Dead Prez will be hitting the stage for Black Freedom Weekend's Happily Natural Day Festival in Virginia this August.
The Brooklyn-based duo of M-1 and stic.man are among the long list of acts set to take part in the 3-day event to be held the last weekend of August in Richmond, Virigina's NubianVillageAcademy.
The Ancestral Libation Ceremony will give honor to the freedom pioneers who paved the way for African Americans today, followed by the Raising Black Consciousness Seminar that following Sunday. The festive trilogy will also showcase spoken word poetry, rap and neo-soul performances, and lectures.
Happily Natural Day is a non-profit festival that is dedicated to raising black awareness and breaking down the barriers and inferiority of the African community. It is also serving as an opportunity to enlighten other cultural groups that may have acquired disparaging mindsets towards blacks.
In related news, M-1 recently released his solo debut, Confidential. The MC is currently wrapping up a tour with Ghostface.
The Happily Natural Day Festival will be held August 25 through August 28.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Big Daddy Kane is set to return to radio airwaves delivering Black Enterprise Magazine's "Keys to a Better Life" business reports twice daily on radio stations across the country this month.
The Black Enterprise series will offer insight on topics such as health, personal finance, credit and homeownership.
"Black Enterprise is doing big things by providing important financial and homeownership information to young Black America," Big Daddy Kane said via statement. "These issues are important and I am honored to be a part of it."
The 38 year-old rapper who released '80s classics like "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" is currently enjoying a return to the spotlight. The Brooklyn MC delivered a stellar performance during last year's VH1 Hip Hop Honors, after being honored by the show with a tribute from Black Thought, Common and T.I. Kane can also be seen performing alongside The Roots in the Dave Chappelle concert movie Block Party.
In addition to voicing the Black Enterprise radio reports, Kane currently oversees Mahogany Entertainment and is featured in the independent film Dead Heist, scheduled for DVD release this summer.
Black Enterprise Magazine's "Keys to a Better Life" radio reports will be broadcast on 29 Clear Channel radio stations across the country.
An exclusive source has revealed that the argument that resulted in the death of D12 member Proof was initiated by the other victim in the shootout over a "King of Detroit" argument.
"[Bender] started an argument with Proof, knowing who he was," the source told. "Proof told him he didn't want to hear any bullshit and that he was 'King of Detroit' and stuck his hands in [Bender's] face.
"The guy then pulled out his gun and then Proof pulled his out and shot -- hitting the guy," the source added. "The guy's cousin who is a bouncer at the club then shot Proof. They grabbed up the gun from the guy Proof shot and fled."
According to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, Proof was shot three times in the head and the chest. He was pronounced dead on arrival at St. John Conner Creek Village in Detroit. Bender is currently in St. Johns Hospital and Medical Center in critical condition.
On Wednesday afternoon (April 12), Mario Etheridge, a 28 year-old bouncer at the Triple C's nightclub, turned himself in to Detroit Police accompanied by his attorney Randall Upshaw. Upon arrest, he revealed he was Bender's cousin.
Etheridge is still in custody and authorities are continuing to investigate whether he should face charges in the shooting, which Detroit Police said, might have been in self-defense. But sources say Etheridge surrendered out of self-preservation."The guy turned himself in out of fear he was going to get got at by Proof's people," said the source. "Proof frequented the place and there is of course no way the bouncer or anyone else in the club didn't know who he was,"
Proof's untimely death continues to overwhelm his fans and peers in the music industry.
Eminem has paid tribute to best friend Proof, who was shot dead in Detroit on Tuesday (11.04.06).
The star - who was seen in tears after hearing the rapper had been gunned down during a row outside the city's CCC nightclub - has posted a message on his website, www.eminem.com.
"You don't know where to begin when you lose somebody who's such a big part life for so long. Proof and I were brothers. He pushed me to become who I am. Without Proof's guidance and encouragement there would have been a Marshall Mathers, but probably not an Eminem and certainly never a Slim Shady. Not a day will go by without his spirit and influence around us all. He will be missed as a friend, father and both the heart and ambassador of Detroit hip-hop.
