<![CDATA[www.SlimShady.org / www.Eminem1.com | Dapper Rapper | Shady 4Ever]]> MemHT Portal <![CDATA[50 Cent On Jay-Z Pic; Clarifies Beef With Diddy]]>
It was real surprising to see Curtis and Shawn chat  it up backstage at the Detroit show Thursday night. Although Fif is mums on what was said, he weighs in on the encounter and says things have recently cooled off between him and Puff also.

    “We got a chance to kick it for a minute. I know people were interested in what that conversation was like. But they can ask Jay-Z. I take people’s actions as if it’s genuinely how they feel. I can only use what I saw you do as if that’s what you meant. I can’t understand what your motivation was prior to that.”

    “I had a conversation with Puffy the night before Jay. He gave me a whole new perspective on his actions. He’s like, ‘I understand the way you felt because of what I was doing at the time. But I wasn’t thinking what you was thinking I was. You done hit me nine times. I’m just in the fetal because I understand why you are attacking me. But if I can’t touch bases with you to tell you what I’m thinking or why I did it, then you can’t understand it.’ We created a little clarity out there.”

]]> <![CDATA[Eminem & Jay-Z Bring Out Tons Of Guests]]> Dr Dre, 50 Cent, Drake and more were just SOME of the guests brought out during Eminem and Jay-Z's show at Comerica Park in Detroit last night. Check out the story from Billboard below.
It's a motif the New York visitor returned to often, as he did his part to get the stadium shows off on a good foot with an energetic, aggressive and loud 80-plus minutes, during which he and his band throwed through more than 30 songs -- all without making the set feel crammed or rushed. Dressed all in black (of course) and sporting sunglasses (of course), Jay-Z came out swinging hard with an opening salvo of "Dynasty," "Run This Town," "Free Mason," "On to the Next One" and "D.O.A.," prowling the front of the centerfield stage as a large oval screen mixed live close-ups with video images. Perhaps deferring to the hometown headliner -- though he never mentioned Eminem by name during his set -- Jay-Z went light on guests in Detroit but did bring out Jeezy for a four-song mini-set, while Memphis Bleek joined in as hype man for two-thirds of the show, starting with "Take Over" and "You Don't Know," and had the crowd twirling T-shirts during "Big Pimpin'." (Billboard)

]]> <![CDATA["The Audience Should Be Prepared For An Absolutely Incredible [Eminem & Jay-Z] Show"]]> Eminem & Jay-Z Tour: Lighting Designer Patrick Dierson promises tonight's Comerica Park concert is a must-see for rap fans.]

I think that the only thing that I can safely say about it is that the audience should be prepared for an absolutely incredible show. This run of performances are on an absolutely epic scale in terms of production design and are going to be some of the must-see shows of the year. I obviously can't give away any of the surprises that are in store but it is safe to say that the fans will be walking away with an experience that they won't soon forget.

Top 3 Reasons Jay-Z/Eminem Concerts Will Be Epic:

1. World Famous Designs

Work began several weeks before the May announcement. World-renowned lighting and scene designers were enlisted, and at Live Nation's New York office, specialists dove into 15-hour days, crafting stage renderings and configuring logistics. A massive set heavy on video elements and special effects.

2. Strong Manpower

Fifty-plus semi-trailers will haul the production from Detroit to New York -- more than the typical continental tour by the Rolling Stones or U2. Over six days at Comerica Park, which hosted an Eminem show in 2005, a crew of about 300 will erect the stage, build light and audio structures, and lay protective covering atop the playing field. About 40,000 people will fill the ballpark for each show, including fans from Europe and Asia.

3. Packed Houses

Jay-Z and Eminem added two additional shows to the concerts they planned to take place in Major League Baseball stadiums. Jay-Z and Eminem sold out the original dates they set to perform at the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers stadiums. Now there will be an additional show at Comerica park in Detroit on September 3rd. There will also be another show at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on September 14th.

Patrick Dierson is an Emmy-nominated lighting/projection designer who has worked on the overall production of concerts and tours for artists like Jay-Z over the past few years. He places specific emphasis on the lighting shown during concerts and ultimately assists on the overall special effects.

]]> <![CDATA[Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Drake & More Ignite Jay-Z & Eminem's Sold-Out Concert]]>
Rap stars Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Drake and more were on hand as surprise guests at last night's Jay-Z and Eminem Comerica Park Detroit concert.

Leading off for Eminem, Jay brought out a number of guests which included longtime friend Memphis Bleek and former Def Jam labelmate Young Jeezy.

    It's a motif the New York visitor returned to often, as he did his part to get the stadium shows off on a good foot with an energetic, aggressive and loud 80-plus minutes, during which he and his band throwed through more than 30 songs -- all without making the set feel crammed or rushed. Dressed all in black (of course) and sporting sunglasses (of course), Jay-Z came out swinging hard with an opening salvo of "Dynasty," "Run This Town," "Free Mason," "On to the Next One" and "D.O.A.," prowling the front of the centerfield stage as a large oval screen mixed live close-ups with video images. Perhaps deferring to the hometown headliner -- though he never mentioned Eminem by name during his set -- Jay-Z went light on guests in Detroit but did bring out Jeezy for a four-song mini-set, while Memphis Bleek joined in as hype man for two-thirds of the show, starting with "Take Over" and "You Don't Know," and had the crowd twirling T-shirts during "Big Pimpin'." (Billboard)

After Jay, Em ignited his hometown with surprise appearances.

    The majority of the guests came out during Eminem's 100-minute headlining set, which followed Jay-Z's meaty opening performance. Before long, the cameos were piling up like the junker cars that lined Em's set: Drake joined him for "Forever," returning a favor for when Em appeared at the Toronto rapper's hometown performance earlier this summer; 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks came on for mini-set of 50 Cent songs, including "Patiently Waiting" and "In Da Club." (Detroit News)

Most unexpected, Em was able to pull out Dr. Dre to perform for the crowd.

    After his name appeared on the Comerica big screen, the man heralded by many as the greatest producer of his time came out to the opening notes of his world-famous "Next Episode." Then the familiar first keys of "Still Dre" were played. "Haters say Dre fell off," the Doc rapped. "How n---a? My last album was The Chronic." After that, the Shady/Aftermath duo took it back to Dre's Chronic days with "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang." "One, two, three and to the fo," Em rapped in Snoop's cadence. "'Cause you know we came to rip sh-- up!" Dre spit later. Dr. Dre appeared to be in the best shape of his life. Wearing a T-shirt with the late Proof's face printed on it. (MTV)

Recently, one of the show's producer, Marcy Szabo, hit up SOHH to give us the behind-the-scenes experience of working on a mega star concert series.

