new years eve

2008 is going to be a big year...

that time of year again

the actual track is on the internets... go get it!

adios, presidente

The Swift Chancellor weighs in on Jigga's break-up with Def Jam:

...How cruel to fire a man right before 6lb 8oz baby Jesus' birthday. LA Reid, thou name is Ebenezer. I mean the man needed to buy Kwanzaa gifts for his nephews and former business partners. What the hell is he gonna do now? A 30 something year old Black man with no college degree and a criminal record. The system will chew him up. Not long before his name is added to the rolls of the unemloyment list. Before you know it he will be on drugs. Comitting petty robberies and end up on Rikers. What a shame.

Read the rest here.

ghosts and dolls

In case you didn’t already see this today on nahright, it’s the ghostface doll commercial.

We promise to be back on the more insightful blog tip next week...

checking it twice

The Bodega fam had dreams of coming up with year-end lists; Best Sneakers of 2007, Top 10 Bush-isms, Rappers Most Likely to Succeed in 2008, Top 10 Best Prodigy videos, etc. but let's just say that the end of the year snuck up on us faster than we thought. So to kinda fulfill our end of year list-lust, we've collected a few of our favorites. Read in good heath.

Fader's Listmania, OKP Best Of, Coolhunting Gift Guide, Metacritic Best Album List Guide, Most Downloaded Ringtones, and finally, 20 People That Made More Money Than You This Year.

the lyrical monster

Classic Busta Buss, live on Strech & Bob’s circa 91(?) - from the infamous Zoo York Mixtape video. Peep Kurious Jorge in the background. Jarobi is there too.

NEWS 12/20/97

• Hip-hop as peace keeper: Hip-hop has kept things calm in Marseille, France, although almost every town around it has errupted into voilence. It's amazing how it's precieved here vs. there. Take a read. Learn something: nytimes

• Bring Wu-Tang to your city: Want to bring Staten Islands' finest to your city, now is your chance. The Wu has teamed up with eventful.com fopr their upcoming 8 Diagrams tour. You, the fan, make a demand on their site and before you know it, Rza is preforming at your city hall. xxl

• The ten most hated: Someone at this newspaper has no clue about anything, but the article is almost a fun read. I give you some no-name's top ten hated hip-hop figures: broward-palm beach

mini us placers

The homegirl King VA$HTIE (aka Downtown’s Sweetheart) directed this sky’s the limit style video for the US PLACERS track offa some yeezy mixtape. It’s a spec joint, which means no label put up any dough, she just did it out of pocket for fun. And you know, that’s what it’s all about!

RELATED: 1992 party myspace

NEWS 12/19/07

• Pillow talk is a No No: The exclusive first-look at Ghostface's new book The World According to Pretty Toney has arrived. Not only is pillow talk not a good look, neither are bubble baths: wooohah

• Where's Andre 3000?: I know this is a question many people have been asking themselves lately. Well, apparently he's been in China. And kinda bored. But still had time for a Vibe interview: vibe

• Pete Rock + James Brown = NY's Finest: Pete Rock's long anticipated upcoming album has unveiled its cover. And it looks like inspiration came from James Brown's Hell LP. Which is not a bad place to for inspiration to come from. See it here: nahright

bang bang bang

Above: The new video from hipster-darling M.I.A., for the late summer time banger Paper Planes.
While we know she ain't everybody's preferred cup of tea (wes jack, what up) this joint knocks too hard to be ignored! Bun B and Rich Boy knew it, gave it the golden seal:

NEWS 12/18/07

• MTV's best: MTV has released their Best of lists for the year, with such categories as Mixtapes, Mixtape artists, Bangers, and Independent album. The homie DJ J. Period made the DJ list and Prodigy's "Mac 10 Handle" made the best Internet video category. See more here: mtv

• Busy Black Milk: Black Milk saw some acclaim in 2007 with the release of his first album, Popular Demand. Look for '08 to be that and so much more. Collabs with Sean Price, Guilty Simpson, and B.R. Gunna are all close to completion. On deck he has Pharaoh Monch, Elzhi, and Royce the 5'9''. Busy boy. hiphopdx

• One of the originators still doing its thing: Tuff City Records was the label who introduced many to the Cold Crush Brothers, Spoonie Gee, The 45 King, Grandmaster Caz, and Lakim Shabazz. Fat Lace mag sat down with Aaron Fuchs, the creator and still-owner of the label for a great interview: fatlace

juiced

As mentioned in today's news (see below), CG jr is rumored to be playing Marley Marl in the upcoming Juice Crew flick The Vapors. We thought we would compare and contrast appearances.

