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Before I Self Destruct is slated to hit stores on February 4th and will feature appearances from Dr. Dre, Eminem, Nate Dogg and G-Unit rappers Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo.

Tracklist after the jump



1. Intro
2. Came To Win (Produced by Red Spyda)
3. Get Up (Produced by Scott Storch)
4. Need Your Hate (Produced by Dr. Dre)
5. Here For A Reason (feat. Nate Dogg) (Produced by Tha Bizness)
6. Good To Be A Gangsta (Produced by Ty Fyffe & Sha Money XL)
7. Don’t Mess With 50 (Produced by Don Cannon)
8. Trust In Me (Produced by J.R. Rotem)
9. Norman Bates Motel (feat. Eminem) (Produced by Dr. Dre)
10. Bitch I’m Sorry (Produced by Needlz)
11. All For You (Produced by Hi-Tek)
12. No Time To Lose (feat. Swizz Beatz) (Produced by The Individuals)
13. Lonely At The Top (Produced by Play-N-Skillz)
14. You Need Us (feat. Lloyd Banks & Tony Yayo) (Produced by DJ Khalil)
15. Different Path (feat. Dave Young) (Produced by Ha voc)
16. I Get It In (Produced by Dr.Dre)
17. Somebody Forgive Me (Produced by Jake One)
18. My Reign (Produced by Eminem)
19. Ready For War (feat. Dr.Dre) (Produced by Dr. Dre)
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Nas fans aren't the only ones who wish the Queens rapper would reconnect with all the producers who helped put together his classic debut album Illmatic.

In a recent interview with Goods Magazine, DJ Premier revealed that he would like to link up with Nas and the other producers who worked on Illmatic for a new album.


"I wish Nas would do an album again with just the original team,' said Primo."Me, Q-Tip, Large Professor, Pete Rock and L.E.S. We all went in like we knew we had to."

"I remember Tip bringing me 'One Love' and I was like 'Damn, I had to go and fix mine'. I had to change my 'Represent' beat just to compete with them," Primo reminisced. "Pete played me 'The World Is Yours' before the beat was done and I was like 'Yo, I gotta make another banger' and that’s when I did 'New York State Of Mind'.

"Large Pro was really the originator of Nas' style musically because he took a chance on him, so Large Pro is really the important factor of Nas' career," Primo continued. "So I don’t know how you don't go back to Large. If Nas would g et to do one album with all of us again it would be over successful because we all gonna come with it."

Premier's production has been absent from Nas' and Jay-Z's projects in the past years. Primo claims he has sent beats to both rappers but they never make the final product. Despite being turned down, Primo has no ill feelings towards them.

"I'm not bitter, my main thing is just let me know you're not gonna use it. That gets me a little bothered because if you know me just say 'It ain't it Preem'. I'm cool," he explained. "I pee standing up, I’m all man so I’m not gonna get sensitive about that. Those are my dudes".
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In celebration of Barack Obama's inauguration as the first black president of the United States, Jay-Z will be holding a concert in Washington, D.C. a day before the historic event.


According to The Baltimore Sun, Jay-Z will perform at the Warner Theatre on January 19th and will be joined by a live band.

Tickets for the event will be going on sale on Friday (January 9) via ticketmaster.com, Livenation.com or the Warner Theatre box office.

Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States on January 20th.

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Part 1


More after the jump


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5

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T.I. appeared in an Atlanta court yesterday (January 6) to pay an overdue bill to the lawyers who represented the mother of his two sons in her child support case against him.

As reported earlier, Lashon Dixon's lawyers claimed that the judge who presided over the case ordered T.I. to pay for Dixon's attorney fees by November but he failed to do so.


According to The Associated Press, T.I. arrived at the court Tuesday with an $8000 cheque and told the judge that the changing of his assistant caused the payment delay.

Dixon took T.I. to court last year claiming that the monthly payment of $2000 that she received from the rapper wasn’t enough to support her and their two sons.

A judge would order T.I. to pay Dixon over $3,000 a month as well as pay for the children's tuition, uninsured medical bills and extracurricular activities.

T.I. and Dixon are still negotiating child support and custody of their boys, ages 7 and 8.

The rapper has three other children outside of his relationship with Dixon.
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Part 1


Part 2 after the jump


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Jim Jones has reportedly been charged with misdemeanour assault for his involvement in an altercation that occurred at a Manhattan Louis Vuitton store on Christmas Eve.

