WELCOME TO HOTSKOOLZ.COM

RAZ-B OF B2K FAME SAYS CHRIS STOKES MOLESTED HIM AS A CHILD!

Part 1




Part 2


Our Thoughts @ Hotskoolz...

PART 1...Whoa!! All I have to say is..."WHOA!". Now, let's be clear,although we print a lot of stories - I'm really not into the B.S. gossip-type crap. I mean, I've heard these Chris Stokes and B2K sex rumors many times before, but to hear it like this?...Whoa!

Well, let this be a lesson to EVERYONE out there...when you're talking personal, private, financial or incriminating issues... NEVER do it on the phone and NEVER...I mean NEVER let anyone put you on speaker phone!

Okay, now to Raz B (former B2K member) claiming that his ass was hurting from Chris Stokes ram-rodding him lol. This video was some hardcore "in your face" words from the former B2K member. And it certainly didn't seem like he was making it. BUT... on the real? Raz B sounded a little "post extortion-ish" if you ask me. Seriously, if you read between the lines of what he's saying on the phone, to me this young dude sounded like he was on some type of "extortion-ish" type s--t prior to this phone call - before he put Chris Stokes (former manager) on blast. Listen reeeeal carefully. To me it sounds like this was the way it went down...

Okay, Raz B put the group back together (B2K - w/out Omarion, I'm sure!), he then approached Chris Stokes and Marques Houston (or some of their people) and told them what he wants to do, they said "no" or even worse, they probably didn't even take his call and had one of their representatives tell him "no". Raz B is pissed off now. He let's them know that they either hook him up or he's gonna rat Chris out! They don't go for the bait, Raz B gets pissed - then now tells his family members about the incidents that happened years ago. Raz B mad that Chris Stokes still not going for the bait, tells whoever he can find from Stokes camp (Marques Houston's sister) and records conversation and puts it on YouTube.

Does it sound like we at Hotskoolz have an inside source, or does it seem like I'm a really ingenius story writer? I wish I could say it was that I was an ingenius storywriter LOL! The truth is, the CEO of Hotskoolz is more of a highly respected music producer in the music industry than he is an Editor-in-Chief. Therefore, many times we will get the honest inside info that most "gossip" sites will not get.

Now I'm not saying that dude is lying, I'm just saying this, I feel that if Chris Stokes (and company) was willing to hit Raz B off with w record deal and some serious loot beforehand, this little YouTube video would have never seen the light of day! That's just my opinion. Either way, this is still..."WHOA!"

PART 2... Okay, not we get to hear from big brother on the situation. First off, if you wanna know my opinion, I'm wondering what the hell is up with Raz B's big brother. In fact, what the f--k is wrong with this WHOLE FAMILY, yo!! Once again people. listen carefully to what dude is sayin'. He's basically saying that his cousin Chris Stokes (former manager of B2K) once molested him BEFORE he even got to his little brother. Yo, dude said he KNEW what was going on between Raz, the other kids and Chris Stokes, but never said anything. Okay, so my question is...why now? Well I'mm tell you, it's exactly like I said earlier. Chris Stokes refuses tto hook them up. Whether it be money or a record deal for Raz and the other B2K members, the bottomline is THEY WANT SOMETHING! C'mon, how are you gonna let this dude booty-plook your little brother and NOT say nothing about it at the time? Nonsense. Lemme tell you, if Chris Stokes was hitting Raz B, his brother and their Moms off with some loot, Raz would still be Chris's boy toy and they would have ALL just kept quiet. I say we send the whole damn family along with Chris to the looney bin! Wreckless.

FORMER "AMERICAN GANGSTER" FRANK LUCAS TELLS KIDS ''Get Grades, Not Guns Or Drugs''

Frank Lucas, former drug kingpin and inspiration for the blockbuster film American Gangster, is using his newfound celebrity for a good cause by starting a lecture series aimed at New York City high school students.

In association with his Frank Lucas Youth Foundation, the reformed gangster will begin the series at JFK High School in the Bronx on Tuesday, December 18 entitled "Get Grades, Not Guns or Drugs." The series will be geared towards students but will be open to the general public as well. Lucas will address topics including unity, optimism and brotherly love in addition to a Q&A segment. The talks will serve as a spring board for the Frank Lucas Youth Foundation Symposium, which will be held on January 12 in Newark, NJ.

"If I can just save one child then this will all be worth it," said Lucas. "These kids must know that the road of drugs, violence and crime is a dead end road."

Though the reformed criminal has claimed to turn over a new leaf, urging students not to follow in his footsteps, an earlier scheduled appearance was recently cancelled due to Lucas' inability to sell everyone on his new image.

"I changed my mind the night before," Principal Adolfo Muhammad of MS 143 in Brooklyn told New York's Daily News, after being asked why he cancelled Lucas' lecture. "I'm just not convinced in this particular case. ... I need to see a little more before I bring him in."

"I was very disappointed," Lucas responded. "I really wanted to talk to them, to tell them what I did was wrong. I'll go down on my knees if I have to."

BEANIE SIGEL TAPES ANTI VIOLENCE PSA

Beanie Sigel has been embroiled in his share of legal drama over the years, but now he’s stepping up in an attempt to help reduce crime in his violence plagued hometown of Philadelphia. The Roc-A-Fella artist recently taped an anti-violence public service announcement in conjunction with Philly’s Fox 29. In the spot, which Beans sat down to film this past week, he urges young people to avoid the pitfalls of the street that will only lead them to prison or death. “Exercise your mind, not your trigger finger,” he urges viewers. When asked by a Fox reporter why kids would heed the advice of an artist known for his violent music, the rapper explained that his reputation gives him credibility with at-risk youth. “If this is a message for the youth, it gotta come from somebody that they not only respect, but they know. That been through what they’re goin’ through,” the Broad Street Bully explained. “I got the scars. I got the wounds. I know. Why should they listen to me, who else they gonna listen to?” Philadelphia has had 375 murders so far this year, making it one of the most violent major cities in the country.




COURTESY:XXLMAG.COM

50 CENT GETS CLASSY...

COINCIDENCE? WE THINK NOT!

