By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Domingo’s name may not be heard as much as say someone like Just Blaze or Kanye West but he’s definitely put in just as much work. Producing for the likes of Big Pun (“Dream Shatterer”), KRS-One (“The MC”), Rakim (“Watch This”), Fat Joe (“Success”) and even Eminem (“Hustlers & Hardcore”), Domingo is called upon to get that gritty and grimy underground hip-hop sound. Now the producer is gearing up to drop his debut album, The Most Underrated on February 13, 2007. Produced entirely by Domingo, the album features appearances from Big Daddy Kane, Canibus, Ras Kass, Kool G Rap, Guru, Heltah Skeltah, The Beatnuts and a host of others. Here’s the track list: Welcome Bed Stuy Represent feat. Big Daddy Kane Exactly feat. Joell Ortiz Hurt Nobody feat. Heltah Skeltah All Clap feat Canibus Major Game feat. Guru Cold World feat. Termanology Bootleg Interlude Next Dose feat. Rugged Intellect & Ras Kass Get Live feat. Beatnuts 100 Roundz feat. Kool G Rap Next Up feat. Deacon the Villain 2 Step feat. Born Unique Caught Between Worlds (Remix) feat. Non-Phixion What’s That feat. Precise

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Known mostly for his silly skits on Dipset mixtapes and his appearances on Cam’Ron’s projects, Freekey Zekey is also a stout business who has just secured a deal between Asylum Records (Lil Boosie, Cadillac Don) and Diplomat Records that will distribute his new album, Book of Ezekiel and launch a new label, Dipset South, in Spring 2007. "At the end of the day it’s about getting that cake," Freekey Zekey said of working with Asylum execs Todd Moscowitz and Joie "Joey I.E." Manda to hammer out a deal. "You’ve got to capitalize on the right time – everything is timing.We were all sitting in the studio, and Cam was discussing what was going on with his deal, and they cut him off like, ‘What’s popping with Zeke? Let’s get it rockin!"They were happy, and of course a smart person, a hustler like Todd and Joey I.E., they knew-’We might as well get him now before someone else gets him.’" The label will launch after Zekey drops his album and they are currently looking for artists. Don’t worry though, you don’t have to be southern to get a deal with the new imprint. “When you say Dipset South, it’s only because it’s based there,” Zekey said. “We don’t limit it to being in the South with Southern artists. Anything could happen – we could have country music or R&B or elevator music. It’s worldwide as far as a record label.” In the meantime, you can keep an eye out for a new mixtape from Zekey to prelude the spring release of his album.

By: Rizoh If you thought Nas was the only rapper facing criticism for his hip-hop savior stance, then think again. MTV News reveals that Lil’ Wayne recently fired off some harsh words to erstwhile idol Jay-Z. In the new issue of Complex magazine, Weezy declares: "I’m better than him. I’m 24 years old. I’m 13 years deep with five albums and 10 million records sold." Wayne (born Dwayne Carter) also suggests that Hov should have stuck to his retirement plans. "I don’t like what he’s saying about how he had to come back because hip-hop’s dead and we need him," said Wayne. "What the f*ck do you mean? If anything it’s reborn, so he’s probably having a problem with that. You left on a good note, and all of the artists were saying, ‘Yo, this is Jay’s house. He’s the best.’ Now he comes back and still thinks it’s his house. … It’s not your house anymore, and I’m better than you." Jay-Z celebrated his 37th birthday yesterday (December 4th). The music video for his new single, "Lost One," also debuted on MTV the same day.

By: Rizoh Socially-aware rap crew The Coup and indy-rap maestro Mr. Lif saw the tour bus they were traveling in flip over and explode in flames yesterday (December 4th) about 40 miles away from San Diego. Though, details of the accident are still emerging, reports indicate that everyone made it out alive. According to a message on Mr. Lif’s website, the remaining shows on the North American tour have been canceled. "The tour bus ran off the road for a 30 foot drop," said Lif on his website. "Everyone is alive, but four need extensive hospitalization and surgery. We appreciate all concern and would like to thank everyone who was planning to attend our shows." The official Def Jux website notes that DJ Big Wiz (Def Jux), Zarha (friend and merchandise assistant to Mr. Lif) and SILK-E (The Coup) sustained the most serious injuries. Mr. Lif, Metro, The Coup are battered, but relatively unscathed, according to the label’s website. The bus and all merchandise were destroyed in the fire. Stay tuned to MrLif.com and DefinitiveJux.net for information regarding rescheduling.