Rumours had been circulating that Jones and his crew got into a physical altercation with Ne-Yo and Jay-Z's friend Tyran 'Ty Ty" Smith at the store but authorities revealed that Jones got into a brawl with Smith's brother who was travelling with Ne-Yo.


Jones agreed to meet with New York police today (January 5) to discuss the incident and he was slapped with the assault charge.

Jones is currently out on bail and is expected to appear before a judge on February 4th. The rapper will be releasing his fourth solo album titled Pray IV Reign on February 20th.
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Jennifer Hudson is reportedly being considered by President-elect Barack Obama's political team to perform at his upcoming inauguration in Washington, DC this month.According to New York Post, Obama's people are asking Hudson to step back to the mic for the first time since the murders of her family members caused her to withdraw from the spotlight.


"Organizers want Jennifer to sing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at the inauguration on January 20," a source told the Post. "They are talking to Jennifer about it. It would be the first time she performed since the murders. She is from Chicago and a huge Obama supporter."

The two have publicly displayed a close relationship as Obama reportedly contacted and showed his concern to Hudson upon learning about the fatal shooting of her family members. She also sang the national anthem at last summer's Democratic National Convention (DNC) in August.

No official announcement from Hudson has been released.
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Jim Jones will be turning himself into New York Police today (January 5) to discuss an incident that took place at a Manhattan Louis Vuitton store on Christmas Eve.

Rumours have been circulating the past few weeks that Jones and his crew got into a physical altercation with Ne-Yo and Jay-Z's friend Tyran 'Ty Ty" Smith at the high-end store on December 24th.


Details on the incident remain sketchy as various bloggers have claimed that the brawl involved Ne-Yo's entourage and that the singer was not at the scene. Some even say Smith was also not at the store.

Ne-Yo's camp and Smith have not spoken publicly on the incident and Jones also declined to discuss it when approached by MTV News.

"I don't wanna talk about that," Jones told MTV. "Nah, we not doing that, let's stop that right there. Let's not do that. We above that."

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After claiming to have plans to retire after his next album, it appears as though Lupe Fiasco has possibly revealed his next project.

Various blogs have reported that Lupe will be fronting a rock band called Japanese Cartoon under the alias Percival Fats, in which he is singing in a British accent.


Whether this project will amount to an album or just a few songs is unknown; however, two tracks credited to the group have been released - "Army" and "Heirplanes"

Amidst the blog reports, Japanese Cartoon made a post on their Myspace page, denying that Lupe is the lead singer, but confirming his involvement in other aspects:

"Japanese Cartoon's myspace page has been hacked.

Percival Fats (Born Percival Hindenburg-Fats) Is NOT Lupe Fiasco (Born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco). Although he is a dear friend.

Japanese Cartoon will reload songs onto the player as soon as we figure out how via the technical support fellows at Myspace...

...Lupe does finance the band but is NOT I REPEAT NOT THE SINGER IN JAPANESE CARTOON. He is however the producer and we value his participation very much."
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The rumors of Soulja Boy getting beat and robbed seem to have a dose of truth to them as a representative for the rapper has confirmed that an 'incident' took place at the rapper's home last week.


On New Years Eve, rumors were circulating the internet that six armed men invaded Soulja's Boy home last Tuesday night (December 30) and robbed the rapper and his friends.

The following day, a video surfaced of two men claiming responsibility for the robbery. The men claimed that they followed Soulja Boy to his home following an album release party.

The men shot down rumors of six people committing the robbery and claimed they only used one weapon. The men also revealed they got away with jewelry and $5000.

A representative for Soulja Boy confirmed to Allhiphop that a 'serious situation' took place at the rapper's home but declined to give details.
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The Los Angeles coroner's office has ruled that Dr. Dre's son died from an overdose of heroin and morphine last year.



As reported earlier, Andre Young Jr. was found unresponsive in his bedroom by his mother at their California home on the morning of August 23rd, 2008.

Young Jr. had been out partying and his mother recalled him returning home at 5:30 am. He was only 20 years old.

"[The] case has been closed, it's been ruled an accident due to morphine and heroin intoxication," coroner spokesman Larry Dietz told People Magazine.
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Suge Knight's intimidating reputation has various buyers scared to buy the rap mogul's former record label.