• skin tone and general shape of head are pretty close, although cuba's dome is a bit more squat.
• cuba has that punched in nose, while marley's is decidedly more down sloped.
• marley's facial hair was much thicker. nothing the prop-master won't be able to handle though, surely.
• teeth! cuba has those hollywood choppers. marley... does not. i hope he wears false joints.

David Banner vs Biz Markie tomorrow. And btw, NH on anything that may have needed it. F--- it, NH on the whole post.

world premier

doc hibber aka drebond productions presents... outasight: employee of the year
nice hobbsy bobbsy cameo in there!

NEWS 12/17/07

• The raise of the mixtape: We all know of DJ Drama's legal troubles surrounding his mixtapes, but now the big wigs are slowly becoming ok with the idea. The official Atlantic Records release of his latest mixtape, Gangsta Grillz: The Album, hit #26 on the Billboard last week. Read more here: nytimes

• Beans exercises his mind: Beanie Sigel is urging Philly to leave the guns alone this holiday season. He taped a PSA that will air to a city that already has found close to 400 people murdered this year. nahright

• The Juice Crew and Cuba: The latest music bio-flick is tackling The Juice Crew. Called The Vapors, Marley Marl will be portrayed by Cuba Gooding, Jr and Biz Markie will be played by ...wait for it... super-southern emcee David Banner. Wow. Filming begins in January 2008. blackfilm

thank god for my wallabee shoe

In honor of P Tone's love for his trademark wallies, the BODEGA™ takes a look at the iconic shoe's colorful history. Peep the takeover blog... BOOM!

NEWS 12/14/07

• Hip-hop is Rock and Roll: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five are on this year's list of inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They are the first hip-hop artists ever to be honored. aol music

• When he walks, he walks: More Dewy Cox details via Mr. Ghostface. Check MTV for more info or watch a quick interview here: nahright

• Baseball isn't the only place: With the Mitchell Report putting your favorite pitchers on blast, maybe you've wondered if they should do one with rappers. There are a few that definitely make you wonder, *cough* 50 Cent *cough*. Read more here: king

ike wister turner

NEWS 12/13/07

• Ike Turner R.I.P.: Ike Turner died yesterday at the age of 76. Known mostly for his troublesome relationship with Tina, the musician was one of the first to bring Rock and Roll to the masses. But of course, no one really realizes that. guardian uk

• Relic in SoHo: A huge mural was discovered this week in SoHo that features the graffiti of Fab 5 Freddy and Futura 2000--the very people who helped pioneer graffiti as an art form. Also on the wall is writing believed to belong to Jean Michel Basquiat. Quite a find. It's being removed and will be shown at the Wild Style Exhibit graffiti retrospective that starts tomorrow and runs through February 15. nahright

• Entertainment wed to Advertisers?: Apparently Jay-Z and Steve Stoute are forming up a company that would wed entertainment acts with brands and advertisers that want to be associated with them. Think Snoop on a McDonalds kids meal box. This is still but a rumor, but it is a very believable one since this is right down Steve's alley and Jay-Z never doesn't want to make more money. Read more here: alleyinsider

tek-zilla

by Dale Coachman

a hi-tek classic to get things started...


