and his 18K Dancehall Mixtape, every mixtape has been of the highest quality and has provided countless hours of listening pleasure.

DJ Emir's Gold Member Mixtape (Techniques Hip Hop Mixtape Vol 11) delivers yet another hot movie themed mixtape filled to the brim with great hip hop music, reggae music and remixes to make you want to get up and dance. This time around the Mixtape has been themed to Austin Powers Gold Member so it features several Beyonce Songs as well as a hot Austin powers remix of Lil Wayne's "A Millie" and a few classic bell bottom tracks like Kool & the Gang "Celebrate Good Times" mixed and blended in with todays hottest Music. As usual DJ Emir does a great job building the energy throughout the mixtape with tons of hot music making it a great listen that can be enjoyed for months on end.

DJ Emir's Gold Member Mixtape features 43 tracks

of hot Hip Hop Music to keep your party jumping

Another great DJ Emir mixtape to check out is his 18K Dancehall Mixtape which feateures a smooth remix of Cecile's Bam Bam Girl and over 60 tracks of the hottest Dancehall Reggae music. This is the first mixtape in Emir's new 18K Dancehall Reggae Mixtape Series and it was really good. We are eagerly anticipating more mixtapes in this mixtape series.

Check out the Gold Member Mixtape & 18K Dancehall Mixtape at www.DJEMIR.com
- Harold P.

DJ Scene Mixtapes and Remixes

2010-12-28T16:51:00.000-08:00

DJ Scene of Seattle Washington & Las Vegas has been on our radar for a minute. Before clubs and radio, Scene made a name for himself in the DJ battle circuit, becoming the 2002 Northwest DMC Champion. He now consistently tours throughout the United States with a distinct style that incorporates scratching, live remixes and blends of party anthems that span all genres of great music. He creates hot remixes that get major play by many of the top DJs in the world (like the Wiz Khalifa Black & Yellow DJ Scene Remix posted below)

DJ Scene currently has a weekly mixshow every Saturday on WILD 94.9 FM in San Francisco, a podcast that reaches 95,000+ subscribers weekly and coutless mixCDs distributed throughout the US. Originally from Seattle, he mixed 5 days a week on air with KUBE 93.3 FM, while prerecording for XM Satellite Radio 67 ‘The City’. Scene has also reached plenty of ears through Myspace where his 200,000+ friends have accounted for over 1.5 million plays of his exclusive remixes and live recordings. He has an Iphone app available for download on I-tunes and on his website DJ-Scene.com that streams various DJ Scene DJ Mix podcasts and mixtapes. The Mixtapes are also available as direct downloads on his website DJ-Scene.com

DJ Scene's website has several hot Mixtape Series that are worth checking out including his popular 2080's mixtape series which incorporate hot remixes and blends of 1980's tracks with todays hot club tracks. Another of his mixtape series to check out is his Epic Shine Mixtape Series based on the styles of music played at his Las Vegas Pool parties which feature Electro House and House Music occasionally laced with hip hop and R&B vocals.

Pick up these mixtapes and podcasts at DJ-SCENE.com

DJ Scene spends most of his time in Las Vegas spinning at various Las Vegas Nightclubs and Pool Parties including MGM's Studio 54 and Liquid at Aria. He is an extremely versatile DJ that always puts it down hard at every party.

DJ Scene is available for booking thru Josh Donaldson LVjoshD@gmail.com or Ricky Greenstein ricky@moodswing360.com

Hollywood New years Eve Parties

2010-12-28T15:04:00.000-08:00

For Tickets to the best New Years Eve parties in the Hollywood and Los Angeles area check out http://www.getnewyearstix.com/ they have discount New Years Eve Party tickets to several of Hollywood's hottest nightclubs and can get you table reservations as well.

Great Hip Hop Music Blog

2010-12-28T14:34:00.000-08:00

The Great Hip Hop Music Blog

Is going to be expanding in 2011. We've had fun in 2010 even though we lost a few writers and many of us have all become busy writing for other blogs but now in 2011 we plan on ringing in the New Year by expanding our blog with tons of new articles and reviews.

Hope you all had a great year a Merry Christmas and hop you all have a great New Year.

The Staff at Great Hip Hop Music Blog

Black Friday: Is It Really All It's Hyped Up To Be?

2010-11-26T18:27:00.000-08:00

Stores opening at 3am and 4am; People camped outside their favorite electronic's stores, all in the hopes of getting that ONE super deal that makes it all worth it. But is it really worth it?

The best deals to be had overall were the large ticket items like Plasma TV's, Computers and Entertainment Systems. Large hain stores like Best Buy, Walmart and Target were able to stock tons of these larger ticket items and add major discounts as incentives to have buyers lined up ready to purchase just as the sales began.

We took a quick look at several major stores and talked to a few people that felt they got a good deal on Black Friday. While there were a few stores with extreme markdowns on several items overall many prices were still just barely below their normal average. And the places where the prices were extremely low had major crowds that were on occasion hard to control.

In 2008 Walmart had a fiasco on Black Friday at One of their stores in New York when One of their temporary employees was trampled to death by a persistent mob of shoppers that insisted on getting into the store. This event turned the Friday after Thanksgiving into a possible Life & Death strugle rather than just a shopping holiday. While we did find a few people that did find deals like 50" Plasma TVs for just a little over $480 US the question remains is that price worth risking your life for?

Our tips:

If you think the crowd is getting a little unrully maybe it's better to just go back home and wait for the next day when it will calm down a little. Marketers make it a habit of creating the illusion of scarcity in a landscape that has plenty of everything. They play on our fear of loss to make us feel like we have to be there on Black Friday or MISS OUT. Don't fall for it, Take your time deciding what you want to buy in the store and avoid any unrully crowds.
Can it be bought Online? Many stores have Black Friday Deals That are also available online with FREE Shipping. They sometimes even have those sales up on Thangsgiving Thursday so you can do some of your shopping safely and convenienty from home. visit http://www.black-friday.net/ for a list of stores that have Black Friday Deals.
There will be a few more super sales as it gets closer to Christmas Time. If you can get it all taken care of during Black Friday Great, but if not don;t sweat it too much, you'll often get a second chance.
If you are buying electronics they now have extended deals all the way through what people now reffer to as Cyber Monday.

Lil Wayne Will Be Released From Jail But Not Before Getting a Few More Prison Guards in Trouble

2010-10-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

Young Money Mogul Lil wayne will be getting out of jail soon. Before his release however, another Prison guard has been suspended for hanging out with Young Weezy the Lollipop kid. It is not certain what has been going on in Jail while he has been encarcerated, but it would appear they have been quite leniant. Have the CO’s and guards been paid off ? Are they star struck hoping to be mentioned in a future release? Either way, Lil Wayne will be back on the streets in a week, and then the market will be once again be even more saturated with Lil Wayne tracks than it already is.

Apparently another prison guard at Rikers Island has been disciplined for making an unauthorized visit to see superstar rapper Lil Wayne, who is finishing a one year sentence for having a handgun on his tour bus in 2007.

According to the New York Daily News, Captain Raphael Collazzo was suspended without pay for 10 days for visiting the rapper for over 45 minutes, while he was in his isolation cell for having headphones and a charger for an MP3 player.

Capt. Collazzo, a 20-year-veteran, is not expected to be disciplined any further. He also denied breaking any rules during the unexplained visit.

He is at least the third guard at Rikers Island to get into trouble for visiting with Lil Wayne.

In April of 2010, Amelia Negron was fired for allegedly making an impromptu visit to the rapper’s cell. ( A booty call perhaps? Who knows?

In September, Captain LaTanya Brown was accused of visiting the rapper, in addition to giving him preferential treatment by letting him stay in his cell while other inmates were on the recreation yard.

Lil Wayne is expected to be released from prison next week.

Mexico City Shooting Aimed at New Police Headquarters

2010-10-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

Mexico Shootin Aimed Directly at The Police

MEXICO CITY — The entire police force of a small northern Mexican town quit after gunmen attacked their recently inaugurated headquarters, according to local reports on Wednesday.

Los Ramones Mayor Santos Salinas said nobody was injured in Monday night's attack, during which gunmen fired more than 1,000 bullets at the building's facade, according to Noroeste newspaper's website. Six grenades, of which three detonated, were also flung at the building, the newspaper reported.

"Fortunately, those who were inside the building threw themselves on the ground and nobody was hurt," Salinas told the newspaper.

All 14 members of the force reportedly resigned Tuesday. Nobody answered the phones at Salinas' offices, according to The Associated Press.

The new police headquarters had been inaugurated three days earlier.

Los Ramones is in Nuevo Leon, a state torn by fighting between the Gulf and Zetas drug gangs. Police stations in small northeastern Mexican towns are frequently attacked, and several mayors have been assassinated.

Mexico's ill-equipped municipal forces often quit after cartel attacks. President Felipe Calderon has proposed eliminating Mexico's municipal forces and replacing them with one force per state.

According to Salinas, at 9:30 p.m. on Monday unknown assailants arrived at the police station and launched a 20-minute attack, Noroeste reported. Police backup arrived shortly after.

While the mayor had not received threats leading up to the attack, police earlier noticed suspicious men driving luxury pickups in the area, the newspaper reported. Fearing a strike, policemen lined up their patrol cars in front of the building in order to create a barricade, the newspaper added.

It was the second attack in less than a week against police installations in the state of Nuevo Leon. On Oct. 19, two grenades were thrown at a police shelter in the town of Sabinas Hidalgo, Noroeste reported.

The Associated Press reported.

DMC DJ Battles are now going Digital

2010-10-27T01:51:00.000-07:00

The DMC DJ Battle Competitions that were strictly vinyl for decades are now allowing digital media into the mix. This opens the door for many DJs but also is a sad sight as it eliminates certain skills that used to be required including a light record hand and record control, plus the creativity to find those few words, samples and phrases hidden within a record. Things will indeed be very different. Hopefully with the things that will e disappearing from the competition well also see a huge influx of creativity and imagination. No doubt actual mixing will come back into the equation and some creative use of digital equipment and software as a new medium for the DJs to paint their musical canvas' with.

For more info on the actual changes check the post below originally posted on www.Skratchworks.com

Posted by Gizmo on October 19, 2010
at www.Skratchworks.com

Last night was the DMC 2010 world finals. From said finals came a few texts, but the one shown above - despite denials from DMC a couple of weeks ago - will come as zero surprise to anyone. It seems that Tony Prince announced that with the help of Rane and Serato, DMC will go digital - entirely digital too if the text is to be believed. Serato have also confirmed this with an official if slightly vague news item too.

Obviously, with Tony dropping this bomb late at night, and right before a booze laden afterparty means that the likelihood of getting further details in a hurry is slim. So I fired off the following questions to DMC HQ:

1. Are Technics out of the picture now?
2. Are Rane/Serato the only DVS sponsors?
3. Will you allow other DVSs to be used or will this be Serato only?
4. Will DJs be allowed to use all the tools available to them in the software or is it strictly for loading tracks without looping or cue points?
5. Is this really entirely digital with no real vinyl allowed?

My take right now is that sponsorship has been agreed, but the exact details of how this will pan out through the competition have yet to be thrashed out.

Are Technics out of the picture now? Well I'd say that along with the continuing near certain demise of the long time favourite brand, then the answer is yes. It's been touch and go for a couple of years now, but I'd say that the DMC finals has just changed hands.

Will it be Serato only? Well I hope not. No offence to Serato because I love those guys - I'm thinking purely from a fairness point of view. Not everyone uses Scratch Live and I'm 100% against enforced usage of any particular type of technology. If DJs want to turn up with their own particular brand of DVS software then they should be allowed to do that. Yes of course I understand the needs and objectives of sponsors, but my own objective is the future of the battle scene.

Personally, I think this news is great. This move simply cuts out the whole expensive making customs part for the battle DJ. Hmmm… but this alone isn't going to make the battle anymore exciting or encourage further creativity. I see no point in doing half measures - the entire menu of software options including loops, hot cues and effects needs to be allowed too. Perhaps then we could get back to some clever and creative mixing rather than juggling unknown custom beats and never really knowing if the DJ is actually performing or if all the action is pre-made on custom vinyls.

I really hope that the no analogue part is untrue. It's one thing moving forward to the place where everyone else has been for years, but to slam the door closed on the heritage than founded the entire DJ scene is plain wrong.

UPDATE: This just in from Serato: "I can confirm that we endorse and support the use of real vinyl."

Early days yet and some careful thought needs to go into making the integration of DVS systems into DMC a success. Looking forward to seeing how this pans out.