This Doesn't even garner a story. Just Look and make your own thoughts on it.

R.I.P PIMP C

Another tragic loss has hit the Hip Hop community today as Pimp C, one half of UGK, was found dead in his hotel room this morning. He was reportedly 33 years old at the time of his death.

Pimp C was an acclaimed producer and rapper from Port Arthur, Texas. With Bun B, as UGK the duo found underground anthems in "I Left It Wet For You," "Feel Like I'm The One Who's Doing Dope," and more recently with Outkast in "International Player's Anthem." Earlier this year, UGK's Underground Kingz achieved chart status previously unseen from the group. As a solo artist, Pimp C also released two albums with Rap-A-Lot Records.

The artist spent the early part of the decade incarcerated for complications due to an assault charge. His "Free Pimp C" campaign, spearheaded by Bun B, is remembered for upholding the rapper's visibility despite a three-year prison sentence.

According to TMZ, a 911 call was answered by LA County Fire which led them to the Mondrian Hotel in California. When police arrived they found the Houston rapper dead in his bed. a Los Angeles coroner, Captain Ed Winter rules that no drugs or paraphernalia were found in Pimp C's bedroom in a Hollywood hotel. Although a formal toxicology test will prove results in seven weeks, the late rapper/producer born Chad Butler was found fully clothed, laying on his side atop a bed. Winter also added that it appears as if Butler was alone in his room, ruling out the likelihood of foul play.

These reports come after grumblings and speculation that the artist died due to drugs. Texas rappers, including DJ Screw and Big Moe have previously died as a result of complications allegedly linked to usage of codeine. Although Pimp C had rhymed frequently about narcotics use, his family, by way of a press release this afternoon, has asked that speculations cease until formal details arise.

Hotskool Recognizes World Aids Day

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, with an estimated 38.6 million people living with HIV, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005, of which more than half a million (570,000) were children.

The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world.

From its inception until 2004, UNAIDS spearheaded the World AIDS Day campaign, choosing annual themes in consultation with other global health organizations. In 2005 this responsibility was turned over to World AIDS Campaign (WAC), who chose Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise as the main theme for World AIDS Day observances through 2010, with more specific sub-taglines chosen annually. This theme is not specific to World AIDS Day, but is used year-round in WAC's efforts to highlight HIV/AIDS awareness within the context of other major global events including the G8 Summit. World AIDS Campaign also conducts “in-country” campaigns throughout the world, like the Student Stop AIDS Campaign, an infection-awareness campaign targeting young people throughout the UK.
World AIDS Day banner, European Commission building, Brussels
World AIDS Day banner, European Commission building, Brussels
A 67 m long "condom" on the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, Argentina, part of an awareness campaign for the 2005 World AIDS Day
A 67 m long "condom" on the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, Argentina, part of an awareness campaign for the 2005 World AIDS Day

It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995 the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.





wikipedia.com

Black/Rustic Nike Dunk High

Winter is on the way and snow will soon be falling! The good folks at Nike has recently released and will continue to release several Dunks featuring more Fall/Winter colorways.

Adding onto the already dropped Black/Rustic Nike Dunk High, following suit is the “Blue Race” Nike Dunk High. The “Blue Race” takes a slightly more vibrant approach to the season that its predecessor and features a soft Brown Leather upper with an Orange Blaze toe cap with a patterned Blue Race wings/heel. The “Blue Race” adds a bit more life to the upper part of the shoe as it also features a Bright Cactus hit at the ankle.

You can cop these at any Nike account online or in-store around your local area.


courtesy:theevilcollector.com

The Ill Destroyers

Atmos has just sold out of the Nike Dunk High Destroyers [which I’m upset about], but The Evil Collector must talk about this must buy!

This reddish-brown colorway with the felt as the main attraction, really blew some minds coming from Japan. The Dunk High Destroyer also has the Varsity jacket [Subzero Down Jacket] which refers to the Destroyers theme. Although the jacket takes on a more technical approach, it’s really the shoe that steals the show. I’ve been trying to find a way to get these for a fit, but since the shoe is sold out, The Evil Collector will keep you posted to see if anymore become available.

courtesy- theevilcollector.com

THE NO HOMO CRAZE..WHAT IS NO HOMO? CAM'RON EXPLAINS

KANYE NAMED MAN OF THE YEAR BY GQ!

After a year of both tremendous highs and lows for the Chi Town MC/producer, Kanye West is now gracing the cover of GQ magazine for their Men Of the Year issue.

According to USA Today, the issue will hit newsstands on November 27 and will see Kanye sharing the honor with fellow men of the year Bill Clinton and Daniel Craig, who will also have their own covers. A candid Kanye spoke on several issues including the possibility of him marrying his current fiancé, Alexis Phifer.

"I'm just going to go and get married -- I'm not going to make a big deal out of it," he said. "It's not to prove anything to anyone -- it's for me, for stability in my life, and I'm so happy that I found someone that I really love, that challenges me, that keeps my life interesting, that's just as crazy as I am."

West and Phifer spent the weekend in Paris, where he performed Saturday night as he broke down after introducing his song "Hey Mama," off of his sophomore disc, Late Registration. Ye stood in front of the crowd with his head in hand and was consoled by members of his band before taken backstage. In a show of resilience, the rapper returned to finish his set with the appropriate "Stronger."

LOG ON TO HOTSKOOLZ.COM! NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Barry Bonds Indicted!

Late on the morning of Dec. 4, 2003, Barry Bonds arrived at the Phillip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco and was ushered into the courthouse by the lead investigator in the BALCO steroids case. Bonds was flanked by his lawyer and a bodyguard while cameramen and photographers scrambled to snag a shot of the San Francisco Giants slugger on a day that had been anticipated for months.

Bonds' appearance before the BALCO grand jury represented the climactic moment of a fall that had witnessed some of the world's greatest athletes marching through the doors at 450 Golden Gate Ave., riding an elevator up to the 17th floor and then disappearing into a grand jury room, where, in many cases, they described their explicit use of an array of illegal performance-enhancing drugs.

