rap is hip hop: November 2011

Interpreting Jay-Z and Kanye West's No Church in The Wild: No Illuminati Conotations

We are in a time now where anybody with wealth is considered linked to a secret society; and the most mentioned secret society is the Illuminati. But, the thing is that people always have the tendency to criticize and ridicule what they don't understand. Jay-Z and Kanye West being termed illuminati is just a case of the misunderstanding and miss-education of the masses. A controversial song title like "No Church In The Wild" is just kanye and jay-z trying to ride on the wave of the bad publicity they get for being allegedly affiliated with The Illuminati.

No Church in the Wild is the first song on the collaborative album (Watch The Throne) by Jay-Z and Kanye West. The two artist, although not too directly, expressed their anti-religious views. It is clear that they are atheist, but the talk about them being Illuminati is just ridiculous. Over-religeous people that no-longer think logically think anyone not belonging to their religeon must be getting their powers from a dark source. But the real truth is that we all pray to one God, and everything we get, by following the universal laws is given to us by an unbiased God...whether you belong to any religeon or not.

Back to the song. Jay-Z made more anti-religious remarks than West did. Lines like "Jesus was a carpenter" which came at the end of jay-z's verse, is jay trying to tell people that Jesus was the son of God no more than you and i are. But a very enlightened one if you ask me. And the lines- "lies on the lips of a priest" is another direct shot at christianity. Basically, what he is talking about is all the cover-ups that have been going on in the Catholic church for the longest time.

The other lines from jay are very complex and not as direct- "Is Pious pious cause God loves pious?" And the lines from Kanye West are more direct- "we formed a new religion/no sins as long as there's permission". This is clearly an atheist belief. And the people do not understand how some other people can sin so much and still be so successful. But really, it is only sin cause you have been taught from birth to believe it is so. So, you punish yourself with guilt feelings, and that is what brings the anguish. But, kanye being an enlightened fellow, and an individual with the understanding of the "the truth", is staing his own belief.

There is nothing Illuminati about this song, or any other thing jay-z and kanye west are associated with. The fact is that anyone that understands the Universal laws and follows them would get results regardless of whether he is religious or not. Jay and and Kanye are just very successfull atheist...like 80% of all men that have made a mark down history...Bruce Lee, Micheal Jackson, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Will Smith, Albert Eistein, Ralp Waldo Emerson, Thomas Edison...the list is endless.

Drake's Take Care Second Week Sales Projections

Second week sales projections of Drake's Take Care album is out, and it is not doing badly compared to other albums that have dropped this year. Take Care is projected to sell between 210-225k copies in its second week on the chart. I think that is cool, if you consider it with the other albums that have dropped this year. Most albums drop 75%, and this is just about a 60% drop in sales.

I also predicted that the album sales of Take Care would have a better staying power compared to Lil Wayne's Carter 4. Carter 4 sold 964,000 copies first week, and dropped to 219,000 copies second week. Drake's Take Care album sold 631,000 copies first week, and is expected to sell between 210-225k. It is going to sell just about the same thing that Carter 4 sold in its second week.

Below is the breakdown-

This holiday season, it appears Michael Buble's Christmas album is the gift that keeps on giving. Based on one-day sales, the Reprise recording artist's year-end collection looks to be the big winner coming out of Black Friday, with an estimate of 250-275k. Roadrunner's Nickelback win the battle of the newcomers, with its seventh studio album, Here and Now, which is looking to be in the 210-225k range. Last week's chartopper, YM/CM/Universal Republic's Drake, drops to #3 with an estimated 190-215k, bringing its two-week total to around 860k. (HITS Daily Double)

Top 10 Rap Songs On Billboard Chart

Below are the top 10 rap songs on the billboard chart for rap songs this week-

10. Marvin & Chadonnay- Big Sean feat Roscoe Dash and Kanye West

9. Lotus Flower Bomb- Wale feat Miguel

8. Sexy And I Know It- LMFAO

7. Body 2 Body- Ace Hood feat Chris Brown

6. That Way- Wale feat Jerimih and Rick Ross

5. Dance (A$$)- Big Sean

4. Workout- J.Cole

3. She Will- Lil Wayne feat Drake

2. Headlines- Drake

1. Niggas In Paris- Jay-Z and Kanye West (The Throne)

So, jay and kanye have taken the number one spot from Drake...i think that is fare. I can't really predict which artist will take the spot next, because most of the other tracks on the chart are old, or are not hot enough. But i would put J. Cole's Workout up as a contender. Let's see what happens next week.

I do think that Rick Ross's You The Boss track would make it on the chart next week.

First Week Sales Projection Of Yelawolf's Radioactive Album

Eminem's Shady Records Artist, Yelawolf just dropped his debut album- Radioactive, and it has been projected to sell between 45-55k first week...according to hitsdailydouble.com. Well, i didn't expect anything more. I think he doesn't have a huge enough fan-base yet...but he will get there.

