P.Miller Unveils Plans For New Cable Network

From Reuters and The Hollywood Reporter

Hip Hop entrepreneur P.Miller aka Percy Miller aka Master P is launching a family-friendly cable network, Better Black Television.

The network will provide "positive content for a black and brown culture," according to a company statement.

BBTV, set to launch in 2009, will be a general entertainment channel running a wide range of scripted, unscripted and news programming, including drama and comedy series, movies, animation, reality, politics, sports and entertainment news, children's educational and teen programming, as well as "responsible hip-hop music and videos."

BBTV advisory board members include Oscar winner Denzel Washington; Vault Load Films president Jim Finkl; NAACP executive director Vicangelo Bullock; NBA player Derek Anderson; cable industry veteran Prof. Sal Martino; hip-hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc; entrepreneur Olatokunbo Betiku; and real estate mogul Curtis Oakes.

BBTV chairman and CEO Miller said he's had the vision for BBTV for several years.

"I believe that there is a market in our community for a new diverse network that provides a new brand of superior programming that caters to all aspects of television, from reality to original programming," he said.

The new channel is taking on the black-oriented cable channel BET. Production on BBTV's programs has begun in California, New York, Louisiana and Florida.

The cable channel is in the process of purchasing local cable channel affiliates across the country.

BBTV's programming in the works:

* "Sunset and Vine": Video show hosted by Vyshonn Miller and Brittany Phillips that will showcase the top hip-hop and R&B acts as well as play classic videos.

* "One Shot Comedy Show": Comedy show hosted by Gary Johnson (a.k.a. G-Thing) featuring established and upcoming comedians.

* "Gee Gee the Giraffe": Children's educational show (will air Saturday morning on BBTV Kids).

* "Manage Your Money": Featuring financially successful people lending tips to promote financial literacy.

* "Close to the Starz": A behind-the-scenes show that takes the viewers up close and personal to their favorite celebrities.

* "Karma TV Show": Bilingual soap opera with an African-American and Latino cast.

* "What's Cooking TV Show": Talk show that covers wide aspects of entertainment and current events while cooking healthy, budget-conscious meals.

* "The Black List Movies": Film showcase featuring classic and contemporary movies, as well as original BBTV productions.

* "Hip-Hop Garage Show": Saturday show that will play new and upcoming music.

Mad Magazine Weighs In On Obama

Images courtesy of Mad Magazine

Mad Magazine is known for is humor and parody over the years and Barack Obama has not been spared. I actually love these images and they even provided the above "Knockout" image as a poster for download! Knock 'em dead Barry O!

Kool DJ Red Alert Celebrates 25 Years on the Radio!

Kool Dj Red Alert being honored at Harlem Week August 17th, 2008

"Hey Daddy, Stop Buggin'!"

Those of you who remember that shout from his son Little Red Alert signaled the impending boom bap that Red would throw down at the height of his run on 98.7 Kiss FM in NYC through the mid 80's to 90's. I first became exposed to Kool DJ Red Alert through the Zulu Beats show on NYC's WHBI (later WNWK) in the early 80's. Hosted by Afrika Islam ("Son Of Bambaataa None Hotter") this is where I first heard the style of DJing that Red has become famous for. Kool DJ Red Alert is recognized and respected worldwide as one of the founding fathers of Hip Hop music and culture. Red is considered an icon of contemporary DJs and a pioneer of the radio mix show format. Red began his career on commercial radio at 98.7 Kiss FM in October 1983. After eleven years, he moved down the dial to Hot 97 where he rocked for seven years. He then returned to 98.7 Kiss FM for two more years. In 2002 he switched over to Power 105.1. In 2007, Red Alert returned back to where it all started for him: 98.7 Kiss FM! To commemorate Kool DJ Red Alert's 25 years on the radio, many events have been planned, culminating with a special tribute celebration hosted by 98.7 Kiss FM to be held at the Izod Center in New York on November 21st, 2008.

Kool DJ Red Alert was named one of the 50 Most Influential People in Music by Rolling Stone Magazine. He has been honored by the Rock and Roll hall Of Fame with his own exhibit. Uncle Red is also honored in the The Bronx Walk of Fame with a street named after him! He founded Violator Records and Management, now headed by Chris Lighty and will soon present new artists through his Red Alert Productions. We love Kool DJ Red Alert and wish him continued success and thank him for his contributions in shaping hip hop music.

