Hot Off The Presses: LL Cool J, DMX, Bow Wow, Murs & More
Published: Friday - August 22, 2008
Words by BallerStatus News Staff
LL Cool J (Photo: Def Jam)
24-year hip-hop vet, LL Cool J, gets a little political on his upcoming album, Exit 13. Among tracks with Jon Bon Jovi, 50 Cent and Trey Songz, LL reached out to Wyclef to collaborate on a track called "Mr. President," which LL says is a letter to the US prez, G.W. Bush. While most rappers last out at our politicians, LL told MTV he took a different route. "If I had an opportunity to have a conversation with him, I'd pose a few questions to him in a respectful manner -- because I think that, as a community, we can get further with me asking him questions in a respectful manner than me talking crazy. Instead of me starting a bunch of ruckus, I pose a bunch of questions that I thought were fairly intelligent to him, and we'll see if there's a response that comes back." In the beginning of the track, he raps about wanting to take a trip to Bush's house for a sit down, and later on, addresses the war in Iraq. He raps, "Don't get me wrong / I respect the flag / But it hurts to see a kid in a body bag / He fought for his country with all he had / Now we have a family without a dad / Lil mama's crying, the kid's are scared./ On 9/11, why were we unprepared?" Exit 13 is slated to hit stores September 9. ...
Despite all his recent run-ins with the law, DMX still seems to be able to handle some of his business interests. According to reports, the rapper has teamed up with an Arizona company to produce a release show, tentively titled "This Life Is Mine," which will focus on his family life, legal woes, and self-rehabilitation. "In many ways, my life has been an open book," DMX said in a statement. "But I haven't always been the one writing the story. With this show, however, people will get to see and hear with their own eyes and ears what really goes on in my life and I think they'll come to understand me a little bit better with each episode." At press time, there was no word as to when the show is expected to air, and/or if they've garnered any interest from any specific networks. Stay tuned. ...
Bow Wow recently made an appearance at a local basketball game in Yonkers, New York, which ended with a man getting his face sliced. According to the Lower Hudson Journal, the rapper was attending a "midnight basketball" at Nepperhan Community Center event in Yonkers on Tuesday night (August 19), which ended in an unidentified 20-year-old man suffering a 6-inch slash to his left cheek. The victim was just a spectator said authorities. Bow Wow played no part in the incident. ...
MTV had added a star-studded line-up of performers for their 2008 Video Music Awards (VMAs). Among them are Rihanna, T.I., and Lil Wayne, who will join the likes of pop stars like the Jonas Brothers, Kid Rock and Pink. This year's awards show, which airs live September 7 at 9 p.m. from the Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood, will be hosted by British comic and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" co-star Russell Brand. ...
Independent hip-hop stalwart Murs recently announced that he will begin his first nationwide, headlining two in two years, kicking it off on October 7th in San Francisco. The tour will be in support of his upcoming major label debut, Murs For President, which is set to hit stores at the end of September on Warner Bros Records. In addition to the tour, which will run through December, Murs is set to attend the Democratic National Convention from August 23rd – 29th in Denver, CO to provide a youth perspective of the conference. As a field correspondent, cameras will follow Murs around while he interviews fans, young politicians, and supporters, attends press conferences, gives speeches, and finally performs at the Will.I.Am after-party that will close out the week's events. For more information, visit Murs4President.com. ...
Cypress Hill frontman, B-Real, recently announced that he has inked a solo album deal with New York indie label, Duck Down Records, following the addition of pioneer KRS-One and DJ Revolution to their roster. B-Real's debut will be titled Smoke N Mirrors, and will feature collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Buckshot, Damian Marley, Sean Price and Sen Dogg. It is slated for release in early 2009. ...
The West Coast Regional Hip-Hop Awards is slated to make a return in October, recognizing the rising faces of the West Coast hip-hop scene. This year, their 2nd annual ceremony, will be hosted by model Porsha Coleman, Westside Radio’s Julio G, and comic T.K Kirkland, while performers will include G. Malone, Colby O' Donis, Problem, and Strong Arm Steady alongside Talib Kweli. It will be a two-day event, with the first day (October 24) catering to fans and media via a meet and greet, with the following day being the ceremony. For further info, visit WestCoastHipHopRegionalAwards.com. ...
Editorials & Columns Soulstice From France Blog #3: Day 4 Embarking on a 9-show winter tour in Europe, one of my goals was just making it through the tour without getting sick. ... full story
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