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Tupac Resurrected

Earlier this week another posthumous Tupac release hit stores called Evolution: Duets & Remixes via Koch Records. SOHH caught up with production duo Street Radio, who worked on 8 cuts for the project, to get the inside scoop on putting the new album together.

"My man Bob Perry at Koch knows I'm a big fan of Pac and put me on as a production coordinator for the album," J. Math of Street Radio told SOHH. "I wanted to keep it as real to Pac as I could. Bob pulled in Styles P for "Pain," which came out hot. Pac was spitting from the point of view of his character in Above The Rim and Styles picked it up with the same vibe. I had to get Buckshot and Smif N' Wesson on "Intiated" to bring back the One Nation feel, the project they were working on with Pac right before he was killed.

Evolution: Duets & Remixes also features guest appearances from the Outlawz, Dogg Pound, Snoop Dogg, R&B singer Dwele and M1 of dead prez. Additional production was provided by Sha Money XL, Jake One, D. Prosper and Black Jeruz.

"We handled half the album while Sha Money's team handled the other half," Street Radio's Jimi Kendrix explained. "It kept the project tight."

"They had some acapellas they gave to us and to Sha's team," Math added. "It was cool cause we approached the tracks completely differently, and Pac's estate liked both versions to a lot of the tracks."

While Evolution revisits familiar Pac hits like "Picture Me Rollin,'" "Hail Mary," "How Do You Want It" and "Gangsta Party," some songs have entirely new production while others feature the original beats with added touches.

"We had some tracks where we were playing music on top of the original beats," Kendrix told SOHH. "So we got a chance to be in that zone and at the same time, do our own thing, an '07 feel, and it worked," Jimi Kendrix said.

While Street Radio lamented the fact that Tupac wasn't alive to be a part of the project, the duo reported that Shakur's family was happy with the end result and they were most pleased to have been a part of something that stayed true to Pac.

"I know people hate on remix projects all day, but I got to say this is a different type of project," Math said. "A Pac fan can appreciate the music on this album."

2Pac's Evolution: Duets & Remixes is in stores now. Street Radio are currently working with Ghostface, Clipse, AZ, Big Noyd and Ice Cube, as well as working on Jimi's solo project. The duo are also scoring Rick Ross' film M.I.Yayo.


Kanye West:"Graduation Isn't Finished"

Will Kanye West’s highly anticipated LP, “Graduation”, end up getting pushed back after all?..That’s the question on everyone’s mind after the Chicago MC recently revealed that the album, which is scheduled for release on September 11th, 2007, isn’t finished.

“The thing is, I just never know when to stop.” Kanye tells Contact Music.

“The tracklisting isn’t finalized as I’ve changed my mind again today. I just heard some parts out there that I wasn’t happy with.” He quipped.

Kanye, who was warned by 50 Cent to reschedule his album release date will have to complete the album this week in order to have it in stores by the September.

“I’m always tweaking things here and there but I am being told I have to finish it today. “It was originally meant to be out in two weeks. I would never have finished it by then. The mastering company told me, ‘If it’s not finished by today then your s**t won’t be in the stores’.”

Method Man Reaches Plea Agreement In Marijuana Case

Method Man reached a plea agreement yesterday (Aug. 16) with Brooklyn prosecutors in respect to outstanding charges from a May 17 traffic stop.

As previously reported, Method Man was pulled over back in May for having expired inspection stickers. When the officer approached Method Man's vehicle he smelled marijuana and the officer proceeded to discover 28 grams of marijuana. Meth was taken into custody, and released on his own recognizance on May 18 after being arraigned.

Under terms of the plea agreement, Method Man will work with the Brooklyn district attorney’s office’s Choices and Consequences program as a part of his community service. The program mentors young kids about the dangers of drugs. “He’s never been in trouble with the law before,” Meth’s lawyer, Peter Frankel told the New York Daily News. “This is a guy who flies in the face of all stereotypes about rappers.”

R. Kelly Gives Bow Wow & Omarion Thumbs Up On Collabo Album

With their collaborative album Face Off due out this December, I caught up with rap heart throb Bow Wow and R&B sensation Omarion to address the inevitable comparisons to R. Kelly and Jay-Z's Best of Both Worlds project.

