By Quibian Salazar-Moreno The recent release of footage from the upcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 game, Def Jam: Icon is getting fans hyped for the game’s release in March. To make the anticipation that much greater, publisher EA Games announced the soundtrack will include songs from Redman, The Game, Nas, Ghostface, E-40 and others. “The Def Jam Interactive/EA partnership continues to be one centered around innovation,” said Lauren Wirtzer, Vice President of Marketing, Def Jam Enterprises. “For the first time in any video game, the music is completely interactive. DEF JAM: ICON allows players to use these songs, as opposed to playing them in the background. And not only is there an incomparable soundtrack of today and tomorrow’s hottest music, but now we guarantee the player with an authentic hip-hop lifestyle experience.” The “use” of the song allows a player to cause more damage to an opponent if he throws and lands a punch in time with the beat of the music. A player can also cause additional damage by making his character “scratch the beat” when his opponent is on the ground, causing a sort of earthquake. The game also allows you to upload your own music to fight with. Here’s the soundtrack lineup for the game: Big Boi (i.e., Purple Ribbon All-Stars feat. Big Boi) – Kryptonite E-40 – Tell Me When To Go E-40 – Go Hard or Go Home Fat Joe – Make It Rain Ghostface – The Champ (Remix) Jim Jones – Crunk Muzik Jim Jones – We Fly High Konkrete feat. Big Boi – What’s that Smell Lil Jon – Get Crunk Lil Jon (and the Eastside Boys) – Get Low Ludacris – Get Back M.O.P. – Ante Up Method Man & Redman – Da Rockwilder Mike Jones – Back Then Mike Jones – Got it Sewed Up – Remix Nas – Hate Me Now Paul Wall – Sittin’ Sidewayz Paul Wall – Trill Redman – Rush Da Security Redman – Let’s Go Sean Paul – Head in the Zone Sean Paul – All Out T.I. – What You Know T.I. – Top Back The Game – One Blood The Game – Scream on ‘Em Young Jeezy – I Do This Young Jeezy – Soul Survivor Young Joc – It’s Going Down

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Back in December, The Coup were leaving a San Diego show on the tour bus when it careened off, rolled over a few times, landed in a ditch and burst into flames. Everyone on the bus survived the crash but most of their equipment and personal belongings were destroyed and then having to cancel the tour, put a hurting on their pockets. In an effort to get back on their feet, Boots asked for donations and received an overwhelming response. “The way friends, family, fans, organizers, activists, supporters, music lovers, and strangers have been rallied for us has confirmed my belief in humanity and the idea of community,” Boots wrote on his blog. “We raised thousands of dollars from the Paypal account and various parties that were spontaneously thrown for us around the country. The money has enabled us to weather this storm by paying rent and bills, and replacing a few much needed items to hold us until we can start performing regularly again.” Boots said the fundraising is over and now their gearing up to get back on the road. The Coup will tour for most of March beginning March 1 in San Francisco up until March 29 in San Diego. They also will be participating in the Funky Elephant Festival in Helsinki and the Coachella Festival in Indio California during the month of April. Here’s the group’s current tour itinerary: 03/01/2007 - The Fillmore Ballroom (w/ Lyrics Born) , San Francisco 03/02/2007- Wonder Ballroom (w/ Lyrics Born) , Portland, Oregon 03/03/2007- Neumo’s (w/ Lyrics Born) , Seattle, Washington 03/04/2007 -Richards On Richards (w/ Lyrics Born) , Vancouver 03/26/2007 -Cervante’s Masterpiece Ballroom (w/ Lyrics Born) , Denver, Colorado 03/29/2007 -Belly Up (w/ Lyrics Born) , San Diego, California

By: Rizoh Tomi Rae Hynie, James Brown’s alleged fourth wife, has filed a petition seeking access to part of his estate. According to court papers discovered by the AP, Hynie wants the court to allow her to return to Brown’s Beech Island home to retrieve "personal possessions" that belong to her and their 5-year-old son, James Joseph Brown II, including furniture she picked out for the home. Her lawyer Robert Rosen maintains that she’s not asking to live there, adding, “ They locked her out and wouldn’t let her in but she has a right to go in and get her stuff – furniture, her clothing, her son’s toys. They keep saying that they’re going to do it but they never do it so we’re going to ask a judge to order them to do it." James Brown’s attorneys dispute Hynie’s status as Brown’s widow because, according to claims, she was still married to another man when she and Brown said their vows in 2001. They have said Hynie later annulled her previous marriage, but she and Brown never remarried. In 2006, Hynie and Brown worked on a documentary film, Life on the Road with Mr. & Mrs. Brown, set for release later this year. Meanwhile, James Brown’s body remains in a sealed, gold casket in an undisclosed location awaiting a decision on where to bury it.

