Rap Attack's Mr. Magic dies

John Rivas, better known as New York disc jockey Mr. Magic died of a heart attack earlier Friday. He was an inspirational figure in hip-hop music as he co-founded WBLS-FM's "Rap Attack" show in 1983, which hit the airwaves officially in 1989. His six year span on the show helped give the music more validity as a genre. In its prime years it featured Marley Marl as the DJ and Tyrone "Fly Ty" Williams as the show's co-producer. Mr. Magic also was part of a battle in the mid-80's against fellow radio disc jockey for another station named Kool DJ Red Alert. The Juice Crew headed by Marley Marl figured into this feud as well. When it comes to hip-hop pioneers you're not likely to hear people immediately mention "Mr. Magic", but in fact he is one of the rap pioneers who brought the music genre to the mainstream. He's been name dropped by Notorious BIG as an early inspiration- "Every Saturday - Rap Attack - Mr. Magic Marley Marl" on the hit song Juicy. Other rappers to mention him include Whodini, Tupac Shakur and Nas on various songs. He released a few albums including greatest hits from the Rap Attack show. Mr. Magic was also featured in the hit video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" as one of the disc jockeys on a radio station. His radio show is also heard during a scene in the movie "Notorious" about BIG's life story. Various searches seem to turn up little information on Rivas' birthdate, so his age at death is not yet posted. RIP to John "Mr. Magic" Rivas, an early influence in hip hop....

Notorious Movie & Soundtrack 09'

Coming January 16th, 2009 is the new movie Notorious which is a biopic featuring the story of Christopher "BIG" Wallace's life and death. According to IMDB, there's no rappers playing themselves in this one, it's all actors and actresses taking the roles of Lil' Kim, Lil Cease, Puffy Combs and Suge Knight. Faith Evans and Tupac Shakur are also part of the story, as they should be. Playing the role of Christopher Wallace, The Notorious BIG, will be Jamal Woolard (Brooklyn rapper "Gravy"). Woolard's only other film on his acting resume is 2006's "The Come Up" a documentary featuring various rappers, where Woolard appeared as himself. Woolard has another claim to fame. He was shot in the rear outside the Hot 97 radio station just moments before he went upstairs and gave an interview to Funk Flex. Don't expect any Oscar-type role here, but Woolard definitely has the size and similar look for the part. (Read more about Woolard at Reuters article) As for the Notorious Soundtrack, it features some of BIG's greatest hits, unreleased tracks, remixes and new songs from Bone Thugs N Harmony, Jadakiss and Jay-Z. Jay-Z's Brooklyn Go Hard has already been leaked and in heavy circulation online. The track's produced by Kanye West and features Santogold as well. LOX member and BIG friend, Jadakiss, has an open letter to his deceased friend in "Letter to B.I.G.". The track was originally slated for Jadakiss' "Last Kiss" album but instead included for the movie. There's also a new version of "One More Chance" which features the late BIG's son, CJ, and BIG's widow Faith Evans appears on several tracks as well. Notorious Soundtrack hits stores and internet download services on January 13, just three days ahead of the movie release. Notorious Soundtrack: 1. "Notorious Thugs" (featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony) 2. "Hypnotize" 3. "Notorious" 4. "Juicy" 5. "Party & Bullsh--" 6. "Warning" 7. "One More Chance" remix (featuring Faith Evans) 8. "Brooklyn Go Hard" (Jay-Z featuring Santogold) 9. "Letter to B.I.G." (Jadakiss featuring Faith Evans) 10. "Kick in the Door" 11. "What's Beef" 12. "World Is Filled" 13. "One More Chance" (featuring CJ) 14. "The Notorious Theme" (composed by Danny Elfman) 15. "Microphone Murderer" (previously unreleased demo) 16. "Guaranteed Raw" (previously unreleased demo) 17. "Love No Ho" (previously unreleased demo) Amazon.com currently offers pre-order of the Notorious Soundtrack.

