A Lady Gaga fan reportedly paid $1 million to appear in her new music video.
A Russian billionaire gave the pop singer the huge sum for the chance to star alongside her in the nine-minute promo for 'Alejandro'.
The wealthy admirer, who is only known as Arkady, can be spotted in the video playing a cop dressed in a black leather hat and coat.
The 30 year old said: "Yes it was me in the clip, but I can't give further details."
Gaga is also said to have been sworn to secrecy about his part in the promo.
The short film has attracted criticism for its religious overtones, which include the 'Poker Face' singer swallowing rosary beads whilst dressed as a nun.
Director Steven Klein insists the themes in the video aren t meant to upset Christians, saying: It s not meant to denote anything negative. It represents the character's battle between the dark forces of this world and the spiritual salvation of the Soul.
"Thus at the end of the film, she chooses to be a nun, and the reason her mouth and eyes disappear is because she is withdrawing her senses from the world of evil and going inward towards prayer and contemplation."
Actor Sylvester Stallone is in talks with the late John Gotti’s son, “Junior” John Gotti, to make a movie about his father’s life as a mobster, CNN has confirmed.
Stallone himself would star as the "Teflon Don" in the film, which would tell the story of his life as the boss of the infamous Gambino Mafia family, as told through the memories of his son.
The elder Gotti was convicted for murder and racketeering in 1992 and died in June, 2002 at the age of 61.
According to TMZ, the project is far enough along in development that Stallone is ready to choose a screenwriter.
It's not Stallone's first time playing a mobster, but a previous attempt has probably been forgotten by most of today's moviegoers: 1991's "Oscar," a John Landis-directed comedy about a gangster, played by Stallone, trying to go straight.
Donnell Rawlings made a name for himself starring on the Chappelle Show. His most well known character being "Ashy Larry".
The comedian recently sat down with Mazi O for Hardbody Radio and talked about dating white women vs black women. America's acceptance of a 50 % black President as long as they were allowed to keep a white Santa Clause and a lot more.
The Eminem vs Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon beef has been well documented.
Em has taken numerous shots at the couple. Most recently on the scathing diss record "The Warning". While Mariah fired off the song and video "Obsessed" which many people thought were aimed at Slim.
But after it's all said and done, all the general public is really going to remember is the music. And even though they might not be doing lunch anytime soon, Nick Cannon can't deny Eminem's new disc 'Recovery' has some good tunes.
He tweeted earlier this morning (June 25) about one song in particular.
"Damn it! I'm mad at myself because I actually like the @Rihanna and @Eminem record.... I'm such a loser! LOL."
What's a good way for Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj to resolve their issues? Do a collabo, says Ludacris. If the two rap divas put their bewigged heads together and traded rhymes on a song, Luda thinks minds would be blown by the resulting track.
"I think if Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj do a record together it's gonna kill the entire industry," Luda told MTV News. He added that the two femcees should take advantage of the lack of high-profile ladies in the game right now: "You don't have that many women in the industry so the lane is wide open."
The ATL rapper insisted that the two should work on music not only for themselves, but for their fans as well.
"The fact that we have females out there that's going back and forth — and I'm not saying it's either one's fault — I feel like y'all need to come together and squash all this bulls-- and make records together," Luda said. "Because [there's] a lot of women that wanna hear what the hell y'all got to say."
Other MCs have weighed in on the controversy as well. Miami hip-hop queen Trina said the Minaj and Kim drama reflects on all femcees. "This makes us all look bad. There's barely any female artists as is — we don't need this," Trina told MTV News.
50 Cent said that Kim should calm down with the swagger-jacking accusations because there is a lack of female hip-hop artists for Minaj to be inspired by. "It's obvious ... she was inspired by some of Kim's [style]. But that's not bad. There's not a whole lot of female artists that you can make reference to, so you'll see those little influences even stronger," 50 said in an interview with Power 98.3 FM in Phoenix.
Hip-hop vet Rah Digga also said the stars should keep it about the music. "My advice to everybody is just do you," Digga told MTV. "Make your music, don't pay attention to what's going on around you, just do what you do best and let the fans blog it out."