As reported earlier, Knight lost Death Row Records to bankruptcy in 2006. The label was put up for auction last summer but a potential buyer, Global Music Group, failed to close the sale.


According to The New York Post, the label will be up for auction again on January 15th but budding buyers are reportedly scared that Knight may go after them.

"It could be a tough sale," an unidentified source told The Post. “Some people don't want to go near the catalogue because they think Suge still believes it's his."

Adding fire to their fears, Lydia Harris claims that Knight threatened her life during a court hearing when a judge awarded her with $107 million after she won a lawsuit against the infamous rap mogul.

Harris revealed to The Post that Knight told her, "You dead, bitch."

Harris had sued Knight for owed profits. She claimed she helped Knight start Death Row but he forced her out of the label.

Melanie Bonvicino, Knight's representative, told The Post that Knight "has no recollection" of the day he allegedly made the threats.

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Full layout after the jump

DMX's Arizona home is reportedly under foreclosure and has been put up for sale by a local bank.

The realtor selling DMX's home, Andrew Wheeler, revealed to AZFamily on January 2nd that the home was left unprotected and in shambles after it was raided for the second time by authorities in May 2008.


Wheeler divulged that the house's doors and windows were blown during the raid and it made it easy for thieves to enter the house.

Wheeler claims various items were stolen including DMX's quads.

"I think people showed up, walked into the house and took what they wanted," Wheeler said.

The Arizona home appeared in DMX's reality show which aired on BET in 2006. The Yonkers bred rapper paid $600,000 for the house in 2003 and the bank has put it up for sale for 429,000.

DMX is currently in an Arizona jail awaiting sentencing on charges of animal cruelty, identity theft and drug possession. The rapper plead guilty to the charges last week and is expected to serve at least 90 days behind bars.
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After having his mansion on the market for 2 years, 50 Cent has decided to make a little adjustment to his asking price in light of the current financial crisis.


The Hartford Courant reports that the G-Unit general is slashing the cost of the opulent estate - which used to belong to boxing champ Mike Tyson - to $14.5 million from $18.5 million.

“It’s the market,” Keller Williams Realty’s Deborah Orr said. “With a unique property, everyone acknowledges it’s difficult to pinpoint the perfect market price. We feel we need to stimulate some activity, and that was the intent of the price cut.”

While Fif shaved the price down 21 percent, the house, located in Farmington, Conn. will still be the most expensive in the area. 50 bought the 17-acre property back in ‘03 for $4.1 million. It includes an helipad, a 40-person hot tub, two billiard rooms, a movie theatre and a club.
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Didnt feel like posting a New Freeway track everyday, but the good folks at OnSMASH compiled all 32 tracks so you can just download them all together

Hit the jump for the tracklist + download link.


01. Month Of Madness (Produced by Phoenotes)
02. Everlast (Produced by Blunt)
03. Count On Free (Produced by Jake One)
04. Look Around (Produced by Tryfe)
05. Gonna Get Mines (Produced by Blunt)
06. I’m Great (Produced by Tryfe)
07. MindState Takeover (Produced by Cardiak)
08. Blauh (Produced by Jake One)
09. Together (Produced by Dilemma)
10. Tell You Something (Produced by Erick Sermon)
11. Movin’ Out (Produced by Phoenotes)
12. Straight Madness (Produced by Cardiak)
13. I Can Deal With It (Produced by Blunt)
14. Really Rough Out Here (Produced by Blunt)
15. Street Music (Produced by Blunt)
16. Start Wildin’ (Produced by Erick Sermon)
17. Doing Anthing (Produced by Dominic McFadden)
18. Get It Started (Produced by The Alchemist)
19. Rap Spitters (Produced by Don Cannon)
20. Diesel (Produced by Needlz)
21. Long Money (Produced by Sapp)
22. Do It To Death (Produced by Tryfe)
23. There You Go (Produced by Don Cannon)
24. For The Better (feat. Neesh) (Produced by Blunt)
25. As I Ever Been (feat. Hezekiah) (Produced by Oddisee)
26. When I Die (feat. James Blunt) (Produced by Oddz-N-Endz)
27. I Wanna Be Free (Produced by Blunt)
28. NP Finest (Produced by Cardiak)
29. Bank Rollz (Produced by Don Cannon)
30. Back For More (Produced by Cardiak)
31. Don’t Tell Me It’s Over (Produced by Blunt)
32. So Cold (feat. Klass) (Produced by Oddz-N-Endz) (Bonus)

Download here
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Just over a week since his sophomore album, iSouljaBoyTellEm, failed to make the same impact as his debut -- opening at a disappointing no. 43 on the Billboard 200 -- Soulja Boy Tell'em took to his YouTube channel to discuss why artists are struggling to sell. What does he say? He names one particular New York artist, who he credits for hip-hop's downfall.



