O.D.B. Was One Of The First To Co-Sign Kanye As An MC. The Receipt Proves It (Audio)

In 2002, during an era where mainstream Hip-Hop appeared heavily saturated with gangsterism and hustler narratives, a preppy, middle-class, pink Polo shirt-rockin’ producer from the Chicago suburbs shocked the Rap game by signing to Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records at its pinnacle. While renowned for his distinctive, soulful production, Kanye West had a notoriously hard time being taken seriously as a rapper. Even his future “Big Brother” and longtime collaborator Jay was hesitant to give the artist his big break, worried that ‘Ye wouldn’t fit into the Roc’s roster. “We all grew up street guys who had to do whatever we had to do to get by,” Jay told Time in 2005. “Then there’s Kanye [West], who to my knowledge has never hustled a day in his life. I didn’t see how it could work.”

>> READ MORE <<

Dame Grease On Making "Move Back" With Ol' Dirty Bastard & What He Learned From Jay Z

Official 247HH exclusive interview with Harlem, New York City based artist Dame Grease where you’ll hear about how he made made "Move Back" with Ol' Dirty Bastard & what he learned from the legendary Jay Z

Why Wu-Tang Will Release Just One Copy Of Its Secret Album

You've heard of rare records before, but what Wu-Tang Clan is planning for its stealthy double album, The Wu–Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, is unprecedented. The legendary rap group will sell only one copy, encased in an engraved silver and nickel box. It will be very, very expensive.

It's actually a brilliant plan. When explaining the album to Forbes, the RZA spared no hyperbole. 

"We're about to put out a piece of art like nobody else has done in the history of [modern] music," the legendary rapper said. "We're making a single-sale collector's item. This is like somebody having the scepter of an Egyptian king."

Read more via: GIZMODO and FORBES 

See more images of the case here!

LeBron James Uses Wu-Tang, Jay-Z & DMX To Beat The Mavericks

When the Miami Heat played the Dallas Mavericks Thursday night, LeBron James wasn't just revisiting the single biggest failure of his career, he was playing hurt (dislocated finger) in a game the Heat badly need to break out of a sluggish stretch (8-6) the past few weeks. He needed some extra motivation, and ... Well, there are times when it's easy to hate LeBron James, and then are there are times when he makes it really difficult.

MIAMI -- About 90 minutes before Thursday's home game against the Dallas Mavericks, LeBron James walked over to the stereo system in the Miami Heat's locker room, inserted his music device and pumped up the volume loud enough to send vibrations through a nearby dry-erase board.

There was Wu-Tang Clan's "Bring The Pain."

Then came Jay-Z's "Reservoir Dogs."

By the time a compilation of DMX's greatest hits blasted through the speakers, James had pounded and paced himself into a sweat-lathered, rhythmic routine that more resembled a boxer preparing for a big fight than a basketball player anxiously hoping to lead his team onto the court and out of a slump.

Love LeBron or hate him, that is AWESOME. Just a few stray thoughts here.

1. "Bring The Pain" is a Method Man solo from the Wu era, but the name's a little misleading. As far as reckless, anti-social rap that'll scare the shit out of everyone, "Bring The Pain" isn't even in the top 50. If I was going for Wu-Tang pregame music, I'd go with "Criminology" because the beat is outrageous, and it includes Ghostface Killah telling us that he's "throwin' n****s off airplanes because cash rules." REAL TALK, SON.

2. When you think of Jay-Z, you think of the post-Blueprint, culturally transcendent Jay. Watch The Throne, own the Nets, join the Illuminati, etc. Marry Beyonce, have a baby. Whatever. This is the Jay-Z that LeBron looks up to, and that's cool. But "Reservoir Dogs" is whole other story.

3. Put it this way: Jay-Z is a frequent guest at the White House these days. Beanie Siegel, Sauce Money, and The Lox ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT INVITED TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

From Michael Wallace at ESPN:

RZA shares his experience with Kanye West

Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA recently opened up about his relationship with Kanye West and how the Grammy-winning rapper/producer's determination and focus have elevated his career.
Having worked with Ye on Watch the Throne and last year's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy albums, RZA said the hip-hop star places high emphasis on keeping his crew close.

