If record label execs thought that Ice-T would clean up his act on his 1991 single “O.G. Original Gangster” they had another thing coming. The song’s iconic video starts with Ice listening to an answering machine while label higher-ups asked him to dance in his videos and incorporate glitter in his wardrobe; good luck. Ice-T will appear on “Yo! MTV Raps: Classic Cuts,” a one-time special that will examine some of raps most iconic songs and videos. While filming for the show, the rapper-turned-actor discussed the concept for his 1991 classic. “I thought that at sometimes when you’re moving too much people aren’t listening to the words,” Ice told “Yo! MTV Raps” producers. “So the concept of ‘Original Gangster’ was to put me in a room do a camera lock-off and me just rap in the room in different places.”

The no non-sense L.A. MC found inspiration in Sinead O’ Connor’s video for her 1990 Prince remake “Nothing Compares 2 U.” In O’Connor’s clip, the camera solely focuses on her, placing emphasis on the song’s lyrics and the singer’s emotion. “I just wanted to see if I can stay in a room and hold your attention throughout a video,” Ice said. “To me rap is about the words, its about the content. if its not about that then just play the beat.”

Don’t miss “Yo! MTV Raps: Classic Cuts” on MTV2 Sunday, December 4 at midnight

Tags Ice-T, O.G. Original Gangster, YO! MTV Raps

If record label execs thought that Ice-T would clean up his act on his 1991 single “O.G. Original Gangster” they had another thing coming. The song’s iconic video starts with Ice listening to an answering machine while label higher-ups asked him to dance in his videos and incorporate glitter in his wardrobe; good luck.

Ice-T will appear on “Yo! MTV Raps: Classic Cuts,” a one-time special that will examine some of raps most iconic songs and videos. While filming for the show, the rapper-turned-actor discussed the concept for his 1991 classic. “I thought that at sometimes when you’re moving too much people aren’t listening to the words,” Ice told “Yo! MTV Raps” producers. “So the concept of ‘Original Gangster’ was to put me in a room do a camera lock-off and me just rap in the room in different places.”

The no non-sense L.A. MC found inspiration in Sinead O’ Connor’s video for her 1990 Prince remake “Nothing Compares 2 U.” In O’Connor’s clip, the camera solely focuses on her, placing emphasis on the song’s lyrics and the singer’s emotion. “I just wanted to see if I can stay in a room and hold your attention throughout a video,” Ice said. “To me rap is about the words, its about the content. if its not about that then just play the beat.”

Don’t miss “Yo! MTV Raps: Classic Cuts” on MTV2 Sunday, December 4 at midnight

Tags Ice-T, O.G. Original Gangster, YO! MTV Raps

(Bun B at Pimp C’s 2007 funeral)

Chad “Pimp C” Butler was one half of the popular southern rap duo UGK. News of his untimely death rippled through the hip-hop community four years ago today (December 4) just four months after Butler and his UGK partner Bernard “Bun B” Freeman had released their fifth, self-titled album Underground Kingz. The album was Pimp C’s first record with Bun B after serving a lengthy prison sentence. The Texas-born rapper was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel room after suffering from an accidental overdose on promethazine and codeine, which heightened his sleep apnea. Still reeling from the loss, Bun B and a host of UGK’s rap peers took to Twitter today to remember Pimp C with adoring tweets, some using the hashtag #RIPPIMPC in their posts.

“Today is the day I lost my brother. Thank God for my family and #TeamTrill I couldnt make it without you. #RIPPIMPC. God bless my brother’s family today. It will not be the easiest of days for them. Strength through prayer. #RIPPIMPC, Bun B tweeted earlier today.

Rick Ross tweeted simply, “r.i.p. pimp c. #ugk4life” while close friend and mentee Webbie added, “Today and always lets remember my ni— Sweet James Jones – Holdin’ it down for Pimp C.”

