Fugees to release new single!

The Fugees, which include Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel, will release a new single, "Take It Easy," in the coming weeks. Jean told Rolling Stone, "Everybody that's been holding their breath should start letting their breaths go." The song will be the first release from the group since 1996's The Score, which has sold more than 17 million copies worldwide.

The group's chemistry is intact according to Jean, despite the long break. He said, "You've got three individuals that have grown musically. But we're always on the same page -- that's the magic of the Fugees. The Fugees is a unique situation, the real marriage of the hood and the suburbs together. It's always exciting."


Following the release of The Score, the group's three member began to release solo material and rumors began to swirl that the group had broken up. Jean told us: "It's not like any Fugee member said, 'I denounce myself from this group. I no longer want to be part of this group.'"

Jean added: "Like any group, we went through our fights, our trials, our tribulations and stuff, but I think with this group it's a little different. 'Cause usually groups break up and then you just go, 'Yo okay, let's just watch, like, the death of this one, the death of that one.'"

Jim Jones video banned by Canadian Music Network

The latest video from the Diplomats' Jim Jones, "Baby Girl/G's Up," was recently banned by Canada's Much Music cable network. SOHH.com reports that the music network banned the video because the "G's Up" segment features Jones and his crew wearing black T-shirts that read "Stop Snitchin'." The network believes the T-shirts encourage witnesses of crimes not to report information to law enforcement.

Jones, who was disappointed by the ban, said, "I was not in any way trying to promote violence by having those T-shirts in my video. I was simply making a comment on using your integrity."


Jones added, "I do a lot of community work in Harlem and I am a board member of the Hip-Hop Summit Committee. And this year, I will be taking part in the Million Man March, an upcoming demonstration in Washington, D.C., that encourages people to build communities, avoid violence, register to vote, and invest in black businesses."

Jones released his sophomore album, Harlem: The Dairy Of Summer, last week. The set features guest appearances by Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Hell Rell, Max B, Trey Songz, Sean "Diddy" Combs, and Paul Wall.

Jay-Z wants the Lox!

Def Jam Records president Jay-Z is trying to buy out Interscope Records so that he can sign the Lox as a group and members Jadakiss and Styles P to solo deals at Def Jam Records. The Lox's Sheek Louch told allhiphop.com, "Right now, we're in negotiations. Right now, Jay-Z's trying to buy the Lox from Interscope. He's trying to get the Styles project, 'Kiss project, the Lox as a group. My stuff is over at D-Block besides the Lox, so he's trying to get that."


Louch added, "So I think that's almost in closing, we're gonna make that happen. So the lineup is my album in September, a D-Block compilation coming for Christmas, J-Hood is coming in February. Once everything is said and done with the Lox deal, that's when we'll hit the streets with it. It's called Live, Suffer, Celebrate, the new Lox album."

The Lox were signed to Bad Boy Entertainment in 1996 by Sean "Diddy" Combs. The group released their platinum debut album, Money, Power, & Respect, in 1998, and they wrote several hits for Combs, including his biggest, "All About The Benjamins."

The group fell out with Combs in 1999 and the Lox's production company, Ruff Ryders, paid Combs approximately $3 million to buy out their contract. The Lox subsequently released a gold album, We Are The Streets, on Interscope Records in 2000.

Calls to Def Jam Records were not returned at press time.

Smiff-N-Wesson Interview Part 2 Now Up

Smiff N Wessun are undeniable legends in this Hip Hop game. Their new album, Smiff N Wessun Reloaded, is set to impact in September as the 3rd and final release in Duck Down’s “Triple Threat” summer (following Buckshot & 9th Wonder’s Chemistry and Sean Price’s Monkey Barz). In the game since the mid-90s, they’ve been through it all – shady record deals, people biting their style (and not giving credit), politics with their name, and a lack of economic success to match the massive critical acclaim and respect in the Hip Hop world they have attained. But don’t count them out, and definitely don’t sleep on them – Tek & Steele are, in my opinion, one of the greatest and most underrated duos in Hip Hop history. In a Hiphophavoc.com exclusive two-part interview, Tek & Steele tackle all topics and hold nothing back – their legacy, their influence, and their longevity in the game are all subjects that are touched upon – not to mention the status of the One Nation project they did with 2pac. But far be it from me to tell you everything – read on to really Wrekonize why the Cocoa B’s are Still Shinin’. Welcome To Bucktown, USA.




