XXLMag.com has learned from a network spokesperson that despite reports on several websites, Eminem is “not confirmed” to perform at this year’s BET Awards.

Although Em’s spot is not etched in stone Kanye West, The-Dream and Jamie Foxx, who has been tapped to host the show, are set to hit the stage. BET announced the nominees earlier this month with T.I. leading the rap honors with three nods.

“106″ hosts Terrance J and Rocsi also revealed that Em will be doing a BET special with Big Tigger. As of press time details on the show have yet to be revealed.

Will be performing on the BET Awards 2009 on the 23trd of June


Jamie Foxx (who will also be the host)


Lil’ Wayne


Soulja Boy


Bow Wow


T-Pain


Kayne West


Jazmine Sullivan


Keri Hilson


T-Money
And more…

Eminem has landed on top of the Billboard 200 sales chart today (May 27), breaking the record for the highest selling album of ’09 and going gold after only one week in stores according to Nielsen’s SoundScan.

The reclusive Detroit lyricist officially sold over 608,200 copies of his dark comeback disc Relapse, his first solo studio since 2004’s Encore. The disc, which was produced almost entirely by Dr. Dre, minus one track (“Beautiful”), is Em’s 6th album to grab the no. 1 spot – including his greatest hits compilation Curtain Call and the soundtrack to his biopic 8 Mile.

Shady wasn’t the only rap superstar to debut on the charts this week. New releases by Method Man and Redman and Busta Rhymes also made their way onto the top 10. Red and Meth landed at the no. 4 position with their sequel to 1999’s platinum-selling LP Blackout. The disc managed to sell 63,200 copies in its first seven days on the shelves. Bussa Bus fared two spots down at no. 6 with his 8th album, Back On My B.S. which pushed 59,100 units.

At no. 22 is Rick Ross with his third album, Deeper Than Rap. Fans brought home 19,800 more copies of the CD this week, bringing the Miami boss’ total sales numbers to 290,290 after five weeks.

Four spots down at no. 26 is the mixtape king DJ Drama with his second major label compilation Gangsta Grillz: The Album Vol. 2. The star-studded disc, which features cameos from T.I., Nas, Ludacris, Rick Ross, Akon, Fabolous, Gucci Mane and The-Dream, among others, sold 17,700 copies in its first week.

Rounding out the top 40 is Dipset founder Cam’ron at no. 35, falling 32 slots since last week’s debut on the charts. Killa sold 15, 300 Crime Pays CDs this go-around, bringing his grand total to 58,400.

Next week look for Eminem to get comfortable at the throne.

Author: Elan Mancini
Source: XXL

Brooklyn rapper Maino’s debut album on Atlantic Records has been pushed back once again, with his latest release date to fall next month.

The album, ironically titled If Tomorrow Comes…, was originally slated to hit shelves last year, but has since been plagued with a series of changed drop dates. As previously reported it was last scheduled to come out this month, but is now ready to come out on June 30.

XXLMag.com has obtained the official track listing for the LP as well as the album credits. Boasting 19 tracks, five of which are skits, Maino recruited an impressive lineup of producers for the disc. Along with Just Blaze, who provided the sounds for Maino’s second single, “All The Above,” – which was recently certified Gold - Swizz Beatz has also hopped on board for the MC’s latest single “Million Bucks.” Other big names on the album include Rick Ross hitmakers the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, “Amusement Park” producer Dangerous LLC and Charlemagne. As far as artist cameos Maino shares mic time with former Cash Money rapper B.G. on “Gangsta” and R&B crooner Trey Songz assists on “Hood Love.”

Peep the full track listing below. – Elan Mancini
1. “MILLION BUCKS” (FEAT. SWIZZ BEATZ)
2. SCENE 1: IF TOMORROW COMES…
3. “BACK TO LIFE” (FEAT. PUSH! MONTANA)
4. “REMEMBER MY NAME”
5. “GANGSTA” (Feat. B.G.)
6. SCENE 2: THE MEETING
7. “ALL THE ABOVE” (FEAT. T-PAIN)
8. “HERE COMES TROUBLE”
9. SCENE 3: HATING
10. “HI HATER”
11. “LET’S MAKE A MOVIE”
12. “KILL YOU”
13. SCENE 4: CONTEMPLATING
14. “RUNAWAY SLAVE”
15. “SOLDIER”
16. “HOOD LOVE” (FEAT. TREY SONGZ)
17. “FLOATING”
18. SCENE 5: THE PHONE CALL
19. “CELEBRATE”

