It’s always uncomfortable to see artists that you have held respect and admiration for over so many years shrivel up and lose their damn minds (Lil’ Kim and Lauryn, I’m talking to your asses too). Foxy Brown just can’t seem to keep her black ass out of the fryer these days and she only makes her situation worse as the world turns.

Foxy Brown, who is currently serving a one-year prison sentence on New York’s Riker’s Island for a probation violation, refused to board a prison bus to a Brooklyn courthouse three times on Friday (October 12). According to the New York Post, the troubled Brooklyn born MC missed the first bus because she needed more time to work on her appearance. “She wanted to have an opportunity to change her clothes and put on makeup and be a bit more prettied up for court,” said prosecutor Robert Isdith. Foxy then reportedly refused to board a second bus because she hadn’t eaten lunch. Her reasons for missing the third bus were not explained. Foxy was scheduled to be arraigned on charges related to her alleged assault of a neighbor with her Blackberry back in July. Justice John Ingram, described as clearly annoyed, rescheduled the appearance for Tuesday (October 16). [ source ]

Okay Fox, first of all, nobody gives a damn what you look like in court. All that spearmint colored eyeshadow and those long ass press-ons…you can leave them in your cell. Secondly, what does it matter if you didn’t eat lunch? They have vending machines at the courthouse. You could have gotten a bag of Fun-Yuns and a Tropicana on the way in! Now you’re probably going to get into more trouble then before!

Damn, black folks in the system be trippin!

Dame Dash has been invisible for a while and I actually liked it that way. Remember that Ultimate Hustler mess on BET? Talk about ignant television. Anyway, Damon’s new hustle is a sort of Myspace ripoff called BlockSavvy. It comes complete with blogs, music, and members with lots of free time on their hands.

Now, Dame and his partner Biggs are releasing an album on the site called, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, a tribute to Jay-Z’s legendary debut LP. It features artists performing their renditions to Jay’s music. Dame recently spoke to MTV about the reasoning behind the tribute and the sentiment behind the original album.

[Continue Reading…]

“It’s a piece of us. It’s the only thing we still own that has anything to do with Roc-A-Fella. So back then, and being a part of the DNA of Roc-A-Fella, I was always trying to figure out a way to celebrate it. I knew the 10th anniversary was coming up. I said, ‘Let’s do an album with all the relevant artists doing a rendition of Jay records.’ But Jay said he didn’t like it, so we scrapped it. … You know what it was, he said the best record was Jimmy’s, so he didn’t want to put it out.”

Um, if Jay didn’t like it then, I don’t think he will be jumping for joy about it now. Artists on the new album include Kanye West, Nicole Wray, Jim Jones, and even Cam’Ron (of all people). I’m not sure if Dame is paying homage to Jay or if he is paying homage to Reasonable Doubt and all of the work he put in to make it happen. Seems like a ploy to regain relevancy to me, but then again I’m an asshole!

You can check the album out online at BlockSavvy.com’s The Leak.

[photo via Nah Right]

Like I said a few days back, close-up shots are not Hov’s strong suit when comes to photo-taking. I still think the cover is decent, though. Subtlety seems to be the best choice in musical advertising these days.

So rumor has it that L-Boogie is with child…again? YBF reported that Lauryn is carrying her fifth child from her baby’s pappy, Rohan Marley. Now, I have been hearing that this was supposed to be a hit-it-and-quit-it session between the old couple, but apparently our girl got herself knocked up in the process (you know Rastafarians don’t believe in the use of condoms…duh).

Well, I don’t suppose we’ll be seeing or hearing too much from Ms. Hill, if this is true. Can’t always trust Jamaicans to pay their child support (coming from a yaddie — I’m kidding), so we better pray for homegirl.

Britney Spears’ new album, Blackout, is already failing to be properly promoted. This cover isn’t helping her at all. The public is already treating her as if she is a joke — selling a CD looking like a clown house ballerina won’t sway the doubters in a new direction.

However, I have a strange feeling that this album will be impressive.

All I have to say is this: If you saw this ad and did not burst out laughing, you need to check your sense of humor!

By now you have probably heard about T.I. being arrested in ATL and having his house raided over the weekend. Here’s a quick synopsis: TIP sent his bodygaurd on a mission to cop him and the team a couple shiny new choppers (or whatever you kids call machine guns these days). The bodygaurd was caught by the ATF and taken into custody where he perceded to snitch on our good friend Clifford and then set him up in a Walgreens parking lot. Once there, the feds cuffed the rapper and his entire entourage. That’s gotta sting!

Well, T.I. is scheduled to appear before a magistrate judge today. We will just have to wait and see how this pans out. On the plus side, he won two BET Hip-Hop awards and the employees at Walgreens had the best day at work ever!

…if your normal smile can strike immense terror into the hearts of young children and puppies, maybe you should think of a new way to express bliss. Chudney Ross is a gem, though! Am I right?

Shouts to Fresh!

After nearly five years since the release of his debut album, Def Jam has finally served Joe Budden his walking papers.

Rapper Joe Budden is no longer signed to Def Jam Records after being heralded as one of its most promising acts in the early 2000’s.

The rapper said he was pleased to be leaving the label and looked forward to the next steps in his career.

“I’m just happy we were finally able to cut all ties. I feel like I have all the talent in the world, but for some reason was never able to showcase it there,” Budden told AllHipHop.com. “I’m looking forward to whatever God has in store for me, and Joe Budden fans should know - today is a beautiful day.” [ source ]

Man, the last time I saw Joe Budden he was yapping on some streaming video about nonsense with bandages and needles in his arm like a damn mental patient. I dig his music, but I’m tired of hearing bitches talk about when The Growth is going to drop. When it hits, I’ll know. Until then Joe, I’m going to want fries with that! Thanks.

Chris Brown is losing in my eyes. This R&B spring chicken has all the potential in the world to be legendary (and coming from me that is saying something), but I don’t see an advancement in his career with this new album on the way. Gotta make progress, Chris! Anyway, a new song from the high-yellow heartthrob just hit the net. It’s called “Nice” featuring The Game (what a pity). I’m not gonna lie — the song is pure rubbish. Not only are the vocals stuffy, but the production is an utterly lackluster mess. I’m not just hating, either. This ain’t the Backyardigans, Chris! You gotta serve the competition up!

Play Me: Chris Brown - Nice (feat. The Game)

Extra, Extra:

Play Me: Jay-Z - Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)
I’m feeling an old school Jay coming through in these new tracks.

Play Me: Mya - My Bra
A song recorded for the “Stop Breast Cancer for Life” Campaign with Lifetime. I don’t understand the meaning in the lyrics too well, but I appreciate the thought.