Welcome back to Turning the Screw, Rocks Off’s weekly rap post. It probably won’t rhyme, at least most of the time. E-mail tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. Thanks, homies.
Single of the Week: “Swang On Em,” Bun B feat. Lupe Fiasco
Wire To Wire
Asher Roth makes a surprisingly lucid point regarding hip-hop: “Besides the white guys who sell it and push it, hip hop is black music. But it got to the point where they were targeting us, the white people in the ‘burbs. We got brought up on it, but suddenly when a 23-year-old white kid who’s been inspired by Jay-Z starts rapping, it’s a bad thing?”
(By the way, Asher’s “As I Em” song is dope.)
Speaking of, Eminem’s “We Made You” video is unexpectedly unclever.
Note to self: Killing a rapper’s mother is not good for one’s medical career.
South Park has pretty much jumped the shark, but its Kanye West spoof was superb.
Speaking of, The Kanye will soon release his own energy drink. Apparently, it will give you all the energy you need to act like a super douche and grow a shag haircut.
50 Cent refuted claims that he offered Rick Ross money to end their quarreling. We’d say that we believe him, seeing as how the whole entire thing is one big fabricated mess.
Count us among those excited about the forthcoming Nas/Damian Marley album.
Jim Jones grows increasingly irritating; Tweets during arrest.
Soulja Boy show boycotted at the University of Minnesota. Surely it had nothing to do with female-empowering track, “Pimp Slap Dat Hoe.”
Cool James to get an E! True Hollywood Story.
Rap tour Rock the Bells announces lineup.
Chris Brown pleads not guilty to assault charges. Said the judge, “You do understand what ‘Not guilty’ means, right? I mean, the prosecution’s whole case is basically laid out on TMZ already.”
Got some free time? Download Black Krishna’s “Obamacide.”
Terrible (but still kinda catchy) Houston Rap Video of the Week:
Because you either missed it or forgot about it.
This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2009.