Below is the full breakdown from hitsdailydouble.com-

Def Jam/IDJ pop diva Rihanna's Talk That Talk should enter at #4, with between 180-200k, which compares favorably to the 207k she debuted with for last year's Loud. Geffen's Mary J. Blige, with My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1), the sequel to her 1994 album, should debut at #6 with 130-140k. Other New Releases hitting the Top 50 include Epic's Michael Jackson Immortal Cirque de SoleilBob Seger Ultimate Hits compilation (45-55k), Ghet-O-Vision/Shady/Interscope's Yelawolf (40-50k). (HITS Daily Double) soundtrack (50-60k), Capitol/EMI's

Drake's Take Care At Number 1: Rap Albums on Billboard Chart

I saw this like 4 months ago, and i predicted it like 6 weeks ago, so it is no surprise to me. Drake's Take Care album sold 631,000 copies after one week in stores. I think that is the highest first week sales of any rapper 25 and under in a long time.

Webbie's Savage Life 3 album sold also made a debut on the charts this week, and it sold 30,000 copies after one week. Wale's Ambition album sold 29,000 copies this week to now total at 234,000 copies.

Mac Miller's Blue Slide Sky was number one last week with 144,000 copies sold, but it drops to number 24 this week, and sold 25,000 copies. The album now totals at 170,000 copies sold.

Lil Wayne's Tha Carter 4 album is still holding it down strong on the chart. It sold 25,000 copies this week, to now total at 1,693,000 copies sold so far. J.Cole's Cole World album sold 18,000 copies this week, and now totals at 405,000.

The Tech N9ne Collabos- Welcome To Strangeland sold 7,000 copies this week, and now totals at 33,000. Drake's Thank Me Later Album is still lingering on the chart and it sold 4,900 copies this week, and it is now at a grand total of 1,489,000.

Pusha T's Fear Of God 2 retail mixtape sold 4,300 copies this week, and now totals at 13,000.

Drake Name's His Top Five Rappers Of All Time

A lot of rappers have dropped their list, now Drake names his top five rappers of all time.

Phonte. I always put him at the top of my lists. Phonte is on my list because he's not above being a regular man. There's not too many artists who can talk about being a regular man and we can all relate to them. It's not about a car or a lifestyle with Phonte. We all live the lifestyle that Phonte has lived and he tells it eloquently and in a way that we can all relate to.
Slug. I have to name Slug from Atmosphere. I've always been a big fan of Slug. Slug is one of those artists who speaks from the deepest parts of his soul. He's not scared to bare his soul out to the public. Atmosphere, the group, has been around for a very long time and I've always appreciated Slug's mannerisms and storytelling ability.
Brother Ali. Definitely have to name Brother Ali in my list. Brother Ali is basically the emcee from the pulpit. If there's ever an emcee that sounds like he could have ever been a minister for hip-hop, it's Brother Ali. [His lyrics are] never too preachy, [they're] right on point. It's spoken from a voice that makes you pay attention and plus the lyrics are just incredible.
Drake. I'm going out on a limb right here, but if you give him time, you'll see. I have to put Drake on the list. The thing I like most about Drake is that he understands where he came from in terms of the underground and he's always [demonstrated] that. You can hear it in his music. While he's still one of the top mainstream artists today, you can always catch a reference or something that makes you realize the kid is a little bit skilled too. It ain't about just hopping on a hot beat and being radio friendly. He can kick a hot 16 bars at any given moment.
Lupe Fiasco. Lupe Fiasco is a genius on the microphone. It's rare to hear someone that you are impressed with every time he says something. He's a thinking man's emcee. Intellectually, what he rhymes about is just above and beyond what anyone else would say.

Well, i don't really know most of the rappers on his list, but i am riding with him on putting Lupe Fiasco on the list...Lupe is the only rapper i can put on the same level with Nas right now. And him putting himself on the list, i don't know about that. He has only been in the game for 4 years, so i don't think he can claim that right now...but it is his list.

Top 10 Rap Songs on Billboard Chart

Below are the top 10 rap songs on the Billboard Rap songs chart-

10. I'm On One- DJ Khaled feat Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne

9. Sexy and I Know It- LMFAO

8. Marvin and Chadonnay- Big Sean feat Kanye West and Roscoe Dash

7. Dance (A$$)- Big Sean

6. Body 2 Body- Ace Hood feat Chris Brown

5. That Way- Wale feat Jerimih and Rick Ross

4. Workout- J.Cole

3. She Will- Lil Wayne feat Drake

2. Niggas in Paris- Kanye West Jay-Z

1. Drake- Headlines

So, most of the top part of the chart is dominated by Young Money/Cash Money and Roc Nation. In fact, this is how it is now in rap- YMCMB and other labels affiliated with them like Maybach Music, and DJ Khaled's movement (he discharged himself from Terror Squad for greener pastures, but he doesn't really have his own label); Shady 2.0 (although they nolonger have any songs on the chart). Every other label is really under the radar.

I expect I'm On One and probably marvin and chadonnay to go off the top chart and make room for songs like Drake's Make Me Proud and Rick Ross's You The Boss by next week.

