50 CENT, BEANIE SIGEL AND JAY-Z, WHAT'S UP?

The war is on, and i think 50 is going to ride it till his latest album, "before i self destruct", stops selling the peanuts it is selling. Now, the war, on the other hand, is very one sided, because JAY-Z has not responded yet.

If you don't catch my drift, i am talking about the ongoing beef between BEANIE SIGEL and 50 CENT versus JAY-Z. The funny thing is that it started off with beanie saying he just had to let some things off his chest, and he dropped a song, "average cat", which he said was not a diss record but just a song to address some personal issues between him and jay-z, his former boss.

All of a sudden, 50 saw it as a way to get some buzz because he was about to drop an album, which, by the way, dropped last week, and still flopped, compared to 50's standards(standards he created, and laid so much emphasis on through out his career).

Then, last week, they dropped a collaborative diss track aimed at jay, "go off", where 50 does the hook, and talks at the end, but beans did all the rapping.

And then, just a couple of days ago, on Sunday, beans dropped another diss record, "how i can kill jigga man". And he has dropped another one after that; saying he would not stop until jay responds.

I don't know what this would lead to, and i do not know if jay is going to respond, but i do know that 50 and beans would definitely not stop because they have a lot to gain; 50 has an album, and he needs the buzz he would get from this, and beans is working on a new album.

Another reason why i feel they are not bluffing about not stopping is because, right now, 50 sucks at rapping, but he is definitely good at clowning people, and bringing people down, which he would resort to right now; and beans can rap all day, and given all the financial support, and moral support by 50, there is no stopping him, at least for now.

Below is what 50 had to say during a recent interview, when asked what he felt about what jay-z said at the AMA's.

"He said that before," Fif explained to DJ Green Lantern. "I didn't really take that as a disrespect. If you wanna be disrespectful, just be disrespectful. I mean, once we start I'm not gonna stop. I'll make you aware of that. You see what I'm saying? I'm not the kinda guy that goes away. You understand that? So if that's the kind of energy we're getting ready to go to, then let's do it." (Invasion Radio)

50 CENT EXPLAINS LOW PROJECTION ON ALBUM SALE.

I just knew 50 CENT would come up with an excuse for the low sales of his BEFORE I SELF DESTRUCT album; why not just take the failure like a man. Me for one, i hate to blame anybody if i fail in anything.

50 has come out to blame the people that took the album overseas for leaking the album. Okay, even if they did leak it, every other person that is selling now had his/her album leaked before it was released. Jay's album was leaked, and it has gone plat, and hell it is still selling 30k plus a week; that would probably be what 50 would sell in his second week.

Eminem's album was leaked, and he has gone platinum, and we never heard him complain that the leak didn't make him sell like he planned to.

I predicted this in 2005; i said 50 would become irrelevant after his 3rd album. And just see how he is flopping with his 4th album; with all the promo he put behind it. I am sure JIMMY IOVINE would be tired of his ass by now. Or 50 is probably spending his private cash on his recent projects. I knew LLOYD BANKS and TONY YAYO didn't have their contracts renewed with INTERSCOPE records because they are no longer moving units like they used to. I wonder if JIMMY would want to re-sign 50 after this one.

I do not hate 50, i just like going in hard on him like this, because he was a very arrogant prick when he was at the top. He made more enemies than friends. Now he is selling the same amount of copies that the artist he used to make fun of. What a pity.

Below is what he had to say:


"With the actual outcome of the project, once the record leaks from the international plant, what more can I do,"
"I held the record long enough to get it to them, to mix and master it and for them to ship it and then it leaks from the plant internationally, I'm like come on, then that's it. They lost the ball. You know what I mean, if the numbers look funny to me, it's they fault,"

It is not your fault my ass...it is all your fault, and i hope you become humble after this.

BUSTA RHYMES SAYS JAY-Z AND LIL WAYNE ARE SAVING HIP HOP.

Now, i do not like to start articles with venom spitting at celebrities/artist i write about, but i think i am not going to go with BUSTA RHYMES on this one. It seems that every rapper that is doing poorly with sales say good things about artist that are doing good, or should i say "kiss ass" of rappers that are doing good, so that they can maybe get some favors, or look good in the eyes of those people.

Do not get me wrong, i am not a hater, and i do not hate either LIL WAYNE or JAY-Z, and i do think their last efforts are commendable, but it seems that a couple of rap vets have just been selling themselves cheap; by that i am referring to the comments they make.

