Lloyd Signs To Interscope
09:00PM ET March 12, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

After he blessed Young Money with the hook for their current Top 10 hit "Bedrock" many expected singer Lloyd to sign with Wayne's label. However, Lloyd respectively turned down Baby and Wayne's offer to join the family because he did not want to stay under the Universal Motown umbrella where he had released his last two albums.

Lloyd revealed to MTV that he has signed with Interscope records instead and he will be featuring the Young Money family prominently on his next album.

Irv Gotti Donates To D.C. Mayor's Campaign
03:00PM ET March 12, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

The Washington Post is reporting that producer Irv Gotti contributed $1,000 to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's reelection campaign, at least according to the mayor's latest campaign finance report.

Gotti contributed $1000 by credit card late on Wednesday of this week. Fenty is a noted old school hip-hop head but that alone has not endeared him to a large segment of Washington D.C.'s voters.

Fenty, who of mixed race, has been receiving heat from the African-American community in D.C. for not appointing enough people of color to positions in his cabinet. However according to many political analysts he will most likely be reelected due to the lack of a strong candidate to oppose him.

Vick Continues Reality Run
12:00PM ET March 12, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

The Michael Vick Project wasn't enough for the NFL QB, he will be joined the cast of SpikeTV's Pros vs. Joes. The show tapes this week in Los Angeles and features Vick's fellow teammate Philadelphia Eagles' QB Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens, Antonio Gates, Warrick Dunn, Isaac Bruce, Derrick Brooks and Jeff Garcia. The basketball legends are Hakeem Olajuwon, Chris Mullin, Kenny Smith, Brent Barry, Isaiah Rider and Rick Fox.

The season will pit the Pro's versus regular Joe's in football (4 episodes) and basketball (4 episodes). The show premieres on Spike TV Wednesday, July 14 at 10:00 PM ET/PT.

Jay-Z Breaking Ground in Brooklyn
06:00AM ET March 12, 2010
Contributor : William "Drills" Bradford
A Rocky Williform Company

Yesterday Jay-Z and other ridiculously rich people held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. It is the future home of the New Jersey Brooklyn Nets. This project has been in the works for a decade now. Many residents are upset over the controversial plan for fears of increased traffic and skyrocketing cost of living.

In addition to Nets minority owner Jay-Z the ceremony was attended by Mayor Bloomberg, Al Sharpton and Governor David Patterson.

The 18,000 seat Barclay Center is set to open in 2012.

Rapper Turned Actor
06:00AM ET March 12, 2010
Contributor : William "Drills" Bradford
A Rocky Williform Company

Common has made the transition from rapper to actor almost seamlessly. The upcoming movie Just Wright is another piece of proof. He is starring in film alongside Paula Patton and Queen Latifah. It is an unconventional love story where the average girl falls in love with the seemingly “out of her class” guy and you guessed it…Queen Latifah plays Common’s love interest.

The movie opens May 14^th.

Kokane Returns To Take His Props
06:00AM ET March 12, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

West Coast hook king Kokane has shared his funky vocal style on a litany of platinum records, appearing alongside a who's who of music stars including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Jadakiss, Xzibit, Spice 1, Too Short, NWA, Ice Cube, Bootsy Collins and George Clinton.

Mr. Kane has been out of the public eye since releasing his last album in 2006 but he plans to change that with his 7^th album Gimme All Mine which is set to be released on his own label on June 1, 2010. The album is highlighted by the first single "Twilight Zone" as well as the reunion track, "Lay You Down" with former collaborators Above The Law.

Gimmie All Mine Tracklisting:
1.) Twilight Zone
2.) Killin Fields
3.) Baptized In Tha Funk
4.) Gimmie All Mine
5.) Made A Difference
6.) Lay You Down f/Above The Law
7.) Can A Thug Get To Heaven
8.) Rollin Up On Hoez
9.) Getting Ova f/ Eternal
10.) Jelly Jar f/ West Coast Stone
11.) Travel The World
12.) Sleepin In My Bed

Bone Hits The Road
09:00PM ET March 11, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will launch a 34-city U.S. tour this spring in support of their long-awaited reunion album entitled Uni5: The World's Enemy set for an April 27 release date.

Krayzie, Layzie, Wish and Flesh will play theatres nationwide starting in Minnesota on March 24^th before closing the tour out in Tuscon on May 3^rd at the Rialto Theatre. Tickets for all dates are currently available via Ticketmaster.

