Not to say Cam’s return isn’t the “Talk of the town” anymore, but with Miss Info’s two part interview over at OnSmash.Com and a recent radio interview, it’s almost like the story of his comeback is becoming redundant.

Regardless, it’s still a topic of discussion across the hip hop board. So far, Cam’s addressed issues pertaining to Jim Jones, 50 Cent, Dame Dash and Juelz Santana, all without hesitation. But in the April issue of XXL, Cam slides off into a couple different things the public has yet to find out.

Since a lot of the information in this interview has already been revealed, almost word for word, I’m going to post the content that wasn’t; the Juelz information. Not to long ago, Juelz revealed that Cam’s contractual obligations in regards to his career have hindered him from moving forward in the collaborations department. However, according to Cam, there’s a completely different story brewing under the surface….

Cam’ron on why Juelz wasn’t allowed to collaborate with other artists……..

“That’s totally false. What Juelz has to realize is this: Anytime he does something, Def Jam has to get paid. Me and Def Jam was partners, and me and Juelz was partners. If Juelz does a song with Sean Kingston, Def Jam calls and gets $20,000-whether Juelz knows it or not. If they our partners then we should get $20,000. But in these situations, Def Jam would get paid and we wouldn’t so I would say, ‘No we’re not clearing it”. Because how come they are getting the money and me and Juelz wouldn’t be getting the money? Def Jam was starting to get frustrated with Juelz because they wanted him to put an album out. They started to lose patience. He doesn’t know I told Def Jam, “Yo, no, let him do this, let him do that”. They didn’t want to let him do anything, because they want the they album. They figure, “How come he can feature on this and feature on that, but we can’t get our album?” It was plenty if times where they didn’t want to clear anything, and I told them, “No do this. This needs to be cleared”. But then it became a tug-a-war situation with certain projects, where they would be like, “Cam, we understand what you’re saying. But no, we can’t have this unless they pay us double or extra or yada yada yada.” There was plenty of times I fought for him to be featured on people’s songs. Def Jam didn’t want him to be featured on people’s songs. “

Well isn’t that an interesting tidbit of information? If this information is true, then where would that leave, A.) The relationship between Juelz and Def Jam and B.) The relationship between Cam and Juelz? Judging from Cam’s interview in this issue and his interview with Miss Info, money wasn’t the only issue that caused the two to separate.  

Anyway, if you can find my “secret newsstand”, make sure you slide over there and pick up the issue, it’s a great read.  Now pardon me, I have an XXL issue that I need to get lost in.

Sincerely

Low “LowKey’s sitting down with Cam’ron next Thursday? YES” Key

I’m sure you’re all familiar with the scuffle he was involved in December with Jim Jones and Young Vaughn and the infamous “joke” about seeing Jeezy naked, if not, scroll over here…and here to get better acquainted.

Through all the ish thrown Neyo’s way, I have to give it to him, he definitely holds his composure through all the BS. Now if it were me, well let’s just hope people don’t get that bored to the where they start making ish up about me. Scroll down for the interview with Neyo and Big Boi. ENJOY!

Sincerely

Low “Tip of my hat to the big homey, Neyo” Key

Ne-yo visits Big Boy’s Neighborhood (talks about Gay Rumors and Louis Vuitton) from qdeezy on Vimeo.

You already know how this story goes: I spotted the cover online around THESE parts on Monday and thought, “Yup, it’s about that time to pay my friendly underground magazine slinger a visit.”

Fast forward to Wednesday night; $12.00 gloves strapped on my brown hands, a ColdStone’s Bang Bang Boogie Milk Shake (Vanilla ice cream, Graham cracker pie crust, Snickers, Oreos and a Kit Kat bar) in my right paw and the Crackberry in my left. There it was, the March issue of XXL. A fresh coat of magazine glaze shined through all the other irrelevant, outdated publications it was positioned next to.

