Artist/Group Name : Buckshot of Black Moon Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): Brooklyn, NY Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): The Co-Owner of Duck Down Records and lead MC for the mighty Boot Camp Clik (Buckshot, Smif N Wessun, Sean Price, Heltah Skeltah, O.G.C.). Also a member of the legendary rap group, Black Moon, known for their classic LP, Enta Da Stage. Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): Special Ed was a huge inspiration for me. Actually the first time I heard Special Ed on the mic, I knew I wanted to become an MC. I was like I NEED to get on stage and do what he’s doing. What’s crazy is I got to eventually do a track with Special Ed and Masta Ace when we collaborated to do the Crooklyn Dodger’s theme song. Spike Lee reached out to me as a fan and that was a special collaboration for me. KRS One was another huge inspiration for me as he taught me how to be a true MC on the stage. A lot of rappers have a hit song and can make some noise, but they aren’t SHOW MC’s. They don’t really have the craft of Mastering the Ceremony of what real Hip Hop is. I learned how to become a SHOW MC by watching KRS One. Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) I was an intern at first and then actually it was 5ft who brought me into Black Moon and from there I got up with Nervous Records and the rest is history. I met Dru Ha up at Nervous Records where we things started out more as management. That eventually led to Duck Down Records and our eventually departure from Nervous Records to Priority Records. Priority is where we put on groups like Heltah Skeltah, OGC and our first Boot Camp Clik ablum. Before I came into the game I did a lot of dancing belive it or not. I loved to dance, on some real b-boy, break-dance vibe. I just loved entertaining as a kid and now I get to do it for a living. Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) Currently I’m pushing Boot Camp Clik’s new album, The Last Stand, which came out this past summer (July 2006). The album features the entire Great 8 and has some crazy production…Pete Rock is on there, Large Professor, 9th Wonder, Da Beatminerz, Coptic, G-Unit’s Ill Mind and Marco Polo. We named the album The Last Stand cuz we are trying to take a Stand on all the shit going on in Hip Hop. If it’s not Nas calling Hip Hop dead it’s some other bullshit, so as a collective whole we took a STAND. Sean Price is the other major project we are working right now. Son is one of the best MC’s in Hip Hop today. His new album, entitled Jesus Price Supastar hits streets January 30th. He’s got real good production from 9th Wonder and Khrysis from the Justus League. Sean will not disappoint fans following his first solo effort, Monkey Barz (May 2005). We got an artist by the name of Ruste Juxx coming out in 2007 as well. His album Indestructable is going to be a serious hood anthem. As for Buckshot the artist, I’m working with 9th Wonder again for our second release, first one being Chemistry (July 2005). Our second album is gonna be called The Formula. Duck Down is currently looking at expanding in a major way. We are close to signing a deal with rapper KRS One to put out his next album. Now that is Hip Hop!!! We are also looking at Justus League artists, Joe Scudda, Chaundon and Jossie Mo, all of whom have a solid following out of North Carolina. Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) A business impact, a strong business impact. Not worried about going platinum. I want every artists in the world signed to Duck Down. Have every artist period. It’s time for people to see what Duck Down Records can do outside our core set of groups. Don’t get me wrong we are gonna continue to make Boot Camp Music, but we’re also looking to be a home for other artists as well. Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) Hip Hop is not dead. Get the fuck outa here. Especially when u hear Nas say HipHop is dead and it’s crazy that he should flip on New York. It’s dead only to Nas and all the funky fans that support that shit. The marketing campaign is too hypocritical. It’s doing more damage than it’s helping. It’s pushing people like me further and further back cuz I got to fight more and more to push through the murk. Hip Hop now if u watch the videos and listen to the tracks is dudes rapping about money and more money. But that shit ain’t the case. Nas is buggin. Bottomline, he is straight buggin. I heard him on the radio talking the other day about New York Rappers and how shit is dead. So now he’s talking directly at me. Don’t get me wrong Nas is my man and I saw him the other night at the Nike Air Force One event, dude was even the one who brought me up on stage to perform with the likes of Rakim, KRS ONE and Kanye West. In a sense how can Nas speak that shit about Hip Hop and then take the stage with the father of Rap. To combat that slogan that Hip Hop is Dead I would start by first saying Nas is whiling out, like a Jeezy did. To combat that Ima say I got KRS ONE. Hip Hop started before Buckshot, before Nas. If I’m saying ima Hip Hop artist than am I saying Im dead? Jeezy said it, but more people need to say it. Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): First and foremost would be to bring Pac back so we could eventually finish the One Nation album. I also think Pac would have taken myself and other Duck Down artists to a new level. We had a serious bond and a good chemistry in the studio. Pac flew us out to his brand new home and we were like family. We recorded closet to 8 tracks with him in a matter of 3 days. One of the best memories of that trip was a huge watergun fight that broke out in Pac’s backyard. Of course it ended up inside his crib, where Dru Ha ends up shooting a water gun all over Pac’s brand new walls. We all laughed, but I think Pac was upset! I’d also change the DJ’s. Hip Hop started with the DJ, so how is it all of a sudden that they don’t allow us to matter. U not talking about that money, I’m not playing u. It’s a style thing. But what is crazy is u got to stay up on a trend. We do a good job of trying to stay ahead of the trends and u got to evolve with the trends. BUT a DJ needs to see your movement and they got to make it more accessible to reach them. In a sense Duck Down tries to stay true to a sound and ahead of its time. It feels like u got to be negative to get a somewhat positive result, so should I start doing that shit. NAH! I’m done with being negative. Buckshot is here now as a voice and I got a lot to say in 2007 and beyond.