    "The work is exciting but it is very, very stressful. And no matter what job you do, a show on this level, doing these kinds of shows, you hit the ground running. From Friday, when we start taking orders, setting all the rooms up all the way until that show happens and then loads out. Once the show happens, there's this essential calm that let's you know there's still work to do and a couple days that we'll still be there, after the show happens. This Eminem and Jay-Z show has been in progress for a year. The planning and the pre-planning and the meetings and so, the average concert goer buys their ticket but there are so many people and work needed to pull this stuff off so that everyone can have a good time."


]]> <![CDATA[Royce Da 5'9 Amped For Eminem & Jay-Z, "I Wouldn't Miss That For The World!"]]> Royce Da 5'9 has told us he will be one of many fans at this week's Eminem and Jay-Z concerts in Detroit.

Royce explained why this is one showcase he cannot miss.

    "I wouldn't miss that [Detroit] show for the world!," Royce informed SOHH via a Twitter statement. "The two greatest rappers of our time. (Arguably)."

According to recent reports, their concerts, which kick-off later this week, were strategically scheduled.

    First on the list: nailing down a window that fit the baseball schedule, while accommodating the show's unique needs as a one-off event rather than a full-length tour. "The production is very, very complicated, a lot of moving parts, because it's only the four shows," says production director Dan Parise. Work began several weeks before the May announcement. World-renowned lighting and scene designers were enlisted, and at Live Nation's New York office, specialists dove into 15-hour days, crafting stage renderings and configuring logistics. (Detroit Free Press)

Due to scheduling conflicts, plans to extend the concerts were nixed.

    "We probably could have done four dates (at Comerica Park), but the schedule just didn't work out," said Dana Warg, president of Olympia Entertainment, which operates Comerica Park in Detroit. "The way we announced it nationally on ESPN and Fox, with the artists in town, certainly helped the exposure. We have them coming from all around for this show, and I think it will have a huge economic impact in Detroit." (UPI News)

During his shows, Eminem will be supported by a live band.

    Eminem will be going the live band route for his four-date tour with Jay-Z. Eminem will be performing with a live band for his much-discussed, four-show tour with Jay-Z. While Eminem is certainly no stranger to using live instrumentation in his performances (the rapper had The Roots back him for his live rendition of "Lose Yourself" at the Grammy Awards). (Hip Hop DX)

Despite having a past beef, Eminem and Royce Da 5'9 are working to get Slaughterhouse signed to Shady Records.

    "I'm probably gonna go through this album cycle with everything that I got to do with this and then when I get back home, probably jump back in the studio with [D12] and do some things with Slaughterhouse and just keep making music," Em said in an interview. "[Me and Royce back together,] that sh*t is cool. It's very cool, it's good that we were able to work things out and just talk it out. I think after we lost Proof we realized how stupid this beef sh*t is. It was a serious wake-up call, man, and realizing that life's short. It feels good to be back in touch with the homie. When I rhyme with Royce, I always gotta step it up because Royce is f*cking ill. He's one of the illest lyricists to me, out, period." ("The All Out Show")

The Eminem and Jay-Z Detroit show kicks off Thursday, September 2nd from Tigers Stadium.

]]> <![CDATA[Eminem & Jay-Z's Summer Concerts Blueprint Revealed]]> Eminem and Jay-Z  multiple summer concerts in Detroit and New York City have been unveiled, revealing the plans that went into bringing a show starring two mega-watt rap stars to fruition.

According to reports, their concerts, which kick-off later this week, were strategically scheduled.

    First on the list: nailing down a window that fit the baseball schedule, while accommodating the show's unique needs as a one-off event rather than a full-length tour. "The production is very, very complicated, a lot of moving parts, because it's only the four shows," says production director Dan Parise. Work began several weeks before the May announcement. World-renowned lighting and scene designers were enlisted, and at Live Nation's New York office, specialists dove into 15-hour days, crafting stage renderings and configuring logistics. (Detroit Free Press)

Additional production details have also been revealed.

    Fifty-plus semitrailers will haul the production from Detroit to New York -- more than the typical continental tour by the Rolling Stones or U2. "Put it this way," Parise says. "It would be difficult to tour this show, and I think that tells you everything." Over six days at Comerica Park, which hosted an Eminem show in 2005, a crew of about 300 will erect the stage, build light and audio structures, and lay protective covering atop the playing field. About 40,000 people will fill the ballpark for each show, including fans from Europe and Asia. (Detroit Free Press)

Due to scheduling, plans to extend the concerts were nixed.

    "We probably could have done four dates (at Comerica Park), but the schedule just didn't work out," said Dana Warg, president of Olympia Entertainment, which operates Comerica Park in Detroit. "The way we announced it nationally on ESPN and Fox, with the artists in town, certainly helped the exposure. We have them coming from all around for this show, and I think it will have a huge economic impact in Detroit." (UPI News)

During his shows, Eminem will be supported by a live band.

    Eminem will be going the live band route for his four-date tour with Jay-Z. Eminem will be performing with a live band for his much-discussed, four-show tour with Jay-Z. While Eminem is certainly no stranger to using live instrumentation in his performances (the rapper had The Roots back him for his live rendition of "Lose Yourself" at the Grammy Awards). (Hip Hop DX)

Eminem and Jay-Z's summer shows kick-off Thursday, September 2nd in Detroit.

Be sure to check out our "Behind The Jay-Z & Eminem Tour" coverage all this week.

]]> <![CDATA[Dr. Dre Reveals Distant Relationship W-50 Cent, "I Haven't Spoken To Him In A Long Time"]]> Dr. Dre has opened up about his distanced relationship with Aftermath/Shady Records artist 50 Cent despite signing the rapper to his label in 2002.

According to Dre, he is still on good terms with 50, however, the rapper's venture into filming has caused them to lose touch.

    "Everything is cool. I haven't spoken to 50 in a long time. He's doing his own thing right now. Hopefully we'll get to work together again in the future but I think he's working on movies. As far as everybody else goes, I'm here. Everybody knows I'm working on my own thing. Once that's done, holla at me." (VIBE)

Recently, Dre's former N.W.A. group member Ice Cube said he has been hard to locate.

    "I didn't get a chance to work with Dre on this record," Cube said in an interview referring to his I Am The West LP. "He's been M.I.A. for two to three months now. But I don't feel bad, because Snoop [Dogg] can't find him either -- I think, really, it's because people expect so much from him. People expect, when Dre does a record, it [will] change the trajectory of music. Not just be an album and it come out and be good. It has to come and take us in a different direction. And that's a lot of pressure." (MTV)

Dre is currently working on his long-delayed upcoming Detox album.

