Louis Vuitton sued over gash at rap bash

via NY Daily News

A veteran rap and hip-hop manager who says he was hurt at Kanye West‘s star-studded 30th birthday bash is suing luxury clothier Louis Vuitton, which hosted the event.

Steve Lobel, who oversees the Grammy-winning group Bone, Thugs-N-Harmony, was among the glitterati partying with West at Vuitton’s Fifth Ave. store on June 7, 2007, when a temporary panel fell off the wall onto his chrome dome, the suit charges.

Other high-profile revelers at the party included Rihanna, Sean (Puffy) Combs, Jay-Z, Usher and Mariah Carey.

Lobel is demanding unspecified damages from the company, who, he claims, used unstable wall panels to “obscure the store’s merchandise and create a club look.”

Bone Thugs earned a Grammy in 1997 for its song “Tha Crossroads.” Lobel and the band were in town the weekend of West’s shindig to shoot a video for their latest single, Lobel’s Web site says.

The suit, filed in Queens Supreme Court, also names Manhattan events promoter Tony Berger, of Relevent Group LLC.

“We were aware of the incident. We reported it to our insurance carrier, and it is being handled by them,” Berger said.

UPDATE #2: Obama apologizes for Special Olympics comment

via CNN

(CNN) – President Obama apologized Thursday night for an offhanded remark during his appearance on The Tonight Show that appeared disparaging toward Special Olympic athletes.

White House officials confirm the president called Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver before the show aired to personally apologize for the remark. One official said Obama expressed his disappointment over the comment and his intention not to humiliate the disabled.

The comment came midway through Obama’s appearance on the late night comedy show, when host Jay Leno quipped about the president’s lack of bowling skills: “I imagine the bowling alley [in the White House] has just been just burned and closed down,” Leno said.

“No, no. I have been practicing,” Obama said. “I bowled a 129. It’s like – it was like Special Olympics, or something.”

The Special Olympics, founded in 1968, is a nonprofit organization serving people with mental and physical disabilities. The Special Olympics holds its “Special Olympics World Games” every other year.

[video] WTF Jetsons: The Flying Car Makes A Debut!

CBS reports “NASA has built “The highway in the sky”. Its a computer system designed to let millions of people fly whenever they please and take off and land from wherever they please, in their very own vehicles”

‘Life After Death’ Quilts

via The Rap Up

BIG L

Memphis Bleek Talks Leaving Roc-a-Fella

via HipHopDX

Rapper Memphis Bleek recently took time to discuss his departure from Roc-A-Fella distributor Def Jam .

“Jay’s the kindest nigga that walk the face of this earth and everything ain’t money,” said Bleek in a video on HipHopBeef.com, rebutting rumors that Jay-Z didn’t look after his artists. “Nigga gave everybody he knew that he came up with rhyming with opportunity, that’s all you can ask for…You know Hov broke bread…I left Def Jam…I had options to put out another album on Def Jam but then I had a meeting with him and he made it real clear to me, ‘Why do that, you got the opportunity right now to run your own company. I’ma get you the distribution deal for Get Low Records, you sign your artists, drop your albums under Get Low and I’ma still executive produce.’”

Bleek also spoke on Roc-A-Fella’s initial breakup, saying that “I saw it coming…I ain’t seen or speak to Beans in forever, I ain’t seen the Gunz in forever…I definitely ain’t seen or speak to Peedi Crakk.”

As for his relationship with Dame Dash, “It was weird. Dame always was cool to me. He looked out for me as a youngin…He was a good dude. You know how they say – with money, it changes a lot of things. It changed Roc-A-Fella.”

President Obama Announces $2.4 Billion in Funding for Electric Vehicles

via gas2.org

President Obama announced today that $2.4 billion will be made available for the US-based development of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.

The fund is intended to spur growth in research and manufacturing of next-generation plug-in hybrid vehicles and advanced battery componenents for electric cars, while creating tens of thousands of US jobs and reducing US petroleum dependence. It should also help meet the President’s goal of putting one million plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road by 2015.

The President made the announcement while visiting Southern California Edison’s Electric Vehicle Center. SCE is one of the largest electric utilities in the country and researches battery-powered and hybrid engines, along with potential impacts of having massive numbers of electric vehicles taking power from conventional utility networks.

