The latest Fabolous mix tape, The Funeral Service: There is No Competition 2 (which you can download/stream for free at livemixtap.es/tinc2). As rap free-spirits Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Kid Cudi continue to expand the genre toward pop, dance and other sounds, it’s refreshing to hear a rapper (let alone a New York rapper) excel at the prototypical jackin’-for-beats mix tape blueprint.

As with most mix tapes, there’s some filler and too many guest verses, but TINC2 is a must-download (pretty easy when it’s free)  thanks to Fab’s lyrical potency. The tape is obsessed with metaphorical death; the idea that Funeral Fab’s verses have the ability to kill lamer rappers. In this sense, the bodies continue to pile up with each 16 bars (to the point of hanger-on Freck Billionaire announcing, “He wasn’t lying. There is no competition left. There’s nothing but dead rappers everywhere. Fake chains all over the ground, everywhere” on “Roger That”).

If you need more convincing, I’ve picked my five favorite Fabolous lines after the jump. (This seems to change all the time, but that’s an indication of the quality.) As with a lot of rap lyrics, these lines aren’t necessarily SFW. Oh, well.

1. “I’m Raw”
B—h, I’m raw
So you hearing that any n—a out-cook me
is suspect as R. Kelly with girl scout cookies
When you talking to a pro, watch your mouth, rookie
Go in your s–t and have your teeth playing mouth hooky

2. “Roger That”
Shorty say what it do is what I make her do
Get her on the first shot
Yeah, I one-take your boo
Now she need the Black Mamba badder than the Lakers do
I DDT the p—y, I’m Jake the Snake to you
I put ‘em in the coffin, I’m in the Undertaker, too
She met the god, now her man gonna meet his maker, too

3. Oh Let’s Do It
I’ma kill ‘em dead, come and get the bodies up
B—-es tryin’ to kick it, like they just took karate up
They talking some Christmas s–t, saying what the f–k they want
Need to call the next n—a who care about what the f–k they want
Hung up on that hoe, bruh? Save that talk for Oprah
When I spit, I kill s–t, should have been a cobra

4. It’s Goin’ Down
It’s goin’ down, 12 o’clock ball drop
We push 9-11s but we don’t call cops
I’m Paul Blart, n—a
All I do is mall cop
Being fly is gonna be the death of me
Check my autops

5. “Beamer, Benz, or Bentley”
Beamer, Benz, or Bentley? Life’s full of decisions
If hating was a crime, you would do life up in a prison
The spiteful competition knows they wouldn’t have a shot at eating
if they had a rifle in they kitchen

BONUS BECAUSE IT’S FUNNY: “My s–t bananas / like a monkey number two”

Dancehall Connection hosted by Joe Swynger of Crazy Love Sound iz up rite NOW!!!! bout 2 get REAL C R R R A A A A Z Z Z Z Z Y!!!!!!

download here

“i recorded the snoop joint that leaked around the time i was workin on MOTM, its a deleted scene that im including on Cudder. I DID NOT LEAK IT and i barely have a name for it so ill let u guys kno whats its really called as soon as i figure it out haha. By the time u hear it on the album it will be a bit diff with a better mix and some other shit added. Also, the homie Rashad “Ringo” Smith produced the record, NOT DR. DRE. if u got the record already cool. if not, if u can find it rock out. and remember WE SHININ WE ROLLIN WE SIPPIN WE SMOKIN WE LIVIN WE HAPPY THEYY MAAAADDDDDDD! F*CK EM peace and love from ur bud, cud” (Kid Cudi’s Blog)

“Here’s how I look at it, because the wording in there is kinda funny. ‘Impostor.’ I liken it to this: I’m a director as well as a writer. I choose different characters, I choose their direction and where I want to put them. So who I choose to put as the character is up to me. The character that I hired, he got paid for it…..Any cats that are coming to see me as a physical person, I can switch the [actor] any time. I’m not gonna play the part of that character every time. Like how [actors] changed through the Batman series, where it was George Clooney[and] it switched like five [other actors].”

Jamaican born reggae phenomenon Sizzla, represented by Nhamo Chitimbe of Shumba Instrumentation and Zingiswa Sigaba of Milla Events and Communications, will be bringing his message to the continent of his roots with Sizzla’s 2010 African mission and tour. Widely recognized for his talent, versatility and unmistakable sound in the genre, Sizzla has taken his music to the next level time and again developing his own style and choosing to use his music as a powerful platform to reach the youth.