Busta rhymes saying that jay-z and lil wayne are the two major rappers saving rap means that the other rappers, that he did not mention, that i am not going to mention just yet, are not doing anything for rap. Or more like he mentioned those two names because they are top sellers. I think i could go with the later for the reason he picked those two.

Right now, i think everybody in hip hop, apart from the ones that got their money up(JAY-Z, LIL WAYNE, KANYE WEST, T.I) are just confused, or rather frustrated to the point that they do not know what is coming out their mouths. Or, put it this way, they feel they would just vaporize if they do not cosign the hottest mc's of now. Men!!! Get some dignity.

Another rap artist that kind of put me off recently with his comment, was KRS 1. I respect krs and all that, and even when the TRIPPLE C'S members were throwing jabs at him, saying he is talking hip hop is dying because he is broke, i didn't like that, and stood behind him, but the latest comment he made kind of made me feel like krs is loosing it.

He said, concerning the beef that 50 CENT is trying to start with JAY-Z, that, and i quote "that would be the biggest beef in the history of hip hop". How could krs make a statement like. First off, i am not a big fan of either 50 or jay, and i do not hate them either, but jay would rip 50 to shreds at this point. If he saying that because they are both rich, aint he the same person preaching that hip hop should not be about the money? I just don't get this old rap heads sometimes. I feel they are just longing for attention, cos it was not this flashy during their days

Don't get me wrong, krs is a very good rapper, even till this day, but this statement just really got me thinking...

Back to the subject at hand, busta rhymes, read what he had to say:


"I called the album The Chemo because it seems like the industry and music overall is dying slowly," Busta explained in an interview. "The cancer that's stricken the business is killing the music, not only from a business standpoint, but also the value of the content and the creativity behind it. I just want to start the first stage of chemotherapy treatment that needs to take place and hopefully inspire others to do their part and contribute to different stages of the cure." Still, Busta recognizes those artists who are taking a stand against the "dying industry" by putting out "great music," stating, "Jay-Z put out an incredible album this year and Lil Wayne put out an incredible album last year." Others he commends include Jadakiss, Drake and Trey Songz. (Billboard)

CROKED 1 COMMENTS ON DR DRE'S DETOX ALBUM.

SLAUGHTER HOUSE member, and former DEATH ROW RECORDS artist, CROOKED 1 recently commented on DR DRE'S most anticipated album, DETOX. Everybody has been waiting on detox for about 4 years now, and it is funny that people are still ready to wait and hear this album.

I remembered before dre dropped CHRONIC 2001, in 1999, people didn't even think he was going to drop another album. By then he already had about 14 years under his belt with the must notorious rap group , N.W.A; as a solo artist; and also as a producer of many artist (SNOOP, EMINEM, THE FIRM...), but he surprised a lot of people because he still was relevant when he dropped the album.

With this album, dre had a master plan, he kept on building on, until one of the elements of that plan messed it up. Dre's plan was to build up his protégées(50 cent, eminem, the game), then use them to spice up his album, but, THE GAME, being the last ingredient of that soup, messed it all up with his beef with 50 CENT. So now that game is back in the studio with dre, i have a good feeling that the album would be ready before people can say CLASSIC!!!!

Below is what CROOKED 1 had to say about the album:

"What Dr. Dre needs to know is, people, even the ones that you think are the least likely to be waiting on Detox, are waiting on Detox," he explained in an interview. "That album is like a myth but I've been inside the studio and I've heard some of the bangers. Right now, he could drop 10 Detox's. [laughs] You know what's so interesting to me? Dre's a perfectionist and I don't know if he's not comfortable with all of the heat that he has but the work is there. The stuff I heard is bangin'. If he didn't want to use it, he could give it to me and I'll go 20x platinum with it. [laughs]" (XXL Mag)

REVIEW OF RAKIM'S LATEST ALBUM, 'THE SEVENTH SEAL'

I heard the first single off this album where he was spitting some really deep lyrics; but i do not think that the people of this generation can handle RAKIM' hell, they can hardly handle NAS'S lyrics.

Rakim started off rapping in the 80's with his partner, ERIC B, they were a bad ass duo back then, but this is right now, 2 decades latter. I hope he just put this out for his fans, and people like me that enjoy some deep rap.

The album is due to drop shortly.

