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Bits & BytesJanuary 31, 2002Hip-Hop Stars 'Unite' For Benefit
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs will host the United We Stand
benefit concert Saturday (Feb. 2) at New Orleans' Zephyr Field. Rappers Bubba
Sparxxx, Jermaine Dupri, Fabolous, Jadakiss, and Black Robb are scheduled to
appear, with Biz Markie DJing between sets. The event will be filmed for future
DVD release by KBK/Andora Pictures. - By Todd Martens
Suge Knight ... The Good News, The Bad News The good news for Death Row Records magnet Suge Knight, Jr. is that he is no longer being investigated for money laundering by the Federal Government after years of scrutiny. The bad news is that Knight's label owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes, including a $100,000 additional penalty. It seems the predominant rap label forgot to pay taxes in its 1996 heyday and now the government wants its money. Death Row Records entered a plea of “guilty” to charges that the label failed to file a corporate tax return for that year on income of nearly $826,000.
January 30, 2002 Alicia Keys, P. Diddy, More Shine On NBA All-Star Weekend
Philadelphia will host dozens of all-stars next month of the basketball and
the musical variety. - By Corey Moss
DJ Quik Stirred Up About Working With Sugar Ray, Dr. Dre
Saying DJ Quik is excited about his latest studio creations is as big of an
understatement as simply referring to a Mike Tyson press conference as
"eventful." - By Shaheem Reid
January 29, 2002 Master P Says C-Murder's Arrest 'A Tragedy For Our Family'
As C-Murder sits in a Louisiana jail
waiting to see if the DA accepts the charges of second-degree murder and fraud
against him, C's older brother Master P has been championing him on the outside. - By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Jennifer Vineyard
Warren G Lands Snoop, Nelly Trio to record remix of "Ghetto Village". Warren G is enlisting Snoop Dogg and Nelly to collaborate on "My Village Ghetto," a remix of "Ghetto Village," a song featured on his latest album, The Return of the Regulator, which was released in December. The all-star collaborators will polish the album's second single, which features excerpts from the Stevie Wonder song "Village Ghetto Land." Although Warren has high hopes for the original single, he looks forward to reworking it. According to the rapper, the project was put together with a couple of phone calls. "I reached out to Nelly and I told him I wanted to do a remix with him," Warren explains. "He was cool with it. Snoop was just, 'Warren, I got your back. Let's do this.'" According to Warren, Nelly is in the process of writing his verse, and when he's ready a Universal rep will fly to St. Louis and record the track. "Then they'll bring everything to me and Snoop will record his part," he adds. "It's all about helpin' each other out -- gotta show that unity." The remixed track will be released shortly after the album track hits the radio airwaves. The song isn't the first collaboration between Warren and Snoop; Along with Nate Dogg, they once performed as the underground rap act 213. The trio made a name for themselves playing house parties and clubs from Los Angeles to Long Beach in the early Nineties. While 213 never released a proper album, the trio performed "Yo' Sassy Ways" on Warren's latest. "It's the first 213 track on one of our albums," he says. It won't be the last, either, as Warren says a 213 reunion is in the works. "It's all about negotiating right now," he says. "I know that Snoop and Nate are with it." - By David John Farinella
January 28, 2002 Mary J. Blige Track On Nas' Stillmatic To Be Cut For 'Personal Reasons'
Your copy of Nas' Stillmatic is a collector's item. And not just
because some critics have lauded it as a classic — new pressings of the album
will not contain the track "Braveheart Party," which features Mary J.
Blige and the Bravehearts. - By Shaheem Reid
R. Kelly, Jay-Z Summon 'Best Of Both Worlds'
With the success of collaborative efforts on the songs
"Guilty Until Proven Innocent" and the "Fiesta" remix under
their belts, it made perfect sense for R. Kelly and Jay-Z to team again. This
time out though, the duo has teamed for a full album -- "The Best of Both
Worlds," due March 26 via Def Jam. The set marks what is thought to be the
first time that top-selling artists from the world of R&B and hip-hop have
collaborated on a full-length release. - By Rashaun Hall
January 25, 2002 Jay-Z, R. Kelly Hype Joint LP With Hash Browns, Johnnie Cochran And A Pimp
Anyone walking into the swank Waldolf-Astoria hotel Thursday morning would've
been hard-pressed to figure out exactly what was going on. Jay-Z and R. Kelly
had scheduled a press conference there to hype and answer questions about their
March 26 release, The Best of Both Worlds, but it felt a lot more like a
party. - By Shaheem Reid
C-Murder Is A Victim Of Mistaken Identity, Lawyer Says
C-Murder, who was arrested last week on suspicion of committing second-degree
murder, will plead not guilty, according to his lawyer, who said his client is a
victim of mistaken identity. - By Jennifer Vineyard
January 24, 2002 Mariah Carey And Virgin Part Ways
Mariah Carey awoke this morning to find herself without a
label, although a hefty settlement should soften the shock. - By Joe D'Angelo
Nappy Roots Aim To Nourish Kentucky-Style With Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz
As symbolic album titles go, Nappy Roots' Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz
should be at the top of the list. The album from Skinny DeVille, R. Prophet, Big
V, Scales, Ron Clutch and B. Stille, scheduled for a February 26 release, mixes
all the nourishing elements the Kentucky hip-hop group hopes to include in its
funkdafied music. - By Soren Baker
January 23, 2002 Roots Bring Hoodies And Timbs To Avery Fisher, Rock The Hall With Jay-Z
At Lincoln Center’s storied Avery Fisher Hall Thursday night, you
could tell it was no ordinary night. Amidst the Coogie sweaters and matching
fitted caps, throwback sports jerseys, assorted hoodies and Timberland boots
worn by the concertgoers, you couldn’t spot any of the aristocrats in furs,
suits and evening gowns that usually frequent the home of the New York
Philharmonic. - By Shaheem Reid
Neptunes Ink Label Deal With Arista
Hitmaking production/songwriting duo the Neptunes have signed
a new deal with Arista, under which the pair will sign and produce artists for
their own Star Trak Entertainment imprint as well as Arista. Star Trak's first
act, Virginia Beach, Va.-based rap duo the Clipse, will release its debut album
in April. The label has also signed Minneapolis rock quartet Spy Mob. - By Jonathan Cohen
January 22, 2002 LL Cool J Slimmer, Happy And Hungry For Ten Hits