PART 2




>>>>>>> Click Here to check out PART 2 <<<<<<<

Download Oddz.n.Endz Drama Setter Remix!

Download the latest MP3 RMX Single from Oddz.n.Endz

Tony Yayo ft. Eminem, Obie Trice - Drama Setter RMX by Oddz.n.Endz (Click on the link to download)

This promotional link will expire in 30 days. Feel free to forward this information to your friends.

HipHopHavoc CD Contest

Contest: Sign up now to win a Raheem Devaugn(The Love Experience) and a Pharcyde (Humboldt Beginnings) CD. We will select three (3) winners on September 23, 2005 and the CDs will be mailed to you.

Rules: You may sign up as many times as you want, as long as all the fields are filled out. Any entry without ALL the information will be disgarded. Thanks for entering and Good Luck!


CLICK HERE to sign up!

Diplomats Setup Shop in UK with S.A.S

Cam'ron has taken his Diplomats Record label international with the
launching of Diplomat Records Europe and signing Eurogang creators S.A.S.

S.A.S is made up of East Finchley natives Sean Mega Williams and Melvin
Mayhem Williams. The group linked up with the Diplomats in 2002 after a
visit to the United States.

The group was affiliated with Damon Dash and that led to them being
featured in a worldwide Roc-A-Wear ad campaign, but group members said
they were never formally signed to Roc-A-Fella Records.

We approached the Diplomats on the street level and we had mutual
friends in Harlem, Mayhem recounted. We vibed on a character level, but
when they realized we were talented they asked us to record songs with
them in a hotel. Next thing you know we were on Top of the Pops with
them when they performed Hey Ma and the rest was history."

S.A.S, is scheduled to release their debut album, Diplomats Present,
Streets All Salute -The Prequel Album, under the Diplomat imprint in
October.

Were excited, Mega stated. Weve always known we were this nice, its just
that now we have a team behind us with Diplomats that people respect.

S.A.S is also scheduled to tour with the Diplomats both in Europe and in
the United States starting this month (August 2005).

According to representatives, the group will travel to Canada later this
month to shoot a video that will include Diplomat members Camron, Juelz
Santana, Jim Jones and Freaky Zeekey.

For more information about S.A.S log onto http://www.sasdiplomats.com.

New Smiff-n-Wesson Interview!!! Part 1

ok! Dirty BackPack is back at it again. Listen to Part 1 of his exclusive smiff-n-wesson interview. This is a DONT MISS INTERVIEW. It's so hot we had to break it down into 2 seperate parts. so peep this Part 1 and be on the look out for part 2.

click here

O.C. Signs With Hiero Imperium

Legendary MC O.C. Signs With Indie Hip Hop Powerhouse Hiero Imperium and Set To Release Album in November





(Brooklyn, NY August 15, 2005) D.I.T.C member O.C. recently signed with indie hip-hop conglomerate Hiero Imperium and will release his fifth solo album entitled Smoke & Mirrors on November 1, 2005.



When people talk about MC's who are under-appreciated, O.C.'s name is always mentioned. His history of under-promoted albums and music industry drama has plagued him throughout his career. Despite releasing four critically acclaimed solo releases and having tracks on a dozen movie soundtracks, O.C. has remained largely unnoticed by the masses. Armed with Smoke & Mirrors and backed by one of the most respected independent hip-hop labels, Hiero Imperium, "King of the Underground" O.C. is ready to finally get the recognition he deserves.



O.C. is excited about his new venture with Hiero. For the first time in his career, he has been given full control over the artistry of his music. Says O.C., "Knowing my history and work ethic Hiero said to me, 'We don't have to babysit you, just do your thing.' Now, how many labels do you know of that say that to their artists?" What drew O.C. to the label was not only their mutual respect for each other but also the fact that Hiero took control of their destiny after getting fed up with dealing with other labels. Explains O.C., "The cats from Hiero experienced the same music industry bulllsh*t as me. They were smart and established their own company back in the mid 90's and have been steadily growing ever since. I think part of the reason for their success is their egalitarian attitude. With Hiero, I'm treated more like a partner than just an artist." O.C. is the first East Coast artist to be affiliated with the label since it was established in 1997.





