Large Professor Reacts To Illmatic Being Turned To Book

Hip Hop scholar, author and activist Dr. Michael Eric Dyson announced yesterday that he is currently writing a book on Nas' debut album Illmatic [click to read]. The 1994 release received the coveted five mic rating from The Source magazine, and is considered by many, to be the greatest single Hip Hop album of all times.
"Every song on Illmatic will be analyzed, interpreted and then re-articulated in a kind of intellectual sense from his own base in Hip Hop and we’re trying to deal with that seriously," Dyson told AllHipHop.com Wednesday.
Late Wednesday, Nas' mentor, and producer of three of the album's 10 tracks, Large Professor, spoke on the significance of his work going from the musical to the literary world.
"It means a lot. That’s what we were working for though," revealed the musical creator of "Halftime," "One Time 4 Your Mind" and "It Ain't Hard To Tell," two of which were album singles. Large Professor added to HipHopDX, "It’s finally paying off. It was a lot of hard work put into getting that album how it was – even getting Nas to that point. It’s finally payin’ off. Sometimes it’s a delayed reaction with things. Back in the days, my father would tell me, ‘You’re ahead of your time.’ I didn’t know what that meant. Sometimes that’s a good thing and a bad thing. You get a grasp on it, and you understand what it is, and you realize it."
From first appearing on 1991's "Live At The Barbeque" [click to read] from Large Professor's then-group Main Source, the unit spent nearly three years readying the debut, which finally achieved platinum status a decade later in 2004. "That was a lot of power, a lot of energy that went into that. That wasn’t just [a year-long project], that was years in the making. The power is there. It’s still alive.”
According to Amazon, Dyson's book, formerly titled Born To Use Mics: Reading Nas' Illmatic, is planned for January 2009 publication on Basic Civitas Books.
Presently, Large Professor - now recording as "Large Pro," is releasing Main Source September 30 on Gold Dust Media. The album's intro "The Entrance," can be heard.

Raphael Sadiq Returns With A New Album "The Way I See It"

RAPHAEL SAADIQ ANNOUNCES SURPRISE PERFORMANCE
AT TIME OUT NEW YORK’S SUMMER MUSIC SAYONARA

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29th @ NYC’S SOUTH STREET SEAPORT

“A loving slice of retro-soul that blows all those English roses out of the water.”
– Los Angeles Times


For those who missed Raphael Saadiq’s sold-out show at Highline Ballroom this week, Time Out New York presents a free performance by the critically acclaimed multi-instrumentalist/artist/producer at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan on Friday.


The highly anticipated new release The Way I See It- out September 16th on Columbia Records- finds Saadiq at the peak of his soul power tapping into various regional scenes that underpin our best music – Motown, Stax, Chi-town, Philly. The album features guest appearances by Saadiq protégé C.J., Grammy-winner Joss Stone (with whom Raphael worked on the best-selling 2007 set Introducing Joss Stone) and the legendary Stevie Wonder on harmonica.


Saadiq’s innate musical facility – he learned to play guitar, drums and bass by the age of six, was singing with a professional gospel group at nine and toured with Prince and Sheila E. upon graduating from high school – goes a long way in explaining his ability to craft an album that will delight a variety of listeners. Saadiq, founder of hybrid super group Lucy Pearl, member and producer of Tony! Toni! Toné!, as well as acclaimed producer of artists like D’Angelo, Mary J. Blige, The Roots, Snoop Dogg and John Legend – satisfies listeners with an album and live show that is not to be missed.

Time Out offers up a diverse line-up including performances by Endless Boogie & Oneida.

WHEN: Friday, August 29th
Music starts at 6PM with Raphael taking the stage at 7PM.

WHERE: South Street Seaport
Fulton & South Streets, Pier 17
New York, NY 10038

FREE!

Lil Wayne Checks Himself Into Drug Rehab Center. Do Wayne Have A Drug Problem?