Right now, there's a lot of people focusing on the way he died. I want to remember the way he lived. Proof was funny, he was smart, he was charming. He inspired everyone around him. He can never, ever be replaced. He was, and always will be, my best friend." -EMINEM
Today, Royce Da 5'9" expressed his feelings regarding the unfortunate passing of Proof in a statement.
"I am deeply saddened by the murder of someone I called a good friend. I've known Proof for over nine years and will always remember him for the joy and life that he brought into every room he entered. We first met at Detroit's Hip Hop Shop where Proof was hosting open mics and was considered by most to be Detroit's freestyle king. Even then you could tell there was something special about him."
"Some people might be familiar with a well-publicized beef that Proof and I had a couple of years ago," Royce added via the statement. "Thankfully though, we had not only resolved our conflict, but we also restored our friendship. Back in December, we went overseas together for a few spot dates in Europe where we had a chance to catch up on 'the good ole days.' We both laughed at how we sometimes forget how far we've come, until you look out of your hotel window and see London's Big Ben or Paris's Eiffel Tower. On that tour we had a chance to visit cities we never even knew existed. Not bad for two kids from Detroit, huh."
"His death is such a loss for the hip hop community, and especially for the city of Detroit. I hope that he will be remembered for the talented artist and great person that he was, and not the tragedy that he fell victim to. My thoughts and prayers go out to his entire family, friends, and anyone that was ever touched by him."
This month, Kanye West will be performing at the University of Massachusetts to headline the inauguration for Chancellor Michael F. Collins.
The event, taking place in Boston at the Campus Center Lawn for the students and their guests, is slated to take off Wednesday, April 26th. Tickets will be $20 and go on sale Tuesday, April 11th at 8:30 am.
The campus is also set to host a series of other events that same week, with appearances scheduled for former All-Pro New England Patriot Andre Tippett and Nobel Prize winner Roy J. Glauber.
"This week will be a rally for the university," Associate Vice Chancellor for the University Communications Ed Hayward said via a statement. "The Chancellor is most excited about the opportunity to highlight the university and the great work that goes on here on a daily basis. It's a chance for UMB students to say 'Guess who came to my school?' It will be an exciting experience for everyone," he continued, "and we're looking forward to a great turnout."
"Inauguration Week," which officially takes off Monday, April 24th, will also hold a fundraiser for student scholarships that following Saturday.
After teaming with Epitaph Records last year for the highly-acclaimed Danger Mouse and MF Doom collaboration, DANGERDOOM: The Mouse and the Mask, Cartoon Network's Adult Swim recently announced plans to join forces with Stones Throw Records to produce another hip-hop album due out this September.
The album, which will celebrate Stones Throw's ten-year anniversary, will include material from Madlib, MF Doom, the late J Dillla, Dudley Perkins, M.E.D., and Madlib's "five piece band" Yesterdays News Quintet.
"Stones Throw produces consistently original, globally acclaimed music," Jason DeMarco, head of music for Adult Swim and executive producer of the DANGERDOOM project, said via statement. "We're thrilled at the opportunity to work with their artists on our next music venture."
"It's an honor to work with Adult Swim," added Stones Throw founder Peanut Butter Wolf. "They've proven that progressive can be successful. They do everything on their own terms, and the have a loyal fan base that supports them."
The Adult Swim cable some of the most popular animated programming on television, offering favorites including "Family Guy", "American Dad" and "Futurama" as well as original comedy series like "The Boondocks," "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," "Robot Chicken" and the action adventure series "InuYasha".
The network's 2005 musical collaboration with Epitaph Records DANGERDOOM: The Mouse and the Mask paired Danger Mouse with MF Doom and included guest appearances from Cee-Lo and Ghostface Killah.
Peanut Butter Wolf will serve as executive producer on the Adult Swim/Stones Throw project. The as-yet untitled album is scheduled to be released later this year on September 19.
Barely two days after the fatal shooting of D12 member Proof, another disturbing occurrence has taken place in Detroit.
Early Thursday morning (April13), another shootout took place outside of the C-Note Lounge located at Van Dyke Avenue and Hollywood Street at about 1:30 a.m. where a hip-hop record release party was taking place inside.
