DOD2

Hopefully this sticks. With their independent compilation album already out, DMX tells TMZ the label’s CEO Waah Dean has already started booking venues across the country.
EVE and the Lox have not officially signed on yet, but Swizz Beatz and Drag-On are already onboard. X says: “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.” On a related note, DMX will hit the S.O.B.’s stage on February 23rd. We’ll be there.

Drake and producer producer Noah "40" Shebib work very well together. The two have carved out a sound that has obviously been very successful. That success has led to competition and comparisons to other rappers and producers.

 

Drake is involved in an all out battle with G.O.O.D. Music affiliate Common. Current G.O.O.D. Music artist Pusha T is perceived to be taking shots at Drake on his recent "Don't F*ck With Me" and "Sweet" freestyles and 40 told Vibe in their August/September 2010 issue that Kanye West once cursed him out for "borrowing" his sound.

 

"There are more similarities between me and Ye on 808s and So Far Gone than to Thank Me Later," 40 said at the time. "Ye cussed me out one day about jacking his sound. '40 I don't think you should be in the studio right now because you might just hear my new sh*t and subconsciously steal my new sh*t and it wouldn't even be your fault.' I can't even be mad at him because the last CD I listened to was 808s & Heartbreak before I started doing So Far Gone. I swear to God I haven't listened to a CD since other than Erykah Badu's new album which I love. That's it. I try not to listen to too much music because I don't want to be subconsciously influenced and he's 100% right about that."

 

In a new interview with MTV, 40 insists there is no problem or competition between himself and the Louis Vuitton Don despite any past issues.

 

"He's a huge influence to me. I look up to that guy like crazy. I always have and I always will. To ever suggest something like that I think is way out of line," 40 said. "That's someone who's carved out a sound for rap music a couple of times, who has really influenced and changed the game as an individual. It would be crazy to say there's competition. I'm grateful to any and everybody that's ever influenced me, including Mr. West."

INTERESTING

Rick Ross is back in the States from his trip to South Africa. After reminiscing on his experience via his Twitter, Rozay reveals that he plans to release a new mixtape. Viva free music.

Raekwon is dropping a new EP (in a roundabout way), while The Roots come "UNDUN" next week and 2012 looks like it'll be starting off right.

If it weren't for a handful of great albums coming in December, skipping to 2012 would be the move. However, that's not the case. December opens with Amy Winehouse's final masterpiecing Lioness: Hidden Treasures. Salaam Remi took a bunch of old Amy tracks, reworked some (adding Nas to "Like Smoke" ) and put together a tight work. Even ?uestlove pops up on the album, so definitely check it out when it drops the first week of December. Speaking of ?uestlove, The Roots come through with their concept album UNDUN. The album is intense, and will surely show a different side of The Legendary.

Jumping ahead into 2012, Strong Arm Steady, Statik Selektah, and Sha Stimuli are the first January announcements with Statik and SAS collaborating on StereoType January 2nd, and Sha's The Calling on January 12th. Then a week later we finally get that Ja Rule album Pain Is Love 2. Rule's camp let go of the final version of "Real Life Fantasy"  this week along with some diary entries. Kid Cudi and Dot Da Genius close out January 2k12 with their W Z R D project. 

*BlankStare*

 

Jay-Z sports his Sunday best for the cover of GQ‘s December issue. If you’re keeping track, this is Hov’s second appearance as Gentleman Quarterly’s Man Of The Year. Issue on newsstands now.

Ever wonder what it would be like to grow up in T.I. and Tiny’s crib? Well, get ready to find out through your television screen.

Tip and the fam pose adorably in the promo pictures for their new show “T.I. And Tiny: The Family Hustle,” which premieres December 5 at 9 PM EST on VH1. The show will give viewers an inside look at how Tip is readjusting to life as a husband and father of six (King, Domani, Zonique, Messiah, Deyjah, and Major — the modern day, Hip Hop Brady Bunch) while jumping back into his career after his most recent stint in the slammer. Viewers will also get glimpse into T.I. and Tiny’s ride-or-die relationship and be introduced to their daughter Zonique’s singing group, the OMG GIRLZ.

WILL YOU BE WATCHING ?

Stunna and Mack Maine put their heads together and team up with DJ Folk and Khaled for a brand new mixtape. Features include Weezy, Rozay, K-Dot and more.

1.Luxury Life Prod by Megaman
2.Money to Make ft Rick Ross
3.Everything I Do Ft Lil Wayne
4.Mr Lottery ft Jae Millz and Short Dawg Prod by TMinus
5.You Too Ft Drake
6.Why U Mad ft Nicki Minaj Lil Wayne Prod by J Mike
7.The Fam ft Chopper CIty and Lil Boosie
8.Imma Stunna FT Short Dawg Prod by The Bizness
9.Bout Money ft Dre & Maino
10. In The AIR
11 Dreamz Ft Jae and MR Beats prod by MR Beats
12. B Boyz ft Ace Hood Kendrick Lamar prod by The Olympicks
13.Every Summer Prod by The Olympicks
14.Priceless Ft Dre

Download here