According to TMZ, a Ruff Ryders reunion is in the works. DMX himself has said “We are all family and we’re going to come back stronger than when we left … It’s going to take the nation by storm.” Swizz Beatz, Eve, Drag On, & Murda-Mook have all signed on to do the reunion. Eve told TMZ to “expect a massive comeback.” The only ingredient missing is the LOX, they have yet to sign on; But X is very sure that will change once he speaks to them. Fans have been looking forward to the return of the crew, look no more because “X Gon Give It To Ya.”

For more on this story head on over to TMZ.com

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If this is what his next album Top 5, Dead Or Alive is sounding like count me in.

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10. Ciara vs. Jive Records

Following countless delays, Ciara decided she had had enough of the setbacks Jive placed in front of her. She took to her Facebook page to complain about the label’s lack of promotion. Ciara stated she had to pay to promote her single, “Gimme Dat,” out of her own pocket. Jive’s lack of faith in the Atlanta singer/songwriter led her to request for their contract to be terminated. A few weeks later, Ciara’s name disappeared from Jive’s roster of talent and her website, Ciarasworld.com, had been shut down. The virtual erasing of Ciara’s ties with Jive led many to speculate she had been dropped. After all, those rumors were floating around before Ciara decided to blast them on her Facebook page. Inquiring minds are still searching for details concerning the deterioration of their relationship.

9. Jill Scott vs. Hidden Beach Recordings

Our soul sista, Jill Scott has had a seemingly controversy free. Our love affair with Jill almost came to a screeching halt earlier this year when she and Hidden Beach Recordings were embroiled in a nasty lawsuit. The label’s head honcho claimed the neo-soul singer stopped recording for the company before her six album deal had expired. Scott countersued citing Steve McKeever, the label head, cost her millions in profits. Before the situation could get out of hand, the two came to an agreement. Jill was allowed to leave and signed a deal with Warner Brothers Records, which distributed her fourth effort. Hidden Beach will release a 10 song project entitled “Just Before Dawn: Jill Scott From The Vault, Vol. 1.” Why can’t cooler heads prevail in all of these situations?

8. The Clipse vs. Jive Records

In 2003, One of the casualties of the merger between BMG and Sony Music Entertainment was The Clipse. Signed to Pharrell’s Star Trak imprint, the Virginia rap duo was legally forced to stay on Jive when Star Trak moved its distribution deal over to Interscope. Jive, known more for having success with pop acts, allowed The Clipse to finish working on their second album without having any intention of delivering it to the public. Tensions between the group and the label mounted until Malice and Pusha T asked for a formal release. When Jive denied their request, The Clipse took the issue to court. As litigation took place, the duo started dropping the mixtape series, We Got It 4 Cheap. By the end of 2006, Jive relented by releasing Hell Hath No Fury, in conjunction with The Clipse’s Re-Up Records.

7. 112 vs. Bad Boy Records

People question how Diddy can be a label executive when he wants to be an artist himself. That has been the basis of quite a few artists leaving Bad Boy Records. 112 was one of the biggest male R&B groups in the late 90s and early 2000s. After having a hit album with Part III, the boys of 112 decided they were men and needed to take a stand. Slim, Q, Mike, and Daron felt Bad Boy no longer suited the mature adults they’d become. Despite all parties’ calling the decision amicable, many believed 112 signed with Def Soul for more creative control over future projects.  Being the legal gangster he is, Diddy worked out a deal to where 112 would be represented by both companies for the release of Pleasure & Pain. Amid rumors of internal strife, 112 parted ways in 2007 and Def Jam dropped them from their roster.

6. JoJo vs. Da Family Entertainment

In 2006, JoJo was at the top of her game. She had a Top 10 hit with “Too Little, Too Late” and was crafting tracks for her next album. By 2009, new songs hadn’t materialized. JoJo posted messages on her Myspace page informing her fans it was Da Family Entertainment who was holding up the new disc. Later that year, she filed a lawsuit against the boutique company. The singer alleged her label wouldn’t let her out of her contract or allow her in the studio to record new songs. An agreement was finally reached in January of 2010. JoJo’s future albums would be distributed through Interscope Records. If you’re wondering where the new album is, it’s slated to hit shelves this coming fall.