By: Rizoh A tell-all book by former MTV producer Terrance Dean will reveal which rappers are secretly homosexual. The book, Hiding in Hip-Hop: Confessions of a Down Low Brother in the Entertainment Industry, is a memoir of Dean’s life as a closeted homosexual working in the film and music industry and his relationships with other closeted homosexuals—film stars, rap artists, and music producers. The exposé will identify hip-hop homos, some of them Dean’s exes, without naming them specifically, but the publishers maintain that it won’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who the closeted gayngstas are. Dean, a Fisk University graduate and founder of NY-based organization Men’s Empowerment, is also the author of “Reclaim Your Power: A 30-Day Guide to Hope, Healing, and Inspiration for Men of Color.”

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno The Boot Camp Clik released their album last summer, but the crew is still going strong. Sean Price just released his new album, Jesus Price Superstar, this week which features production from 9th Wonder, Khrysis, Illmind, and PF Cuttin with appearances from Buckshot, Sadat X, Steele (of Smif N Wessun), Rock (of Heltah Skeltah), Little Brother, Chaundon and others. This month however, the entire Boot Camp Clik headed overseas to pump their album, as well as their various mixtapes and Price’s new album for the European cats. Here’s the itinerary for the European tour: Fri-Feb-02 Deventer Holland Burgerweeshuis – Boot Camp Clik: Buckshot Smif N Wessun Sean Price Feat. Heltah Skeltah Tour Sat-Feb-03 Munster Germany Skaters Palace – Boot Camp Clik: Buckshot Smif N Wessun Sean Price Feat. Heltah Skeltah Tour Sun-Feb-04 Hamburg Germany Mandarin Kasino – Boot Camp Clik: Buckshot Smif N Wessun Sean Price Feat. Heltah Skeltah Tour Mon-Feb-05 Berlin Germany Bastard – Boot Camp Clik: Buckshot Smif N Wessun Sean Price Feat. Heltah Skeltah Tour Tues-Feb-06 Leipzig Germany Conne Island – Boot Camp Clik: Buckshot Smif N Wessun Sean Price Feat. Heltah Skeltah Tour Wed-Feb-07 Munich Germany Ampere - Boot Camp Clik: Buckshot Smif N Wessun Sean Price Feat. Heltah Skeltah Tour Thurs-Feb-08 Lausanne Germany D,Club – Boot Camp Clik: Buckshot Smif N Wessun Sean Price Feat. Heltah Skeltah Tour Fri-Feb-09 Basel Switzerland Kaserne – Boot Camp Clik: Buckshot Smif N Wessun Sean Price Feat. Heltah Skeltah Tour Sat-Feb-10 Zurich Switzerland Rote Fabrik – Boot Camp Clik: Buckshot Smif N Wessun Sean Price Feat. Heltah Skeltah Tour Fri-Feb-16 Oslo Norway www.knockoutproductions.no (Smif N Wessun Only) Sat-Feb-17 Trondheim Norway (Smif N Wessun Only) Thurs-Feb-22 Stockholm Sweden www.thepage.se (Smif N Wessun Only) Fri-Feb-23 östersund Sweden www.clubseven.se (Smif N Wessun Only) Sat-Feb-24 Borkänge Sweden www.goldrush.se (Smif N Wessun Only)

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Ice-T and his wife Nicole “Coco” Austin have only been married for a year but apparently they know how to sustain a relationship. The couple is writing a book in which they share their “secrets” to success in their marriage. "Me and Ice are currently writing a book about creating and maintaining a successful relationship," Coco told Page Six. "We have had great success in balancing our careers and private lives, and we would like to share some of that knowledge with others who are in need of guidance and/or inspiration.” Ice-T was married to his first wife, Darlene Ortiz, for over 15 years, had a child, and split up in 2002. Ice met Coco two months after he split with Ortiz. Coco was married in 1999 but divorced in 2003. There’s no word on who’s publishing the book or when the book will come out.

