Lil Wayne 6’7′ Video: Lil Wayne ft. Cory Gunz – 6’7′ (6 Foot, 7 Foot) [VIDEO]

Lil Wayne and Young Money’s Cory Gunz teamed up for “6’7′ (6 Foot, 7 Foot),” and the video, to be officially premiered later today (March 3) on MTV has hit the internet early.

Lil Wayne was released from New York’s Rikers Island prison in November 2010, and is out on his I Am Music Tour II, scheduled to hit the tri-state area with a March 27th performance at Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum.

Cory Gunz, the Bronx MC who is the son of Peter Gunz, from “Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)” fame, known for his rapid-fire delivery, is also featured on “6’7′ (6 Foot, 7 Foot)” and appears in the video as well.

MTV is scheduled to premiere the video this evening (March 3), but RapDose.comwas able to secure the Hype Williams-directed, Inception-inspired video ahead of time.

NAACP Image Awards 2011 Winners: Not Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj or Diddy

R&B crooner Usher beat out Jay-Z, Cee-Lo Green, Kanye West and Ne-Yo for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Male Artist, while Mary J. Blige won for Outstanding Female Artist, at the yearly award ceremony organized by the NAACP.

John Legend and The Roots won several categories, including Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration, beating Diddy-Dirty Money to get the award for Outstanding Album, for their collaborative album “Wake Up!” (Editor’s note: Deserved!)

One of the larger surprises of the night however, was the nod to Willow Smith, daughter of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, who won the award for Outstanding New Artist, beating out other highly successful upstarts like B.o.B., Bruno Mars, Jason Derulo, and Nicki Minaj. (Editor’s note: Not deserved!) Alicia Keys beat out Smith for Outstanding Music Video, for “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready).”

The NAACP Image Awards for 2011 faced a bit of controversy, as complaints regarding the organization celebrating the music of artists such as Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj found church leaders speaking out again the inclusion in the nomination pool. This prompted NAACP Branch President (Pasadena, Ca.) Joe Brown to suggest that the national office should “review the policy of the nominees and the participants,” to avoid such criticisms.

Lupe Fiasco Concert: Lupe Fiasco at Williamsburg Music Hall – Lasers Due March 8

Lupe Fiasco hit Williamsburg, Brooklyn for one part promo stop, one part free concert and one part video shoot at the Williamsburg Music Hall, sponsored by Wal-Mart and Axe Body Spray.

Lupe Fiasco has been living a bit of his last name, trying for some time to clear up label drama and release his third studio album, Lasers, a project set to hit stores March 8, after some delay.

His free show at Williamsburg Music Hall also served as a set for the filming of a live performance video. Justin Block of Brilliantly Blunt provided a good recap, as well as some photos and videos from the event.

Below, Lupe Fiasco speaks on the inspiration for the album, as discusses the photo shoot, and a video of Lupe performing “Hip-Hop Saved My Life”

Grammy Award Winner Buju Banton Found Guilty On Drug Charges

Grammy Award winning dancehall reggae sensation Buju Banton has been found guilty on drug charges after many thought the artist would beat the odds after an earlier mistrial in the fall of 2010.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday evening that it took Tampa, Florida jurors 11 hours to convict Banton, born Mark Myrie, on three counts. The charges read that the singer was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and using the wires to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. One charge of attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine was dropped.

The 37-year old Jamaican artist had a host of fans and fellow artists in court showing support for Buju during his trial. Affectionately known as “Gargamel,” Buju was arrested in December 2009 on charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine along with two others. The deejay was heard in taped conversations discussing the deal with undercover agents who then set up a sting to nab the entertainer.

Damaging video shown during the trial saw Banton allegedly tasting the cocaine for potency. In court, it was learned that an informant was given $135,000 dollars by one of Banton’s co-defendants in the case.