    "Absolutely, I'm leaving this event and heading right to the studio," Dre said from the 23rd ASCAP Awards when asked about a Detox release. "I'm getting it cracking and trying to put it out by the end of the fall. I'm trying to give everyone what they've been waiting for and make sure they're not disappointed. This it, that's all I'm doing. [The leaked 'Under Pressure' was] absolutely not [real.] I didn't get a chance to finish the record, the vocals are real rough, it's not blended right and there's not even a hook on the song. It's not done, the music's not done, it's just one of those things we have to deal with today in this business because of technology and all of that. It's real easy for somebody to steal your sh*t so what can you do?" (Hard Knock TV)

Last year, 50 weighed in on Dre's delayed release.

    "Dre is actually working," 50 promised in an interview with DJ Enuff. "I heard eight records. When it takes this long, I'ma tell you what I heard. I heard eight and [Eminem] said it's ten. So it's probably two I didn't get a chance to hear. I think [the wait] actually builds more pressure. Are you trying to get it or are you trying to scare the sh*t out of 'em? I know, its been taking him a long time. [He's also] so critical of himself at the same time. You know what it is too, I look at it like this. I love some of the things he thinks that are just 'good'... I kinda feel like I can gauge what is necessary at this point...When's the last time you heard a hip-hop record that didn't have an R&B chorus in the Top 10? You understand what I'm saying. It's changing hip-hop music to the point where it's necessary for you to have an R&B artist or perform like an R&B artist on the hook...You can tell the deejay to slow down but when motherf*cking [Black Eyed Peas' ] 'Boom Boom Pow' is No. 1, how you gonna tell the artist what to make?" (The B-Side)

]]> <![CDATA[Dr. Dre Feels The "Detox", "It's Pouring Out Right Now"]]> Dr. Dre has opened up about the delay behind his highly-anticipated Detox album and why. despite being 10 years in the making, the LP is finally taking form.

The Doc also said he may stream Detox wirelessly through his Beats by Dre headphones.

    "Me and [Interscope Records CEO] Jimmy [Iovine] talk about this all the time. It was supposed to be my album promoting the headphones, but it's gonna be the other way around now. It's gonna be a two-for-one thing. As soon as we finish this interview I'm going into the studio and get it on. I know it's taking a long time but it's not 100 percent work on my album that I'm doing every day. That's why it's taking so long. It's been almost ten years since my last album -- but I haven't been sitting on my hands. Keeping it real with you, I just started really getting involved in it and really feeling it this year. Around January or February. Before now I was kind of doing it more out of obligation, but now I really feel it inside and it's pouring out right now. Music comes out much better when you're in that frame of mind." (VIBE)

Diddy hitmaker Rico Love recently told SOHH about his involvement on the LP.

    "Yeah, I'm working on a few records with him on Detox," Rico revealed to SOHH. "We got in last week in LA and we're gonna be doing some more in the near future but I will tell you this. He played me some stuff that I was bugging over, I was like, 'This album is ready to go right now! You don't even need me here!' Everybody [who has heard the album] is saying the same thing because it's all true. Dre has some music that you would be like, 'Why don't you just put this out?' But like [I've] said, we can't get into the brains of these guys. They believe their music should have a certain standard beyond what other artists are thinking." (SOHH)

R&B singer Lloyd recently opened up about getting a sneak peek listen to Detox.

    "He played me a lot of the Detox album, which is incredible -- it sounds like, history," Lloyd revealed in an interview. "It's classic, it's epic, it's like L.A., stand up, it's like West Coast. You know, I'm from the South so for me to hear Dr. Dre's music and, I don't know, this guy's, he's a legend and he's not the youngest guy in the game so for him to still have the youth by the balls and be able to come out with stuff that is constantly changing music in the horizon, I think that that's incredible. And it felt like magic." (Rap-Up)

In July, Dre blamed his work on other artists' projects for the Detox delay.

    "It hasn't been a consistent thing with me," Dre revealed in an interview. "I'd be working on it, stop, do a couple of other albums, like for example, I was working on the record and had to stop and work with Eminem for like five or six months, get back in to it and in-between there's been Game and 50 [Cent] and some of the artists like that I had to stop and work on. So it's been taking a long time but it hasn't been continuous work on that project so that's one of the reasons why it's been taking a long time but I'm in it right now, I feel it right now. Before this year, I felt I was doing it more out of obligation but right now, as in the end of last year, I really feel it. It's coming out of me and it's coming out of my heart and it'll definitely be out this year -- I'm just trying to give everybody what they want and not give them this new word I came up with, it's called 'anticippointment.'" (All Hip Hop)

]]> <![CDATA[Eminem’s seven weeks of 'Recovery']]> Eminem’s double platinum selling "Recovery" is still on a good run at the Billboard 200 charts, spending a remarkable seven non-consecutive weeks at number one.
 

The rapper’s latest set has spent the most weeks atop the charts since Taylor Swift scored 11 weeks with "Fearless" late 2008 and in early part of 2009. 
 

The album is also the longest staying album for a male artist since Usher’s "Confession" earned nine weeks in the top slot in 2004. Eminem’s "Recovery" moved 116,000 units this week to hold on to the top spot in the album charts.
 

Over at the Hot 100 singles chart, the “Stan” rapper’s “Love The Way You Lie” featuring Rihanna is still king. Following in at a strong number two is Taio Cruz with the club ready “Dynamite.”
 

Steadily rising is Katy Perry’s latest single “Teenage Dream,” which moves up two notches from number five to three. Industry experts predict that Katy Perry’s latest single will hit number one next week along with the release of the singer’s latest album.
 

Retaining his number four spot for the second straight week is Enrique Iglesias with “I Like It” featuring Pitbull. Speaking of Pitbull, the MC makes it to number five as well, this time backing up Usher on the singer’s latest single “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love,” which improves from number seven to five.
 

Making its debut in the top ten is Lil Wayne with “Right Above It” featuring Drake at number six. Lil Wayne has this week’s number one song at the Digital Songs chart, as “Right Above It” moves 222,000 downloads.
 

Mike Posner’s frat-R&B anthem “Cooler Than Me” drops down a notch to number seven.
 

Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” featuring Snoop Dog, meanwhile, slides down five notches to settle at number eight. Bruno Mars breaks into the top ten charts with his single “Just The Way You Are,” which rises from sixteen to number nine.
 

Finally B.o.B. closes this week’s rundown of the top ten singles with a new entry in “Magic” featuring Rivers Cuomo of Weezer.
 

Here’s a look at the top ten singles and albums in the US this week.
 

