Hip Hop Is Dead Album Cover

One of the most visually creative and thought provoking album covers in a while. I can't wait to hear the album. Roll on Dec 19th

Rainbow! My 2nd Childhood!


As like most kids, my childhood consisted of Jam sandwiches, kiss chase and cartoons/kids tv. Rainbow was one of the biggest kiddie shows back in the day full stop, although Button Moon, Superted and He-man were equally superior in their own rights.
Anyway, as much as I would love to write up some profound analysis on the subliminal messages tranmitted by Rainbow, I will refrain. Enjoy!

Official 'Hip Hop Is Dead' Tracklisting

01) 'Don't Hate Me Now' (Salaam Remi)
02) 'QB Tru Gs' f/The Game (Dr. Dre)
03) 'Black Republican' f/Jay-Z (L.E.S.)
04) 'Where Y'all At' (Salaam Remi)
05) 'Play On Playa' f/Snoop Dogg (Scott Storch)
06) 'Still Dreaming' f/Kanye West & Chrisette Michelle (Kanye West)
07) 'White Man's Paper' f/Damien Marley (Afrikan)
08) 'Blunt Ashes' (Chris Webber)
09) 'Hip-Hop Is Dead' f/Will.I.Am. (Will.I.Am)
10) 'Where Are They Now' (Nas and Salaam Remi)
11) 'Let There Be Light' f/Tre Williams (Kanye West)
12) 'Not Going Back' f/Kelis (Star Gate)
13) 'Can't Forget About You' f/Chrisette Michelle (Will.I.Am)
14) 'Hold Down The Block' (Mark Batson)

Hip-Hop Ain’t Dead (Its Official Now!!)

A lot of people have waited a long time for this to happen. Bearing in mind hip-hop’s current dire stagnant existence, where artistry, passion and lyricism is invisible in a game that was once built of those very pillars – this is damn near historic.

Nas and Jay-Z on the same track - no longer the stuff that rap purists wet dreams are made of! The song's called 'Black Republican' and it will be on Nas's new album Hip Hop Is Dead - The N due for release Dec 19th

Two of hip-hops most revered artists, put their differences aside for the sake of this lil' old thing we love and hate called hip-hop.

The hairs stood up on the back of my neck when I heard this! Shout out to M12 for putting me on.

Lets just hope that Nasir’s album follows suit – one listen to this proves that Hip-Hop ain’t dead – sorry Esco!

Whose verse is better? Answers on a post card yeah!

http://www.zshare.net/audio/nas-ft-jay-z-black-republicanwww-thesurfacenews-blogspot-com-mp3.html

Snippet: Spike Lee's 'When the Levees Broke' Documentary


When I wrote in the London SE8 To New Orleans Louisiana post that its pretty difficult to articulate the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina to the entire Golf Coast of America, I was wrong, for Spike Lee has done so perfectly. The above is taken from When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts which is a 2 part, 4 hour long (in total) documentary on Hurricane Katrina (and the failure of US Government), written, produced and directed by Spike Lee. Incredibly powerful and arguably Spike Lee at his finest (who else can document the plight of Black America better that Lee?) , as I said before pictures tell a thousand stories.

'Kingdom Come' Album Cover and Tracklisting

'Prelude' (produced by Ghettobot)
'Oh My God' (produced by Just Blaze)
'Kingdom Come' (produced by Just Blaze)
'Show Me What You Got' (produced by Just Blaze)
'Lost One' (featuring Chrissette Michelle, produced by Dr Dre)
'Do You Wanna Ride' (featuring John Legend, produced by Kanye West)
'30 Something' (produced by Dr Dre)
'I Made It' (produced by Dr Dre)
'Anything' (featuring Usher and Pharrell, produced by Neptunes)
'Hollywood' (featuring Beyonce, produced by Scyience)
'Trouble' (produced by Dr Dre)
'Dig A Hole' (featuring Sterling Simms, produced by Swizz Beatz)
'Minority Report' (featuring Ne-YO, produced by Dr Dre)
'Beach Chair' (featuring Chris Martin, produced by Coldplay)

Wow, Dre's all over this! No Nas Colloabo though, guess we just have to wait until 'Hip Hop is Dead' tracklisting is revealed. Could've been a teeny bit more imaginative with the art work...
just a thought.

London SE8 To New Orleans, Louisiana

Most of us saw the news reports and all of us heard Kanye's anti Bush comments, but believe me when I say that until you actually see for yourself the devastation and chaos caused by Hurricane Katrina, no news report quite does it justice. I could write tons detailing my recent visit to the big N.O, but pictures speak a thousand words, so here you go.

Heavy On The Facts...

A year on since Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Golf Coast of America, 700 people are still reported as missing in Louisiana State.

2000 people lost their lives.

Only 20% of people have returned to New Orleans since Katrina.

A large proportion of the populace of New Orleans are living in trailers (caravans) provided by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) or (Forget Everyone Mainly Africans) as some people we met referred to the US government funded rescue organization.

The total cost of damage caused by Katrina stands at $81.2 million.

Conspiracy theories regarding the mistreatment and possible sabotage of the levees remain a fresh in N.O, with residents even putting up signs calling for witnesses.

Despite the lost of life, pain caused and devastation the people of New Orleans remain up-beat and hopeful for the future.

Katrina was the worst natural disaster in US History.