UPDATE 2: Official DMC statement follows:

DMC, the preeminent showcase for DJ talent around the world, are pleased to announce that Serato and Rane have come on board as major sponsors of the DMC World DJ Championships, a collaboration which DMC believes will take DJ creativity to an entirely new level with the ability to use Serato’s Scratch Live.

In order to balance traditional mixing and the popularity of digital vinyl playback, DMC have confirmed that from 2011 the 26 year old event will, like the DMC DJ TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP, permit the use of the software based system Serato Scratch Live in addition to traditional vinyl.

THE BATTLE FOR WORLD SUPREMACY will continue to support pure turntablism, two decks, vinyl and individual flair and creativity. DMC also plan an ON-LINE WORLD DJ CHAMPIONSHIP which will embrace visual mixing, the potential for which was seen at this year’s WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS with performances by DJs Woody and Shiftee.

DMCWORLDTV has established itself as the premier portal for DJ performances and now DMC has plans to launch DMC RADIO, a revolutionary channel featuring DJs covering every genre of dance & hip-hop music transmitting from a variety of servers around the world.

Sally Mclintock (DMC’s World Championship Manager): “We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of DJs who want to use Serato Scratch Live in their 6minute sets and we believe the creative landscape has now been widened. We’re very excited and really pleased to have the full support from Serato and Rane”.

Tony Prince (DMC Founder): “ I know the DJs will take up this new creative challenge and bring their art to a level no one can presently imagine. Expanding the DJ’s creative potential is what DMC has always encouraged and why we are the only World Championship in music that has lasted a quarter of a century, and I just can’t wait to see where the DJs take us with Serato supporting their musical creativity and inspiration in the years ahead. Whilst the DMC Championships will continue to discover the best turntablists in the world and the best DJ teams, we’re about to produce the next generation of DJs, the DJs of a new breed. We’re movin’ on up as we have done for 26 years creating new superstar DJs and my message to the next generation is to unharness their creative ability, check out the new possibilities of using Serato Scratch Live and get ready for the 2011 championships”!

Sam Gribben (Serato Audio Research, General Manager): “DMC is responsible for fostering the culture of competitive turntablism and Serato are honoured to become a major sponsor of this iconic and prestigious event. Preserving the art of vinyl DJing, whilst introducing new technologies for future world champions is a key Serato philosophy. We look forward to a long relationship with DMC, ensuring that competitive DJing continues to moveforward into new realms.”

Dean Standing (RANE CORPORATION, Director of Sales):“We’re excited to expand our involvement with DMC and be a part of the evolution of the preeminent DJ battle competition. We look forward to watching DJs use digital vinyl emulation systems such as Serato Scratch Live to further push the limits of their craft

Soooo... this simply confirms that Scratch Live is being allowed. The implication is that this will allow all sorts of creative opportunities, but doesn't actually state if there are any limitations or not. As I've stated previously, if SSL is simply a replacement for customs, then we can expect to see little in the way of a difference from what we already have. If however the full arsenal of SSL tools is available then we're in for some fun.

But what about other DVS systems? It's going to be hard enough ensuring that the switchover from DJ to DJ is smooth without multiple DVS usage. Even the S-120 battle at BPM ran into a handful of issues with different versions of SSL and SL boxes. The logistics of handling audio interfaces and SL boxes needs careful planning.

It does seem however that while this announcement is very much about the official sponsorship from Rane and Serato, other DVS systems (let's be honest here - Traktor Scratch Pro) are still very much in the picture - it's just a matter of working out how this technically can be handled in a live environment.

How about NI put on their own battle and the winner goes head to head with DMC's for the first real world crown? Just saying...

Honestly, I could write an epic post on how I'd move things forward. This is a start but there's so much more that could be done.

The King of Crunk Lil Jon Slings Pizzas For Charity in Greenwich Village New York

2010-10-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

Lil Jon The King of Crunk Slings Pizza For Charity on Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice

Crunk King, Lil Jon is currently a contestant in the fourth season of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice. While performing a task on the show the Crunk music pioneer was spotted standing on the hood of a van imploring pedestrians to come into Famous Famiglia pizzeria in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village neighborhood.

Video Footage of Lil Jon on The Hood of The Van

The Alabama born rapper/producer wasn’t just trying to sell the most pie. He was also trying to raise money for an unknown charity by getting onlookers to buy as many slices as possible. Jon retweeted a comment from DJ Reach stating that Reach coughed up $150 bucks for a slice. Jon will be filming “Celebrity Apprentice” for the next several weeks with the program scheduled to begin airing in March of 2011.

Lil Jon’s most recent album, Crunk Rock, was released this past June. The record featured appearances by Waka Flocka Flame, R. Kelly, LMFAO, Ying Yang Twinz, The Game, and several others.

Founding Roc-A-Fella Records Member Kareem Biggs Burke Arrested For Alleged Marijuana Drug Ring Involvement

2010-10-17T00:59:00.000-07:00

Founding Roc-A-Fella Records member Kareem "Biggs" Burke was arrested today (October 15th) with 42 other people in a ring that allegedly controlled the marijuana market in New York City. According to The New York Daily News, Burke has been a part of the ring since 1992. Federal prosecutors claim that Burke was part of a network that was headed up by Geovanny (Manny) Rodriguez Perez aka "Shorty." Police accused Shorty's network of growing the pot down south, shipping it up north in tractor trailers and returning the proceeds to South Florida, according to Jim Hayes, a special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations For Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Police arrested Burke at his home in North Bergen, N.J. In addition to Burke, an advertising executive for High Times named Matthew Stang was arrested in an 18 month operation, which was dubbed "Operation Green Venom." Agents confiscated $1 million in drug profits and 177 pounds of marijuana from the suspects as well. "This isn't just a group that controlled one block, one neighborhood," Hayes said. "They dominated the wholesale marijuana market in New York for 20 years." Kareem "Biggs" Burke and the others face 10 years to life in prison for allegedly distributing over 1,000 kilos of the drug.

Southern Rapper T.I. Sentenced to 11 Months in Jail

2010-10-17T00:53:00.000-07:00

T.I. is heading back to prison, after a federal judge revoked the rapper's probation and sentenced the rap star to 11 months in prison for possessing drugs in September in Los Angeles. T.I. appeared in court today (October 15th) for a hearing that started at 2:00PM, flanked by his team of lawyers that included Ed Garland, Steve Sadow, Don Samuel, Janice Capek, Kristen Wright and Dwight Thomas. The courtroom was packed, as he stood before Judge Charles Pannell Jr. Prosecutors chastised the Grammy Award winning rapper for violating the terms of his federal probation for attempting to purchase machine guns and silencers in October of 2007 and wanted to send him away for two years. During the hearing, a small fire broke out on the side of the courthouse, causing a stir, but the proceedings continued. The rapper's defense attorneys argued that drugs in his system were the result of a root canal and T.I. admitted to using the drugs, after he had dental surgery. The rapper asked the judge to sentence him to rehab for a drug addiction, but he was sentenced to the 11 months in prison, instead.

Jabbawockeez at Wells Fargo Theater w DJ Emir, Ali Pierre, Hypnautic and King Tef

2010-09-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

Step It Up 2010 at The Wells Fargo Theater, Denver. Featuring the Jabbawockeez, DJ Emir, Ali Pierre, Hypnautic, King Tef and performances by local Dance Crews.

Saturday September 25th The Season One winners of "MTV's Americas Best Dance Crew", Jabbawockeez will be doing a special performance in Denver Colorado at the Wells Fargo Theater. The Dance group is scheduled to start performing daily shows at the Monte Carlo Casino in Las Vegas so this will probably be your last chance to catch these amazing performers outside of their Vegas show.

The Jabbawockeez are a sensational dance crew and Vegas Performance act. You may remember the Homage to them on Step Up 2 The Streets as well as their actual appearance in the movie and on the DVD as One of major crews in the final dance off battle. They always create memorable routines and moves with customized music made specifically for their performances. They wear masks so you focus on them as a collective group rather than focusing on each individual dancer and as a group they are unmatched, creating spectacular dance routines and stage show performances of the highest caliber.
Jabbawockeez will be headlining this major performance with additional performances by Denver dance crews BreakEFX, Dance2live, HYPE 303 and Colorado Dance Collective. There will also be performances by local and national recording artists Ali Pierre, Hypnautic, King Tef and International DJ sensation DJ Emir Santana.

The show is this Saturday (September 25th 2010) so if you don't already have your tickets yet make sure you pick them up at the Wells Fargo Theater Box Office (303)228-8205 or at http://www.ticketweb.com/
for a direct link just CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Jabbawockeez show Flyer Design / Poster Design Front

Jabbawockeez Show Flyer Design Back

We are all very excited to go to this event. Jabbawockeez were amazing on Season One of Americas Best Dance Crew and on the Step Up 2 The Streets Movie / DVD. Getting a chance to see them live in a beautiful venue like the Wells Fargo Theater is going to be amazing.

The Passing Away of A Legend R.I.P. Guru

2010-07-11T16:30:00.000-07:00

R.I.P. Guru of Gangstarr You Will Be Missed

We were praying Guru would fully recover and get well, but unfortunately Guru passed away earlier this year. Apparently Guru had been battling Cancer for the past year and it eventually became too much stress on his body. We mourn the loss of this Great Hip Hop Music Legend and send his family and friends our condolences.

We had met both Guru and his business partner Solar back in 2007 and were quite impressed by the duo's demeanor and poise. We of course knew who Guru was and were enthralled to meet a Hip Hop Legend that had inspired us during youth. We had met Guru a while back, but this was our first time being introduced to Solar in person. At that time we had no idea that Guru and Premier had severed all ties. The amount of separation would soon be revealed in a letter released after his death.

Guru's longtime collaborator and partner Solar mourns his loss and explained that Guru had written a letter to his fans that was to be released upon his death.

"The world has lost one of the best MCs and hip-hop icons of all-time — my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru," Solar said. "Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it, but tragically, this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius."

Born on July 17, 1966, near Boston, Guru rose to fame in the late 1980s as part of the duo Gang Starr with partner DJ Premier. The pair helped define the New York underground rap sound in the 1990s. Their unique sound combined Premier's production palette, which leaned heavily on sampled jazz records and scratched vocals on the choruses, with Guru's uncompromising rhymes. Although the pair would work separately as often as they did together - Guru's Jazzmatazzseries of albums and Premier's work with Nas, Jay-Z, and underground act Group Home - Gang Starr continued to release critically acclaimed material throughout the late '90s and early 2000s.

Their 1998 album Moment of Truth was among their most critically lauded collections and Gang Starr's biggest-selling project to date. Gang Starr's last group project, The Ownerz, was released in 2003.
Guru found solo fame in 1993 when he released the first volume of his Jazzmatazz series, an all-star project that featured a number of collaborations with jazz icons such as Branford Marsalis, Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers and Ronny Jordan, as well as vocals from French producer Solaar and N'Dea Davenport of the Brand New Heavies. The album's mixture of jazz and rap was considered pioneering at the time, and the record spawned the hit "Trust Me." Guru would go on to make four volumes in the series.

According to Solar, Guru wrote his farewell letter while in the hospital.

"I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world," it begins. "I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options."

"I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting."

"My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody's feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my son KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf [of] myself and my son until he is of age to accept on his own."

Guru very pointedly distanced himself from Premier in the letter, saying he didn't want his former musical collaborator to be able to participate in any tributes or events surrounding his death.

"I do not wish my ex-DJ [DJ Premier] to have anything to do with my name likeness, events, tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this," wrote Guru. "I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ."

"As the sole founder of Gang Starr, I am very proud of what Gang Starr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with Gang Starr or Jazzmatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now."

"The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small-mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life."

Guru's family — from whom he was reportedly estranged, along with other past associates — had not commented on his death, and last month his nephew Justin Nicholas-Elam Ruff posted several emotional videos on YouTube saying that Solar was preventing them from seeing the MC during his illness.

Prayers for Guru of Gangstarr After He Suffers a Heart Attack

2010-02-28T22:45:00.000-08:00

On February 28th 2010, Guru suffered a severe heart attack and is currently in a coma.
We were busy posting on Twitter when we heard that legendary lyricist and rapper Guru of Gangstarr suffered a heart attack and went into a coma. Guru is scheduled to go under the knife for heart surgery tomorrow and we wanted everyone in the Hip Hop community to extend a huge prayer for his well being. Thinking back on our favorite Hip Hop songs of all time Guru and Gangstarr hold three or four spots in our favorite Hip Hop songs of all time list with "Mass Appeal" "DWYK" and a few other songs.