Billboard Hot 100 Singles:
1. “Love The Way You Lie” – Eminem feat. Rihanna
2. “Dynamite” – Taio Cruz
3. “Teenage Dream” – Katy Perry
4. “I Like It” – Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull
5. “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” – Usher? feat. Pitbull
6. “Right Above It” – Lil Wayne feat. Drake
7. “Cooler Than Me” – Mike Posner
8. “California Gurls” – Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dog
9. “Just The Way You Are” – Bruno Mars
10. “Magic” – B.o.B. feat. Rivers Cuomo
 

Billboard 200 Top Ten Albums
1. “Recovery” – Eminem
2. “Intimacy:Album III” - Kem
3.  “God Willin’ & The-Creek-Don’t-Rise” Ray Lamontagne and the Pariah Dogs
4. “The Final Frontier” – Iron Maiden
5. “Cowboy’s Back In Town” – Trace Adkins
6. “Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum
7. “The Suburbs” – Arcade Fire
8. “My World 2.0” – Justin Bieber
9. “Foundling” – David Gray
10. “No Better Than This” – John Mellencamp


]]> <![CDATA[Eminem In Talks To Buy St. Andrew's Hall]]>

Eminem is in talks to buy St. Andrew’s Hall, a Detroit venue owned by Live Nation. According to The Detroit News, Eminem is negotiating to buy the venue from Live Nation, formerly Clear Channel Entertainment, for an undisclosed amount. Live Nation, which was created in 2005, owns or operates over 120 performance venues worldwide. As part of the deal, Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg will manage the operation, while the venue’s current management would run the day-to-day operations of the club. The venue was popularized in Eminem’s hit movie 8 Mile. The battle scenes in the movie were filmed in an area of St. Andrew’s called “The Shelter” and Eminem name check’s the venue on the song “One Shot, 2 Shot.” St. Andrews hosts performances by a number of up and coming rock and Hip-Hop acts. Representatives for Eminem had no comment.

]]> <![CDATA[Dr Dre Hires Top Ghostwriter To Finish Detox]]> Dr Dre is trying to finish his upcoming "Detox" album as he promised fans recently he soon would. Multiple sites are reporting that Dre hired ghostwriter slash collaborator Rico Love to help with the project. During a recent interview, Rico Love taked about "Detox" and his reaction after he was hired to hep with it.

     "Yeah, I'm working on a few records with him on Detox," Rico revealed. "We got in last week in LA and we're gonna be doing some more in the near future but I will tell you this. He played me some stuff that I was bugging over, I was like, 'This album is ready to go right now! You don't even need me here!'" Everybody [who has heard the album] is saying the same thing because it's all true. Dre has some music that you would be like, 'Why don't you just put this out?' But like [I've] said, we can't get into the brains of these guys. They believe their music should have a certain standard beyond what other artists are thinking."

]]> <![CDATA[Obie Trice “Fan Power”]]>

Over Kanye’s lead single, Obie puts the power back in the hands of the fans.



]]> <![CDATA[Obie Trice's Bottom's Up Street Single]]> Obie himself, check out a brand new Obie Trice song below. Produced by Geno XO, "My Time 2011" is Obie's first single (street) from his upcoming "Bottom's Up" album, coming soon. Listen to the highly anticipated and long awaited single, and make sure let us know what you think!

Obie Trice - My Time 2011 (Produced By Geno XO)
]]> <![CDATA[Yelawolf Reveals "Overwhelming" Eminem Sit-Down, "I Got Some Advice From Him About Getting Sh*t Under Control"]]>
Rap newcomer Yelawolf has revealed a recent sit-down he had with Interscope lablemate Eminem and what advice he received from the former drug addict.

According to Yela, Em gave him some tips for kicking back on his alcohol consumption.

    "It was overwhelming at first," Yela said in an interview. "I thought, 'I'll just be cool,' but when I saw him it was different. This dude is like history. I felt the same when I met Big Boi and [Andre] 3000. These megastars and culturally-influential people, the first couple minutes you're just in awe...We talked about shows and touring and sh*t...I like to drink a lot, but I sobered up. I got some advice from him about getting sh*t under control based on his experiences...I just gave him my story -- where I was from, how my music developed, and I let him listen to some material on the new album...He did me the honor of letting me hear his sh*t before it came out and it was dope." (Rap-Up)

Producer Jim Jonsin recently opened up about Eminem's initial impressions of Yela.

    "I'm really excited about Yelawolf, he just signed to Interscope and I actually played a video for Eminem of Yelawolf, 'Pop The Trunk,' and he really liked it," Jonsin revealed in an interview. "It was really cool because I've been a fan of him for a long time, he's like a little brother, I really have love for that dude. And seeing him come through, struggle and all, I played him the video -- he watched the whole video and was really impressed and I told Yela about it and he was like, 'Get the f*ck out of here!' and I was like, 'No, no, he watched the video and loved it.' It's cool that he signed to Interscope because Em's on Interscope...I played him the video and played him [another] video after and he was like, 'Wow, that's the sh*t.' He really liked it, he was honest with his opinion on it and I like that...he was like, 'Yo, this dude's serious.'" (Rap-Up TV)

Last spring, Yela talked about being signed to Interscope and the inevitable Eminem comparison.

    "I've probably been through every label in the past couple of years," laughs Yelawolf. "I don't think we missed any. But after SXSW, it just got really heated, you know? Prior to that we had taken a few meetings, but we decided to just hold out and go knock it out there, see where it took us...I think it's completely fair, especially now that I'm at Interscope [to be compared to Em.] There's only been one internationally successful white rapper, so it's human nature. Obviously I don't know him as a person yet, but based on his lyrics and the music that he's put out, there's definitely a common ground of troubles. I'm absolutely up for it. I would love to work with Em. I'm a fan, so I'm definitely going to pitch it. I gotta take advantage of where I'm at." (Billboard)

Earlier this month, the rapper discussed battling stereotypes in hip-hop.

    "I still face it at every show, dog. There's always somebody. It never fails, never. Until I'm selling out my own shows and I'm going to be demo-ing for somebody. And somebody is not going to like me because I'm a white boy on stage rapping and I look different. That's something I will experience until everybody that came through the door came to see just me. I'm used to it though, when you're traveling with groups, you just have to be prepared to deal with it. Do your best to snap and walk off the stage holding your nuts. Always! That's how you got to be. I grew up in Alabama so I've heard and seen it all. Knowing your talent is probably one of the keys to be successful." (VIBE)



]]> <![CDATA[Another Dr Dre Detox Track Leaks (Audio)]]> Dr Dre has leaked online, this time it's called "Turn Me On," and the song is rumored to be off of Dre's upcoming "Detox" album. "Seven stars must be my aura/ I mastered levitation, I stay up in the clouds," Dre raps on the track, which clocks in at barely two minutes. "Penthouse, hovering a hundred floors up/ I'm on some tantric yoga/ The ladies love the way I shine, I'm like Merlin when I'm erotic/ I make ya squirm no hands on ya body."

      In related news, Dre talked about his unfinished Jay-Z collab "Under Pressure" not being close to done. "The vocals are real rough, it's not blended right ... a hook is not even on the song," he said, explaining that didn't get a chance to finish the number before listeners got a sample. The song still needed a chorus and had to be mixed and mastered properly, he said. "It's not done. The music isn't done."