Smoke & Mirrors is a concept album based on themes of contradiction and hypocrisy that run rampant in the entertainment industry as seen through O.C.'s eyes. This album is another instant classic for the famed "King of the Underground." Smoke & Mirrors will be available for purchase on November 1st on Hiero Imperium.

www.hieroglyphics.com

50 Cent explains the challenges of acting

Rapper 50 Cent recently wrapped production on his debut feature film, Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. The rapper explained the challenges he faced on set to allhiphop.com. He said, "I can remember the words to a song without writing it down and lay the whole record. So as far as memorization skills, I don't have issues with that. But I have to be able to make the right expressions facially and respond the way I would respond to different things that fit the actual character. And there is things that the character in the film would do that 50 Cent wouldn't do -- like, I wouldn't cry in front of you, you know what I'm saying? But I had to be able to condition myself to the point that I could cry on cue."


Get Rich Or Die Tryin' is a semi-autobiographical film loosely based on 50 Cent's real-life experiences. The film was written by Terence Winter and the cast includes: Bill Duke, Terrence Dashon Howard, Walter Alza, and Viola Davis. The film is slated to hit theaters in November.

50 Cent plans to reissue his new album, The Massacre, on September 6th, with one new song and videos for all 21 tracks. He said, "I felt like the ultimate album would be the album where you can visually see what the artist was thinking about each song (and) know how they pick what is going to work commercially. Some people are so artistic that they just care about the actual music and their choice. They pick their favorite record, even though their favorite records aren't going to be appealing to the masses. It's not going to actually work. And those artists, 90 percent of them turn out to be VH1 specials."

Daz Dillinger - Samplin’ To The Beat Of The Drum

In 1988, after a multi-platinum group album and numerous production appearances on records from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and 2pac, Daz Dillinger released his first solo project. It was branded an instant classic, full of the west-coast sound fans had come to know and love.

Since then, Daz has released numerous successful records and has experimented with many sounds. Each one has been both a departure and a return to the original, combining his own signature sound with new and experimental styles and instruments, while still remaining distinctly “Daz”.

Now, with the release of Samplin’ To The Beat Of The Drum, Daz shares that signature sound with professional producers and aspiring musicians alike. Samplin’ is a collection of drum beats intended for just that: sampling. These are the beats that make Daz’s sound so distinct, and they are a sure-fire way to spice up any production whether it be west-coast or down-south crunk. With additional drums played by Dion Neuble, Samplin’ will prove to be a valued addition and an invaluable tool for any production studio.

Ja Rule Rocks the D.R.

Rapper Ja Rule performed in the Dominican Republic on Sunday night (August 7th). The Associated Press reports that only 3,000 fans showed up, although approximately 20,000 were expected. The low turnout at Santo Domingo's Quisqueya Stadium was partially blamed on the fact that the concert had to be rescheduled from Saturday night (August 6th) to Sunday night because of a flight delay.

Ja Rule told the local media, "I love Dominican people." The rapper, who arrived two hours late for the concert, was the first international hip-hop star who's ever performed in the Dominican Republic.

The rapper was joined on stage by his The Fast & The Furious costar Vin Diesel, who happened to be on the island scouting locations for a new film.


Ja Rule is allegedly under federal investigation after federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York, decided last month to take over a murder case involving the rapper. Prosecutors are said to be actively pursuing a conspiracy to commit murder indictment against him.

The investigation stems from a shooting that took place outside of the LQ nightclub on December 27th, 2004. After reviewing security-camera footage from the scene, prosecutors believe that Ja Rule's bodyguards opened fire on 39-year-old Willie Clark and 37-year-old Troy Moore. Clark was killed but Moore survived the shooting and is allegedly cooperating with authorities.

Dame Dash Leaving Rocawear

Hip-hop mogul Damon Dash has announced that he is leaving Rocawear. Dash told MTV.com, "It's time to move on, I think. I designed the line until next summer, so they'll be all right for a year. But I'm trying to go in another direction. I'm a businessman -- I have no emotional attachments to any of my businesses. I'm a hustla, I flip things. We'll do the State Property (line), we'll do the Team Roc. Pro Keds is killing them. We have the Dame Dash collection with the suits."


