Cam and Jim Jones Dipset Reunion In The Works

via MTV

There's nothing official yet, but Diplomat fans can get ready to rejoice: Cam'ron says that he and Jim Jones are now in constant conversation and that a deal is being put together for a new Dip Set LP.

"Realistically, we working out business," Cam'ron told website Nowwut.com today. "Me and Jim are speaking. I don't want people to think me and Jim aren't speaking," Cam'ron said. "We speak a few times a week. Right now, we talking out the business. The deal is on the table. But until the business gets situated, it's [Cam's group], the U.N.; me and [protégé] Vado. We not about to stop. All the bosses meet at the roundtable. To be honest, we missed out on a lot of money on the Diplomat thing the first time. I'm not moving on nothing Diplomat until the business gets done. But it's close to getting done. Right now I don't want to mislead nobody and say it's not U.N. right now."

On Monday, Cam sat down with DJ Green Lantern, but the rapper dodged questions about a Dipset reunion, divulging only, "Me and Vado are putting out four albums this year ... I'm with the U.N. right now, Green. It's me and Vado, we doing the U.N. I'm focused though."

The Dips first told radio personality Miss Info of their reunion, at least, news that the pair were getting back to friendly terms, earlier this month.

"It's 2010, and this is something I gotta get off my chest," Jones told Info. "You've known us from back when we didn't have what we have now, so you remember, that above all, me and Cam, we still brothers. And we're building on getting back on track. But first, I apologize for being a rude brother, for saying things publicly without first trying to handle them privately. I apologize for not leading by example because what I didn't realize at the time, I was venting but it wasn't all about me. There were other people whose dreams were also part of this movement. So, by not leading by example, they were left stranded too. The way I handled our business issues was with emotion, and it got totally f---ed up. That's what selfishness does."

"There's nothing really Diplomats-related to show you yet," Cam told Info. "We all have our own obligations right now, our own projects. I have this Boss of All Bosses Pt. 2.5 mixtape with Vado and DJ Drama dropping soon. But yes, me and Jim have been speaking, we're working out the mechanics of this, and looking at our options right now. If it makes sense, it can happen."

Mos Def Performs At Guvera Pre-Launch Party NYC With Video & Photos Posted

via The Examiner

(Thursday, February 18) , Guvera USA, Inc., held a Pre-Launch event at Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. This private event was attended by New York entertainment influencers and brand and agency executives. At the party, artists Mos Def, Jim Jones, Alice Cooper, Aaron Lewis, The Donnas, The Bravery and Marie Digby also helped to kick off the Guvera concept.

Guvera USA Inc., a search website for "free but paid for" music and digital content provided by brands, announced a new content partner, new licensing deals, an official March 30th launch date and the vision of delivering all forms of content with the Guvera model at the Pre-Launch event in New York City at the Metropolitan Pavilion.

Guvera launched in Australia in beta mode earlier this year approximately 60 days ago.The U.S. launch of Guvera coincides with the appearance of another ad-supported download site. Free All Music already launched its invite-only beta for U.S. users and has deals with Universal Music Group and EMI. The Australia-based company also announced at last night's event that it already has licensing deals with INgrooves, BMI, the Harry Fox Agency and SESAC. Universal Music Group, EMI and IODA had previously announced their involvement with Guvera.

A forty-five foot ice sculpture reading "Revolution" was the centerpiece of the party, representing the change of how media needs to be distributed into a future where everyone expects "free" but people still need to be paid.

Drake was originally supposed to be a speaker and a performer for the event but unfortunately, he was not able to make it there. Instead, to help kick off the launch event, Jim Jones and Mos Def took the stage as well as other acts such as Alice Cooper, The Donnas and Aaron Lewis (lead vocalist for 'Staind'). The artists not only performed but they also spoke about the importance of Guvera in the age of digital piracy and how it represents a powerful new alignment of music artists, music fans and commercial brands that benefits all parties involved.

Dan Thompson, Head of Content of Guvera Limited, commented, "We are so pleased to have such an incredible group of musicians and content partners such as INgrooves on board for our official US launch. SESAC, The Harry Fox Agency and BMI are all leaders in the licensing community and their commitments further enhance our efforts to combat piracy with a free and legal alternative to downloading and streaming." He added, "We also see a huge future in delivering film and television content, especially after the success of the Australian beta. We hope consumers, brands, musicians and content providers will all join and progress the revolution!"

