Blogs

Yeah I know we all thought she was gone already, but Kat Stacks is proving harder to get rid of than New York City bed bugs.

Her days in the U.S. appear to be numbered though.

HipHopWired is reporting that a Nashville judge ordered her deportation back to Venezuela several days ago. The only thing keeping her here are appeals.

"aint going no mothaf*ckin' where ima keep appealing my case until this b*tches release me," she tweeted. "im a soulja what dont kill me makes me stronger."

That's just wishful thinking on her part. It's highly doubtful that Kat, born Andrea-Herrera Cardena, will still be in the states two months from now.

I'm sure there are more than a few rappers and fans that are glad to see her go.

Follow Me on Facebook, Myspace and Twitter

Video After The Jump

Cee Lo Green and Lupe Fiasco chopped it up on the premier of Fuse's new show 'Talking To Strangers.'

Lupe talked about what it was like growing up as one of nine siblings, raised by a militant father who was a member of the Black Panthers, how he got his stage name and Nas being his favorite rapper.

He also performed “Out of My Head,” “The Show Goes On,” and “Daydreamin’.”

Video After The Jump

Jadakiss releases new visuals for a track off of his latest mixtape 'I Love You (A Dedication To My Fans).'

You can cop the tape now via iTunes.

Missy Elliot's long absence from the music scene has finally been explained.

The rapper revealed that she is suffering Graves' disease -- an autoimmune disorder that leads to overactivity of the thyroid gland.

The signs she was suffering from the disease first showed up in 2008.

"I was [driving and] trying to put my foot on the brake, but my leg was jumping. I couldn't keep the brake down and almost crashed," Elliott told People. "I couldn't write because my nervous system was so bad -- I couldn't even use a pen."

Radiation treatments sapped the star of energy and caused her to lose hair.

Missy's last album 'The Cookbook' was released in 2005, but she is said to be recording new material as her health has gotten better.

"I'm 30 pounds lighter because I've been exercising." Elliott says. "My thyroid is functioning, so I haven't had to take medication in about nine months. [But] you live with it for the rest of your life."

Missy will talk more about her battle with the disease and even opens up about childhood sexual abuse she suffered in an upcoming VH1 Behind The Music special.

"Missy was great and very candid. She talked for the first time about her [near fatal bout with] Graves disease, which she’s been battling for the last few years, and spoke in detail about the sexual abuse she experienced as a child," executive producer Brad Abramson told Vibe.

The VH1 special airs Wednesday June 29 at 10 P.M. eastern.

Follow Me on Facebook, Twitter and Myspace

Video After The Jump

Wiz Khalifa was in Lake Tahoe the other night when an overzealous fan hopped on stage and tried to touch the rapper.

That's when Wiz called out to one of the members of his security team who tackled the fan Ray Lewis style.

Peep the footage below.

Sean Kingston is well on his way to making a full recovery.

TMZ is reporting that The 21-year old singer has been released from Jackson Memorial hospital in Miami three weeks after a near fatal jet ski accident.

Kingston suffered a broken jaw, water in his lungs and a fractured wrist when his watercraft hit a bridge on May 29.

Audio After The Jump

As we previously reported 50 Cent has unveiled details about his new 50/50 deal for artists that Shawty Lo became the first to sign.

The Atlanta rapper spoke with MTV yesterday and further explained why 50's offer was more appealing to him than the 360 deals major labels are now offering.

"I'm just not a believer in a 360 deal. I feel like I can make my own money before I let a label come in a give me a 360 deal," Shawty said. "You don't have to give me a whole lot of upfront money to do a 360. I don't need that."

The unpopular 360 deal allows labels to get a piece of not only record sales, but touring and merchandising as well.

The 50/50 deal covers all overhead costs. Once Fif recoups promo and recording costs, Shawty splits all income from records 50/50 and doesn't have to share touring or merchandising.

Shawty added that he just felt more comfortable dealing with someone who came up from the streets like he did and made something out of nothing.

"I just felt like 50 would be the best situation for me, man, because my life story came from where my life story came from: turning a negative into a positive," he explained. "It feels like it's familiar with 50's life. That's why I ran with him. Another label could've offered me five times what 50 offered me. I just feel like 50 was the perfect opportunity for me. My vision for the label is straight to the top. I'm working very hard to get my label to where I need to be. To be a big label in the South, all I needed was somebody behind me who could believe in me, who could relate to what I done been through, and I think 50 is the person to do it."

Follow Me on Facebook, Myspace and Twitter

After twelve albums (eight solo, three with the Hot Boys and one with Birdman) Lil Wayne is starting to think about hanging up the mic.

