(Press Release)
Royce Da 5’9 ‘s unwavering passion for music and hunger for the game keeps him in the studio day and night. For further proof, look no further then the amount of music he will be releasing over the course of the next three months, which will undeniably validate Royce’s place in the pantheon of Hip-Hop’s elite lyricists.

While Royce preps the release of his highly-anticipated “Street Hop” LP, (which will be released on 9-22-09) which is executive-produced by DJ Premier and has already generated overwhelming critical accolades alone with the release of street-singles “Shake This” and “Part Of Me” and the forthcoming self-titled debut LP from the buzz worthy Bi-Coastal conglomerate Slaughterhouse (Royce Da 5’9, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz & Crooked I) on this summer.

On the heels of both releases, Royce will first be releasing a Digital only four song EP entitled “The Revival.” “The Revival” will be released on 7-7-09 and it will include new tracks from Royce’s “Street Hop” LP along with a new Slaughterhouse track and will be available at all major digital retailers. Royce will also be debuting a new single and video for “The Revival” in the very immediate future.

The Revival EP Tracklisting
1. Gun Harmonizing 3:16
2. Count For Nothing 3:37
3. Warriors 5:10
4. Street Hop 2010 2:53

Anticipation for Amerie’s new album reached a fever pitch when “Why R U” debuted May 11th on her MySpace website, http://www.myspace.com/ameriemimarie. New York City Hot 97 radio dj Funk Master Flex caught the buzz when he played “Why R U” for 15 minutes straight. The track officially goes to all radio formats on June 15th as the first single from IN LOVE & WAR. The video for “Why R U,” which premieres June 8th on BET, was directed by Ray Kay (whose credits include fellow Def Jam artist The-Dream’s “Shawty Is a 10” featuring Fabolous, Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” and more).

“Why R U” was produced by the Buchanans, who were among the roster of producers that worked with Amerie on her last two albums, Touch (2005) and Because I Love It (2007), as well as on album tracks with Jay-Z (The Black Album), Beyoncé (Dangerously in Love), Black Rob, and Lupe Fiasco. In addition to the Buchanans, other producers who worked on the Atlanta, LA, and Miami sessions for IN LOVE & WAR include Teddy Riley (“Tell Me You Love Me”), Sean Garrett & Eric Hudson (“Heard ’Em All”), and Jim Johnson & Rico Love (“Swagback”), Brian Michael Cox (”Red Eye”).

Bonus: Behind The Scenes vid for Amerie’s new single Why R U

Intuition & Verbs

(Press Release)

Intuition and VerBS have joined forces and collaborated to create a six song EP called “Buzz.”  The “Buzz” EP is an raucous upbeat romp through their daily lives filled with humor, emotion, passion, and desire for something more.  With an outstanding production lineup (featuring Dibiase, Equalibrum, Alpha MC, Aspect 1 and Fudd Burton), and two razor sharp emcees at the helm, this EP is bound to turn some heads and, dare we say, create a buzz.

Intuition is a rapper, raised in North Pole, AK but now residing in West Los Angeles.  A veteran emcee who has been paying dues for years, Intuition created a few waves with his 2007 debut “Stories About Nothing.”  He has shared the stage with the likes of Lupe Fiasco, Method Man, Murs and countless others.  Chances are if you have been to a show in LA in the last five years, you have probably seen him around.  This EP will leave you enamored with his scathing wit, and attention to detail while writing songs.  His sophomore effort, “Girls Like Me,” will be released later this summer and it will be sure to garner some attention.  Learn more at www.myspace.com/intuition.

VerBS is a rapper raised in Culver City, CA.  A fresh new voice in the West LA hip hop scene, he is one of the co-founders of the ever-growing monthly event “The Spliff.”  Having toured with Murs (and opening up at the mega hip hop festival Paid Dues) and collaborating with the likes of Murs, Big Pooh, and Knawledge (of Kidz in the Hall) this young up-and-comer is sure to impress you with his extreme creativity.  His style is so unique and stream of consciousness you would swear that most of it was created spontaneously in the booth.  His first effort, “The Progress EP,” is an ever growing collection of songs he’s worked on with various collaborators.  The presentation of the EP (hand drawn, comic book style liner notes and original 4×6 photographs attached to each copy) is one of the most original things the LA indie rap scene has seen in many years.  Learn more at www.myspace.com/verbsisthehomie.

