So what does this commentary by two Duane Reade employees says about the XXL Freshmen 10? First off from an industry perspective we all are aware of the artists on the cover for the most part and I think percieve there potential to blow based off talent as much as exposure. If you are a fan reading XXL it makes sense that you know Ace Hood becasue Khaled has him all over the place. Why would you pay attention to the other 8 guys you don’t know when Ace Hood doesn’t seem like a strong candidate to blow and he is the only one getting exposure. I also think this speaks volumes about the power of the internet. If these women were on Nah Righ everyday they would without a doubt have a different take on this cover. In fact this cover almost reads like a Nah Right post. For the two women I spoke with they were exposed to these artists via BET and XXL. The old industry standards for promotion. Out here in blog land we may think we foresee the future and we probably do to some extent but until Wale or Charles Hamilton hit the television or radio in a major way it will take some time before their names are known in households and drug stores across the country.

“Soulja Boy was asked by Toure which historical figure he hates most. And according to Toure’s blog, when Soulja Boy appeared to be caught off guard by the question, Toure threw out some previous answers which included Hitler, Bin Laden, and slave masters.Here is how Soulja Boy then responded to the question, “Oh wait! Hold up! Shout out to the slave masters! Without them we’d still be in Africa. We wouldn’t be here to get this ice and tattoos.”"

First this dude put out awful records.  Then, he says some ignorant garbage like this???  Please never ever ever buy this dude’s material.  Not his MP3s, not his albums, and damn for sure not his ringtones.  Can we please make him go away already?????

Donatello

Played by Ne-Yo

Michaelangelo

Played by Jadakiss

Leonardo

Played by CeeLo

Raphael

Played by Birdman

Splinter

Played by Snoop Dogg

Shredder

Played by MF Doom

I guess I am going to hate right now, but has anyone seen the Retro Kidz video?  How are these kids getting this kind of shine?  They’re trapped in a time warp.

Now you have seen it. Did you like it? Doesn’t it seem odd that these kids think recreating the cast of “A Different World” and barely having any music talent is commerically viable? It seems like they got famous for dressing like their parents did in college and didn’t know how to monetize the fame except trying to make music. I respect your hustle but please guys no more. How do you evolve from this?

To give you some context for this photo it is Fashion Week here in New York and fashion designer Alexander Wang had a party to celebrate his show last Saturday and he hired Foxy Brown to perform. Now I don’t if there was any doubt that Foxy and Rick Ross are together but this should put the nail in that coffin. It appears Rick Ross is still in hiding about the whole thing or maybe it’s just his neck is so fat that he can’t rock the bandana around the neck look like Kanye.

Now here is a photo of Alexander Wang dancing with Foxy

Cuff your dame Ross. He’s pressing up on your girl.

Here is another one of Alexander Wang

Looks kind of sweet to me.

Moral of this story is don’t try and hide out at your girlfriend’s fashion party Rick Ross. We have eyes all over the internet and we will air you out.

So everyday I go on the Internet I see a few new names popping up consistently over the past whatever amount of months and then I see a few old names. Below is a list of the artist’s I am seeing pop up all over the Internet these days. Let me know which one’s you are actually looking forward too and also where you are from. Write-ins are allowed but not encouraged. Unless you are getting crazy placements on the internet (nah-right, hiphhopgame, worldstar, etc.) don’t tell us to look out for you. I am talking real buzz.

Charles Hamilton
Mickey Factz
Maino
Max B
Cory Gunz
Joell Ortiz
Glasses Malone
Asher Roth
Wale
Crooked I
Termanology
Skyzoo
Torae

I know I missed some people on this one but seriously let me know. Who’s music do you really like that is new? What does it take for these artist’s to rise above the rest?

Gucci has one of the longest running traditions of being “hot” in Hip Hop fashion. Right now it seems that Gucci is about the most popular thing you can have on. Everywhere I go i see Gucci belts, sneakers, and bags. Thankfully the Gucci bucket craze is not back because those looked stupid. I’ll admit I toyed with getting one back in 2000, but thankfully i was just toying.

One of my gripes with hip-hop fashion is that it’s not about standing out but about keeping up. Just because everyone has a Gucci belt doesn’t mean you have to have one as well. If you were really on it you would find a way to flip the Gucci belt. Get one that nobody else has. Scour Ebay and vintage stores and really murder people when you bring it out. Below are two vintage sweaters that may not show off the green and red stripe or the monogram pattern that screams Gucci but will make people ask you what kind of sweater that is.

The biggest record of the moment seems to be “Swagger Like Us” from TI, Jay, Wayne, and Kanye. Dropping this record at the time that the song it sampled, M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes,” is playing on top 40 radio all over the country is very smart. My question is who’s got the most “swagger” out of all the people in mentioned above? I am going with M.I.A. It is kind of late for people to get up on this girl but she makes dope music and will be a superstar by the time her next album drops.

Also if you like “Swagger Like Us” and “Paper Planes” you should check out the original song they sampled, The Clash’s “Straight To Hell”. Check it out below. The Clash are one of the best bands and their album, London Calling, is amazing.

On another note, did anyone catch Daddy Yankee with John McCain? Huh? If this doesn’t show McCain’s age I don’t know what does. If hip hop is dead then what does that make reggaeton? Daddy Yankee had a hit a couple of years ago and since then his career has been over. You may argue that in Arizona he is huge but the reason a presidential candidate aligns with a contemporary musician is appeal to the youth vote and people stopped finding Daddy Yankee appealing on a mainstream level was 2005. But maybe McCain is kind of smart because Yankee’s last album was the top selling Latin album for that year. The grassroots approach might be McCain’s best move. So who does he align with when he needs to get the backpacker’s support?

DP

This is the hottest woman in music.  Bottom-line.  Don’t argue.  Shut up.  Watch.