Busta... Hilarious!!

Busta cracks me up!!!

Classic Busta....





He makes some valid points though....

'About to Blow'

As the child of a Syrian father and a Ghanaian mother, the Afro-British cinema and television actor Idris Elba built his reputation as a performer in sitcoms and cable dramas.
His most notable role to date has been on the critically acclaimed cable television show “The Wire,” where he played business-minded drug deal Stringer Bell. Stringer Bell met an untimely demise in the last episode of the third season on the show and since then Idris has been branching out and lying low from the public.
From 2006 to the present Idris has been building up his resume and is now ready to make a big splash in the mainstream; working side by side with Denzel Washington in the highly anticipated drama “American Gangster”

Tell me about yourself?
My name is Idris Elba. I'm both an artist and actor. I trade between the two. I'm just trying to articulately express myself though different art forms be it music, acting or photography.

Rappers in the past have come under attack by actors who feel that rappers should not be given big film roles. You’re in a unique position being an actor who wants to also dabble in music, what are your thoughts on the debate?
By my own definition; if you're an artist you're an artist. Whether you're a rapper, actor, musician or painter. If you're good at various different art forms then why not and I'm not just saying this as I also dabble in music. People may not realize, but a lot of artists actually have acted before they started rapping or singing; Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott were all actors before musicians. For me it's really a case of if you can do it then who's to say you can’t. Certain people believe you should do what you’re best at and stay in your lane, but I honestly feel if you can do a few things well then why shouldn't you be allowed too.

But as an actor do you ever feel annoyed that the bigger roles sometimes go to the artist just because maybe they're name will attract more viewers or box office sales?
Well I put it all in perspective. Yes artists sometimes do get the big roles, but what kind of roles are they. Let’s be honest; no rappers are being asked to play heads of state, no rappers are being asked to play roles that really change people’s perceptions. I agree rappers are getting big film roles and good roles, but it's often the character they are playing is a slight variation from who they are in real life or a character that many rappers have played before and again just with slight variations.

You're real breakthrough came in the US. Did you feel the UK market was not supporting you? Is that why you moved?
For me personally my ambition is and was; huge, larger than life. I always had giant dreams. I always wanted more than I could actually do. In the UK, I found as soon as I came out I was auditioning against people who I was watching on TV, people who I admired throughout the years and that just made me realize that England couldn't house my ambition, you could only reach a certain point in the UK and then you would be stuck on that level. Also there isn't really a star support system here in the UK for actors of African or Caribbean decent. You could be a white actor in Easterners and your considered a star and they'll support that, there publicity and promotions will support that and the next thing you know you'll get more work and offers and that's not the case with Black actors. In America they have a history of Black stars, stars in general not just actors and they have a history of celebrating people who have done well and are doing well.

Do you think especially here in the UK, Black actors are still getting the stereotypical roles rather than opportunities to do something different?
I definitely feel out here there's still the element that "Oh, he's black then he can’t have a story line that isn't relevant to his culture or the stereotype." If he's black then they're like "black people are violent or black people are angry". So yeah I feel England still suffers from stereotypical roles, I don't feel they know how to express a storyline that has a black man in it without including some cultural issues, if a black man's in a TV show then they have to include some issues that links to his race. America seems to have gotten over that which is why you can see characters playing roles that have nothing to do with their race. Me personally, I have always avoided stereotypes. As an actor you have to be able to show you can play different roles, different styles, and different personalities. Idris the person is very much a black man, I might even be considered a stereotypical black man, but when it comes to my work I won’t accept that, I won’t have you pigeonhole me.

But in America, your most well known character was a drug dealer right?
Yeah, but It wasn't a stereotypical drug dealer. It was a drug dealer that completely flipped it on his head and since then I haven't been playing drug dealers, I've been playing a variation of different roles. The route I'm taking is a longer route as normally actors will play what they are known for, so you have actors like Tom Cruise that is always hired for action movies or certain actors that will always do comedy but I think Black actors really need to avoid doing that as we can be typecast.