Sizzla Kalonji has released over 45 solo albums and over 15 combination albums, crossing different genres of Dancehall / Reggae. He has started his own record company, Kalonji Records; which is a joint venture with Damon Dash Music Group and Koch Records I 2006. This second generation Rastafarian movement devotee is a prolific composer who at the tender age of 33 – already has 45 solo releases under his belt.

On the 11th of March 2010, Sizzla will touch down in South Africa where he plans to spend the few days that follow – not only meeting with fans who have supported his music for many years – but also visiting some of the places of solace in South Africa for people, especially children to assist, educate and unify them throughout Africa and the universe regardless of race, colour or creed. His main objectives is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, nourish the sick, protect the weak and the aged especially the urban youth to aid, who are affected by a multitude of social economic issues.

This is only the first part of Sizzla’s exploits in Africa, where in an altruistic exercise he will be traveling in and around in Johannesburg and Pretoria spreading his message of hope and giving of himself to those communities in need, especially troubled children and youths who are in constant need of icons and leaders that they can look up to and see a positive reflection of themselves.

Sizzla has always been involved in philanthropic activity culminating in the establishment of Judgment Yard, a community centre in August Town, Jamaica. Recently he has just established in Zimbabwe and South Africa, the I’she Sizzla African Youth Foundation – aimed at uplifting and contributing to the development of Urban African Youth as well as the facilitation of sustainability projects for the elderly – on a continental scale.

By recording songs that primarily tackle issues of spirituality and social consciousness, exploring common themes, such as Babylon’s corruptive influence, the disenfranchisement of ghetto youth, oppression of the black nation and his abiding faith in Jah – Sizzla has created for himself a strong and devoted fan base worldwide.

The many successes he has enjoyed as a recording artist have allowed him to be able to put into practice what he preaches by giving back to his community. An exciting project that Sizzla is eagerly anticipating is the brand new, state of the art, world class recording studio – due to be opened soon in neighbouring state capital Harare, Zimbabwe – one of the many projects he has planned to empower others to learn how to make living out of their chosen art form.

In April – fans on this legendary reggae artist will be pleased to know that Milla Events and Communications together with Shumba Instrumentation will be taking Sizzla to embark on the long awaited SIZZLA 2010 African Tour. Catch Sizzla at venues to be announced in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and South Africa it’s going to be ‘More Fire!”

According to reports, Nas and Damian Marley has added Lil Wayne to their upcoming Distant Relatives album. The reports are based on a recently released track listing for the album which has Lil Wayne featured on a track called “My Generation” with singer Joss Stone.

The Distant Relatives tracklisting is located below:

1. As We Enter
2. Tribal War (feat. K’NAAN)
3. Strong Will Continue
4. Leaders
5. Wisdom (Sabali)
6. Count Your Blessings
7. Dispear
8. The Promised Land (feat. Dennis Brown)
9. Nah Mean
10. Angola (Friends)
11. My Generation (feat. Lil Wayne and Joss Stone)
12. Africa Must Wake Up (Feat. K’NAAN)
13. BONUS TRACK Ancient People (feat. Jr. Reid)

Lil Wayne may be off to jail, but the music won’t stop! Check out this classic freestyle from DJ Whoo Kid’s archives – Wayne rocking a bucket hat, icy grill and barely-there dreads before Tha Carter dropped in 2004!

Antonio L.A. Reid has found himself in hot water after being accused of mishandling many of his label’s biggest projects during the last year. The Island Def Jam CEO has reportedly been facing pressure from Lucian Grainge, the new Universal Music Group CEO, following his rampant spending and the incredibly low sales ofMariah Carey and Rihanna’s recent releases. Moreover, Reid’s recent efforts to sign Jennifer Lopez (who has not had a hit  record in years) have made him the target of serious media criticism.

Reid was scheduled to answer questions  from fellow industry moguls regarding the issue at the Billboard 2010 Music & Money Symposium at the St. Regis last week but failed to make an appearance after one of his sons mysteriously fell ill. To date, Carey’s ‘Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel’ has sold just short of 500k units since it’s release in September while Rihanna’s ‘Rated R’ has only shipped 2.5 worldwide compared to the 2.6 million that her ‘Good Girl Gone Bade’ album sold in the US alone.

THE nation’s capital was at the weekend rocked with loud vibration of music which blasted the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium, venue for the much-hyped ‘Sizzla Kalonji Reggae Concert’ musical.
Thousands of adult youth, most of whom were students from almost all the tertiary institutions, thronged the mega concert venue to watch celebrity artistes that had teamed up with the Jamaica reggae star.

