Strictly hip hop news

Forget diamonds — Nothing says “I Love You” like matching mugshots!

On Friday, cops in the City of Angels released mugshots for rapper Clifford “T.I.” Harris and his wife of one month, former Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, following their arrest on drug possessions charges on Los Angeles’ Sunset Blvd. on Wednesday.

Tiny and T.I. were taken into custody this week after LAPD officers smelled the distinct stint of marijuana wafting from their Maybach. Upon further investigation, cops found what is believed to be meth and ecstasy in the vehicle. They were released on $10,000 bail early Thursday. The criminal couple have not yet been formally charge — that’s still up the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office — but legal disaster is likely on the horizon for Tip. The Grammy-winning “Whatever You Like” star is still on three years’ probation stemming from his eight-month prison term on gun charges.

Meanwhile, Ne-Yo has some choice words for T.I. when asked about the arrest while doing press interviews Friday for his upcoming joint venture with Moet & Chandon. The R&B crooner says T.I. is one of the smartest people in the music industry, but it’s time he gets his act together.

“I feel that he makes a lot of poor decisions when it comes to the people that he surrounds himself with,” Ne-Yo told The Associated Press.

I’m bored, and it’s a slow Friday. So why not go crate digging? This time around, Kanye’s production on Rick Ross’ “Live Fast, Die Young” is the subject.

* The Bar-Kays – If This World Were Mines
* Kid Dynamite – Uphill Peace Of Mind
* James Brown – Funky President (People It’s Bad)

DOWNLOAD: Meka’s Soul Mix EP: Rick Ross Edition | Mediafire

Another Friday, another sporadic Charles Hamilton mixtape from Rhymestyle. Tracklist and link down bottom.

DOWNLOAD: Charles Hamilton & H2 – Starchaser Radio (Mixtape)

Here goes a leak off Lil’ Dap & Melachi’s Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal, releasing Sept. 28th, featuring Jeru the Damaja. Salutes to that man, and salutes to Group Home on this. But let’s be honest here, Fat Joe’s I’m Gone > this. Props to DJ Premier Blog. Peace to the God, Keith Elam!

DOWNLOAD: Group Home – G.U.R.U. f. Jeru The Damaja | Mediafire

Random picture of the day.

Apparently these two had squashed their social networking site beef of sorts, which we all know is as valid as Rick Ross’ lyrics. Here’s the end result of such squashing.

DOWNLOAD: Rick Ross – Paid Tha Cost f. Slim Thug | Mediafire

Here’s the latest leak from Da Circle’s mixtape The S.A.F.E., hosted By Statik Selektah and dropping next week.

DOWNLOAD: Da Circle – Imagination | Mediafire
PREVIOUS: Da Circle – Bombard (Video)

Filed under: Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop News, Side Gig

Pharrell Williams has revealed his latest work of art and it has nothing to do with music.

The N.E.R.D. frontman appears in a follow-up collaboration to his short 2009 film 'The Ear' with Chinese artist Yi Zhou. The new piece, entitled 'The Greatness,' is a 3D animation, transforming Pharrell's visage into vase form, before leading the viewer on a surealistic journey through a labyrinth underworld.

'The Greatness' opens Zhou's "I AM YOUR SIMULACRUM" retrospective show at 20 Hoxton Square Projects in London, which opens today. The exhibit, according to Dazed Digital is "based on layers of video game programs and advanced 3D programming research." For more info, click here.

Filed under: Hip-Hop, Tours and Concerts

Eminem and Jay-Z kicked off their Home and Home concert series in Detroit's Comerica Park on Thursday night in front of 42,000 rabid fans. The concert is already going down as one of hip-hop's most epic with a series of guest appearances that included Young Jeezy, Drake, 50 Cent and Dr. Dre.

Following B.o.B.'s brief intro set, which included his smash single 'Nothing On You,' Jay-Z took the stage and ran through approximately 30 songs, in his 80-minute set. Former Roc-A-Fella rapper Memphis Bleek joined him on stage as hype man, after a 4-song performance from Young Jeezy. Hov went easy on the features, choosing instead to pay tribute to fallen legends like 2Pac, Pimp C, Guru, Jam Master Jay, Aaliyah, the Notorious B.I.G. and Em's mentor, Proof. He rounded out his performance with the 'Blueprint 3' hit 'Empire State of Mind,' and thanked Detroit fans for singing along, while images of New York City flashed across the gargantuan video screens behind him.

Eminem opened his hometown set with the 'Recovery' track 'Won't Back Down,' and his D-12 crew were among the first guests to join him on stage, followed by an 'Airplanes' performance with B.o.B. After warming up, Slim Shady got into the heavy-hitters, bringing out Drake to deliver his verse on 'Forever,' followed appearances from 50 Cent, G-Unit and none other than Dr. Dre.

Filed under: Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop News, Don't Call It a Comeback

Nas has had a productive year in music despite the tabloid fodder trailing his divorce from ex-wife Kelis. His collaboration with Damian Marley, 'Distant Relatives,' was a fan favorite and well received upon its release and the Queens native recently ripped a new track on Green Lantern's 'Invasion Radio 2K10' mixtape. The song is semi-boldly entitled 'Power, Paper & P----' and was quickly followed by a new jam called 'Last Real, Part 2.' Both tracks really show Nas getting back to his mid '90s roots with some hard-hitting raps.

"[Nasty Nas] never left," the rapper said to MTV News when asked to explain the new work's ferocious feel. "I recorded the song in my hometown of New York City. I was feeling the vibe of the streets and sewers, [which] helped me get in that zone."

Apparently, for 'Last Real, Part 2,' Nas went into the studio itching to return to the heavy sampling of yesteryear. He asked longtime collaborator Salaam Remi to flip Herb Alpert's 'Rise' -- a smooth jazz record that came out in 1979 and is heavily featured on Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Hypnotize.'