With your music are you worried you won’t be able to breakthrough as it's a lot harder for actors to be accepted as a musician than it is for an artist to be accepted as an actor?
I won’t consider myself trying to break into anything. Ultimately music is just another form of expression for me. Everybody is different and everybody has their own style that can be respected. I'm not trying to be a rapper, I'm not trying to come in and compete against other rappers or other DJ's or producers. It's like I have a blank canvas in front of me and I want to put some art work on it and that's how I see my music. I'm really not even looking for judgment or appraisal on it. It just is what it is. I actually break my music into characters, when I'm doing a DJ set, sometimes I'll do a house set and I love house music and then I might be in New York and I'll do a Hip-Hop or Reggae set or ill go to Canvas City and all they would want me to play is the top twenty. So for my personal music, it's going to be a pallet of all of the above. It won’t always be me as an artist; I'm a producer more than anything. I'm not trying to be puffy or anyone but I'm just a person trying to put music together; that's it.

You have up-coming films that feature artists like T.I. and Chris Brown. Would you approach them to help you get your music out there?
No, not really. I love Tip and Chris, but I don't like asking for favours. They are all at the top of their game; I feel I need to prove myself first. I wouldn't want to work with Chris Brown, if I thought he was a shit actor and he can actually act and the same with Tip. I don't feel I should take the short cut. I don't want to use people to get to the top or ride the fact I know a lot of artists to make it.

Your next film is 'American Gangsta.' How was it like working with Denzel Washington? All your scenes were with Denzel right?
Honestly, I really can’t talk about what it was like working with Denzel the person, it was the character he was playing. Denzel is a method actor so Denzel the person wasn't there; it was the character 'Frank Lucas' that he was playing. And was that amazing? Of course because he was very dedicated to that character and I walked into a room with an actor that is giving 110%, but there are no real personal stories that I can give you. I respect him as an actor. Too be honest I don't like talking about Denzel Washington because in America for some reason people keep saying the next 'Denzel Washington' when my name is mentioned and I get annoyed with that.

Why does that annoy you?
Well I think that's kind of limiting me. He's great, but is that it? Is that the best that there is? Is he the best that ever did it? I don't think so. There are some fantastic amazing actors that I rather be compared to that haven't even broken yet.

Do you also find it annoying that black actors are only compared to other black actors? You hardly hear comments like; the next 'Brad Pitt' or the next 'Tom Cruise' or even next action hero and so on.
Exactly... I don't want to be just the next so and so. That's like saying we can only have one star. So if that's Denzel then we can only have him until he retires then you can have the next 'Denzel.' That's just putting us in the box. We can all be stars and have individual styles.

You're a household name in America, but not so much in the UK where you're from. Why do you think that is?
I'm always home but when I'm home in the UK; I don't really like talking to the press. It's just in my nature to keep myself to myself; it's who I am as a person. When you see me in American magazines, it’s usually me doing a phone interview here from London.

But if you're talking to American press than why not the British press?
In America, the support system for stars is crazy so even if you don't want to be a star, they're going to get you out there. In America they really like to celebrate the fact that you're good and that's great don't get me wrong, I know it's a blessing and if it means that I get more work then that's brilliant, but for me personally I honestly don't want to be famous. I rather you know what I do and you respect and enjoy my work, but you don't know nothing about me personally, you just connect to the characters I play. I love being in London as not many people recognize me or know I'm on TV and doing films in the states.

That's going to change though, you're in a lot of big budget movies that are about to come out?
I'm definitely embracing the idea that I will have to promote myself to keep the momentum going. I'm not hating on it and I understand at the end of the day; I have to do it, its work. That's another reason I enjoy doing music, photography and other projects as then people find it hard to pigeonhole me.

Let's talk about the films you have coming out?
I have two more films coming out this year; 'American Gangsta' and this Christmas film which is with Chris Brown and then next year I have a film called 'Prom Night' which is a good old fashioned American thriller, a slasher film and I play the hero cop that comes and saves the day on a prom night and then I have a part in the Guy Ritchie film which is called 'RocknRolla' and Ludacris is also in that film. On the music side I have this character that I have developed and my plans for this character is that I have some music attached to this character that I'm about to put out there. When you're an actor or your known for one thing then people are not willing to use you or hire you for anything else and people in the acting side also start to act funny especially music journalists, they're like "what's this guy doing, he's no artist" So I'm putting this character together and putting this music out via this character so I can say whatever I want basically. The first song that I think I'll attach to this character is a song called 'Pervert.' I like the fact that the project's going to be faceless. It's great that all these famous artists and famous actors get there shine but I think sometimes it takes the focus away from listening to the music.