The event attracted a large crowd including, reggae fans and stakeholders in the reggae industry.

Jamaica reggae super star, Sizzla Kalonji, who was the main artiste for the show, rocked thousands of reggae lovers in Ghana to usher in Ghana’s 53rd independence celebration.

He entertained the crowd with some of his hit-songs, and song after song, the crowd could not help but dance their hearts out to show appreciation.

Sizzla, the Jamaican born reggae super star who is one of the most successful contemporary reggae artistes, set the entire stadium on fire with his stage craft and dancing skills.

Music fans, both the young and old, danced and sang along as he performed his favourite hit songs.

He also used the show to salute Ghanaian teachers for contributing to the development of education in the country and asked them to work harder for the nation’s progress.

Sizzla, born Mignel Orlando Collins, has already released 45 solo albums and over 15 combination albums, crossing into different genres of reggae. Twenty of his albums have also made it onto the Billboards’ Top Reggae Charts worldwide.

The show was organised by Lalibela Music Limited and Aduanaba Promotion Limited, with support from GTV, Radio Gold and Vibe Fm.

Some reggae artistes that participated in the concert included Chizzy Wailer, Black Prophet, Prickie Yhardhey, Combolo, Bandana and Vibration Kings

Waka Flocka Flame called Shade 45 to speak with DJ Whoo Kid along with Vanessa Satten and Rob Markman from XXL Magazine about his songwriting techniques, surviving in the industry and the details on his recent shooting.

How did Waka Flocka get his wild rap name? Why does he say he doesn’t have lyrics, and why is having them a bad thing in today’s market? Who wrote Diddy’s verse for the “O Let’s Do It” remix? Why does he think mixtapes are better than albums? What special body parts does he think are hidden by his So Icey momager Debra Antney (who also manages Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj and OJ da Juiceman)?

ystikal called in to Shade 45 last week to let Whoo Kid and Coach PR know he is prepared to be back on top in the music biz since his return from prison! “Things have changed, but they’re about to change again!”

Does he intend on working with Master P again? How are things between him and C-Murder? Why have fans been so important to him? Did his friends stand by him while he was away? Does he feel his sentencing was fair? How is he catching up with new technology? What are his feelings about Lousiana artists like Lil Wayne and Lil Boosie gaining success? Will he be dating anytime soon?

Rapper Lil Wayne arrived at Rikers Island in New York City on Tuesday to begin serving a one-year jail term on a weapons conviction.

Wayne, 27, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., chose not to speak at his sentencing on Monday, the New York Post reports. With good behavior, he could be out of prison in eight months.

After initially pleading not guilty to gun possession after a July 2007 arrest, Wayne changed his plea to guilty in October in exchange for a reduced 12-month sentence.

Wayne had had his sentencing postponed twice in the past month – once so he could have dental work done, and once because of a fire in the courthouse basement.

He recently tried to put his ordeal in perspective, telling Rolling Stone: “I look at things as ‘Everything is meant to be.’ I know it’s an experience that I need to have if God’s putting me through it.”

“I did it overnight, it couldn’t happen any quicker,” Drake raps on his new single “Over,” which premiered yesterday on his native Toronto’s Flow 93.5. After scoring a major hit and Grammy nods with “Best I Ever Had” and headlining the all-star “Forever,” Drake ascended to the top of the rap game without even releasing an official debut album. After signing with his mentor Lil Wayne’s Young Money last year, that debut LP, Thank Me Later, is due out this May, and “Over” is the first peek at what Drizzy has in store for his much anticipated first album. Grab a free download of “Over,” both the explicit and the clean versions, on Drake’s October’s Very Own blog.

Produced by Drake’s in-house producer Boi-1da and Al Khalliq, “Over” finds Drake rapping with a more aggressive flow compared to the laid-back vibe of “Best I Ever Had,” with Drake’s cadence marching along with the track’s military beat before slowing down on the strings-laden chorus. “I could teach you how to speak my language, Rosetta Stone / I swear this life is like the sweetest thing I’ve ever known,” Drake rhymes before boasting, “About to go Thriller, Mike Jackson on these niggas / all I need is a fucking red jacket with some zippers.”

“This record sums up where I am right now in my career,” Drake told Flow 93.5 (Listen to the full interview over atNah Right.) “I think it’s a great first impression. The album is going to be a great body of work for you to get lost in. Right now I just wanna have some fun.” While “Over” is more than enough to get us excited for Thank Me Later’s May arrival, Nah Right says Drake and Lil Wayne shot the music video for their collaboration on the album this week (since Weezy is prison-bound) and that song has been dubbed “a banger.” As Rolling Stone previously reported, Kanye West and Jay-Z will also guest on Drake’s debut.

