Thursday, July 8, 2010

Mystikal Enlists Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes For New Album

Mystikal Enlists Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes For New Album

July 08, 2010 10:50:00 AM CDT

by Danielle Harling

Following his release from prison Louisiana rapper Mystikal was more than eager to get back into the studio for his next project.



"Everything is lined up for me, it's amazing,” Mystikal explained to MTV News. “I didn't throw pity parties for myself [while in prison]. I knew I was too blessed to be stressed and I knew I was gonna get through it. I'm still on Jive. I still have an obligation to fulfill with them guys. We gonna do it in a major way."



The rapper has already secured a number of noteworthy appearances for his upcoming album. Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes will both be featured on the album and producer’s Pharrell Williams and Mannie Fresh are both lending their talents for the project.



"I just talked to him the other day," said Mystikal, speaking on Pharrell. "He says he got an armored-tank beat for me. I can't wait to hear what that sounds like."



Aside from working on his upcoming album Mystikal has performed at a number of events including VH1’s Hip Hop Honors, the Zulu Ball, and most recently the Essence Music Festival.



Mystikal was released from prison earlier this year after serving six years for a sexual battery and extortion charge. He has yet to speak on a release date or a name for his upcoming album.



From HipHopDX.com
 
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11661/title.mystikal-enlists-lil-wayne-busta-rhymes-for-new-album

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/4/2010

Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/4/2010

July 07, 2010 09:42:00 AM CDT

by Allen Jacobs

Eminem's Recovery came in for a second strong helping of sales, carrying the Interscope/Aftermath release past the million mark in its second week. This release features appearances by Pop acts such as Rihanna and P!nk, as well as production from Just Blaze, Boi-1da and Mobb Deep's Havoc.



Meanwhile, Drake heads towards his own seven-figure sales mark with Thank Me Later. The Toronto rapper cleared 700,000 units, while his 2009 retail mixtape So Far Gone sits less than 10,000 units away from selling 500,000 overall. That feat is expected to be accomplished later this month, making Drake second to only Lil Wayne in his Universal Motown earning abilities for a post-2007 Rap artist.


Def Jam Records had a promising week on the charts. R&B songwriting sensation The-Dream debuted at #4 with Love-King. The North Carolina singer/writer/producer's third album in his Love series is short on guests, featuring only T.I., but scanned over 50,000 units. The Roots remained Top 20 with their latest, How I Got Over is their third with Def Jam Records. The album shows the group's first "Jimmy Fallon-era" recordings, garnering critical acclaim. The group was home over 4th of July weekend, performing a free concert for their Philadelphia brothers and sisters.



Usher's Raymond v. Raymond remained at #14. The veteran Pop entertainer's "divorce album" is marching its way to a platinum plaque for Mr. Raymond and his longtime backer, LaFace Records.



* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandth.



Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)



Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total

1

Eminem

Recovery

313,000

1,058,000



2

Drake Thank Me Later

105,000

709,000



4

The-Dream

Love King

58,000

59,000



14

Usher

Raymond v. Raymond

24,000

898,000



17

The Roots

How I Got Over

21,000

72,000



Detroit singer Dwele struck a Top 30 debut with his E1 Entertainment-released W.ants W.orld W.omen. The man responsible for assisting two monster Kanye West singles ("Power" and "Flashing Lights") has a new album that features Slum Village, David Banner and DJ Quik. Dwele is presently on tour, before reportedly appearing on SV's new album next month.



Two non-traditional Rap acts cracked the charts for a second week. 116 Clique's Trip Lee has released Between Two Worlds, which has scanned just under 8,000 units. The Philadelphia-by-way-of-Dallas native has released his third album through Reach Records. Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, Romeo, Michigan rapper Blaze Ya Dead Homie achieved chart success with his fourth album Gang Rangs. Released on the Insane Clown Posse's Psychopathic Records, this release features veteran Michigan gangsta rappers The Dayton Family, as well as Kottonmouth Kings.



Z-Ro's Heroin stayed on the charts for a second week. The Rap-A-Lot Records' unsung hero cleared 6,000 units, despite limited promotion and distribution. Meanwhile, sitting at over 499,500 units sold, Young Money's We Are Young Money joins Lil Wayne's Rebirth and Drake's Thank Me Later as the third release from Lil Wayne's label to go gold this year. Although the official announcement will likely be made this week, the release will soon be followed by another gold plaque from So Far Gone, giving the Cash Money umbrella four 2010 gold plaques, and likely one platinum.



Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total

28

Dwele

W.ants W.orld W.omen

14,000

14,000



107

Trip Lee

Between Two Worlds

4,400

7,900



134

Young Money

We Are Young Money

3,800

500,000



193

Blaze Ya Dead Homie

Gang Rags

2,600

11,100



198

Z-Ro

Heroin

2,500

6,600

From HipHopDX.com
 
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11648/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-7-4-2010

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

DMX Freed From Arizona Jail, Rep Confirms

UPDATE: DMX Freed From Arizona Jail, Rep Confirms


Tuesday, Jul 6, 2010 9:57PM



Written by Cyrus Langhorne


Troubled rapper Earl "DMX" Simmons' early release from an Arizona jail today has been confirmed by his criminal defense attorney.



The rapper was freed from behind bars after serving three quarters of a six-month sentence.



DMX is finally out of the dog house. XXLMag.com has learned that the troubled rapper, born Earl Simmons, was freed from an Arizona jail today (July 6). X's criminal defense attorney, Glenn Allen, confirmed with XXL that the Yonkers-bred MC was released after serving four months of a six-month sentence. As previously reported, the Yonkers MC was locked up on March 9 for for five counts of violating his probation, all of which were related to cocaine abuse. The Ruff Ryder was on probation for throwing a food tray at an officer while locked up on drug, theft and animal abuse charges last year. (XXL Mag)

Yesterday, X's producer Dame Grease said he would be a free man today.



Guess who's coming home? According to producer Dame Grease,DMX will be released from jail tomorrow after violating his probation back in March. Let's hope that Dark Man X can get his life together, and drop something decent for his loyal fans. First off, he's got to kick that habit of his. (Y2K Daily)

Writing via Twitter last March, rapper Game said his LAX collaborator still had his support.



"This my only tweet for 2day" Game wrote Tuesday (March 23) afternoon. "DMX is MY N!GGA & nobody or NO MEDIA or NO N!GGA nor B!TCH can ever change that !!! GO listen to "Slippin" !!!" (Game's Twitter)

The rapper was sentenced to six months behind bars after violating the terms of his probation in March.



DMX was just sentenced to six months in jail for violating his probation -- but rehab could save him from doing hard time. DMX admitted to five separate probation violations -- the result of using illegal drugs. During the hearing, a rep from the Pasadena Recovery Center gave the judge a letter from Dr. Drew Pinsky, asking permission to treat X at his facility ... in lieu of jail. The judge seemed open to sending X to the PRC. (TMZ)
 
From SOHH.com
 
http://www.sohh.com/2010/07/update_dmx_freed_from_arizona_jail_rep_c.html

Producer EP Sues Mack 10 For $100G's Over Unpaid Royalties

Producer EP Sues Mack 10 For $100G's Over Unpaid Royalties


Saturday, July 03, 2010 10:46 AM

By Roman Wolfe
Producer Ervin “EP” Pope filed a lawsuit against rapper Mack 10 and his record label Hoo Bangin’ Entertainment, claiming he is owed hundreds-of-thousands of dollars in unpaid royalties.



EP claims he was never compensated for production work on two tracks featured on Mack 10’s album Soft White.



According to the lawsuit, EP claims Mack 10 orally agreed to pay a total of $60,000, for producing the songs “It’s Your Life” and “Big Balla.”



EP is seeking at least $100,000 from Mack 10 in addition to his share of unpaid royalties from sales of the album Soft White and the two songs in question.



Pope has produced tracks for a number of established artists, including Jay-Z, Twista, Kanye West Snoop Dogg, The Game and others.




From AllHipHop.com
 
http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2010/07/03/22286080.aspx

Monday, July 5, 2010

Ice Cube's "I Am The West" Pushes Back To September 24

Ice Cube's "I Am The West" Pushes Back To September 24

July 05, 2010 11:12:00 AM CDT

by Jake PaineShare

According to Amazon.com, Ice Cube's first album in two years, I Am The West will no longer be a summer release. The N.W.A. alum's latest solo offering has appeared to have moved to September 24. The release is coming courtesy of Cube's own Lench Mob Records, also home to his Westside Connection partner, WC.



I Am The West, according to Cube, will contain production from Dr. Dre. The rapper said he had also sorted through tracks by fellow west coast veterans Sir Jinx, E-A-Ski and DJ Quik. A first single and video, "I Rep That West" released in March, featuring new Suave House artist Jigg. (June 24)



UPDATE: Last week, via his IceCube.com blog, Cube confirmed the delays that were reported June 24. "I've been working my ass off trying to get it done for you but I ran out of time. The music is right but the paperwork isn't and since I'm working with a few new producers the contracts are taking a little longer then usual, so I missed my turn-in date," wrote the Rap superstar. Cube also revealed that fans can expect a leaked song a month until release date.



He did not mention September as the new official date, though retailers have been told that.


From HipHopDX.com

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11550/title.ice-cubes-i-am-the-west-pushes-back-to-september-24