Ice-T Takes “The Art of Rap” to London for Premiere

Ice-T’s directorial debut “Something From Nothing: The Art Of Rap” premiered in London last week.

The legendary, Los Angeles bred artist promoted the documentary at key locations around the UK’s capital city, including Hammersmith Apollo, Brixton Ritzy Picture House, British Film Institute and an Apple Store in Central London.

Ice-T also hosted Q&A sessions with audiences at each screening event, which were completely sold out.

Ice-T commenced his tour at West London’s Hammersmith Apollo where he was joined by rap legends Chuck D, Melle Mel, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and UK rap group Hijack for a one-off performance.

During the Q&A, fans asked Ice-T a range of questions, including his views on UK Hip-Hop, how he obtained funding for the project and why there were only a few female rappers featured in the documentary.

“I asked [rappers] what they would do if they taught a rapper,” Ice-T said when London audiences asked about some common responses rappers gave during filming.”They all said originality. Kool Keith said it the best. Look and see what everyone else is doing, and don’t do that. Look and see how everyone else is dressing, and don’t dress like that. That’s originality.”

Ice-T also confirmed he is pleasantly surprised by the reception the documentary is receiving

“The most unexpected thing is the reception this movie has got from people. In a world of haters, you can see on the Internet, this movie has not received one single bad review. That’s impossible,” Ice-T explained

Ice-T continued to say, “This project is like a rubik cube. To diss the movie, you have to diss everyone in it. And nobody is qualified to do that.”

Watch the Q&A session at Hammersmith Apollo

“Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap” was released on July 20 in the United Kingdom.

Xzibit "Napalm" Tracklist, Features Dr. Dre, Game & Crooked I

Xzibit reveals the details regarding his first album since 2006.

It has been over half a decade since Xzibit released 2006's Full Circle. Now, the rapper-turned-actor is ready to let fans know that he's back in the music game with his latest album, Napalm.

Taking to Twitter, X to the Z released an image of the album's tracklist. However, the image only provided the names of the songs, with no further details:

Xzibit explained that while the album has not set release date, it would be sometime in the early fall:

XZIBIT

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@xzibit

I appreciate all the LOVE, we are looking towards a sept release. Stay tuned and locked in for more info...#Napalm.

21 Jul 12

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He also tweeted the producers and features of every track, resulting in the below tracklist:

1. State Of Hip-Hop Vs. Xzibit (Prod. By Beat Butcher)
2. Everything (Prod. By Rick Rock)
3. Dos Equise Ft. RBX
4. Something More Ft. Prodigy
5. Gangsta Gangsta (Prod. By DJ Chill)
6. Forever A G Ft. Wiz Khalifa (Prod. By E. Dan)
7. 1983 Ft. Trena Joiner (Xzibit’s Mom) (Prod. By Insane Wayne)
8. Stand Tall Ft. Slim Da Mobster (Prod. By S1)
9. Spread It Out (Prod. By 21)
10. Up Out The Way Ft. E-40 (Prod. By Rick Rock)
11. Napalm (Prod. By 1500 Or Nothin’) (Drums By Travis Barker; Scratches By Sid (Of Slipknot))
12. Meaning Of Life Ft. Ret. Staff Sargent Shilo Harris (U.S. Army)
13. Louis XIII Ft. King T & Tha Alkaholiks (Prod. By Dr. Dre)
14. Enjoy The Night Ft. David Banner, Wiz Khalifa & Brevi (Prod. By David Banner)
15. Movie Ft. Crooked I, Slim Da Mobster & Game (Prod. By Akon)
16. I Came To Kill (Prod. By !llmind)
17. Killer’s Remorse Ft. Bishop Lamont, B-Real & Demrick (Prod. By Focus)
18. 1983 StringAcapella

Nas Is In A “Good” Place – Puts On A High Energy Show In NYC

Nas took it back to the essence of Hip-Hop last night for his performance at NYC’s Tammany Hall. Flying high off of his Tuesday release for his new album, Life Is Good, Nas, who was dressed in a black “New York” t-shirt, bounced around the stage like a man who didn’t have a care in the world. The half industry/half true Nas fans, endured a line around the block and waited three hours for the god emcee to hit the stage, but once he did he never looked back.

