Check out Jay-z's tips on being successful.




Read More HERE

A very pregnant Kelis was seen this past weekend in LA hosting Damon Peruzzi’s birthday party. Nas & Kelis are expecting a baby boy.

"IMA DROP OUT THIS SHIT BEFORE NIGGAZ TRY AND CRUCIFY ME."

Kid Cudi isn't exactly calling it "quits" from the music game, so he claims be he feels the need to fall back from it before it makes him completely insane. The music game comes with a lot of situations that only the strong can survive and withstand in the long run. Cudi feels he doesn't need to deal with the drama and the rumors that keep invading his life. Here is an excerpt from his blog:

MUTHAFUCKAS TALKIN SHIT HERE AND THERE, SPREADIN RUMORS, MAKIN JOKES, TRYNA JUDGE ME, AND FOR WHAT? DOES MY MUSIC POKE FUN AT OTHERS? DO I TALK SHIT ABOUT PEOPLE N MY MUSIC? I ALREADY WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL ONCE, AND GOT EXPELLED CUZ IT WASNT FOR ME. IMA DROP OUT THIS SHIT BEFORE NIGGAZ TRY AND CRUCIFY ME.

I DONT LOOK AT IT AS QUITTING, FOR I HAVE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED MY GOAL. I HAVE A SOLID FANBASE WHO TRUELY APPRECIATES ME AND MY MESSAGES THRU SONG, I GOT MULTIPLE BIG RECORDS, I HAVE RECIEVED WORLDWIDE CRITICAL ACCLAIM FROM THE BIGGEST TASTEMAKERS IN THE GAME, 3 FAN MADE BEST OF MIXTAPES WITHOUT EVEN RELEASING MORE THAN ONE MIXTAPE AND NOT EVEN RELEASING A ALBUM, I CAN PAY MY MOMS MORTGAGE AND HELP MY SISTER WITH MY NIECE AND HOLD MY BROTHERS DOWN WITH WUTEVER THEY NEED. THATS WUT I GOT IN THIS GAME FOR, TO ACCOMPLISH ALL THESE GOALS AND I HAVE. NO REGRETS

IM SORRY TO THE FANS, IM SO SORRY YALL. I KNO U GUYS WILL ALL HATE ME, BUT REMEMBER, IM JUS A REGULAR DUDE WHO WAS GIVEN A AMAZING GIFT, AND NOW WITH THAT AMAZING GIFT CAME MORE UNCALLED FOR PROBLEMS THAN THE AVERAGE HUMAN BEING SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH.


Cudi whatever decision you decide to make at the end of the day those who truly support you as an artist and as who you are as a person will be there for you no matter what. Its a dirty game and not everyone has your best interest at heart, but if you can make it this far then I feel you can definitely take it to new heights.

Cudi wants to now focus on his HBO gig starting in August and plans to do a concert this summer performing his entire mixtape.


Kid Cudi's Blog

"To those who were offended by the image, we apologize," but obviously this apology by the NY Post isn't enough for the people who have been outraged by last wednesdays published cartoon. Spike Lee spoke on the matter at MSNBC headquarters and expressed that the apology is "lame" and "lethargic." I agree the apology is lame and the NY Post obviously did not think things through on how this cartoon may affect its readers. To compare President Obama to a shot gorilla is foul and unruly. Seeing stuff like this just makes me want to get my Angela Davis on and smack a _____.

By now, we've all heard the story that rocked the world of fans of Chris Brown and Rihanna fans--Chris assaulted girlfriend Rihanna, last weekend. It's a sad situation on both ends. Rihanna is obviously hurt and physically scarred and Chris has undoubtedly tarnished his reputation and has lost out on endorsements, i.e. The Milk campaign and Wrigley's. But it seems that Rihanna fans have her back. This morning, the Bajan star's fans staged a protest outside of WBLI, a radio station in West Babylon, New York against Chris Brown. Fans of Rihanna supposedly tore up Chris Brown posters and broke cds in support of the singer, but Rihanna's mentor is also coming to her defense. Check out Jay-Z's reaction to Chris Brown's assault on the R&B starlet.

Note: Rihanna, get better! And Ladies, never let a man determine your self worth! Men, know that your fists don't make you a man, and when you use them as weapons to beat on women, that only makes you a coward. We are so much better than this!