Megan Fox doesn't complain if people focus on her beauty rather than her acting - as she hasn't done anything in her career that deserves praise.
The 'Jonah Hex' actress - who is engaged to actor Brian Austin Green - insists she would never complain about receiving more attention for her looks than her work as she has not yet given "any reason" to win praise for her movies.
She said: "I'm totally aware that I've never given anyone a reason to praise me for my acting talents.
"So to sit here and complain, 'Why don't people recognise me as an actress?' would be outrageous.
"It's my responsibility to prove that they should."
The brunette beauty also admitted she rarely reads anything about herself as she fears it would turn her into a "drug-addled lunatic".
She added to Sky Movies magazine: "I could never be one of those actors who reads everything that is ever written about them.
"That doesn't work with my personality. I'd be a complete lunatic, probably drug-addled and out of my mind. Instead, I stay in and ignore it."
LOS ANGELES — For 18 months, former Bay area transit officer Johannes Mehserle maintained a public silence about what led him to shoot unarmed Oscar Grant as he lay face down on an Oakland train platform.
More answers may come on Friday when Mehserle resumes testifying at his murder trial in a Los Angeles courtroom. His testimony marks the first time he's spoken publicly about the shooting early New Year's day 2009.
Mehserle, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to the 22-year-old black man. The trial was moved from Alameda County because of intense media coverage and racial tensions.
Friends and family of Oscar Grant
In a surprise move Thursday, Mehserle took the stand and told jurors that training he received didn't emphasize the possibility of mistaking his stun gun with his handgun.
But that's what his lawyer claims happened when Mehserle pulled out his .40-caliber handgun and shot Grant.
On questioning by defense lawyer Michael Rains, the brawny, 6-foot-4 Mehserle said he received Taser training in December 2008 and had only pulled it out once while on duty in the month before the shooting.
He said his former employer didn't put much weight on possible "confusion issues" where officers should place the Taser holster, only that the weapon wasn't to be put under their issued handgun.
"They left it up to us to figure it out," said Mehserle, who spoke in a calm, soft voice. "For me it wasn't that big of a deal."
Prosecutors say Mehserle intended to shoot Grant, and that Mehserle used his handgun because officers were losing control of the situation. Mehserle wore his stun gun on the front left side the night of the shooting, while his handgun was mounted on his right hip.
The trial adjourned late Thursday before Mehserle could give details about the shooting.
Former Bart cop Johannes Mehserle talking to his lawyer
Legal experts say while defendants in criminal trials rarely take the stand, his testimony could be compelling for jurors.
"They are going to want to get a sense of is he a good person, a thoughtful person," said Dr. Philip Anthony, a Los Angeles psychologist who is chief executive of the jury consulting firm DecisionQuest. "Most importantly, they want to hear what was running through his mind, his thought process when he fired that fatal shot."
On the stand, Mehserle did say when he arrived with his partner to the train station in response to a possible fight, that he could hear yelling and screaming from the platform above.
"I remember it being real loud," Mehserle said. "I didn't know if officers were involved in the fight or the crowd had turned on them. It didn't sound good."
He added he intercepted a few men who he said were approaching two fellow officers that had detained Grant and several friends against a concrete wall. He said the men, who turned out to be more of Grant's friends, were taunting the BART officers.
"I just instructed them to get back," Mehserle said.
He said he eventually looked at Grant and Jackie Bryson, who appeared to be upset. The other two officers, Tony Pirone and Marysol Domenici, had pulled their stun guns out and given the situation, Mehserle said he decided to do the same. Before Grant was shot, he snapped a photo of Mehserle pointing his Taser stun gun in his direction.
Mehserle said he wasn't sure what had transpired but tried to cool down Grant and Bryson.
"They were yelling '(expletive) that officer,' 'I'm going to sue,'" Mehserle recalled the two men saying of Pirone, who was described by some onlookers as the most aggressive and hostile toward Grant and his friends.
The shooting, and the events leading up to it, were captured on video by several bystanders.
Grant's uncle, Cephus "Bobby" Johnson said he believes Mehserle will try using his testimony to differentiate himself from Pirone.
