and why was this guy doing the Tribe Tribute

...I dont own any Tribe Called Quest CD's...Never did...never wil...so I dont know this throwback 94' sound that you speak of...and for that matter how to emulate it...but why is that a prerequisite of being "down"? hahaha....if you dont like it...dont buy it...dont buy concert tickets...dont read my blogs...or my interviews...or visit my websites...let me be...

-Lupe Fiasco, The Swift Chancellor Report, 10/12/06


I could've had this Kanye record or this Pharrell record. I was trying to get one of those spacey way-out Pharrell records, and he wouldn't make it for me. He always gave me Tribe Called Quest because that's what he thinks I like. I don't know one Tribe Called Quest song by heart. I don't own one album. I don't own any De La Soul like that

-Lupe Fiasco, THe Village Voice, 10/4/06

Thoughts on Hip Hop Honors

Thoughts on Hip-Hop Honors 2007:

First of all thank you VH1 this is a great thing, no question

- Missy has hits but is she a legend? Still not sold. Does she deserve to be on the same stage with KRS, ATCQ, Chief Rocka Busy Bee and James Todd? I don’t think so. Not dissing her, she is just in a different lane

-if Missy passes the test then a whole lot of folks should be excited. Swizz, Mannie Fresh, Hammer. If it’s all about hits that is a wide list

-And what’s up with her not performing? WTF. She does rep for the ladies I guess

-Pharell had a few too many parts. He is not even a rapper, really

-I was questioning Snoop at first but his segment was dope.

-I heard Ice Cube came out – did some people at the taping think BG was O’Shea or was he edited out?
And why exactly was BG out there
And Keisha Cole was out there a lot without doing a whole loy

-Busy Bee sounds exactly the same

-How old is Grandmaster Caz?

-KRS is the GOAT. period

-The New Jack Swing segment was dizope

-T-Pain killed it. He can move for a big(ger) guy. It is now impossible to hate on him
Good to see Teddy out there
Who was that on stage with him?
Al Blanco made a great point at the Panel on Saturday – don’t get too wrapped up in the romanticizing of the past regarding New Jack Swing. There was beef. So much so that one honoree jumped another. Remember that? Hot Sex On a Platter That’s why Tip had the mask on. Thanks Wrecks N Effect

-Nick Cannon? Uh, why?

-great to see Whodini get theirs

-Kangol doing the Prep may have been the highlight. Jermaine breaking and Nelly doing the Wop down to the floor. And the EPMD dance. Loved it

-Busta, Busta, motherf*cking Busta Rhymes. With the beer belly and all. Hell yeah, Hell yeah

-If you didn’t know Q-Tip likes to perform

Go to the VSpot on VH1. They have dumb ATCQ videos and interviews

Cool Hip-Hop Honors programming

“VH1 ROCK DOCS: FADE TO BLACK” & “CLASSIC ALBUMS: JAY-Z” PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3 STARTING AT AT 8:30 PM*

Shawn Carter (Jay-Z) has been one of the most influential figures in black American music since the mid-nineties. "Fade To Black" reveals the multiple Grammy Award winning artist as never before, from his background and rise to fame to the recording of his last album. The film chronicles his legendary concert at Madison Square Garden in November 2003 that featured guest performances by Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, R. Kelly, Foxy Brown, Pharrell, and Questlove and The Illadelphonics along with appearances by hip hop icons Damon Dash, Rick Rubin, Slick Rick, P. Diddy and many others. Viewers get the rare glimpse into Jay-Z's creative process as he searches for inspiration, poetry, and perfection in his songs. Narrated by Jay-Z himself, his account of the night takes on reflections of his entire musical career and his journey that led to this one astounding, fabled evening--rightfully called "Fade To Black."


“THE SALT -N- PEPA SHOW” PREMIERES MONDAY, OCTOBER 15 STARTING AT 10 PM*

“The Salt -N- Pepa Show,” will follow the ladies as they attempt to reunite on and off the stage in this funny, often touching reality series. They soon discover however, that achieving this is easier said than done since most of their past issues are still unresolved. Salt is angry about being unappreciated when they were together and Pepa blames Salt for breaking up the group. Their lifestyles are also polar opposites: Salt is a devout Christian and is living a quiet life in Long Island with her husband, while Pepa is still the party girl and desperately wants to re-capture the glamour of Salt ‘N Pepa’s glory days. Can they overcome their differences long enough to heal their friendship and perform again?


ON Vh1 Soul
“New Jack Swing Weekend” Beginning Monday, Oct 1 at 6 AM*

In conjunction with the fourth annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors show, VH1 Soul will pay homage to New Jack Swing, the hip hop genre created by two of this year’s VH1 Hip Hop Honors honorees, Teddy Riley and Andre Harrell. New Jack Swing rose in popularity in the 1980’s when R&B/Hip hop artist and producer Teddy Riley integrated hip hop rhythms, samples and production techniques with the urban sound of R&B. To celebrate the impact of this hip hop genre, VH1 Soul presents “New Jack Swing Weekend,” a special weekend full of signature programming to celebrate the New Jack Swing era of hip hop music, including:

· New Jack Swing A to Z, a video marathon of every New Jack Swing video in alphabetical order starting from After 7 to Zhane

· Teddy Riley's Top 10: Best in Soul, an hour-long block hosted by Teddy Riley, featuring his Top 10 favorite "New Jack Swing" videos

· The BBC original documentary, “Urban Soul: Stories on the Making of Modern R&B” on Saturday, October 6 at 8PM*.

We need a Hip-Hop Hall of Fame

Hall of Famer?

Apologies if there already is one. I remember talk of one in the Vernon years back.

We need a Hip-Hop hall of fame on par to the Rock and Roll Hall in Cleveland. A place where our culture would be documented and celebrated. Fully funded and nationally recognized.

VH1's Hip-Hop Honors is the closest thing we have but that is not their mission. And this year's honorees prove it. I respect them all but clearly Missy is not a Hall Of Famer. To many she is at the edge of the definition of Hip-Hop. I think she will go down as one of the best but not a Hall Of Famer.

I recently had a conversation with Eb about how under appreciated Teddy Riley is. The New Jack Swing dominated Hip-Hop like crunk and snap are now. I think it's great he is being highlighted. TR is a Hall Of Famer but not yet.

Before these cats go in the Hall we need to admit Nas, Too $hort, Geto Boys, Kool G Rap, Biz, Marley, Red Alert and several others.

Wild Style is however a no brainer

I am not sure about Snoop. He is an eventual Hall of Famer but not before the aforementioned.

But Hip-Hop Honors is not the Hall of Fame so I can’t be mad at them.

We need to do it for ourselves