For those that don't know him Guru (born Keith Elam, July 17, 1966 in the Boston neighborhood of Roxbury) is a Hip Hop Legend who worked together along with DJ Premier as the members of Gang Starr,
(look up Gangstarr or Guru on www.youtube.com and learn a little more about Hip Hop History and listen to some classic tracks). Guru was One of Hip Hop's second generation / golden era stars in the 80's and 90s'. Guru recorded countless hits as part of the Duo Gangstarr consisting of Guru & Now legendary producer DJ Premier. Guru also recorded a few major solo album projects labelled Jazzmatazz (a further fusion of jazz and Hip Hop that Gangstarr was already famous for) Guru and Gangstarr have had a major influence on many of Hip Hop's greats including people like Jay-Z, Biggie, Tupac, Jeru The Damaga and some of todays latest artists.

In 2007 Guru was ranked at 45 for the Top 50 MCs of our time: 1987-2007

Guru later on took on a new producer "Solar" as a partner for many of his later projects. Guru has continued recording music through the new century and had recently posted on Twitter "Are my fans ready for a new Gang Starr Album" Many fans wondered if this also meant DJ Premier might produce a few of the tracks or if most of the tracks would be produced by Guru's new producer Solar.

Tonight before going to bed pray for his health and that he makes a strong speedy and resiliant recovery. - Get well Guru! May real Hip Hop Live forever.

Mardi Gras Party & Grand Opening of Fat Tuesdays

2010-02-15T19:05:00.000-08:00

Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Party

Last Year we had a blast at Mardi Gras parties all around the Denver Metro Area

This Year we are going to party it up for Mardi Gras at Oasis Nightclub 1523 Market St Denver CO. 80202

Fat Tuesday The official Mardi Gras Party in America is the huge traditional party from New Orleans based on the party stylings of Carnival. It always falls on Fat Tuesday, the Tuesday before ASH Wednesday. It has grown to be such a huge event in New Orleans that it's fame, reputation and style has reached across America and sprouting Fat Tuesday parties at nightclubs across the nation.

This year Fat Tuesday falls on Tuesday February 16th 2010. A few of our friends are gathering together along with tons of other Mardi Gras revelers at The New Club Oasis at 15th & Market in Denver CO.

Two of our favorite DJs, DJ Emir & DJ Dangerous Dan will be on the turntables.
They will also be giving away masks, mixtape CDs and beads.

Doors open early with a happy hour from 7pm-9pm followed quickly by the DJ Dance party at 9pm.
The club also features a Hookah Lounge that stays open as an after hours spot til 4am.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

2009-12-25T18:24:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Another year has passed and Once again it's Christmas time and we all had a great and wonderful white Christmas with snow hitting during Christmas week. With just a few days left before New Years it's time once again to reflect on the year past and look forward to the New Year with hope and of course a new list of New Year's Resolutions, that we swear THIS year we WILL stick to.

It is also time to figure out how and where you plan on spending your New Years Eve. With many traditional places like NYE nightclub parties, New York City Times Square New Years Celebration and of course New Years Eve Firworks in just about every town and every major city around the world.

Were all splitting up this year to cover several parties across the United States Three of us are going to New York to Webster Hall where MSTRKRFT will be playing after they ring in The New Year. A few will be heading to Denver to check out the White Rose Gala and others will be heading to Los Angeles California and Las Vegas Nevada for special New Years Parties as well.

For Info on the California New Years Eve Parties Call or Text J of J's VIP List at 323.632.8221

Planning to do something special this New Years Eve? Just gonna kick it ata home with friends? Bar Hopping this New Years? Tell us what you have planned for this New Years Eve. Just scroll down and leave a comment to let us know what you plan for New Years Eve.

Trick or Tweet? Abuse of Fake Celebrity Twitter Accounts Cause for Lawsuits And Twitter Crackdown

2009-10-29T21:50:00.000-07:00

The social networking site Twitter is clamping down on fake celebrity accounts after being sued in America.

Thousands of famous names have fallen victim to impostors, including Britney Spears, Foreign Secretary David Miliband, the Dalai Lama and even the Queen.
This summer, Mr Miliband was forced to deny quotes widely attributed to him after the death of Michael Jackson. The comments had been written on a seemingly plausible Twitter account under his name.

Twitter has decided to act after Tony La Russa, the coach of an obscure American baseball team, launched a legal action over a fake account. He claimed that postings in which he appeared to make light of the death of two of his players had been ‘hurtful’.
Twitter, which has six million users who can send instant blogs on their activities to anyone who chooses to follow them, denies it has any legal case to answer.
But it is now testing a new system to ensure that users can identify genuine celebrity accounts. In future, a tick alongside a name will guarantee it is genuine.
Until recently, Twitter has had a liberal attitude towards celebrity impostors as long as it was clear that the postings were not genuine.
One blogger claimed to be jailed record producer Phil Spector, writing from his prison cell. Among the fake Spector’s comments were: ‘People ask me for my opinion of American Idol. It’s a total insult to music. Not my thing.’
A phoney account under the name of film star Christopher Walken and bearing his picture is still regularly read by more than 90,000 people.

And in March this year, actor Ewan McGregor’s spokesman claimed the star was considering legal action to remove a fake Twitter account that had attracted 20,000 followers.
The Mail on Sunday’s own Piers Morgan has also been targeted by an impostor who has accumulated a following of 17,650. One of the more recent postings has the Britain’s Got Talent judge saying: ‘Well done everyone for backing Susan [Boyle], such a talented lady.’
Jonathan Ross recently unmasked an impostor claiming to be comedian Jack Dee. The BBC presenter phoned Dee to check if the postings were really his.

A fake account in the name of Girls Aloud singer and X Factor judge Cheryl Cole was so convincing that Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles was duped into becoming one of her more than 31,000 followers.

Star Trek star William Shatner told an interviewer who asked him about his hugely popular Twitter account: ‘I don’t even know what Twitter is.’ But 116,000 people still follow the fake William Shatner.

A fake Twitter account for George W. Bush has 1,100 followers, and recently had the former President saying of the Queen’s birthday: ‘Queenie Lizzie’s birthday party today. She’s lookin’ good for 110 years old, or however old she is.’

One of several fake Gordon Ramsays regularly swears at his 6,700 followers. In June, as the Fat Duck restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, suffered from an outbreak of food poisoning, the fake Ramsay wrote about the owner: ‘Feel sorry for Heston [Blumenthal]. F****** bad luck.’
The number of fake accounts has led to British website Valebrity offering its own verification service. Its founder, Steven Livingstone, said many fake accounts were set up to carry out direct marketing.

He said: ‘People are making a lot of money out of it. Nobody knows who’s who on these sites.’
Typically, social networking sites remove fake accounts if there are complaints or fraud is suspected.

But Twitter is unable to track impostors because no proof of identity is ever requested from its users.

A Twitter spokesman said: ‘We’re working to establish authenticity, starting with well-known accounts that have had problems with impersonation or identity confusion.

Kanye West Doesn't Need Rumors to Destroy his Reputation He Destroys it Himself

2009-10-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

Hip-hop star Kanye West has blasted out at rumour mongers who are tarnishing his image on the web. The ace Hitmaker is furious and has launched a scathing attack on fans who continuously spread fake rumours about him on the internet. Kanye has urged web users to stop trying to “destroy” him.

The Stronger hitmaker was recently amidst a bizarre internet gossip which said that he had spoken about possibly making a porn movie. The rumour was carried forward by several websites claiming the verity of the news.

The rumour turned out to be fake, and West is furious and mad. He has taken up writing to clear all the muck that is quite damaging for the singer’s image.

He writes on his official blog, “Why won’t you let me be great! I read some s**t claiming I said I’m down to do porn and some bisexual porn! I just gave the performance of my lifetime for our new president … Then I flew to Paris and they debuted my new shoes that I designed with Louie (sic) Vuitton which was a dream come true. Please I beg you, give me a break!”

Kanye also reveals how these blatant lies affect him and his performance. West is especially angry, because he is convinced that the ugly rumours have overshadowed his recent performance at President Barack Obama’s inauguration. He adds, “That’s in poor taste! That undermines what my contribution to that event (Obama’s inauguration) was and slaps everybody who felt uplifted by that performance in the face!”

5 Reasons to Add a VIP Room to Your Nightclub or Bar

2009-10-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

5 Reasons to Add a VIP Room to Your Nightclub or Bar
by Yana Zhuravel www.modernlinefurniture.com Spokeswoman

Have you been looking for a new way to increase revenue at your bar or nightclub?

A relatively low-cost and easy to implement idea sure to catch your customer's attention is a VIP room/area. Creating a VIP room takes some thought and some planning and to help you decide whether this venture is for you, we've put together a list of 5 reasons to add a VIP area to your establishment along with some helpful tips on how to make your new VIP are a success. Keep reading to see if opening a VIP room makes sense for your bar/nightclub.

1. Exclusivity - Everyone wants to feel like they're part of an exclusive club where only the select few gain entry, and once members, people will pay-up for the privilege. Offering a VIP room or area in your bar or nightclub will give your deeper-pocketed guests their own private club for the night. Call it "the mystique of the velvet rope," but where there are deep pocketed guests there are beautiful women, and where there are beautiful women, there are more deep pocketed guests, and so the circle goes.

2. Privacy for Private Parties - People love to celebrate birthdays, special holidays, league championships, you name it…these people are here to celebrate a common cause and don't want to be scattered all over the place, they want their own space. A VIP area will allow you to accommodate these parties and charge these guests for the service, which brings me to #3 and #4…

3. Offer Bottle Service - Bar Business Magazine recently wrote a story about the benefits of bottle service. The article profiled Michael Ault, a bottle service pioneer who opened over 25 nightclubs world-wide. Mr. Ault is quoted as saying that " what [one of his clubs] achieves with three nights a week, other bars need seven nights of operation to achieve. That is the benefit of bottle service." A word to the wise, Mr. Ault advises that bottle service is not optimal for every establishment and that in order to have a successful bottle service area a "you have to offer something really special." This is where having top-notch furniture really makes a difference as evidenced by the same article "…bottle clubs work [because] they are the most beautiful clubs, the have the coolest vibes and coolest people…The physical arrangement of furniture plays a key in generating the right buzz in a bottle club."

4. Offer a Special Cocktail Selection for VIP Guests - If you want to add to the aura of exclusivity, you can offer your VIP clients a special mixed cocktail menu that is not available to regular patrons. I am not talking about substituting Blue Sapphire for Gordon's in a Gin & Tonic, I'm talking about Sofia & Eros (1 ounce vodka, ½ ounce limoncello, ½ ounce raspicello, ½ ounce lemon juice). These are the kinds of exotic drinks whose ingredients are unique, unusual and when combined are a treat to the taste buds. Although these drinks require more ingredients than a vodka & cranberry, the cost of making each drink is not that much greater. However, specialty drinks are routinely priced $5-$10 higher than typical cocktails.

5. Attract Corporate Clients - People who crunch numbers during the day want to party like rock stars at night. A VIP room will allow you to attract the ever-elusive corporate client by allowing "the suits" to feel like "very important people" for an evening. Moreover, corporate reps need to entertain their clients in style and what better place to bring an important client than the VIP room of the hottest bar or nightclub in town. Remember, when the company pays, people spend like mad. It is important to note that there is a right way and a wrong way to operate a VIP area in your establishment. You can't just follow a "if you build it, they will come" philosophy. This is not Field of Dreams and you are not Kevin Costner. However, if operated correctly, a VIP area can generate a "Field of Green." Here are some things to consider when opening and operating a VIP area:

1. VIP Atmosphere - Create a luxury room or area that has great furniture and décor. Remember, a private room is not necessarily a VIP room, it has to ooze with luxury

2. VIP Menus and Products - Bottle service, exclusive drinks and food menus are some of the most basic VIP room offerings. It is vital to remember that presentation is everything. Be sure to train your staff to present the products well and offer unique service trays. How about a private bar tender for the VIP room who mixes drinks ala Tom Cruise in Cocktail by putting on a bottle tossing spectacle? You get the idea…make the environment special.

3. VIP staff - This is a people business so you have to make sure that you have the best staff servicing your VIP clients. Also make sure that you have a designated security staff watching your VIP area.

4. VIP List - Create a VIP List, talk to promoters and other contacts. Keep the list exclusive and difficult to get on. Send out special invites to VIP Guests. Remember the little touches, call these people on their birthday, send special holiday cards or gifts. It's these actions that make it fun and worthwhile to be a VIP.