COLLECTIBLES: America's Best In Rubber-Obama, Clinton & McCain Vinyl Figures

John Kricfalusi aka John K., illustrator/cartoonist/creator of Ren & Stimpy, has designed these incredibly funny caricatures of the current and losing candidates for the American presidency- Barack Obama, John McCain and Hillary Clinton. Created with a firm tongue in cheek, these collectible vinyl figures capture their subjects with great humor and poke fun at their personalities. During this historic election year, political merchandise is at an all time high. Grab these before they sell out! They are on pre-order exclusively through amazon.com and go on sale 9/25/08. Each figure retails for $24.99 with all three being sold for the discounted price of $59.99.

DJ I-DEE Releases Debut Full Length Album- SOLITUDE

Isaac DeLima, aka DJ I-DEE, has carved out a name for himself in the world of scratch music, having already conquered the battle scene by winning three of its most prestigious titles--the Disco Mix Club (DMC) USA Supremacy, Scribble Jam and Gong World Supremacy--all within six months of each other and by the age of 19. Past winners include internationally recognized names including DJ Q-bert, Mixmaster Mike and DJ Craze. At age 20, he decided to leave his battle career behind and focus on creating new music by using the skills he developed as a deejay. And now, a seasoned DJ and performer at the age of 21, DJ I-DEE will release his debut full length album of original material SOLITUDE via Adiar Cor Records on August 26.

DJ I-DEE is constantly searching for new and innovative ways to blur the lines between genres. His winning performance at the DMC USA Supremacy saw him mix hip hop, hard rock, 80’s pop and Darth Vader all while entertaining the crowd with his incredible stage presence. SOLITUDE connects with listeners on a musical level that’s not strictly catering to hip-hop or turntablism fans but lovers of all genres. He honors the past with his style of producing, while still maintaining a new sound.

SOLITUDE features guest appearances by Royce Da 5’9”, C-Rayz Walz, Ill Insanity, Tamu and Rites of Ash. One collaboration that isn’t on the album is his stellar track with indie hip-hop’s leading female rapper Jean Grae and South Florida-based rapper Wrekonize, “The Right.” The samples on the track were not cleared for the album but the song can be downloaded at www.myspace.com/djidee. A take-off of the video game sample found throughout the song, the innovative video follows Wrekonize and Jean Grae trapped in a video game world. Check the video below-

Fatlip - "What's Up Fatlip? (Breakbot RMX)" from Delicious Vinyl's RMXXOLOGY

Fatlip of The Pharcyde took self-deprecation to new heights with the autobiographical "What's Up Fatlip" when it was first released in 2000. Now for Delicious Vinyl's RMXXOLOGY, Breakbot's RMX turns this record into a breezy summer jam. Breakbot, one of France's underground darlings, is known for his breakbeat-infused remixes and the good times they inspire. Fatlip & Breakbot's combination of talents makes this a favorite worth revisiting.



MP3 here-
What's Up Fatlip? (Breakbot RMX)

Slum Village's eLZhi Teams Up with Black Milk For First Solo Album

eLZhi, esteemed member of Slum Village, released his solo debut, The Preface, on August 12, 2008 through Fat Beats Records. The 16-track album, produced almost entirely by rising star Black Milk, features guest appearances by a who's who of the Detroit hip-hop scene. Royce Da 5'9", T3 (Slum Village), Guilty Simpson, Phat Kat, and more add to what many have predicted will be one of the most noteworthy hip-hop releases of 2008.

In the late-nineties, eLZhi made a name for himself by moving his way up through the ranks of Detroit's underground scene and teaming up with Slum Village for his first big taste of success. He has since been making the rounds, working with local Detroit luminaries such as J Dilla, Waajeed of Platinum Pied Pipers, and Dwele, in addition to a well-received solo tour of Europe during his early years in the game. Hip-hop enthusiasts across the globe consider eLZhi to be one of the most skilled emcees in the entire scene, and bloggers and critics have been trumpeting this sentiment since the release of the last Slum Village album in 2005. With the release of The Preface, eLZhi looks to cement his name amongst the greatest emcees in the game.

The first single dropped and it features Royce Da 5'9-

Motown 25- eLZhi feat. Royce Da 5'9"

One Night Only! DJ QBERT & ILL INSANITY feat ROC RAIDA, DASHAH & REDLINE

If you're in NYC tomorrow night don't miss legendary a showcase by DJs QBert, Ill Insanity and Roc Raida (formerly of the X-Ecutioners). Our peeps Dashah will be performing also. The Knitting Factory is holding it down for hip hop!

My God, Issac Hayes Too??