We hearing from a number of different sources that rapper Lil Wayne checked himself into a Florida drug rehab over the weekend. Right now no one seems to be talking about it. But more evidence is coming forward. For example, yesterday the rapper missed a mandatory court appearance in Arizona His lawyer told the judge that it was because of an "undisclosed medic

Rack-Lo Mixtape "Golden Era Terror Vol.2" & "Beat Down Season" The Album coming in 2008

Rack-Lo is the man. He's on the job and remains competitive. The competition is none seriously. Peep his (2) brand new CD's coming in 2008. And in 2009, he's not letting you breath. It's about to be Rack's World. On "Beat Down Season" Rack-Lo teams up with Krohme of Godsendant Music to bring the world another Rack-Lo classic. Entire album is produced and mixed by KROHME. For more info log on to;
www.spitfactoryonline.com





On Golden Era Terror Vol.2, Rack-Lo returns with classic Hip Hop definitely setting trends and paying homerage to Hip Hop's legendary Artists and Beat Smiths. CD is arranged and mixed by Philly Phil of Philly Phill Entertainment straight out of OHIO. Big Ups! For more info log onto www.spitfactoryonline.com

Hell Razah returning with "Ultra Sounds Of A Renaissance Child" September 23rd

Hot on the heels of his collaborative album “T.H.U.G ANGELZ: Welcome To Red Hook Houses” with Shabazz the Disciple, Sunz of Man and Black Market Militia member Hell Razah is returning to stores with a new solo effort “Ultra Sounds Of A Renaissance Child” on September 23rd. The album will be available digitally on Itunes a week earlier on September 16th.

“Ultra Sounds” will be Razah’s fourth release since 2007, following up the critically acclaimed “Renaissance Child,” and his joint effort with production duo Blue Sky Black Death “Razah’s Ladder.”

"This album captures my creative mind state, and shows more versatility of me as a solo artist that has matured with the god given gift of being poetic, spiritual, street, and political all at the same time, while keeping interesting concepts alive. I feel like majority of albums have lost that vibe in today's music," said Razah.

"I called it Ultra Sounds because that's what doctors use to see a baby before its fully developed before its born. I sat in the incubator of hip hop waiting for my turn and now its time. This will be the beginning of Hell Razah Music as a label as well as a fully developed solo artist now. I want my fans to see me not only as a good feature or as a group member but to see I can hold it down alone as well.”

“Ultra Sounds” includes production from international producers Shroom, 84 Tigers, D.J. Rated R, and more.

The album will also be his last released under the moniker Hell Razah, and Razah will be known as either Heaven Razah or RazahRubiez for his next full length album in 2009.

“This project will be the last time you see the Hell side of Razah,” Razah concluded.

Cypress Hill's B-Real Signs Solo Deal With Duck Down

Long rumored to be releasing on B-Real's own imprint Audio Hustlaz, the Cypress Hill frontman announced yesterday, through Duck Down Records, that he was releasing his solo debut Smoke N Mirrors on the historic New York label.
The deal comes as the latest in a series of the label acquiring veterans, including KRS-One, DJ Revolution and Diamond. Smoke N Mirrors will feature production from Fred Wreck, Scoop Deville, DJ Quik and guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Buckshot and Cypress Hill member Sen Dogg.
The album is slated for January, 2009 release.

Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 8/17/08

Not a whole lot going on in Hip Hop this week as Lil Wayne continues his dominance on the charts. In his 10th week on the charts, Weezy’s Tha Carter 3 holds steady at #6 with 61k sold (2,204,760 sold overall). Rihanna’s re-release of Good Girl Gone Bad continues to surge as it pushes its way to #9 with another 42k sold in its 63rd week on the charts (1,636,704 sold to date). Lloyd’s Lessons In Love falls ten slots to #17 with 22k sold while Nas’ Untitled continues to head towards gold with just under 19k sold (335,176k sold overall). Yung Berg makes a splash with his Look What You Made Me album debuting at #20 with 19,150 sold.
Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)
Rank Artist Album This Week Total
6
Lil Wayne
Tha Carter 3
61,661 2,204,760

9
Rihanna
Good Girl Gone Bad
42,267
1,636,704
17
Lloyd
Lessons in Love
22,102
73,386

20
Yung Berg
Look What You Made Me
19,150
19,274

21
Nas
Untitled
18,659
335,176

Elsewhere on the charts, Usher glides towards platinum status while selling 13k units of Here I Stand. He’s only 23k shy from hitting the one million mark with 977,416 sold to date. Plies continues to sit pretty with Definition of Real at #35 (11,921) and David Banner is right behind at #36 with Greatest Story Ever Told (11,495). M.I.A. continues to thrive off of “Paper Planes” exposure in the film Pineapple Express as Kala sells a shade over 10k and holds steady at #47. Diddy’s latest signing, Janelle Monae, debuts her Metropolis: The Chase Suite at the #115 slot with 5,177 sold in its first week.