Damon Dash, Jay-Z, and Kareem Burke started Rocawear as an offshoot of their record label Roc-A-Fella Records. The clothing line mushroomed and exceeded all of their expectations. Last year, the trio ended their partnership in Roc-A-Fella Records with Jay-Z retaining ownership of the name. Earlier this month, Rocawear held a fashion show in Toronto which featured Jay-Z, Kanye West, and other artists on the Roc-A-Fella label.

Billy Shakes (Unsigned Heat) - Article on Fortune.com

THIS JUST IN
The Rap on Wall Street
Citigroup banker by day, hip-hop performer by night, Terence Bradford says, " Trust me, it's all the same hustle."
By Julia Boorstin

Banker Bradford
Dressed for success: Bradford the banker.





Check out Billy Shakes' Unsigned Heat Page Here
Email Him Here

In an underground hip-hop club on Manhattan's Bowery, a twentysomething crowd grooves to a heavy bass. The emcee introduces the next amateur rapper: "Give it up for Billy Shakes!" A compact 30-year-old in a baggy white T-shirt and oversized jeans takes the stage:


Your coke illegal ever' day of the year.
My Coke I buy legit at $20 a share.
You a gangsta? Then go get your paper.
I'm a paper gangsta getting stock quotes on my pager.
Stocks and drugs both the same in my eyes.
More buyers than the sellers cause the market to rise.

Audience members nod their heads in time to his punchy delivery. "Oh, yeah," says a girl in a Billy Shakes cap.

I know y'all out there really click-clackin' your guns.
Hang wit' me I'll have you stik-stackin mutual funds.
Thousands on a whip [car] don't make you a star.
I'm buying options on the companies that makin' them cars.
Come on! Get stocks and bonds.

This is not a parody of Bentleys-and-bling raps that embrace conspicuous consumption. Billy Shakes is a sincere preacher of personal finance to a demographic he believes needs to hear his message. By day he is Terence Bradford, former stockbroker, now an area sales manager for Citi Mortgage. He travels around New York and Connecticut promoting mortgages and giving financial advice to salespeople for Primerica, a division of Citigroup that focuses on low- and middle-income families. The rest of his time he spends writing lyrics and hanging out at rap clubs, performing a couple of times a month. He recently spent $50,000 recording a demo called "Money Back Guaranteed."

Trust me, it's all the same hustle. It's just that mine is legal," says Bradford as he steps out of his red Lexus onto Queens Boulevard. "Selling mortgages is very emotional. Just like in rap, we're trying to connect with people's hopes and dreams." He has taken out his diamond earrings and exchanged his rapper uniform for a banker's pinstripes and tiny wire-rimmed glasses. He strides into the Primerica office, stands before a folding table, and urges two dozen salespeople to sell more mortgages to improve their clients' lot and their own. "How many of you have a dream but have no plan to realize that dream? Put your hands in the air!"

In both his incarnations, Bradford aims to bring financial know-how to the 'hood he pulled himself out of. "I go back to the projects, and it's always the same. Kids want to dress like rappers, so they spend $300 on a pair of sneakers. People think they'll never have enough money for a house, so instead of saving and trying, they throw their money away."

Bradford was raised in the Bronx by a single mother who juggled jobs as a subway conductor and secretary, and who sent him to a judo club to keep him out of trouble. "There were drugs, violence, and gangs everywhere, and you had to get with a clique to survive," says Bradford. "Judo's discipline allowed me to stay focused on going to college." Bradford had talent; when he was 11, he won a silver medal at the Junior Olympics. In high school he did gymnastics, swimming, basketball, baseball, track, and football. In one football game he ran 95 yards for a touchdown, scoring an article in the New York Times and attracting college recruiters.

He picked Middlebury College in Vermont, where he played football (he never had another black teammate), majored in psychology and sociology, and rapped with friends, performing at open-mike nights. While classmates summered in Europe, Bradford worked as a toll collector at the Triborough Bridge and as a bank teller at Manufacturers Hanover Trust. When he graduated in 1996, he wanted a job on Wall Street, so he started cold-calling brokerages. He sweet-talked his way into an interview at the Boston Group (a stock brokerage that has since gone out of business) but forgot to bring his r�sum�. "I lied and said I didn't bring it on purpose so I could show what a great salesman I am," Bradford says. He got the job.