Though LL Cool J has shed 35 pounds to be more physically fit and look a
little more appealing on the silver screen, his diet and subsequent weight loss
have nothing to do with his appetite. LL is ready to feast off of a full plate
of new hits. - By Shaheem Reid
Snoop Dogg Wins Porn Awards For 'Doggystyle' Flick Movie earns Best Music, Top Selling Tape honors from Adult Video News. Snoop Dogg's triple-X video, "Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle," took home two trophies at the 2002 Adult Video News Awards last Friday, and the Doggfather and his entourage took over a fellow pornster's hotel room to celebrate. The rapper's first foray into the porn world won the Best Music award and was named Top Selling Tape of 2001, according to a spokesperson for the movie's producer, Hustler Video. The flick features 11 previously unreleased songs by Snoop protégés Tha Eastsidaz. Snoop cast the actors and wrote the score, and he can be seen rapping and cavorting in several sequences that introduce X-rated scenes. The Doggfather and some members of his entourage were on hand to accept the honors, which were presented at a ceremony held at Las Vegas' Venetian Hotel. At a porn-star-studded afterparty, the rapper and nearly 70 of his closest friends commandeered a penthouse suite bedroom belonging to actor Jason Sechrest, Sechrest said Thursday (January 17). When Snoop's security denied Sechrest and others from entering the actor's room, citing a "chicks only, no dudes" rule, hotel security was called to escort Snoop and company from the premises. Plans for a "Doggystyle 2" video are being discussed, the Hustler spokesperson said. - By Joe D'Angelo
January 21, 2002 C-Murder Arrested, Charged With Murder
C-Murder was arrested and charged with first degree murder
and fraud on Friday (January 18). - By Shaheem Reid
Eve, Ice Cube, Redman Go Electronic For 'Blade 2'
Hip-hop and electronic music's elite join forces on the
soundtrack to "Blade 2," which features collaborations between Ice
Cube and Paul Oakenfold, Mystikal and Moby and others. - By Corey Moss
January 17, 2002 Treach Calls Naughty By Nature's Track With Pink 'A Smoker' But apparently baring all is limited to clothing. The man who built his star by being down with "O.P.P." and writing on ladies' kittens is a little more inhibited when it comes to the 411 on his personal relationships, especially the rumors that he has been dating Pink, who appears on Naughty by Nature's upcoming Iicons. "That ain't nobody's business if we was or wasn't," said Treach, who went through a divorce with Pepa of Salt-n-Pepa last year. "I had a relationship in the past, and it was out there, everybody was in that. Nobody's getting in my life no more. The thing is, don't ask if I'm single or with somebody - ask me if I'm happy, then I know you're really concerned. Other than that, it's none of your business." When the topic's strictly business, he's less tight-lipped. "Pink, she's real cool," Treach said, beginning to explain how she came to guest star on "What You Wanna Do." "We met up at a party - it was all us, Lil' Kim, Junior M.A.F.I.A. Through that I was like, 'I really like your style.' She was like, 'I've been a fan of yours.' It was an exchange of numbers, and next thing we knew we did a song for [another] project that's coming out and we did it for our album." On "What You Wanna Do," Pink sings about being driven crazy by the group's naughty style. "The hook was already there. She came in, added her flavor, her riffs and turned it around," Treach said. "It's a smoker." "Pink is really talented," Treach's partner Vinnie added. "She got in there, she knew what to do - how to construct and add on and stack. She heard certain things and changed certain pitches. She didn't need no vocal coach." The guys said they didn't have to coach 3LW, either, for their cameo on Iicons' first single, "Feels Good," because it was a long-distance team effort. "We had to stream it [via satellite]," Vinnie said. "They were out in L.A., and we were in New York. Everything is about overhead, to make it cost-efficient, and for the timing that was the best way to do it." "We would rather be in the studio with the artists," Treach said. "That was the first time we worked with that system, but it [came out good] because we built the song together. We were talking to each other right there. It wasn't like we weren't creatively there together." "Feels Good," can be heard on the radio now and on Naughty's new LP, which is due April 23, according to their spokesperson. - By Shaheem Reid
Eminem Movie Crew Members Burned During Filming Four people sustain minor burns while intentionally burning a house. Four crew members sustained minor burns in Detroit on Sunday while filming portions of Eminem's forthcoming movie, "8 Mile."In a scene involving the intentional burning of a house, four people suffered first-degree burns, according to local TV network WDIV. They were treated and released at a local hospital following the accident. The movie, whose title refers to Detroit's 8 Mile Road, considered to be the dividing line between the city's black and white communities, is loosely based on Eminem's life. The film centers on a rapper, Jimmy, who transcends his East Detroit ghetto upbringing by expressing himself through music. Starring Eminem, Kim Basinger and Brittany Murphy, "8 Mile" is scheduled to hit theaters in July. - By Joe D'Angelo
January 16, 2002 West Coast Rappers Steppin' Up To The Mic At Their Own Summit The artists will discuss conflict resolution and other issues pertaining to the West Coast hip-hop community on February 13 and 14 at an undetermined location, according to a spokesperson for the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, which is organizing the event. The network, launched last year by hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, will hold its second national summit in Los Angeles in June, the spokesperson said. Last year's summit gathered artists such Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, LL Cool J and Ja Rule and resulted in the formation of a mentoring program and an agreement on a new set of marketing guidelines. Hip-Hop Summit Action Network also established Nu America, a political action committee that will provide political contributions to candidates who take a strong stance on freedom of speech and who are supportive of political issues affecting the hip-hop community. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, was one of the early supporters of the network and is scheduled to attend February's summit, as is Minister Ben Muhammad, president of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. No artists have been confirmed yet, the spokesperson said. February's meetings will take place behind closed doors, though results will likely be announced at a press conference on February 15. - By Corey Moss