Two people were shot during the incident that left one man dead and another being treated in the St. John Hospital.
Earlier reports had suggested that local rapper John Drama was the deceased victim but his manager confirmed that it was Drama's friend.
The names of the victims have not been released but authorities believe that a disagreement over a woman transpired prior to the shooting.
No arrests have been made have been made as of yet.
According to a source close to SOHH.com, the rap intelligence unit is investigating to see if there is a connection between this recent shootout and the involving Proof.
LL Cool J recently inked a deal to publish a fitness book entitled LL Cool J's Platinum Body.
Book publisher Rodale Books announced that they reached an agreement with the rap legend and plan to release the book in January 2007.
LL Cool J's Platinum Body is based on the "Platinum Body" fitness and nutrition regimen, created by LL and his personal trainer Dave "Scooter" Honig.
"This workout program changed my life -- both physically and emotionally," says LL Cool J via a statement. "Now I want to share with others how they can achieve their own personal version of a Platinum Body."
LL has also branched out into fashion. The Queens, NY MC launched his Todd Smith clothing line during New York's fashion week in February.
Dem Franchize Boyz and nu metal/alternative band Korn met yesterday (April 12) at a Los Angeles studio to mash up their current hit singles.
The two labelmates will create two new mash-up versions of Korn's "Coming Undone" and DFB's "Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It," which are off their highly successful Virgin Records albums, SeeYou On The Other Side and On Top Of Our Game, respectively.
Korn have collaborated with other hip-hoppers in the past including DJ Vlad, Ice Cube and Xzibit. The group also recently enlisted Snoop Dogg, Lil Jon, David Banner and Xzibit to pose as them in the video for "Twisted Transistor," their first single off See You On The Other Side.
Dem Franchize Boyz continue to establish chart topping dominance since their single "I Think They Like Me'' hit airwaves last year. On Top Of Our Game, which was released in February, has been already been certified gold and their second single "Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It" continues to domineer the Billboard Hot 100.
A 28-year-old man suspected of fatally shooting rapper Proof of D12 turned himself in today (April 12).
Mario Etheridge, 28, of Detroit is being detained by the police for allegedly shooting the rapper during an altercation inside of the C.C.C. nightclub.
Etheridge was also a bouncer at the C.C.C. nightclub.
Police said he is a cousin of Keith Bender Jr., the bouncer who was allegedly shot by Proof during the fight, which took place around 4:30 am Tuesday.
Sources told AllHipHop.com that the altercation was rooted in a pool game.
For unknown reasons, the men two began arguing and a fight broke out.
A shot was fired in the air, Proof allegedly pistol-whipped Bender, knocked him to the ground and then shot him.
Etheridge then allegedly open fire on the rapper, striking him four times in the head and chest.
Authorities are still investigating the incident, but police said the 28-year-old was cooperating with authorities.
Bender, a former Sgt. in the United States Army, is on life support in critical condition.
Two employees of The Source magazine have been hit with a new lawsuit that stems from a shooting last year at the Limerick House pub.
Gregory Palmer, a waiter at the pub, is accusing Source president Leroy Peeples and the magazine's marketing director Alvin Childs of setting off a shootout that injured three people, according to the lawsuit, which was filed yesterday (April 11) in Manhattan Supreme Court.
The lawsuit comes a month after attempted murder charges were dropped against Peeples and Childs. The men are represented by attorney Mel Sachs.
"The criminal charges against Leroy Peeples and Alvin Childs have been completely dismissed and I'm extremely confident that the civil charges will be completely dismissed," Peeples' lawyer Mel Sachs told AllHipHop.com. "Both the criminal and civil cases are baseless."
The incident, which occurred July 23, 2005 outside the bar and across the street from The Source's main office, happened after a group Peeples and Childs were with got into an argument with Orlando Orenga, a rapper.
The dispute appeared to be over playing a CD that one of the three injured men presented. As the fight escalated on to the streets, two men opened fire, according to police, who detained Peeples and Childs immediately after the shooting.
Among the injured were a 26-year-old man, who suffered a bullet wound to the head; a 28-year-old man, who was shot three times throughout his body; and a 30-year-old man who was shot twice in the arm and torso.