“I did it again; I struck GOLD”, I discreetly whispered as the middle aged cashier gave me the side eye in which I could’ve have SWORN he indirectly uttered the word “weirdo.” I popped that sucker open only to find some very interesting hip hop tidbits, here’s what I observed; Shorty from Lil Wayne’s, “Comfortable” video is only 22. Datwon really breaks down the meaning of “Loyalty”. Mike Bibby wears his headband even when he’s modeling. Jim Jones has less “swag” then Jay-Z: Epic fail, Jones. Jamie Foxx says “You know your girl is cheating when she says, ‘Can I call you right back’. Soulja Boy claims he has “Millions” in his bank account. Kris Ex breaks down Hip hop’s greatest Crews, Cliques, Clans and Posses. NICE!

Oh, did I forget to mention Vanessa Satten literally breaks down the rise and fall of the mighty mighty Dipset conglomerate? Don’t believe me, test my gangsta and scroll down..lol!

Juelz Santana on Cam’ron owning his contract….

“It was a bad deal. He owned so much of my sh*t and everything, he just, practically owned more than what I owned and it got to a point where I just wanted to get the situation right. I didn’t want nothing back. And it’s like he wasn’t trying to get it right. He wasn’t trying to give me what I felt like I was owed. It’s like he directed us. We put the building together, brick by brick. All he was doing was directing us, and when we got to the top of the building, he dont even wanna share the sandwiches. It’s lunchtime now. He wanna give us pieces of a sandwich, and he got one big hero and we getting pieces. Like, “Come on now. The building is built. You gotta respect us on another type of level.”

Freakey Zeakey on returning home during the break-up…..

“Then, in late 2006, when I was on my way home, I called Jim, and he was like, “Yo, sh*t is fuc*ked up man.” So I’m like, “What happened?” “You’ll see when you come home.” And that’s when everything blew up. But right now it’s myself, Jim and Juelz. And I speak to Killa. I love Killa. That’s my family. And Jim did some bullsh*t, and Killa did some bullsh*t. But they two bulls, and they gonna ram, and they seem like they not gonna give…”

Jim Jones on thinking he jinxed his and Cam’s relationship….

“I think I might have jinxed us. Me and Cam was talking a long time ago about somebody that was breaking up. I was saying that would be kind of crazy it we was to break up but fake it–like, act like we was mad at each other and then get back together and make all this money off of it. And Cam was like, “Why would you say something like that? Don’t start talking no stupid shi*t.” I’ll never forget that. And now I’m like, What the fu*k, is this an ill paradox? I be thinking about that sh*t all the time. Hopefully, we could get this money, ’cause Lord knows there’s a lot of private jets.”

See what you did Jimmy??? It was all YOUR FAULT, lol.

Crazy how money can turn things upside down. Looking for the full story, well, unless you can find my secret newsstand, you’ll probably have to wait another week or so. Sorry!
Sincerely

Low “OK, OK, OK, Ya’ll can’t FU*K with me, NOW WAY” Key

Saturday, Angie Martinez, DJ Enuff and Cipha Sounds hosted Hot 97’s, Holiday Bash at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island with performances from Nina Sky, Ryan Leslie, Jim Jones, Kid Cudi, Juelz Santana, Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Busta Rhymes, Ron Browz and T.I.

Though I’ve seen each artist perform at least 3 times since taking this job, I can tell you standing 3 feet away from the stage gives you a COMPLETELY different vibe (I.E. getting water thrown on your camera, having fire sparks fly 2 inches past your upper lip). BIG BIG BIG shouts are in order for Lesley Hope from N’Somniatic Entertainment Group and Big League Entertainment, who produced the show!

And you know what the best part about all of this is, I don’t have to talk you to death about who performed (I’ll save that for the other side of town, lol), I can easily show you, below. ENJOY!

Sincerely

Low “A pretty good ending to a not so good year, lol”Key

Juelz Santana performs “There It Go” during Hot 97’s Holiday Bash at Nassau Coliseum on December 27. Jim Jones and Kid Cudi perform “Day-N-Nite” during Hot 97’s Holiday Bash at Nassau Coliseum on December 27. Ludacris performs “Last of a Dying Breed” during Hot 97’s, Holiday Bash at Nassau Coliseum on December 27 Busta Rhymes performs “Scenario” during Hot 97’s, Holiday Bash at Nassau Coliseum on December 27.
Young Jeezy performs, “Who Dat” during Hot 97’s, Holiday Bash at Nassau Coliseum on December 27. Young Jeezy performs, “Put On” during Hot 97’s, Holiday Bash at Nassau Coliseum on December 27. Young Jeezy performs, “My President” during Hot 97’s, Holiday Bash at Nassau Coliseum on December 27.

