RapFix › D.L. Chandler

Remembering Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein

Posted 8/28/11 5:41 pm EST by in Music News, Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are, VMAs

Two years ago today (August 28), the music industry lost one of its own in Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein at the age of 36. DJ AM was found in his New York City apartment where officials say the DJ and producer passed away as a result of drug intoxication. The Philadelphia native got his start as part of rap and rock outfit Crazy Town before doing work alongside Will Smith, Madonna and others. DJ AM was also a disc jockey to the stars, playing private events for some of the biggest names in entertainment. Read More...

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Will Tha Carter IV Sell 1 Million Copies In Its First Week?

Posted 8/28/11 3:33 pm EST by in Music News, VMAs

Although clever maneuvering by Kanye West and Jay-Z helped the pair avoid early leaks of their joint project Watch The Throne, Young Money captain Lil Wayne wasn’t as lucky with his ninth studio album Tha Carter IV leaking last week to the Web and suddenly became the fodder of online discussion and debate. Although the New Orleans native planned to drop the album digitally at the conclusion of tonight’s (August 28) MTV Video Music Awards, the leak may have dulled some of the sales impact. The question remains: can Tha Carter IV defy all odds and still sell 1 million copies this week? Read More...

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Steve Stoute Says Jay-Z Won't Respond To Lil Wayne

Posted 8/28/11 2:24 pm EST by in Interviews, Music News

Advertising wizard, author and former record exec Steve Stoute has been behind the scenes in support of some of music industry top selling albums, and has established a rapport with some of the top names in the game as a result. Never too far removed as an insider on the rap scene, Stoute was interviewed recently and offered some commentary regarding the ongoing and currently brewing feud between rap giants Lil Wayne and Jay-Z. Steve Stoute has already declared the supposed beef a no contest however. Read More...

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Who Will Win Best Hip-Hop Video At The VMAs?

Posted 8/27/11 12:18 pm EST by in Music News, VMAs

The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards are stacked to the deck with worthy nominees, as newcomers and veterans alike are all looking to add the shiny accolade to their mantle. So which of the contenders in Best Hip-Hop Video category will walk away with a statue and bragging rights?

Chris Brown checks in with a nomination for “Look At Me Now,” featuring Busta Rhymes and fellow nominee Lil Wayne. Kanye West hits the list with the Rihanna-assisted “All Of The Lights.” Lil Wayne brings Cory Gunz along for the “6 Foot, 7 Foot” clip. Nicki Minaj adds to the pool with “Super Bass” making a splash. Lupe Fiasco and his hit “The Show Goes On” rounds out the list. Read More...

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The Dream Opens Up About Failed Marriage To Christina Milian

Posted 8/26/11 9:40 pm EST by in Interviews, Music News, Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are

Singer-songwriter The-Dream and his highly publicized marriage and split from R&B starlet Christina Milian has been fodder for the blogs of late. After marrying Milian in 2009 and the birth of their daughter Violet, the couple announced their separation in the summer of 2010 after photos of The-Dream were posted to the web with his female assistant. While not necessarily apologetic but somewhat remorseful, the Atlanta hit maker opened up recently about his failed union. Read More...

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DMX Arrested For Speeding On Arizona Highway

Posted 8/25/11 6:13 pm EST by in Things That Aren't Hip-Hop ... But Are

Troubled rapper Earl “DMX” Simmons has once again been nabbed by the long arm of the law. The latest in the series of incidents with the boys in blue occurred Wednesday (August 25) after the artist was pulled over in his adopted home state of Arizona by state troopers who clocked the It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot rapper going 102 miles per hour in a 65 mph speed limit zone.

As police processed the 40-year-old Simmons for the speeding infraction, the cops found that DMX’s license had been revoked. He was released earlier today but was cited on charges of suspicion of criminal speeding, driving on a suspended and revoked license and reckless driving. The Chrysler 300 vehicle DMX was driving belonged to another passenger, who subsequently had their vehicle returned to them after the rapper’s release. Read More...

