NEW VIDEO: JAY-Z "A BILLI" LIVE IN PARIS

NEW VIDEO: JAY-Z @ GLASTONBURY

Better late than Never: Check out your boy: Wonderwall, 99 problems, Is That Your Chick, Rehab

NEW AUDIO: LIL WAYNE

Lil Wayne had fans weighing in a couple months ago, whether or not his album sales would be affected by the many delays of his newest album Tha Carter 3. Album or no album, your boy stays in the studio. Heres some new audio from Lil Wayne courtesy of itsWayne.com. Check out the downloads after the jump...

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Check out New Audio from Lil Wayne "Real Rap" - Lil Wayne "Mr. Carter (new verse)" - Lil Wayne "Mask On" - Boyz N Da Hood ft. Lil Wayne "I Am" - Tyga ft. Lil Wayne "Aint Sayin Nothin (remix)" - Fat Joe ft. Lil Wayne & The Game "Bye Bye (remix)" - Mariah Carey ft. Lil Wayne and Akon "Whip It" - Lil Wayne According to Billboard Weezy's Tha Carter 3 sold 423,000 copies in its first day. DOWNLOAD: Lil Wayne - Mr. Carter (New Verse) f. Jay-Z DOWNLOAD: Lil Wayne - Real Rap

KOOL HERC SUING JAY-Z FOR BILLIONS!!

Clive Campbell B.K.A. Kool Herc and associates, are suing Jay-Z, real estate delveoper Bruce Ratner and Barclay’s Bank for $5 billion for slavery reparations. I need to get more facts on the subject, but it ain't nothing new. This was what America was built on. I guess Jay-Z may just be a true American Gangster...read it for yourself.

Hip hop founder DJ Kool Herc is filing a $5 billion lawsuit against Jay-Z, real estate developer Bruce Ratner and Barclays Bank that is seeking money for slavery reparations.

Jay Z, Ratner and several other partners joined forces to purchase the NBA’s New Jersey Nets franchise in 2004 for $300 million.

They plan to move the Nets to Brooklyn and Barclays Bank reportedly shelled out $400 million to build an arena for the team and own the arena’s naming rights for 20 years,.

According to The New York Observer, Kool Herc claims that Barclays Bank was founded by profits from the slave trade and that Mr. Ratner and Jay-Z worked “in concert” with Barclays, and “profited from the African Slave Trade and continue to profit from these gains, through a conspiracy dating back hundreds of years and continue to date to oppress Black people, enslave them, unlawfully deport them to all corners of the Earth.”

Herc, who is credited as the founder of hip hop and the originator of break-beat DJing, will be filing the suit with the Black Defense League today (February 25).

Barclays has denied having ties to the slave trade an d Forest City Ratner, Mr. Ratner’s development group, declined to comment. sixshot

NEW VIDEO: JAY Z and ?UESTLOVE

Behind the scenes peak @ a rehearsal for Jay Z's song "Roc Boys" (and the winner is...). The sound quality gets kinda fuzzy at times, but it's still a great video. Love the horns.

MUSIC NEWS: NEYO SUES R-KELLY, MYA WANTS TO LEAVE MOTOWN, NO MARIAH CD JUST YET (damn)

Mariah's album has been pushed back to the 2nd quarter of 2008. According to Billboard via Mariah Daily, she could possibly face stiff competition from Usher, and Ashanti (who isn't really a threat *lol*).I guess this spells bad news because it means we won't be hearing the single for MONTHS. I knew Def Jam weren't going to allow Janet and Mariah to be pitted against each other because it would mean the record label losing a profit. I guess they want to make as much profit as they can from both artist. Right now, it seems they're putting all their concentration into Janet's project, testing the waters just to see what measures need to be taken when it's time for Mariah to put herself out there. Mya did an interview with Stars News Online and she actually confessed that she will be leaving Universal Motown this year. I think that she should have done this a long time ago. I understand the policies of contractual agreements making it harder to leave but Motown has a history of doing a wackjob with their artists. It's probably the worst label you could sign to alongside Virgin. I think she should go independent like what my favourite singer Tamia has done. I'm sure she'd get better luck. And she should scrap Liberation altogether as well and record a brand new album. Mary J. Blige latest new album 'Growing Pains' has nabbed the #1 spot on Billboard having sold 204,000 copies this week. She actually debuted at no 2. But this is good news for Mary, although I didn't think Growing Pains was all that, it sure was a lot better than some of the crap that had been unleashed to us that year. For Mary though, I was expecting her album to fair bigger. The hype surrounding this album was nowhere near as monumental as The Breakthrough. I have no doubt that by next week, she'll be platinum. A million copies sold in 3 weeks. Not bad. Chris Brown is being sued by his concert tour designer because the 'Kiss Kiss' singer didn't pay him. John Troxtel was supposed to be paid for designing the singer's concert tour set and an agreed negotiation was reached between all the parties involved. But when it was time for him to pick up that cheque, the touring company went straight incognito on that ass and flat out refused. What is it with R&B singers, concerts and lawsuits these days? Anyway, go check out TMZ for the full scoop. The so-called dragon is set to unleash its fires when Sisqo makes a steady return to the limelight once again. Sisqo hasn't had a hit record since 2001's Thong Song. Probably one of the most annoying ass records in R&B history. But the singer says he didn't take a break from music but that he was unable to release any music contractually for 2 years, after the last Dru Hill album. Yesterday, he wrote a message on his Myspace: "Hope everyone enjoyed their New Years. Touring in Germany was great, but it's time for the US to feel me! Be on the look out for "Gone Country" premiering this month on CMT". Gone HELLBOUND I say and unleash those fires all over yourself because I don't really want to hear it, not with that wackjob of a supposed comeback video (Daddy) and that appalling last album of yours. Ne-yo is suing R. Kelly and the promoter Rowe Entertainment for having him kicked off R. Kelly's Double Up Tour. It is believed R. Kelly encouraged the promoter to have Ne-yo dismissed because the audience and critics reacted more favourably to Ne-yo's performances. I see it as a case of bruised ego's in which R. Kelly decided that another act upstaging the headliner just wasn't acceptable. Ne-yo now wants the full amount negotiated which was $785,000 for doing 25 gigs with singers Keyshia Cole and J. Holiday.Best of Both Worlds tour-mate Jay-Z and concert promoter Atlanta Worldwide with a breach of contract lawsuit. R. Kelly actually accused Jay-Z of sabotaging the tour because he was jealous that the audience was reacting more favourable to HIS ass. And now look! EXACT same situation repeating itself all over again Although Ne-yo didn't complete these gigs he still wants the remaining $735,000. See how things always come back to bite you in the ass R. Kelly? You sued your fellow .