The term Super-Producer gets thrown around very loosely these days. Cincinnati native Hi-Tek however, is just that, and without self-proclamation. Working with the likes of Talib Kweli, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, the Game, and Little Brother, Hi-Tek has walked a path less traveled, and has consistently stayed true to his art form. Never getting caught up in the trendy sounds that come and go, Tek-Zilla still manages to produce quality and original music. The BODEGA™ had the opportunity to speak with the Midwest father of one about business, G-Unit, collaborating with Dr. Dre, and his new album, which hit stores yesterday.

BROOKLYN BODEGA: What was your train of thought (had to do it) going into this third 'solo' album?

Hi-Tek: My main goal was to finish the album and get out of the Babygrande deal. I didn’t want it to be held over my head any longer. Not to put their business out there, but they’re changing their business structure and the distribution, and that basically leaves me in limbo. I wouldn’t be able to do anything else as an artist. Second was to basically give back to my fans a little sooner than normal, because I usually wait too long - then there are too many expectations and it leaves me open. Third, it was just giving back to the hood - I kind of went into more of a street direction with this album.

BB: From Vol.1 to Vol.2 it was a long spell. Even though you wanted to get out of Babygrande did you feel like you were rushing this project?

Hi-Tek: I definitely feel like if I had more time, it would’ve been a better project - but I’m not mad at it and I still stand behind it 100%. I feel like there are a lot of strong records on the album and I feel good about it. I rushed but I realized how much music I already had done.

BB: You talk about your advantages about coming out of the Midwest, what were some of the things that you took away from the Midwest experience?

Hi-Tek: I mean at the end of the day, right now I think that the Midwest saved hip-hop - and you can tell them Hi-Tek said it! Shout out to my man Kanye and Eminem and shout out to me! I just think the advantages are that we’re fans of the music, and what was going on around us, we absorbed everything. We basically put it into our music and it comes out that way. We’re like good tropical Kool-Aid.

BB: When did you feel like you found your lane or your space when it came to producing?

Hi-Tek: I think I started finding my niche on Reflection Eternal. I did stuff with Mood and that was my introduction to the music industry, but at that time my approach wasn’t solid. Once I got the album out - it was on a smaller scale, it didn’t matter to me as long as it was out. Once Rawkus started doing videos for songs that I didn’t necessarily like, and the reaction of the people to [them] just let me know that I was on the right track. I started approaching it in a more confident way.

BB: You tend to use artists that are somewhat under the radar on your albums, but they still seem to fit perfectly on your tracks. Who were some of the artists you were excited to work with on this album?

Hi-Tek: I worked with Sha-Money and D-Prosper on this album. I’m most excited about this artist Estelle, from London. She’s signed to John Legend and she’s so dope. I think she created one of the best records on the album. Other than that I have another song on there called “Ohio All-Stars” where I got to work with some up and coming Ohio cats and that’s something I always wanted to do.



BB: The track you have currently playing on your media player features Ghostface and Raekwon. Who approached who in regards to making that record?

Hi-Tek: Well initially, I did the track and originally, it had a guy singing in Spanish under the hook - you really can’t hear it. Dion and I came up with the concept and after finishing the track. I’m definitely big fans of Raekwon and Ghost, and the drive of that track reminded me of Wu-Tang - I love to work with those guys. That was my attack.

BB: Did you get anything out of the process in creating Hi-Teknology Vol.3 within the time constraints?

Hi-Tek: Just [the ability] to work under pressure and meet deadlines and still be creative at the same time.

BB: Where’s your inspiration coming from these days and is your prospective any different than what it once was?

Hi-Tek: I think first and foremost it comes from being happy within myself and surrounding myself with positivity. Happiness is something you have to have to make music and for me looking back and seeing what I’ve accomplished helps inspire me. Sometimes I come in the studio and look at the plaques on my wall, and I want more.

BB: After the release of this album what’s next for Hi-Tek?

Hi-Tek: It’s not super definite but it’s like 80% that we’re (Talib Kweli) going to do another Reflection Eternal album, we’re trying to hash out the business, but I think that’s my next move.


BB: That would be ill. On the business side, you’ve dealt with the Rawkuses and the Babygrandes, what would you tell any up and coming producer that is doing it for the art but also has to deal with the industry side?