Two of the victims were cousins and the other victim was a busboy from the bar, according to police.
"I still don't have full use of my hand and arm almost a year after being shot," Palmer told the New York Post.
"Leroy Peeples and Alvin Childs are not responsible for the shooting that occured and there isn't any evidence to support the fact that they were, in any way, were the shooters," Sachs continued. "There's a monetary amount in the complaint. However, his motive and interest is to seek money from the source magazine."
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Wednesday, April 12, 2006
An altercation inside a Detroit nightclub led to the death of D-12 rapper Proof after an argument allegedly turned into a gunfight, leaving a bouncer wounded, according to sources.
A source that requested anonymity said that Proof was in the club after-hours when a heated verbal argument between Proof and a bouncer allegedly broke out and escalated.
Proof was shot and killed around 4:30 am on April 11 and the bouncer was seriously wounded, both with gunshots to the head.
Police are still releasing details in the shooting and have identified the second man as 35-year-old Keith Bender. Bender is alive, but is still in critical condition.
Sources said that the two men may have pulled guns on each other during the melee, or that a third bouncer had possibly shot Proof as a result of the gunplay.
Police are still trying to piece together details of the shooting but have stated they believe two guns were used in the shooting.
According to sources, Proof was licensed to carry his weapon.
Officers have frequently been called to the club, taking 18 incident reports since 1996.
The club was raided in December of 2005 for selling alcohol to minors and Proof's murder was the third time a shooting had occurred at or near the club.
The police questioned one witness in the case and seek to speak to others to find suspects. The club did not have a video surveillance system police, officers revealed.
Proof who served as Eminem's best man in the rapper's short lived weding to Kim Mathers. The rapper, whose real name is Deshaun Holton, leaves behind a wife and five children.
Early speculation that D12's Bizarre was shot early this morning (April 11) have been put to rest, while details about the shooting that killed fellow group member Proof are just coming to light.
"Contrary to earlier rumors and reports, D12 member Bizarre was not involved in the incident in Detroit last night," Dennis Dennehy, the group's publicist said in a statement issued this afternoon. "He was at home in Atlanta, Georgia."
As SOHH reported earlier today, Eminem's right hand man Proof (born Deshaun Holton) and another unidentified male were shot at the Triple C's nightclub along Eight Mile Road and Gratiot around 4 am.
The second victim, a 35 year-old male who was originally believed to be Bizarre, was taken to St. John Hospital while Proof was taken to St. John Holy Cross. According to police, Proof succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head while the second victim is still in critical condition.
"Memorial service arrangements are still being made," said Dennehy. "His friends and family would appreciate privacy during this difficult time."Both police and St. John Hospital refused to release the name of the second victim when contacted by SOHH.
"It's hit like a ton of bricks," said a SOHH.com source, who is also Detroit resident. "Detroit is upset. Not too long ago Obie Trice was shot in the head and it was like they were targeted. It's more inexcusable violence.
"It's ironic that Eminem made a video that had Proof getting shot in it and this happens," added the source. "D12 are not the type of guys to look for trouble, so it was surprising that it happened because he was in an area where it's well known that people were after him and some D12 members.
"According to the police, an argument broke out at the aforementioned nightclub before gunshots were fired. Patrons at the club were questioned, but no suspects have been named or have been taken into custody as of yet.
Detroit Police are asking the public to come forward with any information.
A prominent member of Detroit's hip-hop community was killed in a shooting at a Detroit night club early Tuesday morning.
Rapper and producer Proof, whose real name is DeShaun Holton, was one of two shooting victims at the CCC Club on east Eight Mile Road, near Gratiot Avenue, according to Detroit police.
When police arrived at the scene, the club was empty, Local 4 reported. Both victims had been taken to a hospital, according to police.
Proof was taken to St. John Holy Cross Hospital, and the second victim was taken to St. John Hospital, police said.
Both victims suffered a gunshot wound to the head, police said. Local 4 initially reported the second victim also died, but has learned the 35-year-old man remains hospitalized in critical condition at St. John Hospital, according to police.