Buju has maintained innocence from the onset and reports say that the striking superstar exhibited no signs of sadness or despair. After the verdict was read, Buju hugged his attorneys and turned to the spectators to blow them kisses and acknowledge their support. Buju’s bail was revoked and he was led away by U.S. Marshals to await sentencing. Banton’s attorney David Markus plans to appeal the conviction and attempt to have his client free on bond as he waits to know his fate.

Buju Banton’s tenth studio album Before The Dawn received a Grammy Award for best reggae album on February 13.

IN THA LAB

The beach was pack on a Tuesday (Miami Beach) stay tune for the video. In the Lab editing tit now.

Album Review: Top $ Raz – “The New Flesh” – Album Release Show Wed. Feb. 23 at Southpaw, BK

Top $ Raz, the Far Rockaway MC who has grabbed our attention on more than one occasion over the last few months, celebrates the release of his album, The New Flesh, Wednesday, February 23 at Southpaw in Brooklyn. Also performing to support Top $ Raz and his 6-piece band The Minority Report will be RSNY Music (Yung Juggz, Rockstar Remix, Drugzzzy B), Dope League (Scienze, Dremur, L.A.) andiAreConscious. With many other enthusiastically supportive independent and underground artists expected to be in attendance, one should expect many additional performances, making for an entertaining night for the independent hip hop scene.

As mentioned, Top $ Raz has dropped solidly introspective and creative  material leading up to this release, notably the KO Beatz-produced “Golden,” and the J57-produced “The Plague,” a gritty and smart collaboration with YC The Cynic, one of our “5 Reasons Why New York Hip Hop Doesn’t Suck.”

Top $ Raz has the voice, personality, background and messaging that can help him make a mark on the scene. I’ve checked out The New Flesh, and found it to be a solidly constructed project, with more than a couple of songs that are playlist-worthy. Top $ Raz delivers a stylistically schizophrenic, but well executed album, with good music, smart arrangements, and a couple of gems.

I enjoyed the playful  and bouncy “Cold/Flesh,” the smoothly gritty “Love Me No More,” the standout track “Golden,” the aforementioned “The Plague,” and the verbal weaving illustrated through “Better Days.” Though “So Beautiful” and the title track couldn’t hold my attention right off the bat, this can be chalked up to personal preference, as for any one song that didn’t win me over, there were two that did, proving that in it’s entirety, the project simply works.

Guest appearances include Ciph Diggy, Alvietron, Scienze, YC The Cynic, Grace K, Mic Blaque and Cavalier. Production credits include Coole High, Thinker, The Aqua League, Spills, J57, J Monopoly, KO Beatz and Dr. Khil.

The New Flesh officially drops on February 22, while the album release party goes down Wednesday, February 23 at Southpaw, in Brooklyn, beginning at 8 p.m. DJ Tech will hold down the wheels, while Divino DeNegro of Rise Up Radio andJessica “IHeartDilla” Estevez will be your hosts for the evening.

50 Cent – Run Up On Me [Freestyle / New Music

50 Cent continues to drop new, aggressive, hot-off-the-presses recordings for the masses, following up the gritty “When I Come Back” with “Run Up On Me,” a more smoothed-out tune, but still further evidence that 50 Cent is making a conscious effort to hearken back to an earlier, hungry, confident and cocky 50 Cent.

50 Cent took to Twitter to announce his latest quickie freestyle, first asking his followers, “Should I put a new free style out tonight?” following up two hours later with, “I’m gonna record something right now and put it out give me 30 min.”Within an hour, 50 Cent followed through, tweeting, “I’m back to work check this shit out RUN UP ON ME,” with a YouTube link to his latest drop.

All signs point to a musically rejuvenated 50 Cent, whose latest achievements have revolved more around corporate situations, a la his Sleek headphones deal, and behind-the-scenes made-for-internet drama, like the feud with Q, CEO of WorldStarHipHop.com.

It remains to be seen whether or not 50 Cent is gearing up for a massive return as an artist, or essentially, just playing around in the studio.