Hi-Tek: You have to get a good manager and a good lawyer that understands the artists thinking process. You can get with lawyers that are strictly in it for the money but they can suck you dry and have you not wanting to make music anymore, because they’ve sold you out or sold your dreams. So you need someone who is going to allow you to stay in the studio. Practice always makes perfect - but you need someone that you can trust, that can handle the business and get you paid for what you do.

BB: If your jaw was wired shut and you couldn’t explain your music, all you could do was play your records... what would you want people to get out of your music?

Hi-Tek: Just the feeling. Because I think the music definitely represents who I am as a person. I think I speak through the music now, I’m not really an outgoing person. A lot of people feel like they know me through my music!

NEWS 12/12/07

• Mashing out solo: Billy and Fame, the Mash Out Posse, both are talking about their solo projects. But worry not, M.O.P. isn't going anywhere. Billy is on Fame's album and Fame is on Billy's. Oh and the M.O.P. record has been in the works for years now. Look for it to release in '08. hiphopdx

• J5 reunion tour?: And I mean Jackson 5, not Jurassic. Apparently Jermain said something to the BBC about everyone (everyone!) getting back together for a major world tour in 2008. People get excited, then Michael unconfirmed it. According to MJ's spokesperson, the matter is still being heavily considered. vibe

• Hip-hop and politics together at last: Kidz in the Hall, a 2007 BHF performer, sampled Main Ingredient and made a song entitled "Work To Do" for Obama's 2008 campaign. I really don't know what else to say about it. Look/listen here: nahright

trojan's creation rebel: dj spooky

In Spooky's own words: "At the same time that Hendrix was making "Electric Ladyland" and the Rolling Stones were making "Their Satanic Majesties Request" the Jamaican scene of artists and producers being led by Trojan Records was making material that was just as complex, and even more advanced. For me, early dub and instrumental music out of Jamaica showed how non European, and non-industrialized countries could use technology in completely unexpected ways. For the 40th Anniversary of Trojan Records, I went through their archives and looked for songs that I thought reflected the diverse styles of Trojan, and its long relationship to underground culture worldwide. One could argue that dub is the most influential style of music in the world, and Trojan's archives have some of the best material around. Period. It was hard to get everything - there was so much in their archive, that the only way I could bring myself to face the overload was to work with bits and pieces, and that's what "Creation Rebel" is about - taking hold of music history to show how creativity made Jamaica the loudest island in the world."

More here.

NEWS 12/11/07

• Oh Mike: Michael Vick was sentenced yesterday to a harsh 23 month jail visit. It does seem a bit egregious, but I guess that's what happens when you fail a drug test and a polygraph after you plead guilty. Read more here: espn

• ego trip alive and well: You can't read the amazingly great magazine anymore and now that the funny but kinda glazed over The (White) Rapper Show has been done with, what's next? Well according to an article in the Hollywood Reporter, they have a new show for VH1 in the works, called ego trip’s Miss Rap Supreme and will be based around a search for the next great female MC. Check: xxl

• Radiohead and Too $hort together at last: Amplive of Zion I happens to enjoy the UK (world-changing) band and knows Too Short well. It just makes sense to get these two on a remix. In January, look for Amplive's eight-track Radiohead remix LP to drop digitally, but there's a catch. You need to have received an email from Radiohead's online store, then forward it to Amplive to be able to download. Kinda confusing. Read here: pitchfork

"the streets ain't feeling me"

Hannibal Buress on national television...
Check him on his myspace page.

not for the little dunns

from LMNO P's HNIC2 blog. it's a "social networking" site (ahem, marketing tool) so we're posting this for all the folks who really aren't trying to sign in to that sh-t. we also took the liberty of putting some of the more hilarious/outrages parts in italics... enjoy!