The partnership between hip-hop and R&B is nothing new, but when it comes to rapper/singer joint ventures there aren't any more storied than the one between Kells and Hov. Despite the Best of Both World's legacy, Omarion and Bow Wow are already doing their best to distance Face Off from the project that preceded it.

"We definitely respect Jay-Z and R. Kelly because I would say they have influenced not even just us, but the game," Omarion said. "But one thing that we want people to understand is that they [are] who they are and Bow and O is who [we] are. And what we're going to bring to the table is totally different than what they brought to the table."

"Totally different," Bow Wow added, "I can see the comparisons but musically... totally different."

Since they've both made successful transitions from child to adult superstars, made big chips for their roles in the Scream tours, and hit the studio together ("Let Me Hold You"), the young music stars say the major difference between them and the elder duo is that shared history.

"Our story is different than theirs," Omarion said. "Our story is that we really grew up together in the industry."

While the story may be different, some of the players may well be the same. In fact, Bow Wow says that when R. Kelly heard about the Face Off project, he jumped at the opportunity to get involved.

"Rob's like 'Yall doin the best of both worlds? What? That's me, that's what I do. Ya'll need to go ahead and let me bless that track. Ya'll know I got something for ya'll. Ya'll need to just come on ahead with it.'"

"We already got they blessings on it now the people gotta respect it and we gon' make them respect it with the music," Bow Weezy continued.

Anticipated for release sometime this December, the dual project follows solo releases for both Omarion (21) and Bow Wow (The Price of Fame) which were both released last year.

Aspiring Baltimore Politician Objects To Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana Concert

A candidate for Baltimore’s city council has raised concerns over an impending concert featuring Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Democratic candidate Donald J. Dewar III sent a letter to Mayor Sheila Dixon and the city’s liquor board demanding that the show, which is scheduled for this Saturday (August 18) at the Clarence H. Du Burns Arena, is cancelled and its one-day liquor license is revoked. Dewar argued that the two rapper’s explicit lyrics and violent content were not appropriate for the venue, which he says is located in a residential area. In an effort to drive his point home, Dewar cited an alleged “mini riot” that he claims ensued during a June 15 Lil Kim concert at the same arena.

City police spokesman Sterling Clifford denied that there was any disturbance at the Kim show, saying that no police were called to the area that night. City Councilman James B. Kraft also stated that Dewar’s allegations about the Kim concert were unfounded. “I’m not, and the city is not, saying we support this particular group or these particular entertainers … but they have a legitimate contract with the city to use the Du Burns Arena,” Kraft said.

Attorney Paul Gardner, who represents the show’s promoter, IKON Entertainment, said Dewar’s request to reject the liquor license and cancel the show was contrary to the First Amendment. “It’s unconstitutional to really erect a policy banning one kind of concert based on its content,” Gardner argued. “If Paris Hilton was coming down to the Du Burns Arena on Aug. 18, I do not think Mr. Dewar would be complaining—and she’s been convicted.”


Contractor Drops Lawsuit Against Ja Rule

A Saddle River, New Jersey contractor who accused rapper Ja Rule of stiffing him for $8,000 withdrew his criminal complaint Thursday (August 16), telling a judge he was concerned for his safety.

31-year-old Joel Tobia a told a reporter for The Record that he hadn't been intimidated in any way by the rapper. However, he told a Superior Court judge in Hackensack on Thursday that he is "extremely uncomfortable going forward with this case."

According to reports, Tobia nervously looked around the courtroom to see who was attending the proceeding. Ja Rule was not there though.

Tobia said Ja Rule (real name: Jeffrey Atkins) hired him to fix a bad leak in the basement of his $3.5 million mansion, and then refused to pay him a large portion of the fee after the work was done.

"People are asking me, 'Do you know what you are doing?'" Tobia told Judge Roy F. McGeady, during the proceeding. "I have two children. I am concerned. I hope you are reading between the lines."

In the lawsuit filed earlier this month, Tobia claimed he was only paid $5,000 although he had performed $13,000 job, but was stiffed.

"We put in 150 hours of manpower, which I gave to him for $13,000," the contractor said previously. "He paid me $5,000 and wouldn't pay me the rest. I don't know why."

