[[  March 29, 2010  ]]

What's Upper? 

Obama Signs Landmark Health Care Bill (see photo above). With the stroke of President Obama's pen, his health care overhaul the most sweeping social legislation enacted in decades, became law last week. Mr. Obama affixed his curlicue signature, almost letter by letter, to the measure, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, surrounded by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid and a raft of other lawmakers who spent the past year on a legislative roller-coaster ride trying to pass it. Aides said he would pass out the 20 pens he used as mementoes...

What a night at The Palm! SRC's Steve Rifkind held a memorial event in honor of our friend Ricky Leigh Mensh last week. In the house (I may have left out a few names but here's who I remember): Steve Rifkind, Todd Hensley, Dave Adelson, Roy Traiken, Mark Pierson, Joe Fleisher, Eric Brooks, Miller London, Evan Forster, Latin Prince, Sonny D, Debonair, Bobby Ross Avilla, Mohammad Moretta, Dwight Bibbs, Glen Aure, Alex Mejia, Michelle, Arman Haile & Nasty-Nes...

Here's an update on CJSF's Matt Chan, "Hi all. As my you may or may not know I have relocated to Toronto. I will still be doing my radio show however it will now be pre-taped and I will still be doing my chart. Please send your emails/mp3's/promos/priorities to my new email address: matthew.chanbros@gmail.com  My contact number is (604) 306-6086 however I might be changing it to get a Toronto area code"
132 Chatham Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M4J-1K7
Canada
 

Art imitates life imitating art, as famed DC and Marvel graphic master Chris Bachalo’s three separate album covers for WU MASSACRE present larger-than-life portraits of three Wu-Tang Clan brothers: One cover for Method Man, one for Ghostface Killah, and one for Raekwon. The three anti-heroes of hip-hop take Wu science and theology to the next step on WU MASSACRE, an adventurous collaboration that moves them closer to the immortality suggested by their individual album covers. Starting March 30^th, the in-store release date of WU MASSACRE, loyal followers will have a chance to find a special print of Bachalo’s original un-inked pencil sketch of one of the three explosive color covers. 300 randomly distributed albums will contain the rare pencil-sketch print insert (although not necessarily corresponding, e.g. a Meth cover album may contain a Rae sketch). The 100 Meth cover albums, the 100 Ghost cover albums, and the 100 Rae cover albums with those inserts are destined to rank among the Maltese Falcons of hip-hop limited editions. It took a perfect storm of cosmic forces in world-shaking times to unite the three MCs, but Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon are no strangers to life on the edge of the apocalypse. Their rhymes pour out like Kristal on “Our Dreams,” the soulful street single produced by fellow clansman RZA, that preceded WU MASSACRE’s release. For an added tug on the heart-strings, “Our Dreams” samples Michael Jackson’s “We’re Almost There.”

 In addition to “Our Dreams,” Meth, Ghost and Rae take the trio spotlight on two more tracks: the thunderous opener “Criminology 2.5” and “Miranda.” Ghost and Meth take the lead on “It’s That Wu Sh*t.” On the “Smooth Sailing” Remix, Ghost and Meth are joined by Solomon Childs and Streetlife. On “Gunshowers,” Meth and Ghost are joined by fellow WTC rapper Inspectah Deck and Sun God. On “Youngstown Heist” Ghost is joined by Trife, Sheek and Bully. In addition to RZA, WU MASSACRE features a number of guest producers, starting with Allah Mathematics on “Mef vs. Chef,” “Dangerous,” “Miranda,” and “Made Men.” Ty Fyffe produced the “Smooth Sailing” Remix. Emile produced “Pimpin’ Chipp.” And Scram Jones produced WU MASSACRE’s climactic closing tracks, “Youngstown Heist” and “It’s That Wu Sh*t.” The springtime 2010 arrival of WU MASSACRE follows a busy year of album releases and performance schedules by the three Wu-Tang Clan mainstays: 

Ghostface Killah returned as The Wizard Of Poetry (released September 2009), his 6^th Def Jam album (and 10^th major label album). The Wiz focused on duets with an A-list of guests including Raheem DeVaughn (on the first single, “Baby”), Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Fabolous, Lloyd, Vaughn Anthony & Estelle, and others. Ghost spent July and August with Method Man and Redman, keeping the Wu-Tang Clan spirit alive and well on the month-long, 21-city Foot Print in Hip-Hop Tour.