5. VIP Recognition Program - this is an important element that speaks for itself. Throw special parties for your VIPs. Offer them incentives to come back. If a VIP spends a certain amount of money, give them a bottle on the house and so on. These days the nightclub business is very competitive and having a VIP room or area is a good way to separate yourself from the competition while putting more money in your own pocket. However, people won't shell out the big bucks just because. They want more than just a place to sit and a bottle to drink, VIPs want to feel like VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE, and hopefully these tips will help you do that.

Michael Jackson Mixtape MP3 LEAK! HOT!

2009-10-02T01:34:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson Mixtape has been leaked!
Not sure if he did it himself but it does appear to be an inside job cause the file is an ultra high quality 320kb mp3 of DJ Emir's amazing Michael Jackson Mixtape CD

Michael Jackson Mixtape Download!
Badder Than Bad the Ultimate Michael Jackson Mixtape

Oh My God, this is a first! DJ Emir or someone in his company put up a direct link to a full version of One of his mixtape CDs. And not just any mixtape but his ultra hot Michael Jackson Mixtape.

download -> http://www.hitmusicservice.com/newsletter-freebies/BadderThanBad-UltimateMichaelJacksonMixtape.mp3

DJ Emir's Michael Jackson Mi x is the best we've heard, this mixtape achieves what the other Michael Jackson Mixtapes were trying to achieve, a mix worthy of being labeled a Michael Jackson Mixtape.

Download the Michael Jackson Mixtape to your Ipods and MP3 Players while the link is still up. (might not last long)

VIP Nightclub Magazine wrote up a nice little article on DJ Emir's Michael Jackson Mixtape

It's our favorite Michael Jackson Mixtape and I guess we are not alone. VIP Nightclub Magazine agrees with our assesment that this is probably the hottest of the Michael Jackson mixtapes. Of course that's probably cause Emir put his remix and blend flair to this mixtape as well. A plus that makes this mix a little more unique and gives it a much longer shelf lif... wait what am I talking about? I guess the normal terminology for long life doesn't apply here LOL. Not "shelf time" this thing is always in rotation so we'll call it play time.

Since I know this is probably gonna take some money out his pockets here's his phone number for those that would like to hire him for nightclub events and private parties. 303-995-0875
Also If you Like The Mixtape you can pick up the physical copy of the actual CD at http://www.djemir.com/ with all songs tracked out so you can search through them to get to re listen to your favorite parts. You can also donate some mulah at http://www.djemir.com/ as a way of saying "thanks for this awesome mix".

visit his website for other mixtapes and smaller downloads.

We recieved the actual CD ourselves a few months back and gotta say this thing is a beast. 80 minutes of heat. The CD is cool cause you can search through the 52 tracks and pause it etc come back to your car and it's right back to where you left off. When it's set up like this in a long 80 minute mix it can be a bit much, but if you have the time to listen to it straight it's a banger. Of course if you like it support the DJ and at least donate on his site http://www.djemir.com/ or buy the actual CD, it's definitely worth the measly $10 price for this much music and the insane mixes.

DJ Emir's Mixtapes are in such high demand that he rarely if ever lets any of them leak out. If they are ever leaked, it's usually by someone else. This is a first! And you heard it here first (I think) He's won several awards for his other mixtapes including VIP Nightclub Magazine mixtape of the year and DJ of the Year awards.

We got this from one of the industries largest and most effective music marketing websites, http://www.hitmusicservice.com/ they provide music direct to DJs, and Radio Stations and are partially responsible for helping break new music onto the airwaves.

Jay-Z Defends "Super Passionate" Kanye West

2009-09-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

Jay-Z Defends "Super passionate" Kanye West for being who he is, a passionate man, who stands behind what he believes. But does not excuse Kanye's actions.

Jay-Z has known Kanye West for many years, so when he watched West interrupt Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards, he probably wasn't as surprised as a lot of people. "He's just a super-passionate person, and of course it was rude because it was [Swift's] moment, but that's the way he really felt, he's been that passionate from his first record," Jay says.

He used to jump on tables ... I was trying to make the first Blueprint, he's jumping on tables, rapping, and I'm like, 'Yo, not now.' That was just him. He's always been that passionate."

But while Jay may have understood Kanye's outburst, he wasn't about to give his producer and protégé a pass for the way he behaved during the VMAs, either. And he told him as much when the two appeared the following night on "The Jay Leno Show" (where West would subsequently offer a tearful apology to Swift for his actions). "[I told him] I think it was rude, [and] that he has to watch his passion. At the end of the day, we're going to celebrate him for his passion more than vilify him [for it]," Jay said. "Because his passion, which caused him to make Graduation and all these great records, is the same thing that causes him to step out of line sometimes. So as he grows, he has to learn how to balance that. And he'll learn that in years to come. That passion right there ... that wasn't fake or staged — it was how he really felt, and it was just inappropriate. It wasn't fair to Taylor."

And now that Kanye West has apologized (multiple times, and to Taylor Swift personally) for his outburst, Jay thinks it's time for everyone to move on. To him, this whole situation, while unfortunate, has been blown out of proportion "I mean, it's an awards show, really, and I think it's a bit blown out," Jay said. "He's on the cover of every paper, he didn't kill anybody. Nobody got harmed," Jay said. " I don't think he should lay low, I think he should go on tour and have a brilliant career. It's an awards show."

Another DJ Legend Passes Away: Grand Master Roc Raida

2009-09-20T18:13:00.000-07:00

DJ Roc Raida Passes away at age 37 after complications with surgery

Picture of DJ Roc Raida on his Gold Technics Turntables
Which He Won defeating the worlds best DJs at the Technics DMC DJ World Finals Competition

New York DJ, Roc Raida had passed away this weekend at age 37.
The DJ - real name is Anthony Williams - won the 1995 DMC World DJ Championship and was a member of a turntablist group known as The X-Ecutioners.

“The legendary Grand Master Roc Raida has passed away this morning,” a representative for the DJ told media. “Family and friends will miss him dearly. Please give the family their privacy.”

Statement from Roc Raida's family, confirming the tragic loss. "Anthony Williams p/k to the world as The Legendary Grandmaster Roc Raida has passed away unexpectedly today September 19 2009. He is survived by his wife, three lovely daughters, mother and friends. Raida was recently in an mixed martial arts accident, something that he has been practicing for several years. Although he had under gone two surgeries with great success, was released to an inpatient physical therapy facility and was in great spirits the past few days. This morning he started to have complications and passed. The family asks for privacy at this time."

Roc Raida started DJ’ing at the age of 10 after being inspired by his father, who was a member of Sugar Hill Records group Mean Machine.

Click here to watch footage of Roc Raida performing at the 1995 DMC World DJ Championship.
He died on September 19, 2009. His last solo album was released in 2007 and is called, Beats, Cuts and Skits.

The X-Ecutioners formed as a DJ crew in the early nineties, originally calling themselves the X-Men and being comprised of 11 members. The crew changed their name due to trademark infringement and was reduced to members Rob Swift, Roc Raida, Total Eclipse, and Mista Sinista before releasing their debut album X-Pressions in 1997. Sinista later left the group shortly after the release of Built from Scratch in 2002, and Rob Swift left the group for personal and artistic reasons in 2005.

Since Swift’s departure, The X-Ecutioners have been scarcely heard of; however, the latest word is that the group has two new members, DJ Boogie Blind and DJ Precision. The X-Ecutioners have worked with many famous artists on numerous collaborations, including Kool G Rap, Cypress Hill, Mike Shinoda and they have also co-released an album with Mike Patton called General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners.

The X-Ecutioners contributed to a remix of Run-DMC’s ‘King of Rock’ on the Harmonix game Amplitude, and the DJ group’s song ‘Like This’ was featured in the videogame SSX 3.

New DJ Video Games DJ Hero and Scratch The Ultimate DJ

2009-09-16T02:36:00.000-07:00

DJ AM Lives on in DJ Hero Video Game set to Come out Oct 27th 2009

Recently deceased DJ AM is featured as a playable character in DJ Hero

Two new video games are coming out just in time for the 2009 Christmas Season, "Scratch the ultimate DJ" & "DJ Hero" (from the makers of the world famous Guitar Hero series) Scratch features a more realistic DJ control interface that acts more like a real turntable, but DJ hero has the franchise already established and has brand name DJs featured including DJ Jazzy Jeff, Daft Punk, DJ Shadow, Grandmaster Flash and even the recently deceased mashup superstar DJ, DJ AM R.I.P.

If everyone who wielded a gaming guitar could actually pick an axe as nimbly as they press those buttons, we'd have a whole lot of future Jimis on our hands. But because not everyone aspires to be a rock god, the trend of rhythm games is evolving. And while DJ-inspired video games are not expected to supplant the Guitar Hero/Rock Band craze any time soon - in fact new titles like Guitar Hero 5, Guitar Hero: Van Halen, and The Beatles: Rock Band, are on their way - they are likely to bring in a new audience to the music video game genre. Here are two that are among those expected to be found under many a Christmas tree and menorah this upcoming holiday season for those who long to sit behind the decks, but lack the killer vinyl collection:

Scratch: The Ultimate DJ: While this game relies on a turntable-inspired controller, called the "Scratch Deck," no one ever actually drops a needle to hit a beat. Just like with the first wave of rhythm games, gamers press buttons, but they also need to simultaneously work a crossfader and touch-sensitive turntable wheel to earn points. Virtual DJs move up the ranks as they score, getting their start at house parties and moving on up to the soundstages of mega clubs. The soundtrack, with more than 60 tracks from artists such as Nelly, Kanye West, and Black Eyed Peas, is sure to appeal to Top 40 listeners, while the behind-the-scenes cast of game producer Quincy Jones and music consultant Mixmaster Mike will give the game some cred among beatheads and DJs.

The game also features a more realistic controller so real DJs might like this one better even though the graphics and DJ characters arent quite as astounding as the screenshots we've seen so far for DJ Hero.

Scratch is scheduled to be released during the fourth quarter, date TBD.

DJ Hero : The hip-hop brother of the title that defined one of the biggest gaming sensations in years, Guitar Hero. DJ Hero, just like Scratch, employs a simulated turntable. The wireless deck features three "stream" buttons (like those found on Guitar Hero's device), a crossfader, an effects dial, and a "Euphoria" button (supposedly similar to Guitar Hero's Star Power), with the object of the game being similar to that of Guitar Hero. Players press buttons to match notes floating across the screen, while also scratching and fading in time to other onscreen symbols. It sounds like a potential carpal tunnel hazard to us, but we know there will be legions willing to take that risk. Including artists such as Daft Punk, Jay-Z, and David Bowie, the playlist of more than 100 songs seems like it could be a bit superior to Scratch's, but only time will tell who wins this DJ battle (of the games).
DJ Hero is scheduled to hit stores on October 27, 2009.

DJ Jazzy Jeff Shows off his Scratches on DJ Hero

Grand Master Flash Takes it back to The Oldschool on DJ hero

Daft Punk Debuts in their first Video Game on DJ Hero

Hugh Hefner to Get Rid of Some Playboy Bunnies Amongst Financial Woes

2009-09-15T21:23:00.000-07:00

Hugh Hefner to sack Playboy bunnies amid financial crisis
Playboy bunnies have become the latest victim of the credit crunch.

Article By Charlotte Bailey

Playboy Tycoon Hugh Hefner has been advised to cut back on staff at his multi-million dollar glamour empire as it struggles to cope during the global economic turmoil.
The 83-year-old has been told to lay off some of his staff at his Los Angeles and New York offices as soon as this month or go bankrupt.

The company has recently seen shares fall from £6.20 to £1.55.
An insider at the company told the Daily Star that bosses had been aware of the worsening situation for "a while".

"Only the top brass has known for a while how bad things have been for Hef recently."
Spokeswoman Elizabeth Austin would not confirm the sackings, saying: "It is our policy not to comment on corporate matters such as employee issues."
The news will be another blow to Hefner who recently discovered that two of his "bunnies" may have been cheating on him.

Holly Madison, who has previously been named as Hefner's "No.1" girlfriend, is alleged to have had an affair with magician Criss Angel and another bunny, Kendra Wilkinson, is reportedly dating football star Hank Baskett.

Playboy spokesman Rob Hillburger denied the rumours, saying: "The rumours that Holly left Hef for Criss Angel are not true. Holly and Kendra are all still living at the Mansion."

