Jay-Z will be releasing his new book on November 16th, entitled Decoded. The novel will be part memoir, part analysis and also have an open discussion of Jay-Z’s lyrics.  The book back track’s Jay-Z’s upbringing in Brooklyn’s Marcy projects, to his current status as one of the biggest stars in America.  Jay-Z collaborated on this 336-page book with former editor of The Source, Dream Hampton. In his recent cover story with Rolling Stone magazine, Hova talked about his book, which was initially titled The Black Book, and was to be released around the same time as his 2003 album, The Black Album.

“It’s too much. For the book, I was interviewed, people close to me were interviewed. So I was learning a lot of things I didn’t know as a child,” Jay-Z told RS. “It’s not anything I haven’t said in the past, in songs. It’s just more detailed. A song is three minutes long. A book doesn’t have to rhyme, and it has no time limit, so you can say exactly how everything went.”

On the same day, southern rapper Trick Daddy is also set to drop his autobiography entitled Magic City: Trials Of A Native Son. According to the description:

Magic City: Trials of a Native Son, chronicles Trick Daddy’s story against the backdrop of Miami, the Magic City. It is an extraordinary story, of a childhood marked by poverty, a crime-laden adolescence, an incarceration, a meteoric rise to fame, and a struggle with a potentially fatal medical condition. It’s the story of a boy whose father was a pimp; who, left to his own devices, learned to hustle to survive and whose only role model was his brother, the drug dealer he watched plying his trade on the block. But while his story is remarkable, the most astonishing part is that he is not only still alive, but that he got out.

If you’re not too gangster to buy a book, check out your local book retailer and pick up a copy!

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Trick Daddy & Jay-Z To Release Books On Same Day. | Illest Lyrics

Kanye West is kicking off the marketing for his upcoming fifth album, which reportedly could be titled “Dark Twisted Fantasy”. I think most of us will be refreshed to just hear an album that isn’t all autotune. Here’s his first single off that yet to be titled project with Marco Brambilla as the director.

Also you might interested to know that Kanye West has taken Twitter by storm over the last week. Ironically the only guy that he is following isn’t his biggest fan.

“A guy wanted me to look at his film trailer and people have been sending me links to their music demos — as if I have some sort of influence over Kanye West. The funny thing is I like his music but I’m not his biggest fan,” Steve said.

Here is the original:
Kanye West – Power – Video | Illest Lyrics

First, I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to the homie ScholarMan on the recent passing of his father. Scholar is one of the realest people I know, and I’m sure a lot of that can be attributed to his pops. In honor of him, Scholar dropped this FREE EP on Father’s Day – filled with tracks that are fatherhood inspired. The “Fatherhood Dreamlovers Mix” EP was created with samples borrowed from The Dreamlovers, a favorite doo wop group of ScholarMan’s pops. The EP features artists Anonamas and Silent War. Click below to download ScholarMan’s “Fatherhood Dreamlovers Mix” EP for FREE:

Download

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FREE Download: ScholarMan “Fatherhood Dreamlovers Mix” EP | Hip-Hop Linguistics

I stumbled upon this video today through Fat Beats’ YouTube channel. At Last is the title track from Eternia & Moss’ upcoming album “At Last” – scheduled to drop in June. Track features Termanology & Reef the Lost Cauze. If you like this, check out It’s Funny.

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Eternia & Moss “At Last” Video | Hip-Hop Linguistics

By the Time I Get to Arizona 2010 is the second hip-hop track in the past couple of weeks that has been released in response to the Arizona immigration bill. If you like this, check out Chuck D’s Tear Down That Wall. After the break, check out Toki Wright’s statement.

This statement is from Toki Wright in response to Arizona’s immigration bill:

Dear Friends, Family, and Allies,

On Friday, April 23rd 2010 at approximately 1:30pm Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona signed into law the most aggressive bill against undocumented residents in the United States. Under Senate Bill 1070 (SB 1070) local police departments have been given the authority to identify, detain, and deport anyone they deem to be illegally in the US based solely on their suspicion. Yet we ask, “what does illegal look like?”

We the people believe that this is not only a decision deeply rooted in racism, but also a political plot to cause disruption between the State and Federal government at the expense of hard working families. The same stigma that has plagued people of color in unfair hiring and housing practices, education, police profiling and more has now been passed into so-called “law.” Law is nothing but an opinion reinforced by intimidation. Also, how can you call someone else illegal when you live on stolen land?

We won’t take this sitting down. Resist. Fight.