Raekwon aka The Chef gave WU fans something to believe with the long-awaited Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II (also released September 2009), which spun off a pair of all-star singles: “New Wu” featuring Meth and Ghost, produced by RZA; and “House of Flying Daggers” featuring Meth, Ghost, GZA, and Inspectah Deck, produced by J. Dilla. CLII is the sequel to Rae’s groundbreaking solo debut of 1995, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, one of the very first solo albums released by a W-TC member after the group’s 36 Chambers entry back in ’93. Rae spent the summer 2009 on the massively successful Rock The Bells Tour alongside GZA, RZA, Nas, Damian Marley, the Roots, Ice Cube, Common, and others.

 Always larger than life, Method Man is still basking in the glow of Blackout! 2 (released May 2009), his critic­ally acclaimed collaboration with Redman. It was the long-awaited sequel (ten years!) to Meth and Red’s RIAA platinum Blackout, a defining hip-hop event of 1999 (with “Tear It Off,” “Y.O.U.,” and “Da Rockwilder”). Blackout! 2 blasted off with a trifecta of new single releases showing off Meth and Red at their very best: “A-Yo” featuring Saukrates, produced by Pete Rock; “Mrs. International” featuring Erick Sermon, produced by Buckwild; and “City Lights” featuring Bun B, produced by Nasty Kutt.

WU MASSACRE – track listing:

1. “Criminology 2.5” featuring Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Method Man, produced by BT.

2. “Mef vs. Chef” featuring Method Man and Raekwon, produced by Allah Mathematics.

3. “Ya Moms” skit featuring Method Man and Raekwon.

4. “Smooth Sailing” Remix featuring Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Solomon Childs and Streetlife, produced by Ty Fyffe.

5. “Our Dreams” featuring Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Method Man, produced by RZA.

6. “Gunshowers” featuring Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck and Sun God, produced by Digem.

7. “Dangerous” featuring Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Method Man, produced by Allah Mathematics.

8. “Pimpin’ Chipp” featuring Ghostface Killah, produced by Emile.

9. “How To Pay Rent” skit featuring Tracy Morgan.

10. “Miranda” featuring Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Method Man, produced by Allah Mathematics.

11. “Youngstown Heist” featuring Ghostface Killah, Trife, Sheek and Bully, produced by Scram Jones.

12. “It’s That Wu Sh*t” featuring Ghostface Killah & Method Man, produced by Scram Jones.

Fans of Non Phixion, Ill Bill and Necro are likely familiar with Howard Tenenbaum. Uncle to both Necro and Bill, "Uncle Howie" became known as an affiliate of '90s and early '00s Brooklyn hardcore Hip Hop quartet Non Phixion, as well as an official mascot/spokesman to Bill's Uncle Howie Recordings label.
Throughout many releases in the camps, Howie appeared on interludes, commercials, webisodes and DVDs. Late last week, Bill confirmed through Twitter that his uncle had passed away. "Uncle Howie RIP - Rest in power my G," part of the message said. The cause of death is unclear, though Howie had reportedly been sick for some time...

RAP ATTACK welcomes to RAP ATTACK & our RAP ATTACK CONFERENCE CALL PANEL (13 Years STRONG) DJ's Shareef Abdullah (WRFL-KY) & Deena Bee (KBOO-Portland)...

HOW TO RAP: The Art and Science of the Hip-Hop MC
by Paul Edwards
Foreword by Kool G Rap

With a foreword by Kool G Rap and interviews with over 100 major MCs, HOW TO RAP: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC guides the reader through the artform of Rap in the words of the artists, giving an inside look behind their creative processes and techniques.
Artists interviewed exclusively for the book include classic MCs and groups such as Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Mobb Deep, AZ, Jurassic 5, Cypress Hill, Pharoahe Monch, Boot Camp Clik, Masta Ace, and A Tribe Called Quest, as well as more recent artists such as Clipse, Styles P, The Black Eyed Peas, Crooked I, Immortal Technique, Royce Da 5'9", Papoose and Nelly.
HOW TO RAP breaks MC'ing down into content, flow, writing, and delivery with topics such as writing in your head, punching-in vocals, and interacting with the crowd all tackled from different angles by numerous pros.
The book also features the first complete breakdown of "flow", allowing readers to create tongue-twisting compound rhyme styles like Kool G Rap and Eminem, complex conversational flows like Nas, Jay-Z, and OC, the classic true school patterns of Melle Mel, and everything in between.
Available at all fine bookstores and from Amazon.com

For more info on the book, visit www.howtorapbook.com

About Paul Edwards:
Paul Edwards holds a master's degree in postmodernism, literature, and contemporary culture from University of London and has done extensive research on Hip-Hop lyrics, interviewing 104 MCs for HOW TO RAP.
Contact: p.b.edwards@gmail.com
Also available at fine bookstores everywhere!