But Bonds, just as he did every time he stepped into the batter's box, went into the grand jury room with a game plan, one that had been foreshadowed by his lawyer, Michael Rains, in the buildup to his client's appearance. Six weeks before the testimony, Rains was asked by the New York Daily News what Bonds would say when asked if he had taken steroids. Rains said his client would respond, "Well, I didn't know it at the time."

Through three hours of sometimes meandering testimony, Bonds stuck with that message, providing responses such as, "Not that I know of," or "I don't recall," or dismissing his steroid use by saying that his trainer, Greg Anderson, "rubbed some cream on my arm" but never told Bonds it was illegal. The prosecutors weren't buying, repeatedly pressing Bonds for answers, their voices tinged with sarcasm as they asked how he could have taken drugs without knowing what they were.

At the end of the three hours, prosecutors had pages worth of testimony filled with Bonds' denials. They had showed him Anderson's doping calendars coded with the initials "BB," and informed him about a drug test he had taken in November 2000 that showed he tested positive for testosterone. Bonds never wavered. He said he never used steroids. He never took human growth hormone. Anderson never provided him with performance-enhancers and Bonds was never injected with steroids. Like the other athletes who had testified before him, Bonds had signed a document that said he would give truthful testimony, no matter how damaging, and in return he would be immune from prosecution. After all, he wasn't the target in the investigation, he was only a witness against the men accused of steroid trafficking.

Had Bonds simply admitted to using "the cream" and "the clear," as others like the Yankees' Jason Giambi did, he might have suffered only embarrassment when details of his testimony appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. But from the first of his denials, government prosecutors were convinced Bonds was lying, and a federal grand jury agreed, returning an indictment Thursday on four counts of perjury and one of obstructing justice.

Until news of the indictment spread, public speculation about the case was limited to the dribs and drabs of information that had emerged. Rains and BALCO founder Victor Conte insisted the U.S. Attorney had no case or he would have brought charges much earlier. With Anderson in prison for refusing to testify against his friend, conventional wisdom held that he must be crucial to the government's case; if the trainer could finish the length of the grand jury's term without spilling, Bonds was safe.

But while Rains, as he has since 2003, railed against the government and proclaimed Bonds' innocence Thursday, the government offered the first glimpse of a case rooted in "a mountain of evidence," as prosecutors once said in court papers.

Conventional wisdom, it turns out, was wrong.

The item that jumped from the 10-page indictment was the revelation of "positive tests for the presence of steroids and other performance-enhancing substances by Bonds and other professional athletes." The positive tests stem from work-ups performed on Bonds' blood and urine samples through BALCO, and if corroborated could be a damaging blow to Bonds' defense. The item that jumped from the 10-page indictment was the revelation of "positive tests for the presence of steroids and other performance-enhancing substances by Bonds and other professional athletes." The positive tests stem from work-ups performed on Bonds' blood and urine samples through BALCO, and if corroborated could be a damaging blow to Bonds' defense.

Already Rains has challenged whether the tests prove anything, but the previously undisclosed evidence was the first glimpse of the material the government has been secretly compiling against Bonds for almost four years.

That process began in early 2005, about a year after Bonds' testimony, as the conspiracy case against BALCO's Conte, Anderson and two other men was winding its way though the system. The government began to focus on bringing a perjury case against Bonds, and prosecutors' first witness was Kimberly Bell, Bonds' former girlfriend, who testified to the grand jury in March 2005 that Bonds had admitted he began using steroids in 1999, the San Francisco Chronicle previously reported.

From that point forward, lead agent Jeff Novitzky of the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation's division sought further evidence in building a case against Bonds. Anderson was subpoenaed to testify, but he refused and was sent to prison on a contempt charge.

Then-U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan was overseeing the probe, and by the summer of 2006, prosecutors and other officials were convinced that, even without Anderson's testimony, there was ample evidence to seek an indictment, and that Ryan would push for one.

As it became clear, however, that Ryan might not be ready to pull the trigger, officials with the IRS and the FBI began lobbying the Justice Department in Washington for an indictment, according to the book, "Game of Shadows."

It didn't work.

Even though Rains told Bonds to expect an indictment, Ryan instead decided to empanel a new grand jury, extending the case and dooming Anderson to more than another year in prison. Anderson's attorney, celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos, said Anderson would receive no payment for his silence and would take his prison sentence "like a man." They felt the government had double-crossed the trainer.

The prosecutors initially had tried to get Anderson to cut a deal in which he named names, but he had refused. The government made the deal anyway, and after Anderson pleaded guilty to steroid distribution and spent three months in prison, he thought he was free from having to testify further.

This summer, as the second grand jury's term came to a close, Rains predicted the government would dismiss the grand jury without an indictment. Sources close to the investigation, however, said at the time that Rains was wrong.
Witnesses the public never heard about had provided testimony that prosecutors felt was damning, and the government was already confident in the case. Two attorneys close to the investigation told the New York Daily News at the time that the government had sought and received a six-month extension but planned to postpone grand jury testimony about Bonds until September at the earliest while they pursued other matters. One of those matters was Marion Jones, who tearfully pleaded guilty to obstructing justice in October after years of fervent, unqualified denials.

The sources said the government intended to seek an indictment of Bonds next and were confident the grand jury would return one.

Nearly four years to the day after Bonds entered the grand jury room, he will return to the federal courthouse to be arraigned. Six years after he obliterated the single-season home run record once held by the now-disgraced Mark McGwire, and just three months after he passed Hank Aaron to become the game's all-time home run leader, Bonds' already-teetering legacy has taken a full body shot.

MLB officials told ESPN's investigative unit that they think Bonds' career is over and they won't even bother to suspend him. Rains' predictions, Bonds' protestations and public speculation have become meaningless. If Bonds pleads guilty, he probably will go to prison. If he decides to fight, then his freedom will depend on what the government can prove, and what he and Rains can do to convince a jury and a skeptical world of his innocence.




courtesy :espn.com

MYSPACE POSERS! CHECK THIS VIDEO OUT!

NEW 50 CENT VIDEO "I STILL KILL" FEAT AKON

JAY-Z'S EMPIRE CONTINUES TO GROW

The Jigga man's empire continues to grow with the recent acquisition of apparel brand Artful Dodger.