"Now all of the sudden he's this huggable, passive, non-aggressive person who really believes in communication instead of exerting authority," Johnson said. "I'm not buying that."
Associated Press Writer Terry Collins contributed to this report.
Wanda Johnson, (R) hugs friend during demonstration outside Bart Station In Oakland
Unseen Footage Of Oscar Grant Killing
BART CopJohannes Mehserle Takes Stand In Murder Trial
For rapper 50 Cent, the birth of his son meant putting fatherhood ahead of the 'hood.
"It wasn't getting shot," said the platinum-selling Queens native, who took nine bullets in a 2000 murder try. "It was my son and creating a stable life for him."
The "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" singer returns to his old South Jamaica home Saturday, encouraging kids to get active in the community and avoid the street life.
"I want to be able to go and talk to them and [have] them really feel what my experience has been," he told the Daily News Thursday.
It's an intense, one-of-a-kind experience.
The rapper survived the shooting outside his grandmother's house. The one-time drug dealer was also stabbed.
But the rap icon said kids don't set out to do wrong. "They do what they're influenced to do," said 50 Cent, who hopes to exert a more positive influence.
The 35-year-old performer, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, is hosting "Forever Young Day" in Baisley Park - a six-hour event aimed at promoting exercise for local children.
The hip-hop artist tried hosting a similar neighborhood festival last year, but it was postponed because of security concerns surrounding his plans to perform.
An NYPD spokesman confirmed they are aware of Fitty's appearance, with adequate security assigned to the area.
Still, locals don't need to fear a melee like last week's South Street Seaport show - the performer won't pick up a microphone.
Fitty said the near-riot for a free Drake concert cut his chances to sing hits like "In Da Club" or "What Up Gangsta."
"They would've said no to me immediately," said the rapper, whose son Marquise is now 14.
He said lack of guidance led him to selling crack cocaine. Now, by promoting more activities, he can help others avoid making the same mistakes.
"You don't feel the repercussions because it comes so far after the game," the drug dealer-turned-rapper said. "I had no options: It was go on welfare or go in the street."
And now kids are spending too much time on the computers and the numbers of children who are obese are skyrocketing.
"Technology is keeping them still," he said, adding that he always stayed active as a kid by playing basketball or boxing. "You don't see that anymore."
The hip-hopper said he's working hard to get back in shape after gaining back the 50 pounds he shed for a movie role.
"I put the weight back on," he said, laughing. "I'm not back in shape, but my size is back."
Just where does an executive decision supposedly made in the best interest of kids stop and a personal vendetta begin?
That's the question radio listener's in Houston are asking themselves this morning as a popular dj from 97.9 The Box was fired for playing a record in her off time.
DJ Brandi Garcia was fired from the radio station after being there for five years because she violated their ban against playing any songs featuring Houston rapper Trae The Truth.
Garcia was hired by a private promoter to dj the recent 50 Cent concert in Houston. According to Garcia the concert was not a 97.9 The Box sponsored event.
She played Wacka Flocka Flame's remix of "O Let's Do It" featuring Trae at the show. When Brandi reported to work the next day, she was given her walking papers for playing a song that Trae was on.
Brandi contends she should have been allowed to play whatever records she wants to during her own personal time.
This situation all started in 2009 when six people were shot at Trae's annual "Trae Day" event being held at Texas Southern University.
During a subsequent interview with The Box's Madd Hatta Show, Trae got into an on air altercation with DJ Nnete Inyangumia who accused him of inciting violence at his "Trae Day" events. Trae then mentioned Inyangumia's weight in a mixtape song which is when the ban was put into effect.
Trae is suing Radio One, which owns and operates 97.9 The Box.
"They're using the airwaves for their personal (vendetta)," Trae told The Houston Chronicle. "Truth be told, my situation isn't the very first time this has happened. I'm just the first one to speak on it. Everything else gets swept under the rug. I'm not going to take that. You're not just going to hide me under a rock.
"Nobody should be allowed to stop someone from progressing in their life by being flat-out childish."
