bigted

Of course you don't if you rapped about God all the time you'd be a 'gospel' rapper, but I don't really consider Kanye a 'conscious' rapper either, he's more of a versatile rapper like Jay-Z, Will, or LL Cool J, that's not as 'conscious' as a Chuck D or KRS-ONE, it's hard to label rappers though, it's easier to just call them all rappers and stop labeling them.

That's dope! :1-say-yes: Alicia Keys is definately a great artist, I got all of her albums, including the new live one, I read her poetry book too, it doesn't surprise me that she respects Will and Jada. Her first song she released was "Sexy Thing" on the "MIB Soundtrack" btw.

Yeah Vlade Divac sucked, the Hornets have probably been kicking themselves for years that they traded away Kobe Bryant when they drafted him in '96 for Vlade Divac, they probably would still be in Charlotte and went to the NBA Finals if they kept Kobe.

I gotta give him points for being honest there, I guess his lifestyle turned him into a gangsta you could say so he ain't frontin' now, he's harder than 50 Cent, lol, at least he admits he sold out unlike a lot of pop rappers that put up a front, he'd probably had a longer career if he came out now since there's more of those pop rap gimmicks than ever that just do what labels tell them to but he couldn't last that long back then 'cause originality was what made rappers relevant in the golden era of rap.

Well that goes to my earlier point, not many of his songs are about god so he shouldn't be called a 'conscious' rapper just 'cause he was famous for "Jesus Walks", you listen to his albums and there's not really any songs like that, that's as ignorant as just sayin' Will only makes 'party' songs just 'cause he released "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It", not all Will's songs on his albums sound like that either, "Don't Believe The Hype".

Well VI was nothin' but a gimmick to begin with, he bit off of what MC Hammer was doing so he could sell then he tried to be gangsta in the late 90s like everybody else but that plan didn't work 'cause people lost interest from him fast and thought he was a joke.

Wasn't Vanilla Ice a part of ICP? He completely sold out going from being a party rapper to makin' violent heavy metal rap, well he ain't the only sell out in the rap industry I guess, most of those rappers who sell a lot of albums are gimmicks that don't represent who they truely are, Will Smith and MC Hammer have always kept their music clean and fun, and 2Pac always put heart and emotion into his songs so they were the exception. Will has had arguably the most consistant career among those listed there, it's amazing that was his 6th album where he sold that much, usually you could only sell that much on your 1st or 2nd album.

I'm sure KRS could afford it 'cause he's a millionaire.

They're probably either updating it or they're banning it for being too "smart", first they're getting on NBA players for wearing street clothes and now this, lol, corporate America really does hate hip-hop after all I guess.

Diamond is 10X Platinum and that's what "Big Willie Style" is according to this site, selling 12 million worldwide: http://www.jazzyjefffreshprince.com/albums...illie-style.htm It's funny how rappers lie about how much they sell, I think Vanilla Ice is the only one that probably would say it sold 17 million, 50 Cent said that his first album sold 11 million when it really only sold 6 million in reality, Nas could use that as fuel when he comes after him on his next album.

http://www.neosoul.com/riaa/index.html You're wrong my friend, TLC's "Crazy Sexy Cool" sold 11 million, Biggie's "Life After Death", and MC Hammer's "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" sold 10 million, they don't even list Vanilla Ice's album, I'm wondering where's Outkast's "Speakerboxx/Love Below", 2Pac's "All Eyez On Me", and Will Smith's "Big Willie Style" though I think they both went diamond too, I think they outsold Vanilla Ice's album too if I'm not mistaken, I think it sold only about 8 million like "Marshall Mathers LP"! :stickpoke:

Players market teams by the way they play on the court, not what they wear on the sidelines so I consider that a pointless issue that didn't need to be addressed, if the Atlanta Hawks lose 70 games this year nobody'll go watch them no matter how "neat" they're dressed. If they're really concerned about image they'd drop liquor ads with half naked women in them and if they really hated hip-hop that much they wouldn't let rappers attend all-star weekend and have all those hip-hop events there. David Stern said a couple years ago that he wanted more hip-hop to be in the NBA to attract younger audiences now all of a sudden he says he doesn't want it, what the NBA needs mostly is players with skills on every team.

Dr. Dre produces people that I don't like listening to on the most part so I don't really don't pay attention to him that much anymore, I rather remember him for "The Chronic" days until he produces somebody that I like, maybe if he produces Will's next album or do some producing for Nas again maybe I'd learn to respect him, I did dig that "The Watcher Pt.2" he did with Rakim and Jay-Z, if he did more tracks like that he'd be one of my favorites again. He sold out though working with pop rap gimmicks like 50 Cent most of the time.