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Pitbull: A Look Back At His Long Road To The VMA Stage

Posted 8/25/11 5:04 pm EST by in Music News, VMAs

Pitbull, like many others before him, had to toil in a fickle rap climate in order to gain the fame and global fanfare he currently enjoys. After getting his start with crunk master Lil Jon in 2002 and releasing his hip-hop and Reggaeton-fueled Gold-selling indie debut M.I.A.M.I. in 2004, the 2011 VMA nominee and performer is currently riding high on the success of his latest studio album, the dance-flavored Planet Pit — spawning three singles that have made the Billboard Hot 100.

Ne-Yo and Nayer will join Pitbull to perform the smash hit “Give Me Everything” at the star-studded 2011 MTV Video Music Awards show this coming Sunday, amid a lineup that includes Lady Gaga, Adele, Bruno Mars, Lil Wayne, and Beyoncé among others. His journey to the VMA stage certainly didn't happen overnight.

After M.I.A.M.I., the Cuban-American rapper scored a mild hit with the compilation album Money Is Still a Major Issue which hit #1 on the U.S. independent charts, peaking at 25 overall in 2005. In a bold move, he joined with mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs and the Bad Boy Latino imprint, going on to release El Mariel and The Boatlift, but neither album made a huge impact in sales. But the latter of the two LPs saw Pitbull establishing an international niche, charting in other countries. Read More...

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What Will Chris Brown Perform At The VMAs?

Posted 8/25/11 11:19 am EST by in Music News, VMAs

Considered one of the more electrifying live performers, in the vein of the late Michael Jackson and fellow contemporaries such as Usher, Chris Brown has thrilled fans with his high-octane dance moves and capable vocals over the course of his six year career. After a potentially career-derailing assault on Barbadian pop princess Rihanna back in 2009, it appears that the 22-year-old Virginia native has returned to prominence and has been tapped as a featured performer at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.

Chris Brown's current rise on the charts has been courtesy of a curious mix of edgy street-ready romps, sexy ballads and club crowd-pleasers — all a part of Breezy's increasingly vast arsenal. He has also been toying with hip-hop lately and dipped his toe into the rap pool, particularly with his mixtape Boy in Detention, released earlier this month. Trading bars with teenage pop sensation Justin Bieber and longtime pal Tyga, Brown has morphed into a jack of all trades in this phase of his career. As he continues to reinvent himself as an artist, which of the singer and dancer's hits should he break out for the VMAs?

He could certainly rip through his VMA-nominated smash second single from his F.A.M.E. album, "Look at Me Now" — although it isn't known if collaborators Busta Rhymes and fellow VMA performer Lil Wayne would join him onstage for the track. Speaking of collaborators, he'd certainly make a splash if he got Justin Bieber onboard to perform their Detention track "Ladies Love Me" which samples "Look at Me Now."
Read More...

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Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV Leaks

Posted 8/25/11 2:11 am EST by in Music News

Although Young Money boss Lil Wayne was set to release his ninth studio album Tha Carter IV right after the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards Sunday (August 28), a leak of the LP hit the web tonight (August 24) well before its official release date.

It took no time for fans to start buzzing on Twitter, driving top trending topics throughout the night. Read More...

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Is Lil Wayne Firing Shots At Jay-Z And Beyoncé On 'It’s Good?'

Posted 8/24/11 5:53 pm EST by in Music News

Although megastar rappers Lil Wayne and Jay-Z share the same surname, there have been rumblings over the years that the Carters have been in direct competition with each other. One of the latest flare-ups in the alleged feud happened with Watch The Throne’s first leak “H.A.M.” in where Jay-Z’s line “Really you got baby money” got the attention of both Wayne and YMCMB boss Birdman who responded to the verse via Twitter. Although Wayne initially brushed off the assumed jab, it appears that on a new song from Tha Carter IV may be reigniting a clash between the two rap titans. Read More...

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