The high end clothing company was picked up for an estimated $15 million in cash by Scion, LLC - Hov's joint venture with Iconix Brand Group, Inc.

Formerly owned by Sovereign State, LLC the Artful Dodger brand is primarily sold in UK specialty stores and US boutiques.

As part of the new acquisition Scion will began an exclusive multi-year licensing agreement with Signature Apparel Group for both men's and women's Artful Dodger Sportswear. The agreement also calls for Artful Dodger founder Scott Langton to join Signature Apparel Group in order continue his work as creative director and head designer with the brand.

"Artful Dodger is an incredible brand with a lot of room for growth and Scott Langton is a visionary designer," Jay said via a statement. "They represent what's next and new in fashion and we are glad to have both the brand and Scott as a part of our family. Artful Dodger represents the first of many acquisitions that will begin to shape our joint venture with Iconix."

Scion is also currently considering building the brand beyond sportswear, evaluating licensees in addition to the existing sportswear license in order to include footwear and outerwear to grow Artful Dodger into a lifestyle brand.

"Artful Dodger is the perfect deal to launch Scion as we look for brands that have the potential to become lifestyle brands. The combination of Scott's design talent and the marketing strengths of Jay Z and Iconix will create exciting growth opportunities for the brand including distribution at high-end department stores and expansion into new product categories," Neil Cole, Chairman and CEO, Iconix, said also via statement.

The clothing company was named after the 19th Century character Artful Dodger who led a group of cunning young men in mischief throughout the UK.

The Artful Dodger purchase at Scion is just the latest in a series of power moves by Jay-Z. The Def Jam executive, artist and entrepreneur is currently serving a week-long stint as host of Sirius Satellite Radio's Channel 40 Hip-Hop Nation, which has been named "Jay-Z Nation" in honor of the MC's takeover which began November 5.

He's also slated to tie with Elvis Presley's chart-topping record if American Gangster hits No. 1 on Billboard, as is expected.

The album will be his 10th Billboard chart-topper, according to Nielsen SoundScan's Building Chart, released yesterday (November 7). That will tie him with Elvis for second place among artists with the most No. 1 albums. The Beatles hold the top spot with 19.

Jay-Z's concert on "106 & Park" will be airing on BET tomorrow (November 9) at 6 p.m. EST.


courtesy "sohh.com"

NEW JAY-Z VIDEO "ROC BOYS"

HOTSKOOLHOOKUPS HAS LAUNCHED!!!

ITS FINALLY HERE..LOG ON NOW TO HOTSKOOLHOOKUPS.COM!!!!!!

EVEN FROM BEHIND BARS FOXY BROWN CANT ESCAPE THE NEWS!

Incarcerated rapper Foxy Brown was recently thrown in the hole at Rikers for bad behavior, but her manager said the whole thing is a misunderstanding largely due to the artist's hearing impairments.

As SOHH previously reported, Foxy (born Inga Marchand) was sentenced to 76 days of "punitive segregation" after committing three violations at Rikers Island this month.

Foxy's manager, Chaz Williams of Black Hand Entertainment, said the allegations against the Brooklyn bred rapper aren't completely true, according to Billboard.

"There was an incident where a girl attempted to confront her and she stood her ground, but there wasn't any contact," Williams explained to Billboard. "Words were exchanged and that was it."

About Foxy's alleged refusal to take a drug test? "Really she didn't hear the request," Williams said. "She has a battery-operated device and sometimes it dies out."

Williams said by the time Foxy realized what officials were asking, it was too late and the decision to take disciplinary action had already been made.

The three incidents that sent her to the hole don't include her refusal to board a prison bus headed to a Brooklyn court. She reportedly refused to board the bus twice saying she needed to do her hair, make-up and eat lunch first.

Williams said this too, was a result of Brown's hearing impairment.

According to Foxy's manager, councilmember Charles Barron visited Foxy in jail and then called the commissioner himself to explain the rapper's hearing problem and to request she be taken out of punitive segregation. A medical team reportedly examined her health and found that she does in fact have a serious hearing problem. The investigation is ongoing.

In October 2005, Foxy first announced her sudden hearing loss. She is scheduled to release her new album, Brooklyn's Don Diva, under a new deal with Koch on November 20.


AS TOLD TO SOHH.COM

THEY'REE BACKKK!!!!!! AIR JORDAN 13 MAKES IT'S RETURN!!

he Air Jordan 13 is one of the most loved Air Jordan’s ever. The famed shoe, which was designed by Tinker Hatfield is making a gracious return to the game in January 2008. Fans of the Air Jordan series have been waiting for these to come back and now your wishes have been granted.



THEEVILCOLLECTOR.COM

C-Murder Back On Trial Again

C-Murder, born Corey Miller, is going to be tried again. He is being charged, once again, for second-degree murder. According to The Associated Press, the trial date is set for February 11, 2008.

This all stems from an incident in 2002, where Murder was accused of shooting a 16 year old, Steve Thomas. This occurred in a Louisiana nightclub.

In 2003, Miller was convicted, but the conviction was thrown out in 2006 when prosecutors withheld vital information pertaining to the criminal backgrounds of witnesses from Murder's attorneys.

When the conviction was thrown out, Miller's attorney Ron Rakosky spoke on the matter.

"[From] the very beginning of this case, there has never been any credible evidence that Corey Miller was guilty of this crime, and four years later I don't know of a single shred of evidence that implicates him with this crime," Rakosky told the New Orleans Times-Picayune last year.

Now, Miller is being charged again. If convicted, the rapper will be faced with a mandatory life sentence without parole.

as told to Hiphopdx.com

PAIN IN DA ASS OF ROC-A-FELLA FAME SHOWS HOTSKOOLHOOKUPS SOME LOVE!

OK!! HE'S RELOADED!

HOTSKOOL NEWS...

JAY-Z RETURNS! "AMERICAN GANGSTER"

Less than a year after Jay-Z’s “comeback” album Kingdom Come, the president of Def Jam has hit the studio to record his first “concept” album. Inspired by the upcoming Denzel Washington / Russell Crowe film with the same title; American Gangster. A Ridley Scott directed film that portrays the life of Frank Lucas, a 1970’s heroin kingpin out of Harlem.