This investment will not only reduce our dependence on foreign oil, it will put Americans back to work. It positions American manufacturers on the cutting edge of innovation and solving our energy challenges.

The plan was partially outlined on the Department of Energy’s website:

[video] President Barack Obama On Jay Leno Show [Full 24 Minutes]

…on Leno

Obama reaches out to Iran, looks for engagement

via Yahoo

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama told Iran’s people and leaders that the United States wants to engage with their country and end decades of strained relationship, but not unless their officials stop making threats.

Obama on Friday released a video message with Farsi subtitles that urged the two countries to resolve their long-standing differences. His video was timed to the festival of Nowruz (no-ROOZ), which means “new day.” It marks the arrival of spring and is a major holiday in Iran.

“So in this season of new beginnings I would like to speak clearly to Iran’s leaders,” Obama said in the video. “We have serious differences that have grown over time. My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community.”

Obama has signaled a willingness to speak directly with Iran about its nuclear program and hostility toward Israel, a key U.S. ally. At his inauguration last month, the president said his administration would reach out to rival states, declaring “we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

Michelle Obama to Break Ground on New White House Garden on First Day of Spring

What a beautiful spring ritual, at least there not taking the opportunity to go to war, like Bush did six years ago to this day.  I wonder how many Americans will get the clue and start planting their own food?

via Yahoo

WASHINGTON – The White House is getting a new garden.

First lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to break ground Friday on a new garden near the fountain on the South Lawn that will supply the White House kitchen.

She will be joined by students from Bancroft Elementary School in the District of Columbia. The children will stay involved with the project, including planting the fruits, vegetables and herbs in the coming weeks and harvesting the crops later in the year.

Mrs. Obama spent time earlier this week at an exhibit on rooftop gardening.

“We’re going to get a big one in our back yard, the South Lawn,” she promised the volunteers.

Such a White House garden has been a dream of noted California chef Alice Waters, considered a leader in the movement to encourage consumption of locally grown, organic food. She has been appealing for change through the taste buds since the 1960s.

L-R-G new ad campaign plastered with Hip-Hop artists

via Woooha

L-R-G has been one of the most dedicated clothing brands with their artist endorsements. Now they have just released pics of their new Spring/Summer 2009 campaign which includes a wide range of industry players including Alchemist, Smif-n-Wessun, Drake, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Pete Rock. Check out all the ads after the jump. Pics via: NahRight

[video] Snoop Dogg Millionaire (Feat. Tanvi Shah)

Snoop Dogg x Snoop Dogg Millionaire. Snoop has always been down with the trends and what’s hot in Hollywood so it’s no surprise that his new single and marketing campaign is all built around the Academy Award Winning Slumdog Millionaire. Snoop has just released his new single “Snoop Dogg Millionaire” which even features Tanvi Shah (Oscar winner for Best Original Song, “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire) to create the song. Check the song from the YouTube video and photo that Snoop’s reps just sent me. “Snoop Dogg Millionaire” will be from his first album released by MTV.

[video] LMAO! Bird Poops In Mouth

My homie Khaaliq turned me on to this clip. If you’re having one of those dull days and you need one of those gut-busting laughs, this will work every time. Gua-ran-teed!!

The Corporate Takeover of Organic Brands

via AlterNet

My first introduction to natural, organic and eco-friendly products stems back to the early ’90s, when I stumbled upon Burt’s Bees lip balm at an independently owned health food store in the heart of Westport, Kansas City, Mo.

Before the eyesore invasion of ’98, when Starbucks frothed its way into the neighborhood, leading to its ultimate demise, Westport was the kind of  ‘hood I still yearn for. It was saturated with historically preserved, hip and funky, mom-and-pop-type establishments, delivering their goods people to people.

I was surprised more recently when I saw Burt’s Bees products everywhere — in grocery stores, drug stores, corner bodegas and big-box stores like Target and Wal-Mart. I thought to myself, fantastic; the marketplace is working, and good for Burt. He has made his mark, and the demand for his products is on the rise.