T.I. performs, “56 Barz” during Hot 97’s, Holiday Bash at Nassau Coliseum on December 27. T.I. performs, “Swing Ya Rag” during Hot 97’s, Holiday Bash at Nassau Coliseum on December 27.
T.I. performs, “You Don’t Know Me” during Hot 97’s, Holiday Bash at Nassau Coliseum on December 27.

I swear, this stuff gets better by the day. So I’m rifling through the internets and I saw this link to a Jim Jones interview over at the Complex residence. Since Jimmy’s commentary keeps me LMAO’ing all day everyday, I bolted over to see what he was pissed about this time. Booooooooooy, was I in for a treat.

Apparently, Jay’s monster hit, “I.Z.Z.O” (you know, H to the Izzo, V to the Izza…that joint) from the The Blueprint was, get this, STOLEN, because it was originally intended for, get this again, Cam’ron and Jim Jones (holds in laughter…holding…holding). That’s not even the worst part, the method in which they found out will have you in tears, literally….I’m still wiping mine off my face from 30 minutes ago.

Says Jimmy, “Kanye came to our studio session at Sony, and he was playing some beats back when we were all signed to Rocafella. Cam was about to come out with Come Home With Me, so we told Kanye we wanted to buy the song “H to the Izzo.” It was an understanding we had between us and Kanye because we were all under the same label. So then, I’ll never forget it, we’re at Cam’s house and this hip-hop award show comes on [BET Awards, 2001], and Cam and I are watching it on his couch, and we’re like, “Next year we’re gonna be up there.” So they announce that Jay-Z is about to perform his new single off The Blueprint, and the dude comes out with the “H to the Izzo” beat. Cam and I look at each other like, Oh, we’re going to kill Kanye. Oh my God, when we catch this nigga,we’re going to do something terrible to him. And that’s how Cam ended up getting the “Down and Out” beat. Kanye gave it to him free of charge as payback.”

 Wait, wait, wait, on top of WATCHING your boss perform your “potential” hit on your best friends couch (lol)……..you’re telling me in exchange for Kanye giving “Izzo” away on some shady ish, he then gives you “Down and Out” for free? Maaaaaaaaaan, I would’ve done the same thing…..that beat is as normal as this white thermal I’m wearing! Now if he really wanted to repay you, he would’ve slid you Scarface’s, “Guess Who’s Back” or Talib’s, “Get By” not “Down and Out”. Now I know why Jimmy hates Ye…he sabotaged Cam’s recording career right under their noses. After “Down and Out”, Cam hasn’t been the same since, lol!

For the entire interview, and believe me, you DON’T wanna miss this ish, CLICK HERE…NOW! 

Sincerely

Low “Ahhahahhahahahahahahah, I’m still laughing if you haven’t noticed” Key 

Every time I see a Dame Dash story (”Dame’s broke”, “Dame hates Jay-Z”, “Dame caught wearing basketball shorts at a fashion show”) it honestly pains my heart. I remember when I used to watch BackStage: The Hard Knock Life Tour faithfully and draw my industry inspiration from him screaming on the FAT Kevin Liles while getting his haircut or when he issued that motivational speech to DJ Clue and his Desert Storm team on the tour bus. What happened to those days?? Oh I know, Jay got famous, married Beyonce and never looked back.

Of course, none of us will never know exactly what happened between the two, but I, for one, am concerned about Dame’s career. After reading this yesterday, it kind of dawned on me; Dame is, ummmm, struggling. Now if you followed Dame from his previous days in the industry, you know homey is about his business and that him & Hov created something special; immaculate even.

However, in recent years, Dame has struck out on numerous ventures. From his CEO clothing company and watch line to his Dame Dash Music Group imprint, Roc Films and his Ked Sneakers deal; Dame hasn’t seen a healthy check since the Blueprint (I think).

So after careful observation over the past 5-7 years, I’ve watched Dame run with the Roc (building and branding Jay-Z, Kanye West and Beanie Sigel), latch onto the Dipset camp (or what’s left of it) in hopes of building a similar but distinctive empire to pretty much become unsuccessful in several other ventures, it’s become quite clear Dame needs to regroup…or does he?

