May 2005

Lesbian puppetry - Posted by Denz on Tuesday, May 24 2005

Eminem has caused controversy with a shocking new video - which features lesbian puppets. The rebellious rapper's promotional film for new single 'Ass Like That' sees the female dolls - which bear a striking resemblance to celebrity sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen - stripping and kissing. The chart-topping star also slams a number of celebrities in the song. In the lyrics Eminem jokes about Janet Jackson's infamous Super Bowl incident - when she flashed a jewel-studded bare breast - and says Britney Spears has "shoulders like a man". The blonde singer also quips that Elton John only likes him for his "sex skills" and makes a rude proposition to 'No Doubt' singer Gwen Stefani. Earlier this week, Eminem's protégé 50 Cent caused outrage for glorifying firearms in a television commercial. Sports company Reebok was forced to withdraw the advert featuring the hip-hop star following pressure from anti-gun groups. The footage showed 50 revealing the scars he famously received when he was hit nine times in a shoot-out before he hinted he was looking for revenge.

DVD Chronicles Eminem's 'Anger' Tour - Posted by Denz on Friday, May 20 2005

Eminem's 2002 Anger Management tour is coming to DVD June 28 via Aftermath. In addition to performances of the requisite Eminem staples, the DVD will offer fans access to a free download of the uncut version of the artist's "Ass Like That" video. Included are performances of "Stan," "The Way I Am," "Kill You," "Forget About Dre," "Don't Give a F***," "Sing for the Moment" and "White America," plus a mini-set with Eminem proteges D12 featuring "Pimp Like Me," "Fight Music" and "Purple Pills." The DVD also promises behind-the-scenes footage from the outing. As previously reported, Eminem and 50 Cent are preparing to hit the road this summer on the Anger Management 3 tour, which begins July 7 outside Indianapolis. D12 will be along for the ride, as will Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, G-Unit, Obie Trice and Status Quo.

Live Aid 2 - Posted by Denz on Thursday, May 19 2005

Along with growing rumors of the possibility of another Live Aid concert in London this summer, Eminem is on the speculative roster for the concert's simultaneous U.S. run. Twenty years after the original, which took place in London and Philadelphia, the second Live Aid concert, dubbed Live 8, appears to be set for July 2 in London's Hyde Park. Other potential performers are Joss Stone, U2, Madonna, Paul McCartney and Coldplay, but no one, including Eminem has been confirmed. The concert's aim is to raise funds to curb hunger throughout the developing world as part of the Make Poverty History campaign. It also will take place four days before a meeting of the G-8, the moniker of the eight wealthiest nations in the world. Live 8 is aimed at eradicating the debt owed by the world's poorest nations. Live 8 is scheduled to be broadcast by the BBC, but according to the Daily Mail, nearly 10,000 BBC employees are threatening to strike over the network's massive layoffs. BBC officials say they expect "the show to go on" without a strike. The first Live Aid concert took place in 1985 and was a massive worldwide event that funneled funds and awareness to Africa's dire starvation epidemic. Original Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof is will spearhead Live 8. Both shows will be free.

The Funeral (new cd) - Posted by Denz on Thursday, May 19 2005

Rap artist Eminem (Shady/Aftermath) has begun preliminary development on a new double disc album to be released late 2005. The double disc album entitled "The Funeral" will feature tracks from all of Eminem’s personas including Slim Shady and Marshall Mathers. The album will also include 4 new songs titled "The Funeral - featuring Bizarre", "The Funeral - featuring Dr. Dre", "The Funeral - featuring Obie Trice" and a brand new Dr Dre produced track "Where I’m Standing (In the Game)". The album will "put to rest" all three of Eminem’s personas and supposedly clear the way for a new Eminem. The album will be divided into 3 sections each divided by one "The Funeral" track. Bizarre will rap about the Slim Shady persona, Dr. Dre will rap about the Marshall Mathers persona, and Obie Trice will rap about the Eminem persona. The last track of the album will be "Where I’m Standing" with a new "reborn" Eminem rapping over the beat. More news and updates on "The Funeral" to come.

Eminem To Perform At MTV Movie Awards - Posted by Denz on Tuesday, May 17 2005

Eminem and Nine Inch Nails are booked to play the 2005 MTV Movie Awards. The show will be taped on June 4 and is set to air on Thursday, June 9 on MTV. During the show and for the first time ever on television, Eminem will perform his song "A-- Like That." Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails are scheduled to play the single, "The Hand That Feeds" from the latest NIN album, "With Teeth." Comedian Jimmy Fallon has been tapped to host this year's Movie Awards, and Hilary Swank, Vin Diesel, Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Alba are among the celebrities confirmed as presenters. The 2005 MTV Movie Awards airs on Thursday, June 9 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Alchemist - Posted by Denz on Friday, May 13 2005

Alchemist has just replaced DJ Green Lantern as Eminem's official DJ. Approximately two weeks after Green Lantern left Shady Records, the powerhouse label has recruited producer Alchemist to spin for Slim. Al, who has previously toured with Cypress Hill and served as Mobb Deep's tour DJ, is set to begin his new job on the upcoming Anger Management 3 tour. "As of now, we're set to do this tour coming up. Basically, the management, Goliath, Neil [Maman] (Al's brother and co-manager) and Paul [Rosenberg] (Al and Em's manager) were just brainstorming and they approached me and asked if I would be interested in doing it. I was like, ‘Yeah, that would be dope,'" Al said. "I respect Em a lot musically. We've been down over the years. We did a couple of things like the Tone Touch back in the day on Tone's album ["Get Back" feat D12 off of Tony Touch's 1997 album The Piecemaker]. Like Green Lantern before him, Al has ties to G-Unit rival, D-Block. To date, the producer has crafted standouts like Jadakiss' "We Gon Make It" and Styles P's current single, "I'm Black." Now a new addition to the Shady/Aftermath/G-Unit family, Al doesn't think he'll get caught up in their feuds. "To me, I'm an artist and a producer. In the past, I never really jumped in on situations. I don't feel like I'm gonna be inheriting any beef or situations," the sympathetic beat maker explained. "My job, they called on me to be Em's DJ and I'm gonna do my job to the fullest. I'm excited to be in that circle. So as far as any beef or drama, I feel like it doesn't apply to me." Though he's shared management with Em for years, Al never took advantage of the situation to give tracks to Slim or any other artist in the camp. Yet, now that he's set to work more closely with the blonde lyricist, he hopes the future holds plenty of collaborations. "It was always something I looked forward to with my relationship with Paul and my brother being there. It's been like three, four years we've been down with the company," Al revealed. "Em has [Dr.] Dre, first of all, and Em is a producer. So, they don't really need anything in that circle. So, for anybody to get beats off in that circle is a blessing. Just being down that long, I always knew one day we'd be able to collaborate one way or another. If it's the start of it, then that's a beautiful way for it to start." In the meantime, Al is keeping busy promoting last year's 1st Infantry and staying productive in the lab. While he doesn't have immediate plans to record a sophomore album, he is presently dropping tracks to keep his name buzzing in the streets. "I'm in the lab everyday, new beats. I don't wanna blow it up because sometimes samples don't clear and issues happen, but I have a lot of stuff now that might end up on albums this year," Al shared. "I'm hitting the machine hard right now. We been starting to leak joints out instead of holding on to them cause we got so much music that we're starting to leak joints to let cats know. The fans are what it's all about. Even when we're in between deals, we're still dropping for the people."