5. Consequence vs. G.O.O.D. Music

The beef between Kanye West and Consequence is a personal one that spilled over into business. When Kanye debuted in 2004, Consequence was there. He helped with lyrics and concepts for each of Kanye’s works, save My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. While the squabbles between the two remained under wraps for a moment, Consequence grew tired of playing a secondary role when he was promised a starring one. Cons has alleged he hasn’t received credit for the work he contributed to West’s albums. Another thorn in the side of this relationship is Consequence’s sophomore disc being delayed by Kanye and Q-Tip’s dragging of their feet. Consequence has left G.O.O.D. Music and created his own label called Band Camp. To add insult to injury, he changed the title of his next album from Cons TV to Get Even. I wonder who’s the target for that dagger.

4. Faith Evans vs. Bad Boy Records

As one of the flagship artists on Diddy’s label, Faith Evans wasn’t as big a name she should have been. Faith recorded some of the biggest R&B hits for  the company. the issue for her was the same issue 112 had with Sean Combs. She felt there was a conflict of interest. How could the person supposed to guide your career do their job effectively  when they were trying to be and artist themselves? After the moderate success that was the Faithfully album, Faith made history by becoming the first contemporary R&B singer contracted to Capitol Records.

3. The Lox vs. Bad Boy Records

When you talk about being out of place, The Lox signing with Bad Boy Records is prime example. The Lox found themselves fighting to be rid of the Bad Boy image. Shiny suits and big budgeted video didn’t fit the rugged outlook of the Yonkers rap trio. Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch wanted to work with Ruff Ryders label because they had a harder image which fit The Lox’s attitude. After venturing down all legal avenues to no avail, they took it to the streets. The group started a grassroots movement with t-shirts emblazoned with “Let The Lox Go.” Diddy relented, yet kept some of their money from their future earnings.

2. Michael Jackson vs. Sony Music

Michael Jackson’s last full length album he recorded was the 2001 disc, Invincible. Before its release, Jackson and Sony were at odds over the artist’s master recordings. Michael was supposed to receive the masters to all of his work in 2000. However, there were clauses in the agreement which made sure Jackson didn’t get his masters for another 20 years. MJ discovered the lawyer representing him in the matter also worked for Sony. After unearthing the shady practices of Sony Music, Michael sought an early exit from his contract. When Jackson informed the label he was leaving the company after Invincible was finished being promoted, Sony suspended all promotions for the project.

1. Prince vs. Warner Brothers Records

Prince has never been one to shy away from controversy–be it rocking chaps with the butt cut out on national television. One of the most attention grabbing moments in Prince’s career was when he etched ‘slave’ in his face when he began to feel Warner Brothers was stifling his creativity. When Warner Brothers wouldn’t let Prince out of his contract, he began dropping albums in rapid succession to fill the requirements of his deal. How’s that for there being more than one way to skin a cat?

The juice bar not only serves fresh squeezed juices, but it also boasts a row of exercise equipment along its back wall. The bar has no official menu, as beverages are custom made for each patron.

Rollocks, who also owns a juice bar in Harlem, inspired Styles P to open Juices For Life. “I was eating a lot of fast food, but Rollocks got me eating right,” Styles tells the Bronx Times. “Our first goal is to get everyone a little more health conscious.”

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We know that he’s been doing that “Silverback Gorilla” thing for a minute now, but did no one in Sheek’s camp or the Def Jam camp have anything to say about a cover that picked Sheek as half man, half gorilla?

We thought that it wasn’t cool for people to compare us to primates.

They should have just went ahead and put him in blackface on the non-simian half of the photo!

Are we overreacting?