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
facebook.com/howtorapbook
myspace.com/howtorapbook
youtube.com/user/howtorapbook
twitter.com/howtorapbook

Pharoahe Monch is on the front lines once again and this time it's bigger than just album talk. Monch is gearing up to release his new project W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) through a partnership with Duck Down Music, while establishing his company W.A.R. Media as a viable entertainment portal. W.A.R. is the follow-up album to Pharoahe's Desire project from 2007. Fans can expect what they've come to love from Pharoahe on the new LP; complex rapping techniques that are both intricate and intelligent.

Monch states, "I'm incredibly excited about my upcoming release W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) and my new partnership between my company W.A.R. Media, LLC, and Duck Down Music. This album deals with conflicts and resolutions of the spirit, the soul, the government, and the industry among other things. Thus far it features Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid, Jean Grae, Styles P, Phonte, Black Thought, with more to come. It also features production from M-Phazes, Marco Polo, Mike Low, Fatin, Lee Stone, Exile and others to be announced. I am working diligently to finish the work for a summer release and I am honored to join forces with the Duck Down family during their 15 year anniversary."

Pharoahe Monch will also join Slaughterhouse for a Canadian Tour starting in early April.

TOUR DATES:
April 3 Saint John, NB Evolution Nightclub
April 4 St. John's, NF Club One
April 5 Halifax, NS Paragone Theatre
April 7 Ottawa, ON Ritual Nightclub
Aprill 8 Toronto, ON Venue TBC
April 9 Cornwall, ON Rangatangs Nightclub
April 10 Montreal, QC Telus Theatre
April 12 Thunder Bay, ON Roxys Nightclub
April 13 Winnipeg, MB Pyramid Cabaret
April 14 Saskatoon, SK Odeon Events Centre
April 15 Calgary, AB The Whiskey Nightclub
April 16 Edmonton, AB Starlite Room
April 17 Lethbridge, AB Venue TBC
Aprl 18 Nelson, BC Spirit Bar
April 21 Victoria, BC Element
April 22 Vancouver, BC Venue TBC

WELCOME OUR NEW 2010 RAP ATTACK REPORTERS

RADIO:

DJ Luvva-J aka Jose S. Gutierrez Jr - KAOS 

EMAIL: jose@devastatorgroup.com 

Olympia, WA

Silver Shadow-D - KBCS 

EMAIL: admin@shadowmuzik.com  

Bellevue, WA

Savvy - KDON  

EMAIL: savvy408@gmail.com  

Salinas, CA

Darnell “KIZ-ONE” Williams - KKFI  

EMAIL: Kizone@gmail.com   

Kansas City, MO

Dj D'Lemma aka  Warren Van Patten  KMIH   

EMAIL: djdlemma@gmail.com 

Mercer Island, WA

Jeep Ward (DJ HALO) WPKN/WPKM 

EMAIL: jeepdjhalo203@yahoo.com 

Bridgeport, CT

DJ Eclipse   WNYU  

EMAIL: itsdjeclipse@gmail.com  

New York, NY

Kerri Hughes       WRFM

EMAIL: badteccy@hotmail.com  

Blue Bell, PA

INTERNET:

Commando - IUMMMUSIC.COM -Program Director  

EMAIL: stepincommand@gmail.com

DJ LoKash - AllHipHop.com   

EMAIL: djlokash@gmail.com

MIXTAPE:

DJ FRRESH (Chicago, IL)

Nesto Acosta (Culpeper/Norfolk, VA)

Rap Attack takes a "WHAT'S UPPER" look this week with:

Matt Chan (CJSF-Canada): "Hi all. As my you may or may not know I have relocated to Toronto. I will still be doing my radio show however it will now be pre-taped and I will still be doing my chart. Please send your emails/mp3's/promos/priorities to my new email address: matthew.chanbros@gmail.com  My contact number is (604) 306-6086 however I might be changing it to get a Toronto area code"
132 Chatham Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M4J-1K7
Canada
 

Chill Will (WCBN-MI): "It's been another busy week so gonna keep it short. We had our station fundriaser and I'd like Thank everyone who called in and help out our cause. Also big shout to everyone who hung out at PJ's Live last Thursday night. It was a good time for sure, we have a lot of Hip Hop shows coming to the area so stay tune. For more information about me DJ Chill Will go to www.myspace.com/djchillwill734...

