Welcome to the weekly rundown where we (soulsupreme and Marty) provide you with our top ten headlines for the week that was.

1. Charles Hamilton names J dilla exec producer for his LP? Jay Smooth summed it up best with his latest vlog: Operation Ignore Charles Hamilton (a must see!)
2. Mos Def on Hot97.com issues a friendly challenge. What he’s proposing would be epic, sadly we do doubt that it’ll ever happen.
3. Common does a track with The Jonas Brothers? GTFOH Common! Take your SAG card and go make some movies!
4. Facebook’s Name Game. Losing the social networking battle, Facebook copies Twitter to remain relevant. If Twitter gets its photo album game together, Facebook is done like dinner.
5. Lauryn Hill Cancels European Tour, Cites Health Reasons. This is obviously depressing news, but it must be even worse for Ms. Hill herself. After years meandering around returning, it looks like she was trying to come back. But it appears that’s over for now. Get better, L-Boogie!
6. Slaughterhouse Backs Joe Budden In Method Man Debate. Why are we even still discussing this? Joe Budden must be taking pointers from Charles Hamilton, because his publicity stunt game is second only to Chuck.
7. The Beastie Boys Bring Nas Out At Bonnaroo Festival. They performed a new song, possibly entitled “Let It Out,”. We’re still not sure where this track will end up, but we’re at least excited about a Nas/Beasties collaboration since they have a good track record with Queens emcees; see Q-Tip on “Get It Together”.
8. The Roots delay their next album to October. Phonte is rumoured to have done 3-5 songs with them already according to questlove . If that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what to say.
9. NBA Finals update: The Lakers are up 3-1 over the Magic in the series. Unless we see some Magic, the Lakers are taking the title tonight.
10. Album Releases this Tuesday: L.E.G.A.C.Y. – Suicide Music; Pugs Atomz – Rooftop

Along with the unfortunate death of James Dewitt Yancey came a huge underground movement of fans that came together to embrace his marvelous music. There were fans that had been with Dilla since his Jay Dee days, and some that had just discovered him posthumously and decided to explore his catalogue more. Whether or not these fans have been around before his death, they should be embraced. They spread the good word of Dilla and his music, and it should be encouraged, not looked down on. It’s not like this is something new, an artist’s rising to cult-like fame after his death. I can agree with some that people just jump on the bandwagon to look cool amongst peers, but there are also a good amount of people that genuinely feel touched by his music. Is a huge influx of fans really a problem? Since when was it bad that people were buying their music and contributing to the cause? I don’t see any issue here, it is a beautiful thing that people can come together and support a person’s passing the way they do with Dilla.

So where does all this hatred come from? Why are all these people looked down on for showing support? I think it has a lot to do with the negative energy that surrounds the Dilla name and how he is represented. I don’t want this to seem like a direct shot to anyone in particular, it’s just an expression of how I see it. And it really isn’t any one person’s fault.  But I feel like some sort of wall has been formed between Dilla and his fans that has been created by a few of the people closest to Dilla. Now I am not sure how everything works over there, partly because everything is so hidden, but it seems like when anyone tries to come anywhere close to the Dilla name in any way, they are automatically shut down. Anything from holding a benefit party to something very simple like just shouting out his name gets frowned on if you aren’t directly associated with that circle of people. I am almost discouraged at this point to go out and help the cause. Not that I don’t believe in Dilla and his legacy, but it just seems that such a negative vibe surrounds the name that I would rather just avoid it then go through all the trouble that it warrants. There are the issues that arise such as claiming to donate and just stealing the money, but stuff like that happens all the time, it’s just a way of life. I can also see a lot of this defensiveness comes from all the garbage that Ma Dukes and the family had to go through with the estate, and that is understandable. But it just seems like that inner circle thinks everyone is out to get them, while in reality there is a huge movement that is willing to help and progress the name and it should be accepted.