His name was not released. The rapper is a long-time friend of rap star Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers. Proof appeared in Eminem's movie "Eight Mile" as Li'l Tic, the station learned.
Police are searching for a gunman. A description was not available. A witness was being questioned by police.
The shooting remains under investigation.
G-Unit's DJ Whoo Kid is unleashing new music onto the streets with the release of four upcoming mixtapes.
The mixtapes, recorded during G-Unit's recent Australian tour with BME, will feature Mobb Deep and Spider Loc, as well as G-Unit's newest addition Freeway and new Aftermath/Interscope signee G.A.G.E. mixtapes.
"Without a doubt, this Philly native will be the next cat to cause problems in this rap game," Whoo Kid said about G.A.G.E. "The Dre joint on this CD is crazy and my favorite song ["Young Boy"] is a definite high school homey anthem. I think Philly artists are coming back this year with a vengeance, so don't sleep people!" mixtapes.
Whoo Kid will return to Bahrain in May to finish a track featuring 50 Cent and Michael Jackson that will land on an upcoming mixtape.
Mobb Deep and Freeway will also venture on separate tours. mixtapes.
In related news, Whoo Kid has been announced as the replacement for DJ Clue at New York radio station Hot 97. mixtapes.
Kid's Pow! Radio show will air live and occupy the midnight-2 a.m. slot formerly held by DJ Clue, who recently resigned from the station. mixtapes.
Mobb Deep's "Best in the Bizness Pt. 2" (G-Unit Radio Pt. 20), Freeway's "Rep Yo Click" (G-Unit Radio Pt.19), Spider Loc's "Rags to Riches" (G-Unit Radio 18) and G.A.G.E.'s Vol.1 hits streets this week mixtapes.
Lil' Kim recently released a third fan letter from prison in which she describes the camaraderie between her and other inmates.
"A lot of people have been asking how Philly has been treating me," Kim wrote in the letter's early paragraphs. "Well, I am good! It's been all love since I got here.
Philly has been holding me down, and representing real hard!"Kim began serving a one year and a day sentence in the Philadelphia Detention Center this past September.
The Brooklyn rapper was found guilty of perjury and conspiracy for lying to a grand jury in relation to a 2001 shooting involving Capone-N-Noreaga and Kim's crew in front of New York radio station Hot 97.
According to Kim, fellow inmates Tee Tee, Brina, Shavee, Sky, Shay, S. Dot, GiGi, Martinez and Meagan secretly planned an album release party for The Naked Truth, the album that hit stores a week after Kim arrived to the federal lock up.
"They were sneaking around for weeks planning without me having a clue," Kim details in the letter. "We were reading the newspaper when we found out that I would be nominated for a Vibe Award and an American Music Award. The girls were more excited than I was. They celebrated by cooking me meals. It felt like Thanksgiving! The food was good as shit. They made me a cake out of Oreo cookies, popcorn, caramel and trail mix. Triple Laver!
"The icing on the cake though was Martinez making me a stiletto out of Watermelon Jolly Ranchers," Kim added. "Unbelievable! It was so cute. I've never seen anything like it in my life.
"Kim also said the inmates presented her with a Vibe and American Music Award at the end of the party, adding that she was already "the winner in their books." Word is inmates banged on windows and yelled "Put Ya Lighters Up" on the night of her album's release.
In related news, Kim's reality show, "Lil' Kim: Countdown To Lockdown," has become a major hit for BET.
Jadakiss is partnering with Cutting Edge LLC to release a new brand of slow burning cigars called Bada Bing Cigars.
Available as of April 1, the natural leaf cigars are handpicked and manufactured in Nicaragua. The rapper/D-Block CEO admitted his own love of cigars led him to create the Bada Bing.
"When I linked up with Cutting Edge, I told them about my experience with other cigars and that I wanted to produce a cigar that was of the highest quality," Jadakiss said via statement.
"If anything anyone knows about me is that I am a true cigar connoisseur. Just because a cigar may not be the most expensive doesn't mean that you have to suffer. The responses that I have been getting from the streets have been marvelous!"
The cigars are made entirely of natural leaf and tip and are paper free, making for a more enjoyable smooth slow burning experience.