Miami's 93.3 caught up with the G-Unit team last week during 50 Cent's 'The Invitation' tour stop and 50 was in rare form.
Fif broke down the straight to DVD game for people who don't realize how profitable it is.
"Some of the movies I've done recently I was financing. And I've already seen a 60% return on what I've involved,: 50 said. "They [critics] don't understand it, they're looking at it and going 'well straight to DVD', they don't realize I'm making another $800,000 off each one of the projects. So you can sit there and go 'well straight to DVD', my ass, that's $800,000 dollars."
50 has accepted that hate comes along with the kind of success he's achieved as an artist, businessman and rapper. His mind set is to just keep grinding and looking for new avenues to bring in revenue.
The Latina host told the crew she was going to teach them spanish. Before she could even get started 50 told her he knew a few words already.
"Callete la boca puta, mamame huevos," he joked. Which roughly translates into "shut your mouth wh*re, suck my b*lls."
There has been a lot of speculation about where 50 and G-Unit's next label home will be. Def Jam has been mentioned a lot, especially since Sha Money XL has become Sr VP of A&R.
"They've reached out, that company has reached out, Def Jam. They're trying to meet the other deal structures I've created for the actual projects," Fif explains.
Much has been made recently of Miley Cyrus' new, very adult oriented choice of clothing and performances. In her recent interview with MTV's Sway she got the chance to just talk about her music for a change and even her favorite rappers.
Sway asked about her rap skills, which she displays on her new album 'Can't Be Tamed'. She was quick to point out that she can't really rap, but she does like a couple of rap artists.
"I'm not a rapper, I've got no flow in that way, I've got no swag," she explains before looking off camera to ask her assistant what rapper's she likes. "Gucci Mane! she made me a mix and I like Gucci Mane and OJ Da Juiceman, I love it. I don't know any of their songs, they all kind of blend in in one with another. I can't really break it up, but I like it."
Lil Jon remixed her song "Can't Be Tamed" and she got a kick out of working with him.
"He's sick, I love him," she said. "He respects my music and we are completely opposite styles. And the fact that he can be like 'ok, this is a good song'. It just shows you don't have to be a certain age. gender, whatever it is. It's a dance song, it's a party song."
Miley's new album 'Can't Be Tamed' is in stores now.
Lady Gaga has been accused by some as having ties to the Illuminati. The pop star reveals a bizarre dream she had that even has her believing the rumors.
“I have this recurring dream sometimes where there’s a phantom in my home,” Gaga tells Rolling Stone. “And he takes me into a room, and there’s a blond girl with ropes tied to all four of her limbs. And she’s got my shoes on from the Grammys. Go figure—pyscho. And the ropes are pulling her apart.”
But it gets even stranger. “I never see her get pulled apart, but I just watch her whimper, and then the phantom says to me, ‘If you want me to stop hurting her and if you want your family to be OK, you will cut your wrist.’ And I think that he has his own, like, crazy wrist-cutting device. And he has this honey in, like, Tupperware, and it looks like sweet-and-sour sauce with a lot of MSG from New York. Just bizarre. And he wants me to pour the honey into the wound, and then put cream over it and a gauze.”
Gaga was confused by her dream and turned to other sources to find out its meaning. “So I looked up the dream, and I couldn’t find anything about it anywhere. And my mother goes, ‘Isn’t that an illuminati ritual?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, my God!’”
She even consulted her good friend and mentor Deepak Chopra about past dreams. “The devil’s trying to take me, Deepak. I’m a good girl!” she told the spiritual leader, who eased her fears.
But she admits her nightmares inspire her eccentric stage shows. “I do have morbid dreams. But I put them in the show. A lot of the work I do is an exorcism for the fans but also for myself.”
Nicki Minaj is not phased when people call her a weirdo. In fact, the "Roger That" rapper embraces it.
"I don’t mind being called a weirdo," Minaj told Interview magazine. "There are a lot of people in hip-hop who are probably never going to get what I do."
Claiming that she's only reached the level she has by being herself and not appealing to what someone else wanted, Minaj says "just being myself, I end up touching a lot more people who might never have paid much attention to a female rapper."