Rap Music Lyrics Big Poppa by BIG

Here's the rap music lyrics for Notrious' BIG song, Big Poppa> The song comes from BIG's debut album, Ready to Die (released 1994). Big Poppa by Notorious BIG (Ready to Die) BIG Intro Uh, uh, check it out Junior M.A.F.I.A., uh, um (i like this, yeah) Uh, yeah, 94' BIG Verse 1: To all the ladies in the place with style and grace Allow me to lace these lyrical duches in your bushes Who rock grooves and make moves with all the mommies? The back of the club, sippin Moet, is where you'll find me The back of the club, mackin hoes, my crew's behind me Mad question askin, blunt passin, music blastin But I just can't quit Because one of these honies Biggie gots ta creep with Sleep with, keep the ep a secret why not Why blow up my spot cause we both got hot Now check it, I got more Mack than Craig and in the bed Believe me sweety I got enough to feed the needy No need to be greedy I got mad friends with Benz's C-notes by the layers, true fuckin players Jump in the Rover and come over tell your friends jump in the GS3, I got the chronic by the tree Chorus: (I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa) Throw your hands in the air, if youse a true player (I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa) To the honies gettin money playin n----s like dummies (I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa) If you got a gun up in your waist please don't shoot up the place Cause I see some ladies tonight who should be havin my baby, Bay-be! BIG Verse 2: Straight up honey really I'm askin Most of these n----s think they be mackin but they be actin Who they attractin with that line, "What's your name, what's your sign"? Soon as he buy that wine I just creep up from behind And ask what your interests are, "who you be with"? Things to make you smile, what numbers to dial You gon' be here for a while, I'm gon' go call my crew You go call your crew We can rendezvous at the bar around two Plans to leave, throw the keys to Lil Cease Pull the truck up, front, and roll up the next blunt So we can steam on the way to the telly go fill my belly A t-bone steak, cheese eggs and Welch's grape Conversate for a few, cause in a few, we gon' do What we came to do, ain't that right boo (truuuueee) Forget the telly we just go to the crib and watch a movie in the jacuzzi smoke l's while you do me Chorus: (I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa) Throw your hands in the air, if youse a true player (I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa) To the honies gettin money playin niggaz like dummies (I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa) If you got a gun up in your waist please don't shoot up the place Cause I see some ladies tonight who should be havin my baby Bay-be! BIG Verse 3: (How ya livin Biggie Smallz?) In mansion and Benz's Givin ends to my friends and it feels stupendous Tremendous cream, f--- a dollar and a dream (whaat) Still tote gats strapped with infrared beams Choppin o's, smokin lye an' Optimo's Money h--s and clothes all a n----a knows A foolish pleasure, whatever I had to find the buried treasure, so grams I had to measure However living better now, Gucci sweater now Drop top BM's I'm the man girlfriend (Honey check it, (check it) Tell your friends, to get with my friends (your freinds) And we can be friends Shit we can do this every weekend (that's right) Aight? Is that aight with you? Yeah... keep bangin) Chorus: (I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa) Throw your hands in the air, if youse a true player (I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa) To the honies gettin money playin n----s like dummies (I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa) If you got a gun up in your waist please don't shoot up the place Cause I see some ladies tonight who should be havin my baby Bay-be! Outro - BIG Talking Uhh, Check it out, My full s--t, for that a--, Uhh, Puff Daddy, Biggie Smalls, Junior M.A.F.I.A., represent baby bay-bay! Uh! See more rap music lyrics here.