P. Diddy To Co-Host 'Live With Regis And Kelly' Add television co-host to hip-hop and fashion mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' list of steady occupations.After co-hosting the American Music Awards last week with Jenny McCarthy, Combs was asked to sit in for Regis Philbin on this Friday's edition of "Live With Regis and Kelly," according to the show's spokesperson. Combs, who was originally scheduled to be a guest on the program, will join co-host Kelly Ripa in interviewing actor Chuck Norris and country star Willie Nelson. - By Corey Moss
January 15, 2002 Brandy Stands On Hill Of Men, Rocks Low Rider In New Video Shot November 29 and 30 by director Dave Meyers, the clip opens with Brandy standing on a small hilltop putting mementos from her failed relationship into a chest. The singer isn't standing on any ordinary hill, though: The camera zooms out and we see that beneath the ground Brandy stands on, hundreds of agonizing men, down on all fours, are stacked on top of each other, providing the foundation. From there, Brandy goes into a tunnel and smashes (with a metal baseball bat) any other reminders of her Mr. Wrong (see "Brandy Roars Back At Mr. Wrong On 'What About Us?' ") For the clip, Brandy gets a little edgier with her wardrobe, wearing outfits that call to mind Aaliyah meets "The Matrix" meets Catherine Deane from "The Cell" - you can't exactly wear baggy jeans or jelly sandals when you have two chained-up, body- painted men laying at your feet as she does in the video. Keeping in tune with her West Coast upbringing, Brandy sheds the futuristic motif just long enough to hit switches in a low rider while her little bro Ray does his best tough-guy smirk for the camera. "What About Us?" debuted Thursday on MTV's "Making the Video." Full Moon will hit stores March 5. - By Shaheem Reid
DMX Sets Sights On Bloodline Tour, Jet Li Flick, PSAs From the big screen to the small screen to the studio to the stage, DMX is going to be everywhere this year.The rapper's spokesperson said he just signed on to kick butt alongside Jet Li in the Warner Bros. action vehicle "Cradle to the Grave," which ramps up next month and reunites the two "Romeo Must Die" stars. Warner Bros. said that while X has not officially signed on, they are close to sealing the deal. At the beginning of May, DMX will embark on a 30-city tour with artists from his Bloodline label that will carry on through mid-June. An itinerary has yet to be determined. X's PR rep let it be known there will be no rest for the weary - after the tour, the Dog is scheduled to finally shoot the long-talked-about fourth installment in the "Crow" franchise, "The Crow: Lazarus," in Toronto (see "Kahn To Direct DMX In Next 'Crow' Film"). In between, X will be in the studio to record a compilation with his Bloodline artists, including Big Stan, Kashmere and Loose, and will possibly work on another solo album. One place X wants to steer clear of is the courtroom. On January 9, he agreed to participate in a series of anti-gun and anti-animal cruelty public service announcements as part of a court settlement with Bergen County, New Jersey, prosecutors. X pleaded guilty to a series of charges, including 13 counts of animal cruelty, which stemmed from a June 1999 arrest. It has not yet been determined if the PSAs will end up on television, in print, on the radio or in another medium. In addition to the PSAs, X will be sentenced to probation on March 15 and faces up to a $1,000 fine for each of 13 counts of animal cruelty. His wife, who was also arrested with him in 1999, will have all charges against her dismissed. On a more pleasant note, DMX has partnered up with the Heineken Corporation to shoot a separate series of PSAs in which he will promote rap music as a positive force to communicate with young people. In the clips, which will air on TV, DMX will also speak on how rap helped change his life for the better. The video for X's latest single, "I Miss You," which features Faith Evans, debuts January 17 on MTV2, according to Def Jam. - By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Tina Johnson
January 14, 2002 Master P, Lil' Romeo To Star In Sitcom Together The rapper and his 11-year-old son, Lil' Romeo, will star this spring in the Nickelodeon sitcom "Pieces to the Puzzle." The show is a sort of urban version of "The Partridge Family" in which Master P plays dad and Romeo fronts the group. (MTV's parent company, Viacom, also owns Nickelodeon.) Master P also has a new film in the works titled "911," which will be his first to receive wide theatrical release. The movie is not yet cast, but the story will revolve around a good kid who turns bad before reforming his violent ways. "It's about this guy who grew up in the ghetto as the perfect student," he said. "His mom gets raped in the ghetto, and his dad gets killed, and his whole life is instantly changed. He lost the two people in his life that he loved, and he's pickin' up the phone and trying to dial 911, and nobody came to help him. He starts getting on drugs, he takes to the streets, and he just turns into a bad person. And people try to figure out what happened to this guy. Basically what we wanted to do was just show different sides of growing up in the ghetto and why people ... do some of the things they do." But before he begins work on that project he'll try his hand at writing a book. Don't expect a biographical story of gangbangin' and hip-hop hits, though. P's still-untitled tome will offer entrepreneurial advice on how to succeed in the music business, his publicist said, and it's expected to hit stores this summer. The rapper's latest record, Gameface, was released December 18. It is his label New No Limit's first release since entering into a partnership with Universal Records. - By Jon Wiederhorn, with additional reporting by Elon D. Johnson