(Swizz Beatz on Pimp C)

Fellow Houston rhyme vet Z-Ro memorialized the Pimp, saying, “R.I.P Uncle Chad(Pimp C). He taught me more in the short time I knew him than ni—- I be knowin all my life. I miss my dog#chuuuuuuuuuuuch!”

DJ Clark Kent offered, “RIP Pimp C.. And, to my Brother@BunBTrillOG, Remain strong. Keep holding the UGK torch.. HIGH!”

Producer Mannie Fresh added, “#RIPPimpC Haven’t Forgot you big Bro!!!!!!” while Maybach Music Group signee Pill tweeted, “I got a pocket full of stones!!! One of my favorite songs. #UGK4Life #RIPPIMPC.”

Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Noreaga, Chamiilionaire, Too Short, Busta Rhymes and other rap luminaries all joined in tweeting fondly in the memory of Pimp C.

Rest In Peace to Chad “Pimp C” Butler.

Tags Bun B., Busta Rhymes, Noreaga, pimp c, Rick Ross, ugk, Webbie

Young Jeezy’s third solo album Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition is due on December 20 and an official tracklist is finally available for the anticipated LP. In September the Snowman tweeted a handwritten tracklist, which did not include features or production credits, but a full version has been posted with the details on each track. Check out the full tracklist after the jump. 

1. Waiting [Prod. By Lil Lody]
2. What I Do (Just Like That) [Prod. By Drumma Boy]
3. O.J. (Ft. Jadakiss Fabolous) [Prod. By Lil Lody]
4. Nothing [Prod. By Lil Lody]
5. Way Too Gone [Prod. By Mike Will]
6. SupaFreak (Ft. 2Chainz) [Prod. By D. Rich]
7. All We Do [Prod. By Midnight Black]
8. Leave You Alone (Ft. Ne-Yo) [Prod. By Warren G]
9. Everythang [Prod. By Lil Lody]
10. Trapped (Ft. Jill Scott) [Prod. By J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League]
11. F.A.M.E. (Ft. T.I.) [Prod. By J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League]
12. I Do (Ft. Jay-Z Andre 3000) [Prod. By M16]
13. Higher Learning (Ft. Snoop Dogg, Devin The Dude Mitchelle’l) [Prod. By Lil C]
14. This One’s For You (Ft. Trick Daddy) [Prod. By Lil Lody]

Bonus: Talk 2 Me (Ft. Freddie Gibbs Eminem) [Prod. By Drumma Boy Travis Barker]

Young Jeezy Debuts ‘TM: 103,’ New Jay-Z Track

“I ain’t the one for making excuses. I was always taught as a youngin by the OGs that you can’t take your problems and make them somebody else’s if you promised them something,” Jeezy said about his album delay on Wednesday’s “RapFix Live.” “I went through a lot of trials and tribs and different things, but I gotta take that and endure that.”

Jeezy didn’t clarify what those problems were, but he told MTV News’ Sway Calloway that he had some real distractions that could’ve cost him everything. Still, the Snowman made no excuses — after all, he considers himself a mascot for the streets and one of the ‘hood’ ‘s chief motivators.

“I was dedicated every day. I put out a few mixtapes because I wanted them to know that I wasn’t being lax, or I wasn’t comfortable,” he said. “The Real is Back 1 and 2, Trap or Die 2: By Any Means Necessary, The Last Laugh, all of that was an effort to show them that I’m really working, and I was working on the album as well.”

Tags 2chainz, Eminem, Freddie Gibbs, Ne-Yo, Young Jeezy

By Tamara Palmer

Despite recent rumblings to the contrary, Drake doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave his label, Young Money. The star addressed the rumor while on stage at the Hot 93.7 Jingle Jam concert in Hartford, Connecticut and the moment was captured on video. “If you ever wake up in the morning and you think Young Money ain’t my team, you out of your motherf–ing mind,” he said. “I’mma tell you that right now!”

