Slaughterhouse NYC Performance

Photo links:
Wire Image

(video courtesy of Dallas Penn)

Slaugtherhouse To Sign With Eminem's Shady Records?; Preps Tonight's Edmonton Concert

via Jam Canoe

Detroit rapper Royce Da 5'9", a.k.a. Ryan Montgomery, wants you to know his new supergroup Slaughterhouse is the best of the best.

But that doesn't mean he takes criticism lightly.

Some major names in hip-hop will shine at the Edmonton Event Centre tonight (Check The Rhyme concert Friday, April 16), including Del the Funky Homosapien, Pharoahe Monch and, of course, headliners Slaughterhouse -- a group that also includes Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Crooked I.

"Right now the message is just basically to convince everybody that we are the best, nobody's better than us," Montgomery says of his new crew's lyrical agenda.

Slaughterhouse formed after Budden featured the other three group members on a track from his Halfway House album, to overwhelmingly positive reactions from online fans.

The praise was too much to ignore, and the four veteran lyricists bring their A-games to the table on Slaughterhouse's self-titled debut album, which was released last year.

Critics have mostly been kind, but when someone knocks their rhymes, it smarts a bit for Montgomery.

"I think I hold what people think to a higher regard than I should. The writers and all of that, they get under my skin," he admits. "I look at all the reviews, I look at all the comments.

"There's a lot of artists that don't even pay attention to the comments because they don't wanna get moved by it, they don't wanna feel a certain way about it.

"It'll bother me, and I know I shouldn't be lettin' it bother me, but I'll let it bother me anyway and it'll push me harder next time."

Few rappers have hotter credentials than Royce. He's ghostwritten for the likes of Dr. Dre and P. Diddy, and has been turning heads since the late '90s when he formed a duo called Bad Meets Evil with fellow Detroit rapper Eminem.

He later had a falling out with Eminem's group D12, which resulted in an ongoing public feud.

But the two have since made up, and though Montgomery isn't quite the celebrity his ex-cohort is, he has no self-pity.

"There's been times when I've been overlooked, or sometimes I feel a bit underrated, but I can only blame myself for that," he says.

He recalls past opportunities with record labels that he simply wasn't prepared for when they rolled around.

"When I signed my first deal, I got a multi-million dollar deal two times in a row. It was set up for me to just take off. I don't think personally that I delivered all of the right records," he says.

"I didn't have the mechanics of writing songs and making complete albums all the way down yet.

"I didn't know how to bring across my natural personality and nail interviews, and everything that comes along with catapulting yourself to the next level."

Now, he insists, he's "so prepared, it's pathetic."

And who better to help catapult Slaughterhouse than Montgomery's old partner in crime?

His quartet is currently primed to sign with Eminem's label, Shady Records, a branch of Universal.

"We've got the deal on the table right now," he says, adding the major label backing could take Slaughterhouse to the status of his most notorious collaborators.

"We conquered the underground already. Now we're ready to show people that we can take it to the next level."

But money and fame pale in importance to what he's really after: sweeping critical acclaim.

"I want to be looked at as the best ever," he says.

Freeway & Jake One, Joell Ortiz At Highline Ballroom NYC

Freeway & Jake One - The Stimulus Package Album Release Party with Joell Ortiz & Brother Ali & DJ Snuggles opening the show at the Highline Ballroom, NYC Tuesday, February 16.

Photos:
Prefix Magazine
MetroMixNY

(Video courtesy of beatmakersedition.com, TheLSC & miss info)

Sade: Hip Hop Chimes In About Sade's Greatness

via New York Magazine

Missy Elliott
Watching her sing "Smooth Operator" live! One of my favorite songs. She always sounds just like the record! I'm excited she's has a new album — that's my favorite moment, when I heard she was blessing us with her sound again!

Talib Kweli
My favorite Sade memory is watching her perform Love Deluxe in its entirety at Madison Square Garden. The band (Sweetback) was so tight, and even though she left her spot at the mike only a couple of times, when she did she was so sexy it was magical. I learned a lot about precision that night. There was not a note or move out of place.