Needless to say, I was shocked when I recently found out that Burt’s Bees is now owned by Clorox, a massive corporate company that has historically cared very little about the environment, but whose main industry is directly associated with harmful chemicals, some of which require warning labels for legal sale.

Clorox; yes, that’s right — the bleach company with an estimated revenue of $ 4.8 billion that employs nearly 7,600 workers (now bees) and sells products like Liquid-Plumr, Pine-Sol and Armor All, a far cry from the origins of Burt.

I now understood. The reason Burt’s Bees products were everywhere was precisely because they now had a powerful corporation in the driver’s seat, with big marketing budgets and existing distribution systems.

The story of Burt is a charming one gone bad. Burt Shavitz, a beekeeper in Dexter, Maine, lived an extremely humble life selling honey in pickle jars from the back of his pickup truck and resided in the wilderness inside a turkey coop without running water or electricity.

Report: AT&T ready with no-contract iPhone offer

via CNET

(CNET) — AT&T may be getting ready to offer the iPhone 3G at a very expensive yet no-commitment price.

BoyGeniusReport.com has a report out Wednesday that AT&T plans to offer iPhone 3Gs at $599 or $699 without requiring the customer to sign a new two-year agreement, starting next week.

When the iPhone 3G launched last year, AT&T said it would offer such an option, but never pulled the trigger.

An AT&T representative declined to comment on the report.

The move would seem designed to rid AT&T of iPhone inventory ahead of the launch of a new product later this summer, as most of us are expecting.

Apple didn’t allude to any new hardware during its iPhone 3.0 event on Tuesday, but there have been a few signs, and the company has noted that iPhone releases seem to be falling into a yearly schedule around June or July.

iPhones sales soared after Apple and AT&T cut the starting price to $199 last year, but there are definitely some people who would like an iPhone free from AT&T and a two-year commitment to paying a monthly wireless bill, even if it costs them more up front.

A profitable 2008 for Obama

via CNN

(CNN) – As he campaigned for the White House in 2008, President Obama raked in millions of dollars in book royalties, according to recently filed Senate disclosure forms.

The president earned close to $2.5 million last year from royalties from 2006′s The Audacity of Hope and 1995′s Dreams from My Father, according to his Senate disclosure forms, filed with the Secretary of Senate’s office earlier this week.

The Audacity of Hope – first published in paperback last summer – earned him $1,512,933, while Dreams of My Father earned $950,000.

An attachment to the disclosure form also reveals Obama agreed to a $500,000 advance days before his inauguration for an abridged version of Dreams from My Father “suitable for middle grade or young adult readers.”

The president has also agreed to pen a non-fiction book for the Crown Publishing Group after he leaves office. A dollar figure on that advance has not been worked out.

[video] Ever Seen a 360 Dunk?

I peeped this over at Illseed‘s rumor section and just had to share it with you guys (and gals). This is super FUNNY!

[video] Asher Roth- LARK ON MY GO KART

I mean lil’ homie can’t freestyle worth a sh*t but he does make catchy songs, and I f*ck with the animated vids!

Common, Wyclef, Ne-Yo Appear on “The Electric Company”

via HipHopDX

This past January, PBS brought back the 1970s classic television show “The Electric Company,” with special appearances from several famous faces including Mario Barrett, Sean Kingston, and Tiki Barber. The original version of the educational kid’s program, which helped children learn the ins and outs of English grammar, regularly starred big names like Bill Cosby and Morgan Freeman.

Recently, Common [click to read], Wyclef, and Ne-Yo each made musical contributions to the show.

Common plays the part of an Indiana Jones type character who searches for a gigantic artifact:

one word: pause

VH1 Goes Behind The Music With Lil Wayne

via XXL

VH1 reps have revealed that Lil Wayne will be the subject of an upcoming episode of VH1’s Behind the Music series.

A rep for the music network told XXL that the famed show will be making its return to the small screen and so far Weezy is the only rap artist that has been confirmed to star on the hour long program.

VH1 will have a lot of content to discuss about the controversial rapper. The New Orleans superstar, who has well over a decade in the industry, has experienced a publicized bout with syrup addiction,
faced several criminal charges and endured watching his hometown get destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Weezy reached his highest level of success last year. His his sixth solo album Tha Carter III was the overall biggest selling album of 2008 and he took home four Grammy Awards, where he lead the nominations with eight nods.