Bada Bing cigars are being sold in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The rumored split between Bow Wow and Ciara has been officially confirmed.
In a statement issued today (April 10), Ciara's spokesperson, Tracy Nguyen of 5W Public Relations stated: "I cannot comment on the reason, but can confirm that Ciara and Bow Wow have split."
Rumors of the couple breaking up began after reports surfaced that Bow Wow had been spotted with another girl.
Various media outlets claimed that a Ciara representative said the couple had split for "a while" and that it was "amicable." Nguyen claims that the quote is incorrect.
The two teen celebrities had been dating for a year and collaborated on the song "Like You," off Bow Wow's album Wanted which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Bow Wow's camp has yet to release a statement.
A city official in Los Angeles, California hopes a $50,000 reward will provide leads in the unsolved slaying of rapper Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace.
The rapper was gunned down on March 9, 1997 after leaving a party by VIBE magazine near the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.Councilman Dennis Zine introduced a measure Friday (April 7), which would double a 1997 measure that offered a $25,000 reward for tips that will lead to the apprehension of the person(s) who murdered the superstar rapper.
"I am hopeful someone will come forward with information which will lead to the eventual apprehension of the murderers involved in this case," Zine said in a statement.
In January, the family of the late Notorious B.I.G. was awarded $1.1 million by U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper.The money was paid to the family by the City of Los Angeles after it was learned the Los Angeles Police Department intentionally withheld evidence that could have implicated two rogue LAPD officers during the family's civil lawsuit trial.
Zine has blamed the LAPD, saying sloppy detective work was the reason for the city's loss.
Last summer, authorities discovered previously undisclosed statements from an informant who said an LAPD officer, Rafael Perez, had confessed to participating in the killing with another officer named David Mack.
A new group of detectives from the LAPD from the department's robbery-homicide division were recently assigned to re-investigate the murder of the late Notorious B.I.G.
It's public knowledge that 50 Cent was shot nine times and survived. Well, with their newly-released Shots Fired diss track, Jadakiss and Styles P are trying to find out how many more shots 50 can withstand. On Shots Fired, Jadakiss and Styles P of D-Block both spit bars, with each MC throwing tinging lyrical jabs at the G-Unit general.
Snitching on Kenneth 'Supreme' McGriff, biting Ja Rule's sing-song style and allegedly "cockblocking Game out of his Reebok deal" are among the topics Jada and Styles lyrically utilize to get at 50 on Shots Fired.
"Dissed Ja Rule, took his style and ran with it, singing on the hooks the same, b*tch you done scammed it,” Kiss and Styles rhyme on Shots Fired.
Later on the track, Jada and Styles combine unique wordplay to blast Fif.
"Get Rich or Die Tryin was a classic, now you rich and you trying to die, you's a dumb bastard," Jada and Styles rhyme on the cut.
The tag team rides out on the track by repeating, "Controversy sells, but it ain't like that."
Lil Wayne's former manager Melissa Philipian, filed a lawsuit against the rapper in U.S. District Court in Miami this Wednesday, April 5.
Philipian is President of the Miami Beach company White Tides Entertainment. According to Philipian's lawsuit, Wayne fired Philipian in December because he was unhappy with the quality of a hotel room she'd booked for him. The lawsuit alleges that since her dismissal Lil Wayne has failed to pay Philipian over $500,000 in back commissions and states that he owes White Tides 15 percent of his earnings over the next two years according to a contract he signed in June 2005.
"We're probably looking at damages in excess of $1 million," Philipian's lawyer Richard Wolfe told The Miami Herald.
According to the lawsuit, Lil Wayne's contract with White Tides covered a three year term, with an allowance for Wayne to end the agreement in writing after one year of service for specified contract breaches. If the court agrees with Philipian and Wolfe, Lil Wayne could be held liable to pay White Tides for the next two years.
The suit also claims that since Wayne signed with the White Tides, the company had booked at least 21 concerts for the 23 year old rapper in addition to arranging product and publicity deals as well as guest performances on other artist's projects.
''Sometimes artists make it big, and they want to forget about the people who helped them get there,'' Wolfe told The Miami Herald.