By: Rizoh Your guesses were right. Bow Wow himself has revealed that his new single, “Outta My System,” is about ex-girlfriend Ciara Harris. In “Outta My System,” Bow Wow rhymes, "I still got a lot of pain/ I ain’t dealt with it all/ I been running round with other chicks/ I’m single and they loving it/ I’m liking it, but I just want the one I was in love with." The teen rapper told MTV that the song is truly about his old flame. "It deals with a situation I was in, for sure," said Bow Wow. "It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to listen to that song and know what I’m talking about or who I’m talking to. That’s why I did it. That once again deals with the price of fame." Bow Wow added that he has maintained a cordial relationship with Ciara since their split. "I’m sure she has my album just like I got hers," he told MTV. "She told me congrats on everything. … We had small talk and kept it moving." You would recall that Bow Wow and Ciara ended their one year relationship in April 2006. We still wonder what happened to that diamond ring Ciara was spotting on her left ring finger before the split.

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Even though Jay-Z is deflecting questions about a bank that got rich off of slaves’ labor investing in the new arena for his Brooklyn Nets, he’s happy to launch a new sister line to his Roc-A-Wear clothing company. Jigga recently announced the launch of Bella Roc, a line of clothes for women that will range from $125 to $4,000. The clothing line will be a limited edition line that will target women in the 25 to 45 year old range and feature crystals and metallic gold stitching on jeans and other garments. There are also plans to launch a women’s sportswear and outerwear line. A launch date for Bella Roc has yet to be announced.

By: Rizoh It’s a familiar tune. Rapping and singing are not the only lucrative careers in the music industry, or so says Def Jam recording artist Ludacris. While speaking to 300 Atlanta high school students, Luda urged the youngsters to redirect their focus to career other choices. The discussion was held at the Clark Atlanta University‘s Park Street Music & Art Complex as a warm up event leading up to the Grammy Awards. “Self education is the most important thing to have,” Ludacris said. “I know you can have street smarts. But if you combine that with book smarts, you’ll be unstoppable.” He also had a piece of advice for aspiring musicians. “Watch out for people who you hang around with. Being surrounded by negative people will just bring you down. However, if there are positive folks around, then positive things will happen.” R&B singer Lyfe Jennings cosigned Luda’s sentiment with an “Amen.” ‘It’s a tough world out there, and I just kept messing up,’ said Jennings, who rose to popularity through his 2004 album Lyfe 268-192, a direct referrence to his former prison number. “Hopefully, students can reflect from our faults and apply how overcame them to their lives.” Ludacris is up for three Grammys this year, including “Best Rap Song” and “Best Rap Album.”

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno On February 6, Jamaica will be celebrating Bob Marley’s 62nd birthday like it does every year for Bob Marley, but this time they will have a show to go to. On February 10, Marley’s sons Damian, Julian, Ky-Mani and Stephen Marley will throw a concert in his birthplace of Nine Miles in St. Ann Parish called “Smile Jamaica.” The show is to promote peace and commemorate the 62nd anniversary of Marley’s birth. The name missing among the brothers is Ziggy Marley, the most well-known Marley offspring. Apparently Ziggy is unable to attend the concert and doesn’t even really visit Jamaica anymore, even though he was born in the same place as his father. Ziggy’s mom and Bob’s widow, Rita Marley, will be in attendance, however, and may even perform. She’s a member of the I Threes, formerly Bob Marley’s backup singers.