As of press time, it is uncertain when the episode of Behind The Music will air.

[video] Imeem’s Dalton Caldwell on Monetizing Social Networks

For any of our entreprenuers out there looking to monetize their social platforms, this clip is for you.  Listen in as the CEO of Imeem spills the beans about the emerging business opportunities for mobile based media and widget apps.

seen @ hypebot

[video] Mos Def- WORDS

Coodie & Chike have created a very cool video for Words, a spoken word piece off Mos Def’s upcoming album The Ecstatic, said to be due Spring 2009.

MySpace: Mos Def

via ProHipHop

Mickey Rourke to attend Wrestlemania

via MSNBC

LOS ANGELES – Mickey Rourke will make it to WrestleMania 25 after all, a WWE rep confirmed to Access Hollywood on Wednesday.

In January, the “Wrestler” star told Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell on the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards red carpet that he would be stepping into the ring at the April 5 event.

“The boys from the WWE called me and asked me to do it,” Rourke said at the time. “I said, ‘I want to.’ I’m talking with [WWE legend] Rowdy Roddy Piper about it.”

However, a rep for the star announced days later that Rourke would not be participating.

But now, with Rourke’s appearance back on, wrestler Chris Jericho hinted on this week’s “Monday Night RAW” that Mickey be might doing more than just watching the show.

“You say you’re going to be at Mania, I’m going to buy you a front row seat, because I want you to see up close and personal what’s going to happen to all your friends,” Jericho said after issuing a challenge to wrestling legends Jimmy Snuka, Roddy Piper and Ricky Steamboat. “And unlike your movie ‘The Wrester,’ the ending of this isn’t going to be ambiguous. It’s going to be tragic.”

Rourke won the SAG Award for Best Actor for his performance as Randy “The Ram” Robinson in “The Wrestler” and was nominated for an Academy Award for the film.

Attorney General Signals Shift in Medical Marijuana Policy

via My Way News

WASHINGTON (AP) – Attorney General Eric Holder signaled a change on medical marijuana policy Wednesday, saying federal agents will target marijuana distributors only when they violate both federal and state law.

That would be a departure from the Bush administration, which targeted medical marijuana dispensaries in California even if they complied with that state’s law.

“The policy is to go after those people who violate both federal and state law,” Holder said in a question-and-answer session with reporters at the Justice Department.

Medical marijuana advocates in California welcomed the news, but said they still worried about the pending cases of those already in court on drug charges.

California law permits the sale of marijuana for medical purposes, though it still is against federal law.

Holder did not spell out exactly who no longer would face the prospect of raids by the Drug Enforcement Administration. But he was quick to add that law enforcement officers will target anyone who tries to “use medical marijuana laws as a shield” for other illegal activity.

Lil Wayne Forced To Hand Over “Tha Carter III” Profit Documents

via SOHH

A judge ordered Lil Wayne today (March 18) to turn over financial information on his latest album Tha Carter III to a folk singer who previously accused him of copyright infringement.

The decision was made early Wednesday afternoon for action to take place after the owner of the song Wayne sampled said he had no permission.

U.S. Magistrate Daniel Knowles III ordered the New Orleans rapper to hand over records about the sale of 2008′s Tha Carter III. Karma-Ann Swanepoel claims in a federal lawsuit filed in May that Lil Wayne didn’t have permission to sample her song “Once” in the track “I Feel Like Dying.” The lawsuit says Lil Wayne’s record label, Cash Money Records, failed to negotiate a license to use Swanepoel’s song before millions of people downloaded “I Feel Like Dying.” (Associated Press)

Concern grew on behalf of Swanepoel about the profits Weezy attained from indirect usage of the song.

“I Feel Like Dying” wasn’t a track on “Tha Carter III,” but a lawyer for Urband & Lazar Music Publishing said Lil Wayne promoted the album by singing that song in concert and allowing fans to download it for free on his Web site. “It’s more akin to promotional material,” attorney Melvin Albritton said. “He used the infringing work to promote himself.” (Seattle Times)

T.I. Akoo Clothing Line Fends Off Recession Effects

via SOHH

T.I. has officially launched a site for his Akoo apparel line, as other rapper lines from Young Buck and Snoop Dogg have felt the heat of recession.