Absolutely heartbreaking weekend for us all. You know how the saying goes-"Death comes in threes". I did not really want to think about that old saying but it often rings so true. I did quietly say to myself, "who's next?", after hearing of Bernie Mac's passing. Issac Hayes was one of our greatest musical treasures as well as a cultural icon for his work in film and television. I can't believe we lost two of the great baritone soul singers (Barry White being the first) in these past couple of years. Issac Hayes was one of the most sampled musicians in hip hop and he was one of the few who embraced the art of sampling. Our condolences go out to his family...

From The Associated Press:

Isaac Hayes, most known for his theme song for the 1971 movie Shaft and the voice of Chef on Comedy Central's "South Park," passed away on Sunday, August 10th at the age of 65.

The "Theme from Shaft," which would earn both Grammys and an Oscar, was just a snippet of the groundbreaking music for which Hayes was responsible.

He penned soul classics like "Hold On I'm Comin'" for Sam & Dave, helped usher in the era of disco and was a goldmine for countless hip-hop and R&B artists who used his illustrious arrangements as the focal point for their songs decades later.

Hayes also acted in movies including Tough Guys, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka and Hustle & Flow. He had recently completed the movie Soul Men, in which he played himself; the film also stars Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac, who died on Saturday after a bout with pneumonia. And a new generation of fans discovered the man behind Shaft when, in 1997, he became the voice of Chef on the Comedy Central show "South Park."

Hayes, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., after collapsing Sunday afternoon near a treadmill in his home nearby.

Steve Shular, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, said authorities received a 911 call after Hayes' wife and young son and his wife's cousin returned home from the grocery store and found him collapsed in a downstairs bedroom. A sheriff's deputy administered CPR until paramedics arrived.

***UPDATE***
It has been reported that Issac Hayes died as a result of a stroke.

DAMN, DAMN, DAMN! R.I.P. Bernie Mac- We Love You And Will Never Forget

It breaks our hearts that we have to announce the passing of one of our greatest comedians/entertainers black or white, Bernie Mac. By now many of you have heard the news of his complications with pneumonia but the feeling continues to wash over me. I truly will miss Bernie Mac and his straight to the gut comedy. Similar to the sudden passing of Robin Harris, but with a longer string of work, it has hit our hearts with the weight of a family member. Spend the next few days watching and reminiscing on some of the greatest comedy performances we have ever witnessed. Get his autobiography and I promise you will laugh as if he is delivering the lines directly to you. Below I present some excerpts from one of his most memorable performances in Spike Lee's Kings of Comedy:

Bernie Mac-Sex and Kids


Bernie Mac-My Sister's Kids


Bernie Mac-MotherFucker

CLASSIC VIDEO: Souls Of Mischief- '93 Til Infinity & Never No More

Just digging through the video archive known as youtube and cheesed when I came across these gems-

'93 Til Infinity


Never No More


PROPS!!!!

Fat Beats to Unearth Freddie Foxxx’s Mysteriously Shelved ’94 Album

Press Release courtesy of audibletreats.com:

Fourteen years overdue, Freddie Foxxx, aka Bumpy Knuckles, is finally ready to step back into the spotlight with the official release of his 1994 demo tape, Crazy Like A Foxxx, as a two CD set on July 29th via Brooklyn-based record label Fat Beats. The album is a veritable time capsule from the early 1990's, with guest spots from legends such as 2Pac, Chuck D, and Kool G Rap.

The original Crazy Like A Foxxx album was recorded in New York and intended for an official release by MCA. However, for reasons unknown, the album was shelved after promotional cassettes were serviced to radio and press. This newly remastered release includes both the 1993 demo version on Disc 2 and the 1994 completed version of the album on Disc 1. Largely written for the emcee's friends in prison, the album has ominous overtones and provides insight into Bumpy’s dark state of mind at that time period. The previously unheard demo album (Disc 2) features production exclusively from D.I.T.C.'s Showbiz, Lord Finesse, and Buckwild. The first single from Crazy Like A Foxxx is "KILLA" featuring 2Pac. Bumpy Knuckles and 2Pac’s rawness evoke a New York City where gang violence was at an all time high and many of Bumpy's friends were in prison. There’s no mincing words in the track; Bumpy states, "If they wanna rumble with the Foxxx / Then they get shot." The real treat of the track is 2Pac’s singular voice, still fresh after all these years.

Check out the first single "KILLA"- Freddie Foxxx w/2PAC

Check out an album preview HERE

VIDEO: Jay-Z & Kanye West Preview BLUEPRINT 3??