What Life Is Like Married to Reggaeton Artist

2009-09-15T18:50:00.000-07:00

Khriz & Ashley: Life Married to a Reggeaton Artist

Ashely on her wedding day

Quinee Butler http://www.reggaetonline.net/ - December 12, 2006

Many young ladies dream of connecting with their favorite Reggaeton artists in a special way; hoping that it leads to unconditional love, marriage and a “happy ever after” kind of ending. In the real world of music, however, a quick hook up with an artists who is single or taken almost never ends the way the fan wants. Artists meet so many women in the course of their careers the chances of a fanatic actually getting a genuine love connection are very close to zero. It is not surprising that most artists date within their circle of friends and co-workers. Many artists who are actually married get hitched to a childhood sweetheart, someone who they have grown up with and who knows them way before they were famous, or someone who has no clue nor cares who they are.

One special couple in the world of Reggaeton is Ashley and Khriz Colon. On a trip to a studio with a friend Ashley was introduced to Khriz. She recalls that she had no romantic interest in him what so ever when they met. “I met him when a friend of mine introduced him to me, but we didn’t talk until 1 month later when I saw him at the mall. We were friend for 2 months and then he asked me to be his girl, of course I said yes! .He was still a nobody working at blockbuster, so for all the people who think of me as a gold digger I am definitely not,” Ashley said with she laughed. He had an old car and barely any money, but still loved him because it’s what’s inside that matters the most.” As for any musical talents, Ashley simply replied, “Nope. No, musical talents at all… Well maybe in the shower lol.”

For Ashley and Khriz, It was Khriz who perused Ashley, the woman of his dreams, and after dating for some time, they eventually wed in early March of this year. Their love for one another is evident from the moment you see the two together. He often makes sure that she accompanies him on trips to performances in and out of Puerto Rico. “Mostly, I travel when it is in the U.S., like to New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Boston, Houston, and Mexico; but most of the time I accompany Khriz to Miami,” said Ashley. More importantly, when they are home, they also do the regular things couples do, like attend Bar B Q’s and shopping. “It is the normal life; we live like every other person. We live in the same planet as anybody else. I say that because it seems that sometimes people think artists are some sort of supernatural being. I just know my hubby is the most down to earth person that I have ever met”

One thing any women who adores their favorite Reggaeton artists would expect to hear is how rude some fans can be, whether the artists wives are present or not. I, Princesa, recently attended the Chosen Few CD release party at the Playboy mansion. I was surprised to hear how rude some women were to Ashley as she stood at Khriz’s side. Tony Matrix, brother of DJ Joe Matrix who are the promoters at the Rumba Room on Universal CITY WALK , told Reggaetonline that a few unruly fans approached Khriz and proceeded to flirt with him. As sexy as Khriz is to all us Reggaeton fans I don’t blame them at all for trying to flirt with him. It was said that when Khriz introduced his wife, the fans continued to flirt as if it did not matter that his wife was with him. In this particular incident Joe had to step up and politely asked the girls to respect Khriz’s wife or go away ending the first incident.

A Second incident, which made my jaw drop, happened when another set of fans approached Khriz and Ashley. Even after Khriz introduced his wife, the fans proceeded to ask Khriz why he was with that “skinny girl” when he could have them. With this I asked Ashley if this type of incident happens often. Sadly enough the answer was yes. “Sometimes is difficult because of the jealousy that all girls have. They don’t understand that we are normal people and have the right to be happy. They hate sometimes but I ignore them because at the end of the day he is still my husband and we don’t let any of that affect our relationship. The other thing that’s really hard is when he has to go for a place that I can’t go because of security purposes because some places in Latin America people are very aggressive.”

The good thing for women like Ashley is that Khriz and his partner Angel are known to have a reputation of being perfect gentlemen when they are away from their wives. And just as Lennox does, when ever they can they make sure that they make the concerts they perform at a family affair. “We’re really good friends with Gocho and Divino we hang out at each others houses and their wives are my dearest friends. We all like to go to the movies, restaurants, and places like that.” Along with healthy relationships come the usually come hardships but these couples seem to weather any storms, big or small, like pros.

Patrick Swayze Dies at Age 57

2009-09-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

Patrick Swayze Dies at Age 57

Autographed Picture of Patrick Swayze

After a two-year battle with Pancreatic Cancer, movie star Patrick Swayze died today at the age of 57. According to Swayze’s publicist, he passed away with his family on his side. Swayze, who became a breakout star after his biggest hit “Dirty Dancing,” went on to make his mark in the industry with movies such as Ghost and Point Blank.

Here is the official statement from Swayze’s publicist: “Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months,”

His movie Ghost was the inspiration for the Hip Hop terminologies during the 90's for "leaving a spot" or "getting outa here" such as "I'm Ghost, I'm Swayze" and the ununified versions "I'm Ghost" and "I'm Swayze"

Picture Of Patrick Swayze's Hollywood Star

R.I.P. Patrick Swayze
P.S. I loved the movie Ghost

- Vanessa

Zark Fatah

2009-09-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

Zark Fatah Changed the Landscape of Toronto Nightlife.

Mar 08, 2007 04:30 AM
Bill Taylor for the http://www.star.com/
What does it take to dress a hip workaholic?
Calvin Klein underwear and socks; Paper Denim jeans; Armani cotton sweater; Cesare Paciotti shoes; Gucci blazer in deep-purple suede; Chrome Hearts ring; Armani silver-and-leather ring; Cartier watch.

"I like nice things," says Zark Fatah. He sits on a banquette at Atelier, the club/lounge he opened on King St. W. in December and shrugs off the scoffers who say the place is too exclusive to survive. They're mostly people who weren't invited to join. Membership is free – drinks are anything but – and limited to 250.

Once enough of them have had their thumbs scanned into a computer, the biometric reader at the entrance will be activated, doing away with the need for a doorman or membership cards.
"It isn't all that exclusive," says Fatah. "You just have to know someone who can bring you in. Once you're past the door, this is a very friendly place."

At 32, he's a man who has lived the illusion, seen through it to the hard-nosed reality beneath but still enjoys the mirage. He has a foot in each pool; one dabbling its toes in the shallow ever-shifting waters that nourish his beloved "pretty people"; the other thigh-deep in the clinging mud of time and effort that it takes to fuel the fantasy. He calls it an industry and talks (without regret) of the 14-hour days and seven-day weeks it can demand.

That's after he rushes to the interview explaining that he was late getting away from a meeting. Afterward, he dashes off again, already on his cellphone apologizing to the people waiting at his next meeting.

"Everything I have, I worked for; went out and got for myself," he says. "Everything I know, I've learned by doing it."

Ten years ago, he was a bartender at clubs like Fluid and the Guvernment. Today, Zark Inc. spearheads six businesses. He's on everyone's most-eligible and best-dressed lists (including the Star's last year), his name a byword for all that is hot, happening and ... now. His Porsche is parked outside and the closets in his penthouse loft are overflowing with high fashion. But he's not, he insists, a millionaire. "Yet."Fatah's background is working-class Scarborough. His father, a courier, is a Muslim born in Bombay and raised in Pakistan; his mother, a secretary, is an Anglo-Indian Christian.

"My upbringing was definitely not the conventional East Indian type," he says. "My younger brother Tarus and I were born here and our parents wanted us grow up as Canadians. They didn't push the religion, the culture or the language at us."

Four of his five other businesses are on or near King St. W. – the Century Room nightclub, restaurants Blowfish and Doku 15 and the Hammam spa. Prototype Design Lab, "a design-and-build company" in Mississauga, has produced a lot of the fixtures and fittings for the other places, including Atelier's metal tables with leaf-shaped cut-outs. He's a high-school dropout who's worked as a burger flipper, gas-station attendant and telemarketer. At 18, he had his first taste of "the nightlife industry" as a dancer at clubs and in the background of music videos.

His life changed forever, he says, when he flew to Miami for a few days one New Year's.
"I never came back. I spent two winter seasons bartending there. I was exposed to the best of the best. A nice little glimpse of the rest of the world. Superficial, maybe, but still ... a lifestyle I'd never seen. Cars, boats, condos, fashion, the women. Seeing all that set my aspirations high. Moving back to Toronto in 1999, I was on the cusp of turning 25. I was concerned that I would wake up one day and be a 30-year-old bartender."
Fatah got into event promotion.

"I'm a creative guy and a very social person. It was an easy translation. The glamour and allure pulled me in but I was always in it far more for the business than the nightclubbing. It's not about getting up at 1 in the afternoon hungover.
"I don't enjoy dating all that much. My daily life is, `Hi, how are you? What are you doing?' I call it the interview. I don't want to do that on my night off. So I'm very single at the moment. But I definitely want to marry and have children."

He has business partners but Fatah is the very visible and photogenic tip of the iceberg. Still, he says, "I try to stay as real and grounded as possible. I take a personal approach to everything. I'm hands-on. On a typical night I'll drop into Doku and then Blowfish; grab some food and chat with the customers; then into Atelier for a while and wind up at Century."
Home is the Broadview Lofts off Queen St. E., self-billed as "eclectic living and up-and-coming cool." Fatah's heart remains west of Yonge St. but he's not sorry he moved from the Icon condos a short walk from his work.

"I like that separation. Of being somewhere where there are parks and kids and dogs and I don't have to worry about bumping into my intoxicated clientele in the lobby."
This year, he vowed, would be the one that saw him taking on no new projects. But he and Mayor David Miller met recently to discuss Fatah's suggestions "about how Toronto could be marketed in a different way to a specific demographic – 25- to 35-year-old jetsetters; lifestyle-oriented people who travel to Miami, New York, London, L.A., Paris – they're aware of what's going on around the world. The tastemakers, the trendsetters, the ones who decide what's cool and what's not.

"When they come to Toronto, they're totally surprised and impressed. The nightlife – every night you can be into a different scene. Mayor Miller agreed that people in Toronto need to support Toronto. I would like to be an ambassador to formally and aggressively promote our city."

It will be, Fatah figures, another valuable self-taught lesson. "I've learned about growing too fast and taking too much on. And about living in the moment. I need to sit back sometimes and look around and realize where I'm at."

He crosses one impeccably Paper Denimed leg over the other and contemplates the pointed toe of his black Paciotti shoe.

"My mom gets a kick out of the best-dressed and most-eligible stuff. It's nice to be acknowledged and recognized. But I don't send out press releases."

Palms Las Vegas Lights up Only The A & M of thir sign in memory of DJ AM their former resident DJ.

2009-08-29T03:07:00.001-07:00

Palms Hotel Lights up only The A & M of their sign in honor of DJ AM

Picture of the Palms Hotel with only A M lit in honor DJ AM

Briefly after DJ Am's death, The Palms Hotel and Casino Las Vegas Lights up Only The A & M of their sign in memory of DJ AM their former resident DJ. I got really choked up when I read that post on twitter today. Really hit me hard and I started crying. I really miss Adam already. Now it's Michael Jackson's birthday and we lose two within months time it's just too much.

The only pictures we were able to find of the partially lit sign came from www.hitmusicservice.com who had posted an email featuring links to DJ AM's mixes and wrote a little something in his honor. They also dedicated their September members section banner in honor of their fallen friend DJ AM, Adam Goldstein.

Our Dear Friend, Superstar DJ, DJ AM Died in New York City This Week

2009-08-28T23:51:00.001-07:00

Sad News: Adam Goldstein, Known as DJ AM found Dead in New York City Apartment.

R.I.P. DJ AM - You will be missed.

Photo of DJ AM with DJ Emir the Night we all met up at Beta for DJ AM show.

Our dear friend Adam, better known as DJ AM passed away recently and was found dead on Friday August 29th, 2009. We twittered, posted comments, blogged and cried up all day after hearing the news. We had met up with Adam a few times in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and in Denver. He was always very sweet and kind to everyone around him whenever we hung out. Many entertainers have attitudes after being in the industry for a while, but not AM he was still rather melow and always polite.

DJ AM survived a private jet plane crash that killed 4 people and left Him and only other survivor Travis Barker, when we heard he survived the plane crash we were very relieved. Now that relief has turned once again to sadness as reports of his death have been confirmed. Our sympathies go out to his loving Mother, family and friends.

We were sad earlier this year when AM was unable to make it to a Bacardi Live show at Beta Nightclub. But we never would have guessed that we would never get another chance to catch up with Adam ever again.

DJ AM was a great DJ and really knew how to put together creative DJ sets. He had super fast scratches and great turntable techniques that he used to accentuate his performances. There were many DJs that admired and looked up to him as an inspiration, as well as many that hated on him for achieving the extreme success that they all could only dream of achieving.

