Complex recently compiled a list of music writers and critics (I use the word “writer” loosely as in this day in age of blogging, the “writing” seems to have gone the way of Twitter’s character limits) on Twitter, and why you should be following them. All of those suggested are listed in alphabetical order so it’s not on no elitist tip (I lied, it kind of is). One half of the heads of the dopehouse made the list as well.
While Shyne ranted about wanting off Def Jam, Ghostface took to Twitter to announce the release date for his next album. The Apollo Kids, December 14th! Shouts to nation on the heads up.
Last night Chuck Inglish took to Twitter to let the fans know that they have officially been released from their (now former) label, Chocolate Industries, giving them the chance to make and release music “without the bs“. Hopefully this means When Fish Ride Bicycles will see the light of day much sooner than later.
As fans continue to follow him on Twitter, Neighborhood Nip continues to leak new music. This time the Slauson representative rocks over Wiz Khalifa and Spitta’s This Plane The Planes (for the people SO fucking concerned about a song title).
According to 50 Cent — who told his followers on Twitter — Lloyd Banks will have a star studded line up for Hunger For More 2; which is scheduled for a November 23rd release. And the list goes as followed: himself, Eminem, Kanye West, Pusha T, Ryan Leslie, Fabolous, Swizz Beatz, Raekwon, Tony Yayo, Chris Brown, Akon and Governor.
Mr. West took to his Twitter account to release a few more details about his upcoming Watch the Thrown project with Jay-Z. Stating that they will be rhyming over Pete Rock, Q-Tip and Madlib production.
After trying to fool his followers on Twitter about a possible “beef” with Lloyd Banks (OK, he got me too. Check the rest of the post to see the full rant.), 50 Cent and Eminem approach Lloyd Banks about him not wanting Em to be on his album.
Earlier today, Kweli took to Twitter to announce that he was finishing up his next album. A title, he says was taken from the Catcher in the Rye. Production line-up is on point. UPDATE: Bringing this back to the top as Talib goes more in detail about the album’s title w/ XXL.
“I read The Catcher In The Rye when I was in Europe a few months ago and I didn’t really enjoy, but one thing that I took from it was that reference,” he recalled. “The character actually says ‘gasoline rainbows’ in the book. I was like, ‘Wow.’ I’ve always wanted to call a song ‘Gutter Rainbows’—just because of the rainbows that you see when the oil and the water mix in the gutter—and do a song based on that. I just remember being a little kid and finding beauty in that, and how you have to find beauty in stuff like that when you in the hood. But that reference—him noticing the gasoline rainbows in New York City, and just the character’s love for New York City—are what attracted to me to that phrase. Somebody else got it, so it made me feel like it was more than just a song. Maybe it was an album.”
During a G-Unit sit down with MTV, Curtis speaks on the reasoning behind his rants on Twitter.
You know what’s interesting? I look at that platform as another place to express yourself in a different way, to entertain. Not necessarily to create a perception of your actual character, but to be entertaining. When other people used it, it was boring because they were trying to be safe, be politically correct. They gave you the presentation they were taught to give you after they were prepped for publicity. What I gave you was some of the things I’ve seen that were entertaining topic-wise — things that made me laugh. I think it’s healthy to smile. Even though I may have the persona as one of the darkest people in hip-hop culture, you seen me smile as often as — probably more often as — somebody you seen placed in that category.
He also cites Ice Cube as his influence in expressing himself differently, within a multitude of mediums.