BLUEPRINT 3 from kwest on Vimeo.

My Favorite Rapper Wears A Skirt

Canadian female emcee, Eternia, tours Mexico, Canada and Europe, and challenges the “where have all the female rappers gone?!” media hype with her new T-shirt Design: “My Favorite Rapper Wears a Skirt”..

NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2008 – Female rap sensation, Eternia, is preparing to tour nine countries this August and September in conjunction with the launch of her “My Favorite Rapper Wears a Skirt” T-shirt, designed by Giancarlo “GianGFX” Vargas. Recently nominated for ‘Best Rap Artist’ at the Toronto Independent Music Awards, Eternia is scheduled to perform in Mexico , Canada , and Europe over the next six weeks. Canada ’s leading lady will be traveling to Mexico City with The 411 Initiative for Change to perform at the 2008 International AIDS Conference, and after two scheduled appearances in Toronto Canada , will continue on to Europe for 11+ dates alongside Roxanne Shante, Bahamadia, Yarah Bravo, Invincible, Stacy Epps and more. The European tour begins August 22nd in Prague, at the internationally-recognized three-day festival Hip Hop Kemp (with The Roots, Pharoahe Monch, Zion I, Mr. Lif & many more), and it culminates on September 14th in Duisburg.




Available as of August 1st, Eternia’s new T-Shirt “My Favorite Rapper Wears a Skirt” is guaranteed to be a hot commodity as soon as it drops. Already spotted on stage at Rock the Bells this summer, on the likes of Jarobi (A Tribe Called Quest) and Scratch (The Roots), the t-shirt was inspired by the spontaneous reaction of a friend when Eternia walked into Spotlight Live in NYC back in April 2008. He saw her and proclaimed, “My favorite rapper wears a skirt!”, and the rest is – as they say – history. Eternia’s T-shirt concept was brought to fruition by designer Giancarlo “GianGFX” Vargas. “This is really a slogan people can relate to, whether they know my music or not,” Eternia explains, “Everywhere I go I hear ‘where have all the female emcees gone?!’. As if we’re dead, or not working anymore. I made this T-shirt to turn the tables on that train of thought, and to inspire dialogue and questions”.

Juno-nominated and widely considered one of Canada 's foremost lyricists, Eternia continues to carry the torch for those Hip Hop aficionados who crave more. With six music video singles on international rotation and two critically acclaimed full-lengths released in 2005 – "Where I Been – The Collection" & "It's Called Life" (Urbnet Records/Fontana) – Canada 's "best kept secret" has paid good dues and is ready to prove it. In 2007, Eternia’s newest addition to her growing discography, “Where I’m At – The Setup”, boast an impressive roster of producers and featured artists, including 9th Wonder, M-Phazes, Frequency, Torae, Ms. Davis, The Polyrhythmaddicts (Shabaam Sahdeeq, Mr. Complex, Tiye Phoenix), Wordsworth & many more. Eternia has toured extensively in Canada , the U.S. , Australia , and Europe ; those that are lucky enough to catch he r l ive credit her as one of the best performers they have ever witnessed. It is Eternia's ability to convey her personality and life experiences fluidly through her rhymes (in addition to the ease with which she can annihilate people lyrically) that has kept those in the know checking for her for over a decade.

Beginning August 1st, "My Favorite Rapper Wears A Skirt" T-shirts will be available on all Eternia’s scheduled tour dates and also online via PayPal at http://www.myspace.com/eternia.

VIDEO: Jemini The Gifted One & EDAYE Speaking On The Industry

Big thanks to Beth The Superfan for spotting these on youtube-

I have a huge video post coming soon featuring some of the performers from the Video Music Box 25th Anniversary concert that was held in NYC's Central Park on July 18th. You can get a preview at our channel THEZROHOUR. After the concert, as we were walking through the park giving out flyers, I recognized the emcee Jemini The Gifted One. For those who don't know, Jemini was lacing tracks thoroughly in the mid-late nineties and was produced exclusively by DangerMouse on a couple of album projects. We traded info and I will be bringing him in the studio for an interview soon. While we kicked it about the state of hip hop, we were being filmed by a cool sista who upped the video recently and I thought that I would share. She captured a great moment between two heads with their lives thoroughly invested in the world of hip hop. Thanks to teerockjelli for upping these!

True Hip Hop Talk


Raw Materials-The Zro Hour


Here is a classic (that right I said "Classic", Jemini!) video from Jemini The Gifted One- FUNK SOUL SENSATION