"On oct.27th 2007 me and a bunch a my dudes took alchemist out for his birthday. we went to this club in manhattan where (shareefa) an r&b artist on D.T.P. was having an album release party. when we got to the front door they told us we had to buy 5 bottles for $1,600 in order to get in the party. while they were telling us that bullshit, i looked over to my left and noticed the hip-hop task force standing in the street staring at me. i noticed a couple of them cause they arrested me before and told me i should get used to seeing them cause they had been assigned to MOBB DEEP / G-UNIT.
Anyway, after we were finish laughing at the door people for trying to charge us $1,600 we walked back to our cars and drove back to alchemist crib. we were 3 cars deep. my bulletproof suburban was in the front, my lil' cousin JM's drop top benz was behind me, and GODFATHER plus his team was behind us in a hummer. While we were driving, my lil' cousin JM called me and said that the D's just pulled him over so i told him to hit me back when they let him go. Meanwhile the rest of us stopped to get some food while we waited for him.
20min later JM never called back, so i called him. He said he was all good and they let him go so i told him to meet us at alchemist crib. Godfather and his peeps decided to leave, so now its just me and alchemist. When i got to alchemist block i did an illegal u-turn so i could catch a parking spot not knowing that the hip-hop task force was following me the whole time in a yellow N.Y.C. taxi cab. (the 6y cab) The D's jumped out and told me to roll down the windows, i told them the truck was bulletproof and the windows dont roll down, so they opened my door. they told us to step out and began searching us. thats when 2 more un-marked police car's pulled up and just watched. Then the 2 dicks that pulled me and al started searching my truck without asking wich is called ILLEGAL SEARCH.
Right about this time my lil' cousin JM pulled up in his benz, parked and then he walked over to where the D's had us. JM looked over at me a said that the un-marked car across the street was the car that just pulled him over 20min earlier. Thats when i realized that they pulled my lil' cousin car over first cause they thought i was in that car. JM had the flashy rapper looking car, a drop top benz with tinted windows and chrome wheels. Really no surprise the pricks and dicks is grimey as fuck, but when i was in my cell later that night i saw the true devil come out these niggas.
All night they tried to get me to set up 50 CENT, they wanted me to plant guns in his car, plant drugs, or arrange a buy&bust. I was shocked how many times they tried and how many different detectives and ATF agents they tried to send at me. It was crazy. Then to top it all off, the same arresting detectives from the 6y cab got on the stand in my trial and lied to the Grand Jury saying that they saw me put a gun in the console box of my truck. THIS NEVER HAPPENED....STRAIGHT LIE That ruined my illegal search case.
The D.A. in my case name is ZELETTA that lil' bitch boy was gonna play all my videos for the Grand Jury and paint a picture for them that woulda made me look like i was criminaly insane and a menace to society. i had to cop out to a 3 1/2 year sentence other wise i would have lost and got 15 years. I been threw alot of cases, Murder cases, Guns, Grand Theift, ect. I got away with so many crimes it's incredible. so me doing 3 1/2 aint shit compared to what i deserve. my time begins on JAN.9th so as i write this blog i got lil' over 20 days left on the street. i'm out here working hard as hell yo!!, i shot a video for every song on HNIC2 and also im shooting a reality show, all of wich will be on the FREE P DVD that come for free with my HNIC2 album..."

BONUS** ONOMATO P: STILL SLAVES (via cousin donnie)

NEWS 12/10/07

• In case you don't have cable...: Or don't read the newspaper, or barely read the internets: Mayweather TKOed the blue-collar UK hope Hatton in the tenth round. Dude walked into a left hook that made the world shook. Read more here: espn

• Sir Luscious Left Foot?: A while back we talked of Big Boi's solo project. The one half of Outcast has since confirmed and added a few details, like possibly calling it Sir Luscious Left Foot. Read more here: hiphopdx

• Chemical collabs: The Alchemist, everyone's top-five producer they never remember is in their top five, has a new album in the works. Called Chemical Warfare, expect collabs with Maxwell, Fabolous, Mobb Deep, Kool G. Rap, Pusha T, and Jadakiss. Interview here: worldstarhiphop

get down on the ground!!