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Marco Polo is an established producer who has been working his way up the underground hip-hop ranks for the past several years. Now Polo has signed a deal with Rawkus Records and gearing up to drop his debut album, Port Authority, on May 7. “This album represents the last three years of my life; my big move to NY from Toronto four years ago and the musical growth I’ve gone through while finishing it,” Polo said. “It represents a part of hip-hop that is slowly and undeniably withering away. This album also represents my efforts to unite dope artists and make music that has lasting power. My project is not a compilation, it’s my ‘Soul Survivor’ (Pete Rock) and Port Authority will attest to that! People that loved Rawkus back in the day, this album will remind you why as it takes things back to the classic era of Rawkus Records.” The album features a bevy of guests including Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Buckshot, Large Professor, Sadat X, O.C., AG, Ju Ju (Beatnuts) Ed O.G., Kardinal Offishall among others. Here’s the tracklisting for the album: 1.) “Port Authority Intro” f/O.C. 2.) “Get Busy” f/ Copywrite 3.) “Marquee” f/ O.C. 4.) “War” f/Kardinal Offishall 5.) “Nostalgia” f/ Masta Ace 6.) “The Wrong One” f/ Wordsworth 7.) “Low Budget All Stars” f/ Kev Brown, Kenn Starr, Oddisee, Cy Young & Kaimbr 8.) “Speak Softly” f/ Jo Jo Pellegrino 9.) “Time And Place” f/ Ed O.G. 10.) “The Radar” f/ Large Professor 11.) “All My Love” f/ Jaysaun 12.) “Lay It Down” f/ Roc Marciano of The U.N. 13.) “Go Around” f/ Buckshot 14.) “Hood Tales” f/ Kool G. Rap & DV Alias Khryst 15.) “Heat” f/ Supastition 16.) “Rollin” f/ Sadat X, AG & Ju Ju of The Beatnuts 17.) “For The Future” f/ Critically Acclaimed 18.) “Relax” f/ J. Davey "Relax" (Bonus Track)

By: Rizoh Following the success of their comeback album, Cali Iz Active, Tha Dogg Pound will return with Dogg Chit on March 27th, 2007. Kurupt & Daz Dillinger will release their new album via Koch Records. The album’s lead single, "Vibe with a Pimp," features Snoop Dogg. Other guests on the album include The Game, Too $hort, RBX, Jayo Felony, Bad Azz, Brother Lynch Hung, and others. "This is the first Dogg Pound album entirely produced by us since Dogg Food" said Daz Dillinger of the project. "We doin’ it again, we ready." Here’s a tentative track list for Dog Chit: 1. Get Out My Way 2. I’ll Bury Ya 3. EveryBody 4. Anybody Killa Featuring The Game 5. Mo’ Murder 6. Vibe With A Pimp Featuring Snoop Dogg 7. Can’t Get Enuff Featuring Too $hort 8. Dat Ain’t My Baby 9. Thiz Gangsta Chit Iz Our’z 10. 1 N 1 Out 11. Where U From Featuring Bad Azz 12. Throw Ya Hood Up 13. It’s A Good Azz Day 14. Pull Ya Drawz Down Featuring Snoop Dogg 15. Blast On’ Em Featuring Brotha Lynch Hung 16. Bucc’m Featuring Snoop Dogg & RBX 17. Blaze It Up Featuring G.Malone, Jayo Felony, B.G Knoccout, Dresta

Label name: Babygrande Records, Inc. Founded (Date): October 2002 Founder: Chuck Wilson Backstory (What’s the story behind the launch of the label? How was it launched? Why was it launched?): Babygrande was launched out of frustration with major labels and their out dated way of approaching the industry. The goal was to create a small label with high standards. I think we are doing quite well so far. Greatest Achievements (What are the label’s proudest moments? Going platinum? Releasing a classic? Signing a legend?): To have the opportunity to work with so many talented artists. Current and Future projects (What current projects are you pushing and what’s planned for the next year?): Right now we are focused on The Snowgoons and Bronze Nazareth’s group The Wisemen. We have a lot of great material coming out this year. Goals and Purpose (What kind of impact are you hoping to make on the industry? What goals do you have for the label?): We want to make great records that don’t feel corporatized in any way. 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?): We feel we are the most forward thinking indie label in the business. We constantly strive to be innovative with everything we do. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SNOWGOONS INTERVIEW

By: Rizoh Three weeks after reports of Tyrese Gibson’s nasty altercation with his pregnant girlfriend set the internet ablaze, the singer has finally spoken out on the issue. Predictably, Black Ty denies allegations that she punched his girlfriend. “I am a very private person but as untrue information is still circulating, I feel I owe it to my fans and supporters to finally address the rumors and put them to rest once and for all,” said Tyrese. “Please be assured that accusations of an alleged physical altercation between my girlfriend and me are absolutely false. No charges were filed. I am grateful for the prayers and support I have received over the last several weeks from my fans and supporters and I want to thank them. God Bless.”