Big Sean Responds to Ludacris "Bada Boom" Diss

Ludacris recently dropped a mixtape (1.2 Megawatts), where he dissed Big Sean and Drake on one of the songs. Apparently, several months ago, or probably last year, Big Sean and Drake both agreed, on seperate interviews, that Luda had stolen Big Sean's "Supa Dupa" flow, and was using it all wrong. Ludacris dissed them both on the "bada boom" track off his mixtape, and Big Sean has come forward to respond to the diss-

"Ya'll sure [the song] is about me? 'Cause I didn't hear no name or nothing, " he said. "I ain't got no problems with Luda, I never did. I think he's referring to an interview I did over a year ago. Literally over a year ago. But in the interview I said he's a legend. I respect people who is ahead of me. I respect OGs and the Gs in general. The only thing I said--[the interviewers] was telling me about the "Supa Dupa" flow. They call it the Supa Dupa flow because on Big Sean my second mixtape I had a flow on there where I was using one word to describe another word in a punchline form."

He continued, "I feel like Drake made it more popular on the song 'Forever.' A lot of people thought Drake made that up and this was new, and Drake was like, 'I could trace that back to Big Sean actually on his mixtape. That's where I first heard it. I think that's where a lot of emcees got it from.' That's what Drake said. So people was telling me, 'This is your flow.' And I'm like, 'Alright.'"

He also said he understood that the flow came before him, and perhaps even before Ludacris.

"I'm pretty sure it was done before [Luda] but I'm just saying where it came from now. We talkin' about now…I'm not trying to debate and say, 'I was the first to do this ever.' I'm just saying that's just where it was between us. So [some interviewers] asked me, 'What's a good example of [the Supa Dupa flow] and what's a bad example of it?' And I think I said [Luda's] 'balloons' line. But I'm telling you this was over a year ago. I can't believe this was something that's been lingering this long…I don't have no problems with Luda. I didn't even know he cared that much, for a year, to be thinking about what I said in interviews…I think Luda is the best, I think he's a legend."

I knew Big Sean was going apologize. But, it is funny that he is also sneaking in some indirect disses in this interview...pointing out that luda didn't have the nerve to mention his name on the track, and also that the interview in which he talked reckless was over a year ago. Yeah, it was over a year ago, but Luda has been away for a while...he has been making that Hollywood money.

As i said in my previous post, Big Sean or Drake don't want it with Luda in anyway. Here is the link to the diss track- bada boom

Big Debut or Building a Fan Base?

A lot of rappers come and go, and i have discovered from carrying out a little research that, most times, it has to do with how they came into the game. It is either the rapper crept in the game, and built the fan base with time, or he came with a "big bang" debut. But, from what i have noticed, it is the ones that build their legacy with time, that last longer.

For example, a lot of people don't know that Jay-Z didn't go platinum until his 3rd album. He didn't sell a million copies with Reasonable Doubt and In My Life Time. It was Hard Knock Life that blew him up. If he had given up after the second album didn't do so good, we probably wouldn't have the Jay-Z we now know. But a lot of people don't consider that.

Also, a lot of people say Lil Wayne is doing this and he is doing that. I do not criticize anyone, even if i do not like them on every other song. If the artist has paid his dues over the years, i give him credit for that. That is the way i feel about Wayne. He had a little success with the Hot Boys back in the late 90s, but it wasn't until his 6th solo album that he gained the monumental status that he has now. Can you think of the level of persistence he had to put up...a lot of nights working and hoping, and wondering when he would get where he dreams of.

But take an artist like 50 Cent, who's official first album, Get Rich Or Die Trying sold 11 million copies...and, his 4th album (Before I Self Destruct) hasn't even gone platinum (it hasn't sold up to a million copies). I am not a 50 cent hater, i am just carrying out an analysis. You can also check out a rapper like Nelly, who sold 8.5 million copies of his Country Grammar album in 2000, but can't sell a million copies of his 5th album...he didn't even make it to 500,000 copies. This says a lot about the music business and individual artists careers.

I wouldn't put Eminem in the category of big debut...his The Slim Shady LP sold 4.5 million copies, although that is big, it is not close to what the albums after that did. I think Eminem really blew up big time with The Marshall Marters LP and Eminem Show; both albums individually double the sales of his first album. The Marshall Marthers LP sold 3.7 million in 4 weeks, and has so far sold 10.5 million copies...in the U.S alone. So, clearly, Eminem built his fan base, he didn't come out with a bang.

The problem with rappers that come out with a Big Debut is that they always have pressure living up to the hype of the first, so they try to re-create the first one, or try to satisfy the people at all means. And this is not good for creativity. Well, they always get away with it the first time because of the hype they have, but by the third album, you start to see signs that they really haven't built a fan base- They just had majority of the public riding with time. Really, how can you explain 50 Cent selling 8 million copies of his The Massacre album in 2005, and not able to go platinum in 2009...with Before I Self Destruct.