Source: XXL

Tattooed with pictures of AK-47s, Miami's six-foot, 300-pound rap figure known as Rick Ross embraced his city's reputation for drug trafficking on his debut single, "Hustlin'," in 2006. While Atlanta and Houston artists were establishing their cities as Southern strongholds, Ross aimed at putting Miami back in rap's national spotlight. Ross, real name William Roberts, grew up in Carol City, FL, an impoverished northern suburb of Miami. Influenced by artists like Luther Campbell and the Notorious B.I.G., Roberts formed local rap group the Carol City Cartel and began rapping in the mid-'90s. (He took his rap name from Los Angeles drug kingpin "Freeway" Rick Ross, who ran one of the largest crack-cocaine distribution networks in the country during the '80s and early '90s.) Ross had a brief stint on Suave House Records, former label of Eightball & MJG, before he ended up on Miami-based Slip-N-Side Records, the label home of Trick Daddy and Trina. During the early to mid-2000s, he became popular and well known locally through touring with Trick Daddy and guest-appearing on a few Slip-N-Slide releases, but didn't release any solo material until 2006.

Once "Hustlin'" caught the ear of a few executives within the national industry, a bidding war ensued that included offers from Bad Boy CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs and The Inc. (formerly Murder Inc.) president Irv Gotti. Nonetheless, Def Jam president and veteran rapper Jay-Z signed Ross to a multi-million-dollar deal. The Miami anthem "Hustlin'" went on to receive gold status from RIAA in May 2006 and sold over a million ringtone units before the physical release of his debut album, Port of Miami. Released in August 2006, Ross' debut was Slip-N-Side's first project under the Def Jam partnership, and it went to number one on the Billboard album chart. His follow-up, Trilla, was released the following year, prefaced with the Cool & Dre-produced title track. Early 2009 saw the release of Deeper Than Rap, an album greeted with numerous positive reviews in the hip-hop press.

Source Music AOL

Also you can become our Artist of the Week! Send us your music at vokalblog@gmail.com and tell us why you should become our Artist of the Week!

Yung Joc recently made headlines about bringing a lawsuit against Bad Boy Records for unpaid royalties. Now, the Atlanta rapper says that he will expose a gay rapper tomorrow. Maybe someone from Bad Boy Records? Could it be Diddy, Mase or Black Rob…?

New album from Eminem out in stores the 19th of May

1. "Dr. West" (skit (feat. Dominic West))

2. "3 A.M."

3. "My Mom"

4. "Insane"

5. "Bagpipes from Baghdad"

6. "Hello"

7. "Tonya" (skit)

8. "Same Song & Dance"

9. "We Made You"

10. "Medicine Ball"

11. "Paul" (skit)

12. "Stay Wide Awake"

13. "Old Time's Sake" (featuring Dr. Dre)

14. "Must Be the Ganja"
15. "Mr. Mathers" (skit)

16. "Déjà Vu"
17. "Beautiful"

18. "Crack a Bottle" (featuring Dr. Dre & 50 Cent)

19. "Steve Berman" (skit)

20. "Underground"

According to Eminem's website, two bonus tracks will be available when the album is purchased from the artist's website.
Bonus tracks
21."My Darling"
22."Careful What You Wish For"

Music Video: Eminem - We Made You

It’s that time of the year again. Gucci Mane, Soulja Boy, OJ Da Juiceman and Shawty Lo recently joined forces to pose for XXL’s July Issue - the 2nd Annual Hood to Hood Issue.
The Atlanta cover comes one year after XXL’s 1st Annual Hood to Hood Issue, which featured Miami stars Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, Trina and Flo Rida. In addition to the cover story, the issue includes features on Asher Roth (P.A.), Mos Def (Brooklyn) and Drake (Toronto) and a breakdown of popular hip-hop hometowns.
XXL’s July issue is set to hit newsstands June 2.