Anyway, peep the tracklist for Donnie G below:

1. Rhyme Animal (Intro)
2. Get It Poppin
3. Club Jam Packed feat. DJ Webstar
4. Out Of The Ghetto feat. Kobe
5. Make Some Noise feat. Fabolous
6. Blood & Tears feat. Casely
7. Nite Falls
8. Party After 2 feat. Jeremih
9. Touch The Sky feat. Ryan Leslie & Adrienne Bailon
10. Ol’ Skool feat. Bun B
11. Picture Phone Foreplay feat. Kevin “KC” Cossom
12. Dinner Guest feat. Jadakiss, Bully & Styles P.
13. Ready4War

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On Saturday August 21 radio and TV personality Free hosted the 4th Annual Harlem BBQ and Fish Fry. The event was organized by the 135th St Agency  to raise awareness  for the Global Language Project, a non-profit focused on helping disadvantaged elementary public school students in New York City to compete in a global workforce by teaching them languages other than English.

Singer Miguel, Sheek Louch of The Lox and Jacque Reid were among the many attendees who came out to support the event on the patio of Talay Lounge. It was also the 5th anniversary of the 135th St. Agency.

During her spirited welcoming address Free reminded us why we loved her on 106th and Park with her wit and sass. She risked life and limb to profess her love for her home town of Boston just minutes away from Yankee stadium.

Sheek took a moment to tell TheUrbanDaily.com about his signing to Def Jam Records and Free says let them eat cupcake in the clip below (100 bragging points to anyone who gets that last reference.)

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Making lists of someone’s best work is solely based on opinion, but Complex Magazine’s recent list of the top 25 Timbaland tracks has some glaring omissions.

While it looks like the magazine stuck to songs released as singles, we can excuse some of the album tracks that were left off of their list.  However there are quite a few singles that were left off the list….

1. Aaliyah “4 Page Letter”

We’re very happy that Aaliyah was well represented on Complex’s list, however leaving “4 Page Letter” off the list is akin to your Lebron’s mom sleeping with Delonte West.  It just shouldn’t have happened.

2. Aaliyah “Hot Like Fire” (Timbaland’s Groove Mix)

C’MON SON!!!!  This remix goes hard and definitely is light years better than some of the tracks on Complex’s list… coughYoungJeezy”3AM”cough.

3. Ginuwine “I’ll Do Anything / I’m Sorry”

This classic slow groove from Ginuwine’s first album is arguably the best thing Elgin Lumpkin ever recorded.  Yes, better than “Pony.”

4. Ginuwine “Same Ol’ G”

Not one of Ginuwine’s best known singles, but “Same Ol’ G”, which came out during Tim’s baby-crying, Godzilla-roaring sampling heyday shows that he was able to create a simple, straight ahead R&B song devoid of all of the “special effects” yet still retain the Timbaland sound.

5. Ginuwine “So Anxious”

This slow, slightly sleazy sounding song served as the soundtrack to several slow grinds back in the day. And let’s not forget the “remix” beat that pops up near the end of the video…

6. Missy Elliott “Hit ‘Em Wit Da Hee” (Remix)

Hands down, my favorite Timbaland remix.  Tim transformed the relatively ho-hum album version into a production masterpiece.  The real gem lies in the second half when Tim switches the beat up and performs a musical wedding ceremony between Al Green & Björk.  Say word?

7. Missy Elliott “Beep Me 911″ (feat. 702)

This isn’t on Complex’s list?   Whooaaaa there lil’ buddy…

8. Missy Elliot “Work It”

Overplayed? Certainly.  But that doesn’t make this song any less an example of Tim’s genius.  Admit it.  You were singing along to the backwards part too.  “Its yearn flippin nippy flan nav cripple”

9. Total “What About Us”

This jam off the soundtrack to the film Soul Food still knocks to this day.

10. The Lox, Eve & Drag-On “Ryde Or Die Chick”

This Ruff Ryder anthem had girls all over the world claiming to be Ryde Or Die chicks.

11. Pastor Troy “Are We Cuttin’” (feat. Miss Jade)

I incessantly bugged Pastor Troy’s A&R rep for months for a copy of this song before it finally came out.

12. Snoop Dogg “Snoop Dogg (What’s My Name Pt. 2)”

Snoop’s last album on No Limit Records is one of the most underrated records of his career, and so is this song.  Tim & Snoop take a cue from Frankie Smith’s “Double Dutch Bus”, which Tim would revisit again for Missy’s “Gossip Folks.”