Him and Jay were obviously a GREAT team, but the money and the fame were to much to bare on both parties. Dash and Jimmy have a weird, but functional relationship, and whatever he’s doing, it’s SORT of working for the new leader of the Dipset Family. Clearly, I’m hinting towards the obvious, so let me get straight to the point; Should Dame Dash reunite with Jay-Z or should he keep his hustling Harlem ways and continue to push Jimmy’s career in the peculiar direction it’s heading in?

I’m torn. I mean, I like Jimmy and all, really I do, but nothing was more fun than watching Dame and Jay pour Crystal on honey dips during one of their private Yacht parties in which they happen to be filming a video for on some deserted Island I couldn’t pronounce at the time, lol. (See “Hey Papi” video).

Alright, I gave my two cents…..YOUR TURN! What do you think?

Sincerely

Low “I learned to be an As* hole from watching Dame Dash on Backstage” Key

Miss Info reports, “Now, I’m hearing that Jim Jones, Juelz Santana and Lil Wayne have recorded yet another version….The hook goes: “All these other rappers jack swagger from us.” LOL. And it seems this song, “Swaggerjack from Us” will be on Jim Jones’ solo album, which drops right in the thick of things, on Dec 9th.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa….Wayne’s on this version???? Doesn’t the hook sound like a scathing backhand to Hov, T.I. and Kanye since they’re the ONLY ones to officially rap on the track??? Wayne playing both sides of the fence on this one, uh oh……

Thoughts my dear readers, THOUGHTS!

Sincerely

Low “The S.L.U. Blogger Edition is 90% complete” Key

Dip Set captain, Jim Jones reveals true feelings about Nas and his protest against Fox News.

Leave it to Jim Jones for some colorful Friday afternoon commentary. With Nas leading the charge in protesting Fox News for their racist vernacular, Jimmy recently revealed his thoughts on the righteous of Nasir Jones. Kim Osorio, who was interviewing Jones, inquired about his feelings in regards to the protesting, Jones responded, “You’re speaking about someone who isn’t relevant in the game, so there’s nothing he can do from the street point of view to get people to make a spectacle or get people to look at him. So, he opts for the dweeb way to do it. That sh*t is bogus, we don’t wanna hear that sh*t.”

Sir Jones continued, “We don’t wanna hear that propaganda sh*t, fu*k outta here. It’s 2008 and it’s a recession, let’s talk about that. Let’s talk about how we gon make some money in these fu*ked up times. It’s dry out there, you dig? It ain’t no money out there. It’s bad for both sides of the fence whether you pay taxes or you don’t”. 

I completely understand everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but damn Jones….can a brotha breathe for a minute?? What do you guys think….is Jones right? Is Nas focusing on the wrong issues right now or is Jones buggin out?

Sincerely

Low “I don’t think hip hop as a whole will ever be on the same page” Key

Hopeless Hip Hopper, that’s the category this individual falls under. Known for speaking directly from the soul Joe Budden blankets the whole industry with a track that poesses the question of who gutted hip hip and when. Pointing out every vital and relevant occurrence that’s had a lasting affect on the culture, Budden speaks passionately on all his observations within the last 5 years. From artist signings and droppings to questioning the selection process on 106 and Park, it’s obvious this subject’s been tugging at Joey’s conscience for quite some time.

Some may view this as a plight to sell albums or even a segue to start some type of lyrical confrontation with one of the afromentioned artists, but judging by the tone and commentary he’s basically opening the dialogue on where hip hop went and what it’s going to take to revive it.

Packed with a bunch of great rhetorical questions and statements, “Who” only makes you ask yourself, “When did all this sh*t go wrong?” Below are a couple punchlines with links (not all of them) to that specific topic…

Joe Budden- Who Part 1

“Was it T-Pain with that funny voice sh*t, was it Lil Wayne wit that funny voice sh*t/the whole game di@k rode that funny voice sh*t”

“Pac, Big, Pun went to sleep and never woke up”

“The more dudes said they didn’t write down lyrics/the more it started to sound like they didn’t”

“Maybe it all started when Roc-A-Fella parted“

“F*ck blaming the south, we ain’t segregated”

“I seen all this coming I knew what we was in fo, back when Eric Sermon had jumped out the window“

“Or did one hit wonders change it all along/they made labels only wanna sign a dude’s song”

“Was it when Mase retired and couldn’t hack it/Tip could, he just needed some more ratchets“

“A million Busta albums and he’s still not mentioned with G.O.A.T.”