Along with non-clothing features, Tip provides fans with a wide selection of shopping choices via the sites’s online store.

Playing T.I. songs from Paper Trail including “Live Your Life,” “What Up,” and “Swing Your Rag,” the site offers visitors Akoo news, events, an event gallery, MySpace page access, e-mail sign-up and an upcoming blog for the site. Fans will also be able to peep the featured collection section showing visual images of the clothing and a breakdown of tops, outer wear and bottoms. (Akoo Clothing Brand)

Tip has spoken on the motivation behind his brand’s launch and the meaning behind “Akoo” with television personality Chelsea Handler.

“We’re actually fortunate enough to translate that style into my own clothing line that I released last year,” Tip said. “Akoo, A King Of One’s Self.” The clothing line hit the market in October and was publicized with videos of T.I. during an Akoo video shoot prior to its release circulating online. (Chelsea Lately)

While the rapper’s clothing line appears unfazed by the current economic crisis, rappers like Snoop Dogg have admitted to feeling the economy’s effects.

“The recession is affecting everybody,” Snoop said in an interview. “We’re trying to keep it one hundred percent and do what we’re doing and try to keep the prices a little lower. [We're] trying to keep it cost sufficient for what [we're] doing.” (Hollyscoop)

Kanye West Charged for LAX Pap Smear

via E! Online

We’re guessing Kanye West and his hired guns will be doing everything to keep him out of L.A. County’s version of love lockdown.

The hitmaker was charged today with three criminal misdemeanors in connection with his arrest last September following a run-in with a paparazzo at Los Angeles International Airport.

The city attorney charged the 31-year-old rapper with one count each of vandalism, battery and grand theft after breaking the camera of a shutterbug as he made his way through LAX’s Terminal Four on Sept. 11. West’s business manager, Don Crawley, 33, faces two counts each of the same charges.

West was preparing to board a flight bound for Honolulu that morning when he was confronted by a two-man crew that continued to hound him on his way to the TSA checkpoint.

In the ensuing scrum, West allegedly grabbed something off the video camera wielded by one of the men and throwing it to the ground. Prosecutors claim Crawley forcibly wrestled away a still camera, valued at $10,000, and smashed it .

West and Crawley were detained, booked on suspicion of felony vandalism and made a later flight to Hawaii. (And despite his promise of ranting about his side of the incident, West was strangely silent on his blog—presumably at the behest of his lawyer, Blair Berk.)

If convicted of the charges, the Graduation star could face a maximum of two and a half years in jail while his manager could get up to five years.

Berk declined to comment. An arraignment is scheduled for April 14.

Preview of Mos Def’s new UNDRCRWN clothing line

via Woooha

Mos Def x UNDRCRWN. Mos Def has partnered up with street wear label UNDRCRWN for the release of his new clothing line designed in conjunction with UNDRCRWN creative director Dustin Canalin. The collection is inspired by the Dead Prez album “Revolutionary But Gangsta” and drops on the UNDRCRWN site this Wednesday. There will be fourteen pieces total in the collection. Check out a preview of the rest of Mos Def’s collection after the jump.

At G20, Kremlin to Pitch New Currency

via the Moscow Times

The Kremlin published its priorities Monday for an upcoming meeting of the G20, calling for the creation of a supranational reserve currency to be issued by international institutions as part of a reform of the global financial system. The International Monetary Fund should investigate the possible creation of a new reserve currency, widening the list of reserve currencies or using its already existing Special Drawing Rights, or SDRs, as a “superreserve currency accepted by the whole of the international community,” the Kremlin said in a statement issued on its web site.

The SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement the existing official reserves of member countries. The Kremlin has persistently criticized the dollar’s status as the dominant global reserve currency and has lowered its own dollar holdings in the last few years. Both President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have repeatedly called for the ruble to be used as a regional reserve currency, although the idea has received little support outside of Russia. Analysts said the new Kremlin proposal would elicit little excitement among the G20 members.

Pope Says Condoms Make AIDS Worse. WTF!

