Stalley: Back Home Taking In A Cleveland Cavaliers Game

Stalley showing his home town appreciation for the Cavs. Cleveland Cavaliers go head to head with the Boston Celtics tonight!

Damon Dash "Everything I Done Is To Get To Exactly Where I'm At Now" Video Interview

via Fox NY

Memphis Bleek: All Hip Hop Interview

AllHipHop.com: What have you been doing since your last album?

Memphis Bleek: Just working. We got a detailing shop in Edison, NJ. It’s called Custom Car Details. I've been over here working on custom cars. A new album. You know, doing music, trying get outta the Def Jam situation once Jay left. You know, get my own situation.

AllHipHop.com: Are you currently released from Roc-a-Fella? Whose decision was it?

Memphis Bleek: It was a mutual decision between me and Jay because he was leaving Def Jam to start Roc Nation. So the whole thing was like "Yo’, how long am I gonna be the little man?" I been an Indian all my life. I gotta be the Chief one day. I gotta bunch of people behind me that wanna shine. Me being under him they never gonna get a chance. So, he agreed. He said it was the best thing and that people are gonna respect me for making my own decision and for being a man and stepping out of that shadow, which is an unbelievable show to even try to get out of. So, it was a mutual decision. We both came to the agreement that going independent might be the best way to do my thing right now.

AllHipHop.com: You’re currently signed with Mass Appeal Entertainment, right?

Memphis Bleek: Yeah.

AllHipHop.com: What has that experience been like?

Memphis Bleek: Aww man, a learning process. The guy who owns it, Marcus Siskind, me and him met through my lawyer. We built a cool relationship. He’s teaching me things that I've never known. Before, (at a major label) I would just put the beat on, I rap, I smoke, we drink, and put it on the radio. Now, it’s like I’m finding out the politics behind the scenes.

AllHipHop.com: What is your relationship with your former label mates (Beanie, Amil, etc.)?

Memphis Bleek: I haven’t seen Amil every since we did “Hey Papi”. I haven’t seen Beans every since we did Powerhouse. I speak to Freeway here and there. I just spoke to Young Chris and Young Neef not too long ago. I ain’t seen Petey Crack ever since he went on his little thing against Jay. I spoke to Oschino not too long ago. And Sparks just e-mailed me like a week ago. If you ask me, everybody still cool. I ain’t got no problems with nobody.

AllHipHop.com: Beanie was saying some things about you and Jay being fake. What is your response to that?

Memphis Bleek: (says in a sarcastic tone) Yea, I’m mad fake. (laughs) I’ma keep it all the way real, Beans is my brother. I been knowing Beans since I was 16 years old. I grew up with Beans. We been through ups, downs, flossin to not flossin to now. I can’t down that man. There’s nothing I can say bad about him to discredit him. He may feel like he need to do that to get to where he needs to be but where I need to be, it don’t involve him and it don’t involve me discrediting him. That’s always gon be my dude.

Read the full interview:
All Hip Hop - Memphis Bleek: The Process of Determination

More video segments:
All Hip Hop - Memphis Bleek Is Forever Roc, The Critic Jay-Z
All Hip Hop - Memphis Bleek Talks Jay-Z Illuminati Rumors, Ja Rule And Beanie

Freeway: Philidelphia Hometown Newspaper Feature Interview

via Philadelphia Daily News

What made you decide on the name "The Stimulus Package" for this album?

I feel as though our whole operation is hip-hop recovery. We want to bring back the real hip-hop to the forefront. That's why we call it "The Stimulus Package." We're stimulating hip-hop.

How did you originally hook up with Jake One?

I did some work with Jake One on my last project, "Free At Last," and I also did some work with him on his last album, "White Van Music." The chemistry was there. And after those albums, he continued to send me music and I kept knocking songs out, so we were like, "let's do an album together," and we made it happen.

In the past you worked with a number of different producers on each project. How was it working with just one?

It was cool. It was exciting. He did a good job with the production and everything turned out crazy.

What was it like working with Rhymesayers in contrast to Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam?

It's more intimate. I feel as though Rhymesayers worked closer with me on the project and were more hands-on with things. Def Jam is different from that.