I wanted to also ask you about your 'sex symbol status.' You were one of people magazines most beautiful people…
[Laughs uncomfortably] I guess I look at it in two ways. On one side I'm really pleased. Black people don't usually get the black sex symbol status regularly, that's the sign of the times when you got white girls saying you're sexy, black men before were never really considered sex symbols, it was either they're very athletic, they're great basketball players or they're very mean looking or whatever it is but personally for me it's like who cares, some people think you're sexy and some people don't. If it helps me sell some tickets at the box office then great. While I was growing up; no one ever called me sexy so it's strange for me getting that now, but honestly who cares. It's a compliment, but not everyone finds me sexy.

You seem uncomfortable with that title.
If you see me every day, you see I'm a scruffy guy. Obviously in films and photo shoots; I'm scrubbed and clean up nice, but it's not who I am every day. I have a friend of mine, the most beautiful, beautiful girl and anywhere she goes people are like "oh shit" and it just gets on her nerves. She can’t even have a real conversation with someone as they can’t see past her beauty and therefore she just feel she's being dumb downed by people. I rather people talk about my acting than me being sexy.

Ok moving swiftly back too acting then? Any directors, actors you really want to work with still?
Antoine Fuqua who did 'Training Day' and 'Shooter'. I'd like to work with him; I think he's smart and a force to be reckoned with. I'd like to work with Ridley Scott again. He directed 'American Gangsta'. I had fun working with him, he's fantastic.

American Gangsta already has the Oscar buzz, you must be excited?
Well it's not for me, I don't have a huge part, I have a great part but it's not big. It is great to be involved with a project and team that is creating so much excitement though. Actually me and T.I. are going to be working together again next year on a film, it's a heist film and we play rivals that have a lot of history, I can’t tell you much more about it but we start filming for it next year.

Are there any roles you would like to try out?
You know what I would like to start doing comedies. I enjoy goofing around and think I'd have fun playing some light hearted roles.

What is your biggest achievement to date?
My biggest achievement is my daughter, she I five years old and I love her to bits, she definitely keeps my grounded and focused, she's changed the way I live. I see myself directing eventually and fusing pictures and music together.

What's to come in the future?

I've started writing treatments for videos in America and I might be directing Angie Stone's next video, her second single. I actually wrote a song on her new album with a partner of mine and she loved the record and it's hopefully going to be her second single. So she might be giving me a shot at directing the video also. The song is a duet with her and James Ingram and it's on her new album.

Is 'B' taking style tips from Rihanna...

American Gangter (The Movie)

So I went to the advance screening for 'American Gangster' this week and I have to admit I am a little dissapointed with the movie!

I should have learned my lesson after 'Dreamgirls'.

When the build up/ buzz is this crazy for a movie, the chances are it's not going to live up to the hype.

Now 'American Gangsters' is by no means a bad movie, the story line is interesting, the actors all do an amazing job and the movie is shot/ caputured beautifully BUT (their's always a 'but') the film drags on and certain parts are just plain boring...

Don't get me wrong, I do like the movie and recomend people to go out and see it in the cinema instead of buying a bootleg copy; it's just that I was expecting something more...

Move over Justin... Alicia Keys the real one bringing sexy back!

Real talk with Will.I.Am

Will.I.Am makes it’s clear that he doesn’t care about what the people have to say about him or his work and that philosophy seems to be working The Black Eyed Peas have pushed the envelope of creativity with each and every release and their sales and popularity have grown along the way.
The big “BUT” or “WHY” is, why does the press and fans still criticize the groups growing popularity and worldwide success? The numbers don’t lie, but when you blur the lines between Pop Music and Hip Hop “culture” some people think you’re selling one or the other art form short.
Nonetheless Will.I.Am has became one of Hip Hop/Pop’s star producers virtually overnight. Now he’s got a solo project, more work with the super elite of artists (Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey) and another Black Eyed Peas album set to come out early 2008.
Let’s get familiar with the great Will.I.Am.

