August 2003

Only One VMA - Posted by Denz on Friday, August 29 2003

Eminem only won Best Video From a Film for the "8 Mile" anthem "Lose Yourself," but lost two others to 50 Cent. The mentor and protégé made light of their competition, however, by joining each other at the podium for their acceptance speeches. The Detroit rapper appeared in a much better mood this year, even joking about his assault of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog last year before his introduction of 50 Cent's performance, which he did with another trash-talking puppet, Special Ed from "Crank Yankers."

Ja Rule Eyes Shady - Posted by Denz on Friday, August 22 2003

Ja Rule is preparing to release an EP addressing his troubles with Eminem and 50 Cent. The rappers have been engaged in a bitter war of words which has so far been restricted to mixtapes and media interviews. Ja Rule's 'Blood In My Eye' EP will bring the 'beef' into the shops. "Hip-Hop is at a fast and feverish pace right now with all the beefs and all the dramas and I'm at the helm of all of it," he told RapWorlds. "You ain't gonna' go nowhere without hearing my name and you ain't gonna' speak to 50 or Em without hollerin' at them about what I'm doing and it's the same with me. "I gotta' address certain subjects and there's not a better way to do it than with a rough crazy EP," he continued. "Just throw it out there. It's just rugged and raw and saying what I wanna say." The EP will not form part of Ja Rule's forthcoming instalment in his 'Venni Vetti Vecci' saga - his next album is expected to be a double LP.

Eminem's 3 in a bed romps - Posted by Denz on Thursday, August 21 2003

If Eminem ever felt wife Kim Mathers spent too much time with her pals, it's nothing the three of them couldn't work out in bed. 'Kim has a sexual hold on him because of her bisexuality,' said uncle Todd Nelson, who (for some reason) has been keeping an eye on his nephew's sexual proclivities. 'She brings women home and puts them in bed with her, and when Marshal comes in he doesn't come home to just Kim - he comes home to whoever's in bed.' Kim's bisexuality is said to be a factor both in the childhood sweethearts' regular separations and reunions. 'It's every man's dream, right?' offers Nelson. Things may be over for good now, however, as Kim faces drugs charges which could see her away from the bedroom for up to five years. The white trash rapper's dysfunctional family has been spilling more salacious beans about the life of their lucrative relative in a new documentary, predictably titled The Real Slim Shady. Kim's pet name for the rapper is Rat Boy, according to her cousin Jennifer Watkins, because of the uncanny resemblance he bears to a drowned rat. 'Their marriage was straight out of Jerry Springer,' Watkins said. 'It was crazy and very abusive - a lot of anger, a lot of violence with a splash of love thrown in.'

Em & Kim Spin On Funkmaster Flex's New TV Car Show - Posted by Denz on Tuesday, August 19 2003

