VIDEO: NAS Interview With CNN About His Open Letter To The Youth

Nas speaks with CNN reporter Don Lemon about his open letter to the youth after the senseless death of 16 year old Derrion Albert in Chicago last week.

Free At Last: Former Bad Boy Recording Artist SHYNE Released From Prison

Yesterday former Bad Boy recording artist, Shyne, was released from prison after serving nine years for assault and attempted murder stemming from a shootout at a popular NYC nightclub. Though being absent from the hip hop scene all this time, Shyne is rumored to be the subject of a bidding war between several major labels. Shyne’s rumored 3rd album is set to be titled Godfather Exhumed. He is also required to complete two and a half years of parole. Read more HERE

Hip Hop Radio Pioneer MR. MAGIC Dies of a Heart Attack

For those that remember tuning in to 109.5 FM WHBI or 107.5 FM WBLS in New York, whenever you heard Mr. Magic say "This is a World Premiere-miere-miere!" you knew the next possible hip hop classic was about to drop. Earlier today, ALLHIPHOP.COM reported the death of John Rivas aka Mr. Magic. Mr. Magic has an indelible influence on hip hop as the pioneering radio host of "The Mr. Magic Disco Show" on WHBI and "Mr. Magic's Rap Attack"and the co-founder of the legendary Juice Crew (with Marley Marl). The Juice Crew included iconic rappers, M.C Shan, Roxanne Shante, Bizmarkie, Craig G., Kool G. Rap and Big Daddy Kane. Classic hip hop group, Mr. Magic was the door for Whodini's career also. Their song "Magic's Wand" was a featured promo for his WBLS show. Mr. Magic and DJ Red Alert were once radio rivals and hip hop benefitted from their creative ruse. Some artists began to take sides and soon Boogie Down Productions was born. The battle between the Juice Crew and BDP played a vital role in raising the creative bar.



I had spent countless Friday and Saturday nights listening to Mr. Magic with one finger on the record button ready to capture a "World Premiere" song and archive the mixes. I will never forget that era, his voice and his famous sign off, "just remember that persistence always overcomes resistance" and "be yourself or you will find yourself, by yourself"..





Also check THEURBANDAILY.COM for an excerpt from one of his last interviews from a soon to be published book entitled, "The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop", coming in 2010. The piece reveals his beginning as Mr. Magic and the birth of Whodini.

VIDEO: Ed Lover Ain't Sugar Coating Sh*t- C'MON SON 5

Ed Lover keeps it real once again in this latest installment. Check out the science on ESPN. Seems that ESPN has already bitten Ed Lover's concept..

MIXTAPES: In Memory of Big L- "BIG L: HARLEM MASSACRE" & "THE BEST OF THE REST"

Download Mixtape | Provided by DatPiff.com

The spirit led me to Big L today. Well that and a daily visit to datpiff.com. "BIG L: Harlem Massacre" presented by Pro-Act is an essential collection of Big L's freestyles, rare & unreleased singles and interviews with some of the best in hip hop radio. Bobbito Garcia, Kay Slay and Tim Westwood among them. Many of the freestyles had me on rewind and it was great hearing Big L interact with the hosts and other emcees. One of the rare singles entitled "We All Can't Ball feat Liz Lucci & Richie Thumbs" got my attention and I did a search to find more background on that single and found yet another recent release in honor of Harlem's Finest.



In a collaboration between The T.R.O.Y. Blog and BigLOnline,"The Best of The Rest", delves even deeper into the archives for even MORE greatness. This 12 track compilation "showcases a dozen varied highlights of live performances and rare/unreleased tracks by Big L. It spans from his first recordings in 1992 to his last live show in 1998. The link found at THEDIGGERSUNION.COM also posts background on every track.

DOWNLOAD HERE

ONYX is Making a Comeback with BLACK ROCK?!!

Uh-oh! Somethings brewing in hip hop and its a good look..

A couple of days ago I posted about Dame Dash's new BLAKROC project pairing various emcees with Akron, OH band, The Black Keys. Now there is word (thanks ILLSEED) that Onyx is returning with a hip hop/rock influenced album titled BLACK ROCK. In the video, Onyx is bringing their flavor full circle. Don't forget, Onyx rocked with heavy metal band, Biohazard, twice with a remix for "Slam" and a collabo/title song for the film "Judgement Night":