Busta, Diddy Shoot Video With Mr. T, Chainsaws And Jamie Foxx Clip for 'Pass the Courvoisier' also features Rah Digga, Pharrell Williams, Mo'Nique.Busta Rhymes wasn't lying when he said that pairing him with P. Diddy leads to chaos. Last week on the set of a video for the remix of their "Pass the Courvoisier" duet, havoc reigned supreme. Guest star Mr. T, replete with a golden dinner plate, fork and spoon hanging off his gold rope chains, accidentally knocked down a cameraman. Meanwhile, Busta almost witnessed his homegirl Rah Digga severing her toes while the two held chainsaws in another scene. "That was something crazy," Rah said. "I actually dropped the chainsaw on my foot. The chainsaw was so heavy, I put it down, and it cut right through my boot. I thought I cut my toe off." A snippet of Rah's duet with Busta, "Betta Stay up in Your House," appears at the beginning of "Pass the Courvoisier." "We got the ill Wonder Twins effect," Rah said, laughing. "We had some pretty dope outfits that match. I got the cool, sleek jumpsuit version of what he has on. He's wearing the homeboy thug coat and baggy pants." Other celebs who make cameos include Jamie Foxx, Kym Whitley from BET's "Oh Drama," Mo'Nique of TV's "The Parkers" and half of the track's production team, Pharrell Williams from the Neptunes. Director Chris Robinson (Alicia Keys, Snoop Dogg) was at the helm for the entire affair. "The video is set up where it's a bunch of scenarios that this bottle of Courvoisier somehow sews together," Busta said. "We got a scenario from the 'Rush Hour 2' movie with the Asian masseuse parlor. Then we got a scenario from 'Harlem Nights.' Then we got a scenario from 'Coyote Ugly.' " In the 'Coyote Ugly' segment, Busta and Diddy take it to the bar, crawling between girls' legs to talk to the camera, dancing on pool tables and grinding on the females. "We sit down and we BS each other about who's hotter than who, but the camera loves both of us," Busta explained. "We both love the camera. At the end of the day, we're both gonna pull a few tricks out of our bag and see who's gonna shake a leg hotter than the other when it comes to this performance thing. We've got an understanding of how we vibe and that we're pretty much gonna bombshell the whole situation." "We're a team, let's jump together," Diddy told Busta during a break in shooting at the bar. Destiny's Child's Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, who popped up on the set to show love, looked on from the sidelines with smiles. "I just love the record," Busta said. "Everybody is bouncing back from September 11, the clubs are starting to get packed again, the party vibe is starting to happen again. I was like, 'Lets take 'em back to the clubs. Have 'em in the streets, winding their windows down again, blaring their systems out of their windows, annoying a couple of neighbors, being the party people we know how to be.' Me and Puff on a record together, it just felt like there wasn't a better situation for the club element, the street element." As for the title, "Courvoisier was at the right place at the right time," he said. "It could have been 'Pass the Heineken,' 'Pass the six-pack of Miller.' It didn't matter what brand of liquor. It just felt good." On the remix, the Neptunes bring their usual space funk, with Williams singing like James Brown on the hook. Like the original, Bus and Diddy go back and forth every few lines, they just deliver their rhymes a bit more laid-back. That is, except when Busta yells for everybody to jump when the song first starts. The video should debut in the next few weeks. - By Shaheem Reid
January 11, 2002 India.Arie Shoots New Video, Starts Work On Next LP One new song is titled "I Really Think Someone Oughta Know," her publicist said. Other titles are being kept under wraps. Arie is also putting the final touches on her new video, "Ready for Love," which was shot right before Christmas by director Sanaa Hamri, who filmed the Mariah Carey video for "Don't Stop." The clip depicts Arie performing on a set decorated with white candles and features cameos by Freddie Jackson, Musiq Soulchild, Glenn Lewis, Kindred, Nona Hendrix of Labelle, Grenique, Renee of Zhané and a few new Motown artists. "It's about the healing power of sounds and words," she said Friday at the announcement of the Grammy Awards nominations in Los Angeles. Arie was recognized in seven categories, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best New Artist. She credited the success of Acoustic Soul to her personal style of songwriting and carefully chosen lyrics. "I've always been very particular and very aware of what I say and what I won't say and how I say what I say, 'cause I believe in the power of music, and I know what it can do," she explained. - By Jon Wiederhorn, with additional reporting by Corey Moss
Eminem's 'Slim Shady' Is Now A-OK With The FCC Whether you like it or not, the FCC now says the radio edit of Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady" is neither indecent nor offensive.On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission rescinded the $7,000 fine it issued against Pueblo, Colorado, radio station KKMG-FM and its parent company, Citadel Broadcasting Company, for playing an edited version of the Eminem single. The decision effectively puts a stake in the heart of a free-speech imbroglio the FCC initiated last June. FCC Chief of Enforcement David H. Solomon issued a statement saying that the FCC "disagree[s] with our initial analysis, and we now conclude that the material at issue was not patently offensive under contemporary community standards ... accordingly, we conclude that the licensee did not violate the applicable statute or our indecency rule, and that no sanction is warranted." The FCC did not always feel that way. Last June, the bureau pursued an indecency complaint filed by a KKMG listener nearly a year earlier. The FCC concluded that the radio edit of "The Real Slim Shady" was "patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards" and that it contained "unmistakable offensive sexual references ... that appear intended to pander and shock" despite being edited by both Citadel and Eminem's label, Interscope Records. The FCC subsequently issued the fine for "willfully broadcasting indecent language". Citadel and KKMG immediately made moves to appeal the decision in federal court, and the FCC fine also prompted an immediate outcry from musicians, radio programmers and First Amendment activists who worried that the FCC was initiating a campaign to redefine indecency on the radio. Russell Simmons, who held his inaugural Hip-Hop Summit less than a week after the fine was issued, chose to make indecency a central talking point of his conference, even inviting FCC chief Michael Powell to attend. All that has been put to rest for now. While Eminem himself had no comment, a spokesperson for Interscope said that the label is pleased with the decision. - By Gideon Yago
January 10, 2002 Nelly Announces Release Date For Next LP The St. Louis MC, who'll portray a rapper named Prolific in the movie "Snipes" later this year, will be bringing his sing-songy rhyme flow to wax way before then, however: He and the rest of the St. Lunatics will be featured on group member Ali's debut solo effort, Heavy Starch, on April 9. The first single from that album is called "Boughetto" (pronounced boo-jetto), which means being a combination of bourgeoisie and ghetto and satirizes people who walk the line between class and crass. "She's boughetto, that means she's bourgeoisie and ghetto," they rhyme on the song. "Bougie 'cause her shoes cost a grand/ Ghetto 'cause she cuss too much and talks with her hand." The video was shot in Los Angeles on January 7 and 8 by Mark Klasfeld and features Ali as a teacher giving his students a crash course on the ins and out of boughettoness. Ali's song and clip should hit the airwaves in the next few weeks. No word yet on Nellyville's initial offering, as Nelly is still recording. - By Shaheem Reid