Lil Wayne, born Dwayne Carter, began his recording career at age 12. Since going solo at age 16 he's released four gold records and his latest album Tha Carter II debuted at No.2 on the Billboard 100 before going platinum.
Currently attending the University of Houston, Lil Wayne has endorsement deals with Reebok and Warner Bros. and oversees Cash Money Records as well as his own label, the recently launched Young Money Entertainment.
Wu-Tang Clan lovers should be happy to learn that both a new Raekwon album and Wu-Tang DVD are in the works.
According to reports from Wu-Tang Corp, RZA recently revealed that the album, tentatively titled Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, is well underway and, with the exception of Ol' Dirty Bastard, the entire Clan is scheduled to appear on the release.
RZA is expected to do the majority of the production on Cuban Linx II, but he raised the possibility of including the J Dilla track "House of the Flying Daggers," as well as several songs produced by Dr. Dre that are already recorded and mixed, one of which also features Busta Rhymes and RZA.
The first single off the album is "State of Grace."Although the group suffered the untimely loss of ODB in late 2004, they've since managed to band together for a reunion tour - their first in years-- and with the recent debut of Ghostface's album Fishscale in the No. 4 spot on The Billboard 200 it's clear that the collective of Staten Island MCs are still serious contenders.
In related news, Wu CMV/Loud/RCA/Legacy will release Legend of the Wu-Tang: The Videos on June 13.
Along with videos like "C.R.E.A.M" and "Can It Be All So Simple," the DVD will also include a previously unreleased 21-minute documentary, created from footage shot in 1994, as well as a previously unreleased alternate version of "Method Man" and Masta Killa's "Old Man" video which also features Ol' Dirty Bastard and RZA.
The complete track listing for Legend of the Wu-Tang is listed below:
"Method Man""C.R.E.A.M.""Can It Be All So Simple"
"Protect Ya Neck"
"Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'"
"Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit"
"It's Yourz/Older Gods"
"Reunited""Triumph"
"Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)"
"Gravel Pit""Careful"
"I Can't Go To Sleep" (featuring Isaac Hayes)
"Uzi (Pinky Ring)"
"Method Man" (previously unreleased version)
"Old Man," Masta Killa featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and RZA
Eminem released a statement yesterday (April 6) concerning his recent filing of divorce and comments that his wife made on a Detroit- radio station.
Eminem, born Marshall Mathers III , filed for divorce from Kimberly Mathers on Wednesday (April 5) less than three months after the couple remarried in a highly documented but intimate ceremony in January.
The two were first married in 1999, but that marriage ended in October 2001, with a legal battle over custody of their daughter Hailey. They would later reconcile in late 2004 and Eminem went public with their love in December 2005.
Early Thursday morning (April 6) , Kim called WKQI-FM's "Mojo in the Morning" show and revealed that the divorce was result of Eminem's addiction to sleep-medication for which he was hospitalized for last summer.
"He's having problems with, you know, his problem that he had," Kim explained during the radio interview. "I was hoping we could get counseling and work it out, you know?"
"Right after he came home from his rehab, we started to have a few problems, and I thought it was going to be in our best interest to delay the wedding" she added. "But he really pushed it and I thought it was really going to be something that worked this time"
.According to Kim , she and Eminem had not been on speaking terms for six weeks and was caught unaware when she was served with the divorce papers.
"I don't really necessarily want to get divorced," continued Kim. "I was hoping he was going to come home and say, `I got us a counselor, let's go.' But you know it didn't work out that way. I got an attorney at the door instead.
Later on in the day, Eminem would respond via a written statement on his channel "Shade 45" on Sirius Satellite saying "The details surrounding both my marriage and subsequent filing for divorce are private and I hoped to keep then that way for the sake of my family. However, a few of Kim's statements in a radio interview this morning need to be addressed. First, her allegations regarding my status post-rehab are both untrue and unfortunate. Second, she was aware that I was filing for divorce.
We both tried to give our marriage another chance and quickly realized that a wedding doesn't fix the underlying problems."Eminem is currently in the studio contributing to Obie Trice's sophomore album titled Second Round's on Me which is slated for release in May.