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Since dropping his critically acclaimed debut album, Dead Ringer, in 2002 producer RJD2 went on to drop a couple of more albums and produce joints for Aceyalone, Soul Position and score a variety of video games and movies. Now he’s preparing to drop his new album, The Third Hand, on March 6. In an effort to curtail any bootlegging of the album, RJD2 said he will offer a bonus digital only EP for the fans who buy songs from independent records stores and iTunes. “All of these are going to be high quality mp3′s, as will be the iTunes album version of course,” RJD2 posted on his blog. “So why listen to an 8-bit low-res garbage-sounding ripped copy off some kid’s blog? In 2007, exclusive bonus cuts+good sound quality=the way to live. I truly think its worth your hard earned 10-15 bucks at the end of the day. sheeeeit, 9.99 for an album on itunes? You know you cant beat that!” Shortly after the album drops, RJD2 will head out on tour with a live band and DJ to give you a live version of his production. Here’s the current tour itinerary: 3.9.07 Wexner Center – Columbus OH 3.10.07 The Dame – Lexington KY 3.11.07 Exit In – Nashville TN 3.12.07 Revolution Music Room – Little Rock AR 3.13.07 Bricktown Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK 3.14.07 Haileys – Denton TX 3.16.07 Emo’s – Austin, TX 3.17.07 Warehouse Live – Houston TX 3.19.07 House of Blues – New Orleans LA 3.20.07 Variety Playhouse – Atlanta GA 3.21.07 Cats Cradle – Carrboro NC 3.22.07 Satellite Ballroom – Charlottesville VA 3.23.07 9:30 Club – Washington DC 3.24.07 Sonar – Baltimore MD 4.11.07 Starlight Ballroom – Philadelphia PA 4.12.07 The Crazy Donkey – Farmingdale NY 4.13.07 Webster Hall – New York NY 4.14.07 Middle East Downstairs – Cambridge MA 4.15.07 Pearl Street Nightclub – Northampton MA 4.16.07 La TuLipe – Montreal QC 4.17.07 Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto ON 4.18.07 Magic Stick – Detroit MI 4.19.07 Grog Shop – Cleveland Heights OH 4.20.07 Metro – Chicago IL 4.21.07 First Avenue – Minneapolis MN 4.22.07 The Picador (formerly Gabes Oasis) – Iowa City IA 4.23.07 Birdys – Indianapolis IN 5.10.07 Bluebird Theatre – Denver, CO 5.11.07 Abbey Theatre, Durango, CO 5.12.07 The Clubhouse – Tempe, AZ 5.13.07 Belly Up Tavern – Solana Beach, CA 5.14.07 Henry Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA 5.15.07 Mezannine – San Francisco, CA 5.17.07 Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR 5.18.07 Neumos – Seattle, WA 5.19.07 The Nightlight Lounge – Bellingham, WA

By: Rizoh An unidentified man was injured at a recent Bone Thugs-N-Harmony concert. Fight broke out at the show, drawing the attention of law enforcement. The victim was hit in the head with a barstool and beaten unconscious, according to reports. The concert came to an abrupt halt, as authorities dispersed the crowd of about 1,500 people Friday night at the Warner Grand Theatre. The injured concertgoer was later treated at a hospital, but he wasn’t the only one having a unfavorable night. Another man who allegedly threw a punch at a police officer was cuffed for resisting arrest.

By: Hot Gossip Gal Keeping it real is obviously something TN artists like to do when it comes to their reality shows. According to Sha Money XL Young Buck does have a reality show in the works. And yes it is supposed to be the reality show of all reality shows as Buck keeps it a little too real. Hmmmm I wonder if MTV caught his recent arrest on camera this past weekend for a previous violation. And talking to Three 6 Mafia the other week they also said their reality show Adventures in Hollyhood was also possibly the realest of reality shows we could expect to see. It has the duo, DJ Paul and Juicy J showing the world and their new found circle of friends in Hollywood the ‘fried bologna sandwich’ eating side of the group. Can’t wait..The show airs on MTV in mid-march.

