It’s a wrap for King Magazine.
According to whispers around the blogosphere, Harris Publications’ King, the self-proclaimed “Illest Men’s Magazine,” is folding.
King’s upcoming April 21 issue–featuring Internet sensation/Joe Budden GF Tahiry–will reportedly be the men’s interest magazine’s last.
Keyshia Cole’s mother is still alive, despite the negative assertions of internet rumors that have reported her sudden demise.
The gossip of mother Frankie Lons’ death has prompted a statement from Cole’s management company, Imani Entertainment.
“Imani Entertainment has received a huge amount of inquiries in regard to the rumor about Keyshia Cole’s biological mom, Frankie Lons, having recently passed in an automobile accident,” the company said in a statement. “The rumor has absolutely…(read more)
Lil Wayne will perform in London this summer for one night only at the Hammerstein Apollo and will be joined by Kid Cudi. The concert will take place on July 6, and will be the fourth time Lil Wayne has performed in London. Tickets for the event go on sale Friday April 3, and can be ordered through Ticketmaster. Ticket prices for the concert are £32.50. Wayne is currently touring the country as part of his “I Am Music” tour. Keri Hilson, T-Pain and Gym Class Heroes, are performers on the tour. The…(read more)
Canadian emcee Kardinal Offishall was one of the big winners at Sunday’s (March 30) Juno Awards, winning both Single and Rap Recording of the Year.
The annual Juno Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys, was founded in 1970 and celebrates the outstanding achievements of Canadian musicians.
Kardinal’s dancehall anthem “Dangerous” was a surprise upset winner this year, beating out stiff competition from Nickelback (“Gotta Be Somebody”), Celine Dion (“Taking Chances”), Michael…(read more)
Oprah Winfrey’s South African boarding school for girls has been rocked by it’s second sex scandal in less than two years.
Seven students at The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy outside Johannesburg were suspended last week for sexually harassing their schoolmates, the Afrikaans on Sunday newspaper is reporting.
The scandal comes ten months after 15 girls reported they had been sexually abused by a matron who was supposed to be supervising them.
Oprah Winfrey opened the $46 million school in January 2007 to help high achieving South African girls from low-income families. Students are offered free tuition, books and uniforms, as well as room and board.
7/10
Hip-Hop was Doom’s playground in the early 2000s. The former KMD member had reached a creative apex rarely experienced by most emcees, as witnessed by his rapid succession of critically acclaimed albums: Vaudeville Villain (2003), Take Me to Your Leader (2003), MMM..Food (2004), and Madvillainy (2004). But something strange happened by mid-decade to Doom.
His output suddenly grinded to a complete halt, and the once prolific emcee became Hip-Hop’s version of J.D. Salinger, amid rumors of failing health and live show clones. Now as the decade comes to a close, Doom sans the MF prefix returns to his loyal fans and curious newcomers with his comeback LP Born Like This (Lex Records).
Doom starts the album in vintage form courtesy of the J Dilla-produced “Gazzillion Ear.” With several sudden rhythm changes, Doom uses the chaotic atmosphere to craft peculiar images in the listener’s mind (“Took a Jehovah’s money for an Arabic Torah / Charged an advance to translate and ignore it, sort of / One monkey don’t stop no slaughter”).
Raekwon handles solo duty on “Yessir,” where the self-proclaimed villain laces the Wu grandmaster with a mostly untouched sample of ESG’s classic track “UFO.” Although the production is simplistic, Rae delivers an enjoyable verse in the vein of his recent Cuban Linx II inspired work.
Madvillain comrade Madlib shows their chemistry remains in tact 4 years later with “Absolutely.” Over a subtle vocal sample of Ramsey Lewis’ “Sun Goddess” and horns that resemble TLC’s “Creep,” Doom’s satirical writ shines as he juxtaposes the corruption of street criminals with the tactics of our own government leaders (“It’s real spooky like a real trife movie / Remember the part where the Terminator killed Tookie / Absolute power corrupts absolutely”).
Doom’s critique extends back to Hip-Hop culture with the hilarious “Batty Boyz.” Obviously targeting the growing femininity in dress and demeanor among men, Doom creatively uses an ominous, sparse piano sample to cultivate a horror movie sense of dread on the coming epidemic of the “fabulous gay way.”
Still, Doom manages to throw in serious social commentary on how the issue of down low men is dangerous to all (“It’s like a leotard fest / How it got started is any retard’s guess / Regardless that’s they choice no hate debate / Becomes a problem when they try attempt to go straight / And raise the monster rate in the whole population”).
The social commentary loses it overt humor on “Cellz.” The track features a long, Doomsday-heavy spoken word intro from celebrated poet Charles Bukowski. Over the track’s second half, Doom again focuses on the criminality of society and offers dire albeit thoughtful critiques on human nature.
The remaining emcees Ghostface Killah (“Angelz”), Kurious (“Supervillainz”), and Empress Starhh (“Still Dope”) all deliver in their aforementioned guest spots. However, it is Starhh who showcases the best mastery of Doom’s production.
The album slows down over the second half with the Jake One produced “Microwave” and “More Rhymin’”. While the musical accompaniments are fine by themselves, their subdued melodies clash against Doom’s already stilted flow and make them chores to get through.
Even though Doom is notorious for using old instrumentals from his Metal Fingers catalogue, his appropriation of well known Dilla beats (“Lightworks”) occasionally makes the project feel more like a mixtape than an actual LP.
Overall, Doom’s long-awaited return gives fans the innovative production samples, and off-color lyrics they’ve come to enjoy from the reclusive super villain. And while Born Like This is not the home run some may have expected after such a long layoff, the LP represents a great appetizer for forthcoming projects, such as the Ghostface Killah duet album Swift & Changeable and a new Madvillain LP.
MF Doom
“Cellz”
MF Doom Featuring Ghostface Killah
“Angelz”
Hip-Hop star Ice Cube has been cast as a rogue cop in a new action comedy set to be produced titled Ride Along.
The rapper’s Cube Vision Productions will produce the flick, with longtime production partner Matt Alvarez re-writing the script.
According to Variety, the movie is still in need of a director and co-star, although production is slated to begin this summer.
Cube plays a rogue cop in the comedy, who attempts to sabotage his sister’s marriage to a white…(read more)
Hip-Hop star Ice Cube has been cast as a rogue cop in a new action comedy set to be produced titled Ride Along.
The rapper’s Cube Vision Productions will produce the flick, with longtime production partner Matt Alvarez re-writing the script.
According to Variety, the movie is still in need of a director and co-star, although production is slated to begin this summer.
Cube plays a rogue cop in the comedy, who attempts to sabotage his sister’s marriage to a white…(read more)
Andre Benjamin — aka Andre 3000 of Outkast fame– was arrested outsider his hometown of Atlanta over the weekend after he was clocked doing 109 mph in a 65 mph zone.
According to TMZ.com, Andre was taken to the Henry County Jail where he was booked and had his mugshot taken. He posted $1,200 bail and was later released.
Nick Cannon debuted a tattoo bearing wife Mariah Carey’s name as the two vacationed in Barbados last weekend.