People need to stop dwelling in the mess that has been created and do something about it. It doesn’t help to go after the people that defame Dilla’s name. Instead of hooting and hollering about it, go out and do something positive to cancel it out. Sure, Charles Hamilton and other fakers needs to be put in their place, but that shouldn’t stop anybody from progressing the cause. Matters like this need to be discussed privately otherwise it makes people’s emotions show. And that just makes them look bad, and since they represent the Dilla name, in turn it makes Dilla look bad. From reading several articles and stories on Dilla, it makes you think, what would Dilla do? His cool and calm demeanor, would he go out and threaten Charles for putting his name on something he had nothing to do with? I think not. He would address the issue privately, turn the other cheek, and continue on with his business. Maybe I am wrong with that, I didn’t know the guy, but that just seems like the right thing to do. Besides, Chuckie seems to be the master of the online publicity stunt, everyone seems to give in and fall for it over and over again, this is exactly what he wants!

It’s time for some one to step up and really take the Dilla legacy to the next level. The recent release of Jay $tay Paid is a great step, but I think much more can be done. It is nice to see some unreleased music put out to the people; the fans and Dilla alike deserve more projects like this. It’s a shame that a lot of his stuff has been leaked through things such as beat tapes and unreleased projects, but that again is just how life goes. If positive projects like this continue to be released and the circle begins to open a bit, I think that negative vibe that surrounds Dilla can slowly become erased and people can feel more comfortable supporting the cause.

I might be off on a few things in this piece, but this is just how I see it as an outside fan. You can come at me and tell me that I am wrong for feeling this way, but I know a lot of people can agree and have either been afraid to say it, or don’t have the outlet to express their feelings. Take it for what it is, but things need to change as soon as possible or else it is just going to continue to get worse.

Welcome to the weekly rundown where we (soulsupreme and Marty) provide you with our top ten headlines for the week that was.

1. Charles Hamilton gets knocked out by a female? Sonicboom! Sonic lost all his rings. Karma is a biatch.
2. NBA Playoffs update: Lakers up 2-1; Magic and Cavs tied. Lebron James hit the biggest shot of his career and the playoffs to tie up the series with ORL. The DEN/LAL series will go at least six games, neither team has shown dominance.
3. Shooting at a Drake concert. Really?! You’re at a show that’s probably filled to the brim with women and you are more concerned with getting your tough-guy on? Priorities, men. P-r-i-o-r-i-t-i-e-s.
4. Slaughterhouse has signed to a major label, album dropping July/7th. DJ Khalil and The Alchemist are providing beats so there is hope for the production side of the project,  but two good producers can’t carry the album.
5. Jay-Z buys out his contract and his now independent! Could this mean we’ll get The Blueprint 3 sooner rather than later? Here’s hoping. I’m not a businessman/ I’m a business, maaan © Jay-Z
6. Dolla, an emcee on Akon’s Konvict Muzik label, was murdered earlier this week. A man named Aubrey Louis Berry has been arrested in the shooting at an L.A. shopping mall. The promising rapper was only 23, R.I.P. Dolla.
7. Random Axe (the trio of Guilty Simpson, Sean Price, and Black Milk) signed to Duck Down.  The Duck Down roster is looking like a dream team for underground hip-hop.
8. Alchemist reveals a monster tracklisting for his new album. Alchemist on the beats: Yes. Alchemist on the mic: Hard to say. But hey, with so many talented guests, maybe they’ll balance out his average rapping skills.
9. Evidence signs to Talib Kweli’s BlackSmith Label. Evidence’s album might never come out…lol. See: Jean Grae and Strong Arm Steady.
   
10. Album Releases. Not the strongest week, but here’s what you can expect to see in stores: Scratch – Loss 4 Wordz, Kanye West Presents…Malik Yusef – G.O.O.D. Morning, G.O.O.D. Night

Welcome to the weekly rundown where we (soulsupreme and marty) provide you with our top ten headlines for the week that was.

1. Guru declares; “I am Gang Starr” ??? This just in: Above-average rappers who blew up thanks to a legendary producer need to shut up. Guru’s proclamation that he was Gang Starr is insulting to everybody on this planet. Does he not realize just how much he owes to Premo? PSA: Artists who feud with the DJ/producers never win; see CL Smooth

2. RUN-DMC get inducted in to the Rock & Roll hall of Fame. Congrats to the pioneers and a R.I.P. shout out to Jam Master Jay. I wish he was still alive to see it. We look forward to another induction when hip-hop has its own hall.