]]> <![CDATA[Eminem's Abusive Relationship W- Ex-Wife Not Concept Of "Love The Way You Lie" Vid, Director Says]]> Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" music video is not based on the rapper's past, publicized relationship with ex-wife Kim Mathers.

According to director Joseph Kahn, the Rihanna-featured track is solely meant to tell the story of two fictional characters.

    "The subject matter is some of the most complex stuff I've ever handled ... [and] obviously there are parallels, in terms of the song, with Eminem's personal life and Rihanna's personal life," he said. "And I had actually, like last year, been working with Chris Brown ... so I'm in the middle of all this stuff, and I have to be very, very careful with how I tread. But ultimately, if you really look at the video, it's not about anybody in particular. ... It's a story specific to two characters I created. (MTV)

The video premiered online last week and featured actors Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan.

    The wait is over as Eminem's highly-anticipated music video for his duet track with Rihanna "Love the Way You Lie" is out for viewing pleasure. Featuring top-notch actors Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan, it follows a tumultuous relationship with a lot of violent scenes. The music video is directed by Joseph Kahn and based on the troubled relationship between Eminem and his two-time ex-wife, Kim. "[It's] essentially a look at the relationship that Eminem was in with his wife, Kim, so I kind of felt like I was playing Eminem a little bit, and Megan Fox was kind of playing Kim," Monaghan told MTV. (Ace Showbiz)

Em's latest Recovery music video also uses a burning house and open field for imagery.

    Rihanna is seen singing in front of a burning house while Eminem raps the majority of his verses in an open field. The final scene shows both Dominic and Eminem on fire which presumably is symbolism of Eminem seeing his self in the character Dominic plays. The video is powerful and is the perfect completion to the story the lyrics of "Love the Way You Lie" started. (Examiner)

After much speculation, details on what the featured actors' roles would be within Em's video were finally revealed last month.

    Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan's roles are apparently inspired by Eminem's relationship with ex-wife Kim (They married and divorced twice!). "Things start off with a sex scene between Megan and Dominic," a source said. "Then they fight but end up having sex again." The source described the look and feel of the video as "gritty" with "lots of passion." (E! Online)]]> <![CDATA[Does Eminem Have A Crush On Rihanna?]]> The Daily Telegraph, Eminem has a crush on singer Rihanna.

The rapper’s grandmother Betty Kresin thinks they would make a great couple.

She told Heat magazine: “I can totally see what any girl including Rihanna would see in him. He’s so charming; he has always had adorable, beautiful blue eyes and this charming, wonderful smile. Rihanna would make a suitable partner for Marshall. But he needs to enjoy life and not get carried away with any relationships at the moment.”

Rihanna and Eminem are reportedly in constant communication, but for the “Umbrella” singer – who is dating baseball star Matt Kemp – their relationship is purely platonic.

A source said: “Marshall would date Rihanna in a heartbeat if she showed even the slightest interest. They’re on the phone and texting each other constantly.”

Rihanna recently admitted she felt ‘connected’ to the lyrical references to domestic abuse in “Love The Way You Lie”.

She said: “It’s something that, you know, we’ve both experienced on different sides, different ends of the table. Eminem pretty much just broke down the cycle of domestic violence and it’s something that people don’t have a lot of insight on. I knew if he sent me a record there must be something to it. It couldn’t just be, ‘Oh, duh! She was in that relationship so we have to get her.’ The lyrics were so deep, so beautiful and intense. It’s something that I understood, something I connected with.”
]]> <![CDATA[Kuniva (of D12) - Midwest Marauder [Download]]]>



Track List:

01. Intro
 02. Coming Home
03. Nutmeg
04. Ova Da Hood
05. That Shizzle Feat. Rondell Beene
06. Straight Outta Feat. Calicoe/40 Flame
07. Just Begun
08. Night People Feat. Marv Won
09. Chalkit How I Talkit
10. Gut Shot
11. All Around Ya Girl
12. Lose Ya Life Feat. X Factor
13. Light It Up
14. Detroit Life
15. Like Dat Freestyle
16. Grand Royal Flush Feat. Quest Mccody/Moe Dirty
17. Still Here

]]> <![CDATA[The Source]]>
 
-----------------------------------
Look where they've put Eminem's pic. Eminem doesn't give a fuck about them magazine since that Fagzino thing!

 
]]> <![CDATA["Love The Way You Lie"]]>

EAGERLY AWAITED CLIP FEATURES RIHANNA, MEGAN FOX, AND DOMINIC MONAGHAN

Eminem, the Nielsen SoundScan Artist of the Decade for 2000-2009, will premiere the eagerly awaited video for his No. 1 single “Love The Way You Lie,” featuring Rihanna, on MTV and VEVO.com on Thursday, August 5th at 9:00 PM EDT. Shot in Los Angeles, the video was directed by Joseph Kahn, who, in addition to his work on previous Eminem videos, has also directed clips for Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, and 50 Cent among many others. Rihanna appears in the video, which also features Megan Fox (Transformers) and Dominic Monaghan (The Lord of the Rings, Lost) playing a couple going through the extremes of an abusive relationship.


“Joseph and I worked pretty closely together to make sure we got this right,” commented Eminem. “Trying to make this tough subject work visually is a challenge. It was great to have Rihanna, Megan and Dominic on board for this….they really brought it and made this video super-powerful.”


“Love The Way You Lie” is Eminem’s fourth single to top the Billboard Hot 100. It has reigned at No. 1 on the Digital Songs chart for five consecutive weeks and has sold more than 1.4 million downloads. The track is the second single released from Eminem’s latest album Recovery (Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records), which bowed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart in June with sales of 741,000 copies, and held the top slot for 5 weeks. The album easily outpaced any other release for this year, and set a bar that no other album has reached for first-week sales in nearly two years.


In May, Recovery’s first single, "Not Afraid," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — the first rap song to do so in 13 years. Recovery has being hailed as a tour de force for the rapper, earning a four-star review from Rolling Stone, which described it as "his fiercest and most focused work in a long time,” while USA Today proclaimed it “a strong return to the form that made him a star in the first place."


Yesterday, Eminem received 8 nominations for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Eminem and Jay-Z will perform co-headlining dates at Detroit’s Comerica Park on September 2nd and 3rd and at New York's Yankee Stadium on September 13th and 14th. Tickets for the four shows are sold-out. Eminem will also be performing at the Epicenter Festival in Southern California on September 25th. Tickets are still available from http://www.epicenterfestival.com/


Megan Fox donated her fee for her video appearance to Sojourn, a shelter for abused women. Sojourn provides battered women and their children a safe space to regroup, rebuild, and reestablish their self-esteem and lives. For more information on Sojourn please visit http://www.opcc.net

]]> <![CDATA[Dr. Dre Looks To Outer Space For Top Secret Sound, "I Don't Even Know If I Should Be Saying This"]]>
West Coast producer Dr. Dre may be keeping fans waiting for another project besides The Detox after announcing plans to put together an instrumental album based on the solar system.

