I BLEED HIP-HOP: June 2011

Jun 30, 2011

New Video: Don Trip “Vent”

Will Smith Taps Denzel Washington For Katrina Movie

Will Smith is looking to cast Denzel Washington in a new film based on Hurricane Katrina.

According to reports, Smith originally intended to produce and star in the movie entitled "The American Can,"which is based on the story of John Keller, who saved many elderly residents during Hurricane Katrina, but Smith cannot star in the film due to his obligations in a new movie with director M. Night Shyamalan.

Smith is now hoping to remain behind the scenes of "The American Can," and have Denzel Washington star in the lead role.

Washington has not yet been confirmed for the film.

Last year, the two Hollywood stars were rumored to be working together on the remake of the 1974 comedy, "Uptown Saturday Night."

New Boyz, YC and Lil Twist Speak For Hip-Hop's New Generation At The 2011 BET Awards [Video]

With the red carpet littered with celebrities at the 2011 BET Awards, Hip-Hop Wired was able to speak with Hip-Hop's next generation of stars---Cali rap group, the New Boyz, Mr. Racks On Racks, YC and Lil Twist of Young Money.

Although none of these artists took home any awards on Sunday, watch below as these stars of tomorrow talk about their BET Awards experiences .

MC Lyte Talks New Position With The Recording Academy, The Grammys, Introdues New Artst

Hip-Hop Wired caught up with rap pioneer MC Lyte at the2011 BET Awards this past weekend.

MC Lyte, who recently took a position with the Recording Academy, talked about her new role with the Grammys saying:

"For Hip-Hop, Urban Alternative, I really want to do a crash course on all of the things that the Grammy organization does outside of the awards. I think a lot of people just think it's about the show."

Along with her position at the Academy, Lyte is also Music Supervisor and Executive Vice President with independent label, Dubose Music Group, and she took a moment to introduce the label's new artist, J. Gunn.

Watch MC Lyte's interview here:

Police Still Hope Witnesses Will Come Forward In Rapper M-Bone's Death

Police are still looking into the shooting death of Cali Swag District rapper M-Bone, but say they are running into a snag in the investigation because of lack witnesses.

"When witnesses don't want to come out and talk, that's a challenge," Lieutenant Oscar Serrano of the Inglewood Police Department told Time Magazine. "It's proven to be a challenge in these types of shootings, and it's a challenge right now."

M-Bone, born Montae Talbert, was shot to death outside of an Inglewood liquor store back in May.

Despite a reward being offered for information that leads to the arrest of his killer, witnesses have been reluctant to come forward.

His murder remains under investigation.

Cali Swag District will release it's debut album The Kickback on July 12.

Kelly Rowland Covers Monarch Magazine

Singer, songwriter and actress Kelly Rowland is the latest celebrity to grace the cover of the Monarch

Magazine.

Rowland spoke with Monarch editor, Kristen Rose-Anderson, to discuss her role as a judge on the British reality show, X-Factor, her new album and her charity--I Heart My Girlfriends.
Rowland said on becoming an X-Factor judge: "I was excited about the opportunityabove everything; to find new talent and to be a mentor."
On her new album, Here I Am she said: "I was able to take time and finish and be me. There are no limits, not even limits I put on myself."
As for her charity, I Heart My Girlfriends, she said: "Music is a high, but helping out young people - it's an outrageous high!"
Monarch's summer issue will be on newsstands Friday, July 1.

Jill Scott Celebrating First Number One Album On Billboard

R&B singer Jill Scott is celebrating her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, after her new album, The Light of the Sun, sold 135,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, in its debut week.

The Light of the Sun is Scott's fourth studio album.

Her last album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released in 2007 and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard200.

Scott also covers the July Issue of Billboard Magazine, where she talked about the 2007 divorce of her husband Lyzel Williams.

“One of the reasons my ex-husband and I broke up is that he stopped eating my food. He was pissed (off) for other reasons, but the best way to show me was by leaving what I'd made for him uneaten for days on the kitchen counter. It was a smack in the face.”

After Jill Scott's 50-pound weight loss, and new success atop the charts, her ex-husband might be willing to eat her cooking now.

Watch The Throne Officially Dropping July 4

Jay and 'Ye's much talked about collaboration album,Watch The Throne, may finally have an official release date.

According to The Source, an inside source, close to the two superstar rappers confirmed that the highly anticipatedWatch The Throne will be released on July 4th.

The Source states:

Later on this evening there will be a G.O.O.D. Music event presented by Heineken and Kanye West held at a still undisclosed location in New York City. Rumors are speculating that at said event, Kanye and Jay-Z might be making an announcement about the July 4^th release date.

Since July 4th is less than a week away, it's hard to believe Jay-Z and Kanye would release their highly anticipated album with such short notice.

Still, we'll take their word for it and wait to see if this G.O.O.D. Music event and announcement goes down tonight or not.

Rick Ross Hit With Lawsuit By Neighbor Over Dog's Death

An Atlanta woman is suing rapper Rick Ross claiming that one of the MC's pet pit bulls attacked and killed her 3-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, according to reports by TMZ.

According to the suit, the pit escaped from Ross' yard, entered the neighbor's yard and attacked the smaller dog leaving “3 large bite wounds on his back” and a “very large bite wound on his neck” back in April.

Police were called to the scene and were able to separate the dogs, but the Yorkie's wounds were so devastating that he had to be euthanized.

Ross has reportedly refused to apologize for the incident.

The dog's owner is seeking $15,000.

9th Wonder Gets Release Date For Solo LP

After years of waiting, 9th wonder is ready to experience The Wonder Years on September 27th. The project will be released through his It’s A Wonderful World Music label and will feature: David Banner, Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, Murs, Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar, Warren G, Big K.R.I.T, Marsha Ambrosius, Big Remo, Rapsody, and Phonte Coleman.

What, no Joe Cocker? Ha! The album will also coincide with his new documentary, The Wonder Year.

Says, 9th:

“If there was ever a better time to express how I feel about hip-hop music, black music, or just music in general……it would be to do it now….on this project. My career has been from the depths of the underground, to the pop charts, but it has always stayed my sound, and what I believed in to be pure……..welcome to the Wonder Years”