Pope Benedict XVI has declared that condom use not only doesn’t slow down the spread of HIV/AIDS, but actually makes the pandemic worse.via Global Grind

“You can’t resolve [AIDS] with the distribution of condoms,” the pope told reporters on Tuesday aboard a plane headed to Cameroon, Africa, a continent ravaged by AIDS. “On the contrary, it increases the problem. [AIDS] is a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems.”

According to the New York Times, Benedict has never addressed condom use. Predecessor Pope John Paul II often proclaimed abstinence, not condoms, would prevent the deadly spread of AIDS.

The Roman Catholic Church rejects the use of condoms based on its teachings against artificial contraception.

Nike Air Yeezy’s confirmed as GLOW IN THE DARK

via Woooha

Kanye West x Nike Air Yeezy. Kanye, ahem, I mean his ghostblogger just posted these new pics of his Air Yeezy shoe via Complex.
Just like your favorite pair of Tron Underoos…they are indeed
glow-in-the-dark. If you know what the heck I just said you get mad
props. The Air Yeezys hit the market Spring of 2009.

Rick Ross’ DVD Screen Shots

Irregardless of the direction Ross’ project is taking, one thing I must say is he got some of the toughest graphics in the game.  Make sure you check Ricky’s Myspace out!

source: RapRadar

Exclusive Preview: “This Is Jim Jones”

via DrJays

This Is Jim Jones official trailer

“What n*ggas can’t do is what I do with my eyes closed” – Jim Jones

Rap fans – if you think you know Joseph Guillermo “Jim” Jones, think again.

In his new, full-length documentary, This Is Jim Jones (directed by Carly Carol), the 33-year-old Harlemite gives fans a rare glimpse into his life of glaring extremes; an existence punctuated by its star’s perennial underdog status.

The chronological order of the scenes is often muddled, but there are ten basic chapters:

Chapter 1 sheds light on Jim’s journey from boy to man. It includes childhood pics, memories from his mother Nancy (addicted to crack cocaine when Jim was young), tales of growing up with Dame Dash in East Harlem, his estranged father’s untimely death from HIV/AIDS, his legendary temper, and becoming affiliated with the Bloods as a teen.

As Dame earnestly tells us he “didn’t expect Jimmy to be the guy I passed the torch to”, we see Jim beginning to build serious relationships within the music industry. We’re then given a glimpse into his business acumen with mention of his ventures at KOCH, Asylum Records and Sony BMG; a closer look however at how he actually worked on and sealed these deals would have been appreciated.

Chapter 2 begins to shed light on Jim’s relationship with Cam’ron. When Jim says “his success was my success”, he means it. It also shows that while Cam was Dipset’s frontman for the most part, Jim was creeping on a come up in many ways, including pioneering the rock-inspired, skull and crossbones-infused fashion look. Jim and fellow Dipset member Juelz Santana discuss their new “splash” movement; when an interviewer asks Jim if he’s running out of it, he replies in genuine shock: “Am I running out of splash? How is that possible? I’m the wishing well!”

Chapter 3 delves into The Diplomats movement, exploring the relationship between Jim, Cam, Juelz and Freaky Zeakey. It focuses primarily on Cam’s original label deal with Sony and eventual move to Rocafella via his relationsip with Dame.

Chapter 4 breaks down Dipset’s tenuous relationship with Rocafella’s kingpin, Jay-Z.

Jay-Z’s Nets Are Still Brooklyn Bound

via Sporting News

New Jersey Nets CEO Brett Yormark said the team is committed to moving to Brookyln in time for the 2011-12 season, according to Bloomberg News.

“We’ll be there for the ’11-’12 season. We’ve pre-sold 20 percent of our suites.” Yormark said in a report published on Friday. “We’ve got eight of our 14 founding partnerships already completely signed. Next week, we’ll announce our ninth.”

The Brooklyn arena is not built and owner Bruce Ratner is awaiting an eminent-domain lawsuit before starting on the Barclays Center. Groundbreaking could come in late spring or early summer, according to the report.

source: rapradar

Kid Cudi Ponders Retirement Before Debut

via HipHopDX

Just two weeks after Kid Cudi signed a deal with Universal Motown to release his debut album in conjunction with G.O.O.D. Music, Man On The Moon: The Guardians, he has now announced his retirement from the rap game. His reasoning? There’s just too much drama in the music industry.

