Ruff Ryders Reveals Tracklist For "Past, Present, Future," Features Eve, DMX & More Ruff Ryders Reveals Tracklist For "Past, Present, Future," Features Eve, DMX & More

Source:  http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16765/title.ruff-ryders-reveals-tracklist-for-past-present-future-features-eve-dmx-more

by Sean Ryon

posted November 16, 2011 at 3:15PM GMT+0100 | 33 comments

UPDATE: Jadakiss, Swizz Beatz, Sheek Louch, Styles P and more contribute to the project.

Although DMX may have only earned his freedom from jail this past July, that hasn't stopped the Ruff Ryders team from staying on the music grind. Now, the Yonkers-based rap label is planning to release its latest project this fall with a familiar face at the helm.

According to a recent press release, Ruff Ryders will drop its latest compliation project this October 18. The as-of-yet untitled mixtape will feature the Ruff Ryders' latest member Mook fronting the project's first single "You Know," an update of DMX's 1998 hit "Ruff Ryders' Anthem."

Mook first gained notoriety on the rap battle circuit as Murda Mook, famously battling Fight Klub champion and one-time Disturbing Tha Peace signee Serius Jones. He signed to Ruff Ryders' independent extension Ruff Ryders Indy back in 2009.

The video for "You Know" can be seen below.
[September 6]
UPDATE: The tracklist has been announced for the upcoming Ruff Ryders compilation, Past, Present, Future. Check the tracklist below (via RR).
01. World`s Greatest – Mook (feat. Sheek Louch, Styles P and Swizz Beatz)
02. Get Your Money Up – DMX
03. Hot Steppa – Eve
04. Hip Hop – Drag-On
05. Beat and a Microphone – Mook
06. You Know – Mook
07. Freaky – Mook (feat. Jadakiss, Shella and Akon)
08. I`m Gone – Shella
09. Want Me – Shella
10. Off the Cuff – Swizz Beatz
11. Showtime – Lil` Waah
12. Watcha You Gonna Do – Swizz Beatz (feat. Cassidy)
13. Love Potion – Hugo
14. What To Do – The LOX (feat. Shella)

Pete Rock Reflects On Heavy D's Death, Says They Recently Recorded A Song Together

source:  http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.17541/title.pete-rock-reflects-on-heavy-ds-death-says-they-recently-recorded-a-song-together

by Steven J. Horowitz

posted November 09, 2011 at 4:26PM GMT+0100 | 3 comments

PR says that he recently stayed with Heavy D in Los Angeles, California and cut a song together.

Following the unexpected death of Heavy D, his first cousin Pete Rock spoke to Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg and Cipha Sounds about hearing that his relative passed away.

“A couple of SKYY vodkas last night, just trying to fathom the thought of all of this. It’s very hurtful. This man, he gave me everything, you know?” he said. “It’s unbelievable. I didn’t expect this to happen so fast. I was just with him, two weeks ago at his house. I spent the night. He didn’t even want me to leave, he didn’t want me to go. I laughed at him, it was crazy.”

PR said that while visiting him in Los Angeles, California, Heavy D was interested in getting back to his Hip Hop roots and they recorded a song together.

“We did something. I finished something with him like two weeks ago, finished. When people call you that don’t call you and then your phone is just blowing up with those kind of calls, my stomach got kind of weak. DJ Scratch called me first because that’s my homie, and he let me know,” he continued.

“I felt like he was my guider, the person who put me in place. He was my number one believer.”

Heavy D Reported Dead, Hip Hop Mourns The Loss

source:  http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.17533/title.heavy-d-reported-dead-hip-hop-mourns-the-loss

by Allen Jacobs

posted November 08, 2011 at 11:20PM GMT+0100 | 18 comments

The veteran rapper passed away in Los Angeles, California earlier this afternoon.

Mount Vernon, New York emcee-turned-actor Heavy D (born Dwight Myers) has been reported dead today. He was 44 years of age. TMZ.com reports that Heavy D was found unconscious near the entrance to his Beverly Hills, California home and rushed to the hospital. Details are still emerging regarding the longtime Uptown Records rapper's cause of death, however peers and loved ones including rapper-turned-deejay/photographer D-Nice and author/activist dream hampton have publicly mourned the rapper's loss just moments ago.

The Jamaican-born emcee was leader of Heavy D & The Boyz, a late 1980s Hip Hop group which released five albums, all on the Uptown label. The group included G-Whiz, DJ Eddie F., and the late "Trouble" T. Roy, who helped inspired Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)." Between 1987 and 1994, Heavy D & The Boyz worked with the likes of Notorious B.I.G., DJ Premier, Marley Marl and longtime affiliate and fellow Mount Vernon native Pete Rock.

As a solo artist, Heavy D remained close with Uptown Records executive Sean "Diddy" Combs and the mogul's Bad Boy Records imprint, despite never releasing a Bad Boy album. Recently, Heavy D released Grammy-nominated Reggae album Vibes on the Stride label in 2008. Previously, D had released Waterbed Hev in 1997 and a self-titled 1999 album.

The group performed the title track to FOX's In Living Color show, and appeared on the program. As an actor, Heavy D would appear in films such as Life.

At the time of his death, Heavy D was at work on an album called Love Opus, set to feature Anthony Hamilton and Carl Thomas. Just weeks ago, Heavy D performed at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards. It was days after Heavy D had performed his hit Michael Jackson collaboration, "Jam," alongside LaToya Jackson.