Below is the review of the album, courtesy of allhiphop.com

It’s been a decade since the last proper Rakim album – and 12 years since the last Rakim album that truly embodied the God Emcee's abilities. But still, while 1999’s The Master wasn’t much of a crowd-pleaser, most Hip Hop heads will take some Rakim over none. In the past 10 years, the Mic God has offered precious few musical morsels for his fans. His defunct deal with Aftermath raised a lot of hopes, but only really materialized in a few features and unreleased tracks. Add in a dope Nike commercial and about 30 different incarnations of “It’s Nothing,” and that’s been the tale of the decade for The 18th Letter. Now, in 2009, perhaps the most influential emcee of all time is ready to drop his oft-delayed third solo outing, The Seventh Seal.

“How to Emcee” is the introductory cut on the album, and it is a fitting one. An off-kilter guitar loop and an energized Rakim let the listener know class is still in session. Things continue to roll on the piano-infused “Walk These Streets.” The track is a taste of what a Dr. Dre-assisted project might have sounded like, which is unsurprising as frequent Aftermath collaborator Needlz mans the boards for this one. Also worth a mention is Maino’s contribution, as he lends some credence to the song’s street tales.

“Documentary of a Gangsta” is just that, as Ra takes a step back and plays the role of observer over heavy piano loops: “Stuffin’ bread, his pockets is hungry / You talkin’ nonsense unless the topic is money / He call a hundred thou a ‘honey,’ mamis, he call ‘em dimes / So his mind’s on his money, but mamis is on his mind / Like an O.G., focused on the come up / Think he effin’ around, he approach you with the gun up / Bang, roll a blunt up and forget it happened / Stash the dollars back in product and get it crackin’”

Following a nice set of introductory tracks, The Seventh Seal comes to a screeching halt, with three indiscernible cuts: “Man Above,” “You and I,” and “Won’t Be Long.” The first and last of these both feature Tracey Horton on the hook, so maybe that has something to do with it. In any case, two of these could’ve been done away with, and you’d have an unchanged album (if it were up to me, I’d have stuck with “You and I”). “Holy Are You,” the much-hyped single tries to get the heavy-handed feel back to the album, but it’s clear that cohesion has been tossed to the wind once the massively-unsatisfying (and ironically-titled) “Satisfaction Guaranteed” hits the speakers. The tale is essentially the same for the rest of the album, as “Put it All to Music” and “Psychic Love” make one wonder if this should’ve been an EP instead – a thought which, upon hearing the baffling No Doubt sample featured on “Dedicated,” is confirmed.

In the end, Rakim’s latest album doesn’t really make any contribution of significance to his catalogue. It’s clear that this man isn’t the same microphone fiend heads grew up worshipping. For one reason or another, he lacks the ability to subtly attack with his flow like he once did. As for fans who want answers as to why Ra has been M.I.A. for all these years, they will get none here; this is certainly unfortunate, as that would’ve been much more engaging than him simply trying to get by on the strength of his own mythos. Sadly, that’s exactly what Rakim does here, and rarely does that get you anywhere – microphone fiend or not.

GAME INTERVIEW

I bumped into this really interesting interview of COMPTON rapper, GAME, on hiphopdx.com, and i decided to post it up in here. It is a really info filled interview, and i think you would love it.


It's less than two weeks away from Game's thirtieth birthday. Few seem to realize that the youthful, energetic, and once death-defying rapper is reaching that benchmark in his life. But then again, looking at Ice Cube, Dr. Dre or Snoop Dogg, do gangsta rappers ever really grow old anyway?

If there's one sign that Jayceon Taylor is closing out the third decade of his life, it's his happiness. Speaking with HipHopDX on the evening of November 18 (seven hours prior to publication), the once evasive, sometimes confrontational and always outspoken rapper beams with a confidence and a care in his words. Yes, he still curses like a sailor in a tone reserved for a sidewalk executive, but Game isn't out to offend anybody this time around. Instead, just as the acronym for his R.E.D. album indicates, he just wants to re-dedicate himself to Hip Hop.

The father of two touches upon his recent reunion with one of his mentors, Dr. Dre. He explains why he refuses to "get murdered on his own shit" and why he's chasing down DJ Premier for a pan-am collaboration that he hopes will set Hip Hop ablaze. Two years removed from considering retirement, Game is smiling in the face of adversity. And this time it's sincere.