There's not really that much of an image problem in the NBA, they're going after the wrong industry, sex doesn't sell in the NBA, the quality of the games is what turns people on to go to the games. Shouldn't they crack down on liquor ads with half naked women in them too when they show the game too though? They won't though 'cause they get paid lots of money for that. I think that's worse than a player wearing a doo-rag and a t-shirt, that's hypocritical just like when they got on TO for that ad he did when they focus on cheerleaders wearing barely nothing during games, but they sell a lot of cheerleader calenders so that's ok for them too I guess, they don't care about image, they just wanna get paid, they probably wanna add more white players to the NBA too, they probably think that the NBA's too black and maybe if there was more white players it'd be even more popular even if they fight with each other they probably wouldn't care that much either 'cause white hockey players fight all the time and it's ok, that's a whole another discussion though. Back to my point about sex doesn't sell in the NBA though, for example if the Knicks won 50 games every game would sell out at Madison Square Garden but it's different with music where there's more of an image problem I think, they actually force artists to be negative and have half naked girls in their videos instead of showing the positive side of the 'hood, not every woman in the 'hood is a hoe, there's too many negative stereotypes out there. I don't think it really was Sony that wanted Will to do party songs, it was his decision probably 'cause JJFP's all about having fun anyway, they're from the ol' school where everyone was going "yes yes y'all" and "throw ya hands in the air", just clean fun, nothin' negative about that, you could say though that Will wanted to show more of his serious side but they didn't allow him to release "The Rain".

Well Dr. Dre has fell off anyway since then, everybody "Forgot about Dre"! :stickpoke:

I guess the NBA wants to pander to an older audience that doesn't like the hip-hop lifestyle then, but don't rappers/singers represent the record label they're signed to as well at the same time? That's an industry too, I see no difference, those who are in charge of record labels could have a say in what an artist does too 'cause they're the employers. I hope they don't make the game so boring that younger people'll get turned off from it though.

Yeah well I actually don't really consider Eminem that much better than Vanilla Ice, they're both sucker mcs in my book but the one thing that has kept Eminem in the game longer than Vanilla Ice is that he rolls with all the popular rappers like Dr. Dre and Snoop so that's how he's stayed popular longer than Vanilla Ice, Vanilla Ice faded away and went underground, both are pop rap gimmicks straight up.

Nas doesn't really rap about money or cars in his music but it ain't like he's broke, I don't see nothin' wrong with enjoyin' success, he doesn't worship money but he worked hard to get where he's at over the last 15 years so it ain't like he'd be lying about having paper, arguably the most successful and consistant rap artist to come along since LL Cool J and JJFP, sure none of his albums ever sold 5 million but how many rappers that sold that much 10 years ago are still making quality albums and going gold? Nas' place in the hip-hop game definately puts him at the top with all the all-time greats, including the ones who never really sold much as Nas but have been consistant of course. That's kinda wack that 50 Cent would diss Nas after they used to roll back in the days when Nas was showin' him the ropes, Nas does need better talent on his side, I'd love to join him too if he started a label. btw he denied that he's workin' with the Neptunes that was a false rumor, although he did do "Nas' Angels" with the Neptunes before. The Neptunes did do some great work on LL's "10" album though so I wouldn't mind either, better yet a Neptune produced track with Nas and LL on it would be dope!

Well basketball is entertainment, that'd be like forcing all rappers/singers to wear suits at their concerts, it's not like they're in a board meeting then I'd see that's when they'd have to wear suits, dressin' normal actually shows that you could relate to the people, as long as they ain't sloppy though I agree with that point, the commissioner should just make sure the players iron their shirts, lol. You have to go after the character more than after what the person wears 'cause like Allen Iverson said on ESPN today even murderers could wear suits but they're still murderers, the only way the NBA's image could improve is if the players don't fight with each other. Surburban people are into the 'hood lifestyle though 'cause hip-hop's the most popular music genre and that's music of 'hood lifestyle, when Run-Dmc dressed normal wearing Adidas everybody related to them 'cause that's how people dress in real life. Less people have been watching the NBA recently 'cause it hasn't been that competitive as it was when we had Jordan, Barkley, Ewing, etc in their primes but we do seem to be going in a new era with Lebron, Carmelo, Wade, etc. coming of age so I think this year could be the best in years.

