Looks like Pastor Mason Betha is going to be passing that collection plate over double time at his next sermon. (more…)

Head down bottom to see if you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the Queen Bee.  (more…)

With Houston being on the mind of the general public when it comes to Hip-Hop, most people don’t consider Dallas as a budding Hip-Hop melting pot. Luckily, they have Dorrough to help change that culture, and he’s been doing it since the release of his massive hit, ‘Ice Cream Paint Job’ back in 2009. Two studio albums and four mixtapes later, he’s back again with his latest and fifth effort, Highlights. While putting in some face time during his visit to New York, he stopped by our office to talk about his new project, the city he helped to put on the map from a Hip-Hop standpoint, and a lot more. (Original footage shot by Marvin Harris)

At the end of last year, Chris Webby left his mark on the game when his commercial debut, There Goes The Neighborhood, emerged as the number one hip-hop album on iTunes with no promotion whatsoever.  Albums like this have been a trend within the passing months, and it seems like this wave of overnight digital sensations isn’t going anywhere. Last week, New York hipster hip-hopper Hoodie Allen released his commercial debut exclusively in digital format, and low and behold the release surpassed Nicki Minaj from a digital standpoint (yes, Nicki did move about 3 times this amount in the past 7 days, but the majority of which was physical). Now I think everyone wants to know what white rapper will come out of left field and dominate the iTunes charts next; and I have a strong feeling that something like this will happen again this year.  In other sales related news, Texas-bred MC and Lacrae label-mate Trip Lee did his thing by moving an impressive 19,000 units of his latest album, Good Life.  This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s studied Lecrae because he and his Reach Records affiliates have been killing the game as of late in the God Rap genre.   While it’s not quite hip-hop, maybe sort of trip-hop,  it’s worth mentioning the success of super-producer Bassnectar’s latest project, Viva Voom, which made its top 40 debut this week.  The only other notable release came from Big K.R.I.T. who either has very supportive fans or at least a couple thousand fans that don’t follow hip-hop websites because he managed to sell more than 1,300 copies of his 5 track EP which contains all but 1 song that was previously released for free on the mixtape, 4EvaNaDay, which I highly recommend checking out. Hoodie Allen “All American” – 27,278 (100% digital) Trip Lee “Good Life” – 19,385 (88% digital) Bassnectar“Viva Voom” – 12,877 (2% digital) Big K.RI.T.“4eva Na Day (Road Less Traveled Edition) – EP” – 1,378 (100% digital)

Jim Jones

This past weekend Tupac Shakur made his first public appearance since his tragic death in 1996. He could not have chosen a better place to make his triumphant return, a sold out arena there to see his former Death Row mates Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. When 2Pac suddenly appeared on stage the excitement was palpable, Pac had been known to be a restless soul releasing posthumous albums for years after his death. A live performance, however was something different altogether. 2Pac only spent a brief time on stage but it was clear that he did not miss a step. While Snoop and Dre were clearly worst for the wear since his departure, 2Pac was his old energetic self. He barreled through the first verse of fan-favorite “Hail Mary” then treated the crowd to a gangsta party as he teamed up with Snoop for “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted”. Noticeably missing was “California Love” with Dr. Dre but that is probably asking too much from a rap icon who had been dead for fifteen years. The Internet has been abuzz with 2Pac’s holographic appearance since the news and video broke on Monday. Twitter had 2Pac trending for the first time since the anniversary of his death in September. Facebook became a hotbed of discussion concerning the ethics of hologram projecting a deceased music icon on stage. In one of the conversations I was involved in people wondered aloud if Dre and Snoop are given a free pass on resurrecting Pac how long until other artist begin to imitate them. How long before Nas is regularly doing duets with Bob Marley? How long until Drake revives his long-time crush Aaliyah for a remix of “One in a Million”? The Hip Hop Community may need skis for the slippery slope the good Doctor has set us down. The danger does not stop there however. how long until these hologram artists begin going on tour by themselves? How long until P. Diddy, in collaboration with the Christopher Wallace Estate, produces “The Life After Death Afterlife Tour”. A tour, starring a hologram makes perfect business sense. The hologram does not need a hotel room or security. It does not need a steady stream of liquor or even a hot meal. The hologram rapper would not even need a tour bus. It could travel in the trunk of the tech guy’s Ford Focus. I am 27, when Pac and BIG died I was twelve. I never got to see either in concert, if you could reproduce that priceless experience for $35 a ticket, would I go? I do not know, but I would sure be sorely tempted. If you do not have front row seats it would be difficult to tell who is being projected and who is not anyway. From the nose bleeds Snoop probably looked just as ethereal as 2Pac did. The Hip Hop purist in me says no to holograms! Whether the artist is living, dead, consenting or not I would rather have a flesh and blood person behind a mic. However, is there not something alluring about having your favorite artist in the prime of his career with perfect breathe control? They would not miss a beat, would not show up to the arena forty-five minutes late. For promoters they would not even have to pay them! Sure the projection crew would be paid but they would be paid peanuts compared to what these artists garnered at the prime of their careers. These are all interesting questions and possibilities. One, must keep in mind that in order for a virtual 2Pac, or any other deceased artist for that matter, to go on tour it would need the approval of the person’s estate. The overseer’s of the estate will have the final say over who gets projected on to stage and who does not. However, now that Pandora’s Box has been opened it is going to take a lot more than Afeni Shakur to close it. Word.

Looks like Cash Money’s newest employee isn’t in the clear yet.  (more…)

For those that care, you know where to find him. Right in the May/June issue. (more…)

Tour begins July 26th in Cincinnati. July 26 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center July 27 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre July 28 Indianapolis, IN Klipsch Music Center July 29 Toronto, ON Molson Canadian Amphitheatre** August 01 Boston, MA Comcast Center August 02 New York, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater* August 03 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center August 04 Pittsburgh, PA First Niagara Pavilion August 05 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre

It’s another year, which means another XXL Freshmen List. The list that most young artists want to be a part of, while the ones that don’t get picked sometimes go onto bigger things. (more…)

Looks like the troublemakers on the Internet are going to have to find some other careers to try and ruin. (more…)

The press release is as followed: (more…)

The press release is as followed: “I am thrilled to be working with Q-Tip once again,” said Mr. Weiss, who helmed the artist’s releases on Jive Records in the 1990s as a member of A Tribe Called Quest. “He is a respected voice in the music community as shown by his acclaimed solo albums and countless contributions to the work of other artists. His creativity continues to surpass all boundaries of hip-hop, R&B, pop, and jazz. We welcome Q-Tip to the G.O.O.D. Music / Island Def Jam family.” “I’m excited to be a part of the great iconic Def Jam label,” said Q-Tip. “I’m humbled to be a part of such a storied history. To reconnect with Barry Weiss is a great thing. As far as G.O.O.D. Music, I’m excited to solidify my working relationship with Kanye, and I look forward to all the opportunities that lie ahead in our partnership. I will do my best to present the most cutting edge music I can.” Q-Tip has been credited as a producer on Kanye West’s revered “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” as well as West’s much-anticipated 2011 collaboration with Jay-Z, “Watch the Throne.” Q-Tip has been in the studio working with Rico Love, Marsha Ambrosius, Kendrick Lamar, and Fiona Apple. He also produced songs on the just-released fourth solo album by bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding. Q-Tip along with former co-members of hip-hop collective A Tribe Called Quest produced and was heavily involved with the documentary, “Beats, Rhymes, and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest,” released in July 2011. Viewers were able to revisit the group’s rise to prominence and glimpse the start of Q-Tip’s solo career. Fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter of the Q-Tip story leading up to the 2013 release of THE LAST ZULU.