“Papoose and The Clipse both survived/ inking with Jive and then getting Jived”

“The feds was on Irv, so the ink dropped murda”

“A&R’s won’t take risks, they won’t sign nigg*z”

“Did it start when Fox stayed in the news, more than she stayed in the booth”

“Did it start with the iPod”

“The f*ck is up with DMX, I hope dude straight”

“The second week show that the boy’s number aint high/ I hate to break it to you, numbers always lie”

“I can’t tell when it happened, was it when Lil Jon show dudes you could sell without rapping”
“I gotta talk candid, did we start having issues around the sametime Jimmy and Cam did”

“DJ’s, Producers, ones to get us the farthest/said f*ck rappers and they became the artist”

Alright, I need your honest opinion on this one…..

Like it, Love it, or Leave It?????

Sincerely

Low “It’s gon take a whole lot to get hip hop back where it was” Key

So I was rummaging around the internets this morning and I came across an intriguing interview on HHNLive.Com with Dipset’s head honcho, Jim Jones (since Cam’ron’s disappearance). The Harlem native was discussing the Byrd Gang Movement, his relationship with Dame Dash, and how the NYC hip hop scene is a must visit if you wanna succeed in this game. Check out some of things Jimmy addressed during his interview…..

On working with Dame Dash…

“A lot of people don’t know that I’ve known Dame since I was like 6. Like we grew up in the same building. But you know as you get older and become a man you take your own paths. Dame was always the man and a mentor even when we were young. He was flashy he was always getting money. What he did in this rap game is what I always remember him doing. Now that I’m more calm and everything is non emotional, like he told me I was too emotional, now I’m able to have him work with me, or show me different things. They claim the game is to be sold not to be told but in the case with Dame he’s telling me everything. They’ve made history over and over again. Dame is the man. That’s Flash Gordon. He been flashing on cats. You can’t take nothing away from him at all. He’s made two of the biggest artists ever.”

On the Diplomat Family

“It’s good to have everybody in they own movement. First thing we want everybody to be able to get money on they own. We want everybody able to branch out and make the movement bigger. We don’t want no one boss, I want everybody to be a boss. And then we all bosses!”

On NYPD behavior

“Everybody is talking about we need to protest, etc. and yeah we need to do everything we can do. But we also have to be smart. This is 2008 not the times of Martin and Malcolm and they did their thing. They are not letting us do that type of shit anymore. We have to be smart about the tools that we use to make this bullshit better. Like the Sean Bell incident happens everyday.”

On NYC hip hop and it’s effect on the rest of the hip hop community

“I’ll put it like this. You still have to go to Hollywood to make movies. You want to get a record deal. Come to NY. It’s just like life, everything moves in a circle and 360. We’ve seen it go from the West coast, Midwest, to the South. And when you press mute on the TV everybody looks like their from New York. Not to take a shot at anybody but we set the precedents for style, swag, sound, rap. They making good music why not? For the most part, the people to sell 8 million are from New York. The 50 Cents, The Jay zs, The Ruff Ryders, like every huge cat from New York takes the precedent for the whole game. It’s what we do. And the new one is me. I’m bout to go crazy on everybody in this game. Because I’m sick of it. We bringing it all the way back home because it never left. Just like New York hustlas, we always went out of town to get money.”

Although Jones isn’t the most talented dude, he’s probably one of the most interesting characters in the game right now. Homey’s been hustling since Cam’s early glory days, so everything he’s embracing right now….he rightfully deserves. Iight ladies and gents, I shall return later on tonight…I’m heading over to Spotlight Live for R&B Live’s One Year Anniversary with special appearances from Akon, T-Pain, Kardinal Offishall and plenty more…

Sincerely

Low “Wheeeew, Life as a blogger is tough” Key