R. Kelly Wants To Take You To Love Land R. Kelly must be running on fumes, because in addition to recording a collaborative album with Jay-Z, The Best of Both Worlds, he's already embarked on his next solo endeavor."I'm working on my album called Love Land," Kelly said Friday. "I was inspired by September 11. I said, 'I'm gonna do a whole album about love, [of] love songs, and represent New York on that,' because that was a terrible thing that happened. Love Land is gonna say, 'Hey, I'm feeling you.' " Kelly said that he and Jay-Z are talking about releasing their respective new solo LPs about three months after The Best of Both Worlds, which is due in a couple of months. The potential chart competition with Jay-Z - whose next album is likely to be titled The Blueprint 2 - doesn't worry him. "When it's the best of both worlds, I can't be mad at that man," Kelly said. "He's the best at what he does, and vice versa." That healthy competition is also helping to fire up their collaboration, which has so far been recorded in separate studios. "It's hot, because I'm trying to show him I'm the hottest in R&B, and of course he's trying to show me [he's the best rapper]," Kelly said. "I want to continue to put out music, but I don't want to continue to put out music the same way," he added. "I'm not the type of guy to keep doing it the same. The traditional way is to keep it different." - By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Sway Calloway
January 9, 2002 Outkast, Ludacris, Dupri Serenade Atlanta's New Mayor The attendance of ATL's rhyme ambassadors was personally requested by the city's first female mayor, according to the artists' labels. Outkast helped usher her into office, performing "B.O.B," "The Whole World," "Ms. Jackson," and "So Fresh, So Clean" at the Georgia World Congress Center. Not to be outdone, Luda performed seven of his own tracks, including the night's most fitting ditty, "Welcome to Atlanta," with Jermaine Dupri. Outkast and Ludacris, who toured together last year, are both multiple nominees for this year's Grammys, with the Kasts getting six nods and the academy showing love to Cris twice. - By Shaheem Reid
Mary J. Blige Lines Up 18 Drama Dates Mary J. Blige will need a thorough travel agent if she truly wants No More Drama - she's about to live the life of an international playa.M.J.B. is going on tour in support of her latest LP starting February 5 in Poughkeepsie, New York, and ending March 7 in Los Angeles. Blige will then head out for a series of overseas concerts that begins on March 13 in Tokyo, according to Blige's label, MCA Records. She returns Stateside following an April 25 show in England and plans to begin a second leg of concerts afterward. "Going on tour and performing live is just as important to me as going into the studio and making an album," Blige said in a statement released Tuesday (January 8). "Giving my fans a live Mary show is not only for them, but for me. Having them there to cheer me on is what doing a tour is all about." No announcement has been made yet as to who will be trekking the globe with Blige on her outing. Her latest single, the remix to her album's title cut, features P. Diddy. Mary J. Blige tour dates, according to MCA Records:
- By Shaheem Reid
January 8, 2002 Pink, 3LW, Tupac To Appear On Naughty By Nature's Upcoming Album Last summer during a trip to Los Angeles, Naughty frontman Treach sent pages out to various rappers and singers saying he and his partner Vinnie were in town working on their album iicons, and whoever wanted to get down with them should come through to the studio. Acts such as Carl Thomas and Pink accepted the invite. "Treach is just a magnet," the group's Vinnie said Friday (January 4). "Whenever he gets in an area, he always knows somebody who knows somebody. It's a party wherever that boy goes. So it was just a matter of him reaching out and bumping into people, like, 'Yo we in the studio, come on by,' and we had a gang of tracks. It wasn't like we called [just] anybody, it was people who we had love for and respect." The album's first single, "Feels Good," features 3LW and should surface in March. "Naughty by Nature, our primetime is sort of like spring and summer," Vinnie said. "Right now after September 11 ... it was perfect timing to bring out a feel-good vibe. We started stuff and a lot of the kids picked up and ran with it. Right now we need more feel-good music in the market. A lot of these subject matters are getting stale." Pink gives off a sex kitten vibe on "What U Wanna Do." "I like the way you sound/ The way you put it down ... Got me so excited/ So what you wanna do?" she sings on the hook after telling the fellas they "need some rock" in their lives. Meanwhile, Treach says on the track he isn't shy about showing her his beefcake. Carl Thomas brings his trademark soul crooning, but sings in sort of a Jamaican accent on "NBN." "Why you trying to play me?" he asks on the hook. "You can't see the Naughty by Nature." Method Man and Redman, Queen Latifah, and Lil' John & the Eastside Boyz will also be featured on the LP, as will Treach's deceased best friend Tupac Shakur. A previously unreleased Pac verse will be heard on "Ashes to Ashes," where the two rhyme about living life on the edge. Naughty by Nature's iicons is slated for an April 9 release. - By Shaheem Reid
U2, India.Arie Lead Grammy Pack Acoustic Soul songstress surprises with seven; U2 top with 8. U2 stand to take home the most golden gramophones at the 44th annual Grammy Awards ceremony in February, though India.Arie just might steal their spotlight.The neo-soul songstress and her debut album, Acoustic Soul, were the buzz of Friday's (January 4) nomination ceremony after garnering an unexpected seven nominations, including the "big four": Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best New Artist. "I'm in shock right now," Arie said. "I think [my excitement] is going to grow. By this evening, I will be jumping and shouting. Musicians listen to other music real close, and to have your peers say that they love your stuff, that right there is a good, good, good, good, good thing." Arie, who danced with Furtado near the podium as their names were repeatedly announced, also scored nods for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("Video"), Best R&B Album and Best R&B Song. In between posing for dozens of paparazzi who were shouting, "India! India!," the singer equated Grammys with artistic freedom. "[Winning] will give me more freedom in how I choose to move in my career, and