By:Rizoh Tennessee rap group Three 6 Mafia have settled a case brought by a man who alleged that their song caused a violent attack on him. Ramone Williams, then 19, claimed he suffered serious injuries at a Pittsburgh concert in 2003 when fans took the lyrics of the song "Let’s Start A Riot" too seriously. Williams said he was tossed to the floor, struck with a chair, and kicked in the face during the attack. He also suffered a fractured jaw as a result of the incident. However, Williams received an undisclosed financial settlement from the Oscar-winning group last month. Three-6-Mafia became the first rap group to win an Oscar award, when their song "It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp," from the film Hustle & Flow clinched the Best Song trophy.

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno After producing hits for the likes of Rick Ross (“Push It”), Rihanna (“S.O.S.”) and The Game (“Docter’s Advocate”), Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem has signed a deal with Epic Records to develop, produce and sign new artists through his joint venture called Beluga Heights. "I think I have the ability to both make hits and help make artists,” Rotem said. “I don’t want to overstate things, but I’m very excited about my forthcoming work.” Rotem, who has produced over 100 songs in the last two years for everyone from 50 Cent and Snoop to Jojo and Lil Kim, is working oin Beluga Height’s first artists, Sean Kingston, a 16-year old rapper out of Miami with a Jamaican-inspired sound. Rotem will also be working on Britney Spears new album.

By: Rizoh Following the fatal shooting of an unarmed New York resident by 5 undercover cops, Queens rapper Nas has joined the African-American community’s outcry and criticism of the New York Police Department, calling the shooting cowardly. Police dumped a 50-shot barrage on the vehicle transporting Sean Bell and two of his friends from Bell’s bachelor party last Saturday. The 23-year-old was supposed to get married to his high school sweetheart. But hours before the wedding ceremony, he was killed when five undercover police officers fired 50 shots at a car carrying him and two friends. Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield survived the shooting but remain hospitalized. None of the victims were armed. The shooting occurred around 4.a.m., shortly after the trio had left a strip club called the Kalua Lounge, where Bell celebrated his last night as a bachelor, authorities said. According to reports, the Nissan Altima transporting Bell and his friends had rammed into an undercover cop and then an unmarked NYPD minivan twice. Police emptied then 50 rounds on the car. One officer fired his weapon 31 times, discharging two full magazines. Police thought one of the men in the car might have had a gun, but later found no weapons. "The one who reloaded should go before the judge and plead guilty," Nas said in a statement. "If he was a man, he would be brave enough to face the charges as a man. This brutality bullsh*t is played out with that slave sh*t. It has to end now. The cops need to be charged the way gangsters are charged." Nas isn’t alone in his outcry. Rapper Papoose has released a mixtape track titled "50 Shots," where he laments,"No justice, no peace /Another black man shot dead on the streets," likening the incident to the fatal shooting of Amadou Diallo. On February 4, 1999, four New York City police officers searching for a rape suspect knocked on Amadou Diallo’s door to question him. When he came to the door he reached inside his jacket, at which point the officers shot at him 41 times, hitting him with 19 bullets. Police later found that the object Diallo was reaching for was his wallet. Audio: Papoose – "50 Shots"

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno J. Period burst onto the scene in 2003 and is now making major moves in the mixtape game being nominated for “Best Mixtape DJ” and “Best Underground Mixtape DJ” in Justo’s 2006 Mixtape Awards.(VOTE HERE: themixtapeawardsonline). Sometimes confused with producers Shawn J. Period or DR Period, J. Period is making a name for himself through his excellent “Best of…” mixtape series featuring Nas, Big Daddy Kane, The Roots, Isley Brothers and his super smash hit, Lauryn Hill. But sometimes it isn’t so easy getting artists, like Lauryn Hill, to participate in creating the mixtape. “I think it goes back to me starting out doing this because I loved it,” J. said. “I feel like a lot of artists that otherwise people can’t get access to, have given me access because it’s clear that I’m doing this for the right reasons. I’m not trying to take advantage of anyone or that I’m out here trying cake off of these people. I genuinely really appreciate their music and I think that comes across in the CDs.” J. Period’s success comes with not only selecting songs everyone knows, but also getting those rarely heard, overseas versions of songs that are hard to come by. Plus with his signature blends and remixes, Period doesn’t create your average mixtape. “I like to make an album out of a mixtape,” he said. “I’m not just putting songs together in one place, I really want it to flow and be an experience. That’s my approach to it, so every time out the box, I’m trying to make something classic.” While Period is in negotiations for several upcoming projects, possibly including an album of his own, his next mixtape, The Best of Mary J. Blige drops next month. For a catalog of is projects, check his website jperiod.