Also, most of the rappers that have big debuts always have some catch to it...there is always something other than the rappers skills on the mic. With 5o cent, he had this crazy story of having being shot 9 times and surviving...he also had the cosign of Eminem and Dr Dre...what more do you need? And of cos he was very good on his first album.

With Nelly, he was very different from what anybody had heard at the time. His voice...his "sing-song" style of rap...it was just right for that time. But, picture an artist like Jay-Z; he has never sold 6 million copies of any of his albums, but, right now, all his albums are platinum. All his 10 albums have platinum plaques...he sells between 1.5-3million with every album, and he has stayed constant with that. That is a good example of someone that has a fan-base...a followership.

I think i can also say Lil Wayne has a fan-base. People were saying the numbers his Carter 4 album did are fishy, but they forget he has a fan-base...more or less a cult following. They say he didn't have a huge single, and he couldn't have really sold 940k first week, but, what else happened? Baby bought half the albums? Don't kid yourself. He worked all those years to build his fan-base, and even if you say what he is releasing now is not quality material, he would keep reaping his hard-work, till his fan-base leave him.

Other notable rappers to look into that built a fan-base with time are T.I and Rick Ross. Who could believe that Rick Ross would win a battle against the great 50 Cent, and then go ahead to become more relevant than 50 in the music industry. That happened because Rick Ross came up gradually, building his fan-bas as he went. he focused more on making quality music, than the whole drama that some rappers like to get into He might never sell 2 million copies with any albums, but Platinum and Gold would be a definite thing with every album.

T.I too might also never sell 3 or 4 million copies, but, the fan-base he built over the years would make sure he stays on the chart. Well, maybe he has lost a few fans since his Jail stint, but he can always start building again. And the fact that he did it the first time would assure that he does it again.

So, personally, i think it is better to have a gradually growth approach to the rap game, than the "big debut" approach, which would put so much pressure on the artist to keep up with.

Blue Slide Park at No. 1: Rap Albums on Billboard Chart

Mac Miller's Blue Slide Park Album is at number one this week, with 144,000 copies sold in its first week in stores. I don't know much about this kid, except from the fact that he is white, so i can't say much about him. But i would definitely check out the album...any album that makes it to number one is worth checking out.

Wale's Ambition album is up next with 41,000 copies sold this week, and that makes his total 205,000 copies after 2 weeks in stores. Tech N9ne dropped a collabos album last week titled Welcome To Strangeland, and it sold 26,000 copies after one week in stores.

Lil Wayne's Carter 4 sold 25,000 copies this week, and is now at a total of 1,668,000 copies sold so far. J.Cole is working his way to GOLD; Cole World sold 17, 000 copies this week to now total at 387,000 copies sold so far.

Pusha T's Fear of God 2 mixtape sold 9,000 copies in its first week out. Drake's Thank Me Later album has found it's way back on the chart, and it sold 4,000 copies this week. The album is now at a total of 1,484,000 copies sold total.

Whiz Khalifa's Rolling Papers sold 3,700 copies this week, and now total's at 609,000. Game's The R..E.D Album sold 2,600 copies this week, and is now at a total of 206,000 copies sold so far.

Official First Week Sales Projections of Drake's Take Care Album

According to HITS Daily Double News, Drake's Take Care album is predicted to sell between 675-725k first week. This is based on first day sales projections. I am glad i am on point with this one. I earlier predicted it to sell between 550-750k first week. I just knew there was no way it would sell lower than GOLD (500K) first week. And i also predicted that it would have a better staying power than Lil Wayne's Carter 4. Carter 4 went from selling 940k first week to selling 290k second week. I think this would drop to about 350k second week.

Read more below-

The rapper, whose sophomore YM/CM/Universal Republic album, Take Care, is the follow-up to last year’s successful bow, Thank Me Later, will debut at #1 with a sales total between 675-725k.
That will make it the third-best bow of the year, after Lady Gaga’s 1.1 million selling Born This Way and his labelmate Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV, which also clocked in slightly over a million on HITS’ Album sales chart. (hitsdailydouble.com)

I congratulate him on this success, and i think the album is a great one...as long as you don't expect anything other than what Drake is known for.

Ludacris Disses Drake and Big Sean

It is crazy how new rappers that haven't been on the scene for more than 4 years would come up and start talking reckless about legends in the game. I do consider Ludacris a legend of his era, and i think it is really disrespectful that Drake and Big Sean would say some negative things about Ludacris...Come on son! Luda would reap them to pieces on a lyrical level. Before i get lost in putting down my thoughts, i would like to address the issue at hand. Ludacris just dropped a new mixtape (1.2 Gigawatts) and on a track (bada boom) off it, he dissed Drake and Big Sean. Luda actually used the "pause, stop" flow (the style Big Sean Claims he created) on his "My Chick Bad" track, off his BATTLE OF THE SEXES Album.