Also, check out MediaPost Publications article for another full account of the event:
Guvera Launches Brand Supported Free Music Site

Photos from the event here:
Flickr - Photos by Kelly Samardak
A Day In Tha Life Of
Getty Images
Corbis Images
Film Magic
PR Photos
Star Traks Photo

(video courtesy of MsSanaArshad)

Jim Jones & Julez Santana Haitian Relief XXL Magazine Benefit Concert Recap

photo courtesy of Jon Caranaica / New York Times

via New York Times

“Forever Harlem” by Juelz Santana, Jim Jones and the singer Tobb Cobain — a remake of “Forever,” last year’s song by Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem — is the rare mixtape version of “Forever” that challenges the original in audacity.

Tuesday night (February 9) at the Studio at Webster Hall, both Mr. Jones and Mr. Santana were performing, though the amiable show didn’t pick up until the music dropped out altogether, and Mr. Santana, cocky, delivered his “Forever Harlem” verse a cappella:

This is my movie, you an extra/B-roll

Your girl insist I got a very big/Ego

I’m here to take the game from these lames/Deebo

And I got chips, cheese/Doritos



There were other words rhymed too — kilos, Speedos, cee-lo, repo’d — each one delivered like a haymaker. When Mr. Santana was younger, a protégé of the flamboyant technical rapper Cam’ron, his exclamatory style came off as a sort of rap Tourette’s, barking that was awkward and difficult to control.

But in the last year, especially, he’s polished the idiosyncratic style to high gloss, in turn becoming a rapper approaching his moment of greatness. He’s still struggling to form an identity of his own — most of his hits have come with other people, either alongside Cam’ron (from whom he’s now estranged) or Mr. Jones, or with R&B singers, like the recent “Back to the Crib” with Chris Brown.



At Tuesday’s concert — a benefit for the American Red Cross, sponsored by the hip-hop magazine XXL (Styles P also performed) — he was in top form, arrogantly charismatic and effortlessly intricate. Mr. Jones, who performed before him, then split once they did their handful of collaborations, was, as ever, convivial, sauntering through hits in mushmouth fashion: “Na Na NaNa Na Na,” “Plenty Money (remix),” “Baby Girl.”

He didn’t mumble on “Forever Harlem,” though. “I’m a vampire, True Blood like Sookie,” Mr. Jones rapped, nestling a gang shout-out in the middle of his TV show name-drop. “We turn the whole situation ugly/Whoopi.”

Even though Mr. Jones has been the more successful of the two men, Mr. Santana, in his ascendance, was far more entrancing to watch. Surrounded by a cluster of hype men and hangers-on — the best one shrouded in a do rag, Haiti bandana and Gucci ski goggles combination — he was a small glimpse of what might yet be to come.

As if to prove the point, he was joined toward the end of his set by the 50 Cent protégé Lloyd Banks. Seven years ago Mr. Banks was to 50 Cent what Mr. Santana was to Cam’ron: a punch-line-happy sidekick who motivated street loyalists even as the boss went off on flights of fancy. But Mr. Banks lacked Mr. Santana’s natural charm, never appearing to be more than a glorified infantryman. He’s still affiliated with 50 Cent’s G-Unit Records but no longer signed to its distributor, Interscope — a gruff MC settling back into semi-obscurity.



Last week he released a new song with Mr. Santana, the sinister “Beamer, Benz or Bentley.” Here his verse was delivered in his characteristic raspy groan, dexterous but depressive. But when Mr. Santana dived in for his verse — “Making movies, Tom Cruisin’/If it’s action, then I’m shooting” — he sounded sharp and eager, as if he were gingerly stepping over Mr. Banks and continuing to climb.

(video courtesy of jaood10, This Is 50)

more fan shot footage below

Jim Jones Takes Public Transportation; The Subway

Jim Jones is out of the a car at the moment for reasons not mentioned here in this particular footage. Apparently, Jim hasn't rode the subway for the past 10 years.

Blakroc On Letterman

Blakroc in-stores now!

Blakroc (Mos Def & Jim Jones) on Letterman Tonight!

The Black Keys as Blakroc with Mos Def & Jim Jones performing the single “Hoochie Coo.”

Set your VCR clocks and tune in tonight!

Blakroc: Pre Order The Album

01. Coochie ft. Ludacris & Ol' Dirty Bastard
02. On The Vista ft. Mos Def
03. Hard Times ft. NOE
04. Dollaz & Sense ft. Pharoahe Monch & RZA
05. Why Can't I Forget Him ft. Nicole Wray
06. Stay Off The F*%$#n' Flowers ft. Raekwon
07. Ain't Nothing Like You ft. Jim Jones & Mos Def
08. Hope You're Happy
ft. Billy Danze (of M.O.P.), Nicole Wray & Q-Tip
09. Tellin' Me Things ft. RZA
10. What You Do To Me
ft. Billy Danze (of M.O.P.), Jim Jones & Nicole Wray
11. Done Did It ft. Nicole Wray & NOE

Get the new Blakroc project at The Black Keys website here:
Blakroc Project

other cool merch. available there, too.