Drake’s public statement followed a December 1, story on rarely reliable site MediaTakeOut, with the headline, “Drake Is Leaving Young Money, And This Time It Ain’t No Rumor.” The blog post claimed that, after parting ways with an executive producer and agents, “Next step . . . Drake is putting together a legal team to try and get him out of the AIR TIGHT contract he has with Weezy and them.”

This rumor got regurgitated by many other sites, which soon added speculative
posts about a November 29 tweet on Lil Wayne’s feed: “Sweetheart dont u know that when u lose me, u lose yourself? I’ll be loyal before I lie and honored before I’m dishonest. – tunechi.” The rumor had gained so much momentum by the night of December 2 that Drake felt compelled to squash it while at the Jingle Jam.

Time will ultimately reveal any potential discord between Drake and Young Money, but for now, it looks like he’s staying put.

Related
Jay-Z Congratulates Drake On ‘Take Care’ Album Sales
Drake Prepping New Mixtape ‘Y.O.L.O.’ With Rick Ross

Tags Drake, lil wayne, Young Money

(Jay-Z explains why he became a rapper in ’98)

By Nadeska Alexis

Jay-Z celebrates his 42nd birthday on December 4, and you’ve got to figure that “midlife crisis” is a completely foreign concept to a man who has survived and prospered in the entertainment industry since his 1996 debut with Reasonable Doubt. This year alone the Brooklyn-born rapper, turned mogul, released his Watch the Throne album with Kanye West and kicked off one of the most anticipated hip-hop tours to date. He also topped Forbes’ Cash King List once again, officially renamed his basketball team the Brooklyn Nets and learned that he’s about to become a father. Take a look back at footage from Hov’s earliest years, before he was sharing dinner tables with Warren Buffett. Clips include his first tour performance in 1991 and his 1996 hosting duties on Yo! MTV Raps.

1. Jay-Z’s first appearance on Yo! MTV Raps in 1989.
A baby-faced Hov makes a brief appearance back in ’89 but he would return a few years later to host an episode of the show.

2. Hov’s first tour performance in Los Angeles, 1991.
Big Daddy Kane introduces Jay for his first tour performance, on the West Coast, along with Positive K.

3. Jay’s first music video “Dead Presidents,” released in 1996.
“Dead Presidents,” released from Jay’s 1996 album Reasonable Doubt spawned his first solo video.

4. Jay-Z hosts Yo! MTV Raps in 1996.
After his initial 1989 appearance, Jay-Z returned to host an episode. During this hosting gig he had the chance to introduce the video for his single “Ain’t No N—-” featuring Fox Brown.

5. Jay-Z is presented with a moonman for Best Rap Video in 1999.
Afeni Shakur and Voletta Wallace–the mothers of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.–presented this award to Jay. “Can I Get A…” featuring Ja Rule and Amil beat out singles that included DMX’s “Ruff Ryders Anthem,” Tupac’s “Changes” and Nas featuring Diddy “Hate Me Now.”

6. Mr. Change Clothes launches Rocawear, November 2000.
After selling out stores for other brands, Jay finally decided to launch his own clothing band, Rocawear. He said that this would enable him to design the right fit, “just baggy enough for everyone.”

7. Jay talks early rap battles with Sway, 2003
The Brooklyn rapper recalls some of his memorable lyrical exchanges, which includes battling Big L on his block, battling Busta Rhymes in high school, and catching LL Cool J exiting a club.

8. TRL presents Jay-Z with a retirement plaque, November 2003.
His retirement was short-lived, but the folks at “TRL” were still kind enough to present him with a retirement plaque.

9. Jay-Z is crowned Hottest MC in 2006.
Shawn Carter weighs in on the struggle to remain on top. “In rap, everything moves so fast, you can be on top of your game…next year you’re not. There’s a lot of young rappers and they all aspire to be where I am now, as I did I aspired to be where B.I.G. and Pac and people like that was when I was coming up.”

Tags Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, jay-z birthday, Kanye West, reasonable doubt, YO! MTV Raps