On September 9, Raekwon The Chef of the Wu-Tang Clan is dropping the much-awaited sequel to his 1995 classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... a triumph of storytelling, technically proficient rhymes and gritty Shaolin-style production. Granted, he has kept to this formula since his debut with the Clan, but Part II will be his greatest triumph of the decade, with production by RZA as well as Dr. Dre, J. Dilla, Pete Rock, Marly Marl, Necro, The Alchemist and Allah Mathematics, with rhymes contributed by Slick Rick, Busta Rhymes, The Lox. Ghostface Killah will reprise his role as the secondary rapper on the album, and there will be also be multiple appearances by Wu-Tang stalwarts Method Man, GZA and Inspectah Deck.

At 8pm on the release date, Santos Party House will be holding the concert and celebration, which promises to be flat out the best real hip-hop event the city has seen in a long time.

The amazing lineup for the Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II release party at Santos on September 8th includes (of course) Raekwon, as well as key collaborator Ghostface. Joining them at the Diddy-hosted show will be the likes of Beanie Sigel, Bustah Rhymes, Talib Kweli, Slick Rick, Lyfe Jennings and more. The full cast is below with the flyer. No word on tickets yet.

Two nights later, S.O.B.'s hosts its own Raekwon release show with Raekwon & Ghostface Killah. If there will be more special guests at that show too, they aren't announced. Tickets for the September 10th show are on sale.

Ghostface's own new record, The Wizard of Poetry, is due on September 29th on Def Jam. He's got his own show coming up at BB King's in November. "Baby," the first video from that new disc, is posted below.

Raekwon appeared on the bill of this year's Rock the Bells tour. Videos from his Boston and Jones Beach appearances are below...

Continue reading "Raekwon celebrating new album w/ 2 NYC shows - guests include Ghostface, Talib, Beanie Sigel, Slick Rick, more..."

photos by Zach Dilgard, words by Black Bubblegum

EPMD @ Kutscher's (ATP NY)

Erick & Parrish will again Make Dollars when the legendary duo, also known as EPMD take the stage at SOB's TONIGHT (9/23) at the "Allhiphop.com Breeding Ground Showcase" hosted by the Hot 97's DJ Envy. Tickets are still available.

The SOB's show will be headlined by a reuniting State Property, which was headed up by Beanie Sigel and features Freeway, Peedi Peedi, Young Gunz, Oschino, and Sparks.

EPMD played ATP this past weekend, and is on tap to play 3 more Rock The Bells dates and a show at the Izod Center in Jersey as well. More ATP pictures, and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "State Property (reunited) w/ EPMD tonight @ SOBs + more 2008 tour dates & even more ATP pics"

DOWNLOAD: Beanie Sigel - Gutted (featuring Jay-Z) (MP3)

Beanie Sigel & Jay-Z @ Apollo Theater, NYC - Nov 13, 2007 (CRED)

Beanie Sigel's "The Solution" is out December 11th. Jay-Z appears on the track "Gutted" (download above). MSN is streaming Jay-Z's recent show at Hammerstein Ballroom (but not the one at Apollo).

Nas & Jay-Z

Beanie Sigel, Diddy, Jay-Z and LeBron James

Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel

Ryan Dombal visited the Apollo Theate in Harlem last night (Nov 13, 2007) and came back with these great photos of the Jay-Z show. Other on-stage guests included Memphis Bleek and Freeway. Puff Daddy (the guy in the ugly coat) also showed up at the Hammerstein Ballroom show two nights earlier. LeBron James's day job is basketball player (but it's not the first time he and Jay-Z have hung out). American Gangster is out now, but you won't find it on iTunes.

As Wes has pointed out (more than once), Beanie Sigel is playing Knitting Factory in NYC tomorrow (5/22).

In the video below - one definitely making the rounds on the Internet, Beanie has some not-nice things to say about fellow Roc-A-Fella member Kanye and Pharrell....

Continue reading "BEANIE SIGEL: Kanye West & Pharrell are not cool (video)"