The fans that go to the game are allowed to wear doo-rags and chains if they want to so why can't the players do the same if they choose to? I don't think it was really distracting anybody, the focus is more on the players on the court than the ones sitting out on the sidelines anyway, the players should be able to wear what they choose to if they're not playing in the game, if they wanna wear a sportcourt that should be their option, they shouldn't be forced to. I don't think player behavior has to do with how they dress unless they start pulling each others chains off! :stickpoke: :rofl:

http://www.mtv.com/bands/n/nas/news_featur...?headlines=true When Nas says "we major!," he's not just rapping the chorus to a Kanye West song: He's telling the world his new credo. After all, Nas is entering turf where virtually no other MC has tread: staying on top midway through the second decade of his career. Sure, there are plenty of rappers who've been around longer — and even had hits — but what other MC do you know who could still (arguably) be considered the best lyricist after 15 years in the game? While you're trying to figure that one out, Nas has his own calculations to ponder. On "We Major," he rhymes about being a free agent and wanting to start his own Motown, and that's exactly what he's been focusing on: his new label (the name of which he declined to reveal), deciding whether or not he's going to stay with Columbia Records, and building up a team of MCs to ride with him regardless of which label puts out his music. There's other business as well. Nas has some lyrical get-back for 50 Cent in store, and he's looking at a possible reunion with Illmatic producer DJ Premier and maybe a collaboration with Jay-Z — maybe. MTV News' Shaheem Reid caught up with the king of Queensbridge for the lowdown. MTV News: We've been hearing for a while that you're working on a new album. What's the status? Nas: The album is ... I started working on it. I had to pause to go back and look at it, because what I'm doing has hardly ever been done: taking a career to the next level. Usually artists don't make it this far. It's never been seen that a street artist go as far as I've gone — keep consistent without wanting to do a bunch of ventures outside of music to keep my face out there. I had to look back and pat myself on the back and really prepare to do what's not been done: to go for another few years in this thing and make it historic, the way it's supposed to be. MTV: "Looking back" has meant contemplating leaving the only record company you've known, Columbia. There've been rumors about you going over to Def Jam — and we've had conversations in the past about how much you admire the company's chairman, L.A. Reid. Nas: On an executive level, L.A. Reid is somebody who stands out and somebody who I truly admire and have been wanting to work with for a while, just based on what he's done and where he comes from. He interests me a lot right now. MTV: So you two have talked? Nas: There have been conversations. I've been exploring other possibilities for a long time. I loved my situation where it's at, but you have to look around and see what other shows are in town so you can expand your horizons. It's not just one place where you have to stay forever. MTV: Sort of like, you can't go to see Stephanie Mills perform every night. You have to see what Patti LaBelle and the Whispers are like. Nas: Yeah. You gotta make your rounds. It's important to make your rounds. Another good friend of mine in the music business is Craig Kallman. He's been trying to get at me to go over there for a long time. I’m really impressed with how he's moving. I'm just out here looking to see, "Where do I want to go create the biggest legacy for the next five to seven to 10 years?" MTV: Hey, 50 is signing a bunch of folks to G-Unit! Nas: They don't got enough paper for me. MTV: Your last album, Street's Disciple, received a lot of criticism, but I think it was one of your best joints. Nas: Absolutely. That album was a milestone period for me. It was my triumph in this business. The focus for that last record was definitely not about what was going on at radio at the time. It was about me doing different stuff. With the next stuff I'm getting at, it's gonna be right up that alley, but a huge project. I want to get to back to doing real big sh-- for the streets. MTV: I heard you was doing it real, real big on the new album: There's a rumor that you outbid a few MCs for some multimillion-dollar Neptunes beat? Nas: Nah. That's very untrue. I don't know where that came from. MTV: If you go to Def Jam, obviously, you'll be working with Jay-Z. A few years ago that was unfathomable, but I just saw a show in San Francisco where you told the DJ to not play Hov's name at the beginning of "Ether" where everyone goes "F--- Jay-Z!" You actually told the crowd you "love" Jay. Nas: Yeah. I was saying that in the middle of the battle, back in '01. I mean, it was a heated situation at the time, but I'm definitely not the type of person ... I don't have to live off of like other artists. I didn't have to make a career off of that. My career is based off a solid foundation. It's not based off of calling out names like a 50 or whatever. MTV: So are you and Jay going to ever do a song together? Nas: Who's to tell? Who knows? MTV: You got a record on the streets right now called "Don't Body Yourself." We all know the last verse is for 50 and everyone knows it's only a matter of time before you drop an "Ether"-like record for him. Nas: Yeah. You know what's the crazy thing about it? I've had times of missing 50. I brought him with me on tour before. He used to open up for me. I showed him his first Bentley. I showed him his first big diamonds in person — he ain't know nobody who had real diamonds the size I had. I showed him all that. So I kind of miss the cat from time to time. I would like to know what it is to sit down and talk to him, see what's on his mind. Because all he's showing is that when you get rich, you get angry at the world. And that's not what's it's supposed to be about. I would love to really sit down with him. But on the rap side, we got things to finish. We got business — we got unfinished business. MTV: He's made a cartoon character of you and dissed you on the DVD for The Massacre. On his latest record, "Window Shopper," he calls you a window shopper. Nas: How am I window shopping? I showed him his first Bentley, his first real diamond ring — because you know he couldn't afford no real stuff back then. I was showing him the way to go. The G-Unit spinning chain is a replica of the QB chain. I was showing him that. If anybody is window shopping, it ain't me. All these dudes just started buying Bentleys. MTV: I just was out on the road with Kanye West and I've been telling the brother for months that we really need a video for "We Major." Nas: That'll be a good look. I love the track and what it's all about. It separates the men from the mice. "We Major," that's my slogan all year, right now. MTV: On the verse, you rap about taking a little time to figure out what to write. That's how it really went down? Nas: Yeah, I was sitting there writing the joint. I was writing the rhyme and some of boys was there. We was just sitting there and talking and they was all over me. We was all over each other about rapping. They started yelling at me and hyping me. Basically they helped me write it. They was sitting there talking to me about me, and I wrote what was happening right there on the spot. MTV: You and Kanye have great chemistry. Who are you working with on your new album? Nas: Me and Premier is in the works. That's all I can say right now. MTV: What about outside the album? What are you working on? Nas: I been building my team up. I think people are gonna be surprised to see me roll out my label the way it's supposed to be done. I never had a chance to pull off Ill Will — I was never given the things I need to make the label a label. It kind of pushed me away from even wanting to do a label. But now I'm opening up my horizons to change that and do something different, and with that being fresh and new, I can now let my man Will's name rest for a while. I'm starting off something new. You might be surprised of who you see rolling with me. MTV: So I repeat: When are we going to get that album? Nas: It's going down — sooner than you think!