To set the record straight, Ludacris was only defending himself. A couple of months ago, Drake got on an interview and was going on about how Ludacris stole Big Sean's style, and was using it all wrong...and then, in another interview, Big Sean supported that claim. I think that is really really funny. I have both Drake and Big Sean's albums on my phone right now, and there are some songs from them that i really enjoy, but these dudes are kids in hip hop...they need a history lesson. The "pause, stop" flow that Drake claims Luda stole from Big Sean has been in use probably before Big Sean clocked 10 years old. Q-Tip was using it in the 90s after he went solo...and Biggie also used it a couple of times. It is really funny watching them talk reckless and all that...it is almost like listening to two kids talking about how their friend from the other street invented the "back-hand" smash in Table Tennis.

Well, i know there a lot of people from the younger generation that wont buy what i am saying, but it is all good. Anyway, let me go on with the reporting. To understand the whole story, i would like to give you the big picture. Below is what Drake said about Ludacris stealing Big Sean's style-

"Well, that flow has been killed by so many rappers. And, I never want to use that flow again in life. [Laughs] I wanted to take if off my album, because I was like, 'I shut 'em down. Onyx.' I hate the fact that that rhyme is still in there. To be honest, that flow, you can trace it back to like...I trace it back to Big Sean (artist on Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music). That's the first guy I heard utilize that flow throughout the duration of a verse. I'll give him that credit. I think Kanye got it from him. Me and Wayne found a dope way to do it. I don't want to sound cocky, but the best way its been used was on "Forever." Those lines just all individually make so much sense. They're all punchlines. Then a bunch of rappers started doing it and using the most terrible references in the world. I don't want to offend somebody...I hate that rappers picked that flow up. I wish they had left that for people that know how to use it. [They go like] "It's a parade! MACY'S!" (All Hip Hop)

And then check out what Big Sean said-

"With the super duper flow, I created that one word rhyme style," Big Sean said in an interview. "Drake really made it more popular, but Drake gave me the credit and was like, 'I really got that from Big Sean.' I think some artists just did it so wack man. Every time I say names I get in trouble and it's like I'm dissing, but some people used it wack. If he said Ludacris used it wack, hey. Don't get it wrong I'm not trying to dis Ludacris or nothing. He's a great MC. But even though that style got so overused, there was a lot of people who did it great and there was a lot of people who didn't do it so great. People always ask me was you mad that people took that style from you. I'm like, 'Nah, that went and shows me how far I can go as an artist.' I feel like I changed hip-hop. I haven't even dropped an album yet. So that goes to show me how powerful my mind is.'" (RapFix)

And below is Luda's diss-

"I'm the truth in this booth and you n*ggas all h*es," Luda raps. "Counterfeit rappers say I'm stealing they flows, but I can't steal what you never made up b*tch/Y'all some duplicate rap cloning n*ggas/I manufacture you h*es put on your makeup b*tch. ... Let me explain, nothing's been new since Big Daddy Kane/Flows'll get recycled, passed around to different names -- Y'all get a couple hit records, make some noise and have the nerve to start shouting?/Who's gassing 'em?/ ... May not like the way I used it, but you know you ain't invent it, boy/Do your research before you make a claim so bogus that's disrespecting pioneers in the game ... 'My Chick Bad' went platinum, still winning motherf*cker!" ("Bada Boom")

This whole thing would probably end with Big Sean and Drake apologizing and saying they didn't mean it that way. They definitely don't want none of Luda on the battle tip...it might not end their careers, but it will surely dent it. This is the link to the song- bada boom

Dr Dre Talks Hiatus

People have been expecting Detox, the third album from Dr Dre for over 7 years now, and Dre has just come forward to say that he is going to take a break from music, and focus on his protege's- Slim Tha Mobster and Kendrick Lamar. Read what he has to say below-

"These are the next two artists I'm working on, Slim the Mobster and Kendrick Lamar. I think that's when I'm gonna just wrap it up for a minute because I've been working on music for 27 years now and the longest I've ever been out of the studio in 27 years has been two weeks," Dr. Dre said in an interview. "So yeah I feel like I'm gonna take a little bit of a break. I'm never gonna stop music, it's like air to me. So I'mma take a little bit of a break. Enjoy some time with the family til I get that itch to get back in." (FADER TV)

Hmm! I guess this means that DETOX is probably going to be scrapped. I guess this is Dr Dre officially telling the public to forget the idea that any album like DETOX would be dropping from him. From day 1 i always knew the reason for the delay was because people were expecting too much from Dre, and he really just wanted to lay-back and work at his own pace.

Drake Comments On Take Care First Week Sales Expectations

Drake was recently asked if he was hoping his Take Care album would sell a million first week, like what Lil Wayne did with Carter 3, and close with Carter 4. He wasn't really enthusiastic about the numbers, but was really concerned about the reviews the album would get. I guess that is how it should really be. Like, i am thinking when it got to this...i mean, when did we start judging the quality of an album by howmany copies it sold in its first week?