In a recent interview with The New York Times Jay revealed that the film sparked his creative side; leading to nine recorded tracks, in which almost everyone was impelled by specific scenes in the movie. “It was like I was watching the film, and putting it on pause, and giving a back story to the story,” he noted.

After Brian Grazer (the film’s producer) and Scott resisted grabbing Jay-Z for the film’s soundtrack, Jay offered to put out his own album in association with the movie; while Def Jam will take care of the official soundtrack (including songs from the Staple Singers, Bobby Womack and Sam & Dave).

“Watching that film, it brought back all these memories … It took me back to those emotions,” Jay said and while stating that American Gangster will be a return to the gritty, uncensored view of life on the streets.

Throughout the interview Jay was said to be elated about his creative process while repeatedly interrupting himself to mouth lyrics like the following, from a track entitled No Hook…

“Poor me, dad was gone, finally got my dad back/ liver bad, he wouldn’t live long, it snatched my dad back”

And the following from another track…

“This is the genesis of a nemesis/ mother America’s not witnessed since/ the Harlem Renaissance/ birthed black businesses”

Author: Shake OF Hiphopdx.com

THOUGHTS FROM HSH...

Alright people, it is what it is! Basically, Jay Z...uh, I mean JIGGA (which is what he'd rather be called these days!) is the man! Plain and simple, case closed, stick a forck in it, call Reynolds 'cause it's a wrap, the fat lady's singing, etc, etc. And ANY fool that thinks that got something for Jigga (well, other than Nas lol) can have a seat waaaaay in da back of da class. Because the hip-hop game is NOT strong of enough lyrically for him to even take anyone seriously.

KRS said, "Since when have selling the most records indicated that you're the best MC?". And ya know what? He's right! Hey, if the MTV panel can pick 'Lil Wayne as hottest MC (I still ain't over that one lol) I can pick Jigga! Right? Or am I wrong? Ya know, maybe I'm wrong. To hell with the sales and that this cat has outsold most MC's in history, let's look at the body of lyrical work! Reasonable Doubt (My god!! Do I have to say anything else?), The Blueprint (Good Lawd, am I still really explaining this?), The Black Album (CLASSIC, FOOL!!!), and now we come to this... "AMERICAN GANGSTER (WHAT!!!! that's it, I give up yo, I'm gonna faint...*Ba-dump!*).

Jigga is a constant mainstay of "Newness" everytime out the gate. He is the ONLY rapper in history to have a totally different 1st single EVERY TIME OUT! Let's just say, he's about ot do the damn thing again. Hey, ain't no jock-riding here, because my personal favorite lyrical MC of all time is Ra-kim! But facts are facts, and the truth is the truth. And if the truth will set you free, then let 'cho ass outta mental jail and face the facts...Jay Z (aka Jigga) is top dawg until he puts the mic down...or someone else comes along. And all I hear is crickets...'cause ain't no one around yo!

"Aside from Big or Pac, I really ain't trying to hear it from no one else" - JAY Z

Get Your Mind Right: Hip Hop and Gangs

Thunder and lightning. Peanut butter and jelly. Tom and Jerry. Some things just seem to go together…Many folks, both inside and outside of Hip Hop culture, would probably agree that gangs and Hip Hop go together as well. After all, some of Hip Hop’s most enduring images are those born out of the streets; where gang life is often a reality for young people from New York to Nevada, from Los Angeles to Louisville.

The origins of what has come to be known as gangsta rap can be traced back to southern California in the mid 1960s, where powerfully sophisticated street organizations began to influence the local economic and even political landscapes in urban centers like L.A. and Oakland. The crack game quickly grew (read: exploded) into a cultural phenomenon unlike any seen before it in American history.

You Can’t Fight Drugs

As underground fortunes grew, so did the influence that gangs had on urban life in this country. During the ‘80s, the Reagan Administration even waged a “War on Drugs,” which most people (including myself) saw as an reactionary attack on gangs that were becoming dangerously powerful and downright threatening to Middle America. After all, you can’t fight drugs.

But you can fight people. And fighting is exactly what ensued. Researchers estimate that the War on Drugs resulted in the incarceration of one million Americans each year during one stretch. In the 1980s, for example, the number of arrests for all crimes rose 28%, while the number of arrests for drug offenses rose 126%. Communities that were once ravaged by drug dealing pimps now became decimated by police crackdowns coupled with increased gang warfare for control over volatile neighborhoods.

Hip Hop Hooray

Enter Hip Hop forces like N.W.A., who successfully cataloged the ugly realities of gang affiliation, drug abuse, and police brutality. They, along with untold lesser-known groups of young African American and Hispanic men spawned gangsta rap. Parallel, if not prior to this movement was the emergence of such east coast icons as Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, and the Universal Zulu Nation (former gang members all raised in the mean streets of New York) spoke out against violence and the dangers of gang life and one can begin to understand the general lack of understanding and ignorance that fueled the media-hyped east coast/west coast “beef” duirng the ‘90s.

But why does the gangster persona dominate Hip Hop even to this day? How is it that in real life gangs are ugly, but on MTV they are glorious? What is the link between the gang-mentality and Hip Hop? Is Hip Hop really just a “G Thang”?

For answers, I turned to one of the world’s foremost experts on gang lifestlyes (or as he prefers to say “death-styles”): Mr. Bruce George. He is co-founder of Def Poetry Jam, and founder of The Bandana Republic, a literary anthology written by gang leaders and their affiliates encompassing creative literature, poetry, short stories, letters, and interviews written by former and current gang members.

DX: What is your general experience with gangs?
BG: I’m from the “wild, wild westside” of the Bronx, in New York City. I was very much exposed to gang culture at an early age, 11 years old. It was very natural for a person of that time to fall in line with one gang or another. The zeitgeist of the time was to clique-up. Gang culture is a “defensive culture,” so we took defensive postures as a result of the hand that was dealt to us from a lack of after school programs, poverty, police brutality, oppression, suppression. Just like the old adage states, we are products of our own environment.