Vlade Divac retires now: Divac ends 16-year NBA career, gets new job with Lakers By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer October 18, 2005 AP - Oct 18, 4:49 pm EDT More Photos EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- Vlade Divac ended his 16-year NBA playing career Tuesday, easing into a new job with the Los Angeles Lakers as a liaison and scout in Europe. The Lakers bought out Divac's contract for $2 million. The 37-year-old center had back surgery in January, and played in 15 games last season, averaging 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds. ``I didn't have fun anymore with the injury I had,'' he said. ``If I didn't have fun, I wouldn't play my best.'' The Lakers could have picked up a one-year, $5.4 million option on the 7-foot-1, 260-pounder or put him on waivers. Divac said he had seriously considered playing this season, ``but I couldn't find the ride that would take me there.'' He had career averages of 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in 15 previous seasons -- seven with the Lakers, two with Charlotte and six with Sacramento. ``I'm happy today,'' said Divac, who sat next to his wife, Ana. ``When I look back, it was a wonderful career. It was a great ride for me.'' He joined centers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in NBA history to get 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocked shots. Divac was one of the first Europeans to have a major impact in the NBA. He was drafted by the Lakers in 1989, after playing in the former Yugoslavia's top league for five years. Asked the difference between his life then and now, Divac joked, ``I don't drive Yugo anymore, I drive Porsche.'' He helped Yugoslavia to silver medals at the 1988 and 1996 Olympics, and led the country now known as Serbia-Montenegro to a gold medal at the 2002 world championships. ``We tried to open the door for other guys,'' he said. ``When I came in the NBA, it was more a U.S. game. Now you can watch the NBA anywhere in the world.'' In his new job, Divac will report directly to general manager Mitch Kupchak, who plans to use him to evaluate European talent, scout on the West Coast and participate in pre-draft meetings. ``He brings a lot to the organization that benefits him and us,'' Kupchak said. ``It's not a far-fetched concept that Vlade could be a front office person or even a coach someday.'' Divac and his wife have two sons, ages 14 and 11, and a 7-year-old daughter. ``I never thought this day was going to come so quickly,'' he said. ``I'm sure my life after basketball is, hopefully, going to be even better.''

You could say this is Rev. Run's 2nd solo album 'cause "Crown Royal" was 99% Rev. Run since DMC wasn't really on any of the tracks on there. Does this album have any guest appearances? He was on TRL last week with his kids and one of his sons is a producer so I was wondering maybe if he had his son produce anything on there?

They're only selling it at Best Buy right now which sucks 'cause I went to one in my area over the weekend and they said that they didn't have it, I think I'm gonna wait until it releases everywhere on November 1st with a bonus DVD. You heard the album Hymn Strings?

Hey bart5 what do think about my proposal of Billups for Gordon? I just sent an offer of Damon Jones for Gerald Wallace from Tim's team too. 7 of my 12 guys are guards, I need more big men on my team, I'm working on that before the season starts.