DJ Sage (CFRO-Vancouver, BC): "Unfortunately, I wasn’t at the radio show last week (thanks Gary for having my back). I got the call to deejay at the Tech N9NE show, which was bananas with about 700 devoted fans rapping along with Tech. Even though, I am admittedly not a huge fan it is easy to appreciate and
commend the showmanship Tech puts into his show and how his fans give it back to him. Pause.

Speaking of giving it back, I have a solid to ask. The annual Stylus Awards voting has started. I have been nominated the last two years and would love to also have the radio receive the co-sign this year, so please submit “The Urban Renewal Project” in the category of college mixshow. Thanks in advance!
www.stylusgroup.ca

Lots of archived radio shows to check out until we are back rocking for you next week. Check it all out at www.urpradio.podomatic.com...
 

DJ Luicidal (KSJS-CA): "Spring break is upon us and I'm lovin' this California weather. Big things this week. Had a chance to meet up with Baby C and Marlen aka Malicious over at KSJS studios last Monday, shouts out to them for rolling thru. Tonight the KSJS Hip Hop department invades the HP Pavillion to catch the Jay-Z Blueprint 3 tour. I haven't seen Jigga since the Hard Knock Life tour in 98. The Grind Time Battles come to San Jose, we will be getting down at Aristocrats with some of the Bay Area's heavy rhyme spitters, main event is Megabusive vs Joe Cutter. YouTube will be in the building as well catching it all on digi-film. It's been an exciting month. As always, feel free to hit me up and add KSJS Hip-Hop on Facebook to see our DJs and their daily playlists"...

Kazzeo (KHDC-CA): "Shout out to my homie Kutmasta Kurt who came through the show last week. Here's the download link for the interview. Enjoy:
http://www.mediafire.com/?bnmwayrmnv5...

Shareef Abdullah (WRFL-KY): "This week dope pick goes out to man Fel Sweetenberg, his new single "Save Ya Life" featuring Baby Blak & Dave Ghetto is on some 3 The Hard Way boom bap ish. This dude has been a force since the Fondle' Em Records days. Word to DJ Cucumber Slice!"...

DJ Savvy (KDON-Salinas): "Hola Amigos, hope everyone is doing well, happy and healthy :) I wanted to share some good news with you - I recently received the ratings for our show and discovered we are kicking MAJOR ass. THANK YOU so much for supporting us, working with us, and spreading the word. That is what Hip Hop is about!"...

Vernassa Fields (SpynCycal): "I have switched my e-mail address from nattyhead99@yahoo.com to spyncycal@aol.com. Please be sure to update your Address Book. Thank You!"...

Kevin Sakoda (KSPC-CA): "Hope everyone's doing well. If you're not in the LA-area, you can catch the show live (via iTunes) every Saturday, 5-7PM (west-coast time): http://www.kspc.org/popup.html   You can also find archived playlists and download links 24/7: http://blogs.myspace.com/kevsakoda   Enjoy!

Here is our address for 2010 to send material for review, etc (vinyl, dvd's & cd's)!

RapAttackLives.com

4750 Kester Avenue, Ste. 11

Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Attn: Nasty-Nes

 (FOR MP3's): nastynes818@gmail.com 

Attn MySpace heads! If you haven't joined our exclusive RAP ATTACK page on MySpace, log on NOW & join at: http://www.myspace.com/rapattacklives...

SHOUT OUT TIZIME: Happy Birthday this week to DJ Jay Force (WRFG-Atlanta) celebrating this Tuesday, March 30th... Eazy-E (March 26, 1995 - R.I.P. - see photo above)...

PEACE, LOVE & HIP-HOP UNITY (God Bless & Isa Mahal),

Nasty-Nes

http://www.myspace.com/nastynes

http://www.myspace.com/rapattacklives 

(Pinoy Pride4Life / John 3:16)