After a stint pushing stocks he took a break to try out for the New Orleans Saints, which turned him down. One phone call and ten interviews later, Smith Barney gave him a job as a broker working on commission. "Most people had clients from other careers or rich contacts. I had no rich uncle—I had nothing," Bradford says. He called names out of the phone book until he had 250 accounts with $5 million in assets.


(Photo: Sarah A. Friedman)
In 2001, Smith Barney moved Bradford to Charlotte to do sales for its mutual fund division. "I didn't know anyone, so I hung out at the clubs and made friends with the deejays," he says. "Everyone in the clubs wanted to know about my job and about Wall Street." As his new friends barraged him with questions, he realized two things: Urban communities are desperate for financial advice, and his experience on Wall Street could differentiate his raps. He began writing lyrics about the similarities between the cutthroat worlds of the street and the Street: You're selling, products have to be worth their price, and clients have to trust you. "I'm not against flossing—buying bling, Bentleys, etc.—I just believe that in order to floss, you'd better have other assets, and you'd better keep your money straight." Bradford's raps won seven consecutive freestyle rap battles on Charlotte's Power98 station. "He can flow with the top dogs, but he's different because of what he raps about," says Power98 disc jockey Mr. Incognito. Bradford took his act back to New York in 2003 when he moved to Citi Mortgage; he's now a semifinalist for the Unsigned Hype Tour, a planned 26-city tour intended to showcase new talent for record labels and fans.

"I want the kids to know that if you don't have a jump shot and don't sell drugs, you can look at me as a role model," Bradford says. He raps about some of the same things other hip-hop performers do—women, his car—but it's his banker persona that sets him apart. He doesn't lecture; he doesn't consider himself a "social rapper." He hopes his lyrics about the cash on Wall Street will entice listeners onto bshakes.com for details on how to invest.

Lately he has been giving advice on a morning call-in radio show hosted by deejay Cipha Sounds on Shade 45, Eminem's channel on Sirius Satellite Radio. The segment begins and closes with a collage of Billy Shakes' lyrics and the tag line "Bringing Wall Street to your 'hood." One recent caller complained about the cost of maintaining his lifestyle —the monthly bill for his T-Mobile Sidekick topped $200. "If you can spend $1,200 on your pager, then you can save $2,000 this year. In 48 years, even if you get only 6%, that's 32 G's!" When another caller complained that his addiction to OxyContin was too expensive, Bradford didn't blink: "Get yourself off the drugs and then use that money to buy some drug stocks, like Johnson & Johnson."

Bradford isn't the only one using rap to promote fiscal responsibility. This summer he participated in the Get Your Money Right summit, sponsored by Russell Simmons's Hip-Hop Action Network, which featured a panel of performers talking about how they failed to manage their money and Suze Orman giving advice. "The No. 1 goal for the hip-hop life is to 'get some paper,' " says Benjamin Chavis, CEO of the Hip-Hop Action Network and former president of NAACP. "So we want to encourage young people to get money the right way." Orman says her fans have sent her raps they have written about her financial advice. Orman will broadcast a TV special on hip-hop and finance this fall, and she's launching a contest for raps about "how to be young, fabulous, and not broke," a play on the title of her recent book, Young, Fabulous, and Broke. "Russell and Billy Shakes are getting this generation more involved with their money," she says. "Hip-hop helps you sneak in through the back door to talk about finance, and now hip-hop has turned them on to my show."

With the king of hip-hop partnered with the queen of personal finance, it's clear that the two worlds are coming together. The question now is whether their message can counterbalance the profligate streak in mainstream hip-hop. Bradford cites a particularly nihilistic rap by The Big Tymers, called "Still Fly":

I can't pay my rent cuz my money spent,But that's okay cuz I'm still fly ...
Got a quarter tank of gas in my new E class but that's okay cuz I'm still fly.

"That all-flash, no-cash mentality is awful," Bradford sighs. In both his day job and his rap performances, he advocates a longer-term point of view. And he hasn't forgotten about his own financial planning. "If I'm signed to a label, I'll become famous, which will spread my message and help people," he says. "And then I'll become rich."

50 Cent says he has no problem with Game

Earlier this year, 50 Cent booted the Game from his G-Unit collective, the two later held a press conference to announce that they had made peace but in June, the Game unleashed an attack on 50 Cent while on stage at New York City radio station WQHT-FM's Summer Jam and via a 15-minute diss track which he released to mixtape deejays. 50 Cent never responded to the diss track and he recently told MTV.com, "It's a shame that it couldn't actually be resolved in conversation, but other than that, I don't have a problem with him. I wish him the best with his career. Hopefully he'll be able to put together another album. What he'll realize is I did a lot for that project. I did more for that than anything else I've been affiliated with."