HipHopDX: I want to start where our last conversation left off, I think it was June, 2008. At that time, you weren't even sure you were going to make another album at all. But you told me, if you were, it was going to be D.O.C. - Diary of Compton. You were talking all these legendary guests and this theme. Maybe that still is a plan of yours, but at what point and why did it evolve to the R.E.D. album?
Game: The way it happened...I was starting to work on D.O.C., right? But, like I told you last time, in order to record The D.O.C., I need to be in the studio with D.O.C., with [Dr.] Dre, with [Ice] Cube, with Snoop [Dogg] - 'cause it's the Diary of Compton. I really want it to sound like...like, after you finish listening to The D.O.C., which will probably be recorded and put out by the end of my career, at some point, when I can get in with those guys and really focus on that project. I want you to feel like you're from Compton after you hear it. You felt everything that I felt and knew everything that I knew; I want it to just sound like you were me. I want you to feel like you grew up with me. You're from Compton [hearing Eazy-E for the first time]. I want you to be on The Diary Of Compton. I want it to be that intimate and that crazy. So to pull off that concept, the key elements were missing at the time when I started the album, so I stopped that project.

[What I was working on], the fans just started calling it R.E.D. for some reason, I don't even know. I had [previously] said that I would re-dedicate myself to Hip Hop, and they just took that and was like R.E.D. - rededicated. I went along with it, man. It's just crazy how God works, 'cause the album is about 80% done. It's just fantastic. I found my groove again, not that I lost it. I've always figured out how to re-invent myself in Hip Hop with all these albums. This album is gonna be classic, I swear. This is my favorite album since The Documentary. The Documentary wasn't even my favorite album; my favorite album was The Doctor's Advocate because I know what it took to put that album out, get it out and go against Interscope. Beefin' with 50 [Cent], it was hard to get that album out at the time, but I did it. I went against all odds and I proved people wrong. That, to me, is my favorite album. But lyrically, as far as albums being conceptually great from beginning to end, [The Documentary] was classic. This R.E.D. album is gonna be that. It's raw, man. It sounds like a first album. Only it's not a first album.

DX: From your catalog, the records that really stand out to me are "Dreams" and "Ol' English," joints like that. You've always been able to keep it emotionally gangsta on records in a way that streets respected. In 2009, Kid Cudi and Drake have gotten a lot of credit for really writing and rapping about issues like self-doubt, depression, family troubles and so on. Meanwhile, guys like you, DMX, 2Pac, Scarface and Joe Budden really were doing that for a while now. As you were going in that path five years ago, do you think it came at a cost, and how do you feel about it being so embraced now?
Game: People say things like "Hip Hop is messed up," and it's this way and that way, but what you need to realize is that there's nothing wrong with Hip Hop. It's just evolving, and you need to evolve with it or else it's gonna shake you and you're gonna become a has-been. Me, I change with the times. Whatever Hip Hop is, I try to make my music a little bit more up-to-date without losing who I am as a lyricist, as a person and as just someone who existed in Hip Hop with you and the rest of the world.

I love Drake, man. Drake is of substance. I think he's gonna be around for a while. I wish he would hurry up and put out an album, 'cause dude is great. I remember when I first came out and there was no [Young] Jeezy. Then Jeezy came around. I like the buzz rappers. I like when you hear a buzz, and then you see the bee. I love when you hear the buzz, then you see the bee in action makin' honey. It's crazy. I seen Jeezy do it. I'm seeing Drake do it, and I like when that happens. I appreciate those guys. They're of substance and they're part of my band of brothers in Hip Hop.

Me, back then, I didn't really think about the risk or the consequence. That was just rappin', man. I was just doin' what I do best, and tell the world about certain situations and give them a piece of me.

DX: You're one of the only guys I get excited about when you're featured on somebody else's record. I can use examples in Rick Ross' "Push It (Remix)", Sheek Louch's "Think We Got A Problem" and Snoop's "Gangbangin' 101." You always treat those verses like they were on your albums. Where does that come from in your work ethic, and is it something that you think you demand of guests on your projects?
Game: I don't want to say anything to offend any other rappers and their albums. But it seems like whenever I call somebody for a feature, I've just been lucky enough to fuckin' have them bring their A-game. Like most notably, Common on [L.A.X.]. I called Common. I was like, "I got this record called 'Angel', and Kanye [West] did the beat." All he said was, "Yo, I'll be there in an hour. Angels? I write about angels all the time." Common came in the studio, dog. I pulled [the instrumental] up. He heard like two minutes of it, then he went into the booth. He was done in like 45 seconds. He shook my hand, and he bounced. I swear to God, man, with people I get on my songs, I don't know what I do or how they feel about me, but it must be something cool, because they bring out their A-game.