that means a lot to me, because there are a lot of things I want to do that would not sell albums if I didn't have a Grammy," she said. U2 are a step ahead of Arie with eight nods and will compete against her in three of the big four, save, of course, Best New Artist. The group also received nominations for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal ("Elevation"), Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal ("Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of"), Best Rock Album (All That You Can't Leave Behind) and two in the Best Rock Song category ("Elevation," "Walk On"). The Irish rockers have won 10 Grammys in their career, including two last year for "Beautiful Day," which unlike All That You Can't Leave Behind, was released before the cut-off qualifying date last fall. Newcomer Alicia Keys, who was expected to be a Grammy favorite after impressive album sales and critical acclaim, follows with six nominations, including Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year ("Fallin' "). Outkast and Brian McKnight each have five nominations, followed by Train and Nelly Furtado with four apiece. The latter is up for Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album (Whoa, Nelly!) Song of the Year ("I'm Like a Bird") and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("I'm Like a Bird"). "The nominations mean a lot to me," said Furtado, whose glowing face was as bright as her hot pink top. "From the beginning, when my album came out, I always said it came down to the music for me. I've been making music, playing instruments and writing songs since I was a little girl. I feel at home at a Grammy ceremony. It's all about the music. You can just be a nerdy musician." Whoa, Nelly! producers Gerald Eaton and Brian West will take on last year's winner, Dr. Dre, and others in the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical category. Veteran production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are named in the category for the seventh time. "It speaks to longevity," Jimmy Jam said. "It's 20 years of production business for Terry and I and 30 years of being friends. [Those were] a couple of milestones we were looking forward to celebrating, and now with the nomination we have another. But it's really about the artists. When you work with Janet [Jackson], Mariah [Carey], Mary J. Blige, Sting, Yolanda Adams, you know you're going to get some good records. You just don't want to blow it. We were fortunate enough to win it the first time, so the pressure's off." Train's four nominations are all for their unavoidable hit, "Drops of Jupiter." The San Francisco roots rockers are competing for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, though singer Pat Monahan said he was just happy to get a single nod. "The [Recording] Academy has honored such great people in the past, it means a lot," Monahan said. "I hope these people will listen to the rest of the album, which has some great songs." Several artists earned three nominations, including Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, Coldplay, Missy Elliott, Linkin Park, Jay-Z, Ja Rule, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake (two with 'NSYNC, one for his collaboration with McKnight on "My Kind of Girl"). Aerosmith have won four Grammys in the past - all in the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal category. The rock veterans are nominated in that category again this year for "Jaded." Dylan has won five Grammys, including Album of the Year in 1997 for Time Out of Mind. Love and Theft, Dylan's follow-up to Time Out of Mind, will vie for the prestigious Album of the Year title this year with U2, Arie, Outkast's Stankonia and the soundtrack to "O Brother, Where Art Thou?". Competing for Record of the Year, which honors song performers, are Arie, Keys, U2, Train and Outkast's "Ms. Jackson." Arie, Keys, Train and U2 are competing for Song of the Year, which honors songwriters, along with Furtado. Furtado, David Gray and Linkin Park hope their beginners' luck will outshine that of Keys and Arie in the Best New Artist category, following in the footsteps of last year's surprise winner, singer/songwriter Shelby Lynne, who beat out Jill Scott, Papa Roach and Sisqó. The announcement of the Grammy nominations traditionally causes a few utterances of "Huh?," and this year's list is no exception. The Best Male Pop Vocal Performance category rounds up the bizarre quintet of Michael Jackson, Elton John, Brian McKnight, James Taylor and Craig David. French electronica duo Daft Punk will compete against Lionel Richie and Gloria Estefan in the Best Dance Recording category ("Who Let the Dogs Out?" won last year). And pop singer Sheryl Crow is nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance (for a cover of "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" she recorded for a Hank Williams tribute album). Two Against Nature, by avant-funk duo Steely Dan, walked away with the Album of the Year award last year, stealing a bit of attention from controversial rapper Eminem, who performed with Elton John at the ceremony. Friday's press conference was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, with the nominations announced by Destiny's Child, producer/songwriter David Foster, Jimmy Jam, Stevie Nicks, Furtado, Arie, Ja Rule, country singer Jamie O'Neal, film/TV director Carl Reiner, Monahan and Usher. In all, nominations for 101 categories were revealed. In December, jazz artist Count Basie, easy listening crooner Perry Como, vocalist Rosemary Clooney, soul singer Al Green and folkie Joni Mitchell were named this year's recipients of the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Awards, and Tom Dowd and Alan Freed will receive Trustees Awards. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors lifelong artistic contributions to the recording medium, while the Trustees Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the industry in a non-performing capacity. The 44th annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast on CBS live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
- By Joe D'Angelo and Corey Moss
January 7, 2002 Left Eye Signs With Suge Knight's Tha Row The TLC rapper is now recording a second solo album for Tha Row, the new name of Suge Knight's Death Row Records, the empire that was once home to Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Lopes is recording the album in Los Angeles under the name N.I.N.A., an acronym for "New Identity Non-Applicable," and the street name for the 9mm handgun, according to her publicist. Supernova, Left Eye's solo debut, was released internationally last year and streamed on her Web site (www.eyenetics.com) in August. Arista Records chose not to release the album in the States. A spokesperson for Tha Row said the as-yet-untitled album will be released soon. Meanwhile, Lopes is also recording with TLC for their next album. The R&B trio have been working with producers Dallas Austin, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Eddie Hustle. Other possible collaborators include Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott and Raphael Saadiq. Left Eye is the first member of TLC to release a solo album, though Chilli is reportedly recording without the group. - By Corey Moss and Tina Johnson