I was with several crews, organizations, gangs which had given me a sense of belonging and power that I didn’t otherwise have or feel. When you are young, you don’t have a sense of mortality so I fell into gang culture very easily and quite frankly enjoyed the power that came with being aligned with a surrogate band of brothers and sisters.

DX: In your opinion, what are the major reasons why individuals gravitate toward gangs?
BG: People have a tendency to gravitate towards gangs because of their deep-seeded sense of belonging. When you come from a very toxic and violent-laden community, it’s human nature for you to play “defense” as a way to protect yourself. A major impetus that drives gang recruitment is living in an adversarial environment where you have to act in certain ways in order to survive. If you don’t travel in convoys, that makes you that much more vulnerable to being attacked by crews/gangs so you avoid traveling alone. When you are alone you conduct yourself in ways that makes you less of a target. There’s an old tactic we would employ called “playing pockets” where we would keep our hands in our pockets to create the illusion we had a weapon even though most often times we had nothing but lint between our fingers.

I feel there are a number of factors that contribute to individuals deciding to enter into gang culture and that decision is very personal. There’s an expression that states that “situation determines appropriateness.” Not everyone enters into gangs because of fear! A lot will enter into gang culture because it gives them full rein to exercise the power they never had as well as give them the opportunity to displace deep-seated anger from life’s trails and tribulations.

DX: Are gangs strictly urban phenomena?
BG: For a person to think that gangs are circumscribed to just an urban milieu, is a testament of them having a myopic or ill informed view/perspective on “gangs.” The word “gang” is a media driven word that’s generic in nature. The media gives phenomena names as a way to define it so in turn it can control it. Gangs are really “street organizations” or “street tribes” if you were to apply that nomenclature utilizing and enveloping an urban vernacular and culture. With that said a “boys club” can easily fall into gang status if the goals are the same as individuals who are validated as gang members

In fact when you study gang history you will come to find out that most of the well known gangs of today were born out of boys clubs, especially the gangs of New York. So gangs have always been prevalent in affluent neighborhoods. Since they come from privilege they can afford to keep their lifestyle/death-style underground. They are not profiled and policed as urbanites are profiled and policed. History dictates that urban gangs were activated as a result of suburban gangs fighting to keep their neighborhoods gentrified. As a result we had to protect ourselves from these night-riders thus we had to clique-up. Like I had stated earlier, gang culture is a defensive culture.

DX: Is gang life accurately portrayed in Hip Hop music?
BG: There’s a difference between “industry” and “in the streets.” Those so-called rap artists who are seen in rap videos portraying a lifestyle of “thugdom” and “gangdom” seldom have had any experience with what they are projecting. They are basically satisfying the wishes of the powers that be that make money off of the death of black and brown folk. That’s why when a famous rapper/emcee dies, the record company makes more revenue than when that rapper/emcee was alive and kicking, visa vie Tupac Shakur and Biggle Smalls.

Those in rap videos who falsely posture as gang members are responsible for the proliferation and bastardization of gang culture. This in turn has led to there being copy-cat gangs across the country that try to fit their frame of reference into the contours of L.A. gangs like the Crips/Bloods. In turn, you have a crop of gangs popping up that have no structure, unity, loyalty and knowledge of the particular set they are claiming. A lot of them are not studying or applying their lessons properly. For instance, the word “Blood” is an acronym for “Brotherly Love Overrides Oppressive Destruction,” and the word “Crip” stands for “Community Revolution in Progress.”

All of those rappers who portray gang culture in rap videos in a fanfare fashion have a lot of blood on their hands. That also goes for those who portray drug dealing as a right of passage which only further feeds into the stereotype of a black and brown people who for the most part are hard working and productive law abiding citizens of society. True validated gang members have a bone to pick with all those making a mockery of their way of life/death.

DX: How affiliated was Tupac Shakur?
BG: I don’t know how affiliated Tupac was with validated gang members, but I do know he had a strong affiliation with some Bloods, due to his relationship with Marion “Suge” Knight who’s allegedly a validated member of the Bloods. Tupac may have had affiliations with a myriad of sets due to his down to earth nature.

DX: What is the single biggest misconception about gang life?
BG: That is a great question. I think that most people have a view of gang members and their lives as them all being rapists, killers, drug dealers etc… that’s definitely a stereotype. There are gang members that protect their neighborhoods from rapists, killers and corrupt police. There are countless gang members who are authors, activist, poets, professors, politicians, entertainers etc… A lot of people don’t know that the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. utilized the Black Peace Stones and other gangs from Chicago and other cites as security for him and others in hotbed protest areas.

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that the Black Panther Party’s members such as Bunchy Carter and Fred Hampton came out of gangs straight into the BPP. Your question is one of the reasons why I founded The Bandana Republic, a literary anthology by gang members and their affiliates. I’m the founder/managing editor, Louis Reyes Rivera is the co-founder/editor and Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown has written the foreword. The book was created as a way to give real validated gang members a platform to express themselves via the arts which in turn will break down a lot of the stereotypes of gang members as being idiots without talent. It’s a known fact that some of the most profound art and literature comes from prisons and from the streets. Hip Hop culture is a prime testament of the influence of street culture.

DX: Does Hip Hop fuel gang life or does gang life fuel Hip Hop?
BG: They both influence each other. Like Dr. King said, “What affects one thing directly, affects another thing indirectly.”

Author: Brian Sims From Hiphopdx.com

FREE THE JENA 6!!

In September 2006, a group of African American high school students in Jena, Louisiana, asked the school for permission to sit beneath a "whites only" shade tree. There was an unwritten rule that blacks couldn't sit beneath the tree. The school said they didn't care where students sat. The next day, students arrived at school to see three nooses (in school colors) hanging from the tree. (Please note, the tree above is not the tree, but a tree at Jena High School.)