During a video filmed with his friends, Soulja Boy blames Hip Hop legend Nas for "killing hip-hop," explaining that if Nas never made the "Hip Hop Is Dead" statement with the title of his 2006 album, things wouldn't be as bad as they are today.

"The n**** that killed hip-hop for real is Nas, dog. That n**** killed hip-hop," Soulja Boy said in a video on his official YouTube channel. "He came out publicly and said 'Hip-hop is dead,' and after that, everybody started saying 'Hip-hop is dead ... oh sh**, oh sh**.' Think about it? If Nas would've never said 'Hip-hop is dead,' then motherf***ers would never thought it had died. They would have never had that termanology."

Soulja Boy not only says that Nas hurt other artists' chances, but even claims that he hurt his own career with the popular hip-hop term. Now, everybody's losing money, says the teen rapper.

"When he came out with that sh**, it f***ed up everybody's money. He killed his own career with that sh**," he said with a laugh.

"Shut the f*** up and go into the studio, n****. He should've thought that sh** over," Soulja Boy continued.

While the rapper says that artists should not censor their opinions, he suggests that they should do it in a more positive way, referencing self-claims by rappers such as Lil Wayne and T.I., both of which have had success regardless of the music climate.

"Some good sh** to say is 'I'm the best rapper alive.' Just like T.I., that n**** say he the 'King of the south, can't nobody take that from him.' Lil Wayne said he the 'best rapper alive.' At the end of the day, they might argue with the n****, but they gonna say it 'cause he started that sh**," said Soulja Boy.

"Nas came up with the most f***ed up one -- hip-hop is dead. That just f***ed up everything. Don't be dissing on stuff you still gotta do. Hip-hop is dead is some strong ass words."

Soulja Boy released his sophomore album, iSoujaBoyTellEm, earlier this month. Despite the breakout success of his debut, his second album failed to repeat the same success, selling just 46,000 copies to put it at no. 43 on the Billboard 200.
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After losing the No. 1 spot last week, T.I. snatches his throne back this week on Billboard's 'Top Rap Albums Chart'.

Paper Trail shelved off 78,300 discs this week, pushing the album's total sales to 1,522,100 copies.



Ludacris moves one spot up to No. 2. Theatre Of The Mind shifts 58,300 units this week. After 6 weeks on the chart, the album has sold 439,100 copies.

Posted at No. 3 is Lil Wayne. Tha Carter III scans 57,800 discs this week, bringing the album's total sales to 2,874,400.

Plies slips three slots to No. 4. Da Realist bags up 52,700 units this week. So far, the album has sold 167,300 copies.

Seated at No. 5 is Soulja Boy with his latest set ISouljaBoyTellEm. The album's slow start continues as only 34,300 folks picked it up this week. After 2 weeks, the album has sold 79,900 copies.

Common stays put at No. 6. Universal Mind Control scanned 32,200 copies this week, bringing the album's total sales to 149,100.

Chilling at the 7 spot is Young Jeezy. The Recession shelled out 22,400 discs this week. After 18 weeks, the album has sold 706,700 copies.

Th e Game holds fort at No. 8. L.A.X. moved 14,700 discs this week. So far, the album has sold a total of 633,700 copies.

Posted at No. 9 is Scarface. Emeritus rang out 10,600 copies this week, bringing the album's total to 79,400.

Wrapping up the Top 10 is DJ Drama & Lil Wayne. Dedication 3 bagged up 9,400 units this week. After 2 weeks, the set has sold 17,700 copies.
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In an anticipated documentary entitled, I Am Choke, No Joke, former BET and Roc-A-Fella employee Arthur "Choke No Joke" Alston plans on airing out the recent feud between Damon Dash and Jay-Z.