In related news, Nicki Minaj is slated to perform at the 2010 BET Awards. She joins fellow Young Money act Drake, Diddy, Trey Songz and more.
Miami-Dade Police are looking for a group of thugs behind a brutal beating at a strip club that was all caught on camera.
The incident happened outside Coco Lounge at 1430 Northwest 119th Street on June 11, when the victim and five men got into a verbal argument inside the club and were all kicked out.
That's when the five men went after the man, identified as 25-year-old Getro Dolicine.
Surveillance video of the incident shows one of the attackers sucker punch Dolicine, knocking him unconscious. Rather than let him be, the men take turns punching him and throwing heavy objects at his head, including a barricade and what looks like a metal stand.
The suspects fled the scene in a 4-door white BMW.
Dolicine was taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition. He has since been released.
Alexis Mackendly, 30, was arrested and has been charged with attempted first degree murder in the beating, but the four other men are still at large.
Mackendly, who has a tattoo reading "Hood Fellas" tattoo on his fists, confessed to his role in the beating but didn't give info on the other suspects, police said.
Beanie Sigel is ready to start chopping off rapper's heads. Starting with anyone who let's Jay-Z hop on a record to send subliminals his way.
"That lil f*ggot sh*t you [Jay-Z] poppin on Drake and them records. And Imma tell you lil n*ggas something. Yall keep letting that n*gga get on yall records and pop sh*t and Imma start coming at yall lil n*ggas," Beanie vented. "Smack the sh*t outta Drake bitch ass, all yall n*ggas. F*ck all yall, this the Broad Street Bully, B. Sieg. I have no problem seeing anybody on sight!"
Beanie said he doesn't have any more problems with Dipset, in particular Juelz Santana who held him down during his attempted murder trial.
"We aint gonna say f*ck Dipset [anymore] cause Juelz Santana was at every court date I had when I was on trial for attempted murder. He was in court more than you [Jay-Z]."
Beans was a warrior for Roc-A-Fella. Anybody Jay-Z had beef with, Beanie took them on and handled that, but he realizes now that loyalty was one sided.
"Only thing I regret about that Roc-A-Fella sh*t was going at my n*gga [Jada] Kiss," Beans says. "And I did that sh*t for you [Jay-Z] cause you was scared. You knew Kiss woulda bit that ass."
Beanie threw another shot at Memphis Bleek too. The question is, when the hell is Jay-Z gonna respond? He can't say Beanie's not a formidable foe.
Beans roasted Jay-Z on the diss record "What You Talkin Bout (Average Cat)", and he's still roasting him in every interview. Hov needs to show he's still got what it takes in the heat of the battle or else he just looks weak.
Gary Faulkner , the American who was detained in Pakistan while on a one-man mission to kill Osama bin Laden , is resting back home in Colorado today but told ABC News he plans to return to Pakistan and continue the hunt for the world's most wanted man.
On his way home, an obviously exhausted Faulkner said he is undaunted by critics who maintain that a civilian with no formal training attempting to track down the elusive al Qaeda leader was mission impossible.
"It's not like people think it is I woke up one day and said, 'I've got nothing better to do with my life, why not this?'" he said. "People who think it's unrealistic never get off their couch and [stay] in front of the TV set and the movies and do something with their life."
The 51-year-old was arrested June 13 while attempting to cross into Afghanistan from the mountainous region of northern Pakistan. He was armed with a pistol, sword, night-vision goggles, a map, and was reportedly carrying Christian literature.
When he was arrested, Faulkner told police he was intent on avenging the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks by killing Osama bin Laden.
Faulkner told ABC News he left the 40-inch sword in Pakistan because he said he might need it again after he rests and receives medical treatment for an ailing kidney. For him, killing bin Laden is a "personal endeavor."
"Right now, I'm out of wind," he said. "I need dialysis and some rest. Thank you and for all those who had something negative to say -- sucks to be you."
John Martin, Faulkner's brother-in-law, said Faulkner often talked openly with the family about his plans to hunt down the al Qaeda leader.