50 Cent added, "A lot of people think we're exactly the same, (but) I could spin the globe and stop it and go there and be 50 Cent for a month, just tour in that country. They only know (Game) in an eight-block radius in his neighborhood. They take whatever they can to make a big deal about it. They sell 100,000, and then there's a 65 percent decrease in sales the next week. And the label's looking at them like, 'We don't even like you.' A 50 Cent campaign is not gonna sell your record."

Although the situation with the Game soured 50 Cent for awhile, he has decided to continue to sign acts to his G-Unit Records and to act as a mentor. He said, "Then I thought about it and said, 'I'm not going to let one bad situation prevent me from being as great as I can be.' So I'm going to keep going forward (as a mentor)."

50 Cent is slated to reissue The Massacre on September 6th.

In related news, 50 Cent, who is currently on the Anger Management 3 tour, will release his autobiography, From Pieces To Weight, next week. The book was cowritten by hip-hop writer Kris Ex.

What is the Ultimate Hustler?

New York City is the backdrop for BET’s original reality series that tests the business acumen and street credibility of 16 contestants as they vie to become the Ultimate Hustler. The series puts these self-proclaimed entrepreneurial businessmen and women through the ultimate corporate training program, led by one of the most successful CEOs in New York, Damon Dash. The candidates will be immersed in NYC’s fast lane of corporate business and will be tested on their work ethic, mastery of culture and style, communications skills and ability to keep pace with the man who rarely sleeps.



Ultimate Hustler is slated to air Fall 2005.



Who are the contestants?

Young, up-and-coming risk-takers yearning for success, willing to do anything to be the best, and always hungry for the next challenge.



Men and women, ages 18-30 with any educational background who are:

* Pursuing a career in business
* Fluent in modern culture and trends
* Knowledgeable about the diverse industries of music, film, publishing and retail
* Incredibly savvy, some already owning their own businesses.



Who is Damon Dash?

Damon Dash is a diversified, multi-million dollar mogul who runs his empire from his offices in Manhattan, his leer jet, his yacht, the set of his films, the recording studio, his charity basketball team’s hoop court, and even from his kids’ classrooms. From directing movies to creating fashion lines for his Rocawear collection, Damon Dash is a businessman and a true hustler who aspires to be the best in everything that he does. Companies in Dash’s empire include Damon Dash Music Group, Rocawear, Dash Films (“The Woodman” starring Kevin Bacon), C.Ronson clothing, Pro-Keds, America Magazine, Armadale Vodka, even a non-profit organization called Team Roc, and many others.



Who is the production company?

Huck Films - Comprised of reality tv veterans, including producers and directors of MTVs #1 rated Making the Band 2 & 3, Real World and the Inferno.

Live & Direct Tour

Live & Direct Tour blazes across the US featuring indie champs The Hieroglyphics, OC, Non Phixion, and Boom Bap Project.



(Brooklyn, NY August 3, 2005) – Indie hip-hop heavyweights The Hieroglyphics, along with OC, Non Phixion, and Boom Bap Project have set out on the Live & Direct Tour, which will make stops in 39 cities across the US. The concept of the tour is to bring together groups that are geographically diverse but share the same hip-hop aesthetic. Hieroglyphics' member Domino explains, "Hip-hop isn't relative to one area anymore; it's not like the West reps the gangsta rap and the East keeps it grimy. We're all fam and this line-up brings folks the best of everything. The tour is a solid package of real hip hop at it's finest and we're bringing it to you live and direct."



The Hieroglyphics crew consists of Del The Funky Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, Domino and the group Souls of Mischief. They collectively emerged as a powerful force within the underground hip-hop world when they left their major label home to create their own independent label, Hieroglyphics Imperium, in 1997. "Underground" is now a misnomer as sales for the crew's collective and individual releases now total more than 3 million units. The company also includes a distribution wing (releases include soul singer Goapele and hip-hop artists Z-Man and Encore) and a merchandise line that prominently features their famous three-eyed logo. In 2004, Hiero bought an 8,100 square foot building in East Oakland that houses their recording studios, video production studios, offices, and warehouse. Founding member Casual's third solo album, Casual Presents: Smash Rockwell will be released on September 6, 2005.