Some hater DJs criticised AM on the Serato forums for setting up edits in the studio ahead of time to make his sets more precise and diverse. They claimed that to be a form of cheating. Adam responded most elloquently without any form of hatred to every point people had thrown out. The crazy part was many of the same people pointing fingers use pre recorded mashups they didn't even create. Worse yet many of the mashups supposedly created by other DJs were in actuallity carbon copies of remixes DJ AM would create live in his sets using actual accapellas and instrumentals as he toured the country.

DJ AM had a creativity and ability not found in many of today's newer lazier generation of DJs. Yet they were the ones trying to put him down for being more creative, when in fact all they were was jealous. Stil there were many that did recognize his abilities and his creativity no One can ever deny that he had that magical flair for rocking the set and tearing up the Ones' and Two's.

He was one of our favorite DJs in the world, he will be deeply missed by everyone in our offices and especially myself. - Vanessa V. http://www.great-hiphop-music.blogspot.com/

News article with facts about DJ AM's Death follows:

NEW YORK -DJ AM, the sought-after disc jockey who became a celebrity in his own right with high-profile romances and a glamorous lifestyle and survived a plane crash just months ago, was found dead in his apartment Friday. He had a history of drug problems.

Police found a crack pipe and prescription pills in the Manhattan apartment, said a law enforcement official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing. Paramedics had to break down the door before they found him, shirtless and wearing sweatpants, in his bed around 5:20 p.m., the official said.
A friend had called police to say he was unable to get into the home in the trendy SoHo neighborhood. There was no evidence of foul play, and a medical examiner will determine the DJ's cause of death.

DJ AM, whose real name was Adam Goldstein, had talked openly about past addictions to crack cocaine, Ecstasy and other drugs, addictions so bad he once tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head — but the gun jammed. However, he claimed he had been drug-free for years, even swearing off cigarettes.

His spokeswoman, Jenni Weinman, said the circumstances surrounding his death were unclear. She pleaded for privacy for his family.

In October, MTV was to debut his new reality show, "Gone Too Far," in which he and concerned families staged interventions for drug abusers. In a recent interview with the AP, he talked about holding a crack pipe for the first time in years for the show and said he felt as though he had an angel on his shoulder for surviving so much turmoil.

Last year, he was badly hurt in a South Carolina plane crash that killed four people and seriously injured rock musician Travis Barker.

MTV did not have an immediate comment on whether Goldstein's show would air, but said in a statement that it "was honored to support him as he helped young people battle their own addictions."

Goldstein, 36, was a deejay for hire who performed at Hollywood's most exclusive parties and was admired by music aficionados. He also was famous for relationships with the reality TV star Nicole Richie, the daughter of singer Lionel Richie, and with actress-singer Mandy Moore.
Goldstein was critically injured last September when a Learjet crashed on takeoff in Columbia, S.C. The plane was transporting Goldstein and Barker, a drummer for the pop punk band Blink-182, after a performance; the pair had formed the duo TRVSDJ-AM.

Barker and Goldstein were burned, though Barker was injured more severely. Goldstein had to get skin graft surgery, but about a month later he was performing again, joining Jay-Z on stage.
At the time, he told People magazine he was grateful to survive.

"I can't believe I made it," he said. "I've prayed every night for the past 10 years. There's a lot more to thank God for now. ... I was saved for a reason. Maybe I'm going to help someone else. I don't question it. All I know is I'm thankful to be here."

Goldstein rose to fame several years ago as highly sought-after DJ whose beats kept the dance floor packed and clubgoers hypnotized. He was known for his deft mashups, a blend of at least two songs, and performed not only in clubs but on grand stages, performing earlier this year at the Coachella music festival in Indio, Calif.

He was to be one of the playable characters in Activision's "DJ Hero," a rhythm video game from the makers of "Guitar Hero" that uses a turntable-shaped controller. The game is set for release Oct. 27.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of DJ AM, who was a tremendous talent, a trusted partner and friend to 'DJ Hero,'" said Tim Riley, vice president of music affairs for Activision. "We hope that his work on the game will be a fitting tribute to his creative spirit and musical talent."
Representatives for Moore and Barker didn't immediately return telephone messages seeking comment on the DJ's death, but other celebrities and fans instantly shared their reactions on Twitter, where "RIP DJ AM" was the No. 1 topic Friday.

"I'm stunned. Rest in peace Adam," singer-songwriter Josh Groban posted.

"I'm sorry to loved ones," musician and video director Pete Wentz wrote. "So unexpected."

Singer John Mayer wrote: "We're supposed to lose our friends to time, at an age when we're ready to agree to the terms of having lived a long life. Not now."

Goldstein was on Twitter just three days ago. He said he had just wrapped filming of the MTV series in Connecticut and was on his way to Atlantic City, N.J., to DJ. He also posted a lyric from the hip-hop legends Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five: "New York, New York. Big city of dreams, but everything in New York ain't always what it seems."

Media and onlookers flocked to his apartment, creating a frenzied scene; flowers had been placed outside the entrance.

Fellow DJ Scott Schroer, known as Scotty Boy, said he went to the apartment after he heard the news to check for himself. He said he had known Goldstein for 10 years and had worked the turntables with him last week at the Palm in Las Vegas.

"He was the first to really be eclectic in the mashup scene," Schroer said. "He mixed rock and roll with hip-hop. He was a pioneer."

Schroer said Goldstein had been sober since he met him. When asked about the prescription pills, he said: "If you were just in a plane crash a year ago, I'm sure you would have prescription pills, too."

—
Associated Press writers Virginia Byrne in New York and Michael Cidoni in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Breaking News: DJ AM Dies

2009-08-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

DJ AM Found Dead in His New York Apartment

Sad Day, One of Our Favorite DJs in The world Just Died.
Serato sponsored superstar DJ, DJ AM found Dead in New York City.
Too soon to tell of what. We'll keep you posted.

Cops tell us DJ AM -- also known as Adam Goldstein -- was found dead this afternoon in New York City.Law enforcement sources tell us he was found in his apartment at around 5:20 PM.We're told DJ AM had not been seen or heard from for a few days. We're told one of his friends went to check on him, but got no response after knocking on his apartment door. We're told the friend called the police, who broke down the door and then found DJ AM's body.

Back in September of 2008, DJ AM and Travis Barker survived a plane crash in South Carolina. Four people died in the crash -- which was caused when the airplane aborted takeoff and then ran off the runway. DJ AM and Barker were the only survivors.

Email Came in Stating: How White People Destroyed Mixtapes

2009-08-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

This email arrived in our in-boxes this morning and had us outraged. I mean seriously, Bad mixtapes and bad mixtape DJs isn't a race issue it's a global issue and a personal issue. The guy is blaming White people for ruining mixtapes. That couldn't be further from the truth...

The people ruining mixtapes are the weak DJs that don't mix. Weak DJs that simply throw songs on and shout over them adding nothing of themselves back into the music but their egos. It doesn't matter whether the DJ is White, Black, Mulatto, Hispanic or Asian, what matters is if they have skill, creativity and the ability to make us enjoy music we would otherwise pass up. there are many songs I never gave a second thought to, until a DJ made me hear it in a different way. These good DJs remixed it, blended it or simply made it hotter by juggling it back and forth with the hardest lines from the song etc... A good DJ makes and breaks records. A good DJ can create mixtapes that can be listened to long past the music's popularity phase. A good mixtape isn't just about the music that is on it, it's also about the DJs themselves and how they put it all together.

The guy doesn't even have the balls to sign his name to the email. Which to me totally discredits his entire argument in and of itself. And all the spelling mistakes, the not understanding the difference between "There and Their" non spaced words and bad punctuation and grammar don't help his argument much either, basically he calls himself out as uneducated. But worst of all , he is blaming One race for what I personally see happening with a multitude of DJs from every race and background.

Lets get it straight: It's not white people or white DJs, it's WHACK DJS that are ruining mixtapes. And to be fair as the guy states, it's not entirely their fault. If we as educated music consumers simply did not support these weak DJs and their extremely whack mixtapes, there would be no reason for them to continue making whack mixtapes. Lets be honest, if you only picked up mixtapes that had some degree of skill in the way they were mixed, produced and created, there would only be a handful of mixtapes out there. But because people bought drop style mixtapes, bought mixtapes without any mixing, any degree of DJ skill and any kind of creativity, there was a huge surge of new DJs trying to come up by doing the same thing.

There was once a time when mixtapes were out there to highlight a DJs ability to rock the turntables, to rock the crowd and to show the diversity and music choices they make. Now it's all about dropping the newest tracks and most exclusives as fast as possible with no creativity or originality.

I posted the email below so you can see how ignorant this guy is, and how ignorant racism is, no matter which direction or angle it comes from. Basically whenever you try and blame an entire race, an entire industry, or an entire generation for a general problem, you are not looking at all the facts and you are missing the bigger picture. Many ties people don't see the entire picture and only focus on the first thing that draws their attention.

Email sent to us by "Anonymous Music Guy"
"My name is Anonymous Music Guy. I do this for no personal gain or benefit ofself. This is just a personal weekly view of the music industry. Please pass this on:

Let's face it, white people today have destroyed the mixtape scene. Theyhave pilfered off of the black generation since the days of slavery, but nowit's a new era. An era of musical slavery. Mixtapes were once an outlet foryoung people with musical energy to put out a product with out enduring thecosts of putting out an album. Mixtapes were a way for DJ's to broadcast newand upcoming talent to the underground market with fans patiently waiting tosee who is next to blow. Now it's nothing but a pure bootleg market, wherenon Black/Urban DJ's basically steal peoples albums and music and put themout solely for profit and reputation.

We have guys like The Evil Empire, The Empire, DJ Smallz, Trapaholics, BigMike, DJ Drama and etc that are fucking the game to hell. These people haveno urban roots. They never lived in a "hood" and likely never endured a real"struggle". They have no real care for this culture. All they care about isthere fat white pockets getting bigger and bigger off of each new "nigger"that comes out. They don't break artist. They break artists banks. Literallyand figuratively. They put out mixtapes with no names to identify themselveswhich is basically considered bootlegging. I even heard of one certain "DJ"having a "hacker" on his team who goes into peoples Gmail accounts to steal"exclusive" music. This one DJ recently took GRANDHUSTLE rap artist YOUNGDRO's new album and put it out on a mixtape..... WHAT KINDA SHIT IS THAT?How could you profit off of someones hardwork you did not pay for? You didntbuy the beats. You did not cover the studio time so what makes you think youcan go out and bootleg there whole album and someone be cool with that? Whatkind of shit is that? What has the game come to?

Then you have the supposed "Big Shots" like DJ Drama who give nothing backto the black community. But it makes sense since he is not* BLACK*. I erk atthe sound of him saying "*NIGGA*" constantly. This guy has been supported byso many artists and in return to the community he charges outrageous pricesto the people he supposedly supports. Homie does nothing but scream all overmusic, I don't know how that makes you an "icon" that deserves 20 thousanddollars to make a "mixtape". I'm sorry sir I'll pass. His last album didnothing and went by quickly *with good reason*. Go back up north. Goodriddance.

The young black musician of today, with music dreams and major labelaspirations has to hope and pray that one day the BWM(*Big White Man*)sitting in his chair will cut him a budget and give him the time of day. If he ever gets that time of day, it's very much short lived for the simplefact of the corruption placed in the music industry today. It has spiraledand regressed into a piece of shit where young black people will sell there souls for a little dollar. The white man who profits will never care about the damage that is done, I don't blame him. I blame the enslaved black youth for not waking up. Don't be a slave to your music, be a owner!!!

Artists have totally devalued there music and self worth in the music world. Is there any coming back?? better yet, going forward?

Call me racist, call me what you want but WHITE PEOPLE have destroyed mixtapes.
Next week, how WHITE WOMAN have destroyed the Urban Magazine Industry
please pass this along.
Sincerely, Anonymous Music Guy"

So that was pretty much his letter blaming white people in general for everything the music industry and the mixtape industry is going through. Knowing damned well that the issue is much bigger than One race. The same can be said about the RIAA blaming mixtapes for the decline in music sales, look a little more internaly and realize that music in general has been dumbed down a few knotches. Produce better music and you'll get better sales, it's that simple. You can tell the "Anonymous Music Guy" is on a whole racial war rampage cause his supposed next email is labelled "How White Women (oh sorry Woman, singular LOL) have destroyed the Urban Magazine Industry." Come on now, this is straight up right up there with Hitler using the Jews as scapegoats to blame for his whole county's troubles then unite his German people through a manufactured common hatred and distrust as a means of seizing total political power.