"He's a very deeply religious individual, very patriotic," Martin said June 15. "It seemed to be his thing. He thought it should be done, and he thought he could accomplish it."
Bin Laden has evaded one of the largest international manhunts in history and remains on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.
Martin said Faulkner was not trained in any way for a seek-and-destroy mission and had no military training, although he had been to the region before. Faulkner's brother Scott said he was trained in martial arts, and a sword and dagger were his "weapons of choice."
"We initially laughed when he told us he wanted to kill Osama bin Laden," one official, Mumtaz Ahmad Khan, told The Associated Press after the arrest.
While undertaking such a mission -- traveling to hostile territory, with no training, to find the most wanted man on the planet -- may have seemed ridiculous to many, Faulkner's brother said he had made several trips to the area to reconnoiter bin Laden's possible location and believed he had found the cave where he believed the al Qaeda leader was hiding.
Scott Faulkner said last week that his brother had "stood at its entrance, possibly within 100 feet," of the cave.
While Faulkner was likely aware of the hefty $25 million reward for information leading to bin Laden's arrest, Martin said the cause was more important to his brother-in-law.
"The inspiration was more important to him than the money," Martin said.
Since his arrest, a battery of Facebook groups popped up in Faulkner's honor, including Faulkner for President, Gary Brooks Faulkner Is My Favorite Working Class Ninja and Gary Faulkner, American Patriot.
Faulkner's Family: Gary is 'Waking America Back Up
A relative of Faulkner's told ABC News Wednesday the family planned to have him medically examined before holding a homecoming celebration.
Faulkner called his brother, Dr. Scott Faulkner, shortly after he was released. Pakistani authorities did not press charges.
"He said he was treated well, but he can't wait to get back to the good ol' U.S. of A.," Scott Faulkner told ABC News.
Scott Faulkner said that while in captivity, his brother did not have access to any media and was unaware of the onslaught of attention his case had garnered.
One family member told ABC News that while no one could predict Faulkner's reaction to instant celebrity, "it should be fun."
Scott Faulkner told reporters last week that even if he'd died during his dangerous mission, Gary Faulkner would have "loved" the media attention.
"It's waking America back up. ... The fact that it's bringing it back in the forefront of the American psyche, now there's hopefully going to be a renewed effort to get this guy [bin Laden]," Scott Faulkner said.
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – Another Eminem album, another No. 1 hit.
The rapper's latest release, "Recovery," could sell more than 600,000 copies by Sunday for the biggest sales week of the year, industry sources estimate. It could even surpass the 608,000-unit haul of his last set, 2009's "Relapse."
"Recovery" is on track to be Eminem's sixth straight No. 1 debut -- and sixth overall No. 1. His only album to miss the top spot was his "Slim Shady LP" debut, which bowed and peaked at No. 2 in 1999.
Other albums released this week and due on next Wednesday's Billboard 200 chart include Ozzy Osbourne's "Scream," Miley Cyrus' "Can't Be Tamed," the Roots' "How I Got Over," Herbie Hancock's "The Imagine Project," Sia's "We Are Born," Keith Sweat's "Ridin' Solo," Trip Lee's "Between Two Worlds," Cyndi Lauper's "Memphis Blues" and Macy Gray's "The Sellout."
Next week's chart competes with the same week in 2009 when the newly deceased Michael Jackson claimed the top three albums in the U.S. with "Number Ones" (108,000), "The Essential Michael Jackson" (102,000) and "Thriller" (101,000).
First thing Chris Rock does when he's introduced on Jimmy Kimmel Live! is give a surprised lady in the audience a lapdance.
"The economy is bad, you never know when I might have to give a lapdance," he tells Kimmel.
The comedian has a new movie coming out titled "Grown Ups" with an incredible cast.
Adam Sandler, Salma Hayek, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Kevin James all appear in the movie. Which is about five good friends and former teammates reuniting for a Fourth of July holiday weekend after their former coach dies.
Chris jokes about being on the road promoting the movie with the rest of the cast.
"When we first booked the promotional tour you're like 'Cot damn, four weeks of Schneider!?'. But it's been good, nobody's choked Schneider or kicked Spade or talked bad behind Sandler's back."