Consequence Says He's The Reason Q-Tip Placed Beats On "Watch The Throne"

source:  http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.17527/title.consequence-says-hes-the-reason-q-tip-placed-beats-on-watch-the-throne

by Andres Vasquez

posted November 08, 2011 at 4:29PM GMT+0100 | 7 comments

the interview, check the video below.

The Cons discusses his reasons behind refusing to talk about Q-Tip, saying he wants to move in a positive direction before saying he's the reason Tip placed beats on "Watch the Throne."

After his public feud with Kanye West and Q-Tip, Consequence has been asked about how his relationship with the two has progressed. During a recent interview with Street Disciplez Radio, Cons explained that his beef with Kanye has been squashed but that his problems with Q-Tip have continued. He also added that he is the reason Q-Tip had beats placed on Watch the Throne.

At first, Cons was apprehensive to speak on Q-Tip and West.

"We just gotta do next question with that," he said. "Next question. I'm only here to talk about positive things...I'm making a valiant effort to move in a positive direction. I had a couple public discrepancies with a few folks that I had relationships with in the past. I just think it's more healthy at this point to stay away from certain questions because I do have a blackout switch. So, when you start saying today's secret words like certain peoples' names, that's where I just have to stop you."

When asked if his beef with Pusha T had been settled, he said that did not happen.
"I ain't never do nothing with nobody," he added. "Only person I squashed things with was Kanye West."

Later, though he originally refused to speak on Q-Tip, he began to talk about how his relationship helped Tip land beats on Watch the Throne.

"Q-Tip knows what time is it with me. He knows I been thorough from the day he brought me around his situation. I been thorough and ain't nothing change about me. And I'm a positive energy person.

That's why Q-Tip has three records on Watch the Throne. And you can tweet that. Tweet that and say I said it." 

Lloyd Banks Enlists Styles P, A$AP Rocky & Prodigy For "The Cold Corner 2"

"The Cold Corner 2"

source: http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16875/title.lloyd-banks-enlists-styles-p-aap-rocky-prodigy-for-the-cold-corner-2

by Steven J. Horowitz

posted November 07, 2011 at 5:30AM GMT+0100 | 90 comments

UPDATE #2: The G-Unit member reveals the tracklist for his upcoming mixtape.

Lloyd Banks previously cancelled his mixtape Cold Corner 2, but had a change of heart back in August. Now, the G-Unit member explains that the tape will arrive in the next two weeks and that he’s already got 18 to 20 tracks recorded for the follow-up to  H.F.M. 2 (Hunger For More 2).

“I got a couple mixtapes done. I had the Cold Corner done for a second, but I just put it off because I could. I needed more time to work on everything else,” he said while at MTV’s RapFix Live yesterday. “I didn’t want to keep giving them a day and day and pushing it back like it’s an album. It’s a mixtape at the end of the day. [...] It’ll be the best mixtape, hands down, that comes out this year. It’ll be coming out within two weeks, Cold Corner 2, definitely.”

He also updated on his next studio album, stating that he has fulfilled his contract with EMI and looking for a new label home.

“Right now, I’m between situations now. I completed my situation with EMI, and going right back to the drawing board. I been working just constantly, making music for my mixtape series and at the same time for my next album. So I’m about 18 or 20 records into my next album already.”

Redman And Method Man Working On New Production Company & "Blackout! 3"

source: http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.17517/title.redman-and-method-man-working-on-new-production-company-blackout-3

by Danielle Harling

posted November 07, 2011 at 9:01PM GMT+0100 | 10 comments

Redman says he and Method Man plan on releasing "marijuana related" film, working on both "Blackout! 3" and "Muddy Waters 2."

While rappers Redman and Method Man have no plans on releasing a sequel to their 2001 movie How High due to rights owned by Universal they do have another film-related project in the works.
During an interview with Montreality, Redman revealed that he and Method Man plan on releasing their own production company in the near future.

“Red and Meth is opening their own video company, production company rather. We wanna call it Blunt Brothers Cinema. We’re working on a name for that. We’re having a little bit of problems with solidifying the name but we’re trying to do a movie under our own company now,” Redman explained. “Doing How High 2 the company Universal owns that name; they own the characters in the movie. So that means we can’t take How High to another company and use them characters…So what we gonna do is probably work on shooting our own movie. Call it something else. It will be marijuana related.”
Despite working on opening a production company Redman is still working on various music projects. In fact, the rapper plans on releasing both Muddy Waters 2 and then Blackout! 3 with Redman.
“Blackout! 3, Red and Meth, we coming. We coming with an album, Blackout! 3. We don’t know when it’s gonna drop, but we’re gonna try and put a single out next year. I’m working on Muddy Waters 2 right now,” said Redman.

Dr. Conrad Murray Found Guilty For Involuntary Manslaughter In Michael Jackson's Death

source: http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.17518/title.dr-conrad-murray-found-guilty-for-involuntary-manslaughter-in-michael-jacksons-death

by Steven J. Horowitz

posted November 07, 2011 03:25:00 PM CST | 9 comments

The 58-year-old faces a maximum of four years in a state prison, and is currently being held without bail.

Following Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, Dr. Conrad Murray has been found guilty for involuntary manslaughter in connection with his passing.

According to LA Times, a jury of seven men and five women decided on the verdict over two days. Murray was charged with the lowest possible homicide offense, facing a maximum sentence of four years in a state prison and a minimum of probation.

Murray, whose medical license was suspended by California authorities, now faces the probable loss of the license. His sentencing date is set for November 29th and will be held in custody without bail.