Nas diddy-bopped on the stage and went through some of his radio single hits, mixed in with album cuts that only a true Nas fan would know – and the place was filled with true Nas fans, who rapped along to every line that came out of his mouth.

The atmosphere in Tammany Hall was similar to those block parties you snuck into when back you were 12 and 13 years old. The ones you had no business being at, but still remember to this day because you had the time of your life while you were there. Every square inch of the place of packed with Nas representers.

Keeping the throwback theme in tact, Nas started off his set with “Live at the BBQ.” “How many original Nas fans do we have in the building tonight?” Nas screamed to the crowd. The crowd erupted and Nas took the opportunity to go directly into one of his classics, “The World Is Yours”. Soon after, Nas was joined on stage by his younger brother Jungle and five “hype men,” who actually served their purpose and hyped up the crowd even more.

Nas was almost through performing “NY State Of Mind” when his old “Firm” group member AZ hopped on the stage to perform “Life’s A B*tch.” The crowd swayed back and forth, almost in unison, and rapped along as if they were performing along with the two on stage. After the track, AZ turned his back to the audience and was set to leave the stage when Nas called him back. “I can’t let you leave just yet A. Green—play that joint.”

The two went on to put on a spectacle of a show together that had everyone in the place wondering why The Firm never lived up to its true potential. Nas and AZ performed “Phone Tap,” “Affirmative Action,” and for the first time ever together, “Mo Money, Murder.”

Nas, who was slightly sweating now due to his high energy mini-set with AZ, proclaimed “Life is Good,” and with that, the beat to “Daughters” dropped. Nas expressed how much he and his daughter loved the record, then proceeded to say, “Her mother hates it, though. I don’t know… she’s f*cking crazy.”

The rest of the show was dedicated to all new material from his album Life Is Good. Nas plowed through “Queens Story,” “Accident Murderers,” and “Loco-Motive.” He was later joined on stage by rapper/producer Swizz Beatz for his sure to be hit single, “Summer On Smash”.

Nas ended the show with “Bye Baby”, an “ode” to his ex-wife, Kelis.

The rapper’s smile at the end of his long and energetic set seemed to tell a tale of triumph and accomplishment. One can only believe that Nas walked out of Tammany Hall last night truly believing, that “Life Is Good.”

Check out some footage from the show below, courtesy of GWizMusik:

Wiz Khalifa – SBTV Freestyle

EXCLUSIVE: Estate Of Notorious B.I.G. Denies Connection To Men Arrested In Book Theft

(AllHipHop News) Representatives for the estate of the Notorious B.I.G. have denied reports that they are connected with a musical about the rapper’s life, after two men were arrested in connection with a bizarre theft from a bookstore on Tuesday (July 17).

Writers Alfred Green and Raheim Pope had claimed they were producing a musical titled “Ready 2 Die,” which would focus on Notorious B.I.G.

Green and Pope were arrested for stealing $888 books from a Barnes & Noble in Westport, Connecticut.

The two men initially denied the stolen booty found in a Jaguar with Georgia plates was theirs.

At the station, a tip from Green lead to a cavity search of Pope, who had hidden the key to the getaway Jaguar in his rectum.

“Please note that this is an unauthorized play. Our firm has previously sent a cease and desist notice and any association with the Estate of Christopher Wallace or Notorious B.I.G. are unauthorized,” a rep for Notorious B.I.G.’s estate told AllHipHop.com.

Green and Pope issued a casting call for the unauthorized play back in March, but the estate warned B.I.G.’s fans that they are not supporting the musical.

“There is no connection or association between the Estate of Notorious B.I.G. and Alfred Green and Raheim Pope,” the rep told AllHipHop.com.