For Dre has a plan to create a beat for each planet in space.

    "Oh yeah, that's in the works," he said when asked about making an instrumental LP. "An instrumental album is something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I have the ideas for it. I want to call it The Planets. I don't even know if I should be saying this, but f*ck it. [Laughs.] It's just my interpretation of what each planet sounds like. I'm gonna go off on that. Just all instrumental. I've been studying the planets and learning the personalities of each planet. I've been doing this for about two years now just in my spare time so to speak. I wanna do it in surround sound. It'll have to be in surround sound for Saturn to work." (VIBE)

In the meantime, Dre is working on his upcoming and long-awaited Detox album.

    "So it's been taking a long time but it hasn't been continuous work on that project so that's one of the reasons why it's been taking a long time but I'm in it right now, I feel it right now. Before this year, I felt I was doing it more out of obligation but right now, as in the end of last year, I really feel it. It's coming out of me and it's coming out of my heart and it'll definitely be out this year -- I'm just trying to give everybody what they want and not give them this new word I came up with, it's called 'anticippointment.'" (All Hip Hop)

Producer Scott Storch recently revealed what Detox will have to offer fans.

    "I think people will be pleasantly surprised when they hear it. It's definitely a departure from a lot of the stuff Dre has done and the stuff Dre and I have done in the past. It's a hybrid...I think he's looking for like three more records...So that should take about 400 records to get those three. He's got pretty high standards." (DJ Skee TV)

Aside from music, Dre was recently hit with a $1.2 million lawsuit by Paramount Recordings Studios over unpaid studio sessions.

    Controversial rapper Dr. Dre is being sued by Paramount Recording Studios for $1,220, 500 for breach of contract, RadarOnline.com learned on Friday. The lawsuit claims that the musician, also known as Andre Young, and his record label Aftermath Entertainment rented "recording studios and services" but failed to pay the agreed amount despite multiple invoices. According to court documents, Dr. Dre promised to pay the money owed by July 13. When the date passed, music powerhouse Paramount Recording Studios took legal action in an attempt to get their huge bill paid. (Radar Online)]]> <![CDATA[New Music: Yelawolf “Lemonade Freestyle”]]> Yelawolf. It’s over Gucci Mane‘s “Lemonade” beat.

Download: Yelawolf – Lemonade Freestyle

]]> <![CDATA[Dr Dr Sued For $1.2 Milli Over Studio Sessions]]> Dr Dre for $1.2 million dollars over what they say is unpaid studio sessions. According to multiple reports, the deadline to pay the bill has come and gone.

     Paramount Recording Studios is seeking exactly $1,220, 500 for "breach of contract," according to reports landing online Friday (July 23rd). The lawsuit claims that Dr Dre, also known as Andre Young, and his record label Aftermath, rented "recording studios and services" but did not pay the agreed amount despite multiple invoices. According to court documents, Dr. Dre promised to pay the money owed  by July 13. When the date passed, they sued.]]> <![CDATA[50 Cent Clowns Diddy In Brazil, "Don't Act Like A B*tch!"]]> 50 Cent has taken his issues with Diddy overseas by dissing the rap mogul during a Brazil performance this past weekend.

Leading into his "B*tch" performance, 50 mocked Diddy's "Hello, Good Morning" single before name-checking him in Rio de Janeiro.

    "Hello, good morning, you like that sh*t," Fif asked a crowd of screaming fans. "Well the next time you see Puffy, tell him I said 'N*gga don't act like a b*tch.' He say he love her man, he really think he love her man/She a super freak, freakier than he understand/She not the type of girl that you take home to your mother/She's the type you take to the track to come up on a sucker..." (The Brazil Show)

Earlier this month, 50 helped launch an anti-Diddy viral campaign through his Boo Boo TV website and via Twitter re-tweets.

    "Enough is enough, Biggie's name should never have become Diddy's Black Card. Just check out his latest video, "The Ghost of Christopher Wallace" Let Diddy know to let B.I.G. rest in peace. When was the last time Diddy really was "biggin up his brother," not biggin up his bank?" (Twitition)

Diddy caught heads when he subliminally called out 50 Cent during a post BET Awards 10 broadcast.

    "I love my people, eh yo let's stop the hate man," Puff said during the BET Awards 10 afterparty. "Congratulate. Hate is for suckers and if you hating, you're a sucker and you're ashy and your breath stinks. And you know who I'm talking to you hatin' a** crab." (BET Awards 10 Afterparty)

50 later responded to the speculated diss and aired out his opinion of Diddy as of late.

    "Diddy, well, the thing about it is, Puffy's like a b*tch," 50 said when asked if Diddy was subliminally dissing him. "To describe Puffy in one word is a 'b*tch.' Right? Puffy wants to be the hot b*tch in the group. You know how you see a hot b*tch -- I know it sounds kinda harsh but I'll explain my statement. You know how an ugly b*tch always has pretty friends? That's how he's built his group. He wants to be the hot b*tch in the group. He wants to make sure he gets all the attention. He wants to make sure the n*ggas wanna holla at him. And you know, it's the reality of the situation, man. He'll tell you what happened himself down in Miami. It's not even open season on Diddy, I don't know who he was talking about, he didn't say my name. But that's the way I feel about him...This is the final notice, the final note because they'll suck the life outta him like everybody else he's been around...On the up and up, the n*gga Puff used to call, we used to kick it on the telephone sh*t after the Mase sh*t." ("G-Unit Radio")

Check out 50 Cent calling out Diddy in Brazil below: ]]> <![CDATA[Author Claims 2Pac's Death Was A Government Conspiracy, "They Orchestrated The Assassination"]]>
The author of FBI War on Tupac Shakur & Black Leaders recently gave an interview explaining his belief that the United States government was involved in the 1996 fatal shooting of Tupac Shakur.

According to author John Potash, Pac was a target due to his strong influence as a black leader.

    "Being that he had the top selling CD's in the world and was starring in major motion pictures, which made him a rap and film star," Potash reasoned as motivation to target Pac. "He was also engaged to the daughter of Quincy Jones, a well-established and respected person in the entertainment business, which increased his popularity. He had very close relationships with his extended Black Panther Party family, who acted as his mentors...A high level police detective named Russell Poole got himself assigned to the murder investigation of Biggie, during his investigation he stumbled across the fact that Death Row Records employed many officers who were considered agents. Poole also found typical intelligence operations such as trafficking drugs, guns and laundering money taking place at Death Row Records...Of course [the government killed Tupac.] They orchestrated his assassination." (All Hip Hop)

Potash's book, currently available on Amazon, is based on 12 years of research.