I remember, it must have been the beginning of 2001...I'm riding through Compton in my old ass [Chevrolet] Caprice. I had a '96 Caprice. I'm ridin' through Compton and I heard Nas say [on "Ether"], "And Eminem murdered you on your own shit." That line just stuck with me. I never wanted anyone to eat me up on my records, and I never wanted them to eat me up on their records. The reason why I call myself Game or the reason why you can understand I'm Game is 'cause I can always emulate any rapper's style. I can't do Busta [Rhymes] and I definitely can't fuckin' do [Ludacris]. But as far as [Notorious B.I.G.] and Nas and [Jay-Z], I can emulate those styles and make 'em my own. So when I get on records with artists that are my friends and that I favor, I can just jump in their lane and try to do it better than they do it. That's not sayin' I can do it better than them, or I am better than them - it's just Hip Hop. It's competitive, like basketball, football, fuckin' golf. I just try to exceed expectations every time.

DX: You mentioned the '96 bubble. Along with Dr. Dre and King Tee, I've always thought you've had one of the most interesting wheel-hands in Hip Hop. From the videos to the photo-shoots to the XXLMag.com piece about the Impala with the bad engine, I respect the car talk. In your life and all the cars you've owned, what's been most personal to Game?
Game: Aw man! The most personal to me, out of all the cars that I've ever owned had to be this fuckin' [1970] [Chevrolet] Chevelle. I sold it, man, and I've been kickin' myself in the ass ever since then. I had it in the "Put You Onto Game" video, if you've ever seen that. That car was crazy. I bought it from Omaha, Nebraska. It had one owner. It only had like 15,000 miles on it. That motherfucker would go!

I sold it to this guy, that kept pressing me. Some white kid from San Diego wanted to buy it for like $90,000 and I sold it, 'cause he had the cash. Two days later, I was tryin' to get it back. No. He would not give it back. If I ever had a car that I would want to be buried in, that was fuckin it man.

DX: 350 engine?
Game: Yeah. Fa' sho', man. That's crazy that you knew that.

DX: One of the biggest stories of the year is you and Dre back in the studio together. I only have one question on that. Dre has many styles. You like words. In your words, tell me what the work you've been doing sounds like. Is it drums, keys, is it big choruses? Is it sparse choruses? What can you tell me, because this is big...
Game: Hey man. I made a vow. You know Dre doesn't really talk about his record...

DX: Okay.
Game: Nah, I'm just...he don't really talk about his records. Plus, I don't like to do it. You know what Dre's like. I know it. So I'll give it to you, without really givin' to you. When you go in with Dr. Dre, man, be prepared to be at your best. If you're not at your best, and he has the patience, he'll help you get to your best. If Dre doesn't like what you're doing, he'll disappear. You might not see him for a fuckin' year. That's what I'm sayin'. You've got to go in and you've got to be focused. Dre is the epitome of a producer.

When I look at the word "producer," if there was a fuckin' Hip Hop Dictionary, I would see Jimmy Iovine, Quincy Jones, Pharrell, Kanye, and Dr. Dre. Dr. Dre and Quincy Jones and Smokey Robinson, as far as black music, those are producers. Those are guys that can change your fucking life. Those guys can help you. With what they do with their fingers and their guidance, [the music] will put your fuckin' kids through college. I look at them like that. When I go in with Dre, I go in focused. The places we've been going lately is catastrophic. The things I've done for Detox is crazy, and the songs that he's given back to me out of his apprecation and the kindness of his own heart for having me on his record are just crazy, man. Crazy!

DX: Along with that, I interviewed DJ Premier in late 2005. He told me he was a big fan of yours, but that he'd also offered you some advice early in your career. As you talk about producers, you've worked with a lot of veterans - Buckwild, DJ Toomp, DJ Quik - and certainly Dre. That being said, as you talk about rededication of your love for Hip Hop, will there ever be a day when we hear Game on a Premo track?
Game: That's crazy that you say that, 'cause I been tryin' to fuckin' record with Premier this whole album, but he been doin' this Christina Aguilera shit - not to say "shit" like it's wack, or she's wack. She's great; I respect her and her craft. But man! God damn! If I can get with Premier I know I can make one of the best songs of my fuckin' life. Because that's Premier, and I'm Game. I just respect and love his work so much, and I feel like I can do what Nas did to Premier beats. I want a fuckin' Premier beat, but he won't send one. He wants to [make one with me present], but I can't [track him down]. This dude is busy. It's like, "I know you Premier and shit, but I'm Game. I need a fuckin' beat."