I don't know who produced this Peedi Crak/Gillie/Freewizzle philly collaboration, but whoever 'twas, anybody who builds an entire track around a line from Raising Arizona is A-OK with me!! The only way this could be better, is if they made a video and found the original old timer from the movie to do the hook... And gillie could wear a weezy f baby mask and go, "Get down on the ground, g-g-get down on the ground!"

NEWS 12/7/07

• Kanye's 8: Kanye's been nominated for 8 Grammy's this year. Dude is having the year of his life, business/music-wise. Which makes the loss of his mother even more heartbreaking. Check here for other nominations this year (Notice: No 50): nahright

• More on UGK: MTV sits down with Bun B to talk about Pimp C and their latest Grammy nod for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. It's about time they get some "industry" attention. And I think Mama Pimp C needs a Grammy on her mantle. mtv

• Jay Might Skate: Apparently young Hov might be out of the Def Jam corner office before Christmas. Contract-renewal talks have stalled, mostly because Jigga wants more money then is humanly possible in the barren wasteland that is the modern music industry. nydailynews

ghostface = kevin bacon of rap

**A vintage BODEGA™ post from the Spring that we thought would be most applicable these days...

Testing the theory that Ghostface can be linked to almost any randomly chosen professional rapper within a chain of 6 or less other professional rappers/performers, we've selected 3 non-east coast rappers (that would have been even easier) at just that... random. Sure to be a big hit at your next hip hop dinner/brunch party, it's Six Degrees Of Ghostface.
• #1 Larry "L.V." Sanders

Known to common folk as the fat-faced profile who, along with Coolio, managed to ruin Stevie Wonder's Pastime Paradise, to the tune of 2.5 million records sold.
-From Coolio, we move along to west coast dynamo Ras Kass, whom Coolio colaborated with most notably on Ras Kass' debut Soul On Ice. The song was called Drama.
-Third, the forgettable collaboration between would be 4 horsemen Ras Kass and Killah Priest, Whut Part Of The Game?
-And the last step in the connection - Killah Priest and Ghostface on the classic 4th Chamber
** recap: L.V. > COOLIO > RAS KASS > KILLAH PRIEST > GHOSTFACE

• #2 Murphy "Murph-Derrt" Lee

One uh, sixth of the St. Lunatics, Murph released a solo record that went platinum in 2003 - which may or may not be unprecedented for a weed carrier. Either way, his homeboy Nelly and him have made lots of records together, so they are the first connection in this equation.
-Next: Nelly to Goodie Mob's Big Gipp. Gipp received some much deserved exposure from his feature on Nelly's pop hit Grillz
-Third: Gipp to The Rza. Not sure how this collaboration came about, but Gipp somehow found his way onto the Rza song Domestic Violence pt 2
-Bada Bing: Rza to Ghost is like peanut butter to jelly.
** recap: MURPHY LEE > NELLY > GIPP> RZA > GHOSTFACE

• #3 Percy "Lil' Romeo" Miller, Jr.

Yes, Ghostface is connected to lil Romeo. Probably in less steps than the following, but for the sake of continuity...
-Romeo + uncle Silkk tha Shocker = Don't Want To
-Silkk + Mya = Movin' On
-Mya + Ol' Dirty Bastard = Ghetto Superstar
-Dirty + Ghost = Eureka.

NEWS - 12/6/07

• Mournful Bun B: Bun B speaks out on his partner's sudden death. Next month Bun B and Pimp C would have been together for 20 years, spanning 6 (official) albums. We've lost a legend in Pimp C. Read Bun's statement here: hiphopdx

• Grown-Man Sh*t: A great article in the Village Voice about how Ghostface has been bringing the grown-and-sexy, the introspection, the nuance from the get. Also, notes that homie is 37 years old. Wow. village voice

• Busy Before Jail: Prodigy is off to the big house, but not before releasing an upcoming album, or a video off said album. Oh, look the video's out, and it has that one dude from Usual Suspects: youtube

back story

Season Four dropped yesterday, just in time for holiday shopping. Season Five, the final season is now less than a month away. Spotted these prequel clips via smarten up nas.com...