13. Memphis Bleek, Jay-Z & Missy Elliott “Is That Your Chick”

Come on… Bleek got a hit record off of this. That’s no easy feat. That’s the power of Timbaland!

14. Jay-Z “Dirt Off Your Shoulder”

“Dirt Off Your Shoulder” was one of those rare beats that was hard enough to not tick off the roughnecks, yet catchy enough that it made a perfect ringtone (back when we cared about ringtones…)

So now that we’ve covered the singles that Complex failed to mention, let’s go in on the album cuts and other obscure joints that should’ve made Complex’s list!

15. Ludacris “The Potion”

I can’t listen to this without feeling like I coulda been cast in You Got Served.  I also get a temporary case of synesthesia whenever I hear this.  All the warbling bleeps and beeps in the song paint a very vivid picture in my head full of shimmering and falling lights and colors… It’s LSD in hip-hop form.

16. Jay-Z “Come And Get Me”

Starting out sounding like a slow pimp stroll, “Come And Get Me” eventually morphs into the kind of beat that only an MC like Jay-Z could do justice.

“Come and get meeeeeeeeeeeeeee”

17. Jay-Z “It’s Hot (Some Like It Hot)”

I’ll be honest with you.  This song >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> “Big Pimpin’.”

18. Timbaland & Magoo “Writtin Rhymes”

This album cut from the first Timbaland & Magoo album features one of the smoothest hard beats (huh?) Timbaland ever made.  That smooth guitar loop plus Tim’s favorite Al Green drums equals an under-appreciated Timbaland classic

19. Jodeci “What About Us” (Swing Mob Remix)

This remix was largely ignored when it was released.  In fact, aside from the cassette maxi-single (remember those?) that I stole from Sam Goody when it dropped, I haven’t seen this remix on a piece of vinyl or CD, and believe me I’ve looked.  One of the earliest Timbaland tracks, you can see how his style developed from here.

20. Justin Timberlake “Until The End Of Time”

This Prince sampling slow jam from Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds album was one of the many hot songs on the album and helped solidify the duo of Timberlake and Timbaland as the ones to beat in 2006.

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Styles P of the Lox and D-Block is branching out away from music as he prepares to release his first novel, Invincible.

Read the book’s synopsis below:

Jake Billings is usually cool under pressure, but when two stick-up kids rob his record store, Jake opens fire on them, landing him in prison.  After only five days in, he receives a menacing, anonymous letter telling him to watch his back, that his days are numbered.  But before he can find out who’s behind the threats, Jake is stabbed by Frank Butler, a grimy hustler with no known gang affiliations, and ends up in a coma.

When he wakes up in a hospital bed two years later, things have changed: his prison sentence has been commuted, his girlfriend, Kim is fiercely independent, and his side piece Marybeth has gotten out of the street life altogether.  But one thing remains the same: Jake’s enemy still wants him dead and is powerful enough to track him down no matter where he hides.

On the run, and with rumors circulating about a powerful, phantom-like gang called the 300 Crew, Jake will need to rely on his mantra – TRUST NO ONE.  Not the law, not Kim, not the street cats he helped out years ago, not even his own blood.  Jake is ready to face danger head-on, outsmart his adversaries, and defend himself no matter what the cost.

Invincible will be in bookstores on June 1st!

SOURCE

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The Yonkers native who brought DMX to the rap game and produced The Lox’s “If You Think I’m Jiggy” and “We’ll Always Love Big Poppa” said that Jadakiss asked him personally.

He also says that despite his “Blanket Jackson” persona he does not claim to be an MC. “I put out MCs. I produce MCs…I’m a hood narrator.”

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VIA DR Jay’s:

The video’s concept, overseen by Ruff Ryders co-founder and CEO Joaquin “Waah” Dean, pays homage to the collective street spirit the Ruff Ryders pioneered in the late 1990s.

The video was shot in different locations, with DMX and Swizz on set in Arizona due to ‘X’s current travel restrictions, and the rest of the crew filmed in New York City.