The boys who hung the nooses were suspended from school for a few days. The school administration chalked it up as a harmless prank, but Jena's black population didn't take it so lightly. Fights and unrest started breaking out at school. The District Attorney, Reed Walters, was called in to directly address black students at the school and told them all he could "end their life with a stroke of the pen." Black students were assaulted at white parties. A white man drew a loaded rifle on three black teens at a local convenience store. (They wrestled it from him and ran away.) Someone tried to burn down the school, and on December 4th, a fight broke out that led to six black students being charged with attempted murder. To his word, the D.A. pushed for maximum charges, which carry sentences of eighty years. Four of the six are being tried as adults (ages 17 & 18) and two are juveniles. On the first day of the trial for Mychal Bell, one of the Jena Six. The D.A., perhaps in response to public pressure, tried to get Bell to cop a plea. Bell refused, was convicted by an all white jury. Mychal Bell, the first of the Jena Six to face trial, was found guilty of aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit the same on June 28th. The others still await trial. Jena residents will be the first to tell you that racism is alive and well in Louisiana, and this is a case where it rose above the levee, so to speak!

NEW HOT MUSIC VIDEOS!

Join The Hotskoolz Team!

Hotskool Street Representatives

Want to be down with the company? Become a Hotskool Street Rep.(HSR) for HotskoolHookups.com! You will work hand in hand with our regional Street Marketing Coordinators (SMC) doing various things like:

Give out flyers
Help organize parties & events
Help strategically launch marketing plans for major artists
Meet celebrities... and so much more!

The HSR position is very much like an intern position. There isn't any money involved, BUT you will receive a wealth of knowlegde on the marketing and promotion aspect of the entertainment business. Hotskool Street Reps (HSR) are often promoted to Street Marketing Coordinators (SMC). The SMC oversees all HSR's in their city or town. Each HSR will receive a Hotskoolhookups.com...

T-shirt
Hat
Backpack
Mixtape

Photographers and Camera Operators

We're looking for young aspiring Photographers and Cinemetographers who can go to various schools and get great shots of College students on campus and High-Skool seniors at school. Also, someone who can hit the clubs and get great pictures of all the hot, grown & sexy party-people! Take simple candid shots OR be creative and take,fun, sexy or humorous shots! It's ALL GOOD with us. There is no pay involved, but your name will be listed on the site as part of the team. And you will also be credited for ALL your work!


Writers and Reporters

We're looking for aspiring journalists and reporters to get the scoop on sports, gossip, current events and more! Specify which subject you think you'll be best at. If you think you got what it takes, send us an e-mail with a sample article. That's right, we want to make sure you know how to use conjucate a verb and use the damn spellchecker! There is no pay, but your name will be listed on the site as part of the team. And you will also be credited for ALL your work! Be a part of the team... while you still can!

MTV votes 'LIL WAYNE as #1 Rapper... but is he?

Okay, okay, I'm sure ya all heard about Lil Wayne being voted #1 on MTV's list and was crowned "The Hottest MC in the Game." We will get into all that, but let's rewind a little bit to some of the underlying heated words between Jay Z and others, a few months before 'Lil Wayne was voted top dog.

Lil Wayne vs Jay-Z...who would in?
Well, I think 'Lil Wayne is nice, but c'mon now...Jigga against Weezy? C'mon. I feel even stupid saying it. Anyway, the whole Jay Z and 'Lil Wayne beef started the day Jay decided to come outta retirement. Lil Wayne dropped a verse on Freekey Zekey's "Beat Without Bass" which includes what most believe is a Jay-Z diss. He says...

"You old ass rappers better stay on tour/ You like 44/ I got a 44/ I'm 24/ I could murk you and come out when I'm 44."

And in December 06 issue of Complex Magazine, 'Lil Wayne stated "I'm better than (Jay-Z)...I'm 24 years old. ... I'm 13 years deep with five albums and 10 million records sold." He continued, "I don't like what he's saying about how he had to come back because hip-hop's dead and we need him...What the f--- do you mean? If anything it's reborn, so he's probably having a problem with that. You left on a good note, and all of the artists were saying, 'Yo, this is Jay's house. He's the best.' Now he comes back and still thinks it's his house... It's not your house anymore, and I'm better than you"

Then on T.I.'s "T.I. vs. T.I.P." album. On "Watch What You Say", Hov takes a shot at Weezy (not by name though), when he says:

"I hear you baiting me lately / I've been doing my best just to stay hater free / Still... watch what you say to me / Sooner or later I take you up on your offering / Put you all in your place / Like I'm replacing your father / You're talking to the author / The architect of the Blueprint/ MY DNA IN YOUR MUSIC / Mutha----... watch what you say to me."

Jay always has a way of knowing the right time to get at someone. Wise dude. Weezy's Beef with "The Clipse" Pusha T and Malice, better known as The Clipse had some words for Lil Wayne and Cash Money CEO, Brian "Baby"Williams. In a interview with Laced Magazine, both members questioned Wayne’s status in the rap game, his sexuality and also name checked a former member of Cash Money’s click who now has beef with the crew.

"If you Wobble Dee Wobble Dee, you can't be a legend Malice said, when asked about Lil Wayne's "Greatest Rapper alive" stance. "You can't kiss other men, you can't wobble dee-wobble dee, and you can't bite styles," Pusha added.

"You can't bite everybody's styles. You can't try to rap like Jay-Z, dress like the Clipse, become a coke dealer after 5 albums, and now dress like Jim Jones. You can't do all that and be a legend. You have to be a trendsetter and he ain't setting any trends," he continued.

This isn't the first time the two camps have had words. In 2006, Weezy F. Baby was quoted saying, "I don't see no fucking Clipse. This is a f----ing legend you're talking to right here".

What's crazy is that the Clipse collaborated with Baby on "What Happened to That Boy" (produced by The Neptunes).

Here's what Weezy had to say when he recently spoke on a variety of issues including the new title he's received. Here it is in WAYNE'S WORDS...