    The FBI War on Tupac Shakur and Black Leaders contains a wealth of names, dates and events detailing the use of COINTELPRO style tactics by the FBI against a generation of political rap artists. Based on 12 years of research and includes over 900 endnotes. Sources include over 100 interviews, FOIA-released CIA and FBI documents, court transcripts, and many mainstream media outlets. (Amazon)

A film based on the life of Tupac is reportedly being worked on.

    "It looks like we're doing Tupac Shakur's movie next in September, that's what I've been starting up and working on now," filmmaker Antoine Fuqua said in a May 2010 interview. "I've been working on that for a while with Morgan Creek and Jim Robinson. I just got the greenlight from him and we're going in September. I've just started to prep that." Fuqua added that he is hoping to find an unknown actor to portray the iconic hip-hop star, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996. "That's the goal, I want to discover someone new," he explained. "I want to discover a lot of new people if I can. Obviously I'm going to have to put some people in it that you know, just because actors have different skills. I want to go to the streets and find him anywhere he might be in the world." (Digital Spy)

Pac recently had his song "Dear Mama" preserved in the Library of Congress.

    The rapper's 1994 song "Dear Mama," about a mother struggling with poverty and addiction, was selected for the 2009 National Recording Registry for its cultural significance, alongside works by Willie Nelson, Little Richard, Patti Smith and R.E.M.. Tupac is the third rapper to be included, following Grandmaster Flashand Public Enemy. (Washington Post)

]]> <![CDATA[Tony Yayo Talks 50 Cent Fan Attack]]> G-Unit member Tony Yayo recently came forward to talk about the footage that leaked of 50 Cent being attacked by a fan during a concert in Brazil over the weekend. "The show got crazy, man," Yayo said in a phone interview. "For security reasons, when somebody jumps onstage...when [performers] got on chains for $20,000, $30,000, $40,000, that's a security risk right here. Nobody should be onstage except me, Banks and 50. It was just a fan -- he got a little carried away, a little happy. People make it seem like he got beat down real, real bad. He didn't get beat down bad -- he just got tackled, taken off the stage and the show [went] on...We been getting crazy love. That's why I don't want people in Brazil to think we out here beating down our fans. When somebody is on the stage, you want to keep the show going. We never stop the show. When you onstage and you got a crowd of 10,000 Brazilian people, you don't want to stop it because a guy is jumping onstage. Just like Africa or other places you go, people get excited -- we're like UFOs to the people. They don't see rappers come to Brazil and come to these other places. Sometimes fans get a little excited -- that's what that was about. The guy wasn't beat up bad or nothing."]]> <![CDATA[50 Cent Attacked By Fan During Brazil Concert]]> 50 Cent was attacked by a fan during a recent live performance in Brazil while performing with Lloyd Banks.

Based on footage and reports, the fan came after 50 during his "Ayo Technology" set.

    Although 50 Cent's been in recent headlines for his verbal assaultson Diddy, it looks like the tables have turned now that a crazed fan tried to physically attack him in Brazil. 50 Cent was performing a concert in Salvador, Bahia when a fan suddenly rushed the stage and grabbed him from behind. The fan's moment of glory was short lived however after Fif's security jumped to his rescue, grabbing the man and escorting him off stage, punching and kicking him in the process. (Hip Hop Wired)

Last December, G-Unit producer DJ Whoo Kid said a similar incident took place in Nigeria.

    "Finally out of Nigeria!! Last show they shot Ak47s at the fans - wtf!!!! It felt so good to see a BIG MAC in Germany !!! food!! I'm A ALIVE!," he wrote on Twitter. "ALIVE!!!! 1st Concert in Nigeria ,Africa the whole city power grid went out during What Up Gangster and Fan Jumped on stage at 50 again Escaped in a Black out !!! video will be up soon !!!! I am still sh*tting on my self from the food and water... yipes are there pampers in Germany!" (DJ Whoo Kid's Twitter)

G-Unit rap rival Fat Joe used 50's 2008 on-stage chain snatching against the rapper's street credibility in 2009.

    "I'ma show you that footage of Joe walking through the hood in Angola," Crack promised. "I can't believe that one. Man look you in your eye, yap you and walk off? That's amazing. I never seen no sh*t like that in my life...That p*ssy was shocked...It's irrelevant [if 50 got the chain back.] You get robbed in front of America? This is what I'm saying, did he get robbed in front of America? This is my sh*t, get the chain back? That's that bullsh*t, a n*gga get robbed and then you send your man 'cause he know him and get the chain back? N*gga you the illest gangsta? You the killer of all killers and n*gga robbing you on TV? He got robbed on TV. Never seen no sh*t like that in my whole life. That's incredible, Smack. Ask him about that sh*t because he's been keeping it real low though. I ain't hear from that n*gga in a minute. He ain't tryin' to argue with n*ggas, 'Yo, let's keep the fat n*gga quiet, let's keep Game quiet, let's keep everybody quiet and it'll die over.'" (SmackTube)

Fif's incident took place while performing in Angola around May 2008.

    50 Cent had his necklace stolen by a fan during a concert in Angola. The incident, which took place as the rapper was onstage, was captured on video by a fan. In the video, the music stops as the person grabs the necklace and climbs back into the crowd. Responding to the incident on his website, 50 said security at the concert had been "limited" and "fans were able to interact with the group onstage". Contrary to the fans video, the rapper claims his own footage of the incident shows he "pushed him off the stage and jumped into the crowd and then all hell broke loose." (Gigwise)

Check out footage from the incident below:

]]> <![CDATA[50 Cent Celebrates 35th B-Day On The Low, "It's More Fun For Me To Turn The Phone Off"]]>

G-Unit leader 50 Cent has revealed what plans he has in store for today as he celebrates his 35th birthday.

Speaking with DJ Whoo Kid, 50 said he would rather purchase gifts for his family than himself.

    The rapper, who is preparing to tour Brazil, will spend quality time with his family, in addition to taking out the time to do something nice for others, most notably his grandparents. "It's more fun for me to just not have to do anything and turn the phone off -- instead of buying stuff for myself, I'll buy stuff for them...I got what I want. When you achieve more than you anticipate and if you're blessed with having a long enough career, you'll get over a lot of different things. And I think we are all conditioned to want things we don't need. After you acquire them and you get comfortable with them, you realize, you never really needed that stuff." (All Hip Hop)

The rapper has already received birthday wishes on Twitter from Lloyd Banks and DJ Scratch.