Diggin' In The Crates (DITC) crew member and NYC legend O.C. first turned heads when he made an appearance on Organized Konfusion's 1991 classic song "Fudge Pudge" in 1991. He then he dropped his classic debut album Word...Life in 1994 and despite being under-promoted, the album sold well and further solidified OC's reputation as a gifted lyricist. Eleven years, three solo albums, and a dozen movie soundtrack inclusions later, OC is ready to claim the title of "King of the Underground" with his forth solo release Smoke & Mirrors on Hieroglyphics Imperium on November 1, 2005.



Non-Phixion, made up of ILL BILL, Goretex, Sabad Red, and DJ Eclipse, have a sound that's best described as "b-boy gangster meets futuristic world of the apocalypse." After leaving Geffen Records for Uncle Howie Records they released some gems including several 12"s that have sold over 100,000 units, their debut album The Future Is Now, and The Green DVD. In addition to working on their upcoming sophomore album, all four members are currently working on solo projects.



Boom Bap Project brings the Northwest flavor to the tour. The multi-cultural, Seattle-based trio consists of MC's Karim aka Nightclubberlang, Destro Destructo, and DJ Scene. They are touring in support of their new album Reprogram, an album that combines the street feel of Run DMC circa 87' with the freshness of 2k5 wordplay, and production from Seattle's best Jake One and Vitamin D - producers responsible for crafting tracks for the likes of G-Unit and 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, De La Soul, Gift of Gab and Ghostface Killa.



Live & Direct Tour - Summer 2005

Hieroglyphics (Del, Domino, Pep Love, Souls of Mischief, and Casual), Non Phixion, O.C., & Boom Bap Project



Monday, 7/25
Seattle, WA
The Showbox
1426 First Avenue
206.628.0221
$18 Adv./$20 DOS


Tuesday, 7/26
Portland, OR
Roseland Theatre
8 N.W. 6th Ave
503.221.0288
$18 Adv. / $20 DOS


Wednesday, 7/27
Eugene, OR
WOW Hall
291 W. 8th Ave
541.687.2746
$16 Adv. / $18 DOS



Thursday, 7/28
Sacramento, CA
Colonial Theatre
3522 Stockton Blvd.
916.454.9180
$20 Adv. / $25 DOS


Friday, 7/29
San Francisco, CA
The Fillmore
1805 Geary Blvd
415.346.3000
$23 DOS


Saturday, 7/30
San Bernadino, CA
National Orange Show
689 South "E" Street
909.888.6788
$30 (w/ Nas, Redman, Cuban Linx, Sage Francis)


Sunday, 7/31
Solana Beach, CA
Belly Up Tavern
143 S. Cedros Ave
619.481.8140
$20 Adv. / $22 DOS


Tuesday, 8/2
Tempe, AZ
The Clubhouse
1320 E. Broadway Road
480.968.3238
$16.50 Adv. / $18 DOS


Wednesday, 8/3
Albuquerque, NM
Sunshine Theater
120 Central St. West
505.843.7236
$15 Adv. / $20 DOS


Friday, 8/5
Austin, TX
Emo's
603 Red River
512.477.3667
$13 Adv. / $15 DOS


Saturday, 8/6
Baton Rouge, LA
Spanish Moon
1109 Highland Road
225.383.6666
$15 DOS


Sunday, 8/7
New Orleans, LA
The Parish @ House of Blues
225 Decatur
504.529.2624
$14 DOS


Monday, 8/8
Tampa, FL
Orpheum
1902 Republica De Cuba
941.504.0283
$15 Adv. /



Tuesday, 8/9
Orlando, FL
The Social
54 North Orange Ave
407.246.1419
$18 Adv. / $20 DOS


Wednesday, 8/10
Atlanta, GA
The Loft
1374 W. Peachtree
404.885.1365
$18 Adv. / $20 DOS


Thursday, 8/11
Asheville, NC
The Orange Peel
101 Biltmore Ave
828.225.5851
$15 Adv. / $20 DOS


Friday 8/12
Carrboro, NC
Cat's Cradle
300 East Main
919.967.9053
$15



Saturday 8/13
Baltimore, MD
Sonar Lounge
407 East Saratoga Street
410.327.8333
$18


