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."
Queens is in the building — again. Sha Money XL has signed on to become the senior VP of A&R at Def Jam Records. The label has had such a rich history of Queens-bred fellas in the boardroom, from its founder Russell Simmons to Irv Gotti to one of Sha's mentors, the late Jam Master Jay. XL is excited to plant his flag in the cherished hip-hop recording house.
"I've been floating around this industry since I've just been executive-producing 50 [Cent]'s albums," XL explained Thursday at the MTV offices. "Freelancing, doing my own thing. I've been able to meet with L.A. Reid. We've been having some great conversations. Finally, the call came. It felt so good. Def Jam is such a strong company and strong roster. The staff is amazing. I felt it instantly. I knew that this is something I can do with my New York vision and New York swag and bring that for all the guys that's based out here. And the things that was needed to excite the industry as well, internally and externally. I connect with everybody by all levels."
Sha said that after being with the G-Unit for so many years, there is no such thing as pressure to him anymore.
"I work good under pressure," he said. "Working with 50, I know what needs to get done. I don't feel pressure. I do the things that need to be done. As long as artists listen and we really become businessmen in this business, as we say we are, I think we should all prosper. I'm looking to make the company more money and take it to the top, the highest level."
So with 50 Cent a free agent, free to bring himself and his label — which includes Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo — anywhere he pleases, will Sha try to secure a spot for his longtime friends at Def Jam?
"I spoke to Fif, to [his manager Chris] Lighty. I would love to see that there," Sha admitted. "Banks has an amazing record right now, independently. If things work out, then yeah, I would love to see that happen."
If the Unit came to Def Jam, things would get interesting, to say the least. Shyne, Rick Ross, Nas and DJ Khaled, people who Fif and the Unit have had problems with through the years, are all on the roster.
"I'm a businessman," Sha Money said when asked how he would feel having the Unit in the same building with some of their adversaries. "The beef stuff, I'm over. We at a certain point in life where we don't even need that. We eat that. So I will let them speak for their own, but honestly, I would like to see a company continue to grow. And I think G-Unit is in a position — coming from an independent space — that can continue to do their thing. I would like to provide an opportunity for them to continue to grow."
While the Unit deal is just in the talking stages now, Sha says his top priority is making sure Juelz Santana gets his LP out. XL already has his sights set on DJ Toomp to get in the lab with Juelz.
From South Central, LA all the way to New York City, Nipsey Hussle is leaving his mark and earning respect everywhere he goes. This time we find Nipsey showcasing at Sounds of Brazil (aka S.O.B.'s) in NYC (Wednesday, March 24). Juelz hops on stage and fellow Nipsey Hussle Cinematic label mate Smoke DZA gets in on the action, too.
The Big Apple was in full effect last night (Monday, March 22), at the “I Love NY Hip-Hop” concert at B.B. King Blues Club. Juelz Santana, Maino and Red Café graced the stage to a packed the house, despite a rainy night.
The show started with DJ Envy and DJ Self warming up the sold out crowed before Red Café took the stage around 11 p.m. The Flatbush-bred MC recited his current hits, “Hottest In The Hood and “I’m Ill.” Red shocked fans by bringing out fellow Brooklyn rapper Fabolous, who performed to some of his classic records, as well as “Body Ya” off of his latest DJ Drama hosted mixtape There is no Competition 2: The Funeral Service. Before Fab exited the stage, DJ Self played his “Swag Surfin” remix which found Juelz and Maino joining RC and Loso onstage together to perform the song live for the first time.
BK was definitely in the building as Maino screamed “Where Brooklyn At?” The Hustle Hard artist reminded the fans that he’s unstoppable, as he rhymed along to some of his tracks off of his mixtapes before getting into his hits like “Hi Hater,” “Million Bucks,” and “All Of The Above” off of his debut album If Tomorrow Comes…
A little after midnight, Santana took the stage to close out the show. The Harlemite took it back to the old Dipset era by performing his verses to “Hey Ma,” “Oh Boy,” and “Dipset Anthem.” Juelz showed the crowed that he’s “What The Game’s Been Missing” by performing some of his solo tracks like “Oh Yes,” “Shottas,” “Clockwork” and “Make It Work For You” off of his last album. The Skull Gang leader ended the show by performing “Harlem Forever,” “Back To The Crib” and “Beamer, Benz, Or Bentley.”
The above video (in a iMovie format) is on the more sedate side of Juelz's Birthday bash with party goers Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Ashanti, Lil Kim, DJ Clue, Maino, Toccara, Jim Jones, DJ Webstar and Juelz's Skull Gang at M2 Lounge NYC On Monday, February 22.
“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.
Last night (December 21), Queens rapper Lloyd Banks performed at New York City’s B.B. Kings. The streets may have been filled with snow and slush, but the bad weather didn’t stop fans from coming out to see the G-Unit solider from putting on a great show.
Banks ran through classic mixtape cuts, including “Victory Freestyle,” before he took fans back to choice selections off his platinum debut, The Hunger For More, like “I’m So Fly” and “On Fire.” Blue Hefner balanced out the show with more solo material from his second LP Rotten Apple.
Towards the end of the show, Banks told the DJ to stop the music so he could ask the crowd a question. “How do y’all feel about the police,” he asked. In true N.W.A. fashion, the audience replied with, “F**k the police!”
Banks then got the crowd to chant “F**k Rick Ross,” which set the stage for Banks to tear into the Miami boss’ character on “Officer Down.” From there, Banks closed out his set spittin’ his verse off crooner Joe’s “Ride With You” and G-Unit classics, like “Rider, Pt. 2.” All in all, Banks held his own and brought the heat to the Rotten Apple on a cold night.
Dipset invades North Carolina, as the Juelz Santana & Skull Gang show came to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC. The concert took place Friday, October 16 at the University gym.
Performing a new song "Mixing Up The Medicine' at the 8:30 mark on clip #2.