Back in the mid 90s, there was really no talk about sales, it was more about skill. I think it was on Tupac's Hit-Em up (1995) i first heard any references of sales from a rapper. There was a line where he said West-Coast Rappers sold more records than East-Coast rappers. But, that was it, i didn't here it again on a large scale till Jay-Z started all his talk on sales...taunting Mobb Deep on his Take-Over record...saying he sold what there whole album sold in his first week. And after him, 50 Cent just took the sales thing to another level. He made it EVERYTHING...and i guess that's one of the things that destroyed him.

Anyway, below is what Drake had to say about expected first week sales for his Take Care album which is dropping tomorrow. It is his second album.-

"That's the golden number for anyone," Drake said when asked if a million copies in his first week is what he is shooting for. "I doubt that'll happen. That's some Lil Wayne, Eminem iconic sh*t. I don't know if I'm there yet. Whoever goes out and buys it, I'm happy. I'd rather have great reviews than numbers. I'd rather walk out of my house and hear seven cars playing it than hear that I did 900,000." (Billboard)

Did you catch the subliminal diss he threw at his boss in that comment? Read it again, you might get it.

Personally, i think Drake's Take Care album would sell between 550-750k first week. I am sure it will be around that range. I think he has gained a huge fan base over the years, and they would definitely go out and support him tomorrow.

Rap Albums on Billboard Chart

Wale has the highest selling rap album this week on the billboard chart. His Ambition album sold 164,000 copies after one week in stores. Congratulations to him. That's actually impressive for someone that doesn't have any hot song playing constantly on radio right now. Okay, his song is played once a while, but he doesn't have a crazy buzz right now, so the sales is purely from him building a fan base. I think this is incredible...for him to go from selling 28,000 copies first week on his first album (Attention Deficit), two years ago, and then sell 164,000 copies with this one.

Lil Wayne's Carter 4 is up next with 28,000 copies sold. It is now at a total sales of 1,643,000 copies sold. J.Cole's Cole World: The Sideline Story sold 22,000 copies this week, and now totals at 370,000 copies sold so far. Watch The Throne from Kanye West and Jay-Z sold 19,000 copies this week, and now stands at 1,033,000.

Big Sean's Finally Famous album sold 4,800 copies this week, and now totals at 248,000. Whiz Khalifa's Rolling Papers is at a total of 606,000 copies, and it sold 3,800 copies this week. Game's The R.E.D Album sold 3,100 copies this week, and now totals at 204,000.

And at the tail-end of the billboard 200 rap albums chart is Rick Ross Presents...Maybach Music Group- Self-Made, Vol 1. The album features Rick Ross and his signees...Pill, Meek Mill and Wale, and was released earlier on in the year. It sold 2,500 copies this week, and is now at a total of 181,000 copies sold so far.

Drake Reacts to Take Care Leak

Drake's Take Care album leaked on the internet over the weekend, and he has come forward to speak on the matter. The said album is drake's second, and is officially to drop next week, November 15. Read his comment on the matter below-

"I am not sure if the album leaked. But if it did thank god it doesn't happen a month early anymore.," Drizzy tweeted November 6th.

"Listen, enjoy it, buy it if you like it...and take care until next time." (Drake's Twitter)

Drake's album began leaking track-by-track over the past few days.

Nine days before its release date, Drake's sophomore album has sprung a leak, starting with Just Blaze-produced "Lord Knows," featuring Rick Ross, and "Take Care," featuring Rihanna. The two songs off "Take Care" (Nov. 15) hit the 'net tonight (Nov. 6) while Drake premiered The Weeknd-assisted "Crew Love" on Toronto's Flow 93.5. "I know you've been hurt by someone else/ I can tell by the way you carry yourself/ If you let me here's what I'll do/ I'll take care of you/ I've loved and I've lost," Rih Rih opens "Take Care." Drizzy and Rihanna reunite to promise to "take care" of their scarred lovers on the album title track, which also samples Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie XX's "I'll Take Care of You." (Billboard)

I think this is not a new thing, most albums leak 2-4 weeks before they drop nowadays. I think the only album, in a while, that didn't leak before its official due date was Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch The Throne album. But, really, i don't think the leak will affect the album sales. Carter 4 leaked a couple of days before it officially dropped, and it still sold 960k in its first week. Let's wait and see what Drake's album does in its first week.

Nas & Amy Whinehouse "Like Smoke"

It is not news that Nas and the late Amy Whinehouse had a thing, but the question has always been- did Nas date Amy Whinehouse at any time. Anyway, a duet they made back in 2008 has leaked on the internet, and it is going to be the lead single of a posthumous Amy Whinehouse album (Lioness: Hidden Treasure) scheduled to drop next month. By the way, the title of the track is "Like Smoke". Read more about it below.

A bittersweet treat. My Hot97 family got the scoop on this new Amy Winehouse x Nas song, "Like Smoke" which posthumously fulfills the late singer's wish to collaborate with her friend "Mr. Jones". It's a gorgeous retro-soul track, in typical Winehouse style and produced by Salaam Remi back in 2008. "Like Smoke" is the lead single off Lioness: Hidden Treasures, a collection of songs Amy recorded before her death this past July. "...like a polygamist with a twist, will I marry again, maybe, I guess....I be out in London, Camden, hunting for the answers why the God take away the homie. I can't say that I'm a firm believer that we all meet up in eternity. Just hope the big man, show me some courtesy...." (Miss Info TV)

The Lioness: Hidden Treasures is expected to hit retail outlets in a month.