Rakim
I grew up on soul music, but when my pops introduced me to Sade just before Diamond Life hit, it was a revelation. That voice and her style just took out even the hardest hood at the knees. "Smooth Operator" may have been a smash for everyone worldwide, but that was my track, and you can catch me referencing what she was trying to get across from Paid in Full up to my new album. Being in the biz for about the same amount of time, I respect and try to emulate how she floats above the industry ... one of the few that can do things on her own terms, knowing her fans will watch out for her. To this day, she's one of the artists I can listen to with 100 percent admiration. I can't wait to get my hands on this album and congratulate her for continuing to build her already iconic place in the world.

Tajai, Souls of Mischief
When I was young, her record was one of the few my mom would play that I would enjoy, too. As a kid, I’d want her to turn off her music so I could hear LL Cool J or someone like that, but Sade and Luther Vandross were two records I dug, too. Sade transcends the age gap. I’ve never seen her live though I’ve always wanted to. I also remember hearing rumors that (famous drug dealer) Felix Mitchell would fly out to Paris to see her shows.

Joell Ortiz
I always think of the song "Ordinary Love" whenever someone brings up Sade, because that song came out around the time my dad bounced. After he left, my mom used to sit in her room, getting high while listening to "Ordinary Love" over and over again for weeks. That was saddest time of my young life. Whenever I hear that song, I well up with tears."

Keri Hilson
My Dad would whistle Sade melodies randomly all the time. As a kid, I used to try to whistle along to "Cherish the Day" or "Sweetest Taboo." He was a real Sade fan and made me one, too! We couldn't be in his car even for five minutes without hearing her voice!

Kanye West
"THIS IS WHY I STILL HAVE A BLOG. TO BE A PART OF MOMENTS LIKE THIS ... NEW SADE ... HOW MUCH BETTER THIS THAN THAN EVERYTHING ELSE"

Read the full article here:
NY Mag: Vulture - Missy Elliott, Rakim, Talib Kweli, and More Talk to Vulture About the Greatness of Sade

Slaughterhouse European Tour Highlights From Amsterdam & Hengelo, Holland

All fan shot footage below.







Above Wednesday, January 20 at Melkweg in Amsterdam Holland



Above Friday, January 22 at Metropool in Hengelo Holland

(Amsterdam footage courtesy of rolfsma, meller85 & BGizzle07141985)
(Hengelo footage courtesy of citrusbullfrog)

Slaughterhouse European Tour Highlights From Copenhagen, Warsaw & Stockholm

All fan shot footage below.





Above Saturday, January 23 at Gota Kallare in Stockholm Sweden





Above Sunday, January 24 at The Fresh in Warsaw Poland





Above Wednesday, January 27 at Loppen in Copenhagen Denmark

(Copenhagen footage courtesy of SupaJizzle)
(Stockholm footage courtesy of RichardRost)
(Warsaw footage courtesy of Adrianoshg)

Slaughterhouse European Tour Highlights From Prague, Helsinki & Oslo

All fan shot footage below.





Above Saturday, January 30 at Bla in Oslo, Norway





Above Sunday, January 31 at the Virgin Oil Co in Helsinki, Finland





Above Tuesday, February 2 at Lucerna Music in Prague Czech Republic

(Prague footage courtesy of MartinKonig1)
(Helsinki footage courtesy of vitunkoala)
(Oslo footage courtesy of YoungLmixtapes & JoJoo00)

Slaughterhouse European Tour Highlights From Budapest, Vienna & Zurich

All fan shot footage below.





