Last month, I called for newsletter sign-ups. Many of you responded kindly, and I’ve been thinking of ways to thank you since then. If you’re a current TRU Newsletter subscriber, I have good news for you.

To show my appreciation for your subscription, I’ll send you a little token of gratitude which I will not disclose here. So, if you’re already on my list you don’t really have to do anything. Just sit back and keep an eye open for an email from yours truly. Your gift will arrive within the next 1 hour (12 midnight CT).

Oh, if you’re not a subscriber and would like to receive the small token, it’s not too late. Sign up between now and midnight and the gift is all yours. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered. Thanks!

Good news, The Rap Up Newsletter is back in full swing. It’s free and only takes a few minutes, so sign up and let TRU come to you. (Sign-up form is on the right of your screen, above the Focus box)

But if you’re not into newsletters, you can always subscribe through the RSS feed.

Either way, thank you.
- Rizoh

The Rap Up kicked off as a messageboard in 2003. After being inspired by O.G. hip-hop heads like Clyde, O-Dub, Ian (even though we disagree on damn near everything), and Hashim, I decided to re-launch TRU as a blog exactly three years ago today. The good folks at Rawkus Records liked what they saw and invited TRU to the Rawkus Network last August.

2 million visits, 4.5 million page views, and thousands of sleepless nights later, here we are. It’s been a wonderful ride and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Of course, TRU is nathan without the devoted readers. So, extra super special shoutout to everyone whoever logged on, commented, cross-linked, blogrolled, or bookmarked the site and then forgot to check their bookmarks. Thanks to the folks who held me down all these years, my good friends Ivan, Eskay, Randy Roper, John Gotty, Enigmatik, khal, SB, and whoever else I’m forgetting right now and will have to apologize to later. I’m especially grateful to the readers who hit me up every now and then with the email subject “NEW SH*T” or just to say that they appreciate little things like Cuban Linx and Rizoh’s Radio. You know who you are. You guys are my strength.

Let’s keep the movement moving.

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>>Estelle feat. Kanye West - American Boy [Audio]

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>>J Hood takes weak shots at D-Block [Video]

>>Matt Fingaz ft. Talib Kweli, Large Pro, Game, and Rahzel - Who You Wit [Audio]

>>Skillz - 2007 Rap Up Video

>>Chamillionaire - Won’t Let You Down (18-Min Remix)

>>Trina - “Single Again” [mp3]

>>Ice Cube - “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” Video

>>Prodigy in a softcore flick with his wife

>>Kanye connects with Beyonce at Club 40/40

>>Album sales dip, while digital sales rise

>>Lupe performs “Superstar” on Late Show with Dave Letterman

>>Mark Ronson Presents: Rhymefest’s Man in the Mirror

>>Obama wins Iowa caucuses ahead of Edwards and Clinton

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who disliked that other beat. This version is marginally better than the original, but it still sounds like something’s missing from the ingredients.

Get It: Skillz - ‘07 Rap Up [Jimmy Rose Remix]

Skillz’ 07 Rap Up video (director’s cut). [Via: Soveryfresh.com]

Skillz - The Rap Up 2007 - Dope lyrics, wack beat.

Skillz is a renowned ghostwriter who claims to have penned songs for Foxy Brown, Diddy, Will Smith, Jermaine Dupri, and others. He’s been putting it down on the mic since ‘92, and has three solid albums under his belt. But it’s his other accomplishment that made Skillz popular.

For the past five years, the incredibly talented Skillz (b.k.a. Mad Skillz) has been bringing us yearly reviews. Every year, around this time, Skillz takes inventory of the main events that rocked the worlds of hip-hop, R&B, and pop. He’s probably busy recapping 2007 as we speak. Maybe, he’s still waiting for one more celebrity divorce to wind things up for ‘07.

I’ve created a playlist of all the Rap-Ups for your listening pleasure. These things are like taking a history lesson on urban music. My favorites are 2002 (I still have a tape-recorded version of this one) and 2006 (too many quotables, including: “Nas said ‘hip-hop was dead’ but northern cats spit all year tryin’ to bring New York back. Y’all need to lighten up son, get a hug. The only time New York came back was on Flavor of Love“).

Check out the previous Rap-Up songs after the gap. (more…)

The Rap Up community is officially open for business. Membership is free and you’re all invited. Republicans are welcome too.

• Join The Rap Up Community