Ludacris Parties In A Tree House, Shows Chickens Getting It On In New Clip After telling people to keep their noses out of his affairs and not to concern themselves with why he still hangs out in the 'hood or the identity of his female butt-naked cook on his hit "Roll Out (My Business)," Ludacris is having a small change of heart. He's going to show the whole world how he spends part of his weekend with his next video, "Saturday (Oooh Oooh!)," from his Word of Mouf LP."Man, I always try to outdo myself," Cris said about the challenge of making videos. "I just like being different ... as innovative as possible." Shot in Atlanta on December 9 and 10 by Steve Carr, "Saturday" finds Cris partying in a tree house that's located next to a giant beanstalk on his farm. And if the chickens having sex don't please the audience, Cris can find solace in the fact that his weekend adventures are amusing to a cheerful pit bull who'll remind you of the cartoon canine Muttley. The dog has a severe case of the giggles. - By Shaheem Reid
January 4, 2002 Mary J. Blige, Marc Anthony Score Super Bowl Pre-Game Gig Even if the big game leaves some fans bitter, at least the musical component is sounding sweet. Mary J. Blige and Marc Anthony are the latest artists slated to perform at Super Bowl XXXVI, taking place February 3 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The pair will deliver a patriotic duet of "America the Beautiful," backed by the Boston Pops, during the pre-game festivities, according to a spokesperson for Anthony. Following their set, Mariah Carey will kick things off before the ball ever leaves the tee with her rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," also accompanied by the Pops. As the teams leave the field at halftime, U2 will take to the gridiron for a brief set. Neither Blige nor Anthony are strangers to sporting events. The queen of hip-hop soul performed at Super Bowl XXXV, along with Aerosmith, 'NSYNC, Nelly and Britney Spears. Meanwhile, Marc Anthony will appear before an international array of athletes at the Winter Olympic Games in February. - By Joe D'Angelo
DMC Hits Rock Bottom, Climbs Back With Help of Limp Bizkit's DJ Lethal Run-D.M.C. rapper deals with depression by recording solo album.Who says multiplatinum rock stars only collaborate with other current chart-toppers? As Limp Bizkit search for a guitarist to replace Wes Borland and frontman Fred Durst continues to sign and mentor new bands to platinum success, Bizkit turntablist DJ Lethal is embarking on a project with rapper Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of Run-D.M.C. And DMC didn't even have to ask. When DJ Lethal found out the hip-hop pioneer was working on a new disc - which DMC hopes to have in stores this spring - the Bizkit spinner approached with demos and asked to be involved. "I went over to his house, and he started playing me tracks, and it was so crazy," DMC enthused Wednesday. "The records that he played me were so perfect for the records I had already written. He did three tracks on the album, and they're incredible." Maybe so, but just don't expect songs from the tentatively titled Homicidal, Suicidal & Political to sound anything like classic Bizkit. It'll be more like classic rock. DMC is forming songs around snippets of Neil Young's "Old Man," Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Ohio," the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and Pink Floyd's "Us and Them," though instead of using recorded samples, DMC may hire live musicians to replay the passages. "I don't think it's a record where I'm gonna be saying, 'I'm the king of rock, and I'm the best rapper. Run-D.M.C.'s the greatest,' " said DMC. "I did that already. I've got more important things to do with this music. The stuff that I'm writing now is more like John Lennon and Bob Dylan." Many of the classic-rock-inspired tracks are not done, but DMC and Lethal have completely revamped a version of the Beatles' "Come Together." "I'm using that hook, and I'm rapping about, you know, don't kill the whales," said DMC. "I guess people that are against fur are gonna be happy. That record is really dealing with the environment and let's not fight each other. Let's not accuse each other and just come together." The second track with Lethal is an energetic cut called "What's Wrong," which features a guest rap by Napoleon of the Outlawz. "I'm talking about what's going on in the world today: kids killing each other, bringing guns to school, everybody taking ecstasy," said DMC. "The name of the record first was gonna be What's Wrong With These Kids Today?, but I didn't want to alienate myself because we all do the same things no matter what generation it is - sex, drugs, everything. Basically I'm kind of like the older guy [in the song], but I'm still doing those things, and Napoleon, he's the younger guy, and we talk about everybody in between." The final song Lethal worked on will either be called "Negative and Positive" or "My Life." The uncharacteristically dark track addresses DMC's recent battles with substance abuse and depression, which worsened after the last Run-D.M.C. album, Crown Royal (2001). "It's a real personal song about how I struggle with suicide, alcoholism and drugs," he explained. "Sometimes I just want to go out there and take a gun and kill people. You know, there's always a time when you're sitting at home and you've had something in your job that's messing with you or something in your life. It could be your wife, your kids, your boss. And you just go, 'I wanna kill motherf---ers.' I was at this point where I thought I was gonna really go through with that. And then it was like, 'All right, I don't really want to harm anybody. Let me just take this gun and put it to my own head.' Then I was like, 'Nah, I don't wanna do that. Let me just drink myself to death.' " Though he didn't brood in silence, even his bandmates didn't realize how close to the edge he had slid. "I was always thinking to myself, 'Let me go get my gun.' And I would always make jokes around Run. I'd say, 'Yeah, man, see what's gonna happen tomorrow. I'm gonna pull my gun out and kill all y'all.' And Run would always go, 'D, don't kill me, man. I got five kids and they love me. I'm not ready to leave.' And I would say I was