3. Hamilton-gate: Charles Hamilton beat-jacking Black Spade. We’re happy to see a negative scenario produce a positive outcome. Thank you, Charles, for giving us and others a reason to play Black Spade’s topnotch To Serve With Love again.

4. Common is no longer being cast as Green lantern. Apparently not cold-blooded enough to play Green Lantern. That’s what you get for having a clothing line called Softwear. Seems like Universal Mind Control didn’t work on the producers.

5. Bishop Lamont gets released from Aftermath. First we hear that Bishop Lamont was dropped from Aftermath. Then, he appears in a video and dismisses the rumor. Does it really matter either way? He stays, gets Dre’s beats, but nothing is released He leaves, hooks up with some lesser-known but still talented producers, and at least gets an album out. Quite the conundrum. This just in; Bishop Lamont`s debut album is in Dr. Dre’s vault and hes not releasing it.

6. Air Yeezy sneakers hit stores nationwide. We knew Kanye West had bad taste but damn, looks like rich white kids will now, too. (c) Reyn

7. WR Plaxico Burress is released from the NY Giants. Good job, Cheddar Plax, good job. Sweatpants, guns, and dumb asses obviously don’t mix. And it comes as no surprise that the foolish, albeit talented, wide receiver was released by the New York Giants.

8. QB Jay Cutler traded to the Chicago Bears. Well Jay you got your trade request out of Denver. I hope you find a wide receiver there in Chicago. I’m told Chicago is ‘where wide receivers go to die.’ (c) Muhsin Mohammad

9. Paid Dues Festival. Another festival we wish we attended. Although Blu & Exile, who we wanted to see the most, didn’t make it, you can’t deny the talent and ability of the other acts. From Slaughterhouse to Brother Ali to the Living Legends, there was plenty of great underground hip-hop to go around. It’s just a shame it was, you know, so far away.

10. New Album Releases: Finale, Kero One. Well, there is a fine pair of albums dropping this Tuesday, April 7 that you better be checking for. Kero One and Finale have upped the stakes on their respective efforts, which are more then worth your $10 to $12. Do yourself a favor and support refreshing and original hip-hop.

Four months into the new year and we’ve definitely had some emcees and entertainers who have kept us laughing in 2009. From fake beefs to fake retirement claims to really bad new albums and YouTube apologies;  it’s been entertaining and disappointing in the same breath. With that said, we do have some offenders so who gets the gas face?

Rapping about rapping. What’s worse; a mediocre rapper with some content or a technically sound one with very little to say? My vote goes for the former because he can at least formulate some story about something other than; my lyrics will slice you like a ginsu…yadda yadda.

They spend more time telling you how dope they and less type actually displaying it….BORING! I don’t know if there’s one emcee to totally blame it on, but it has definitely run its course. Brothers need to come with better compositions (c) Q-Tip

Gucci Mane and the buzz he’s getting. Can we make it a rule to do free artists tee shirts only for above average to good rappers? After he was released they were treating the Gucci Mane like he some damn hero awarded the keys to the city. Did he fly that plane that landed in the Hudson river recently? He’s not even bigger that Shawty Lo in Atlanta. I really don’t get it.

Artist Retirement. Whether it’s Lupe Fiasco, Jean Grae or Kid Cudi, artist retirement seems to be the hottest thing to mention surrounding an upcoming album release or keeping your name in the news with the exception of beef. I get the publicity angle but if you haven’t released an album *cough* Kid Cudi *cough* what exactly are you retiring from getting tased? Don’t tase me bro! Don’t tase me!”….*DIES*

Classic Remakes. What is the deal with all these damn remakes? If you can’t do it better than the original – leave it alone. The same goes for Smirnoff Vodka trying to remake all these classics too. I don’t wanna hear a 2009 version of “Electric Relaxation” or “Get Money” by Junior Mafia. Please create new shit stop recreating old classics.

Mixtape Overload. I respect the fact that artists need to push their product, but the speed of technology seems to have new artists convinced that they need to drop a mixtape every two weeks. Cut it out. It is an overdose of content and most it ain’t even that good. *cough* Charles Hamilton *cough*. All I ask is put out your best material and let that bitch breath (c) Hov

If you have some you’d like to mention, please add on the in the comments section.