NEW AUDIO: F-A-B-O-L-O-U-S "ROC BOYS" FREESTYLE

Fabolous - Roc Boys (Freestyle) Bonus: Styles P Feat. Jadakiss & Sheek Louch - Blow My Mind (Remix) Listen

JAY Z TRYING TO GET ALL THE MONEY $$$

Jay-Z and business partners are planning a J Hotels venture beginning with a prospective Chelsea location in New York City. According to the New York Post, Jay-Z and business partners Abram Shnay, a local developer, his son, Scott, and Charles Blaichman have purchased a $66 million block of real estate in the Chelsea neighborhood on which to build. "It's a great piece of property adjacent to the High Line in a great neighborhood," Scott Shnay said. The J Hotels group is currently deciding what to build on the location, but options being considered include an art gallery or high end hotel. It is said they are able to build up to 12 stories. Jay-Z will perform at The Palms December 29 and will open a new location of his 40/40 Club Dec. 30 inside the Venetian in Las Vegas. via:hhnlive

NEW VIDEO: JAY-Z INTERVIEW MTV.COM

In the second installment of MTV.com’s exclusive four part interview with Jay-Z, he speaks at length about how he uses coded references (for example: Britney Spears alleged drug usage in a line from “Roc Boys”) to metaphorically make certain statements without flat out saying them. Jay says:

“… it’s not your typical punch line, and you can’t guess it. You know how sometimes someone says a line and you can guess the second one, where they’re going? You can’t guess it or can’t see it [with me]– it just comes out of nowhere. And you might not get it ever. Or you might get it five years later. That’s what it’s for…. So I leave certain things out there, open-ended in space.”

Also, make sure you check out part one of MTV.com’s exclusive interview

MUSIC NEWS UPDATE: DETAILS ON JAY Z NEW ALBUM, PRODUCERS, TRACKS AND CONCEPTS AND YES, A TRACK LISTING....DON'T MENTION IT, YOU'RE WELCOME

Uncontrollable Hustler’s Ambition

I don’t know where Cam’ron is, but I sure as hell know where Jay-Z is. He’s at a studio in Manhattan, CEO in full artist mode, feeling inspired and making his first true “concept” album. No he still doesn’t write his rhymes down but a pen and paper is getting heavy use today. It has the rough titles of the 14 songs Jigga has created and he’s carefully trying to create the perfect musical sequence for his new album. Inspired by the Denzel Washington flick that stays in rotation on a TV screen above him, Jay wants the album to tell a story from beginning to end.

He’s 100% sure he wants the album to begin with a song called “Pray,” his most intricate and vivid storytelling since the severely-underrated “Meet The Parents.” I believe it’s one of the four songs that will make the album that was produced by Puffy and the Hitmen. That’s right, Puffy and the Hitmen.

Jay told me a funny story in the elevator on the way to get his first look at the Hype Williams-directed “Blue Magic” video. He said Puff would always bug him like, “Nigga let me executive produce your next album.” Jay would basically be like, “What the fuck you talkin’ about? I’m a boss. And you’re a boss. That don’t even make any sense.” But finally Hova gave in and agreed to at least listen to what the Shiny Suit man had cookin’ in the stu. Surprisingly, he was blown away.

