Whether I like it or not, beef helps sell records. One of the most recent examples of this is everyone taking sides by purchasing either a 50 or Kanye album. Last Tuesday, Fat Joe’s The Elephant in the Room dropped and the Papoose, 50/G-Unit, Remy Ma beef continued as Papoose just dropped “A Fair One,” an almost eight-minute-long Fat Joe diss. You would think if you had beef with someone you’d hold it off while they were releasing an album. Have Papoose and the G-unit following not realized that all of this controversy with Joey Crack is probably helping him sell albums?
Wu-tang is coming to Montreal – supposedly. All of the clan – RZA, GZA, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, U-God and Method Man – are set to perform, but who will actually make it across the border? I’m hoping the whole group does, especially Ghostface and Method Man; and Raekwon was recently here, but I’m not sure how many of them will get through. See the members that do April 21 at Metropolis.
Speaking of the Wu, RZA will be releasing a solo project this summer. The album, Digi Snax, will come with a lot less flak than the recent RZA produced Wu-tang release 8 Diagrams, for which he received a lot of complaints from Wu-tang members for his production. There won’t be any complaining this time around. The latest track off the album made this week’s “The Reign Recommended Brand New Bangers.”
DC rapper Wale – pronounced Wah-lay, not like the 60-tonne water mammal – has just signed to Interscope Records through way of Mark Ronson’s record label Allido. You may recognize him from the hot track “Nike Boots” – an ode to the all-terrain Nike – and if you don’t, you need to go download that song. He’s expected to release an album this fall, produced by Ronson, that will be the first release from Allido since locking down a deal with Interscope.
If you shoot one friend, get another to back you up. Remy got lucky this past week; one of the three witnesses in the case against her for allegedly shooting a friend, testified she was too drunk to remember whom the shooter was. Right.
As the election campaigning continues and all of us Canadians pretend we have a say in the outcome, you can rep your candidate by rocking streetwear. If you’re a Barack Obama supporter pick up a Ba-Rocksmith tee from Rocksmith Tokyo featuring an Andy Warhol-esque montage of the democratic candidate. I wonder if Obama knows this shirt exists – I bet if he did, he’d be rocking one too.
Electro-duo Chromeo will be performing Thursday at Le National. The Two Steppin’ in Canada Tour Triumphant Homecoming Concert sold out a week in advance so if you don’t have your tickets, looks like you ain’t going. They are known to put on a crazy party and since it’s in their hometown this one should be pretty wild.
Check out The Reign on the air Tuesday 4 to 6 p.m. on cjlo.com. Bringin’ you brand new hip hop every week.
The Reign Recommended Bangers:
1. “Back in the Go Go”
– Wale ft. Bun B and Pusha T
2. “Gettin Stronger” – Sheek Louch ft. Styles P & Jadakiss
3. “You Should Know” – Tanya Morgan ft. Naledge
4. “Hold it Down” – 9th Wonder & Buckshot ft. Talib Kweli & Tyler Woods