On the album, you shouted out to the Roc-A-Fella and your State Property family frequently, and had tracks featuring Sparks, Young Chris and Beanie Siegel as well. Is this the sign of another State Property album in the future?

I mean, hopefully we can get it done. Right now there's no plans, but hopefully with projects like this, there will be a push forward for us to do another State Property project.

How did some of the other collaborations come together?

I just reached out to them and they showed the love. I bumped into Birdman in Miami, him and my man Cee Lo. I told them I needed them on the album and [they were] like, let's do it. I reached out to Raekwon because I had actually done some work on a project of his, and then he did that with me. Everybody from State Property, you know that's family, so it's all love.

What was your favorite song on the album?

I like the whole thing, man. It's a body of work that needs to be together. The way it flows together, everything fits perfect.

On "Throw Your Hands Up" you pay homage to a number of influential hip-hop artists. Who would you say has been the most influential in your career?

I used to like Naughty (By Nature). I used to like Trech a lot. I used to love Dres from Black Sheep. Just their flows, the different flows you know? They really inspired me.

Tell us about your tour plans?

We've got a couple of things in the works. First we're gonna start with album release parties. We've got [them] in Philly, Boston and New York. Then we're going to take it from there.

What can fans expect from Freeway in 2010 and beyond?

I don't even know right now. Right now I can't see past "Stimulus Package." We're just trying to make that successful. Then we're going to figure out what's the next move ... I'm definitely still working. I'm already 50 songs in toward the next project, so whatever that is, I'm going to be ready.

Read the full article here:
Philadelphia Daily News - Music: North Philly's Freeway is back in the fast lane

Memphis Bleek Is Back With A Brand New Track 'Still Ill'

‘Still Ill’ (produced by Canei Finch) is the first official single from Memphis Bleek’s forthcoming album “The Process” on Get Low/Mass Appeal Entertainment.

Listen to 'Still Ill' here:
Memphis Bleek - 'Still Ill' clean version
Memphis Bleek - 'Still Ill' dirty version

Memphis Bleek To Release 'The Process' November 24

via Billboard

Jay-Z may be readying the release of his upcoming eleventh studio album, "The Blueprint 3," on September 11th, but the rapper and mogul still makes time to help old friends. Former Roc-A-Fella artist and Jay-Z protégé Memphis Bleek is slated to release his fifth studio album, "The Process E2" on November 24, and the set is executive produced by none other than his longtime mentor.

Read more here:
Billboard - Longtime Jay-Z Protege
Memphis Bleek Set To Release Album

via press release

New York based recording artist and Jay Z's protégé Memphis Bleek is scheduled to release his 5th studio album titled "The Process" on November 24, 2009. The album, Executive Produced by Jay Z, will feature production from Just Blaze and No I.D. with special appearances by Jay Z, Rick Ross, Pharrell and more! The album will be released on Boston based label Mass Appeal Entertainment in a joint venture with Bleek's own imprint, Get Low Records.

Memphis Bleek talked about the new album and said, "The Process" has been exactly that; a process. Taking what I've learned from a teacher and creating my own school. It's time for me to handle my own business as a man and Mass Appeal supports the vision. I'm ready to share 'The Process' and Get Low Records with the world and along with Mass Appeal, I'm excited to take the next steps in my career independently". Bleek is looking to expand on what might be expected from him musically and take his lyrical skills to the next level. With the first-rate production team behind "The Process," along with Bleek's known conscious, confident, harsh, metaphorical lyrics this album will keep his fan base and hip-hop enthusiasts thrilled. Meanwhile a new group of listeners are sure to find this album to be one of the best of 2009. Mass Appeal Entertainment's CEO Marcus Siskind says, "We're excited to be in business with Bleek and to take part in the next stage of his career. Bleek has established himself as a successful brand in HipHop, and now has the opportunity to expand Independently to release new music to his fans".

Jay-Z new book deal in the works?

**update**

According to The New York Observer, Jay-Z plans to release a book commenting on and telling the stories behind his lyrics plus two other books one traditional memoir and another a business book.

3 total. First (lyric) book is called Decoded.

This will be the first book by Jay-Z, who famously claims never to write down his lyrics on paper. When it will be published is unknown. The multiplatinum-selling rapper's next album, The Blueprint III, is scheduled for release on Sept. 11, 2009.

Read more of the article here