Download/Listen: 50 Cent – Run Up On Me (Freestyle)

XXL Freshmen Cover: 2011 XXL Freshmen Includes Fred The Godson, Diggy Simmons

XXL magazine has released their 4th annual“Freshmen” cover, the yearly “preview of hip-hop’s most promising” new acts, and despite a noticeable void in 2010, the New York area has been represented this year with the inclusion of Fred The Godson andDiggy Simmons.

Other recipients include Big K.R.I.T., Yelawolf, Cyhi Da Prynce, Mac Miller, Lil Twist, YG, Lil B, Kendrick Lamar and Meek Mill.

Known as much for who doesn’t make it as for who does get included, the annual list always stirs up fierce discussion throughout on- and off-line channels, as regional loyalties and stylistic preferences allow for many disparate opinions as to whether XXL got it right each year. Much talk in recent years has been made over the fact that Freshmen recipients seldom go on to fully explode in the music business, though 2010 recipients J. Cole and Wiz Khalifa have been progressing well enough.

During his come up, Drake was omitted from the Freshmen class in 2009, and then in a reverse snub, declined to be a part of the 2010 lineup.

Fred The Godson and Diggy Simmons have been the first representatives of the tri-state area since 2008 featured Mickey Factz, Cory Gunz and Charles Hamilton.

Diddy ft. Chris Brown – Yesterday [VIDEO]

Diddy enlists Chris Brown for “Yesterday,” from the hip hop mogul’s latest full length release, Last Train To Paris, released under the Diddy-Dirty Money moniker, helped along with singers Dawn Richard and Kalenna. The trio has been touring the world in support of the release, and this, the visual counterpart for “Yesterday,” is the latest video from the project (though Diddy is conspicuously sans-Dirty Money.)

If this were just a Chris Brown song, we might have enjoyed it a bit more, as Diddy’s speaking rhyme flow really suffers a bit here. Breezy does his part to pull the song out from the doldrums, but overall it’s a bit of a struggle to make this joint memorable. We’re generally supportive of the Diddy-Dirty Money material, as most of the releases, in our opinion, have been pretty good, but with “Yesterday,” we really wonder if the result would have been better if the songstresses and Brown worked it out together, with Diddy contributing a smaller piece.

The video, directed by Colin Tilley, is a visual, Book of Eli-looking treat, and in some ways, out-epics the song.

But, we’re only one opinion. Here it is, for you to enjoy, criticize, adore or ignore.

“Yesterday” Diddy/Dirty Money Feat. Chris Brown from joseph labisi on Vimeo.

Lil’ Kim – Black Friday – Video – Did Anti-Nicki Minaj Mixtape Sell 113,000 Copies in 28 Hours?

Lil’ Kim, never one to shy away from controversy, has caused a bit of an internet stir with her claims that her latest release, the anti-Nicki Minaj themed mixtape Black Friday, had sold more than 113,000 copies within the first 28 hours of it’s release.

The mixtape, which Lil’ Kim is selling through PayPal for $9.99, is a project born mainly of the hyped up beef between “Queen B” Lil’ Kim and Nicki Minaj, current woman of the hip hop hour.

Lil’ Kim, speaking via her verified account, made the claims Tuesday evening, tweeting, “Thanks to you guys!! #lilkimblackfridaymixtape sold 113,000 copies in 28 hours which made me the #1 seller on paypal ever =) !!! THANK U! RT.”

The statement was met by many with skepticism, as one website attempted to clarify through PayPal if there was even such a thing as “#1 seller on paypal.” They claim PayPal stated there was no such rating. However, many vocal Lil’ Kim fans have taken to the internet to defend the veteran, so it’s not entirely unbelievable that Lil’ Kim can still sell.