“AFTER THE RELEASE OF MY FIRST LP THIS SUMMER, IAM NOT MAKING ANY MORE SOLO ALBUMS,” Cudi said in his blog. “IAM FALLIN BACK ON BEING A ARTIST. THE DRAMA THAT COMES WITH IT IS MORE OVERWHELMING THAN THE SHIT I WAS DEALING WIT WHEN I WAS PISS POOR BROKE. MY FRIENDS GET MAD AT ME, SAY IVE CHANGED, ONE OF THE ONLY HOMIES I GOT IN THIS GAME, WALE, IS WORRIED ABOUT ME CUZ OF SHIT HE HEARS. LIKE WTF? WHO CAN SAY IM BEIN HOLLYWOOD?”

Cudi earned critical acclaim for his mixtape A Kid Named Cudi, was also featured on Kanye West’s “Welcome to Hearbreak” [click to view], and landed a number one spot on the UK charts with his single “Day ‘n’ Night.” However, Cudi explains that he is tired of dealing with “more uncalled for problems than the average human being should have to deal with.”

Kid Cudi said that he does not look at it as quitting because he’s already accomplished his goal of pleasing fans, and earning the respect of critics. Yet, if Cudi does plan to retire, it won’t be the last that fans see of him.

“IAM GOING TO FOCUS ALL MY ATTENTION ON THE HBO SHOW WHICH WE START SHOOTING IN AUGUST AND MY ACTING CAREER IN GENERAL…ILL CONTINUE TO DO SHOWS FOR THE REAL KID CUDI FANS, AND IM PLANNING A BIG CONCERT THIS SUMMER, JUS ME, AND I WILL PERFORM MY ENTIRE MIXTAPE FROM BEGINNING TO END AND NEW SONGS FROM MY ALBUM.”

[video] T.I.’s Message To The Nation of Islam’s Annual Saviours’ Day!

Rapper TI was an invited guest of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan at the Nation of Islam’s annual Saviours’ Day Convention in Chicago, IL., March 1, 2009. Although circumstances prevented his live appearance, he addressed the convention and youth in general via video message.

[video] “THIS IS JIM JONES” Clip #1

Hip Hop Producer Timbaland Lands Deal To Make Beat-Making Video Game

via HipHopRX

Hip hop music producer Timbaland born Timothy Mosley has gotten into the video gaming business and landed a deal to help in the creation of a beat-making video game after partnering with Rockstar Games/Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) the makers of Grand Theft Auto.

The game dubbed “Beaterator,” is called a powerful portable music mixer with robust beatmaking features and a highly-addictive collection of rhythm game

Timbaland has been brought on to present Beaterator for the PSP system. The game will be developed by Rockstar Leeds and is expected to be available this Summer.

In other news, Timbaland is reportedly working along side The X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke for her debut album.

[video] “GRAFFITI” Papoose

One of our readers asked that we [post this new vid from Papoose. My question is Pap when is the album gonna drop?

[video] Public Enemy Including Chuck D, Flavor Flav & The Roots Reunited To Perform “Bring The Noise” On Jimmy Fallon Show

This never loses its flavor…classic! Happy B-Day Flav!!

Fashion Robot: ‘Girlie-Faced Humanoid’ Is Ready to Rock Tokyo Catwalk

via Breitbart

Japanese researchers on Monday showed off a robot that will soon strut her stuff down a Tokyo catwalk.

The girlie-faced humanoid with slightly oversized eyes, a tiny nose and a shoulder length hair-do boasts 42 motion motors programmed to mimic the movements of flesh-and-blood fashion models.

“Hello everybody, I am cybernetic human HRP-4C,” said the futuristic fashionista, opening her media premiere at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology outside Tokyo.

The fashion-bot is 158 centimetres (five foot two inches) tall, the average height of Japanese women aged 19 to 29, but weighs in at a waif-like 43 kilograms (95 pounds) — including batteries.

She has a manga-inspired human face but a silver metallic body.

“If we had made the robot too similar to a real human, it would have been uncanny,” said one of the inventors, humanoid research leader Shuji Kajita.

“We have deliberately leaned toward an anime style.”