Spotted @ XXL

Busta Rhymes: "All them dudes that talk about retirement and shit—God bless ‘em. I’m not one of them dudes. When you’re in this business as long as me, you’re gonna retire to do what?
I love what I do so much, I don’t foresee retirement ever. I’m probably gonna be one of the first muthafuckas on some Quincy Jones shit. I want to be able to put out a Q’s Jook Joint when I’m 65 years old."

For more check out Nah Right

Eminem - We Made You - Live on Jimmy Kimmel (5.16.09)

Vokal present El Matador who will be meeting his fans during an exclusive signing tour in the stores. Don't miss it!

Thursday 28 May 2009
Hip Hop Shop 12.00 – 14.00 Marseille

New Yorker 16.00 – 18.00 Aix-en-Provence

Friday 29 May 2009
Gaia 12.00 – 14.00 Argelès-sur-Mer

D Town 15.00 – 17.00 Perpignan

Saturday 30 May 2009
Blunt 13.00 – 15.00 Toulouse

Also visit the El Matador Skyrock Blog

Rapper Eminem was spotted in Germany at the Snipes Shop in Cologne buying some Karl Kani for himself and Cross Colours for his daughter!

Director Abel Ferrara is working on a Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde re-imagining and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Forest Whitaker are said to play the leading roles.

Executive Producer Luc Roeg told Variety: "The combination of such formidable talent in front of and behind the camera will turn this wonderful gothic story into a modern classic for a whole new generation."

Filming will take place this summer.

It's not the only Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde inspired Movie in the near future, Keanu Reeves is working on another project inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Source: This is 50

1."Crime Pays Intro" 2:33
2."Cookin' Up" 4:03
3."Where I Know You From" 4:04
4."Fuck Cam #1" (skit) 1:25
5."Never Ever" 3:30
6."Curve" 3:44
7."Silky (No Homo)" 3:21
8."Get It In Ohio" 4:24
9."Who" 3:43
10."Grease" (skit) 2:11
11."You Know What's Up" (feat. C.O. & Sky-Lyn) 3:16
12."Spend the Night" 4:03
13."Fuck Cam #2" (skit) 1:13
14."Woo Hoo" (feat. Byrd Lady & 40 Cal.) 3:50
15."Chalupa" 4:02
16."Cookies-N-Apple Juice" (feat. Byrd Lady & Skitzo) 3:55
17."My Job" 3:47
18."Homicide" 3:44
19."Fuck Cam #3" (skit) 0:51
20."Got It for Cheap" (feat. Skitzo) 4:11
21."Get It Get It" 3:15
22."Bottom of the Pussy" 3:17
23."Fuck Cam #4" (skit) 1:13

New Album by Busta Rhymes out on 19th of May!


1. "B.S. Intro / Wheel Of Fortune"
2. "What They Askin' For"
3. "Respect My Conglomerate" (featuring Lil Wayne & Jadakiss)
4. "Shoot for The Moon"
5. "Hustler's Anthem '09" (featuring T-Pain)
6. "Kill Dem" (featuring Pharrell & Tosh)
7. "Arab Money" (featuring Ron Browz)
8. "Imma Go & Get Mine" (featuring Mike Epps)
9. "We Want In" (featuring Ron Browz, Spliff Star & Show Money)
10. "We Miss You" (featuring DeMarco & Jelly Roll)
11. "Sugar" (featuring Jelly Roll)
12. "Don't Believe 'Em" (featuring Akon & T.I.)
13. "Decision" (featuring Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, John Legend & Common)
14. "World Go Round" (featuring Estelle)
15. "We Made It" (featuring Linkin Park)

Check out the Busta Rhymes ft. Lil Wayne & Jadakiss - Respect My Conglomerate

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Vokál was launched in 1997 as a Hip Hop Fashion brand by Nelly and his cousin Yomi Martin. The American rapper was looking for a new innovative brand with daring and unique designs where the clothes speak for themselves. Vokal is all about Hip Hop music and through the collection you will see it reflected through little details and the usage of microphones.

Now Vokal is giving back to its origins by launcing a blog that is fully dedicated to Hip Hop Music. Stay tune for the latest album releases, new music video's, gossip on your favorite Hip Hop artists and more. The Vokal Hip Hop blog will also let young talents promote themselves and share their talents with others.

Vokal - The Clothing Speaks For Itself - http://www.vokal-europe.com/

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