Racism is a double edged sword and cuts both ways. Don't buy into any kind of racism or bigotry, always look into the issue deeper and find the true causes of strife. - Trent Williams

PS:
You can all hit this dude up with your response.
or just post your comment on it here on our blog.
here is his email address:
anonymousmusicguy@gmail.com

On second thought: Even though we'd love for him to receive so many letters he gets flooded everyday I realize now come to think of it, he'll probably just start spamming your inbox if you ever send him a letter. So you may want to just comment here on this blog instead.

- Trent Williams (Annoyed Black Music Guy Who Actually Signs His Posts!)

DJ Emir Badder Than Bad Mixtape Tribute to Michael Jackson The Greatest of All Time

2009-08-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

DJ Emir Michael Jackson Mixtape
written by Acrista B. for VIP Nightclub Magazine

DJ Emir: The Greatest Mixtape and Nightclub DJ of All Time pays Tribute to Michael Jackson The Greatest of All Time on "Badder Than Bad" the Mixtape

DJ Emir's Michael Jackson Badder Than Bad Mixtape has to be the single hardest Michael Jackson Mixtape on the planet!

DJ Emir "The King of Mixtapes" pays tribute to Michael Jackson "The King of Pop" the proper way, by mixing blending, remixing and cutting up Michaels hottest tracks and songs that were ispired by the legendary performer. The mixtape starts off with the hardest "Bad" remix I have ever heard and simply never lets up after that with 80 minutes of the best Michael Jackson original songs and remixes all mixed and blended the way only a real DJ can do it. His motto "real DJs Do real Things" really rings true on this ultra hot mixtape. It's almost as if Emir is trying to resurrect Michael Jackson himself through his mixing. I can almost imagine Emir trying to bring Michael back from the beyond like a doctor who refuses to quit on his patient, cause Emir puts that much passion to this mixtape.

Well known for blending in Old time favorites with todays hottest music both live in the clubs and on his amazing mixtapes Emir does the same with the Michael Jackson tribute mixtape, only to a whole new level. Our favorite remixes of the Badder than Bad mixtape include DJ Emir's remixes of "Bad", "They Don't Care About Us", "Man in the Mirror", "You Rock My World" and "I Wan't You Back" among others.

I was really feeling the "you Rock my world remix over Jamie Foxx's "Blame it" and The Jackson 5 "I Wan't You Back" reggae remixes. Those joints were pure fire.

DJ Emir's mixing and blending skills are amongst the best in the world and his mixtapes best of the best and always come through clean and crisp banging hit after hit through your speakers. The Michael Jackson mix is no different, It is an instant classic which really does Michael Jackson an honor and creates a tribute worthy of bearing the name Michael Jackson.

When I listen to Emir's Michael Jackson Mixtape I feel like Michael is still with us. Especially when Liberian girl comes in I feel like Michael Jackson is right there with me in the room. I want to cry everytime I hear that song. It's followed by another great song by another dead great, the late Tupac Shakur and his song "Letter to My Unborn Child" which sampled Liberian girl.

This mixtape appeals to Michael Jackson fans and mixtape fans alike with such a diverse musical selection and a very creative mixing style that compliments the creative genius that was Michael Jackson. Emir did this One right and created a masterpiece that is worthy of carrying on Michaels legacy of great music to new generations of listeners.

I'm submitting Emir's Mixtape for this years Mixtape of the Year competition cause it is worthy of winning. Considering Emir's Transformers Mixtape won last years mixtape of the year award and this mixtape is even hotter, It's probably a sure fire winner. This is definetly my pick for 2009 Mixtape of the Year.

Rest in Peace Michael we all miss you.
Acrista B.
VIP Nightclub Magazine

Cooking Soul Mixtape Tribute to Michael Jackson The King of Pop

2009-08-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

Cookin’ Soul Presents Michael Jackson: Tribute To The King Of Pop
Written By XXL Magazine Omar Mixtape Massacre Review
Brought to you by www.mixunit.com

On June 25, 2009 I was lamping on my homie’s stoop when someone screamed out, “Michael Jackson is dead!!!” Naturally I brushed it off as some fiend’s rant of his imaginary world. But not too long after that my hip was blowing up with news of the King of Pop’s passing. Me being a mixtape head I was already imagining the countless kinds of mixes and blends that were bound to flood the hood in the coming hours and days. Sure enough I counted at least two compilation mixtapes, three blends and 34 mixes so far. But I must say that I was amped to see Cookin’ Soul drop a MJ tribute of their own. For the past minute their creations and production have satisfied my hunger in a way Snickers never could (that’s my favorite chocolate bar too).

The premise on this one was to keep the original Michael Jackson songs in tact and add rappers verses to it in hopes of making it a street banger. First we have Kid Cudi’s “Day N Nite” verse on MJ’s “Beat It.” The sped up vocals and overall demeanor just didn’t mesh well with Mike’s “gangsta” hit. But CS bounced back with back-to-back bangers when he threw in 50’s 2nd verse from “Like My Style” over “Remember The Time” and made something that’ll have the dance floor violating countless fire codes and paired Luda with “Bad” to create something pretty damn decent. Not to mention blending Wayne’s verse with the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” Went together like peanut butter and jelly on a roll.

While I was disappointed with a few blends like Em’s “Real Slim Shady” verse tacked on to “Black or White” and Biggie’s “Nasty Boy” verse mixed into “Thriller” (“Rock With You” was pretty hot though), I was feeling the majority of the blends and the fact that this was a Michael Jackson mixtape. The blends were made to compliment his classics, not the other way around. CS didn’t try to add Neptunes production or a T-Pain hook into any of these songs. It was all Mike all day and until the end of time. Though Michael wasn’t the perfect human being, he was more than your average one. He was a showman who not only changed lives but literally changed the world through his music and his life. I just hope he finds the peace in his death that he could never find in his life. R.I.P. Michael Jackson.-The Infamous O

Hottest Joint: “Remember The Time” (feat. 50 Cent)
Weakest Joint: “Black or White”
Rating: HOOD

Obama Joker Posters Surface in Los Angeles

2009-08-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

Obama Joker posters have begun to spring up in LA, as the Obama Joker poster is just the latest way to call Obama a socialist. Over the weekend, the Obama Joker Obama Joker Poster an Inaccurate Comparison poster was spotted in several areas of Los Angeles, and were brought to the Internet's attention by right-wing blogs. The Obama Joker poster is just a picture of Obama with Joker makeup on him, and the word "socialism" at the bottom. Aside from being something that could be done easily on Photoshop, the Obama Joker poster doesn't even accurately match up the two icon's beliefs.The string of Obama Joker posters were first seen in Los Angeles, with a few even getting to Atlanta.

The Obama Joker poster has the President wearing the same pasty white makeup, and scarred smile, made famous by Heath Ledger in last year's The Dark Knight.As if it isn't enough to equate President Obama to a sadistic, murdering terrorist, a more typical charge of socialism is made in the bottom of the Obama Joker poster. Nothing more specific is spelled out, and no one as of yet has figured out where these posters come from, or who made them.If President Obama isn't called a socialist once every day, then it is a day where his opponents must be busy taking a nap. The Obama Joker poster is a new tactic, however, albeit small time.

But using the Joker to paint Obama as a socialist isn't really that accurate at all.The Joker was many things, but was hardly a socialist. In fact, the Joker is the polar opposite of a socialist, and anyone who watched The Dark Knight would know that. Socialism is the result of an all powerful central government that runs every aspect of life - but the Joker subscribes to anarchy, one of socialism's polar opposites.If the Joker was a socialist, he would be destroying Gotham in the name of an all powerful state. Instead, the self-described "agent of chaos" nearly brought down the state itself, and all of its most cherished institutions, so that nothing could bring order to Gotham. The Obama Joker poster does very poorly in trying to paint Obama as a socialist by comparing him to an anarchist. On the other hand, if the poster was trying to say Obama was also a murdering, psychotic evil mastermind like the Joker, then that's another troubling matter altogether.

Other posters of Obama have also surfaced mirroring the original Joker Posters bearing similar messages.

It's hard for some opponents of the Obama administration to realize and admit that Obama was handed over the reigns of an already careening stage coach and asked to save an economy that already was on the brink of failure due to the mismanagement of the previous Bush administration. The same can be said about the "war on terrorism" which actually started way back with the First Bush administration and was then revisited by the son as the sins of the father were passed on to the son in this case. No one seems to realize just how severely the "War on terrorism" has affected our current economic problems. If you think about it we have been plunging money, resources and people who would otherwise be consumers in our own economy over seas to fight a non ending war on an elusive enemy with no face.

To make matters worse the war is taking place in a country that supplies much of our Oil and gas. And even while supposedly liberating these countries from tyrants Oil prices still remain high, so shipping prices remain high and our economy continues to suffer.

The American car manufacturers made the mistake of not looking towards the future earlier, and the future snuck up and hit them upside the head when they weren't paying attention.

Gas guzzling cars were still being manufactured in large quantities not realizing the American consumer's lives had shifted to a more eco-awareness mentality. As a result the American car manufacturers where already behind foreign car companies that had started focusing on gas efficiency, smaller cars, electric cars, hybrids and alternate fuels in much greater capacity.

Many people seem to forget that it was George Bush that signed the bail outs for AIG without making sure they were to be used properly and ensuring they would be paid back. A costly mistake which ended with AIG Ceo's being rewarded for doing a bad job.

Obama simply saw the mistakes of the previous administrations bail out efforts. Realizing that there must be some sort of controls set to keep companies from misusing the bail out money. You simply can't keep giving away money to people that don't use it properly. Bush just gave away the money and didn't have any control over how the companies used it, this resulted in a disastrous misuse of Obama stepped in when Chrysler GM asked for a bail out and perhaps went a little far as far as controlling the company's future by firing one of it's CEO's. This is probably what is causing the "Socialism" controversy, but really if another COMPANY paid a large sum of money to Bail out another COMPANY wouldn't that be called a TAKEOVER or a MERGER? And wouldn't the new company do the same thing, start laying off employees as they merge the two companies etc...

The way I see it if your business failed it failed, if no one is willing to buy your company out from you then you better have a going out of business sale to try and get all the money you can out of the closure of your company. The only reason the government steps in with bail outs on large companies is because the closing of a company of that size would leave so many people without jobs that it would create a much bigger black hole in the economy as there would continue to be a huge rippling effect that would affect other companies, retailers and whole markets.

Obama is simply exercising more control over the money offered in Government Bail Out packages. If you don't like it... Don't ask for a bail out, bail your own backside out of the fire.

Drake Collapses on Stage in New Jersey

2009-08-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hot new R&B and Hip Hop sensation Drake collapses on stage at a performance in New Jersey.

This picture is of Drake laying down on stage after twisting his already injured knee at a concert in Camden, NJ. Drake tore his ACL in the past and was warned by doctors that if it happens again he might not be able to walk again.

Apparently Lil Wayne’s new protege Drake tore his ACL last month,and tried to perform onstage last night July 31,2009. While performing his hit song “Best I Ever Had” with Lil Wayne and the Young Money crew, he slipped and collapsed just seconds after it started, reports Access Hollywood.

There’s a reported Youtube video (below) of the incident that shows him being carried off stage while Lil Wayne finished the song by himself.

Drake confirmed that he’s doing good by tweeting on “Twitter”. He stated, “All is well.On the bus laying down… getting surgery this week but I’m walking.Thank my whole “Young Money” family for the help!”

Let's hope he will back on his feet soon and can safely continue the “America’s Most Wanted” tour. Our prayers go out to Drake that he may have a speedy and full recovery.

T-Pain & T-Swizzle (AKA Taylor Swift) Funny Video

2009-07-23T22:12:00.000-07:00

T-Pain and Taylor Swift as "T-Swizzle" in comical yet well put together Video about Taylor Swift Turning into a "GANGSTER Rapper" LOL

As She says in the video... She "Bakes Cookies YO!"

T-Pain and Taylor Swift put together this histerical spoof video which comically depicts Taylor swift as a rap artist. It's an ironic twist that comically mirrors T-Pain's own career in which he himself was a rapper turned singer. In this video it is Taylor Swift who is a Country/Pop Music singer turned rapper with a new moniker of "T-Swizzle"

At first glance the video seems like it's a big mistake. I mean really. Taylor Swift as a Rap artist? Then one realizes the video is a total spoof video much like the videos Weird Al Yancovich used to create mimicking famous music artist videos. The most famous of which of course were the Michael Jackson Videos. R.I.P.