Hi Will. How are you?
[Puts on a funny voice] I’m ok.

Are you enjoying London?
[Puts on the same funny voice] It’s ok.

Are you going to do that voice throughout the interview?
[Same funny voice] I just might.

Ok. Let’s get straight into this album.
[Returns to normal voice] Cool let’s do that.

So the majority of this album is about an ex girlfriend of yours right?
Yeah that’s right but not every single track.

Do you still speak to her? Does she know it’s about her?
No we don’t speak anymore, but she’ll know it’s about her.

Are you hoping she will get in touch after she hears the album?
No, I didn’t do it for that. This is just something I had to do for me. I guess this is my closure.

I can relate to that. So who do you have on this album in terms of guest features?
I only have one guest feature; Snoop Dogg. The title and the subject matter of the song was just screaming out for Snoop.

How so? What is the title/ subject matter?
The song is called the ‘Donkey Song’. Donkey as in ‘Ass’ not like the animal.

Ok that makes more sense. Did you produce the album in its entirety?
No I didn’t. I have two tracks from Polow da Don and a guy named Fernando.

Are you happy with this album?
Super- duper happy, I actually couldn’t be happier with it.

So what made you decide to do a solo album in the first place?
If I was ever going to go solo then this was the time for me to do it. We have another Black Eyed Peas album coming out November 2008, which means we will probably go on tour in January 2009 and so I wouldn’t have a chance to release a solo record till 2010. This was my only available window.

You have been a part of the Black Eyed Peas for 10 years but this is your first ever solo project. Do you feel you have something to prove as an artist?
I don’t make music to prove points. I just make music to make music. They’re just songs. I try to always put the ego aside. Like I’m not trying to be all “I’m the best, you better recognize.” It’s just music. You know?

Yep. So you’re currently working on so many projects; you’re producing for various people, you’re a solo artist, you’re a song writer, you’re in a group... are you finding it hard being in such demand?
Not really. Too be honest I find it pretty easy. The thing that is hard is the touring.

You have been really innovative with the way you are using the internet to promote your new album...
I think a lot and it dawned on me while I was working on someone else’s album that I’m making music for people the same way that people produced music in the 70’s and 80’s. What I mean by that is; you make a record which would include at least eleven songs, you make a single then you make a video for that single. First of all the LP was invented by the record company to sell more albums as people just wanted to buy singles because they play singles on the radio then the record company back then, like RCA made the vinyl and the photographs. Then in the 80’s MTV came about so artists started making videos as part of the thing that they did to promote the music. So they made Vinyl, CD’s and Cassettes, they did promo shots, they made videos, they went on tour, they did merchandise like t-shirts and badges and they did interviews. Now we are in 2007 and we are still doing the exact same thing, following the exact same setup. The difference is now that it is also up in the internet and the record companies are afraid of it. So I just thought “Wow there is so much I can do just for the internet” So I thought let me make a record for the internet, let me make videos for the internet, let me make content for the internet on this Player. Let me have this Player that can be added on everybody’s profile on places like MySpace and FaceBook. If people come and buy music from their profile then let me allow them to make money too. So you can actually make a profit from using the Player. Also let me not just make a 15 song record but let me always update everybody’s Player with new music regularly because I’m a producer and am always changing and creating new songs so this way I can update people’s player with new music instantly.

So you think this is the way forward for everyone? You think this is going to take off?
I don’t know. Hopefully it works. I’m going to putting all my energy to try and make it work.

Well I commend you for trying something new and innovative...
Thank you so much.

You shot all the videos for this album in Brazil right?
Yeah I made all the videos in Brazil and I did it for the Player which is launched on September 25th and all the videos link together, it’s like a mini movie. We had no script; we just went out there and improvised. I want to actually do films in the future so that’s another reason I put the solo record out now so that when I’m about 35; I can focus on movies and other projects.