Jay-Z Reacts to Rihanna's Assault

It isn't enough that she's 1/2 of the dynamic duo that make up a powerful team of influence, power, and regality. Nor is it enough that she's the most fashionable First lady since Jackie-O, but now Michelle Obama offers her grace for the cover of VOGUE's March issue. On the cover, Michelle is outfitted in a pink sheath dress designed by Jason Wu, the now famed designer who was responsible for Mrs. Obama's beautiful Inaugural ball gown. The issue is sure to be a treat and according to VOGUEs Editor-at-Large, Andre Leon Talley, who interviewed Michelle for the upcoming issue enjoyed First Lady Obama's time as well.
"She's so accessible, natural and normal. Theres nothing affected about her."
Whats even sweeter about the iconic issue is that world-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz shot the cover and several other photos featured in the issue. I'm sure I don't have to tell you to be on the lookout for this one*

Spotted at MSNBC

The cast for ABC's Dancing with the Stars has been revealed and Lil Kim is said to be apart of this seasons cast. I don't know how her dance game is besides the raunchiness that she tends to bring on stage. Maybe she'll attempt to bring that "sex appeal" to the dance floor. Whatever the case may be this season should be just as interesting to watch.

Season 8 Cast:

1. Rapper Lil' Kim
2. Jackass star Steve-O
3. Access Hollywood host Nancy O'Dell
4. Football great Lawrence Taylor
5. Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson, who, at 17, is the youngest contestant ever
6. Country star Chuck Wicks, who will dance with his girlfriend, Julianne Hough
7. Gilles Marini, aka "the naked guy from the Sex and the City movie"
8. Actress Denise Richards
9. Former Go-Go's frontwoman Belinda Carlisle
10. Apple Computers co-founder Steve Wozniak
11. Comedian David Alan Grier
12. Musician Jewel
13. Rodeo star (and Jewel's husband) Ty Murray

via TVGuide

When it comes to watching The Grammys, I can be iffy. Some years I take an interest in them. Others, I don't even bother watching, but this year is going to be well worth it just to see Jay-Z, Kanye, Lil Wayne, and T.I. finally take the stage to perform "Swagga Like Us" together. I swear that song has to have broken a record for having constant radio play and no video. (By the way, I still want that video!) Let's just hope M.I.A. makes a surprise appearance tonight as well. I heard from a little birdie that her baby's due today! I guess we'll see tonight.

The 51st annual Grammys air tonight at 8pm on CBS.

MTV Shows

Spotted at MTV

Die In Your Lap is the follow up to Cesar Comanche’s previous works Wooden Nickels (2000), Paper Gods (2002) and Squirrel & The Aces (2005) and appears on his own imprint, Defenders Of The Free World (DOTFW).

Cesar Comanche is one of the founding emcees of North Carolinas critically acclaimed hip-hop crew, The Justus League (Little Brother, 9th Wonder, The Away Team, etc.). Comanche, originally from Jacksonville, NC, began writing rhymes in 1994. In 1996, he met budding producer and fellow North Carolina State University student 9th Wonder, and commenced performing regularly and recording shortly thereafter. In 1999, Comanche, along with 9th Wonder, organized their fellow friends and rap artists in the Triangles hip-hop scene and started The Justus League Crew.

Cesar’s forthcoming LP, Die In Your Lap, will be released on 2-24-09 on DOTFW/ABB Records and the LP’s lead-single is the 9th Wonder produced “Hands High” (which is available now exclusively at iTunes).

DOWNLOAD:Cesar Comanche-Hands High(produced by 9th Wonder)




Cesar Comanche's Official Site

We all had the opportunity to watch Notorious B.I.G's life formulate before our eyes. Now the legendary Run DMC will be sharing their rags to riches story with all of us on the big screen. Screenwriter Cheo Hodari Coker who is responsible for the Notorious movie will also be the mastermind behind Run DMC's film. This is definitely going to be a movie worth seeing. I'm glad this opportunity has risen for them and that everyone will be able to embark on their story.


"This will be a big movie about the 1980s hip hop movement that took over the world."

Dela's Changes Of Atmosphere is set to drop officially on Feb 10th.
Although you can cop it from Fat Beats in NYC. Whichever you prefer.

Michelle Obama is being made into a wax model and will be on display at Madame Tussauds. Artists have been working on her for six months now. She will debut in the Washington, D.C. museum in March.