"I'ma tell you something this young man does," RZA said referencing Ye. "[He and his crew] get up every morning to eat breakfast together, his whole crew. They talk about yesterday and the next day and the present. They plan, all over breakfast. They sit there and they talk about what they gonna do, what they did and how to make the music better. Then, they go exercise together. They go to the YMCA. They play basketball, lift weights. Focus, get the energy out. ... The way everything happened was like focused energy, yo. Actually, I've never seen that from a rapper before. I come from Wu-Tang Clan. Y'all know us. Five of us show up for the concert, the other three late, some ain't doin' it, some are sleeping. It's not only his talent that took him to the top. I've gotta say, it's his focus, y'all." (Red Bull Academy)In 2010, Ye's "Power" producer Symbolyc One talked to SOHH about his daily routine around the G.O.O.D. Music leader during My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy's recording process.

"I ate breakfast with him every morning, played basketball with him everyday and would be in the studio with him all night. It was more than just the music. We really got to connect on all those types of levels. It was incredible. Kanye can actually hoop. He actually has game. He can handle the rock, he can shoot, he can really hoop. It kinda caught me by surprise, he gets down." (SOHH Guest Star)Last year, RZA hit up SOHH to discuss contributing to Ye's platinum-selling solo album.

"What made me come out to Hawaii when he invited me wasn't really about making music. I wanted to go and build with a brother and share [my knowledge]. I thought I might be able to share some things that he's not really heard from around other people he's been around. The secrets we keep from each other and try to stay secluded from each other because we're like crabs in a barrel, everybody's trying to get out and so we keep pushing each other down some times." (SOHH Guest Star)The Wu's Raekwon also spoke to SOHH in 2010 about recording "Gorgeous" alongside Yeezy.

"The first thing I can tell you about Kanye West is that he's a hard worker. When you look at him, you can tell that he still has that whole hip-hop thing in his bones. When I was around him, I could definitely feel the energy that this guy is really taking things serious and he's not trying to give [you] no watered down album. Listening to what was being made, you could hear and know that you were feeling it. So for the most part, I can say the music is great as far as him being creative and brilliant and he makes sure to keep those things around him. Everybody that says he's bringing this album back to the 1990's, [but] I think it's more about him being creative." (SOHH Guest Star)Check out RZA's interview below:

Source

RZA Shouts Out Jay-Z for A Chess Game For RZA's World App

RZA Gives Jay-Z Advice On Being a Father

In a few months Jay-Z will be a father, and through much of his music we've already heard anecdotes of his relationship with his dad and what he envisions for himself and his offspring. The most recent track to visit that topic is "New Day" on Hov and Ye's Watch The Throne.

Rap legend and producer Rza collaborated with The Throne on the fatherly track. Rza in turn recently sat down with XXL to offer the rap mogul some advice on what it takes to be a father.

Read what RZA had to say below.

What can I say? It's hard to tell somebody about their own. A father is not only He Who Fat Her; no, but it's somebody who also furthers. Further the education of others. And if you could do that for your seed, then you doing what you do. You doing the right thing. We grew up without fathers. I'm quite sure he had the same situation as me: father absent. So we turned to the streets, music, and other things for a father.

Be there. You know what I mean? Because a father is the one who will further a child's education.

I did a song that I put out for ODB's memory, it's called "Gone." I said a line in there, it says: "Through our seeds, we all reach eternity." I believe that. Through our children—now you immortal. Now you are immortal. Your genes will go, go, go, go.

You get married, and the preacher says, "What God has joined, let no man put asunder." That's impossible. "Asunder" means separate. Our divorce rate is big in our country. The true marriage is the sperm and the egg. Because when those two things combine and form a life, you can't separate. You can't separate your father and your mother out of you. Nor will your children be able to. It's eternally enjoined.

What do you think about RZA's advice?

Source: xxlmag.com