Supposedly, Puff had gotten all the D-Dots, Amen-Ras, Nashiems, Stevie J’s and Carlos Broadys back together again and they’ve been creating some funky 70’s soul inspired grooves. Jay asked Puff, “What are you doing with these tracks?” Puff was like, “I don’t even know. It’s just some cool shit, I listen to around my house. Walking around with my socks on and shit.”

Just how Just Blaze’s work inspired the beginning of Kingdom Come, the Hitmen tracks built the foundation of American Gangster. As it’s been widely reported (NY Times I see ya), most of Jay’s vocal content recounts hustler tales over neck snapping beats. Jay likens it to the lyrical side of Reasonable Doubt meets the musical majesty of Blueprint.

The album marriages Jay’s real life experiences like buying out the bar with his hustler buddies (the d-boy celebratory next release “Roc Boys”) with songs inspired by scenes from the movie. Notably, the one where Denzel as Frank Lucas is distraught that his nephew played by T.I. has abandoned his dreams of being professional baseball player and wants to get into the “family business.” Jay moved by that scene applies it his own cautionary lesson to his nephews for them to always stay on the right path.

Fuck what ya heard. Truth be told, “Blue Magic” is not even one of the strongest songs on the album. But Jay insists it was the best way to introduce the direction of the new record. (“Let’s take ‘em to the ‘80s, before we take ‘em to the ‘70s.”) The other record that the Imperial Skateboard P did, is the only song that sounds like it could be a commercial smash. It’s a song about the effect of heroin disguised as a love song. The rest here is straight gutter. A lot of “aggressive content” for you goofies and doofies.

Tracks like “Success” (produced by No ID “The Mentor”) will have your trunk rattling as well as the somewhat Dream-inspired “No Hook.” Light on the choruses, Jigga flourishes when he addresses some of the hot stove topics you want him to touch on. DeHaven, the mad extorter, gets it on a couple of tracks. And Beyonce, the fiancée?, gets a dedicated verse on which Jay declares, “She’s on my dick and I’m on her bra strap.” Besides y’all haters of the male persuasion couldn’t afford to take ole girl on a “million dollar vacation” like the big homie.

As it stands now, the album has a surprising end. The final song is called “Fallen,” produced by Jermaine Dupri. That’s right Prez Carter’s supposed corporate rival. Bilal’s on the hook but again this ain’t no commercial ish. It aims to bring the whole album full circle. That as always, gangstas don’t get chubby and move to Miami, they end up in jail or they die. Thankfully, American Gangster will prove Young Hova’s career is alive and well.

Loose Ends: There’s a DJ Toomp track Jay is still working on and another one with a Marvin Gaye sample that Jay still feels needs some more production muscle. There’s also a new version of “Ignorant Shit” that features Beanie Sigel (the only guest rapper I heard so far) and Jay lets Imus have it in the final verse.

Jesus, that’s it for now, I got an interview to prepare for. Any of you fuckers got any questions you want me to ask the Great One, holla atcha boy. Y’all owe me.

UPDATE: Supa engineer extraordinaire Young Guru granted me some clarity: Puff’s 2007 Hitmen consist of Sean C. and LV (aka Grind Music). LV is also Fat Joe’s DJ and Sean C. co-produced “Can’t Knock The Hustle.” They actually have five tracks on the album. And them niggas got some heat. You’ll see.

Courtesy: XXLMAG

A trailer of the movie utilizing Jay-Z's 'Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)' has leaked online, view it here.

Here is the "ALLEGED" tracK list for 'American Gangster':

1. 'Amen'
2. 'Blue Magic'
3. 'Untitled'
4. 'Alright, Alright'
5. 'You Don't Know'
6. 'And The Winner Is'
7. 'American Gangster'
8. 'Welcome'
9. 'Ignorant Shit'
10. 'The Demise'
11. 'I Get Money (Remix)'

MUSIC NEWS: STADIUM TO BE RENAMED AFTER JAY Z....MAYBE....

Def Jam CEO Jay-Z, who’s also a co-owner of NBA’s New Jersey Nets, is making a bid to rename and rebrand the Continental Airlines Arena with his Rocawear Clothing line. According to various reports, Sean Carter himself is attempting to buy out the arena name since the Continental Airlines naming-rights contract recently expired. The airline relinquished their contract once the NHL Devils (another “home team” in addition to the Nets) announced plans to build a new stadium in Newark, NJ. Clothing lines Izod and Southpole are also in talks to gain the naming-rights.

“We’re looking forward to presentations by bidders next week and then we’ll get into the process of evaluation,” says New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority president George Zoffinger. “I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to over-achieve the current financial deal that we [had] with Continental.”

Think2wice

NEW PICS: JAY Z AND PHARRELL ON THE SET OF "BLUE MAGIC" VIDEO

Jigga and Pharrell shooting the video for Jay Z first single, "Blue Magic" off the upcoming American Gangsta album.

NEW AUDIO: JAY Z "BLUE MAGIC"

Jay-Z dropped the first single off his upcoming album, American Gangster, which will be in stores November 6th. Click here to listen BLUE MAGIC