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Last year, director Spike Lee got behind the camera to direct the pilot episode for the James Woods lead TV drama, “Shark” on CBS. It looks like he’ll be doing it again for an upcoming NBC pilot. Lee and his production company signed a deal with NBC last summer with hopes of putting together a TV drama based on New Orleans residents putting their lives back together after Hurricane Katrina. Ultimately, the idea was scrapped but NBC still wanted to work with Lee. Lee will direct the pilot for “M.O.N.Y. (Mayor of New York)”, a show about an average joe becoming the mayor of New York. The show was written my Tom Fontana (“Oz”, “Homicide: Life on the Street”) and director Barry Levinson (“Rain Man”, “Good Morning, Vietnam”). As far as movies for Lee, he recently signed on to direct the biopic of the life of James Brown. There’s no word on when production will start.

By: Hot Gossip Gal Thanks to Rap-Up.com here is the pic of ultimate diva, Mariah Carey that adorns the March edition of Playboy. Not looking too bad for 36.

By: Rizoh G-Unit rapper Young Buck, known to his parents as David Darnell Brown, can’t seem to stay out of trouble these days. The 25-year old rapper was arrested over the weekend on an outstanding warrant for missing a court date. According to the Associated Press, a police officer noticed that Buck was weaving and bobbing in his Cadillac Escalade in Nashville and pulled him over for riding dirty. The arrest stemmed from a July 2006 incident, when he was caught driving on a suspended license. Although 50 Cent finally gave Buck some money to secure a valid license, his record reflected an outstanding warrant for last year’s citation. He was later released on $1,000 bond and is slated for a court appearance on February 27, 2007. Young Buck was in town to promote his upcoming sophomore album, Buck the World. “Get Buck,” the lead single from that album, is now available for your listening pleasure on our Audio page.

By: Hot Gossip Gal Alicia Keys celebrated her 27 th birthday here in NYC last week at the comfy club BED. The party took an unexpected turn down the drama lane when Kimora Lee Simmons had a rather exaggerated outburst right after the gang had sang Happy Birthday to Alicia, a gang which included Clive Davis, Missy and of course bf Kerry Brothers. The outburst allegedly came after a woman who KL-S claims is stalking her invaded the diva’s personal space. KS-L was heard to be screaming "Get out of my face, bitch!" The party carried on but I don’t think Kimora was in line for a goodie bag when leaving the party as Alicia totally ignored her.

Label name: Fat Beats Records Founded (Date): Fat Beats launched a retail store in July 1994, in June of 2002 Fat Beats launched a record label with the release of Atmosphere’s God Loves Ugly. Founders: Joseph Abajian Backstory Fat Beats expanded their operations from 3 retails stores, an e-commerce site and independent distribution company with the launch of a record label through Sony/BMG distribution. Fred Feldman, a veteran in the music industry who ran Profile Records, later launched his own rock label Triple Crown Records and currently resides as the Vice President of East West/Warner Brothers was hired to oversee the start of the label and to hit the ground running. Fat Beats opted to start a label because we were working with at least a dozen artists who got signed to majors and consulting for some of the top independent labels, we felt like there was a lot of unappreciated talent out there that needed to be heard. Greatest Achievements We are proud of every record we release, but naturally it’s gratifying when you see a record really resonate with the fans. Some of our highlights include releasing Atmosphere’s first official album, Soul Position’s debut album, signing One Be Lo and releasing his debut solo album, signing Black Milk, and working with Timberland to create their first co-branded limited edition boot. Current and Future projects Black Milk – Popular Demand hits stores on 3.13.2007 – DON’T SLEEP!!! One Be Lo follows up on the critically acclaimed S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. with his sophomore release L.I.F.E. Akrobatik is back hot off his collaboration with Mr. Lif as the Perceptionists with a new album called Absolute Value set for a second quarter release. Last but not least Buffalo. NY natives Psuedo Slang come heavy with the jazz with their debut album We’ll Keep Looking. Goals and Purpose Our goal is to release good music that has a long shelf life. So many records come out, get purchased and quickly forgotten – we try to release records that are timeless. Within the Game (How does the label fit within the current climate of hip-hop? Or does it even fit in at all? What’s the label’s personality in relation to the rest of hip-hop?): Fat Beats has a unique position due to our history in the independent hip-hop scene. We try to use our credibility and our reputation for doing good business to attract the most talented artist in the scene and to get their music to as many ears as possible. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE BLACK MILK INTERVIEW