    "Happy Birthday 50 Cent @50Cent. I'm proud of you.," DJ Scratch wrote today. (DJ Scratch's Twitter)

Rapper Lil Wayne recently said he planned to retire from music by age 35.

    "I always said I ain't wanna do this no more after 35, I ain't wanna do it no more," Wayne revealed in an interview with radio personality Tim Westwood. "So any time before 30 and 35, I might give it up. [But now] I gotta work as hard as I can so I ain't gotta look back. [When I retire, I'll] do something else, I'm gonna retire from this and probably jump into some ownership of some sports team or you know, I'm very heavy into sports. Any sport. [I'd want ownership] of the team. It doesn't matter, it could be basketball, it could be baseball, of course it wouldn't be baseball, there's too much money to own that, but it could be basketball or football, it wouldn't matter. I could buy into a baseball team with someone." (Tim Westwood TV)

50 is currently working on his new album, Black Magic.

    He calls the album a whole new sound for him, and describes it as "more soulful" and "more mature" than his past work. For inspiration, he says he's listening to a mix he made of some of his favorite artists' best songs, including 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. "I listen to those records to create expectations," says 50, who turns 35 in July. "It creates a level to me, within myself, of how good the record has to be before I'm ready to launch it." (Detroit Free Press)]]> <![CDATA[Bizarre Calls Eminem's 744K "Recovery" Debut "A Breath Of Fresh Air"]]> Eminem's Recovery dominated the sales charts this week, SOHH hit up D12's Bizarre  to get his reaction to the rapper's historic debut.

Biz said it is great to see that people still appreciate the D12 brand.

    "It's a breath of fresh air man," Biz told SOHH about Em's Recovery dominating the sales charts. "It's dope and I don't really think nobody out there really got a D12 style Eminem, we have our own lane. I'm just happy that people are still messing with the cat. [It shows] that our brand is still hot. We still up, alive and kicking. I think we have our own lane in the industry and nobody out there really sounds like us and rap like we rap. So it's a good feeling." (SOHH)

Em's new album dominated the sales charts with the biggest debut in over two years.

    Grammy-winning rapper Eminem's Recovery debuted on the charts this week landing at No. 1. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Slim Shady's new album has sold 744,400 units after a week in stores. The album is the highest-selling debut since 2008. (SOHH Sales Wrap)

Recently, Em discussed not worrying about first-week sales.

    "I don't think I've actually stopped to think about it," Eminem said referencing being named artist of the decade. "I never thought that my life would amount to this. But to be able to sit back and digest it is so strange to me, because I still feel so regular. I don't understand what people think the big deal is about me. It's a very strange relationship that I have with fame...Honestly, as long as people enjoy the music, that means the most to me. I could sell 80 million records in the first week, and if my peers or fans of real hip-hop didn't like it, it really wouldn't mean anything." (Rap Radar)

Aside from Em, Biz recently released his new album, Friday Night At St. Andrew's.

    Bizarre is certainly an MC who enjoys living up to his name. As such, the D12 member spits a mix of horrorcore/shock raps whenever he hits the booth. And, like any act with a narrow focus, Bizarre's music has a tendency to grow stale after repeated listens. But that hasn't stopped the Detroit native from weaving his disturbing tales for a third time on Friday Night At St. Andrews. This LP is the wacky rapper's third studio album and his first since 2007's average Blue Cheese & Coney Island. Like that record, Friday Night... features other absurdist MCs Tech N9ne Redman and members of the D12 crew. (Prefix Mag)]]> <![CDATA[Eminem Ends Silence On MTV "Hottest" List Snub, "I Just Felt Like Maybe I Need To Do Better"]]> Eminem has finally broken his silence on being snubbed for a slot on MTV's 2009 "Hottest In The Game" list.

Em said he took his absence as a sign he needed to work harder.

    "That hottest MC list that I was left off, it was one of those things that I was glad that I am at where I'm at," Em said in an interview. "I'm glad I'm in this place now, because a few years ago I would've let it bother me more than it did. I took it not as a slap in the face but more so like, 'Maybe I'm not on that list for a reason. Maybe I'm not doing the things that I need to be doing. Maybe I need to look at myself and step it up.' I don't know what I would have thought being in the mind state that I was in. I just felt like maybe I need to do better." (VIBE)

Last fall, Rick Ross spoke with SOHH and defended MTV's decision to not include Em.

    "I don't speak on nobody that ain't on the list," Ross jokingly said. "It's called 'Get Like Me' at this point, you feel me? At the end of the day, those are people's opinions and I respect MTV's opinions. I respect those brothers over there, you know what I'm saying because I've seen 'em in the streets. If it was some motherf*ckers I never seen at these venues watching the performances, watching what's going on, I may not be able to respect it but I see [panelists] Shaheem Reid, I see Buttahman, they visible to me. When I see 'em, it's [respect] and as far as the list goes, I'm honored to be mentioned. And it is what it is and to me, I feel like the only spot that counts on the list is number one. Second means you were the first to lose. So as far as Jay-Z being number one, I totally concur, that's one of my white words. I totally agree with that because Jay-Z done influenced so many of the artists on that list. Signing Rick Ross to Def Jam, signing Kanye West to Def Jam, influencing Lil Wayne, co-signing Drake and the list goes on, so most definitely you gotta tip your hat off to Jay-Z." (SOHH)

Despite landing the number one spot, Jay-Z previously wondered why Slim Shady was not listed.

    "MTV, Thanx for this nod of appreciation," he wrote in a statement. "Although I don't strive to be 'hot' for any particular year, I thank you for the acknowledgment. My whole goal is to be recognized as the best ever. I created the term 'best rapper alive' as a sign of respect to my fallen comrades (Biggie and Tupac). I believe I've allowed a significant grace period, and I believe I would not be respecting myself if being the absolute best was not my goal, and that's why I continue to push myself until exhaustion ... salute. Sidebar: Kanye moment if I may ... Eminem?!?! I think you do the credibility of this list a disservice if you don't thoroughly explain his omission. As of this second he has the highest selling rap album of the year and a scene stealing verse on the best 'posse' cut of the year . (*Hands mic back to Taylor Swift ... and nobody was harmed, I apologize in advance.)" (Rap Radar)

MTV later issued a response to the public's reaction toward Em's absence.

    Eminem's ranking was one of the most discussed topics at the Roundtable. His hotly anticipated return to hip-hop after a long absence drove first week sales of over 600,000 - the highest first-week of the year so far. He granted a handful of select interviews here and abroad, and was part of a massive moment with Sacha Baron Cohen at the MTV Movie Awards. But then Em retreated to the lab, where he spent the summer crafting Relapse 2. From June to September, Em all-but took himself out of the public eye, while other MCs generated week-to-week heat with mixtapes, guest appearances, performances and Web activity. (M Live)

Check out a past Eminem interview below:

]]>