In a new interview with XXL the 28-year old hinted that his career might fade to black after his ninth solo album, 'Tha Carter IV' drops in August.

Of course we've seen this before act before. Jay-Z famously retired in 2003 only to return to the game three years later.

The big difference between the two is the fact that Jay doesn't have any kids while Wayne has four. With such a hectic schedule recording and touring, Weezy doesn't get to spend the time with his family that he would like to.

“I’m bowing out still on top,” Wayne told XXL. “I’ma make y’all want me when I retire. I’ma make y’all be like, ‘Nooo!’ I ain’t leaving out this bitch when y’all be like, ‘Yeah, it’s about time, dawg.’ Carter IV might be my last one. I’ma make y’all be like, ‘F*ck!’ Yeah, n*gga, I’m gone. I honestly think it’s unfair to my kids. I’m super dedicated into what I do. Like, it’s no questions—it’s hands down, I do this. I live this. I don’t have a day out my week that I do something else. I do this every day of my life, and I’m not about to stop, ’cause that’s the only way you can succeed in this business, is to do it the way I do it. I want to succeed the way I want to succeed. You can succeed. You can put out a hit… But to do it the way I want to do it, to be comfortable to do what the fuck I want to do, you’ve got to work like no other. Like I said, it’s unfair to my kids. So about 30, 31, 32, I gotta get ready."

The Young Money CEO doesn't think he'll be hurting for cash. He plans on kicking his feet up and caking off of potent roster of artists, Drake and Nicki Minaj in particular.

“I expect to eat, and eat well," he said "I expect [Drake] to be a lot more successful than he has ever been. I mean, this guy’s a superstar. He is the definition. That’s what I told y’all before he was: ‘That’s the definition of a superstar.’ And like Nicki, he’s only breaking ice. He has yet to be who he’s going to be. I’m banking on them.”

To read the full interview pick up the July/August 2011 issue when it hits newsstands July 12.

Do you think Wayne is serious about walking away from the rap game forever?

Jason Valdez and hostage.

Police in Ogden, Utah trying to serve a felony drug warrant on a man ended up in a strange 16-hour standoff. Highlighted by the man updating his Facebook status.

While 36-year old Jason Valdez kept Swat teams at bay after locking himself inside a hotel room with a female hostage, he communicated with friends and family members via the world's most popular social networking site.

"He had a smartphone with him and he was making updates," Ogden Police Lt. Danielle Croyle told ABC News. "The officers on the scene were aware of it and they changed tactics accordingly."

At one point a friend sent Valdez a warning.

"Gun ner in the bushes stay low," wrote the poster.

"Thank you homie," Valdez replied. "Good looking out."

The tense situation that started last Friday (June 17) ended not long after Valdez posted one last message.

Soon afterwards Swat teams burst into the room and found Valdez with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. The hostage was said to be unharmed.

Valdez is expected to make a full recovery, but will be in all kinds of trouble with police when he's released from the hospital.

He's facing kidnapping and attempted homicide charges. Police say some of his Facebook friends may also be in trouble for trying to help him.

With just a few weeks left before he is released from an Arizona prison, DMX is taking the time to set the record straight about several issues.

Dark Man X spoke to Vibe.com about the current state of the industry, his relationship status, artists he's not feeling

Is it weird seeing the rap game now and seeing most of your peers that you came in the game with just not around anymore?
I’m not gonna disrespect anybody or shout anybody out, but it’s sad the sh*t I’m seeing here. All we got is 106 & Park in jail. And it’s like ‘wow, this is the Top 10?’ Like really? I know it’s really not the Top 10, but it’s their Top 10. Damn yo, that’s not a good look. Not a good look at all. I do like Nicki Minaj—how she getting at em. Haven’t heard the album, but the couple of singles I’ve heard—“Did It On Em,” you know what I’m saying? That “Boom boom boom.” Some sh*t, “Bang”—whatever. I like her style. And Kiss got a new joint too that I’m feeling.

Speaking of Nicki, how are you feeling about Lil Wayne and Drake?
Hmmm…no comment. I don’t like Drake. It’s nothing that he did to me, He actually is talented. He’s very talented.

So you’re just not feeling his music then?
Yeah, I don’t like him. It ain’t nothing personal. I don’t like his stuff. He is talented. He has a little wordplay here and there, but when I see him and here him it’s like—‘Money, I’m not rockin with that.’

