Kelefa Sanneh of the New York Times is fastly becoming one of my favorite writers. In the Thursday, September 7th issue Sanneh pens a story about there not being a true summer hip-hop hit. Looking at the songs that ruled the Billboard charts, Shakira featuring Wyclef's "Hips Don't Lie", Nelly Fertado featuring Timbaland's "Promiscuous Girl" and Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" all come to mind, however none are a true hip-hop hit, and of course none are a true R&B hit.

But since we are in a culture where traditional radio is almost obsolete and iTunes and last.fm rules the popularity of songs I ask, what song ruled your summer? (add me as a friend on last.fm, user name: cartierkev so I can see what y'all listening to!)

At the top of the summer many latched on to LeToya Luckett's "Torn." Some were more into Chingy featuring Tyrese with "Pulling Me Back." One or two of your probably featured "Call On Me" by Janet Jackson featuring Nelly or "Deja Vu" by Jayonce. Last night, I looked at my iTunes and last.fm charts and it seems that Brandy gets the most burn on my computer even with no new material release. For some reason Cherish was pretty high on my list too. I reset the count on them just because that wasn't a good look.

What's on repeat in your car, cd changer, iTunes, Windows Media Player, Music Match Jukebox, WinAmp, 8 Track or casette player?

But now that summer is over and the picnics, roof top BBQs and concerts in the park are being replaced with house parties and weekend getaways (big up to those hitting the big Philly Meet Up) I have a few predictions for the fall.

John Legend's "Save Room" will run amuck on both urban and adult contemporary radio. Have you seen the video? Check it out. (best viewed in I.E.)


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I like that song... a lot.

I also predict that the lines between pop and R&B will blur even more with highly anticpated releases scheduled by Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Omarion, Mya and Alicia Keys.

If none of those work for you maybe a few of these will.

Chingyfeaturing Timbaland - "Let Me Love U"

Johnta Austin - "U Remind Me"

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For all the Mary J. Blige fans who have been wondering about all the random new music is coming from, wonder no more. It seems Ms. Blige is releasing a new CD this year just around Thanksgiving.

Despite selling over 700,000 copies of The Breakthrough during it's first week of sales during last year's holiday rush, many of you said you didn't see what was SOHH special about the album. You said you were tired of Mary whining and her 'woe is me' approach to music.

Well this new album will be more of the same since it is the long-awaited greatest hits collection that was suppose to be released last year. As you remember The Breakthrough replaced Reminisce, last year's original scheduled release. Check out some of the songs that might be on Mary's new CD.

Listen to "Outta My Head"

Listen to "Turn Off The Lights" featuring Jay-Z

The new CD may also include "If I Don't Love You This Way" and "Fever". Download them here:
If I Don't Love You This Way and Fever.

But if you are not moved, feel free to stick around for our...

SOHH SOULFUL TOP 5 SONGS OF THE MOMENT!

Omarion - "Electric"
This dude ain't half bad. Don't let the baby hair fool you.

Justin Timberlake featuring Snoop - "Pose"
JT is the shit. One by one he is converting Usher fans to JT's Witnesses. Let the church say AMEN!

Mya - "How We Carry"
Don't sleep on Mya. She bosses up a little on this track that is clearly for the ladies.

Beyonce - "Irreplaceable"
One of the more bearable tracks from B'Day... "I can have another you in a minute...."

Christina Aguilera - "Hurt"
While Mimi is off on an adventure, this voice is a suitable seatfiller.


BONUS... check out this Usher featuring Pharrell track titled "Don't Take It Personal." I am not sure if it's new or left over from Confession

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As his song "Chicken Noodle Soup" continues to gain popularity, producer DJ Webstar is currently gearing up for the release of his first compilation titled Webstar Presents...Caught In The Web.

Set for release this month, Caught In The Web will showcase music from new artists such as Chaundon, Ron Browz, Severe, T Rex and 16-year-old Bianca "Young B" Dupree, who raps on "Chicken Noodle Soup".

Debuted this past June during Harlem's RuckerPark's Annual Basketball tournament, "Chicken Noodle Soup" has garnered major radio rotation across the U.S. and has inspired over 8000 YouTube videos of fans emulating the "Chicken Noodle Soup" dance.

Webstar Presents...Caught In The Web will hit stores on September 26 via UniversalRepublic.

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n this week's Pulse Report, the streets are buzzing about 50 Cent killing hip-hop, Diddy pissing off you tube, Beanie Sigel taking subliminals and Mos Def's arrest getting caught on tape.

1. 50 Cent kills hip-hop? By the looks of things, your boy Fiddy is trying to Ja Rule Diddy. Not sure if it's gonna work, but considering Diddy completely butchered Pharoahe Monch's writing on "The Future," it may be worth a try. Coincidentally, the track is produced by Havoc of Mobb Deep, who is signed to G-Unit Records. Fif has a way of feuding with people his artists work with. A week after calling Diddy out, the Queens rapper is taking more shots with his DJ Whoo Kid co-signed "G-Unit Radio 22" mixtape. The lower right of the cover pictures Diddy awkwardly hugging a man from behind with a bubble that reads, "take that, take that." Whether it's sarcastic or dead honest, the CD's intro features an interesting skit in which a preacher accuses Fif of killing hip-hop.

2. Diddy pisses off youtube. Ok, Diddy has to be stopped. The meaning of up close and personal will never be the same thanks to this dude. Since beginning his Press Play campaign, the Puffster decided to hop on the youtube and myspace bandwagons to feature clips giving a glimpse of his personal life. Thus far, heads have been treated to Diddy claiming to be a Proactiv pioneer and him waking up, stank breath and all. He's also announced that he's expecting twins. Puff's latest clip has him sharing the joy of bladder relief as he pisses for the camera. "Have you ever had to take a piss real bad?" Diddy asked before pulling out his Sean Johnson, stepping to the urinal. "It's almost as good as sex. That point where you feel your bladder is gonna explode. You feel like you drunk a gallon of beer and then you finally just...aaaaauuwwwww!" Eeeeeeeeeewwwww!