Taylor Swift does a good job portraying herself as her own alter ego "T-Pizzle" the mad Gangta rapper with curly lock blond hair. She keeps calling herself Gangster.. so Gangter that she as she says Lives with her moms and as she puts it "I bake cookies Yo" had me laughing and realized it was a great parody... especially since it's exploiting the fact that T-pain was a "Rapper turned singer" here is Taylor swift as a Country/pop singer turned rapper. The irony and her "Tight white-T" and T-Pain's "Big Arse Chain" was just hilarious. The crazy thing is she probably could pull off a little soft rap cause she was OK.

The last part of the video was the funniest though, When they bleep out Taylor swift as she is saying "YO" and she starts complaining that she didn't even swear and T-Pian chimes in with his famous Autotune plug in voice saying"She didn't even swear" as if they didn't have time to cut the video and stop the autotune LOL.

DJ Craze vs DJ Klever

2009-07-23T02:34:00.000-07:00

DJ Kraze Vs DJ Klever DJ Battle Tracktor Scratch Promo Video

What do you know, When we finished posting our article on DJ Vajra tearing it up at the NBA halftime show in Denver there was a small little advertisment for Traktor Scratch Duo featuring a "DJ Battle" between DMC World Champions DJ Craze and DJ Klever of The Allies just to the left of the posting window. So we decided to let you see that one too. This is a nice little mini "battle" featuring the Two legendary DJs going head to head on the New Tracktor Scratch Duo Vinyl emulation software package that is said to have a very tight latency to more realistically imitate real vinyl while controling MP3 files on a laptop computer.

Craze and Klever basically go at it on their DMC championship won Gold Technics Turntables and mixers. (showoffs) LOL :)

Rane Serato Pro DJ: DJ Vajra Rocks The Denver Nuggets NBA Half Time Show

2009-07-23T02:20:00.000-07:00

Serato Rane Pro DJ and DMC Battle Champion
DJ Vajra Performs at The NBA Half Time Show

DJ Vajra in Beijing China

If you have never seen this amazing DJ before,
we offer you a glimpse at One of the worlds top DJs.
This is your favorite DJ's, Favorite DJ's, Favorite DJ.

:) LOL :)

In other words this is DJ Qbert's Favorite DJ!

And for a damned good reason, The man has serious skills on the turntables
and now puts together amazing sets and routines like no other DJ in the world.

This is some of the Illest Stuff and the stuff champion DJs are made of.

- Vanessa V. The Great Music Blogspot

Shelved, Dropped, and Left for dead: The Return of Buckcherry.

2009-07-23T00:28:00.000-07:00

Shelved, dropped, then left for dead:The Return of… Buckcherry.

Article written for www.musicsubmit.com

Buckcherry, the rock band comeback story of 2008…

When last year’s smash single “Sorry” by rock group Buckcherry reached #9 on Billboard, lead singer Josh Todd had to be smiling. He and guitarist Keith Nelson had tasted a bit of success before, but not like this. Who would have thought the band that had been abandoned and dropped by their major label in 2002, could come back and release a new album on an indie, and eclipse their previous, short-lived fame? It doesn’t happen very often in the music world, but it does happen…

Read on… It was the summer of ’00, and things were looking good Buckcherry. The band had just come off a full length U.S tour with Lenny Kravitz. On the strength of three radio hits, Buckcherry had toured non-stop in support of their self-titled debut album, released by major label DreamWorks Records in 1999. The band was about to hit the studio for their follow up CD, Time Bomb. By the time the album released in ’01, the title “Time Bomb” proved befitting for a self-fulfilled prophecy. Slow initial sales of Time Bomb and a disinterested DreamWorks helped to all but tank the record. Add in the inevitable inner band tension and Buckcherry was all but a flash in the pan rock group for one summer, a footnote in music history...Early Years Buckcherry originally formed in 1995, then under the name “Sparrow”, playing mostly in clubs in the LA rock scene. For the next 3 years, after countless club gigs, the band built up a noticeable following. A few demos later and they finally caught the attention of the label DreamWorks and long time rock producer Terry Date. The album “Buckcherry” (after a band name change) was released in 1999, and soon after the band scored their first radio hit, “Lit Up”.

At this point, some musicians might feel lucky or satisfied to reach the level of success attained by Buckcherry. When the band added two more radio hits in 2000, including “Check Your Head”, indeed they were in an enviable position: a successful tour supporting a gold-almost-platinum record, with 3 radio hits, for a powerful record label. But one album seldom makes a band, and what you do on the follow up album is just as, if not more, important than the first record, if your goal as a band is to remain relevant (i.e. employed) for years to come. Perhaps the early fame and (relatively) quick success contributed to a sub-par effort that resulted in “Time Bomb”. And of course, bands that get dropped by their record label after a poor 2ndrecord is nothing new.

The Comeback:

By 2002, lead singer and band leader Josh Todd had left the band. Not that this mattered much, as all the other members were long gone anyway. Todd & Nelson continued to work collaborative projects with other musicians, but the band Buckcherry had completely faded from the scene, a one-hit-wonder band.

In 2006, a full 8 years after first signing with DreamWorks, Todd and Nelson regrouped with new band members and began writing songs. For any band that was once signed by a major label, the chances of having a new record released again on a major are pretty close to nil. Wet newspapers are usually treated better than dropped rockers. Instead, the group enlisted the help of indie Eleven Seven, a record label ofbasically musicians with loose affiliations to Warner.
In just 15 days, the band recorded an album, and perhaps with no expectations for a release, titled the record “15”. It wasn’t long after the release of “15” that radio stations began picking up the song “Crazy Bitch” for airplay rotation. For many music fans, the song “Crazy Bitch” was their first introduction to the band Buckcherry, whose initial fame was so short-lived they were mostly missed the first time around. Or, because comeback albums for one-hit-wonder bands are so rare, the name Buckcherry didn’t resonate. Whichever the case, a whole new level of success came rushing back to the band.

Timed radio releases of the next two singles, “Everything” and “Sorry”, the latter reaching all the way to #9 on Billboard’s Mainstream Charts, completed the comeback. Buckcherry was once again touring with the likes of Motley Crue and Avenged Sevenfold. Next up – a touring opening up for perhaps the greatest comeback rock band of all time – KISS. How cool is that???

12th Annual Reggae Music Festival New York

2009-07-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

THE 12TH ANNUAL JAMROCK REGGAE FESTIVAL DROPS ANOTHER BOMB WITH ONLY Tonight! THE BIG EVENT - SATURDAY JULY 18TH IN WESTCHESTER NY

The big ‘Countdown to the 12th Annual Jamrock Reggae Festival’ has just been shifted to the highest gear as the Honorable Marcia Griffiths O.D. and Grammy award winning Mykal Rose of Black Uhuru have been added to the legendary line up of Reggae Icons at the highly anticipated concert event…

Sunday 13th July, 2009 – New York - Link Up Media Inc. CEO and Jamrock Reggae Festival owner David “Squeeze” Annakie made the announcement to press hours ago about the milestone addition to The 12th Annual JAMROCK Reggae Festival line up stating that, “It’s been a rough year for everyone thus far and our Caribbean American community is also feeling the brunt of these harsh times..Our listeners, readers, supporters and valued sponsors have all been exceptional and vital to the continued success of the Link Up Media group. We want them to know that we are also here to support and uplift them. Bringing a positive quality event of this status at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY is our way of showing appreciation and respect to the artists and the fans for their contribution to preserving our prosperous Caribbean culture in this era of hope and change.”

Just 5 days before the major concert event kicks off @ The Westchester County Center in White Plains NY, news of the latest ‘bomb’ dropped on the already explosive line up of Reggae icons Beres Hammond, John Holt, Frankie Paul and Culture with Kenyatta Hill adds Mykal Rose of Black Uhuru and the Honorable Marcia Griffiths O.D. of Bob Marley’s I-Three’s to the frontline of the legendary JAMROCK Reggae Festival cast. Without any doubt, this is the ultimate combination of class, style and international stardom that is sure to shine as the brightest beacon of what the Caribbean entertainment scene has truly evolved to. Hosted by Link Up Media’s David “Squeeze” Annakie and Jeanille Bonterre of Link Up Radio 93.5FM, BET J and MTV Tempo, this sold out event has also prompted producers to increase ticket sales by popular demand and extend the show’s production schedule. Major networks have also approached the event for coverage of the milestone concert event and new patrons are being asked to purchase tickets before Saturday July 18th to avoid being left out of this once in a lifetime live concert experience.

A Royal daughter of Jamaican soil and distinguished member of the groundbreaking female trio and backing vocal group to Bob Marley and The Wailers, the Honorable Marcia Griffiths O.D. is an indomitable Queen of Reggae. Since her initiation to the music industry as a young teenager performing with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires after her fated discovery by mentor Bob Andy, Marcia Griffiths has blazed a continuous trail of over 4 decades of chartopping success and achievements to become one of the hardest working female artists in the music industry. Her timeless hit ‘Electric Boogie Song’ created a world dance craze “The Electric Slide” which has made ‘Electric Boogie’ the official song played at weddings and family gatherings around the World regardless of race, country or culture. This true Jamaican Empress of music represents the undeniable presence of the global Caribbean influence with her style, grace and harmonious voice that has inspired countless female reggae artists around the globe and established Caribbean women and our culture on the map.

‘Uhuru’ is the Swahili word for ‘Freedom’ and when ‘riddim twins’ Sly & Robbie brought the young and gifted singer/songwriter Mykal Rose to the legendary group ‘Black Uhuru’ the ancestors blessed Reggae music with a new voice of freedom, justice and success for the African race. Reggae icon Mykal Rose has risen from the harsh streets of Kingston Jamaica to become one of the most powerful and influential voices of Reggae music to date. After winning the first ever Reggae Grammy award with Black Uhuru’s chartopping album ‘Anthem’ Mykal went on to create a global media blitz on the frontline of Reggae music that led to the Black Uhuru’s and Reggae’s firm establishment in the music industry with potent hits like “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “Sinsemillia”. Mykal Rose’s music and unconquerable voice not only represent the foundation of Reggae’s true meaning to Caribbean people, it also reflects the power of our spirit to impact the world towards positive solutions to inequality and injustice.

Kenyatta Hill is the son of the late Joseph Hill, front man of Culture, the legendary vocal trio whose 1977 record “Two Sevens Clash” helped define the roots reggae genre. In August 2006, while on tour in Berlin, Germany, Joseph Hill suddenly fell ill and passed away. Kenyatta has since carried the torch successfully performing as the front man for Culture paying tribute to his father with every performance.

Natural Blacks, the Guyanese born roots singer has made a persistent stance in Reggae with songs like Far from Reality and Never Leave You Lonely. His style and personality has made him a favorite among some of the top record producers and fans in Jamaica, and throughout the Caribbean.

Frankie Paul is often referred to as Jamaica's Stevie Wonder, and not just because of his visual impairment; like Wonder, he was a talented multi-instrumentalist with a tremendous vocal range. He was also extraordinarily prolific; part of the first wave of dancehall artists, he started his recording career in earnest during the early '80s, and has since flooded the market with product, releasing countless singles and well over 30 albums. Fans can look forward to hits like Tidal Wave, Sara and Slow Down.

John Holt has delivered timeless reggae classics like Police in Helicopter, Stick by Me, and Ali Baba. The former lead singer of the Parogons still stands head and shoulders above the rest as one of Jamaica's sweetest singers and enduring songwriters. He has voiced and penned so many of the country's classics that in a way, Holt has defined the island's sound.

Known to many as the "Otis Redding of Reggae", Beres Hammond has been writing, producing and pouring out his smoky-sweet voice over soulful reggae riddims for over three decades. From his early days as the lead singer of the '70s funk-reggae infused band Zap Pow, Beres has consistently produced hits and number one singles. As the cornerstone to Lover's Rock, he has inspired the next generation of reggae soul singers and international superstars like Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys. Fans can look forward to hearing timeless classics like, Tempted to Touch and Rock Away as well as material from his latest album "A Moment in Time".

If you want to be a part of this extraordinary musical experience with Beres Hammond, John Holt, Frankie Paul, Culture with Kenyatta Hill, Natural Black , Lenya Wilks and just added the Honorable Marcia Griffiths and Mykal Rose call1 800 681 4220 now or visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and http://www.reggaefest.com/ for tickets. Stay tuned to LINK UP RADIO 93.5FM and http://www.jamrockmagazine.com/ for more info and updates on the 12th ANNUAL JAMROCK REGG*AE FESTIVAL.

All Ticket Winners should pick up their tickets at the door between the hours of 6pm to 8pm on the day of the show. Also a Valid I.D. is needed and tickets are non-transferable
Tickets will also be availabe for purchase at the door.