Jazze Pha, Cee-Lo Talk 'Happy
Hour' - courtesy of allhiphop.com
Sho 'Nuff Records CEO/producer Jazze Pha and Goodie
Mob group member Cee-Lo have linked up with Capital Records to release
their debut collaboration Happy Hour.
"It was inevitable that we would do a project,"
Jazze Pha told AllHipHop.com. “When we came together to do Happy
Hour, we both knew exactly what the other was wanting to bring to the
table, so that in itself was worth the time, to see what type of genius
would come out of our minds."
Happy Hour, which features collaborations with artists
Nate Dogg, Mannie Fresh and The Pussy Cat Dolls, will be a mixture of
new school Hip-Hop with old school funk.
The album also includes guest appearances by R&B
veterans Keith Sweat and Aaron Hall, which was a memorable experience
for Cee-Lo.
"I just feel grateful that [Keith Sweat and Aaron
Hall] even wanted to do the album," Cee-Lo said. "For them
to step into the studio and record with us and even know who we are
is amazing and something we will never forget."
Besides the collaboration for Happy Hour, Cee-Lo and
Jazze Pha are both staying busy with other projects.
Cee-Lo, whose daughter was featured on the hit MTV
“Sweet Sixteen," is in talks with MTV about a new reality
show starring his family.
"We are in talks right now," Cee-Lo told
AllHipHop.com. "It is definitely something that I would love to
do again and something that we are working out right now."
Cee-Lo is also working with famed producer Danger Mouse
to release a new solo project entitled Gnarls Barkley, as well as an
untitled Goodie Mob reunion album.
Jazze Pha, who is label head at Sho 'Nuff Records,
has a role in the upcoming film “Jelly Beans,” which was
written by Dallas Austin, Tina Chism ("Drumline"), Antwone
Fisher ("Antwone Fisher") and others.
The flick is being directed by Chris Robinson and also
stars T.I.
"I play a DJ in the film," Jazze said. "It
was cool because it wasn't some cameo where I was playing me, I was
really acting. This is definitely something that I am going to take
seriously. I am in the process now of taking classes and reviewing scripts,
to make sure that I choose what's right for me."
Besides acting Jazze Pha is also preparing the upcoming
sophomore effort from Ciara and his new artist, Tone Tone.
"I am firm believer that as long as you love what
you do, it's not real work," Jazze continued. “[With} the
stuff that's coming out of Sho 'Nuff, people best to get ready. We aren't
holding nothing back."
Happy Hour hits stores February 14th, 2006.
Read full story online:
http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=5103
T. Pain Planning A Return To Rap
- courtesy of allhiphop.com
T.Pain is a unique sort of crooner, who brands his
R&B style "Hard & B," for its reality-based approach.
But, Pain has only been singing roughly 9 months and
the Tallahassee, Florida native was a rapper beforehand.
Despite the success of his hit single “I’m
Sprung,” T. Pain reckons he'll return to Rap music on his next
album.
"I'm definitely going to have to go back to rapping,"
Pain told AllHipHop.com. "Yeah I think ill switch it up on the
next album. The R&B s**t still going to be there. I aint going to
totally push back. It's not just totally R&B right now."
Pain, born Faheem Najm, began rapping at the age of
10 and converted his bedroom into a studio equipped with a keyboard,
beat machine and four-track recorder.
However, the 20-year-old singer opted to re-focus his
career even though he had moderate success with groups like Nappy Headz.
"It just felt better," he explained. "It
was a better feeling. It was crazy. At the time R&B wasn't cool
like that. N**as was like 'Don't be doing that singing s**t. You an
R&B n***a now.' It was a big decision for me so I was like f**k
it. It feels better so that's what I'm doing."
Without the approval of friends and disenchanted with
commercial R&B, Pain crafted a merger of his two musical loves and
labeled it “Hard & B.”
"I aint give a damn if anybody liked the [Hard
& B] s**t or not. I just wanted to do it. It was just what I felt
at the time. That's all that counted to me," he concluded.
T-Pain's debut I’m Sprung is set to hit stores
on Dec. 6.
For this and all of the latest news updates, visit
http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=5101
Rapper Busta Rhymes Cuts
Dreads After 15 Years - courtesy of MTV.com
After 15 years, Busta Rhymes has officially cut off
his long dreadlocks.