When the MTV Panel Voted 'Lil Wayne #1
"I saw the preview [of the show], and if I'm lying, I'm flying: I was like, 'Who won?' ... I'm glad I won. Yaaa dig! Don't stop believing in me. They say I'm the Hottest MC in the Game. If you label me that, I will live up to it. Trust me," he told MTV.On Writing:
Nah, I'd be ... on another different level to be composing anything in my head right now. So I just go in there and make a song up. If I have a concept for something, it's much easier. But I go in there ... [with] just a little beat; [I start thinking,] "What go to that?" I like to make it up right there. Nobody standing behind the mic, everybody just wondering what I'm thinking about. I say, "I'm ready." Then I'll say, "Four more bars, stop ... all right, I'm ready...Now, on mixtapes, I just kill that sh--. ... I say whatever comes to mind. That ain't freestyle ... 'cause freestyling is dumb to me. Not the battling they do on DVDs and stuff, they be rapping for real.On Longevity:
I don't know what they're gonna do when the [next] album drops. Y'all probably gonna say, "Everybody else, stop rapping." I told y'all a long time ago and y'all just started hearing what I'm saying. Y'all was always hearing me, but y'all wasn't listening. Now y'all listening. I been saying I was the best [since] I was 14. I knew I was the best; I probably wasn't at that time — but I knew. I'm 24. What were you doing at 24? Me, I'm 12 years in.

On his various appearances: I done became a little virus now, 'cause everybody be having me on their song. I was just about to be on [T.I. vs. T.I.P.]. I wanted to be on it bad, and they pulled me, 'cause I guess I be on everything. But hey, if you make everything you do great, like I do ... no lie, man. It's like, "You want Michael Jordan on your team?" "Hell yeah! Yeah, I want him on my team, stupid." That's how I look at it. That's why I do everything. Now the only problem I get is people calling me saying, "Universal don't wanna clear it." And [the record company] and I do everything.

Our Thoughts @ HSH
Now let me make this perfectly clear, I DO NOT have a problem with 'Lil Wayne being voted the hottest rapper, BUT...who's the people who even made such a list?

1. Lil Wayne

2. T.I.

3. Game

4. Andre 3000

5. Kanye West

6. Young Jeezy/ 7. Jay-Z

8. 50 Cent

9. Common

10. Jim Jones

But wait! Did you ever see the MTV panel that made this vote? To me it was funny to even hear some of them use words like "swagger". Talking about this rapper has such swagger and this one doesn't, etc, etc. Well tell me this, how can a swagger-less person even know if a person with swagger has it or not? That's like the nerds of the high school picking who's the coolest kid in school. It just doesn't happen, because it just doesn't make sense! What trips me out - is people acting as if these folks vote carry weight! Yo, you should of seen me in my crib, for 30 minutes I'm standing there with my face looking like I'm choking on a chicken bone - pointing at the MTV panel repeating to myself, "Yo, who da hell are these people?" Well, let's take a look at who they are...

Sean Lee (MTV News Superviser)

Bridget Bland (MTV Radio)

Rahman Dukes MTV (news supervisor) Andrea Producer (MTV.com) Shaeem Reid (Hip-Hop/MTV News)Sway (MTV, V.J. Personality)

Now did ANY of those names make you go, "Oh yea, that cat there sure gets my respect, He’s knows!". At any point, did ya say that? No. I thought it was the nerd convention up in that peice! They look exactly like the type that Just-Ice's crew would have jacked back in the day! LOL! And speaking of back in the day, I bet you this panel probably couldn’t even tell you anything about the Roxy, Latin Quarter, Funhouse, Harlem World, The Underground, Broadway International or The Fever. But yet, they're picking the HOTTEST rappers in the game? I think if you’re gonna do something like that, you should get legends, music producers, or the peers of other rappers, etc. Lemme give you a better example. Now if Kool G Rap, Rakim, Dr. Dre, Jermaine Dupri, Swizz Beats, Jay Z, Just Blaze, picked ‘Lil Wayne as the #1 MC and broke it down as to why...are you listening then? You damn right you are! Their opinion would hold more weight...and it should! Although the panel is wack, I do like Sway (MTV), and think he’s good at what he does. He said something I totally agree with about ‘Lil Wayne.

“You know what I like about Wayne? A lot of dudes that come from the street, jump in this game and think they can get credit 'cause they come from the street - but can't rap for s---! And now Wayne is upping the bar”

This is very true! And no matter how much Weezy disses Jay Z nowadays, dude knows Jay is a master lyricist. He’s just mad at Jay for making a comeback and claiming “NOW” when he feels “NOW” belongs to him! And the young brother has EVERY right to feel that way. Why? Because that’s hip-hop. And YOU better believe that YOU are the best! For the most case, hip-hop is testosterone set to music. So hell yea ‘Lil Wayne feels he is king now. BUT... when he says he’s greater than Jay Z, he’s buggin’. At least not yet. Here’s what Jay said on hot 97 on the Angie Martinez show...

You know he [Kanye] just did this interview where he says he’s Top 5 [in the game right now]. The only two people in the game that are better than him are Lil Wayne and Andre 3000

"Man I’m gonna body slam him when I see him. What is his problem. Nah, I heard about that and how they [MTV] did that now list. I spoke to the kid from MTV. What you should of did was have the people ‘now.’ Because I don’t think I belong on the list. I believe Fabolous belongs on that list … Rick Ross. Other people belong on that list. It should’ve been split up for ‘now’ like REALLY ‘now’.”

Do you ever miss being THAT dude? Being the hottest rapper in the game? Or do you still feel you are?

"Well until somebody makes a album better than Reasonable Doubt. I still think I'm the number one shotta! Or Blueprint, how about that. In my mind. Everybody uses different things to tally up the way they come to their conclusion. My conclusion, in my mind … 'til someone makes a better album than Reasonable Doubt or Blueprint then I'm the top shotta. I really believe I'm the best ever. I'm at least in the argument. I'm arguing with Big and Pac, I'm not really taking it from no one else."

Jay makes a valid point, but remember, Wayne is still young and can make a go for all the marbles. Time will tell. But what I do like most about 'Lil Wayne is that he is a true student of the game. You can tell he studies a lot of great writers, not just “rappers” I said writers! And with all the records he’s sold, and with all the money he has, 'Lil Wayne actually cares about being great! Unlike a lot of today's rappers, this kid cares about being a great lyricist! This guy grinds, and does mixtapes after mixtapes. He doesn’t have to, but he wants to! Which means he has an inner hunger to want more...to be more! And only the great ones have that. Yo, you gotta love it! And if you don't love it, you gots'ta respect it!