In Solidarity,
Toki Wright
Rhymesayers/Soultools

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Toki Wright “By the Time I Get to Arizona 2010″ Video | Hip-Hop Linguistics

This is the first single off Reason of Poorly Drawn People’s new LP “Landlords and Lullabies,” which drops April 6 on Poorly Drawn Recordings. Paid Bills was produced by Falside, and is the first in a series of pre-releases for the album. If you like this, check out Reason’s “Stalker Stories” EP – which was release for FREE last week in preparation for the upcoming album. Click below to listen to Reason’s Paid Bills:

[See post to listen to audio]

And click the following link to download the track for FREE: Download

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FREE Download: Reason “Paid Bills” | Hip-Hop Linguistics

It’s been 5 years since Lil Jon gave fans an album. 2004’s Crunk Juice came out on the Top 200 at #3, and prompted the singles “What U Gon’ Do” and “Real Nigga Roll Call.” The onetime So So Def DJ also enlisted production assistance from Rick Rubin, as well as a guest-list that included Nas, Ice Cube and Suga Free to what remains one of the few platinum independent Rap albums of the decade.

In the six years since, some could argue that Jon has quietly left. As his former label collapsed, the self-proclaimed King Of Crunk became label-mates with Chamillionaire and Drake at Universal Republic, and produced hits for E-40, Amerie, Pitbull and Baby Bash.

This afternoon, it was announced that after the lengthy hiatus, Jon’s long-discussed, but never-released Crunk Rock will be brought to fans June 8th. Morever, Jon & The East Side Boyz’ 7th career album features Game, Pitbull, R. Kelly, Elephant Man, LMFAO, Soulja Boy and others.

“I’m finally ready to get Crunk Rock out there to my people,” said Lil Jon. “It’s been a long time comin’ and the album has somethin’ for everyone on it.” Jon continued, “I gave them every kind of Lil Jon that they have ever heard on an album. From the Crunk shit, to R&B, to House, Electro and Rock… The album is on a whole other level… I can’t wait for da’ people to hear it!”

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Lil Jon’s “Crunk Rock” set to be released June 8th | Illest Lyrics

While at the NBA All-Star Game in Dallas, Texas, Jay-Z talked to MTV about his upcoming plans to shoot more music videos for Blueprint 3 and the possibility of a new album.

“I wanna shoot ‘Venus vs. Mars’. I may shoot two. I shot ‘Run This Town’ [and 'D.O.A. (Death of Auto Tune)']. I been shooting two at the same time. I’ll probably shoot ‘Venus’ and maybe ‘A Star Is Born.’ But I definitely wanna shoot ‘Venus’. I got an amazing concept in my mind.” said Jay-Z.

Jay also discussed “Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)” with Rihanna and members of U2 performed for the “Hope For Haiti Now” telethon. “The number is ridiculous as far as the [money generated by the Hope For Haiti Now] album. I’m excited about the whole effort we put into the telethon. It’s helping real people through a real tough time, and we’ll just move on from there.”

Blueprint 3 will not be Jay’s last album. He is already talking about ideas and tracks for a new album. “I didn’t really start yet. I got a couple of scraps and I got a couple of ideas. I didn’t really go into the studio yet. I’ve been toying with ideas and direction and things like that”, Jay added, “I got one crazy record. To be honest with you, it’s crazy. I got one and we’ll build from there. Whether it comes out this year or next year, it depends on the music and how it’s coming out. I don’t really have any dates.”

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Jay-Z talks of new videos and possibility of a new album | Illest Lyrics

Even though “How To Make It In America,” the new HBO show starring Kid Cudi, has not gone on the air yet, Cudi is already talking about eventually ending his rap career to focus just on acting.

Kid Cudi recently told New York Magazine that he plans on calling it a wrap after about four or five albums.

“I’m trying to evenly balance them out right now, but eventually I want to leave behind music and just do acting,” Kid Cudi says. “I only got into the music business to tell my story and inspire some people. I think four albums will do it, and when I’m done with my four, five albums, I’ll switch it up. Once the story is told [musically], there’s nothing else to say.”

“How To Make It In America” will be aired on HBO on Sunday, February 14 at 10 p.m.

In other news, Cudi is claiming that alcohol may have been a major factor in an attack on a fan that happened back in December.

According to TMZ.com Cudi called Michael Sharpe, who is the man he punched at his show, to apologize. He explained to Sharpe that his actions that night were brought on by alcohol.

TMZ did not recieve a response in an attempted to reach out to Cudi in regards to his phone call to Sharpe.

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Kid Cudi ending his rap career? | Illest Lyrics

Hired Gun is an NYC underground hip-hop artist who I run into at shows from time to time, and who has always impressed me with his flow, lyrics and songwriting ability. The Hired Gun is a track from his ‘08 album “The People’s Verses.” If you like this, you should check out his video for Dead City.

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Hired Gun “The Hired Gun” Video | Hip-Hop Linguistics