Nicki Minaj, who has largely remained quiet regarding the release, tweeted her own incredulous response,“Bwaahhhhahhahahahahahahahahhahahhhaaahhhhhaaahahahahahahahhhaha!!!!!!!!!! *lifeless* *leaves on stretcher* *cant go on*.”

It remains to be seen if Lil’ Kim has indeed made her own million off of a mixtape.

Meanwhile, Lil’ Kim has also tweeted that WorldStarHipHop would be premiering a “Black Friday video” this morning (Feb. 16) at 9 a.m. As of now, no such video has emerged. We’ll post it here when it does.

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT KIM KARDASHIAN IN THE BOOTH SPITING.

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Ok guys, I’ve decided to share some fun special photos from my first day in the recording studio with The Dream! This was such a fun experience! It was so great to do something completely out of my comfort zone and I really recommend that you guys challenge yourselves to do the same this year! We’ll be donating 50% of all proceeds of the song sales to a cancer organization because both The Dream and myself have lost a parent from cancer and so it’s important to both of us that we help raise awareness and money for the charity.

I hope you guys like the song. I am so excited for everyone to see this episode in a few weeks! I will be sharing all my photos from my studio and video journey.

Big L Tribute Mix: DJ Mister Cee’s Big L Tribute Mix on Hot 97

Big L (Lamont Coleman), the Harlem rapper whose life was cut short on this date in 1999, is remembered by many hip hop fans and industry professionals as one of the genre’s more promising talents of his era, and many take time to mark the anniversary of his death a date with tributes to his life and music. In New York,  Hot 97 DJ and industry veteran DJ Mister Cee often pays homage to fallen rap artists including Biggie Smalls, Tupac, Guruand Big Pun, and in that vein, spent part of his radio slot today highlighting music from Big L.

A member of the hip hop collective Diggin In The Crates (D.I.T.C.), Big L was set to release his second album The Big Picture when he was shot and killed in his Harlem neighborhood on February 15, 1999. He was 24.

Big L was an early collaborator with a number of hip hop artists who went on to become successful artists, rhyming alongside Cam’ron, Mase, Fat Joe, and a young Jay-Z. A memorable piece of New York hip hop radio history, which had previously only existed in a protracted format, was notably released last year, highlighting a then lesser-known Jay-Z, who Big L had featured on his first LP Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous, trading freestyles with Big L on the The Stretch and Bobbito Show on New York’s WKCR.

White House to celebrate Motown's 50-year legacy

The White House is going to be rockin' next week.

The president and Mrs. O. are inviting music legends and contemporary artists to the White House on Feb. 24 for The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House, a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records.

Performers slated to participate in the tribute to Motown's 50-year legacy include Smokey Robinson, Natasha Bedingfield, Sheryl Crow, Jamie Foxx, Gloriana, Nick Jonas, Ledisi, John Legend, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Seal and Jordin Sparks.

The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House will be broadcast on PBS stations nationwide on March 1 at 8 p.m. Since 2009, the president and first lady have hosted musical tributes to jazz, country, classical, Latin, the music of the civil rights movement and Broadway.

Free at last Free at last......................... (well u know the rest)

New York City Council passes bill prohibiting racial discrimination February 16, 1951 New York City Council passed bill prohibiting racial discrimination in city-assisted housing developments.

DO U LIKE THE NEW JENNIFER HUDSON

2011 GRAMMYS

THE MIAMI HEAT WIN OVER THE PACERS 110 TO 103

IF THIS WAZ A REAL MIX TAPE WUD U BUY IT BECAUSE THA COVER

WHO'S GOING TO THE BEST OF THE BEST CONCERT IN MAY.

Best of the Best 2011 is coming up! Be sure to stay tuned for all the news and announcements and purchase pre-sale tickets for as little as $30! Best of the Best is now officially a 2 Day Concert Series!! Stay tuned for details! Date: Saturday, May 28th 2011 - Sunday, May 29 2011 Location: Bicentennial Park GET TICKETS NOW!! …