"As our nation's first African American first lady, a proud working mom and a budding style icon, Mrs. Obama is a role model to women around the corner and around the globe," said Janine DiGioacchino, general manager of Madame Tussauds New York and Washington D.C. "We know our visitors will love seeing and interacting with her figure."

via abc news

Black Tree TV had the opportunity to kick it with Anothny Mackie who portrays Tupac in the new Notorious film which is hitting theatres on the 16th. Mackie hopes that people will notice Pac and how he changed the world and the admiration that Biggie had for him.

Jazmine Sullivan in Los Angeles on Dec. 3, for Grammy nom. announcements.




Anytime someone gifted and talented from my hometown has their gifts recognized and honored, I am that much more grateful that I am from the "City of Soul," that is Philly. I just want to give a shout out to one of the many hometown greats, singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan, who was nominated for five grammy nominations, including Best R&B Contemporary album for her album, Fearless. Although Jazmine seems as if she's a newbie on the scene, she's been working in the biz for years. She's worked alongside producers Cool and Dre, and even pegging hits such as "Say I" for Christina Milian and writing for Jennifer Hudson's debut album. My money's on Jazmine, come February 8, when the Grammy's are presented.

Sidenote: Congrats to Nas, Jennifer Hudson, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, and Kanye West. There's more that I'd show luv to, but there's just too many...Congrats, guys.

As disturbing as this image is, you, like I must be wondering how could anyone have possibly survived this? Fortunately, The Legendary Roots crew did. After a car crash in Europe last week, ?uestlove is making sure he's setting the record straight with fans after posting the image above on his myspace page. Today, he writes in his blog, "in short we escaped what I can only call a tragic bus crash while on our way to open for kanye in paris. that white van basically missed an open for an exit and thought he could last minute side swipe us/race us to get off. and just wound up knocking us off this road. kinda strange how the mind works because the inside of the bus is tinted and covered with curtains. so despite the fact we flipped over i still thought it was just a fender bender for i had no reference point of direction."
All I have to say is, thank God, everyone made it out okay.

Learn more details about the crash from ?uestlove here .

Although Mickey hasn't graced the Billboard charts just yet, he is still getting the recognition that he deserves as a dedicated artist who is focused on his craft. Billboard has acknowledged his hustle with an article about the start of his music career and whats to come.


Read the article HERE!!

Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan will premiere tonight on BET. It follows the Wu from their beginnings in Staten (”Shaolin”) Island through their groundbreaking business practices- inside and outside the record industry, to their eventual break-up. Following the staid format of traditional documentaries-narration, interviews with childhood friends, quick cuts to neighborhoods–the Staten Island ferry, city landscapes-it simplifies the world’s most influential hip hop group to an hour and 30 minutes.

But it’s not entirely the fault of childhood friend Gerald K. Barclay, director and executive producer. It should have been told in parts-like their albums-one group story, separate solo in-depth examinations of each member, then coming back to the clan again. Wu-Tang Story I, II, III, until all of it’s told.

It fails to show their eclectic influences of Five Percent ideology, Inspector Clusoe, The Bible, a medley of drugs, the Qur’an, Taoism, the Iliad, Marvel comics, to every kung fu flick shown in a seedy 42nd Street movie house.

It just grazes the tip of their ballet on the microphone, their resurrection of the Wallabees with a new multi-colored flavor, and futuristic musical styles from their beats to their rhymes to their musical influences ranging from kung fu soundtracks to the Original Savannah Band.

The most poignant moments come with the formulaic, “Behind the Music” approach. Childhood friends come up with the brilliant idea to form a music group, the group becomes wildly successful, they’re each lured away by the temptation of having more, being more, and then it all implodes. Competitiveness becomes compulsion and the group breaks up. It usually ends with a breakout star who goes on to a successful solo career, drug addiction, or Melba Moore-like acting in the Chitlin’ circuit theater. In this case, the foreshadowing of destruction is Ol’ Dirty bastard and his warring personal demons.

Midway through, Ol’ Dirty is chubby-faced, recently released from prison, and seemingly having won the war of his addictions. Then vultures pull at him from all angles. Damon Dash signs him to a $1 million deal. His mother brags to the cameras that they have a book deal, a record deal, and a successful clothing line.

Members of the Clan are concerned for his health and urging him to lay low. It’s when Ol’ Dirty tells Mitchell “Divine” Diggs, CEO of the Wu, “I’m waiting to die, cause when I do, you mf’s are gonna wake up,” that empathy rules out over the Behind-the-Music irony. It’s the moment where you see that Ol’ Dirty, dubbed a free spirit by some, out of control by others, needs the Wu, the spotlight, needs to rap and to showcase his talents to stay sane in a newly sober world. He’s on fast forward as he realizes his window to say no to the devil is very short.