An album of material recorded by Amy Winehouse before she died, including new tracks as well as reworked versions of songs made popular by her and other artists, will be released on Dec. 5, an announcement on her Web site said Monday. The album, called "Lioness: Hidden Treasures," will be released by Island Records, which released her two previous albums, "Frank" and "Back to Black." (New York Times)

Personally, i think it is a lovely lay;back song; and is not the typical Nas track, so it is cool to hear Nas out of his element. Follow this link to listen to the track- like smoke

Ludacris Reveals Tracklist and Cover Art for His "1.21 Gigawatts: Back To The First Time" Mixtape

There has been news for a while now that Ludacris was working on this "1.21 Gigawatts: Back To The First Time" mixtape, but it is finally here...or atleast it will soon be here. He has released the tracklist, and when artists do this with mixtapes, the mixtape usually drops a few days later.

Luda has always been good with projects like this, so i think it would be good. I just hope he puts his heart into it...if he does/did, it would be cool.

Check out the tracklist below-

1. Intro (prod. by Tone Mason)
2. Save It For Another Day (prod. by M 16)
3. Rich and Flexin feat. Waka Flocka Flame (prod. by FK)
4. Muthafucka Can You Buy That (prod. by Drugs)
5. History Lesson (Skit)
6. Badaboom (prod. by Wonder)
7. Say It to My Face feat. Meek Mill (prod. by Juicy J)
8. I Ain’t the One feat. 2 Chainz (prod. by Fat Boi)
9. Shake n Fries feat. Gucci Mane (prod. by Fat Boi)
10. Do Something Strange feat. Rick Ross (prod. by Drumma Boy)
11. I’m On Fire feat. Big K.R.I.T. (prod. by Mike Will)
12. What You Smoking On feat. Wiz Khalifa (prod. by Big K.R.I.T.)

First Week Sales Projection of Wale's Ambition Album

Wale dropped his Ambition (sophomore album) album yesterday, November 1, and the official first week sales of the album based on first day sales have come in. I initially tried to predict howmany copies it would sell in its first week, and i pegged it at between 40-70k. I later changed my prediction to between 200-280k. But, the official first week sales, from hitsdailydouble.com came in a couple of minutes ago, and they put the projection between 170-190k. I think that is really cool for Wale.

Rap Albums on Billboard Chart

Lil Wayne is still the highest selling rapper on the billboard chart for this week, but it wont be for too long, as Wale's Ambition album would definitely hold the number one spot next week. Anyway, Lil Wayne's Carter 4 album sold 29,000 copies this week to now total at 1,615,000 copies.

J.Cole's Cole World: The Sideline Story sold 20,000 copies this week, and now totals at 348,000 copies so far. His boss and the partner, Jay-Z and Kanye West are up next with 19,000 copies sold of their Watch The Throne album this week. The album is now over the one million mark at 1,013,000 copies sold so far.

Wiz Khalifa's Rolling Papers sold 3,700 copies this week, and is now at a total of 602,000 copies. Game's The R.E.D Album sold 3,400 copies this week, and now at 201,000 copies. I'm glad this album made it to 200k...i would be happy if it can cross the 300,000 mark. This is the lowest of any Game album.

Third Power from DJ Drama sold 2,900 copies this week, and is now at a total sales of 17,000. Styles P's Master of Ceremonies sold 2,100 copies this week to total at 21,000 copies.

Kim Kardashian Divorce

Kim Kardashian, on Monday 31st October, ended her 72 days old marriage to NBA Player, Kris Humphries. As Kim Kardashian has been associated with Hip Hop artist in the past, i decided to write about her shocking divorce...or not too shocking if you would ask me. First of all, if you don't know Kim then you are probably living in a remote part of the world or something. Okay, for the sake of the people that don't know her, she is a Reality TV star who became popular in the mid 00s after the sex tape with her and Ray-J leaked on the internet. She rose on the publicity she got from there, and got NBC to launch a new Reality show with her and her sisters...and her other family members; titled, Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Kim's other sisters, Kourtney and Khloe have enjoyed there own fame since then.

This write-up is about Kim Kardashian and her recent divorce, so i am going to stick to that. It is very surprising to me though, cos i guess i have been out of touch for a while...i was just watching an episode from Keeping up With The Kardashians where kim's mom was trying to hook her up with guys, and i come online today, and BAM! I am reading that she was married, and she is now divorced.

Read the Open letter she penned to her friends below-

"This is probably the hardest thing I've ever had to write. I see all of the support and I am so thankful for my fans, friends and family who are helping me through this difficult time. I am trying not to read all the different media reports but it's hard not to see all the negative ones. First and foremost, I married for love. I can't believe I even have to defend this. I would not have spent so much time on something just for a TV show! I share so much of my life on a reality show, that contemplating whether to even film my wedding was a tough decision to make, and maybe it turned out to not be the smartest decision. But it's who I am! We filmed Kourtney giving birth, Khloe getting married, break ups, make ups, our best moments and our worst moments. These were all real moments. That's what makes us who we are. We share, we give, we love and we are open!"