It feels like right now in hip-hop a lot of people are saying the hardcore gangsta rap element is dead. Do you feel like that’s true?
They try to block it out. But that’s what rap is. It’s not about disrespecting, but it’s the voice of the voiceless. Before I tell you what it is. To me, it isn’t tight sweaters. That’s not what rap is. That’s not hip-hop at all. Every phase went through changing up their dress styles and all that, but since Run DMC came out it’s been baggy jeans. That has not changed. So all this shit they doing now, tryna spark something new, that’s basically what it is. Tryna spark something new to get people to say yeah--to stake the claim as the innovators. The creators. Like, ‘yeah we started this so we must be hip-hop because everybody’s doing it.’ No! You got a few little motherf*ckers following you, doing the same sh*t, but that’s not what it is man.

[Laughs] But I mean fashion has to evolve just like the music, no?
Yeah, the fucking skinny jeans and tight sweaters! Those are baby clothes. What are you shopping at Baby Gap??? [Laughs]

So what really went wrong with Def Jam?
I have a few inside people who confirmed my suspicions that they were trying to make me leave. Like ‘Yeah they just wanna get you out of there. ‘ That way they can do what they wanna do and this , that, and the other. If you remember, Jay quit. He retired from rapping. But he became president of Def Jam. He gave me the call, he called me personally. So I’m like ‘yeah that’s wassup! My mans is in a position now, he’s the president of the label I’m on, we good! Next thing you know, he’s out of retirement and I’m off the label. What a coincidence.

Damn. Have you even been able to have a conversation with Jay after that? I remember when it happened.
I’ve not talked to him yet, since. But I had a show November 18th, before I got locked up--No November 12th I had the show. And somebody in the crown was like ‘What’s up with Jay-Z’ and I was like ‘F*ck Jay-Z’. And it ended up all over the place. So he called Swizz, Swizz called me, and he tells Swizz ‘Yoo, why your man dissin me? I was gonna do a song with him’—Coulda, woulda, shoulda. Fucking bullshit. I don’t wanna hear that shit. And like ‘Yo, can you just get him to say he ain’t mean it’—NO! I’m not saying that. What I did say is if he wanna talk to me, I’m man enough to let him know why it’s ‘F*ck You’, but it’s still ‘F*ck You’! That’s what it is. I’ll let you know why, I can do that. It ain’t like you gotta worry about me running up on you shooting you. It ain’t that serious. You don’t owe me nothing. But if you want an explanation as to why it’s ‘F*ck You’, I’ll be more than happy to tell you why.

X, I also heard that you have a new fiancée, model Yadira Borrego. Is that correct?
No! We absolutely were living together, and at one time we were engaged. But um, no. I’m recalling that she wants to work it out, but I really don’t see that happening. I’m not going say it won’t work, but this last time in jail, with me focusing on the mental, allowed me to see who’s there for me and who’s not. It’s easy to say, ‘I got your back. I’m there for you.’ But when it comes down to it, like I said, I’m not even talking about money and things like that. I’m good. I got fans sending me money. I’m good with that. But if you tell me you’re going to bring my daughter, bring my daughter. Don’t have me looking stupid in the streets. You running around saying ‘I’m DMX’s fiancée’ but you up in the motherfucking club, every motherf*cking night. Come on! I don’t get down like that. I’m a King. Regardless of what I’ve been through and what I’ve done, I present myself as a King. And I get that respect from people, from everybody I deal with. I worked my whole life to establish that respect and make sure I get that respect. And I’ll be damn if I’ll have a woman--allow her to take it from me. That’s DMX’s fiancée but what you all up in the club in n*ggas’s faces? F*ck outta here!

To read the full interviews go here for part one and here for part two

50 Cent took to his twitter account this morning to break down his recent deal with Atlanta rapper Shawty Lo and reveal that he has a new vision for the industry.

"Announcement: I have a vision for the music business I worked on this idea for some time now its called 50's new 50/50," 50 wrote on the social networking site. "@thatsshawtylo is the first to sign the deal. He is the head of his own label D4L records and is now being powered by G-unit. We provide a over head for Shawty Lo's company. After recouping promo and recording cost which is fairly low he splits all income from records 50/50 no 360. Shawty Lo has signed the perfect deal for a hustler. Now watch his BANK HEAD GRIND PAY OFF."

As you can probably guess, lots of time and research went into the decision by 50 to do deals like this. Now we just need to kick back and see what other artists will want in.

Follow Me on Facebook, Myspace and Twitter

Eminem and Royce Da 5'9 will reign supreme on the Billboard charts with their debut cd 'Hell: The Sequel.'

The Bad Meets Evil duo sold 171,000 copies of their EP, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

It's the ninth time Eminem has held the top spot on the charts. He's previously achieved the feat six times as a solo artist and twice with his group D12.

Coming in at number 2 is 11-year-old Jackie Evancho. His album "Dream With Me" sold 161,000 copies.