• Omar, 1985
• Prop Joe, 1962
• When Bunk Met McNulty, 2000

Yeah, seeing prop joe as a kid is kind of corny and unnecessary, but for Wire nerds, these joints are f-cking spectacular. Guessing they're a special feature on the Season Four set... hurry up UPS man!!

NEWS - 12/5/07

• Chat with the Don: A nice interview with Ghostface, covering all things from 36 Chambers to Big Doe Rehab and all in-between. Ghost writes whats he feels and feels what he writes. Unless it's whatever whatever. As we all expected. Read here: allhiphop

• Pusha and Wayne: The up-dated odd couple. Wayne had words for Clipse in a Complex magazine article, saying that some of Clipse's lyrics were aimed at him. Pusha answers with flawless logic, especially concerning Wayne's ability with firearms. See here: hiphopdx

• A throwback read: Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the release of N.W.A.'s 'Straight Outta Compton'. Crazy, right? Read the vintage L.A. Weekly cover story discussing the album's original release here: la weekly

underground king

Some terrible news from LA today.
No word yet on the cause. Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to the families... hold your head Bun.

tuesday to do...

TONIGHT: SOMETHING TO DO IN BROOKLYN!
Yessir, the good folks at Rare Form are Two-Steppin' To The A.M over at Royale in park slope. Sounds provided by DJ Brainchild with your gracious host, Phonte of Lil' Brother. Peep the flyer at Brainchild's blog: onesoulfnegro.com No cover, no list, no boo boo.

NEWS - 12/4/07

• Boot Camp On Cable Again: Buck Shot sat down with Exclaim Magazine and revealed, without much detail, that the BCC has also inked a deal with the History Channel. If you remember, it wasn't too long ago that they hooked up with ESPN to produce music for the College Men's Basketball season. Read more here: exclaim mag

• Wu-tang and The Graphic Novel: Method Man and Sanford Greene, the current artist for the DC Comic "Wonder Girl", are working on a full length Wu-tang graphic novel. No details as of yet, but Greene is the same artist that blessed MF Doom's (Viktor Vaughn's) "Venomous Villain" cover art. wooohah

• Spice 1 Hospitalized: The legendary Bay Area rapper Spice 1 was shot twice yesterday morning. The details of the shooting are sketchy, but despite his serious condition, Spice is expected to pull though. ballerstatus

new ghostfaaaaaaace

photo credit: ian meyer

A couple early favorites off of The Big Doe Rehab, dropping officially mañana...
REC-ROOM THERAPY feat. Raekwon & U-God

WHITE LINEN AFFAIR (TONEY AWARDS) feat. Shawn Wiggs


The drums on both of these tracks are classic b-boy rap-tastic. Ghost goes in for sure. Shawn Wiggs is still annoying, but bearable. And U-God, no matter how much of a lame he seems otherwise these days, still shines on Ghost tracks... Even when off-beat. It's kind of amazing.

More ghostly goodness over on the takeover... our conversation with Ghost's Lyrics.
Plus, Unique Fraser: Ghostface IS a Hip Hop Icon (Two Cents)

NEWS - 12/3/07

• Reneged: Sadly, the hat that Ghostface put up on eBay--you know, the Atlanta Backwoods fitted that was worn in front of Halle Berry--was sold but the buyer never paid up. According to New York magazine, everything is all good because as of yet no negative feedback has been posted to either Ghostface's or the deadbeat buyers eBay account. nymag

• His last stunt was a peaceful one: Daredevil Evel Knievel died Friday, just days after reaching a legal agreement with Kanye West. The dispute was over West's "Touch the Sky" video were Kanye donned a few of Mr. Knievel's trademark designs. According to published reports, Knievel died from complications associated with diabetes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was 69 years old. allhiphop

• Lupe's next trick: Apparently, Lupe's album after The Cool will be his last. Citing record industry woes and general frustration, Lupe sees no reason to continue making music after his third album. Or is he just bolstering up attention for himself. You make the call. hiphopdx