"Everyone that knows me knows that I'm a hopeless romantic! I love with all of my heart and soul. I want a family and babies and a real life so badly that maybe I rushed in to something too soon. ... I never had the intention of hurting anybody and I accept full responsibility for my actions and decisions, and for taking everyone on this journey with me. It just didn't turn out to be the fairy tale I had so badly hoped for. There are also reports that I made millions of dollars off of the wedding. These reports are simply not true and it makes me so sad to have to even clarify this. I'm so grateful to everyone who took the time to come to my wedding and I'll be donating the money for all the gifts to the Dream Foundation. I'm sorry if I have hurt anyone, but my dad always told me to follow my heart and I believe now that I really am." (Kim Kardashian Blog)

What can i say...no one is perfect. To be honest, i didn't really like her at first, because i couldn't understand why someone would like fame so much and want to show her whole life to the world on a consistent basis. But when i gave the show about three or four watches, being the Psychologist that i am, i saw through her. She is just an ordinary girl like any other one you know, who likes to live her life to the fullest. I kind of started to like her after a while.

Khloe Kardashian and Kourtney have also come forward to say what they feel about Kim's Divorce.

"Reading some these comments r so hurtful. Im grateful 4our fans who understand & r being respectful. Hate is disgusting. Love is everything," she tweeted on Halloween.

"Thank God for family. We are strong and we will only become closer! I love YOU" (Khloe Kardashian's Twitter)

"Our sister is going through a difficult time but we're a close family and are sticking together like always.," she tweeted October 31st.

"We appreciate everyone's kindness and support. @KimKardashian, we love you." (Kourtney Kardashian's Twitter)

What i feel is that her putting her life in the public so much has put her under so much pressure that she might have been pressured to make so much decisions in the past...and maybe her marriage to Kris Humphries is one of them. And as i said, she is not the type that would stay quiet about how she feels (which a lot of celebrities do) just so as not to be criticized by the public.

Freddie Gibbs Names Top 5 Dead or Alive

Freddie Gibbs has come forward to name who he considers the top 5 dead or alive in Hip Hop history. The term- Top 5 Dead Or Alive was a phrase coined by Jadakiss in 2002, and a lot of people started using it afterwards. Allhiphop.com started interviewing rappers and asking them who they would put on their list. Now, sohh.com has taken up on that...that's where i got this particular issue from.

Young Jeezy. Jeezy created his own lane. Even if I wasn't signed to Jeezy, I'd say the same sh*t. It's alotta n*ggas that have careers because of him. They're feedin' their families off of a lane Jeezy created. I ain't gotta say no names, you know who them motherf*ckers are.
Ice Cube. Why is Ice Cube not in the Hall of Fame? Y'all f*ckin' up, man. Cube is one of the fathers of Gangsta Rap. You can't leave him out of the conversation.
Too Short. That n*gga taught me how to curse. You know what I mean? Gotta give Short the crown. Top 5 Dead or Alive and he still livin' and doing his thing.
Scarface. The greatest gangsta rapper of all-time man. Storytellin'. Wordplay. Song-structure and flow, who can doany of that sh*t better? He made motherf*ckas listen to the South. (Ed. Note: Though he was told about our "Hall of Fame" section, Freddie refused not to list him.)
Jadakiss. I think Jadakiss is probably the best East Coast pure rapper [throughout] ten years, my n*gga. Maybe more.

Drake is The G.O.A.T Right now...Says Chase N. Cashe

producer, Chase N. Cashe recently said Drake is the G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) right now. Well, i don't know if that is a grammatically correct statement, but i think i understand what he is trying to say. Read it below-

"We've got to stick together. That's one thing I try to do. Me knowing Drake's position in this rap sh*t right now, he's really the forefront leader of our generation," Chase said. "He's the G.O.A.T. right now. As far as, if we were to say, who's doing anything you want to do, success that the new generation wants to achieve, he's the one who's done it. He's the one paving the way for us in the street and the Internet." (The Source)

I think what i feel he is trying to say is that- in all the new generation of rappers out now, Drake is the greatest. I think i would agree with that. I know a lot of people would disagree and say J.Cole, or Big K.R.I.T, or Kendrick Lamar...but you have to understand what greatness means. Ask yourself- which rapper in Drake's age bracket has achieved the level of success he has? His first album was just a couple of tens of thousands from Gold frist week. Howmany rappers do that in this day and time?

His sophomore album is about to drop, and its success would finally silence a lot of haters. People keep saying his too emotional...he isn't hard enough...blah! blah! Must every rapper be gangster to be considered dope? He raps about what he knows about, and he does a great job. No one can say he doesn't do a great job as far as rap is concerned And he also sings...that is an added advantage.