50 Cent Tops Forbes' Hip-Hop Cash Kings 2008 List

After last year's crown went to Jay-Z, resulting in the 50 Cent "I Get Money" (1-2-3 Remix) with Diddy on board, 50 Cent can claim himself this year as Forbes' estimated top earner in Hip Hop.
The leading financial institution estimated that 50 made $150 million over the last year, topped by his Vitamin Water deal with Coca Cola. Jay-Z fell $18 million behind Fif at $82 million, including his blockbuster Live Nation deal. Diddy rounded out the last at Number Three, coming in at $35 million, a departure from the close running of the three New York rap moguls the last two years.
Common, Lil Wayne and Akon made first time showings on the list, replacing Scott Storch, Yung Joc and Ice Cube [click to read].
The overall list is:

1. 50 Cent
2. Jay-Z
3. Diddy
4. Kanye West
5. Timbaland
6. Pharrell
7. Swizz Beats
8. Snoop Dogg
9. Dr. Dre
10. Ludacris
11. T.I.
11. Lil Wayne
12. Eminem
12. Common
12. Akon
13. Jermaine Dupri
13. Lil Jon
14. OutKast
14. Chamillionaire
14. The Game
Go to Forbes.com for actual earning

Saigon Talks Label Options, Just Blaze

The man who is still fiending to give the Hip Hop world The Greatest Story Never Told has been hard at work performing overseas, though his presence in the states has been somewhat silent. Checking in with DJ Envy, Saigon relayed his current status on signing a record deal to finally release The Greatest Story Never Told, as well as his future with Just Blaze.
The biggest question mark still lingering over the progress of Saigon’s rap career resides in his quest to find the right record label, to which Saigon persists there are a handful of options available, including a reunion with former partner/producer Mark Ronson. “He let me know that’s an option if I want. If I wanna go over there to put my music out, with his situation at Interscope, it’s an option.”
Where others might have folded under the restless setbacks that the rap music industry entails, Saigon has kept his demeanor cool thanks in part to his main collaborator Just Blaze. Because of their musical connection, a relationship has spawned in which Saigon considers “awesome.” “Just is riding with me till the end. That’s like my brother. Over the past four years of working we established like a friendship, more so than just business.” When asked if Just Blaze would be around for his second album, Saigon echoed his words true as he stated, “I won’t make an album without Just Blaze.”

Jay-Z Speaks On Blueprint 3, Personal Life & Live Nation Deal

After a much talked about appearance at the Glow in the Dark tour in New York, Jay-Z called in to the Shade 45 Morning Show with Elliott Wilson and Angela Lee to speak on being back in the studio, the Live Nation deal and his personal life.
Jay reveals that the performance during Kanye’s set [click to watch] was completely impromptu, but that he couldn’t turn down the opportunity to grace the stage.
“I really went to see his show. I walked into the dressing room and he was like, ‘let’s do this.’ I couldn’t tell him no, it was his show.”

Hov also noted that his next album will be titled Blueprint 3 and confirmed reports that Timbaland will not be producing the entire album.
One issue that Jay did not hesitate to address was the rumor that his deal with Live Nation is “falling apart.”
“That’s silly,” he replied to the claim.
During the interview, Jay also dodged claims that he was married, neither confirming nor denying reports of recent nuptials to Beyonce.
On the subject of his next album, Jay says he’s in the zone right now, but has only completed three tracks for the project. He declined to name the producers because the tracks may not make the final cut.
“I gotta make the best product,” he said regarding producers and how they feel if a song doesn’t make the album.”That doesn’t depend on anyone’s feelings. We’re in there to do a job. It’s about getting the best results; it’s not about my ego or their ego.”

Capone & Noreaga Announce Release Date For 'Channel 10'

Rap Duo Capone-N-Noreaga unveiled details about their new album Channel 10 today (August 4).

The release is the group's follow up to The Reunion, Gold seller, which was released eight years ago.

“I'm proud to be working on a C-N-N album, a lot of people have been begging for this to come out", N.O.R.E. told AllHipHop.com in a statement. "We recorded the whole album in the studio together."

The Lefrak, Queens bred rapper also revealed a more lucrative reason for his enthusiasm with the release of Channel 10.

"We want the music to be really good and it came out hot! Plus we own our masters," N.O.R.E. revealed.

Capone, who served a total of six years in prison, was equally excited to be reunited with N.O.R.E. in an actual recording studio.

"This time we were able to come together in the studio," Capone added. "Record together, not over the phone, in different cities. It really shows in the music, we are really interacting in the whole album. We are giving the fans a whole different feel, a whole different texture and it is going to show in our music."