joking, but those thoughts were coming from somewhere. I really meant it. I just never let myself go there." DMC's rage stemmed largely from his frustration with the Crown Royal sessions, in which he was hardly involved, and not by choice. Intent on evolving, DMC wanted edgy raps and innovative music, but his bandmates were more intent on capturing the energy and bounce of their '80s classics like Raising Hell. "Everybody was saying, 'Aw, D, you ain't rhyming no more. Your voice is gone. Nobody likes what you're writing about,' because I was writing from my experience and I wanted my music to grow. I don't want to be still rhyming about driving around in cars. I don't want to rhyme about stuff I don't do." Right when DMC felt as confused and disillusioned as he thought he could get, he found out he was adopted. The news sent him into a self-destructive tailspin. "I was definitely bugging out," he said. "My dad told me because I was working on my book ['King of Rock'], so I had to ask my mother where I was born and what time. And my dad was like, 'I think he's prying,' so they called me back and said, 'Don't you know, you remember you was adopted?' They said they told me when I was 5 years old, but I don't remember. I was like, 'Damn, what else is gonna happen in my life?' " Last winter, around the time he hit rock bottom, DMC started writing the songs for Homicidal, Suicidal & Political and was surprised to find the work extremely therapeutic. To come to terms with his adoption, he remade Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle." Within months of that he had more than 100 different parts written for various songs. DMC now has 11 songs finished and wants to record at least two more before he shops the record around to labels. Having vented his aggression on his new album, DMC seems to be at least hitting the entrance ramp of the road to recovery. This year he plans to promote the disc with a solo tour and will also tour with Run-D.M.C. In addition, he's getting ready to search for his real parents and plans to become a spokesperson for adoption agencies. "All of this has really given me something to live for," he said. "I can't commit suicide. Look, my life's a mystery now, and if I leave I'll never be able to solve that mystery." - By Jon Wiederhorn
January 3, 2002 Snoop, Xzibit, B-Real, Ice-T To Show Up On Roger Troutman Tribute "It's done. Right now we're in the mastering stage, we been mixing all weekend," Ro said Wednesday (January 2) from his Los Angeles office. "Right after Roger died I was thinking of doing a song and getting rappers out here to get on it and give it to the radio. So many people started hearing about it and wanted to get involved, I was like 'We should make a whole album.' The whole process took a while because we'll be thinking we're done and more people would pop up, 'Hey I wanna get on this album.' " "Roger's music is a part of the backbone of hip-hop, along with James Brown and George Clinton, so I didn't have to think twice about being part of this tribute album," Ice-T said in a statement released to the press. He performs on "Get On Down" along with Kurupt, Mac Mall and Xzibit. "Here in the West it's kinda cliqued up, certain people only work with certain people," Ro said. "I wanted to mix that up a little bit. Put people you wouldn't think would be on the same track together, put them on the same song, to kind of freak people out." Other combo punches include Ras Kass, Kam, Tash, B-Real and Spice-1 on the title track, J-Ro and Daz Dillinger on "Party Started" and Snoop Dogg, Tray D, Rappin 4-Tay and Roger himself on "Throw It Up," which is a cut off of 4-Tay's last LP, 1999's Introduction to Mackin'. With the exception of the aforementioned tune, Chico DeBarge's cover of "I Wanna Be Your Man" and Mirror's remake of "Slow & Easy," all of the album's songs are new, with producers such as Battle Cat and J-Ro's Liks groupmate E-Swift showcasing Troutman's funk influence in their beats. Ro said he would not be shooting videos and submitting them to TV; instead, he plans to film "low-budget" clips for some of the LP's songs and include them on a DVD, which will also feature behind-the-scenes footage of how the album came together. Troutman, the leader of his family's band Zapp, has had endless influence on the hip-hop community - artists such as Heavy D, EPMD, Dr. Dre, Tupac and DJ Quik have all sampled his records for their songs. Troutman was shot to death in April of 1999 by his brother Larry in a murder/suicide. - By Shaheem Reid
Ludacris Gets Songwriting Help From Eddie Murphy, Leslie Nielsen As long as Ludacris keeps his Blockbuster Video card in good standing, he'll never run out of material to put in his songs. The Atlanta native says old movies are his muse."Ever since I was a kid, the number one thing that people don't know about me is I love movies," said Cris, who dedicated a small portion of his latest LP, Word of Mouf, to re-creating a scene from Eddie Murphy's "Coming to America." "I watch movies all day, every day. And I'm the type of person that'll watch a movie like six times. I don't get tired of it. 'Coming to America' has got to be one of my favorite movies. I like watching slapstick comedies like 'Scary Movie' and 'Naked Gun.' And it's not like I necessarily think of them all the time - they just pop up into my head. So whenever I'm rhyming, if it suits the song I'm talking about and it just fits me, [then I use it.]" Cris has been dropping plenty of silver-screen references in his many guest appearances. In the last six months, he's jumped on LPs by Fat Joe, Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, Timbaland and Magoo, and the Ruff Ryders. "God has been looking out for me," he said. "I'm not necessarily chasing anything - it's like these people come to me and they say, 'I want you on the record,' and I get on there. All I know is whether it's ghetto or whether it's commercial, I think I balance myself out where I can relate to both sides. So, I'm just going to be me either way it is, whether it's over something like the Mariah Carey 'Loverboy' joint or whether it's ghetto or it's grimy or it's just talking about the 'hood." The next group of artists Cris plans to make hits with is his own clique Disturbing Tha Peace - Shawna, 4-IZE, Infamous 2-0 and Fate Wilson - on their Golden Grain LP, due next year. "The same way they look at me is the way I look at them," he said about recording with the collective. "I feel like each one of them has something to add, whether it's their voice, their personality, their rhyme skills. And it's basically like you complete a little spectrum. It's almost like you can make the song even more full if you just use what you have to your advantage. We're a team." - By Shaheem Reid
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