Notorious BIG - 10 Years

It's now been 10 years to the day since the Notroious BIG was taken prematurely from the world. Biggie still lives on to this day through his classic hit songs and albums as well as newly released and recycled material. It seems a new BIG greatest hits or unreleased songs album drops just about every year now, keeping him fresh in our hearts. Tonight from 8-10 PM on KGMR Radio's Internet Radio station, DJ Destrovega will be presenting a retrospective of the late Notorious BIG, complete with remixes and unreleased rarities. To tune into the show check out: KGMR Radio's website at: http://www.kgmrradio.com Click here to listen with Winamp/Itunes Click here to listen with Windows Media Player

Lost One's of Hip-Hop

Hip-hop has lost a great deal of its contributors and pioneers over the past decade or so. The unfortunate and untimely deaths of BIG, Pac, Eazy-E, Big Pun, Big L, Freak Tah of Lost Boys, Proof of D12, Jam Master Jay and ODB came way too quick and robbed hip-hop of their musical genius. Here are links to the Wikipedia entries for each artist, which provide their rap career perspectives. Eazy-E Notorious BIG Tupac Shakur Proof of D12 Freaky Tah of Lost Boyz Big L Big Pun Ol' Dirty Bastard aka ODB Jam Master Jay

Top 20 Rap Albums All Time

Here's my top 20 rap albums of all time...Ranked in terms of their impact upon me and my love for the music.. 1) "Licensed to Ill" - Beastie Boys - The rock/rap crossover appeal lured me in, and I was hooked for good 2) "Raising Hell" - RUN DMC - Wow I can remember playing this tape over and over in my walkman on trips with my parents..I bet they wish I never got a walkman ;) 3) "The Low End Theory" - A Tribe Called Quest - This tape and group is what really got me into rap, their style was so unique and varied and the beats were full of soulful bass and horns, strings and just good stuff. 4) "Death Certificate" - Ice Cube - Another one I listened to quite a bit. Yes it was gangsta, and violent and full of racist ideas and suggestions, but its an eye opener for sure. 5) "De La Soul is Dead" - De La Soul - Another group like Tribe who really fueled my love for rap. Their creativity is unparalleled and this concept tape was amazing. 6) "The Chronic" -Dr Dre - Another one that along with Ice Cube really got me into that gangsta westcoast scene. 7) "Paid in Full" - Eric B & Rakim - Most people know this has to be in a top 10 for greatest rap albums. I bought it later than sooner (like 1997) but even so I recognize its major importance to the genre. 8) "Straight Outta Compton" - N.W.A. More gangsta, got this album late too, but I knew it had to be part of my collection. 9) "Illmatic" - Nas - My alltime favorite rapper with his 1st debut album, and a definite classic 10) "Reasonable Doubt"/"Black Album" (tie) - Jay Z - Very hard to call this one, one album marked the start of a great career, the other was the "supposed"end. But both are extremely introspective & deep. 11) "Ready to DIE" - BIG - RIP to one of the all time greatest, baby baby. 12) "Enter the 36 Chambers" - Wu Tang Clan- I remember first getting my hands on this from my roommate at UCONN and loving the rawness of the combined talents of this group..amazing style. 13) "The Infamous" - Mobb Deep - I remember the hype that built up before this release dropped, and it definitely lived up to it..It sure bumped the bass out of our 81' Corolla ;) 14) "Fear of a Black Planet" - Public Enemy the rap revolutionaries..Another group with alot to say. 15) "The College Dropout" - Kanye West - This really should be higher because it has so much meaning to me, just the concept of Kanye's career and what he's come through to get where he is. 16) "93 Til Infinity" - Souls of Mischief - These guys were interesting, because they came from the West Coast but had a nitty gritty underground style,like the Native Tongues..fresh. 17)"The Fix" - Scarface - I used to listen to this album over and over while driving for a job I had, it was rare at the time because there wasnt many good rap albums out..but this one is solid start to finish. 18)"Me Against the World" - 2PAC - An all time rap top 20 list needs to include BIG & Pac, two of rap's finest. This album's title track is legendary. 19) "The Score" - The Fugees - Classic hip hop, soulful singing, reggae and rap all in one. 20) "Can I Borrow a Dollar?" - Common Sense - This one will surprise people, but I remember getting his tape off a recommend buy in "Source" magazine. And it mesmerized me in my walkman, because the style was just so off base and out there..and now, hes one of my top 3 faves, all time. (Honorable mentions: EPMD - Business as Usual or Business Never Personal, Eminem - Marshall Mathers LP, Redman - Whut? Thee Album, Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions, LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out)