The duo lined up some heavyweight producers for Channel 10, which boasts contributions from DJ Premier, The Alchemist, STK, Play & Skills and Hazardous Sounds.

A variety of notable rappers appear on the album as well, including Fat Joe, The Clipse, Dogg Pound, Maino, Picalo, Charlie Hustle and Uncle Murder.

The first single from the album is "Follow The Dollar" which was produced by The Alchemist.



C-N-N's Channel 10 hits stores on October 21st 2008 on SMC Recordings.

DJ Chong Wizard Presents: Be Kind Rewind

Here is the free download links to my newest mixtape collaboration with DJ Filthy Rich. Vancity 2 T-Dot showing everybody how Canada gets down on the BLENDS!!!

ENJOY!!! http://www.sendspace.com/file/aeatbj http://www.megaupload.com/?d=T2V8R9AZ BE KIND REWIND DJ Chong Wizard

01. Be Kind Rewind (Intro)02. Jay-Z - I Really Mean It03. Cam'ron - Dead President04. Rhymefest - Live By The Gun, Die By The Dynomite05. 2pac f/ Tha Dogg Pound - Don't Go To Sleep06. AZ - Boss' Life07. Da Bush Babies - Memory Lane 08. Willie The Kid - Good Look09. Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud - Mixtapes Just Saved My Life10. Mac Dre - Vibe With A Mac11. Slick Rick - Mistakes of a Nasty Bitch...12. Tragedy Khadafi - Blend Paradise DJ Filthy Rich 13. Rakim - Guess Who's Back14. DMX, Biggie & Jadakiss - Metal Thangz15. Queen Latifah - Black Hand Side16. Camp Lo - Luchini17. Jay-Z - Roc Boys18. Biggie f/ Nine - Whucha Want19. Big L - Flamboyant 20. Big Pun - Dream Shatterer21. Kool G. Rap - On The Run22. Nas - It Ain't Hard To Tell23. 2pac - Gangsta's Paradise 24. Nas f/ AZ - Lifes A Bitch25. Ghostface f/ Alicia Keys - Baby Baby Baby26. Jay-Z - Song Cry

Alicia Keys Rejects Tobacco Sponsorship

After turning heads with her comments about what she termed "gangsta rap" [click to read] in April, Alicia Keys is making headlines again. The R&B singer turned down what could potentially be millions of dollars by requesting a Philip Morris affiliate withdraw partial sponsorship of an upcoming concert in Jakarta, Indonesia. After the Washington-based anti-smoking organization Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids pointed out the numerous advertisements to Keys, she released the following statement through Sony BMG:

"I am an unyielding advocate for the well-being of children around the world and do not condone or endorse smoking."

The event, which is part of Keys' As I Am International Tour, was originally billed as "A Mild Live Production." Philip Morris did not publicly disclose how much it paid to sponsor the event or if it would ask for its money back. Although Keys has enjoyed successful sales of all her studio albums, with each one selling 3 million copies or more, the move goes against current industry practices. An increasing number of artists are getting directly involved in advertising campaigns with major corporations to offset the losses of declining album sales.

"Whether tobacco sponsorship of music events leads to youth smoking is a matter of serious debate," Philip Morris said, in a statement received Thursday. "Having considered the facts in this specific instance, we have decided to withdraw all branding associated with this concert."

Cam'ron Sells Juelz Santana To Def Jam For $2 Million

The never ending saga of the Diplomats internal struggles continue. Depending on who you ask, either everything is all good [click to read] or the crew is in shambles.

Although the future of the Dip Set is only known by those within the unit, the recent news of Cam'ron selling Juelz Santana's contract to Def Jam certainly have cast a cloud over the collective.
According to Miss Info's blog, the deal is in fact a reality and the video message sent out by the Best of Both Offices about Juelz returning means much more than originally perceived.

Miss Info asked Juelz via email about his move to Def Jam and Juelz responded with his own email that Info posted on her site.
"A! What’s good !! Yeah, I’m free!! And ready to do me!! But its still Dip Set 4 life!! Its just going to be a new chapter!!" he stated. Although he said that it was "still Dip Set 4 life," he followed by addressing his relationship with Killa Cam.

"I have no hard feeling for Cam, after all, he did give me a chance!!! But I will say this I was loyal to him and he took advantage."

What Santana exactly means by "took advantage" is unclear but it does show that the Dip Set still has internal issues with Cam. In the meanwhile, Juelz discussed his immediate future.

"Mixtape coming up soon, my solo mixtape ('the Reagan Era')," he revealed
"I have a joint venture with Def Jam, a 50/50 deal," he continued. "Yeah, it’s a new boss in town. Album is called Born to Lose, Built to Win!!!! (The rise of the skullgang)."