He is a recording artist, a top rated DJ, and an on-air personality/mixer at the number one hip-hop radio station in New York City. You can add television personality to Bronx-born Funkmaster Flex's resume, as he now hosts the new Spike TV show called Ride with Funkmaster Flex. The car show, which airs Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. on the new network "just for men," features some of today's hottest celebrities in music, film, TV and sports (not to mention hot, half nude women), including Ja Rule, Ludacris and Nelly showcasing their "whips" for America to marvel - similar to Cribs on MTV. Flex, whom The New York Times recently dubbed the "evangelist" of hip-hop's car culture, premiered his new show this past weekend with guests Eminem, Lil Kim and former New York Jets receiver turned traitor (he ran off to D.C. to play with the Redskins), Laveranues Coles, as they each attempt to impress Flex with their own signature-styled "tricked out" cars, complete with enough gadgets that the ordinary man can only watch and glorify. Guest Eminem, one of Forbes's Richest Entertainers of 2002, can afford to splurge a bit, revealing to Flex his self-titled "Shady Mobile" - a gigantic GMC Yukon equipped with a 24-inch HDTV monitor and 13-inch flip down monitors, Lear jet leather seats with built-in massagers, a Game Cube and an Alpine stereo system. Lil Kim also appears as she takes a ride with Flex in his custom-laced, vintage 1971 Chevelle. Flex shows his charitable side as he hooks up Coles with a new pair of 24-inch Lexani rims for his 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT. Other segments include Monster Truck master Bob Chandler, a celebrity car-makeover, a recycling yard and the "radical dancers" - a euphemism for those cars with hydraulics - at a low-rider car show. Flex is no stranger to the car scene. He runs a custom car club called "Team Baurtwell" that boasts such members as Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal, DMX, Nelly, David Justice, Missy Elliot, Fat Joe, Baby (Cash Money Millionaires), Faith Evans, model Tyson Beckford, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent and Missy Elliott. He also writes a column for The Source and Mobile Entertainment magazines. He has his own shoe - the FMF-1 from Lugz -specifically designed as an "urban driving shoe." In addition to spending 26-hours a week at NY's Hot 97.1, Funkmaster Flex is also affiliated with Jammin 94.5 in Boston, Power 106 in LA, Power 99 in Philadelphia and WEDR in Miami. He is acknowledged as one of the hottest club DJs, spinning for such stars as Mariah Carey, Russell Simmons, Whitney Houston, Clive Davis, P. Diddy, Nelly, Destiny's Child, Columbia Records' Grammy party and Alicia Keys at Radio City Music Hall. He is the founder and CEO of his own record label entitled Franchise Records, in addition to being CEO of Franchise marketing. The hardworking DJ also manages and consults a list of some of the most influential DJs in the top markets in world including DJ Mister Cee, Cipha Sounds and Big Kapon Hot 97 in NY, DJ Cory AK in Philly, Funk Regulata Celo in DC, DJ Khaled in Miami, Boogie D. in Charlotte, Tim Westwood in London and DJ Cut Killer in Paris.

Here comes Brittany - Posted by Denz on Tuesday, August 12 2003

Brittany Murphy is about to become the latest Hollywood actress to launch a pop career. Following in the footsteps of J Lo et al, Murphy told MTV recently that she was going into the studio later in the year. "I am going to start recording an album in November," she said although she was guarded about which direction her material would take. "You'll see. It's going to be a surprise." Murphy's first foray into the charts is expected to be with the classic Carly Simon hit 'Nobody Does It Better' which is taken from her forthcoming film Little Black Book, out later this year. Murphy played Eminem's girlfriend Alex in his movie debut 8 Mile.

Billboard - Posted by Denz on Monday, August 11 2003

50 Cent dominated this year's Billboard-American Urban Radio Networks 2003 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards show. The rapper won four gongs - top R&B/hip-hop artist; top R&B/hip-hop artist, male; top R&B/hip-hop artist, new; and top R&B/hip-hop singles and tracks artist - at the Miami Beach event held last Friday. 50's mentor Eminem was close behind with three awards as was R Kelly whose trio of prizes included acknowledgment of his worldwide smash hit 'Ignition'. Unsurprisingly, The Neptunes collected the R&B/Hip-Hop producer of the year award while other honours went to the late Aaliyah, Nelly, Clipse and Erykah Badu featuring Common. Betty Wright and Grandmaster Flash were singled out at the ceremony for special recognition and were given the Founders Awards in R&B and hip-hop respectively.

50 hits tha UK - Posted by Denz on Friday, August 8 2003

50 Cent will tour the UK for the very first time later this year. Rap Worlds can confirm that the controversial rapper will be playing five arena dates this autumn. The dates will take place at the following: September Thursday 25 - Wembley Arena Sunday 28 - Belfast King's Hall Monday 29 - Dublin Point Depot October Wednesday 1 - Birmingham NEC Wednesday 8 - Manchester MEN Arena Tickets will be available from this Saturday and are priced £22.50 and £25. 50 Cent will be joined by this crew, G-Unit, for the 'No Fear, No Mercy' tour and will also release a new single, 'P.I.M.P.' to coincide with the shows. The video for 'P.I.M.P.' is available to watch on his official site and features an amusing cameo from top pimp Snoop Dogg. 50 Cent was one of Eminem's special guests at Milton Keynes earlier in the summer.