Ok so I have to ask you about Michael Jackson. Start from the beginning...
Ok so he called me on the phone, out of the blue and I didn’t believe it was him. Seriously; I was like come on who is this, how did you get my number? Stop playing around. So he was like [imitates Michael Jackson] “No it’s really me, it’s Michael.” And I still didn’t believe it was him and was like “Dude seriously I got to go.”

Ha Ha. I think that is the best Michael impersonation I’ve ever heard. You must have been so flattered that he chose you to help him with his new music?
Yeah. I’m super duper excited. But also you never know you never know what will end up on the final record and what’s dropped.

Can he come back in your opinion?
Well in my opinion; he’s never gone. No matter what country you go too they still play a Michael Jackson song in the club.

Speaking as objectively as possible, do you think he can make a smash record like Off The Wall or Thriller ever again?
I don’t think anybody can do that. Justin Timberlake can’t even do that. I don’t think he’s supposed to even do that. That’s what we talked about in the studio, like “Let’s not compete with you.” I mean, they don’t even make records anymore. Even if you came out with Thriller today, it won’t sell what it sold [then].

There is no release date yet for the album right?
Nope not yet, still early days.

How is it like working with him?
I can’t even explain it. Just hard, too be honest with you, it’s probably the hardest thing that I will ever have to do. Ever…

Why do you say that? As in what way, does he make the process hard?
Like first I have to let go that Thriller, Off The Wall etc ever existed. Then I have to try and pretend that this guy didn’t define half of the American TV and what you do with music videos and stuff like that. Then you go in the studio and this guy’s knowledge of the studio is absolutely crazy and I can sit there in the studio tweaking things for days and days and days. You know when you’re a perfectionist those are the dangers. A week passes and I’m still working on the drums. So that’s the hard part, being obsessed with getting it right. Once you start diving into tweaking; you can tweak and tweak and you end up just being all tweaked out.

Are you feeling the pressure working on both Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston’s Comeback albums?
The Whitney thing was probably one of the best experiences I have ever had in terms of people I’ve worked with. She was great. I felt like I was working with a lifelong friend, it was like working with Fergie. Whitney was just so cool and down to earth. She’s so dope.

Is her voice still up to standard?
What? Of course.

Ok I had to ask. Anyone else on the roster that you are particularly excited about working with?
Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Ludacris, Snoop...

So Wikipedia say’s that you’re also working on Hillary Duff’s new album?
Not Hillary Duff. They have a lot of weird stuff about me on there. They had that I’m Jamaican so I had to get them to change that then yesterday they had some other thing; so I’m like “Whatever”

So you really go on the Internet and Google yourself? A lot of artists claim they stay away from searching themselves on Google and blogs etc
Who me? Girl... I Google myself every day.

Ha Ha. I love it!
You got to. You got to see what’s out there and what people are saying. Even when they say bad things, you got to read it!

How do you take the bad stuff? A lot of artists get angry at bloggers?
It is what it is you know? I don’t know. I just read it. I read it for the experience; that’s what’s dope about it. Like say for a example this is 1970 and me and you are at a bar and a song came on the jukebox and I was drunk and you were drunk and you go [put’s on a British accent] “I hate this fucking song, it’s fucking shit”
Wow. I don’t know if I should take offence; I hope I don’t sound like that.
[Laughs] I know my imitation was terrible. But my point is; that this is the experience you’re getting on the net. People have always talked shit, people have always had those conversations but you can’t go to every bar and see what people are talking about, what people think; good or bad. The internet is like the Jukebox and worldwide people are having conversations about the music by leaving comments. So that’s why I go check it out. I just want to see what people are doing and enjoy the experience.

Do the comments ever help you?
Like I read people who say “I like the Black Eyed Peas first record, I liked them when they first came out, I don’t like there new stuff, I don’t like them no more, they sold out” and I think that’s dope. I’m glad they liked something.

I like your positive twist to it.
[Laughs] But yeah you can’t take anything like that seriously. We already have our circle of trust. That’s dangerous if you start trying to please everyone.

