Video: Kramer’s racist tirade.

-Nas: “50 Cent f*cked up by letting The Game go.”

-Speaking of Esco, you can catch him sharing the split-cover January/February issue of XXL with labelmate and trapstar Young Jeezy. (Oh, how I hate these double covers, seeing as I always wind up with the sorry one.)

-Complete list of winners from this year’s Mainstream American Music Awards.

-The ever-on point Sacha Orenstein spotlights some Ill Sung Choruses.

-Word has it that Gerald Levert left a busload of unreleased material. That only means one thing: His label will probably 2Pac him to death.

-New and improved album cover for Styles P’s Time Is Money, due out December 19.

-Download: Album version of Jay-Z’s “44 4’s”

-I wonder how The Game feels about NOT selling a million or even 500 thou the first week.

1.) “Ghost Is Back”
2.) “Miguel Sanchez “
3.) “Guns N’ Razors “
4.) “Outta Town Sh*t “
5.) “Good”
6.) “Street Opera “
7.) “Block Rock “
8.) “Miss Info Celebrity Drama Skit “
9.) “Pokerface “
10.) “Greedy B*tches “
11.) “Josephine”
12.) “Grew Up Hard “
13.) “Blue Armor “
14.) “You Know I’m No Good “
15.) “Alex (Stolen Script) “
16.) “Gotta Hold On “
17.) “Back Like That”

Looks good and all, but why include “Back Like That” and “Josephine” on the new album? I’ve also seen the tracklist for Jeezy’s The Inspiration. I have no interest in posting it.

Poose is hopelessly vibrant when he’s not too busy trying to come across as lyrically dexterous.
(Spotted via Different Kitchen)

Related Link
10 Rappers to Watch in 2007

-DMX is for the kids.

-Mixtape Monday: Nas tap-dances around the subject of “Ether-ing” his mudslingers on Hip-Hop Is Dead.

-The Game denies impersonating a cop. Meanwhile, his business partner just got nabbed for money laundering.

-Nobodysmiling.com reviews the D.C. leg of Hov’s Hangar Tour.

-Universal sues Myspace.com for copyright infringement.

-Talib Kweli’s mindblowing V-Spot performance is a must watch.

-Idolator has one of the tracks from the Clipse’s underwhelming album Hell Hath No Fury.

-Video: Gerald Levert’s memorial service.

-R.I.P. to the great Ruth Brown. O-Dub has an excellent tribute up on SS.

-I saw the immutable ‘Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan’ last night with a group of friends. With the exception of that “Brokeback Mountain” scene, it was all kosher. Go see it.

Lupe Fiasco, Papoose & Styles P - The Cipher…Pt. 1 (mp3)
Lupe: Spins out of control with the esoteric storytelling.
Papoose: Tries too hard to sound smart.
Styles P: Kills it. Literally.

In case you missed it, here’s the Video. (Part 2)

Bonus Cuts:
Common - I Have a Dream (mp3)
Taken from the soundtrack to the Hilary Swank-helmed movie “Freedom Writers.”

DJ Clue ft. Kanye & Fabolous - “Like This” (source: spinemagazine.com)
Def Jam just discovered the impeccable chemistry between Fab and ‘Ye, but is it still considered cool for rappers to reference Jacob the Jeweler in their rhymes?

Nas - “Where Are They Now” (radio rip) (props: Enigmatik)
Nas salutes his predecessors over Salaam Remi gritty soundscape.

I was discussing this issue with a friend the other day: how come “f**k” is almost always substituted for “love” in hip-hop lyrics? Is there a censorship stipulation that enforces this queer substitution or what?

Not that this should surprise anyone: MTV has created a special website exclusively for Jay-Z as we get closer and closer to the November 21 release of Kingdom Come:

• MTV.com today unveiled an unparalled JAY-Z fan site at jay-z.mtv.com. This JAY-Z “Video Vault Experience” offers users a comprehensive timeline of his career through footage from MTV’s archives including all of JAY-Z’s music videos, dozens of live performances, every MTV interview, including never-before-seen interviews, and more.

• Fans will be able to get updates and see performance clips from JAY-Z’s one-day “Hangar Tour” as it happens on November 18 on both MTV and online at MTV.com. Additionally, MTV will air a half-hour special at 2:00pm EST on November 19 featuring a tour recap and footage from MTV.com’s Video Vault Experience.
• “Diary of JAY-Z: Water for Life,” a documentary program examining the world’s water crisis, premieres on November 19 at 2:00pm EST on MTV2 and will air on MTV on November 24 at 9:00am EST.
• Fans can enter the “The Jay-Z Platinum Experience” contest at www.mtvjay-zplatinumexperience.com for a chance to live like a hip-hop superstar including a private helicopter trip to NYC, a private tour of the Island Def Jam offices, a personalized JAY-Z platinum album, NJ Nets tickets and more! Contest runs from November 18, 2006 through December 9, 2006.

Meanwhile…

Jay-Z - Hov 97 Interview with Mr. Cee
Let me reiterate that Jim Jones won this war, seeing as it was already a lose-lose situation for Jigga. The battle aspect is nonexistent–Jimmy is no match for Jay. Oly way Hov could have emerged victorious all-around was if he had continued to shrug off these non-rapping Dipshits. Jimmy realizes that no one will be checking for him six months from now, so he’s milking this cow as much as possible.

Contrary to widespread reports that the BET Hip-Hop Awards was a complete disaster, Negro Network did way better than I expected. Besides the shabby Red Carpet and a few organizational glitches, it was an overall great experience.

I took these pictures with my Konica Minolta, so don’t expect Getty Image quality.

BOOTZ!

Cousin Jeff — Grandmaster Flash, recipient “I Am Hip-Hop Award”

King Koopa

Mr. Janet Jackson

Ludameister — Big Snoop Dogg

More pictures from the BET Hip-Hop Awards…