Artist/Group Name: Black Milk Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): I’m reppin’ straight out of Detroit City Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): People know me for rolling with SLUM VILLAGE and doing most of the production for their last 2 albums. Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): I’m inspired by a lot of artist in all genres from PRINCE, MARVIN GAYE, D’ANGELO CURTIS MAYFIELD and on the beats I’m inspired by PETE ROCK, DJ PREMIER, and the g.o.a.t J DILLA. Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label?) I got in the game by producing beats..the first group I produced for was SLUM VILLAGE, and after that I start jumping on projects like DIRTY DISTRICT VOL. 1 and Vol. 2, showcasing my MC ability, and then eventually put out my solo project SOUND OF THE CITY in the summer of 05 which started my buzz on the underground circuit Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?) Right now I’m pushing my new album real hard which is titled POPULAR DEMAND. I named it POPULAR DEMAND just from me having a nice buzz right now as one of the new up coming artist in the game…its dropping on MARCH 13 on FAT BEATS RECORDS. Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?) I’m just trying to be known as one the artist to always put out good music consistently in the game, no matter where I’m at in my career Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!) Nah, I wouldn’t say its dead, but just focused on one type of hip-hop and one genre…everybody’s using the same formula. I think it’s about to change for the better real soon…hopefully. Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?): 1. For different types of hip-hop to be exposed to the masses. 2. For the people to start going out and buying records again and supporting good music.3. and for me personally do a song with STEVIE WONDER AND PRINCE…lol!

By: Rizoh Timz, an American-born rapper of Iraqi heritage, has unleashed a music video that’s sure to land him in some hot soup. The politically charged clip, titled “Dear Mr. George Bush,” rails against the U.S. government’s highly criticized involvement in the Iraq war. In the controversial video, Timz rhymes: “Look what they give us: blood from the world to fill up our rivers.” And “You killed my family, and I should say ‘thank you’? No thanks, you got your tanks, I got my gun…bring it on!” Elsewhere on the second verse, he raps: “Why do you insist to make a fool of us? For over 200 years… we stood for what’s good, now we despised by our peers; And what do you…but add fuel to the fire and send in more troops. Oh the troops God save the troops; it wasn’t their war their lies their fault. America the beautiful what did they do to you, they used you its so indisputable!” “Dear Mr. George Bush” is taken from Timz’s debut CD, Iraq. Watch Timz’s “Dear Mr. George Bush” video below:

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Hip-Hop has always worn its manhood on its sleeve. From proving how hard or gully you are to its sometimes misogynistic overtones along with its detestation of homosexuality. On February 20, PBS will air “Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes,” a documentary directed by Byron Hurt looking at the gender roles within the hip-hop community. "In the past 20 years, hip-hop has become a critically acclaimed, billion-dollar industry," Hurt said. "How do black men feel about the representations of manhood in hip-hop? How do black women and men feel about the pervasive images of scantily clad and sexually objectified women in rap music and videos? What do today’s rap lyrics tell us about the collective consciousness of black men and women from the hip-hop generation? What does homoeroticism in hip-hop media look like? These are the types of questions I set out to explore in this film and to provide thoughtful dialogue from intelligent, divergent voices of rap artists, industry executives, rap fans and social critics from inside and outside the hip-hop generation." The film features exclusive interviews with Mos Def, Chuck D, Dead Prez, Busta Rhymes, Russell Simmons, Jadakiss, Michael Eric Dyson, KRS-One Sarah Jones and a host of others. Hip-Hop fans can have a chance to see the film before it airs on PBS in various free screenings in cities across the U.S. To see if there’s a free screening in your area, check this link: ITVS.

By: Hot Gossip Gal Young Buck has his own reality show in the works…but supposedly somethings are so ‘out there’ that its proving hard to edit. Not sure where this show is supposed to air but I will have more for you on this next week. Kim Porter is looking simply amazing even after giving birth to twin girls. Forget that Aubrey chick Diddy, stay with what you have. Isaiah Washington checked himself into a ‘facility’ to deal with his homophobia. Brandy is now being reported to have been talking on a cell phone when involved in a fatal car accident before Christmas Paris had/has herpes??

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Late last year, Def Jux Records announced its partnership with mtvU to search for the best unsigned emcees, producers and bands to sign to its label and release an EP and record a song with Mr. Lif. For two months college kids around the world voted for their favorite unsigned college act on BestMusicOnCampus.com and Danny Swain also known as Danny!, had the most votes. Swain, hailing from the Savannah College of Art & Design, will now join up with the Def Jux heads and record an EP for release as well as collaboration with Mr. Lif. To check out what joints got Danny! the most votes, check out his profile at bestmusiconcampus.com. There’s no word on when his project will

By: Hot Gossip Gal Ok so numerous sites were reporting that the rapper who encouraged us to Shake your Ass, Mystikal was released from prison yesterday after serving close to a seven year sentence for sexual battery and extortion. No-one has confirmed or denied this event, but the dude was up for release right about now anyway. I guess we just wait and see what the weekend brings.