Full dates, city and venue information:
Wed   Mar 24     Minneapolis, MN    First Avenue
Thu   Mar 25     Milwaukee, WI     Eagles
Fri   Mar 26     Sauget, IL     Pop's
Sat   Mar 27     Chicago, IL     Congress
Sun   Mar 28     Cleveland, OH     HOB
Mon   Mar 29     Indianapolis, IN     The Vogue
Wed   Mar 31     Pittsburgh, PA    Mr. Smalls
Thu   Apr 1     Columbus, OH    Newport
Fri   Apr 2     Buffalo, NY     Town Ballroom
Sat   Apr 3     Lancaster, PA   The Chameleon
Mon   Apr 5     Boston, MA     Middle East
Tue   Apr 6     New York, NY    Irving Plaza
Wed   Apr 7     State College, PA    Mezzanine
Thu   Apr 8     Baltimore, MD     Rams Head Live
Fri   Apr 9     Wilmington NC     The Rox
Sat   Apr 10     Charlotte, NC     Amos Southend
Sun   Apr 11     Charleston, SC     The Music Farm
Tue   Apr 13     Athens, GA    40 Watt Club
Wed   Apr 14     Atlanta, GA     Masquerade
Thu   Apr 15    Orlando, FL     Firestone
Fri   Apr 16     Los Angeles, CA    Gibson Amphitheatre
Tue   Apr 20     New Orleans, LA    HOB
Wed   Apr 21     Dallas, TX     HOB
Thu   Apr 22     Houston, TX     HOB
Fri   Apr 23     San Antonio, TX    Scoutbar
Sat   Apr 24     Austin, TX     Emo's
Mon   Apr 26     Tulsa, OK     Cain's Ballroom
Tues   Apr 27    Colombia, MO    The Blue Note
Wed   Apr 28     Council Bluffs, IA     Harrah's
Thu   Apr 29     Kansas City, KS   Harrah's
Fri   Apr 30     Denver, CO    Gothic Theatre (Englewood)
Sat   May 1     Albuquerque, NM    Sunshine Theatre
Sun   May 2     Phoenix, AZ    Celebrity Theatre
Mon   May 3     Tuscon, AZ     Rialto Theatre

Nas And Damian Marley Tracklisting
03:00PM ET March 11, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

The tracklisting for the long awaited joint album between Nas and Damian Marley will be released on May 25^th. Amazon.com is lists the album as featuring collaborations with K'NAAN, Joss Stone, Junior Reid and surprise guest Lil Wayne.

Check out the full tracklisting here:
1. As We Enter
2. Tribal War (feat. K'NAAN)
3. Strong Will Continue
4. Leaders
5. Wisdom (Sabali)
6. Count Your Blessings
7. Disappear
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. Junior Reid)

Dr. Dre Part of $40 Million Ad Campaign
12:00PM ET March 11, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

Computer giant Hewlett Packard (HP) recently announced its first advertising campaign in five years. A source tells Wall Street Journal that the estimated $40 million campaign is necessary to reintroduce the company.

The company which is widely known for making printers feels that their public perception has not kept up with the company's actual expansion.

Dr. Dre, stand-up comedian/actor Rhys Darby (Flight of the Concords) and photographer Annie Leibovitz are among the celebrities who will be featured in the "Lets Do Amazing" ads starting this weekend.

Murs Staying Busy
06:00AM ET March 11, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

Los Angeles Living Legends emcee Murs is returning to his indie roots after parting ways with Warner Brothers Records. The rapper released his last album Murs For President on the major but says that now that he is off it will be a party.

"Warner Bros. kind of ... stifled me creatively 'cause I was used to having product flow every year -- touring, album, tour, album, tour, two tours and album," Murs explained in an interview with ballerstatus.com. "I'd do two 60-city tours, something in the summer, then new album. I was a workaholic. They kinda shut me up. I have all this music coming outta nowhere, so I'm ready, and I think this is an ultimate way to kick it off..."

Murs says he has a glut of material and he wants to do 10 records in 10 months this year.

The first record will be ForNever, which features the production of 9th Wonder, and guest appearances include Sick Jacken, Uncle Chucc, Suga Free, Kurupt, and Verbz.

112 Back Together
06:00AM ET March 11, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

Atlanta quartet 112 have not released an album as a group in five years. Amid rumors and solo projects three of the members of the R&B group have reunited to record a follow up to their 2005 release Pleasure & Pain. Group member Q broke the news via his Twitter page writing, "In the studio wit my boy Mike and Daron! New 112 album comin soon!"

During the hiatus rumors did surface that the group had parted ways due to misappropriation of funds. "I'm not sure what the status is of the other three members, but myself, I am no longer in 112," Mike said in an interview. "I had to leave because I found out that a certain member of the group took my publishing check. It was made clear that it was intended for myself and another member, Slim."

There is no official word on what label will release the new 112 project.

Beloved Radio Host Tre Black Passes Away
06:00AM ET March 10, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

Condolences go out to the family of radio personality/songwriter/producer Tre Black. Black's girlfriends broke the sad news that he died Sunday (3/7) of an apparent heart attack. Black most recently worked at WWPR (Power 105.1) in New York hosting Friday and Saturday nights and doing voiceovers for Moses Media.

Black was one of the good guys in the industry. He helped many advance their careers and he will be missed.

Beloved Radio Host Tre Black Passes Away
06:00AM ET March 11, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

Condolences go out to the family of radio personality/songwriter/producer Tre Black. Black's girlfriends broke the sad news that he died Sunday (3/7) of an apparent heart attack. Black most recently worked at WWPR (Power 105.1) in New York hosting Friday and Saturday nights and doing voiceovers for Moses Media.

Black was one of the good guys in the industry. He helped many advance their careers and he will be missed.