Expected to be released some time this year, I Am Choke, No Joke will detail the events that led to Dame Dash and Jay-Z's falling out and the downfall of Roc-A-Fella Records. In the early '90s, Damon Dash along with Jay-Z and Kareem Burke founded the label, management firm and consulting company.

According to Alston, tension between Jay-Z and Damon Dash began to reach new heights when Dash signed Ol' Dirty Bastard and proposed that Cam'ron become vice president of Roc-A-Fella.

In a recent video, Damon Dash publicly aired out his frustration with Jay-Z informing viewers that, "What he did to me publicly could be seen as so heinous and foul that how could I ever tell somebody, 'Don't do nothin'? . . . Before, I might have taken a bullet or a punch for Jay, now I just don't get involved. That's the way he chose it to be. You won't be hearing me say nothing about him, but I won't be jumping in a fight for him."

Jay-Z has yet to respond to the alleged feud between himself and Dash.

In recent months, the two business men have seen an extremely varying amount of success. Jay-Z recently made millions after selling Roc-A-Wear, plans on opening a new club, and is part owner of the New Jersey Nets.

On the other hand, Damon Dash has been reportedly struggling financially. Two of his Manhattan homes are under foreclosure due to non-payment of mortgage.

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With the premiere of the Notorious B.I.G.'s movie, entitled "Notorious," coming out this month, Lil Kim is speaking out about her disapproval of the movie's portrayal of her relationship with the late rapper.


In Hip Hop Weekly's two-year anniversary issue, the Queen Bee reportedly sounds off about B.I.G.'s mother Voletta, and his wife Faith, saying she's "been quiet for too long."

"I've had enough and I'm about to expose them both ... I've been quiet for a long time," Lil Kim said.

It was rumored that Kim was unhappy with the casting of her role -- producers picked Naturi Naughton of 3LW fame to play her. And, about her lack of involvement in the project, due to her professional and personal relationship with Biggie.

In return, Kim is determined to "expose" both women in Biggie's life. Although it is unclear what kind of dirt she revealed.

"I'm very disappointed in Faith," she said. "There's nothing Faith or Ms. Wallace could do to stop me from reppin' B.I.G. all day. I'm gonna always do that ... It's time for Ms. Wallace to be exposed."

Despite Lil Kim's anger, Faith says that the female rapper has the wrong impression about her involvement.

"As far as the film goes, I was neither a writer nor producer of the film. I really had nothing to do with it at all ... Maybe she thinks that, but that's incorrect. It's Ms. Wallace's project," Faith told Hip Hop Weekly.

The Hip Hop Weekly issue hits newsstands this month.
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DMX faces at least 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to felony charges of drug possession, identity theft and animal cruelty in an Arizona court on December 30th.

As reported earlier, DMX was slapped with the drug and animal cruelty charges after malnourished pit bulls and marijuana were found in his Arizona home during a raid in May 2007.


The identify theft charges stem from accusations that the Yonkers bred rapper used a fake name at an Arizona hospital to avoid a bill.

According to The Associated Press, DMX pleaded guilty to the aforementioned felony charges on Tuesday as part of a deal to settle all three cases. In return, DMX agreed not to own any animals or posses firearms.

DMX has been in custody since he was arrested earlier this month after repeatedly failing to appear in court to face the charges. He will remain in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30.

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The development of a New York hotel that Jay-Z has invested in is currently on hold as the rapper and his partners are struggling to pull in finances for the project due to the ailing economy.


Last year, Jay-Z invested in a real estate development venture called J Hotels which acquired a $66 million mid-block parcel in Chelsea, New York to build a high-end hotel.

Charles Blaichman, one of Jay-Z's partners, recently revealed to The New York Times that they have been seeking up to $370 million from various banks to begin construction but have had no luck.

"A year ago it would have seemed a reasonable amount. Not now," said Blaichman. "Even the banks who want to give us money can't."

Jay-Z and his partners aren't the only ones in the same predicament. According to research, almost $5 billion worth of property projects in New York City have been delayed or cancelled because of the current economic crisis.

Stephen Blank, a researcher with the Urban Land Institute (a nonprofit group), says he has been advising real estate executives to 'take up golf' during the financial downturn.

“There’s no way to finance a project," Blank emphasized.
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