Audio After The Jump

Max B may be locked behind prison walls, but the wave king is still getting his hustle on.

He just released a youtube video advertising a three verse  $500 special for a limited time only.

The former Dipset affiliate is currently serving a 75 year sentence after being convicted of felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, kidnapping, armed robbery and conspiracy for his role in setting up a 2006 robbery in Fort Lee, New Jersey that left one man dead.

Earlier this year Max said it's possible he could be released on appeal by the end of the year.

Video After The Jump

By the time the media is done with Tracy Morgan it would be surprising if he will ever want to do stand-up comedy again.

The comedian set off a firestorm of controversy earlier this month when he crossed the line according to some who were in attendance at his Nashville show, when he joked about homosexuals.

He's since apologized several times publicly and even met with homeless gay teens

Today Morgan was back in Nashville at a press conference organized by GLAAD to issue yet another apology.

Kevin Rogers, who initially brought the issue to light with a Facebook post titled, “Why I No Longer ‘Like’ Tracy Morgan — A Must Read” was one of the first people Morgan apologized to.

“The first thing I want to say is that I apologize to Kevin [Rodgers], the people who were at the show for bumming them out, I want to apologize to my friends and my family and my fans and everyone in every community, who is offended with this," Morgan said. “I pride myself on 20 years, 18 years of standup, using it to heal people and not hurt. That was my whole thing and I hurt people with this. So, from the bottom of my heart, I apologize to everybody who I offended with my words on stage in Nashville and anywhere else. I just apologize to you… To err is human, but to forgive is divine. These young people here forgave me… I just want to take this opportunity to help and not hurt.”

Whether or not Morgan is truly remorseful only he knows, but let's look at this situation for what it really is.

Morgan is being forced to go on this "apology tour" because he wants to save his job on the sitcom 30 Rock. You can't fault him for that. I'm sure he gets a hefty paycheck from the show.

But at heart Morgan is a stand-up comic. Usually comedians are given some latitude in terms of what they can or can't say. And Morgan has been around long enough that people know when you see him live he is liable to say anything.

Unlike Michael Richards 2006 racist tirade in L.A. when he repeatedly called a black audience member a n*gger, Morgan wasn't directing his homophobic rant at anyone in particular.

I'm not defending Morgan because I'm sure some of what he said was hard to stomach if you were a gay audience member. I just think that if he had to apologize, once should have been enough. And if you went to his comedy show not knowing that he's a loose cannon then maybe you should have done your homework first.

After a month-long manhunt Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond was nabbed by U.S. Marshals today (June 21).

Rosemond had been on the run since being indicted last month for his role in a cocaine distribution ring.

"The Rosemond Organization distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine since 2008 and generated millions of dollars through its narcotics sales," according to a 21-page complaint obtained by the New York Daily News.

While on the run Rosemond was implicated by a man named Dexter Isaacs as being involved in the 1994 shooting of Tupac Shakur at a recording studio in NYC. Isaacs claims Rosemond paid him $2500 to shoot the rap star. 

Additionally two of Rosemond's associates, Rodney Johnson, 37 and Brian McLeod, 40, were charged last week in the 2009 murder of G-Unit affiliate Lowell "Lodi Mack" Fletcher.

Much like the federal informant the Daily News has accused Rosemond of being, he was snitched on by members of his cocaine distribution ring. The group allegedly used road crates typically meant for musical instruments to ship cocaine and money coast to coast. The drugs and cash were vacuum sealed and covered in mustard to throw drug sniffing dogs off.

The Czar Entertainment boss had been hiding out at the W Hotel in New York when U.S. Marshals spotted him. He tried to run but was tackled, chipping a tooth on the ground when he fell.

In addition to the drug charges, Rosemond is accused of witness tampering and obstruction of justice, authorities said.

Click here to see court documents about Rosemond's snitching activities.

Alley Boy - Four ft. Young Jeezy & Yo Gotti from Decatur Dan on Vimeo.

Official video for Alley Boy's 'Four' track featuring Young Jeezy and Yo Gotti

Directed By Decatur Dan.

Director Of Photography - Chad Tennies

Video After The Jump

1/2 of the Slaughterhouse crew, Joe Budden and Joell Ortiz stopped by the Beats By Dre Los Angeles office and blessed them with a freestyle over Pusha T's "My God."

Always looking to switch his style up Soulja Boy has gone blonde.

The Stacks On Deck CEO debuted his new look today and judging by the reaction of his female fans on twitter, it's a hit.

Chris Brown (blonde) and Tyga (brown) have made similar changes to their hair recently.

What do you think of Soulja's new look?