As I understand, the album will be available on Black Friday, November 27.

Blakroc ft. Mos Def and Jim Jones 'Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)' Official Video

Blakroc: Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo) Ft. Mos Def and Jim Jones from Jonah Schwartz on Vimeo.

Blakroc in stores November 27.

Related:
Blakroc London Guardian Album Review

Jim Jones, Mos Def And Others Record Hip Hop Album With Indie Rockers The Black Keys

Blakroc London Guardian Album Review

The London Guardian/Observer reviews the upcoming Blakroc (Dame Dash & The Black Keys) project and gives it 4 out five stars.

Blakroc arrives in stores November 27.

For a while rap/rock collaborations were an easy way to double your fun, at least during the late 80s and early 90s, when Run DMC and Aerosmith's Walk This Way and Public Enemy and Anthrax's Bring the Noise instantly located fertile common ground – hedonism and unfocused rage respectively. Then the soundtrack to forgettable 1993 action flick Judgment Night ruined everything, pairing Ice-T with Slayer, Faith No More with giant Samoan hip-hop crew Boo Yaa Tribe, in the process inventing the most justifiably maligned genre of recent years: nu metal. From there on in, the whole notion was hijacked by white men dressing and behaving like toddlers, waddling around in over-sized shorts and shouting rude words. Linkin Park's album with Jay-Z might have sold well but you wouldn't want to listen to it unless you were cross about being made to tidy your room.

Wisely, Blakroc – a rough'n'ready project comprised of white blues duo the Black Keys and a roster of MCs, including the RZA, Mos Def and, from beyond the grave, Ol' Dirty Bastard – take things right back to basics. The premise is simple, but effective. The Black Keys knock out a lo-fi riff, the rappers strut about, sticking to the themes that have preoccupied both bluesmen and MCs throughout the years, notably sex, heartbreak and cash. Star turns include Ludacris and ODB leering all over Coochie, and R&B singer and former Missy Elliott protégée Nicole Wray swaggering through Done Did It, with help from Baltimore newcomer NOE, whose Jay-Z impression is so spot-on he could well be the hip-hop Alistair McGowan. The loose, spontaneous nature of the exercise means there's the odd dud, but there are far more hits than misses. The result? A dead concept is temporarily revived.

(source)

Jim Jones & DJ Webstar Behind The Scenes "She Can Get It"

Jim Jones & DJ Webstar -The Rooftop on E1 out today!

Previously on Hooked on That:
Jim Jones and DJ Webstar Film New Video

This Is 50 Fest Interview Footage With 50 Cent, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones and Red Cafe

Backstage at This is 50 Fest Governor's Island NYC Saturday October 3.

(video courtesy of 50 Cent)

This Is 50 Fest Live Footage Overview With Dipset, D-Block, Maino and Kid Cudi

This Is 50 Fest Governor's Island NYC Saturday October 3.

(video courtesy of Miss Info TV)

Jim Jones and DJ Webstar Film New Video

Seen here filming their new video for the song “She Can Get It" from 'The Rooftop' album Jim Jones and DJ Webstar take over a shoe store in New York City as a backdrop.

More story, photos and DJ Webstar interview here:
So Jones

Jim Jones & DJ Webstar
The Rooftop on E1 in stores October 6.

(main photo courtesy of Jake's New Blog)

(video courtesy of hwent)

Blakroc "Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)"

Jim Jones, Mos Def And Others Record Hip Hop Album With Indie Rockers The Black Keys

It has been rumoured for some months now (as reported in Pitchfork) the likes of Jim Jones, Mos Def and others have recorded with Akron, Ohio Garagerockers The Black Keys for their upcoming album. On their 2008 record, The Black Keys have dabbled in hip hop sort of by working with the enigmatic producer and one half member of Gnarls Barkley, Danger Mouse. So a hip hop record is not so much out of the question for the duo, as it appears they like to experiment and collaborate with other artists. The project known as "Blakroc" will be released November 27 (another special Friday street date, a day after Thanksgiving). My interest is piqued.

Read more here:
Billboard - Black Keys Reveal Blakroc Hip-Hop Project Details

Read here to learn more about The Black Keys:
Wikipedia - The Black Keys