Above Thursday, February 4 at Planet in Vienna Austria







Above Wednesday, February 3 at A38 in Budapest Hungary





Above Friday, February 5 at Dynamo in Zurich Switzerland

(Vienna footage courtesy of lexstradamus & KidizinSane)
(Budapest footage courtesy of leniwi)
(Zurich footage courtesy of SwissLady1)

Joell Ortiz: Brooklyn MC & Slaughterhouse Member To Release 'Free Agent' March 23

via the press release

E1 Music is thrilled to announce the release of critically acclaimed emcee Joell Ortiz's new album. Free Agent will be released in on March 23, 2010 and features Akon, Brother Ali, Bun B, Styles P, Sheek Louch, Raekwon, Novel, Smokey Robinson, MOP, Slaughterhouse, Maino, Jean Grae, Talib Kweili and Bobby Ray. Production duties will be handled by a who's who list of music's finest producers including: Red Spyda, Dj Khalil, Lil Fame, Dj Premier, Sean C and LV , Statik Selektah, Novel, Moss, Nottz, Frequency and Frank Dukes.

Ortiz is coming off a tour of the U.S. and is starting a European tour on Jan 15th as ¼ of the lyrical powerhouse Slaughterhouse, along with Joe Budden, Royce Da 5'9" and Crooked I. The foursome was described as "…the game's most imposing lyrical force" by XXL Magazine. The self-titled debut album, Slaughterhouse, is in stores now.

Ortiz released his debut album, The Brick (Bodega Chronicles), in 2007 on E1 Music. The album centered on his dense, rhyme-based work, and featured notable collaborations with Styles P, Akon and the legendary Big Daddy Kane. The Brick was met with considerable critical acclaim, landing Ortiz features in numerous hip-hop and mainstream publications including a much sought after "Leader of the New School " cover story for XXL Magazine, along with Papoose, Crooked I, Saigon, Lupe Fiasco and others.

Having earned a loyal following from his lyrically-driven performances and energetic live shows Ortiz is poised to make an impact with his highly-anticipated new album, Free Agent. Ortiz is ready to deliver his fans another dose of lyrical fire.

Alan Grunblatt, General Manager of E1 Music, says, "Joell Ortiz is one the hottest new emcees to come out of New York . We had a lot of success with the first Joell release and are very excited he continues to be in the E1 family."

The first single off of Free agent is the incredible "Call Me," a nostalgic story of teenage love set in Brooklyn New York in the '90s. It will be serviced to urban radio shortly.

Joell Ortiz & Cory Gunz In The Studio

Off of Joell Ortiz's - 'Free Agent' arriving soon.

Slaughterhouse First Week Expected Sales At 22K *correction*

Preliminary numbers via hits daily double, which tallys sales before Nielsen Soundscan officially publishes their numbers each Wednesday.

**edit** It's official, Slaughterhouse - Self Titled does 18K on Nielsen Soundscan first full week sales.

Slaughterhouse announce release date

On July 7th 2009, E1 Music is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated debut album from Slaughterhouse -- the hip hop super-group featuring four of the most lyrical MCs in the game -- Joell Ortiz, Royce Da 5'9", Joe Budden and Crooked I.

The group came together only 10 short months ago when Joe Budden was working on a song for his "Halfway House" album and enlisted the services of Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Royce Da 5'9" for a song called "Slaughterhouse." Inspired by the vibe of track and the immediate chemistry of the four rappers, a plan was immediately made to form the super-group. Several songs and a handful of viral videos later only created increased demand and curiosity from fans. Hip-hop heads demanded to hear more! And now they'll be able to.

The fearsome foursome is now in the studio recording songs for its official upcoming debut album. The album will feature production by The Alchemist, Streetrunner, DJ Khalil and Denaun Porter.

Among working track titles of songs set to be included on the album are "Not Tonight," "Microphone," "Number 1" and "Cuckoo."

Slaughterhouse member Royce Da 5'9" weighs in, "This group is really something special and this summer I'm excited to show the world what we have to offer! If you thought that we were just gonna release a few tracks to the net and then disappear you are in for a very rude awakening."

Joell Ortiz adds, "We did an entire album in 6 days! When you genuinely love what you're doing everything is effortless. It was like a long party. I can't wait for the fans to experience this album."

Alan Grunblatt, Executive VP/GM of E1 Music, offers, "Slaughterhouse is the most exciting new group to hit the hip hop scene in many years. I'm thrilled to be working with old friends Royce, Joell, Crooked and new friend Joe Budden."