Sunday 8/14
New York, NY
BB Kings Blues Club
243 W. 42nd Street
212.997.4555
$19.50 Adv / $22 DOS


Monday 8/15
Farmingdale, NY
Downtown
190 Main Street
516.293.7700
$15 Adv. / $18 DOS


Tuesday 8/16
Washington, DC
9:30 Club
815 "V" St. N.W.
202.265.0930
$18


Wednesday 8/17
Philadelphia, PA
Theatre of Living Arts
334 South Street
215.922.1011
$20


Thursday 8/18
Cambridge, Mass
Middle East-downstairs
472 Cambridge, MA
617.864.3278
$20 Adv / $25 DOS


Friday 8/19
South Burlington, VT
Higher Ground
1214 Williston Road
802.652.0777
$20 Adv/ $22 DOS


Saturday 8/20
Ottawa, ON Canada
Capital Music Hall
TBA


Sunday 8/21
Toronto,ON Canada
The Reverb
TBA


Tuesday 8/23
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Blind Pig
208 South First Street
734.623.9962
$18 Adv / $20 DOS


Wednesday 8/24
Cleveland, OH
Grog Shop
2785 Euclid Hts Blvd
216.321.5588
$15 Adv / $17 DOS


Thursday 8/25
Indianapolis,IN
The Patio
6319 N Guildord Ave
317.253.0799
$10 Adv / $12 DOS


Friday 8/26
Chicago, IL
The Abbey
3420 W. Grace Street
773.478.4408
$15 Adv / $18 DOS


Saturday 8/27
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Eagles Club
2401 West Wisconsin Ave
414.342.7238
$17


Sunday 8/28
Minneapolis, MN
First Avenue
701 First Avenue North
612.338.8407
$12


Tuesday 8/30
Boulder, Colorado
Fox Theatre
1135 13th Street
303.447.0095
$18 Adv / $20


Wednesday 8/31
Aspen, Colorado
Belly Up
450 South Galena Street
970.544.9800
$20


Thursday 9/1
Park City, Utah
Suede
1612 Ute Blvd
435.658.2665
$20


Friday 9/2
Sparks, NV
New Oasis
2100 Victorian Ave
775.846.2049
$20


Saturday 9/3
Santa Cruz, Ca
The Catalyst
1011 Pacific Ave
831.423.1338
$18 Adv / $20 DOS


Sunday 9/4
Ventura, CA
Ventura Theatre
26 South Chestnut
805.653.0721
$20 Avd / $22 DOS


Wednesday 9/7
San Luis Obispo,CA
Slo Brewing Company
1119 Garden Street
805.543.1843
$21 Adv / $23 DOS


Thursday 9/8
Anahiem, CA
The Grove Of Anaheim
2200 E. Katella Avenue
714.712.2700
$22 Adv / $25 DOS


Friday 9/9
San Diego, Ca
Epicentre
8450 Mira Mesa Blvd
858.271.4000
$22 Adv / $25 DOS

Kanye West, Fat Joe, Game to Attend BMI Urban Awards

Kanye West, Fat Joe, The Game, and others are scheduled to attend the fifth annual BMI Urban Awards, which are scheduled for August 26th at the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami. The Gap Band is slated to receive the prestigious BMI Icon award, which is given to musicians who have had "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers."


Some of the other awards which will be presented during the ceremony include: Urban Song Of The Year, Songwriter Of The Year, Producer Of The Year, and Publisher Of The Year. The Top Urban Producers of 2004-2005, as well as the BMI songwriters whose songs have hit Number One on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart, will also be recognized during the ceremony.

DJ Premier & Green Lantern to Judge Scion's Underground Rap Contest

Gang Starr's DJ Premier, Green Lantern, and Sean Cane have been tapped to judge Scion's second annual Nextup contest. Allhiphop.com reports that the winner of the competition will get a $50,000 marketing deal with Scion, which includes a $5,000 cash prize and a fully-produced video for the winning song. The judges will filter through all of the submissions to get down to 10 finalists, who will then be featured on Scion's website where visitors can vote for the winner.


Rappers aren't the only ones who can win through the new contest. Scion will give away a free car to one lucky voter. To enter, visit scionnextup.com. The deadline to enter the contest is August 8th.