The rapper's attorney, Brian Neary, said this was never a criminal case. "It was a simple dispute between a contractor and a homeowner," Neary said. "They happen all the time. Just because Jeffrey is a celebrity doesn't change the basic argument. We will deal with the dispute in the appropriate court."

Tobia said he has already obtained a default civil judgment for $8,000, but Neary said the amount remains in dispute. He contends it's about $4,000.

American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks Signs With JIVE Records

It was announced today that Jordin Sparks, the youngest American Idol winner ever in the popular TV franchise’s history, has signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the partnership with 19Recordings and Jordin Sparks as the first Idol winner to make her home at Jive,” stated Barry Weiss, CEO and President of Zomba Label Group (ZLG). “Her poise, her amazing vocal ability, her relentless optimism has been apparent to millions of fans all around the world. We’re honored to have this burgeoning worldwide superstar on Jive Records.”

Clive Davis, Chairman of BMG, U.S., also commented: “Jordin is a terrific young singer who has found a great home at Jive. Barry and his successful team know how to patiently nurture career artists, and Jordin Sparks hints of a legacy and longevity waiting to be fulfilled.”

“American Idol has truly been a life altering experience,” Jordin said. “Signing with 19Recordings/Jive and Barry Weiss and his great team is hopefully the beginning of another dream opportunity for me to deliver the kind of meaningful music I love. I can’t wait to share this next chapter of my story with all the fans that have supported me so far.”

Simon Fuller, the creator of American Idol and the guiding force behind American Idol’s unprecedented success and founder of 19 Entertainment concurred: “You couldn’t find a better match in or out of this business than Jive Records, 19 Recordings and Jordin Sparks.”

Winning the majority of the more than 74 million record-breaking votes cast. The 17-year old Glendale, AZ, native, was followed by millions of television viewers and was hailed by critics and fans as one of the most “musically evolved” contestants the Fox show has ever had.

Jive Records is gearing up to launch Jordin Sparks’ lead single, “Tattoo,” produced by the hit-making duo Stargate (Béyonce, Ne-Yo) and co-written with Amanda Ghost, whose impressive credits include James Blunt’s “Beautiful” and “Beautiful Liar” with Beyonce and Shakira. “Tattoo” will be arriving at radio stations across the country on August 27th, and Sparks’ eagerly awaited debut album will be in stores in November. Currently, Sparks is wowing live audiences in a trek across the U.S. with other Season Six finalists on the Pop-Tarts American Idols Live! Tour. In between tour dates, she’s scheduled to appear on The Teen Choice Awards which airs live on FOX on August 26th.

Yung Joc Searches For Ultimate Hustler To "Rock With Joc"

Bad Boy rapper Yung Joc has teamed up with Rockport's new Established 1971 Footwear to launch "Roc with Joc," a multi-city talent search for aspiring music moguls.

The search launched in Detroit today (August 16) and will make stops in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Atlanta, where contestants will battle it out for the chance to work closely with Yung Joc and his team.

Participants will have to call into partnering local radio stations to showcase their talents and explain to a panel of judges what makes them a true "hustler."

Joc will then meet with the chosen few at participating retail locations where he will select a finalist who best personifies what it means to work hard to have their dreams come to fruition.

The winner will then be given the opportunity to spend the remainder of the day with Yung Joc and his entourage.

Each winner from each city will then be flown to Atlanta for the grand finale where the winner will be chosen during the release party of Joc's forthcoming sophomore album Hustlenomics.

The winner will be awarded an opportunity to work along side Yung Joc, while on his "Hustleonmics" tour and appear in an advertisement of the Rockport Established 1971 Collection.

During their stay in Atlanta, the participants will be given a tour of Yung Joc's Block Entertainment studio and a preview of Rockport's new Established 1971 Footwear.

"I have worked hard to overcome many obstacles to be where I am today," Yung Joc said via a statement. "I am excited to be partnering with Rockport to provide an opportunity for hustlers like myself that are on their grind who otherwise may never have had a chance to make it."

Hustlenomics will hit shelves on August 28. The album features appearances from Sean "Diddy" Combs, The Game, Young Dro, Pharrell Williams and Trick Daddy, among others.