Ruff Ryders, a record label and management company created by Waah, his brother Dee and their sister Chivon, evolved over the years from a successful artist breeding ground to a fully-fledged movement that includes national bike chapters plus an ultimate fighting division called “Built 4 War”. A new Ruff Ryders album is set to drop in 2010, with individual artist projects also slated for release in the coming year.

VIA DX:

In a backstage SummerJam interview with HOT97 personality Miss Info rapper Jadakiss spoke briefly on upcoming D-Block album and possibly joining forces with Diddy, again.

“We got a meeting actually with Puffy in a couple of weeks,” Jadakiss explained in the interview. “I think we got a sit down dinner. I just got that news delivered to me from Groovy Lou today.”

Consisting of rappers Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P, D-Block has released two albums thus far with We Are The Streets being the most recent.

“It’s all business Info…This is your job as entertainment,” said Jadakiss. “You here to make money without selling yourself short or without compromising what you do. At the end of the day if it’s beneficial for both parties on a financial end and on just good vibes it could always work.”

Jadakiss also revealed that they’re about six, seven songs into the album and that it will be released at the end of the year.

Aside from this upcoming D-Block album Jadakiss, who released The Last Kiss earlier this year, is already working on his next album entitled Top Five, Dead Or Alive.

Check out our poll below and vote to see if reuniting with Diddy is a good thing or not:

“They trying to squeeze me, but we’re gonna [record] some more music, and heat it up even more,” said Jada about label promotion towards his Last Kiss release, a debut since leaving Interscope. “Def Jam, when they push the button, they mash the button…I ain’t have an album out in so long, so it’s different. I had a nice few months to work my other albums. This one, you got the single, got the video, you gotta heat it up some more.”

“By My Side,” a song assisted by Ne-Yo, has begun to get national radio rotation in the last month.

As far as revealing this album’s overall sound, Jadakiss referred to his reputation in album-making. “My fans know what the album was gonna be already. You know what it is when your boy ‘Kiss is workin’, you just gotta get your speakers right.” He did confirm that the release will arrive early 2009, sporting a Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam/Ruff Ryders jacket.

Asked about his status in the game as one of, if not thee best, Jadakiss waved off giving himself rank. However, the Yonkers, New York veteran did admit, “I’m incredible; I’m gonna get even more incredibler [sic]. I’m gonna get even better though, in the next year or two.”

Earlier this month, both Styles P and Sheek Louch released retail mixtapes on Koch Records.

“112 is always forever. You know what I mean?,” says Slim who might want to consider a name change; one more appropriate for the grown man weight he’s picked up since the last 112 album in 2005. “There is no ill will between me and the guys, although I haven’t spoken to Mike in a while.”

Slim probably hasn’t spoken to founding member Michael Keith,  because according to several published reports, Keith is declaring that the group disbanded after one of the less famous members stole a publishing check from he and Slim. On this matter Slim started to mince words.

“As far as the brand 112, no one person can control that brand. Only all four members can disband the group. So since all four members aren’t disbanding the group, 112 will always stand.”

Slim, who says he never wanted to put out a solo album, did just that with the release of Love’s Crazy –via Asylym– a set independent of his band mates and the famous Bad Boy stable where he once released four platinum albums as a member of 112.

“On this new album, you won’t hear a bunch of I’m sorries, take me back, I messed up kinda of lyrics. You’re gonna hear more solutions than anything. That’s just not my take on love period. I’m more optimistic than that,” says Slim.

Although Slim does admit that listeners might get a few “flashes” of 112 on his new solo set, this new joint is all him.

In the few years since the last 112 CD, Slim says that he has been keeping busy building his company M3 Productions, performing and believe it or not watching “Making The Band.”

“I’ve watched the show. And you know, with us, we had a more family oriented relationship with Puff. There was 112, Biggie, Faith, The Lox, Total. We were like family. Puff didn’t have to babysit us,” Slim defends.

And on the subject of Day26 Slim admits, “I’ve met them,  they are a great bunch of guys, but are no comparison.”

Ouch!

Love’s Crazy which features appearances by Faith Evans, Ryan Leslie and Big Boi is in stores now.