A husky black man dressed garishly in drag – blue wig, frosted lipstick – raps and fries chicken on what appears to be a makeshift plantation as African-American children dance around him, sucking on chicken bones. The scene is from "Fry That Chicken" by Ms. Peachez, a music video that in the last two months has been downloaded more than 600,000 times on Youtube. The song has also received spins on urban stations. — (Excerpt from The Baltimore Sun) You can check out Mrs. Peachez second single, "In the Tub" HERE Please leave comments comments below letting us know what YOU think.

By: Rizoh Hosted by Hot 97′s DJ Enuff, the first annual Urban DVD Awards arrives on Wednesday, December 6th,2006 at 9pm. The awards will take place at Club Avalon located at 20th Street & 6th Avenue. Here are the categories and nominees for this year’s Urban DVD Awards: A. Best DVD Documentary 1. Street Stars for "Guy Fisher Story" 2. As Is for "The Rick Ross Story" 3. The Raw Report for "Welcome To Saigon" 4. Westlake Ent for "Reality Check Vol. 1" (Junior Mafia vs Lil Kim) 5. May 3rd Films & Kirk Fraser for "The Life of Rayful Edmund" 6. King of Kings for "The Untold Story" 7. Rich Kid Entertainment For "Hood 2 Hood: The Blockumentary" 8. Mook Diamond & Greg X for "Ghetto Celebrities" The Lost DVD B. The Pusher Award (most consistently sold Urban DVD) 1. All Access 2. Hoodz 3. Smack 4. Hustle Up 5. Drugs On Music (Cocaine City) 6. The Come Up 7. Real Talk T.V. DVD 8. Best of the Block (Chamillionaire) C. Hottest Street DVD 1. The Come Up 2. Street Sweepers & DJ Kay Slay for "Can’t Stop The Reign" 3. Drugs On Music for "Cocaine City" 4. All Access DVD 5. Ice Cold Video & Extreem Ent for "Whatz Really Hood" 6. Hustle Up 7. Hoodz 8. Cut Master C for "True Stories" 9. Real Talk T.V. 10. On The Grind D. Top DVD Street Magazine 1. The Come Up 2. Street Sweepers & DJ Kay Slay for "Can’t Stop The Reign" 3. Drugs On Music for "Cocaine City" 4. All Access DVD 5. Ice Cold Video & Extreem Ent for "Whatz Really Hood" 6. Hustle Up 7. Hoodz 8. Cut Master C for "True Stories" E. Best Music Video Blend DVD 1. DJ Fantasy for "Mix Source Videos" 2. Gravity Music Group for DJ Juice presents "R&B Mixtape Video Blends" 3. VJ 9 Double for "Street Video Mix" 4. DJ Jelly & MC Assault for "Video Remixes" F. Finest Booty DVD 1. Hot Chocolate Productions for "Big Booty Jump-Off #3" 2. Sunkist for The Bottles & The Bubbles, Battle 4, Vol. 1 3. Booz Ent for Banned From Cable TV, Vol. 3 4. Extreme. com for Slut Fest Strippers Gone Wild, Vol. 6 5. Booty Poppin, Vol. 3-Atlanta Girls Uncut G. Most Consistent Artist On A DVD 1. Maino 2. J-Hood 3. Gravy 4. Papoose 5. Uncle Murda 6. Murder Mook H. Hottest Overall Graphics On A DVD 1. All Access 2. Hoodz 3. Smack 4. Hustle Up 5. Drugs On Music (Cocaine City) 6. The Come Up 7. Real Talk T.V. DVD 8. Best of the Block (Chamillionaire) 9. May 3rd Films & Kirk Fraser 10. Hood 2 Hood