Talking about pleasing everyone... You’re very diverse in the fact you don’t just work in any one genre or style of music and produce for a variety of different acts...
Yeah I love music. I love Samba, I love Bossa Nova. I love French music. I love Soul. I love Rock. I love Hip-Hop. I love to rap. I love to sing. So to be able to produce a song like ‘Compton’ for Game and ‘Hip-Hop Is Dead’ for Nas and then ‘Big Girl’s Don’t Cry’ for Fergie then Macy Gray. I’m proud to be able to do that. I’m proud to have a Fergie song like ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ and people ask me “Who produced that” and I go “I did” and they go “Really, you did? You produced that?” Like for example; Prince came up to me and goes [puts on a real deep voice] “I really Love ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’. Who produced it?” and I’m like “Wow. Prince like’s it.”

Any plans to work with Prince?
No but I did perform with him at the 02 arena though which was dope.

So this interview may come out after the 11th but who you supporting 50 or Kanye?
[Laughs] People are treating it like it’s a presidential election. I look at it in two ways; it’s dope that there is so much excitement around two Hip-Hop album releases internationally, but I think the whole first week thing is the reason why music is disposable; Hip-Hop music especially. Like here’s an example; you have a hit song that comes out and it’s number one for like six weeks, but fast forward to four years time... People are not going to be singing “Ella, Ella, Ella” right? But take a song like ‘Beat It’ people still sing it. People still sing ‘Billie Jean’ People still sing ‘She’s Out Of My Life.’ Black Eyed Peas, we don’t care about the first week, but we would sell a constant 75,000 records a week for at least a year and then all those artists that outsell us the first week when we first came out, we out sold them in the long run. So I would just like Hip-Hop, the record companies and the press to celebrate and start congratulating things that sells consistently.

Do you feel the Black Eyed Peas get enough respect?
No not at all. As far as me being a Producer the press is great. With the Black Eyed Peas the press just give us ‘shit sandwiches.’ It’s like we’re running a marathon and we come first place and the press still give us a ‘shit sandwich’ and the person who comes last place or the person who run the marathon and shoots the people besides them or they don’t even run the marathon they cheat and they’re on someone else’s bike; the press treat them like heroes. We don’t even get any big press. Like we get no covers, we always get shitty reviews but at the same time we sell out arenas globally and go triple platinum. When I was working with Justin Timberlake he said to me that “Look Will; whenever you’re doing something different, it’s going to take a while for people to get on board. You just have to ride the storm and it will come.”
So do you feel the press only give artists who fit in their ideology of what Hip-Hop is good reviews?
I remember we were in London promoting ‘Ella Phunk’ and this journalist said to me [puts on British accent] “Do you consider yourself Hip-Hop” and I answered “Yes, I’m probably the most Hip-Hop cat you will ever meet” and he said “I doubt it”. Just blatantly like that, I mean wow! And now that same guy interviewed me yesterday and said to me [puts on British accent again] “The track you produced for Nas; is the best Hip-Hop track I’ve heard in years”. It’s like I think people have forgotten what Hip-Hop is. The people who make Hip-Hop know what Hip-Hop is, but the people who write about it only seem to know about the version of the current makers of it. The people who make it; know the history, they know that Kid’n’Play was just as relevant as Biggie Smalls. These days you can do something different and it doesn’t sell any records, then the press will be like “he’s a genius,” but then say you do something different and it blows to the roof and sells millions then they will be like “Man you’re garbage, you sold out, you’re pop.” So I don’t even worry about what the press say anymore.

But with the addition of Fergie and dumbed down lyrical content, to many you became predominately pop. Do you feel the need to validate yourself in the world of Hip-Hop?
See, I care but I don’t really care, because I know what I am. I know what got me into music and the things I’m inspired by. I know my capabilities as a beat maker, a producer, an MC and a dancer, and f**k it, a graffiti artist. The thing that saddens me is that there’s a flaw in Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop is the only culture that doesn’t keep the things relevant. In rock & roll, people are always talking about the clash, punk rock, and they keep their music relevant. Like, the only people benefiting from Public Enemy, sadly but true, is VH1. Sorry, that’s f***ed up. That ain’t nobody’s fault but Hip-Hop’s fault. Hip-Hop should be making all that loot. There should be a f***in’ Hip-Hop infrastructure. Hip-Hop has turned into a disposable lifestyle, where someone else profits from it.