Click here to download the full episode to your ipod or blackberry now!

NUBIAN-Rise to the top Produced/Directed by:Yorle Director of photography: Katrice www.SlamVideoMagazine.com MySpace.com/JahNubian

The Hope For Haiti Telethon brought together some of the best acts the music world has to offer in an effort to raise funds for the people of Haiti.

It was an extraordinary event that once again showed the good will we as people have towards each other in great times of need.

The event is being made available for purchase via iTunes for $7.99 with all proceeds going to Haiti Earthquake Relief.

Performers on the night were Madonna, Alicia Keys, Wyclef Jean, U2, Jay-Z, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Stevie Wonder, Shakira, Mary J Blige, Beyonce, Sting, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Hudson, Emiline Michele, Rihanna, Dave Mathews and Neil Young.

50 CENT – THE BEST OF 2009 from DJ SEMTEX on Vimeo.

There is no doubt that 50 Cent is one of the hottest artists of the last decade. Recently, i caught up with him to reflect on the best/worst moments of 2009.

We started on the best album, then we kinda got stuck on the ‘beef’ issue, specifically the Jay-z & Beans situation. I really wanted to get into this, but I ran out of time.

What do you think is the situation with Fif and Game the same as Beans and Jay-z?

I don’t think it is. You would have heard about Game one way or another via Dre. 50’s done so much damage to other artists, what he did to Ja Rule is actually historic. I dont think people are that concerned if someone attacks 50. Its his field, his speciality, its kinda what the people expect from him/comes with the package.

50 is like Genghis Khan when it comes to Beef, so when he got into it with Game, people were skeptical, some people still think it was all a publicity stunt.

Regardless, 50 is a unique artist. There wont be another story like his for a long time.

NAS & DAMIAN MARLEY INTERVIEWS | DISTANT RELATIVES from DJ SEMTEX on Vimeo.

Nas and Damian Marley at Rock the Bells in L.A. They talk about their forth-coming ‘Distant Relatives’ project.

*The concept of Distant Relatives.
*How they hooked up.
*Working in the studio.
*K’naan gets the ultimate co-sign.
…..and more.

The Nas footage isnt the best, but thats how it goes when you get 10 minutes with one of the hottest rappers in the game in his tour bus, 12 minutes before he hits the stage.

There wasn’t enough room on the tour bus for my camera crew.

Sidebar: this was shot before the Blueprint tracklist leaked.

MOS DEF | OFFICIALLY JOINS THE GORILAZ [3 of 3] from DJ SEMTEX on Vimeo.

Part 3 of 3.

Mos Def announces that he is officially the 5th member of the Gorilaz.

The group that inspired 50 Cent to create the G-Unit concept has a new member called ‘SunMoonStars’ [Mos Def].

Mod Def talks on:

*His involvement in the Gorilaz project.
*Working with Damon Albarn.
*Kanye West.

…..and more.

It’s the seasoning of giving and Wyclef has done so through international channels.
Known for his humanitarian work in Africa as well as his homeland of Haiti, the former Fugees front man Wyclef Jean partnered with Western Union to bring Christmas cheer to the unfortunate children of Haiti.

Yesterday, Wyclef boarded a plane from Miami international airport to Haiti where he gave out gifts to its unfortunate children. Before taking off for this special occasion Wyclef took to twitter to express his thoughts.

He states:

When looking back @ my past it makes me believe that there is a force greater then me that is Governing the Universe.@ times when I go to haiti I ask myself what would have happen if I never made it to America what would I be doing right now?
–What if I never became Wyclef n wyclef was getting on the plane today to Come to haiti to bring me Food n Christmas Gifts how would I feel. When I Reflect of such things it makes me Understand that to live for others is the Non selfish way to live.

@ times we R so caught up with R selves that we forget about those around Us. some say they can’t help the needy because they have no money to give to the poor I say know one gave me money n the hut they gave me Hope. A man once said 2 me wyclef giving hope is not enuff da hungry can’t eat Hope, da hungry can’t eat hope but hope Can lead da hungry to food. The Good teaches Us that when Christ showed Up n the clubs,da church, the streets the First thing he Bought with him was the Word! N the beginning was the Word! Words R powerful, words Can bring a since of Hope to those that need it right Now!

I could not agree more with Wyclef. Hope is a trait we all share despite our struggles and differences in life. This generous act by Wyclef and Western Union will impact the lives of many.