Busta Rhymes, born Trevor Smith, cut off his trademark
dreadlocks during a recent photo shoot in a New York barbershop.
“I started growing these sh--s in December '89.
I was 17,” Busta stated. “I signed my [record] deal and
said I aint combing my hair no more. I don't have to."
The rapper now sports a short crop Caesar hairstyle.
In an effort to memorialize his transition, the former
Leader of The New School member recorded the historic occasion on camera
while friends and crew members watched.
The short video clip features an excited Busta cutting
his dreads off one at a time while he talks about the momentous event.
“This is it kid,” Busta exclaimed as he
prepared to cut his hair. “I haven’t felt clippers touch
the side of my head in 15 years. Y’all gonna see the sexiest head
you’ve ever seen in your life when I’m finished.”
Busta remains one of the most original hip-hop artists
with his rapid-fire rapping style and innovative videos.
Fans will be able to see Busta sports his new hairstyle
in the video for “Touch It,” which is set to air in media
outlets in the coming weeks.
“Touch It,” produced by Swizz Beats, is
the first lead off single for Busta’s new Aftermath/Interscope
album The Big Bang which is expected to hit stores in early 2006.
Read full story online:
http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=5099
Eminem Shares: New Video Addresses
Stint In Rehab, Family-courtesy of mtv.com
Eminem has never shied away from airing his private
life in his work, and the video for his new single, "When I'm Gone,"
is no exception.
The clip begins with Em addressing his recent stint
in a rehab clinic for dependency on sleep
medication (see "Eminem Hospitalized For Sleep-Medication
Dependency").
The video, which was directed by Anthony Mandler in
Em's hometown of Detroit on November 13 and 14, opens in a large room
that resembles a school gym, where adults seated in folding chairs are
gathered around a middle-aged man speaking at a podium — the setup
is like a Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. The man
tells the group about how rough the last six years of his life have
been, and how he and his wife are happy that he's changed. Eminem, wearing
a ball cap that reveals some of his black hair, is one of the people
in the crowd.
The leader of the group then asks if anyone would like
to share. Em gets up, goes to the podium and says, "My name is
Marshall." The rest of the video illustrates the lyrics from the
song, including the lines describing how his daughter Hailie put up
boxes to block the front door of their home to stop Eminem from leaving
to go on tour.
A teaser from the video will be shown on "TRL"
on Wednesday (November 23), with the full clip premiering on Monday.
Em's greatest-hits LP, Curtain Call — which features "When
I'm Gone" — will be in stores on December 6 (see "Slim
Shady's Phattest, Brightest Compiled For Eminem Hits LP").
Read full story online:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1514466/20051123/eminem.jhtml?headlines=true
Student Expelled For Posting Lyrics
On The Internet - courtesy of ballerstatus.net
The Riverside School District, located in Beaver County,
Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay a student rapper $90,000 to settle a
lawsuit brought on by the student who was expelled for posting -- from
the comfort of his own home -- lyrics on the internet that his school
considered threatening.
According to the Associated Press, Anthony Latour,
14, was expelled from the Riverside Beaver School District in May for
the remainder of the school year and the current year.
During the summer, the student fought back by suing
the school, seeking that his expulsion be overturned.
In August, U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose came
to a decision, agreeing with Latour and ordered the school to let him
back in.
Although Donetta found his songs of violent nature,
she said they were not "true threats" and were protected by
the First Amendment, according to the AP.
"Although the courts have given school officials
authority to regulate and punish students' expression while they are
in school, teachers and administrators need to recognize that the First
Amendment limits their authority to play parent when the students are
home," ACLU attorney Kim Watterson said to the AP.
The lyrics of one song Latour wrote included: "So
watch what you say about me, I'm everywhere son / And the word of mouth
is that I'm carrying guns / Now that I'm comin' for you - what the (expletive)
you gonna do / I come double with the pump tons of slugs that will punish
you."
The school district has also agreed to change its policy
for the expulsion of a student because of their speech. The revisions
would include the definition of a "true threat" as something
that disrupts the school day and includes protections for speech at
home.
Latour is also facing charges in Beaver County Juvenile
Court.
Read full story online:
http://www.ballerstatus.net/news/read/id/74786034/