It's the same thing I had to do to Pharrell. Pharrell got two tracks on [R.E.D.]. For three fuckin' albums, I've been chasin' Pharrell down. He's been busy, I've been busy, but I finally got in with Pharrell. Now Pharrell understands. He's like, "Damn. Workin' with Game is crazy. This guy's work ethic is crazy and he dope." Now, me and Pharrell are goin' for the next three days, starting tomorrow. If you know Pharrell, you know he just gonna keep recordin' and recordin' and producin' on you. So me and Pharrell hit it off the first time we went in, now we goin' in again.

Premier, man. If you talk to him, man, I need a fuckin' Premier beat. It's almost frustrating, 'cause I know he gonna make me something crazy, and I know I'ma body that mothafucka. I just need it. I need it. Put that shit in bold print. [Laughing]

DX: Speaking of bodying tracks, what would you say is your proudest verse to date?
Game: My proudest verse is a verse that you have yet to hear. I've got a song on my new album, and it's called "Ricky." When you hear it, you'll understand why it's called "Ricky." This song is #2 on my album, just so you know, and everybody who's reading your work [knows too]. When you hear this song, it's my best work. When 'Pac said "this is the realest shit I ever wrote," this song is monumental. It'll be a west coast classic. This song is fuckin' crazy. Just remember I told you, man.

DX: You've got a birthday coming up, and it's a significant one - if Wikipedia is right, anyway. Tell me, is "30 the new 20" for Game?
Game: Nah, man. Wikipedia says my birthday is November 27, that's Thanksgiving. My birthday's on the 29th, to set the record straight. Thirty is 30. I got a couple gray hairs in my beard. My oldest son is seven and my youngest is almost three; I'm somebody's daddy, man. I ain't tryin' to be 20 no more. I'm 30, and 30 is 30 and that's it. But I ain't 40 though. I know that shit. [Laughs]. And when I get there, we'll talk about that.

A LOOK AT THE BILLBOARD CHARTS

This week on the charts does not feature a lot rap albums, but you still have the man himself, the man that makes a lot of your favorite rappers top 5 list, JAY-Z holding it down with his 11th album; blueprint 3. At the rate he is going, he might outsell EMINEM's RELAPSE, as the highest selling rap album of 2009. I think eminem is at 1.6 mill sold, and i don't think he is going to be moving more units of the relapse album, since RELAPSE 2 is on the way.

This week on the charts, jay-z moves 33,000 copies, that is really impressive, considering the number of weeks he has spent on the charts so far. I think, looking at the strengths of albums, he has done the best, as far as any rap album is concerned this year. He is at a total of 1,271,000 copies sold.

WALE, the NIGERIAN origin rapper, born in the US, debuted on the charts this week. He had earlier complained that his album was under-shipped by the parent label he is under; i guess that would be his excuse for selling 30k copies first week in stores. But on the contrary, i think he did good, being a new artist with not too much buzz, asides from the fact that he is signed to jay-z ROC NATION label. I did like his single with JAZZMINE SULLIVAN though.

KID CUDI'S "man on the moon" cd sold 6,100 copies this week,bringing the singer/rapper's total to 203,000. I wish him luck on going gold.

RICK ROSS's rap group, TRIPPLE C's did 3,400 numbers this week, bringing their total to 21k sold in 3 weeks. That is low, but at least those dudes are unknown to anybody, asides from rick ross himself. So if he is giving his guys a chance to get some money, no matter how little it is, i respect him for that. For even having the guts to put out the cd, when those guys are unknown, i respect him for that.

Another notable artist on the charts is WYCLEF, debuting this week with his new cd 'from the hut, to the project, to the mansion.' It did 3,300 in it's first week. It's such a pitty when you see former heavy weights like wyclef doing pitiful numbers like this. I remember back in 1996 when 'the fugees' were killing the charts, and when he went solo, he was still killing the charts, but this is a sorry case. That is why you have to give props to guys like JAY-Z for still staying relevant and moving numbers; or someone like NAS, who is still doing okay on the charts.