Thisis50.com:

Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley are proud to announce the release of their highly-anticipated collaborative studio album, Distant Relatives (Universal Republic/Universal Music Canada) on May 18. Featuring the signature instrumentation and musicianship of Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley with the hard-hitting beats and lyrics of Nas, the album title refers not only to the bond between the artists, but the connection to their African ancestry, which inspired the album both musically and lyrically.

Throughout the course of their musical careers, the duo has always admired each other’s style. Since first meeting in 1996 the two artists have shared a mutual respect and camaraderie that was most recently showcased on the track “Road to Zion,” from Damian’s critically acclaimed album, Welcome to Jamrock. After having such a positive experience working together, they have now joined forces again for Distant Relatives. In their latest collaboration, Nas and Damian trace hip-hop’s roots to Africa, where the genre originated as a vital form of cultural expression and was then transported by the slave trade to the Caribbean and the American colonies. It blossomed a half century ago in the dance halls of Kingston, Jamaica, and soon migrated to the park jams and recreational centers of New York City, where the culture became known as hip-hop. This evolution forms the basis of the Distant Relatives project which, in addition to the album, also includes a documentary film, performances and a series of public discussions, the first of which took place in conjunction with National Geographic Live in Washington, DC last December.

“Damian and Nas have made a groundbreaking album that combines the depth and vision of these two artists with a seminal musical and cultural thread of multiple generations,” stated Monte Lipman, President and CEO of Universal Republic Records. “We’re thrilled to play a role on what’s certain to be another pivotal album for both artists and one of the more unique collaborative efforts in recent years.”

The partnership between the two artists is sure to amaze with an album encompassing 14 tracks including the first singles “As We Enter” and “Strong Will Continue”. The album was produced by Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and also features several guest appearances from Joss Stone and Lil Wayne, who appear on the track “Generation,” K’NAAN on “Africa Must Wake Up” and Tribal War,” and Stephen Marley on “Leaders” and “In His Own Words.”

Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley plan to hit the road following the release of their album, with a prelude to the tour at SXSW on March 17.

MTV reports:

The pledge is on wax and MP3: On his new single “Over,” Drake raps, “Making sure the Young Money ship is never sinking.” Even though the head of his label, Lil Wayne, is in jail, Drake insisted there’s no way he’ll let the camp slip from its top spot.

“I’m gonna do everything I told him I would do, what I said in the song: keep us afloat till he gets back,” Drake said on the set of his “Over” video. “You won’t even notice he’s gone. Promise.”

Last week, Wayne was sentenced to a year in jail for a 2007 gun-possession charge, but Drake knows his leader will be OK.

“Lil Wayne is a legend,” Drake said. “I could never classify Wayne as victim. He’s too strong to me. Wayne is who he wants to be. People don’t understand. It’s really not an act. Lil Wayne is a character you’ll rarely run across, probably for the existence of human beings. He is that guy. He is Lil Wayne for a reason. He’s a rock star, a visionary, a workaholic. He doesn’t function like anybody I know. He’s a rare breed.

“I don’t think fame really has anything to do with his situation,” Drizzy continued. “We take precautions. All of us do. To be in the public eye and to be envied and have people who hate you and never have met you or have people who love you and tattoo your face on their body and never have met you, it’s an odd feeling for anybody. It’s a rush [for me]. I love it. It gets weird sometimes. So it’s just personal choices we all make. I never felt that threatened. I’m not sure what’s going through his head at the time. But Wayne has a reason for everything, always. I trust in Wayne. I believe in Wayne. He’s gonna be all right.”

Written by: XXL

Well-known Harlemite, rapper and entrepreneur, Diddy is planning to cross the bridge on Tuesday, March 9, for the first time in years to host a party in Brooklyn. The trek is to commemorate the 13th anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.’s death. According to the New York Post, the party will take place at The Lab, a club in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn where Biggie grew up.

“We’re trying to make March 9th a national hip-hop holiday,” Diddy told MTV News. “It already is on the low…. It’s a big day. It’s a day to celebrate his life. It’s a day to celebrate the life of the man. We done did the movie, the records. It’s something that, I guess as a label we’re obsessed with: making sure people don’t forget about this man in a positive way. March 9 is Biggie Day… Bump Biggie all day, feel good and positive.”

Good music.

Waka Flocka is from Queens? Come on son!!!! LMAO

DJ Kay Slay Ft. Sheek Louch, Bun B, Papoose, Busta Rhymes, Uncle Murda And Jay Rock. Solid track and Uncle Murda impressed me. Listen HERE on Allhiphop

That’s right folks Jovanos is back with a new mixtape entitled Astro Music. Hosted, mixed and mastered by DJ H. Blendz of Brooklyn Collectiv, Astro Music is 19 tracks of lyrics from the outer limits.  Yea, Da Collectiv is now packaging projects for indie artists. Come see why everyone respects our perspective. Don’t forget, be on the look out for a fresh review on Astro Music from our very own Jae Cy. Check out the tracklisting below and download Astro Music HERE

DATPIFF LINK: http://www.datpiff.com/DJ_H_Blendz_Jovanos_Astro_Music_Volume_1.m102307.html

ASTRO MUSIC TRACKLIST

1.Intro - DJ H. Blendz
2.Say Yeah
3.Hopscotchin
4.New Sensation
5.Fear
6.Won’t Stop
7.Put It On Her
8.AMG
9.Star Of The Show
10.Its On
11.Im Addicted
12.Make Money
13.Leave You Alone
14.Back Again
15.Until The End Of Time
16.Crazy
17.UK Shhh
18.Role Model
19.Victory freestyle

Rap-Up Reports:

The West Coast is officially back. If the forthcoming release of Snoop Dogg’s More Malice and Game’s R.E.D. Album weren’t enough, now L.A.’s own Ice Cube is returning to the scene with his ninth studio album.

The rapper-turned-actor has announced the title, I Am the West, and tentative release date for his first musical project since 2008’s Raw Footage. In a blog entry dated Wednesday (Feb. 24), Cube also laments about the current state of radio and thanks the West Coast MCs who have kept the genre alive.

I AM THE WEST…is the name of my new record. After completing about 65% of my music, this is the perfect title. This shit is cocky, no apologies,West Coast gangsta shit. I can’t help it. That’s what I do. June seems too tight for a release, but July is very doable. We’ll see how things go. Now that I have my title, I can work on the concept of my photoshoot and artwork. I want to provide early merch before the drop date.

For 7 or 8 years now the West Coast has been trying to do music that appeals to the South and Mid-West. The words, “too West Coast” would be heard throughout the industry whenever our music was played. Even by our own dj’s. Left coast MC’s were now trying to change their sound to cater to all the followers. We lost our way. Thank God for b-boys like Snoop, The Game & WC for keeping the West alive, but we were all guilty of over reaching. No more. At least not from me. I do it how I feel it; not how I think it should be done. Radio fucked us up. I hate the politics at radio. I don’t know who to pay to get my shit played. Having a hot song is not enough. Ridiculous.

I AM THE WEST. It’s coming….

Keep It Gangsta
Ice Cube