3. Beans gets subliminal. You know what the game's been missing? It may just be a dose of Beanie Sigel. The self-proclaimed broad street bully hasn't released much music since rejoining the Roc-A-Fella camp at last year's "I Declare War Concert." Well, he's back. A freestyle off "Streets Is Watching," Beans' latest mixtape with iPod king DJ Drama, is currently spreading throughout the streets and the net. The Philly emcee seems to be aiming at someone here, but who? Spitting over the "Cannon" instrumental, Beans offers, "now what cause the breakup?/ when ego's collide that foolish pride coincide cause dudes to say stuff/ cause dudes to say what/ really was on their mind all the time but I'm about my grind/ fuck the fake stuff/ far from a fake what/ when the whole shit shaped up/ I was in there/ doing a year in a wake up/ niggas disappeared/ sold they soul for a Jacob." Later on Beans observes, "what I can't see clear is how u let them play us/ look man they pape up/ we aint got a paper cup/ to piss in." So who is Beans addressing?

4. Mos Def's arrest surfaces on the net. Reports popped up that the Mighty Mos Def was arrested after an impromptu performance outside the MTV Video Music Awards last week. Well, a clip of the arrest is now floating around the net. The video has Mos performing "Katrina Clap" on a flat truck when several officers suddenly hop on stage. On the clip, one officer harshly pushes Mos' hand down and has a few words with him before pushing him gratuitously. The Brooklyn lyricist showed no sign of resistance when the officer stepped on stage. The clip then shows cops putting cuffs on Mos as he reminds the crowd of Hurricane Katrina's anniversary. Fans shouted for cops to let him go as he was getting put in the cop car.

[For any questions, comments, criticisms, hatemail, etc hit up Carl Chery on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/hdottt.]

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@ the NFL kickoff press event yesterday

Word on the internet street is that last night, 50 and Diddy called an end to their beef with the help of mutual friends. Apparently some folks were worried about the two escalating their words into physical beef. Personally, I think they were giving those two more credit than needed. But still, the two have squashed the beef started by 50's diss track to Puffy on his Hip Hop Is Dead: G-Unit Radio Part 22 mixtape on the track "The Bomb." The leaked track floating around the net of Diddy's intro to Press Play is not a diss to 50 though like people think. Yes, Diddy screams out "I'm richer b*tch!", but it was recorded long before this beef even started.

Publicity stunt? I actually don't think it started out that way. Y'all know 50 likes to run his mouth when he's feeling salty for real. But now that they see how much free publicity this beef is getting, I'm sure they're making the most of it. Diddy may need all the help he can get with this Press Play ish and the so called "performance" Jeezy and Cassie did at the NFL opener last night.



@ the VMA's last week

Beyonce's birthday was September 4th and she spent it in Japan. So what did her man Jigga get for her when she came back to the states on the 5th? A 1959 $1 million Rolls Royce. Damn. And to think -- Nas only gave Kelis a Lexus for her B-day a couple weeks ago.

Performing at Fashion Rocks benefit last night at Radio City Music Hall

My sources who have seen the Rolls themselves say it's hands down the tightest gift he could possbly give. Must be nice to be a CEO these days huh?



I found a poster for Nas' album release. And for all y'all wondering if Hip Hop Is Dead will really be released in November, not September, it looks like that's the deal.

Check out the freestyle Snoop and Game kicked on Big Boy's radio show this week. Who killed it?
Posted by SOHH Fabulous at September 8, 2006 09:54 AM

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They first brought you Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt, and then moved on to become the two biggest nemeses of recent rap history. That battle, without a doubt, was ill -- perhaps too ill to ever be surpassed.

It's crazy how two of the game's nastiest MCs can put their differences aside and join forces for hip-hop (which needs all the help it can get), while the rest of the world shakes their heads in shame. I thought that the whole Nas and Hov unity thing would be appreciated, embraced, and accepted throughout every vessel and outlet of hip-hop and all of its entourage, but I was wrong.

I've seen it all over the 'net. That picture, boy is it something else.

So more than just a few say that because of these two that hip-hop is NOW officially dead. You mean to tell me after all that snap, 50 Cent, crunk, and pop-rap music that has over saturated hip-hop's most vital arteries that you're gonna wait until two of New York City's most prolific MCs fuse before you declare hip-hop flat lined, finito, taken to the point of no return? Sure Jay smashed Nas' baby moms, but as men, if they choose to kick the little roach under the rug and feed her to the rats then that's their business. What the hell does that have to do with hip-hop? What does that have to do with bringing something positive, fresh, and appreciative to the rap game?

Name two other MCs who can join forces after a vicious episode of antagonizing one another and people actually give a two fucks after the fact. Name two former adversaries that can bring it together -- all the while bringing something relevant to the table. There are none. I'm not saying that Nas and Jay are the only two that can join forces in a positive light in the name of rap. But reflecting on it, there isn't really anyone big enough to fill their shoes. No one has the power and ability to put the game in a choke hold with the same amount of effectiveness and legendary aptitude. For any other MC, the beef might be there, but the relevance isn't. And I think that this is something that they both realized.

Instead of coming down on these two for attempting to save rap, real hip-hop heads should be nodding in agreement.
Posted by SOHH Reckless at September 8, 2006 04:35 AM

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