Yeah, he's living up to his name. Nipsey Hussle is hustling, building his brand across the board. He has a deal for his own shoe with Pony, just finished a film with Vivica A. Fox and another one with Ving Rhames, he opened a clothing store in his native Los Angeles, appears on the new "Def Jam Rapstar" video game, has a tour coming and still has more mixtapes and a debut album on deck for October.
"My album, it ain't got no wrinkles in it," Nip said recently in New York about his debut, South Central State of Mind. "From the sonic quality of it, every verse, every hook, to the features, to the production. Ain't no excuses for the album."
Nipsey's candidacy for "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010" comes from his grind in the streets. Last year, he dropped a trilogy of mixtapes called Bullets Ain't Got No Names, which introduced him and immediately captivated fans. His work in the 'hood garnered him co-signs by the likes of Snoop Dogg and the Game, both of whom he toured with. Drake also appeared on the potent Hussle underground smash "Killer." The momentum has made Nip one of the leaders of the new wave of West Coast MCs, also including Fashawn and Jay Rock.
"Nipsey, he brings the real to the table," said Rock, who will be teaming up with Nip for a duet mixtape called Red and Blue Make Green. "He brings that struggle. He's telling you his story. Nipsey is bringing a story as a whole package, as well as he's bringing real music. Reality rap."
"You gonna be hard-pressed to come to L.A. and not hear a car playing Jay Rock music, playing Nipsey Hussle right now," Nip said. "It's gonna be almost impossible. They say it starts in your backyard. I feel we putting forth that legwork. We really took our city without the traditional outlet, the Dr. Dre, the Snoop Dogg, the Death Row. That's not to take anything from them, but we wasn't really waiting. We kinda like stood on our own foundation of hard work. That's the brand that the new breed of West Coast artists gonna bring to the table. Self-made. Off the top!"
Besides the authenticity of his music, Nip's appeal lies in his laid-back delivery. You look at him or hear his music and you see your homie from around the way.
Nip knows that all the love in the streets is eventually going to have to translate in his official releases. He just dropped the single "Feelin' Myself (I'm So Fresh)" with Lloyd and has South Central State of Mind in cook-up mode right now. J.R. Rotem, Scott Storch, Houston's Mr. Lee, Grammy winners Play-N-Skillz, Terrence Martin and Nip's live band, 1500 or Nothin', produced on the album thus far. Trey Songz and Sean Kingston are among the guest performers.
"Regardless of people's opinion about it, the dominant culture in L.A. is gang-banging," Nipsey, a Crip, said about "Blue Laces," a song from his LP. "Us being young dudes in our 20s, we not the cause of that. We was born into this culture. We reacted to it from the perspective of survival. I feel like that record, 'Blue Laces,' speaks on the realness of that culture. We not the cause of this. This is what led us into that mentality."
Nip said South Central State of Mind speaks to young Angelinos.
"I'm kinda revolving around that concept on a lot of records on that album," he said. "On the state of mind in growing up in L.A. Whether you from Compton, Watts, Long Beach, the east side, west side, it's a state of mind that's way more powerful than an individual. I might feel a certain way personally, but this is what it is.
"I might feel like one of my dudes is a Blood, one of my dudes is from Hoover. So me, personally, this is my homeboy and I got love for him," he added. "But I'm from the 60s, and it's a politic that goes with that. I just feel like I revolved around that concept, the cause of this mind state. I want to impact the culture with the project and raise the consciousness of the people that's being affected by this. And bring a human element to what this is about and stop people from looking at us like we just mindless killers and we glorifying this type of life. We really striving for change from within. We ain't gonna go Hollywood with it and get a record deal and start blasting where we come from, but at the same time, we do wanna see change. It's a lot of general concepts that revolve around that theme."
Drake's last week has been a whirlwind of promotional stops, tv appearances and one award show.
His debut album 'Thank Me Later' sold almost 500,000 copies it's opening week. A very impressive feat in today's world of massive bootlegging and illegal downloading.
The Toronto rapper appeared on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno to perform one of the singles from the album "Find Your Love".
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