Together the two sound like a team that has been working with each other for years, though they only started this project a few months ago.  Please enjoy the EP, available for free download in the link provided below:

Intuition & Verbs - Buzz (FREE DOWNLOAD LINK)

Track listing:

1.  Hip No Ties (produced by Alpha MC)
2.  Touch the Moon (produced by Fudd Burton)
3.  What You Make It (produced by Aspect 1)
4.  See Us (produced by Equalibrum)
5.  Really (produced by Dibiase)
6.  Live Write (produced by Alpha MC, featuring Dj MurjOne)

Intuition & VerBS Buzz EP cover

Loso/IFandCo chain

Holy crap. This is unbelievable. Los Angeles jeweler Ben Baller has showcased his latest work; a ‘Loso’ chain for Fabolous, on the eve of Fab’s new album release.

The chain is vintage Fab: “You know me, I mix one white with one yellow”. Held together by a classic Cuban link chain with one side yellow gold and the other in white gold, the chain is also double-sided in the same two tones.

Fab’s new Loso chain comprises over 3,700 diamonds, and over 55 carats total in diamonds, weighing over half a kilogram.

Check Ben Baller’s IFandCo website for more information on the chain, and piece by piece photos showing the assembly of the piece.

Veteran rapper, Geto Boys founder, amateur boxer and now online scam runner Willie D has been arrested by the authorities for running an online iPhone scam.

Willie D was taken into custody at Bush Intercontinental, after he was indicted for his relationship with a company named Texas One Wireless.

The Houston Press alleges that Willie D, the motherfuckin gangster of love, had posed as an online sales rep for a company selling iPhones. Willie took the orders primarily via eBay but also through other online channels. The buyers were primarily outside of the US.

Funds were then transferred into Willie D’s account. Willie D provided phoney tracking numbers to the buyers but didn’t send out the iPhone.

When buyers would communicate with the rapper, he would tell the consumers that the packages were either lost in the mail, or that he could not refund their money until he located the products, but he would eventually cease communications with the victimized parties.

If proven guilty, Willie D faces 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Speaking to Fox News Phoenix, X now claims to have turned a corner, with plans for a Christian TV show in the future.

“I’m gonna start a TV show called Pain and Perseverance, it’s about how I can reach people that the average person can’t reach because I’m grounded,” he stated. “I’m going to give my first sermon, in the church. That’s going to be incredible for me and hopefully the congregation of that church. I’ve completed my gospel album. On every one of my albums there’s been a gospel song and prayer. Because of my image those songs are never made singles except my sixth album where they did ‘Lord Give Me a Sign.’”

Watch the full video interview here

Swine Flu drops ‘in two weeks’. I think I’ll vaccinate myself and skip this one.

Full EP artwork here

See full EP artwork here

Pressed for his top 5 producers, Just Blaze actually ended up naming 7. His list is as follows:

Q-Tip
RZA
Marley Marl
The Bomb Squad
and in position 5, he named Pete Rock, Dr Dre and Large Pro

Check the full article here, which includes an interview with Just and Pete Rock.

From press release:
Virginia based duo, Clipse who have achieved platinum success with their 2002 LP release “Lord Willin” and critical acclaim with their 2006 release “Hell Hath no Fury” are now taking their penchant for trendsetting from the mic booth to the boutique. Friday, November 21st, the sibling wordsmiths release their line of apparel Play Cloths to select retailers worldwide.

Check Playcloths.com on Nov 21st for a complete list of retailers and the the availability date of the Holiday ‘08 Collection in the online store, also keep an eye out for the Play Cloths Mixtape Dropping Dec 1st on the Play Cloths blog