The Wu story shows rare footage of the group performing in Hawaii, overseas, and in hole in the wall clubs, all in front of breathless, crying fans. It hints at their success in fashion, comic book lines, kung fu videos, all while continuing to sell millions of records.

This is where BET succeeds–in telling the young black youth about the innovation of what the clan did–a community of MC’s that were able to step out from the pack, shine, and come back and be a family again. It shows RZA, the genius behind their making, who bargains for less money up front for their deal with Loud Records, in order to have the freedom to sign individual crew members to solo deals.

And it shows how he brought nine MC’s from the warring Stapleton and Park Hill projects together in a basement to record Protect Ya Neck, where they were forced to come correct to prove a point. It gives us a slice, albeit a small one, of nine men that in 1993 emerged from the forgotten borough to form one of the most successful rap groups of all time.

Wu-The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan, premieres on BET tonight at 8pm. The soundtrack, due out Nov. 18th , features Wu’s biggest hits as well as classics from several of their solo endeavors.

spotted@blackpower.com

VH1 Soul is hitting the road to visit some of the most famous metropolises around the country with its first original series “Soul Cities.” Viewers will accompany host Nelson George as he embarks on his search to experience the soul in some of America’s greatest cities. Nelson, an award-winning author, filmmaker, television producer, and African-American culture critic, will provide viewers a unique perspective of the music, culture, history, food, people, and famous spaces and places that makes each city soulful in its own way. “Soul Cities” visits the recording studios, churches, radio stations and restaurants that produced some of the most influential music and moments of soul culture. The cities featured in this original series are Chicago, Los Angeles, Memphis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and the Bay Area- which includes San Francisco and Oakland.

Premiering weekly on VH1 Soul beginning Tuesday, November 11 at 9PM*, this six episode, 30-minute original series will feature exclusive and original interviews with top urban music artists as they reminisce about their journeys from their hometowns to the stage and everything in between. A search for soul is not complete without experiencing the food - soul food that is. Nelson George indulges in the culinary delights in each city and gets the chance to taste food that represents the deep culture of soul. The series will also showcase live music and conversations with artists like Babyface, Aloe Blacc, Rapheal Saadiq, Raheem DeVaughn, ?uestlove of The Roots, Labelle (featuring Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, & Sarah Dash), Angie Stone, Irma Thomas, Lalah Hathaway, Robin Thicke, Gamble and Huff, Ron Trent, DJ Sake1, Goapele and VH1 Soul’s “You Oughta Know”artist, Jazmine Sullivan.

The premiere schedule of VH1 Soul “Soul Cities” is as follows:
• Philadelphia - Series premiere on Tuesday, November 11 at 9PM ET/PT
• Chicago - Tuesday, November 18 at 9PM ET/PT
• Bay Area - Tuesday, November 25 at 9PM ET/PT
• New Orleans - Tuesday, December 2 at 9PM ET/PT
• Memphis - Tuesday, December 9 at 9PM ET/PT
• Los Angeles - Tuesday, December 16 at 9PM ET/PT


Next year Nelson will be visiting Brooklyn, Miami, Atlanta, Detroit and Dallas. Possibly Harlem, Boston, Houston, Washington DC, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Newark and Cleveland. If you love the soul of any of these cities and would like to see them on the show please email me with your soulful recommendations on artists, landmarks, radio shows, record stores, parties, restaurants, etc. Thank you!

It is so disheartening when you learn that someone's world has been shaken by tragedy, and the same goes for singer and Academy Award winner, Jennifer Hudson.
On Friday, Hudson's mother and brother were found murdered in Chicago. The two were the victims of a fatal shooting. Hudson's publicist told PEOPLE magazine,
"We can confirm that there is an ongoing investgation concerning the deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson." The rep, Lisa Kasteler went on to say, "No further comment will be made and the family has asked that their privacy be respected at the difficult time."

Our condolences to the Hudson family.


To read more, go to People.com

Wale, B.o.B., Charles Hamilton, Asher Roth

Cory Gunz, Blu, Mickey Factz

Ace Hood, Curren$y, Kid Cudi

I am very pleased with the selection of artists to grace XXL's cover simply because these are all artists who are on the come up in creating their own path in Hip Hop, some may agree or disagree but when you look at all of them from Wale to Blu to Cory Gunz they ALL are bringing their own unique style to the game.The Top of the Class issue hits news stands November 4th. kudos