What's upper! I hope you had a safe & all that 4th Of July weekend. It was too hot out here in Cali about100 HOT degrees... Last Friday we lost a legend in R&B music, Barry White. His manager said.White, who had suffered kidney failure from years of high blood pressure, died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center around 9:30 a.m.. His work epitomized seductive disco music, also known as "make out" music. The heavyset musician enjoyed three decades of fame for songs like, "You're The First, The Last, My Everything'' and "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me.'' White discovered the female trio Love Unlimited and produced their million selling 1972 single, "Walkin' In The Rain With The One I Love." The next year, White returned to performing with the song, "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby," which topped the R&B chart and hit No. 3 on the pop chart. He is credited by some for helping launch the disco phenomenon with his orchestral "Love's Theme"  in 1973, which he conducted with his group, The Love Unlimited Orchestra. In 1974, his album, "Can't Get Enough" climbed to the top of the pop charts on the strength of the signature hits, "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" and "You're The First, The Last, My Everything." R.I.P. & thank you Barry White for blessing us with your music that will live on forever... PMD, one half of the legendary duo, EPMD has just dropped his first solo album "The Awakening" (Solid) since '96 & is down  to support college radio & appreciates the support college radio has shown him over the years. If you'd like PMD to do a phoner (or live interview if possible), please contact: Sly at Solid Records at (203) 881-8362 or online at: SLY@SOLIDRECORDS.NET... Tribeca is droppin' a new 12" single, "Charlie Hustle" (Major League Ent.). Here's the link to get an advance listen: <http://tribecaworld.com/media/pony_ex.mp3> . For more info, contact Sean "Shotta" Harris at (212) 840-5579 or online at: SEAN@MAJORLEAGUENYC.COM... MTV's been showing a couple of our mixtape reporters love on their "Direct Effect" show! Miami's DJ EFN & Newark's DJ King Shameek both had their latest mixtapes spotlighted on MTV's "Direct Effect" last week!... Beanie Sigel is in police custody & was charged with attempted murder for a shooting that occurred outside a West Philadelphia bar earlier last week. Sigel turned himself in to authorities after the Roc The Mic concert at the Tweeder center in Camden, New Jersey in connection with the shooting of Terrence Speller. Sigel allegedly shot Speller in the stomach & foot. "He denies any involvement in the shooting," said Sigel's attorney Fortunato Perri... Here's the link to sign a petition in hopes to convince Amaru/Deathrow/Interscope & Duck Down Records to release the unreleased 2Pac album "One Nation" around the time of his birthday or time of his loss. Peep this: <http://www.rapnewsdirect.com/0-202-256147-00.html>... I want to thank my Rap Attack panel for comin' through with their feedback on Detroit's Vishiss whose single "Battle Rhyme" b/w "Killin' Spree" (Spit) are both making noise! Brett Johnson aka OB1 outta WUPX in Marquette, MI says, " This record is solid front and back. Nice hard beats and Vishiss tears it up. Haven't heard of this cat before, and I should have since I'm from Michigan. Anyway both sides of this 12" are real hot with both sides getting equal spins. Cheapshot really lays down good beats, and Vishiss has got the street rhymes with good word play. The Wonder Twinz from SIRIUS Sattelite radio says, " This record is crazy. The production draws you in. Flows are crazy tight. we have been givin this crazy love on the show. the response has been very positive. This cat is definitely holdin down his town. We got "Killin' Spree" on our new mixtape. That single is FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Truly ODd from L.A.'s, Power 106 & Heavyweights Record Pool says, "This is dope.Looking forward to hearing the album. Looks pretty ill with those guest appearances." DJ Buddhabong from SOLOFHIPHOP.COM says, " I'm feeling the "Battle Rhyme" joint - more than the "Killin' Spree" joint - beats are cool - I actually interviewed this cat at the Bboy Summit. He's a cool cat. - 1 out of 10, I give him a 7!" DJ Raw B outta S.F.'s KUSF says, " I'm feeling the Vishiss based on the instrumentals alone. Don't get me wrong, this cat's got some flows, but Cheapshot's production steal's the show. We'll be banging this one for awhile!" J-Tyme from KUGS in Bellingham, WA says, " This record is bananas! I've been killin it on my show ever since I received it. I make it a point to play this record every week. I highly recommend college jocks jump on this right away"... Make sure you show love to the Saj Supreme joint "The Won" b/w "Bump Da Gunz" (ABB). Yup these tracks features our own Mick Boogie from Cleveland's WJCU & D. Lorand from WCSB!... Check out some real true school flava from The Last Emperor "Prisoner" (Raptivism). Produced by Madsol, the album "Music, Magic, Myth" is scheduled to drop on August 26th. For more info, contact A. Kamal at (212) 253-0884 or online at: KAMAL@RAPTIVISM.COM... Coming soon & guaranteed to blow up on your ones & two's is the new single by Ranjahz featuring Celo (Goodie Mob) with "Insperation" (Villa Records). This tight track is produced by DJ Premier. Stay tuned!...
Tech N9NE's on the road & if you'd like me to hook up a meet & greet with him, holla at me at (818) 917-2217 or online at: NASTYNES1@AOL.COM. Here's his tour schedule:

TECH N9NE PROMO TOUR:

Friday-Aug 1:   Witchita, KS

Monday-Aug 11:           Lincoln, NE

Thursday-Aug 14:  Des Moines, IA

Fri-August 29:   Dubuque, IL

Saturday-Dec 27:         Kansas City, MO

If you're in Seattle, make sure you peep out the special "History Of Seattle Hip-Hop" exhibition from July 5th through Nov '03 at the Wing Luke Museum in Chinatown (407 7th Ave.). Yours truly is featured in the exhibited along with many others including of course, Sir Mix-A-Lot.. While in Seattle for all you martial arts & Bruce Lee fans (like me!!!), check out the Bruce Lee Memorabilia at the former Uwajimaya Bldg. (519 6th Ave. S. in Chinatown) 10am-8pm, Wed-Sun, June 5th-Oct 16. Log on to: WWW.BRUCELEE-EXHIBIT.ORG for more info... The first ever Bruce Lee Convention will be hitting Burbank, CA at the Burbank Airport Hilton, July 12th & 13th. Both Linda & Shannon Lee will be there with many special guests from Bruce Lee's "Enter The Dragon" & my Sifu, Taky Kimura & his son Andy will also be speaking at that very special event. Log on to: WWW.BRUCELEECONVENTION.COM for more info...

SHOUT OUT TIZIME: Happy B'day to my bloodbrother, Butch "Nebu" Johnson & R.I.P. to my good friend & former HITS & Rap Attack reporter, Tom Craven - July 10th. We all miss you very much homie.

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

Nasty-Nes

(Pinoy Pride4Life / John 3:16).