Ok. Well let’s move on. Who do you consider being the top 5 artists in the music industry and you can put yourself where ever you like?

Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder, John Legend and then Myself.

Ok. That’s interesting. So what about best producers?
Best Producers. Ok; Prince, Quincy Jones, Myself, Timbaland and then Pharrell.

So you consider yourself more a producer than an artist?
Well I think that is what my talent is. I consider myself a producer that can produce his own vocals.

American Gangsta> Kingdom Come...

So Elliott Wilson 'Head Honcho' over at XXL got to preview Jigga man's new album in advance...

Here's the low down...

"So last night I had the honor of witnessing Boss Hova pull out his black laptop (pause) and personally play me the entire new album as it exists now. Of course, the big homie is taking it down to the wire ‘cause you never know when a “Give it To Me” or “PSA” is gonna come out the consciousness. Wish I could give you some details about the new disc but it’s just too soon. And I ain’t gonna risk losing my cover to please you fake tracklist posting pricks. Snitches get stitches.
I will say unequivocally, despite hearing it unmixed and unmastered:
American Gangster > Kingdom Come
Make a better album. Well he did it"

[Source; www.xxlmag.com]

Kanye vs. 50... The conclusion

Since the days of Tupac versus Notorious B.I.G., or Jay-Z versus Nas, disputes between rappers have been a sure fire way to generate lots of headlines and the media attention didn't disappoint when industry bad boy 50 Cent challenged Kanye West.

Both regulars on the charts, sell millions of albums, and are among the most notable personalities in the entire music industry.Various reasons spark these conflicts, but ego is always a universal factor.

The two have butted heads before. In 2005, 50 made claims he was the reason for West's success.He's also accused Kanye of making "safe" music.

When it was revealed both artists would release their respective third albums on Sept. 11. 50 dismissed the idea of West outselling him, going as far as to bet his solo career on it.

Now the dust has settled three weeks after both albums have released and one thing is clear: 50's LP was the loser, both sales-wise and artistically.

Week 3 SalesKanye West - 133,000, Total: 1,316,000

Curtis- 71,000 Total: 905,000

Sales aren't everything when judging musical quality, but the pair of albums proves that Kanye is hungry to evolve, while 50 is comfortable living in a state of complacency.

Jay Z recently offered his thoughts on why Kanye came out on top to entertainment weekly;

‘It's pretty much how much he [Kanye] cares about it. It's not done for any other reason but to be the best music out at that specific time. You know, at times you could hear [other] people's music, and you hear, ''Okay, that's your girl single, that's the thug single, that's the...'' No, it's none of that. Every single song he makes, he makes because he thinks it's the best record at that specific time. He may not think it next week, but that week, he thought that was the best record that he could make’

He also told Billboard that 50 Cent hit a misstep when he focused too narrowly on his previous sales and not on his current songs."50, in his arguments, focused on his numbers and sales," says Jay-Z. "Kanye focused on making the best art that he could make at that time. He wanted to go with 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' and 'Stronger,' and those records worked in two different markets to perfection -- 10 out of 10."

UK DJ Semtex exclusively spoke to me and shared his thoughts on why Kanye did so well in the UK;"Kanye has been on my radio show 6 times, I met him at the first Power Summit to when we did the most recent interview. He is a unique artist that strives to push the boundaries in Hip-Hop and he actually gives a f*ck about the UK unlike most rappers. Kanye West is the future of Hip-Hop"

Allow me to re-introduce myself...

My name is...
Archna Sawjani. I am a Freelance Music Journalist and PR Executive. Music is my biggest passion and luckily also my career. I write and reflect on music all day- everyday. I work for myself with several big companies aswell as individual clients.

Some people may call me a drifter but I like to think of myself as a multi- tasker, good (I hope) at various things...

After reading other peoples blogs religiously for the past year, I've decided to try and make one of my own
I am completely new to this blogging stuff, so bare with me this may be a bumpy ride...