By: Rizoh Following Snoop Dogg’s Rolling Stone outburst on his earlier resentment for Suge Knight, the Death Row CEO has come out to offer an explanation on why Snoop keeps avoiding jail, despite his countless arrests. Suge told the New York Post that his former Death Row cash cow is a rat. "He’s a police informer. This is the only guy who never goes to jail no matter what. I don’t like rats," Knight told Page Six. Suge added: "I don’t have to go around and convince people I’m tough. The only being I fear is God. Snoop has never been in a real fight. When there’s trouble, he runs to the police. He throws up and starts crying." Snoop’s third arrest in just three months came Tuesday after the taping of his performance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The rapper was nabbed on weapons and drug charges. In the new issue of Rolling Stone, which hits stands today (December 1), Snoop claims that Suge Knight had threatened his life even while in jail. "The n***a threatened my life when he was in jail…I stepped to him [four years ago] at the BET Awards with my n****s, and he [Knight] was more scared than a mother*****r," Snoop tells Rolling Stone.

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Definitive Jux Records, the premier indie label launched by Company Flow’s El-P in 2000, is looking for the best unsigned DJs, emcees, producers and bands. In a partnership with mtvU, MTV’s 24-hour college network, Def Jux is offering an EP deal to the best college acts. The artist can join the competition by signing up at bestmusiconcampus by December 14 to have a chance to have an EP released by Def Jux, have Def Jux artist Mr. Lif appear on the first single and have a video produced for rotation on mtvU and mtvU.com. The top 25 entrants will be determined by mid-December, and beginning December 19th, the college audience will vote on their favorite acts, while will determine who will become “Def Jukie”. Voting will end January 19th, 2007 and the winner will be announced at the end of the month. By the way, you have to be (or at least one member of the group) enrolled at an accredited college to participate!

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno The nominees for the 2006 Billboard Awards were announced this week with both T.I. and Mary J. Blige getting five nominations, Ne-Yo with four nods and Chris Brown getting three nods. The award show will go down on December 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas with performances by Janet Jackson, the Killers, Gwen Stefani, Fergie, the Fray, Mary J. Blige and Ludacris featuring Pharrell and Young Jeezy. Flavor Flav, Three 6 Mafia, Rihanna, Chris Brown, among other will make appearances. Here’s a partial list of the nominees: Artist of the year Chris Brown Nickelback Rascal Flatts Male artist of the year Chris Brown Ne-Yo Sean Paul Female artist of the year Beyonce Mary J. Blige Rihanna Duo/group of the year Nickelback The Pussycat Dolls Rascal Flatts New artist of the year Chris Brown The Fray Ne-Yo Album of the year "All the Right Reasons," Nickelback "High School Musical" soundtrack, Various Artists "Some Hearts," Carrie Underwood Hot 100 single of the year "Bad Day," Daniel Powter "Promiscuous," Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland "Temperature," Sean Paul Pop single of the year "Hips Don’t Lie," Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean "Promiscuous," Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland "Temperature," Sean Paul Soundtrack album of the year "Get Rich or Die Tryin’" "High School Musical" "Walk the Line" R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the year Mary J. Blige Jamie Foxx T.I. Male R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the year Jamie Foxx Ne-Yo T.I. Female R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the year Beyonce Mary J. Blige Mariah Carey Duo/group R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the year Dem Franchize Boyz The Isley Brothers Three 6 Mafia R&B/Hip-Hop album of the year "The Breakthrough," Mary J. Blige "King," T.I. "Unpredictable," Jamie Foxx R&B/Hip-Hop single of the year "Be Without You," Mary J. Blige "So Sick," Ne-Yo "Unpredictable," Jamie Foxx featuring Ludacris Rap artist of the year Sean Paul T.I. Yung Joc Rap album of the year "Tha Carter II," Lil Wayne "Curtain Call: The Hits," Eminem "King," T.I. Rap single of the year "It’s Goin’ Down," Yung Joc "Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It," Dem Franchize Boyz featuring Lil Peanut & Charlay "Snap Yo Fingers," Lil Jon featuring E-40 & Sean Paul of the YoungBloodz

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno You die-hard UGK fans may have to wait a little longer for that new album. Originally set to drop on December 19, U.G.K. Underground Kings, a double album boasting 26 tracks, has been pushed back to February 27, 2007. The album will feature production from Jazzy Pha, Lil Jon, Swizz Beatz, Scarface, Marley Marl and Pimp C. Guest appearances from T.I., Rick Ross, Slim Thug, Sleepy Brown, Three Six Mafia, Willie D, Kool G Rap, and Big Daddy Kane will also be included on the album. The first single and video, “The Game Belongs to Me”, was produced by Pimp C and is getting some radio play with a video set to drop in January.