Method Man & Redman to Release Sequel to Blackout

New York, NY – The most infamous dynamic duo in history is back after 10 years of the first release of their joint collaboration album ‘Blackout!’ Meth and Red have always been a force to be reckoned as their lyricism has always provided the flare that defines real Hip-Hop. After the release of ‘Blackout!,’ the two MCs have been quite busy being featured in blockbuster films, dropping their own solo albums, and featuring in various TV projects over the course of their 10 year span. ‘Blackout!’ spawned three chart topping singles on its own. That album went certified platinum in less than three months time.

MTV News recently interviewed the duo concerning their long-awaited upcoming project and discussed ideas that were put into the creation, as well as the reasons it took so long for the project to be released. These were their comments:

Method Man spoke first on their hiatus from the duet album and how every came about when during their time on the ‘Rock the Bells Tour.’

“I had obligations. Doc had obligations. There were things going on [with] the label, staff changes. That’s what happened. A lot of it was written during the tour and the Canada tour. We came home and went right in. Within a month, month and a half, we had some solid joints.”

Redman then added his response, boasting about their much improved lyricism:

“We’re more advanced now than the first one. We went in, had fun. I have my own studio now, so it’s more relaxed. I engineer now. It ain’t in no rush for time, paying the studio and engineer. It’s fun. We treated [the album] like a mixtape, really. If we really got in there and sat, it’ll be a beast. But it’s a beast now, and we treated it like a mixtape.

Apparently, they’ve already wrote their first single they’ve entitled ‘Miss International. These were their thoughts about the track as they broke it down for the fans:

“We wrote the record on the road. It’s a record we’re dedicating to the women, whether you’re fat, ugly, skinny — it don’t matter. You’re all beautiful inside.”

They’ve initially bought back the original producers from the first album which included RZA, Pete Rock, Rockwilder, DJ Premier, and Erick Sermon. With features, they’ve respectively requested Bun B to grace the album as they’ve featured the late Pimp C on the hook for a record they’ve entitled ‘City of Lights.’

“[Red] had the record their UGK collaboration. It had Pimp C’s hook on it. It was only right we put Bun B on it.”


   Unofficial Album Cover for Blackout! 2

At press time, ‘Blackout 2’ is scheduled to officially be released on May 19 under the Def Jam imprint.

This album has been postponed for too damn long. The first album was certifiable a Hip-Hip Classic. I can honestly tell you, I can’t wait to see what Red and Meth have up their sleeves to the sequel to the platinum selling first ‘Blackout!’ It has also been a minute since I’ve heard anything from these legendary producers. It’s good to know that the duo can go back to their roots to pull out some more hits. Let’s make this happen. May 19!

Juelz Santana Discusses Failed Dip Set Reunion

New York, NY – Several weeks back the once proud leader of his Diplomat set spoke on topics that we thought would never be discussed again. Cam’ron stated that he had different conversation with Dip Set label mates J.R. Writer, Hell Rell, and including Jim Jones. Cam stated that during the process of reaching out to different Dip Set members, he called Freekey Zekey’s phone one day and Jones answered. Within that brief conversation, Cam stated that it was a humble and cordial discussion between him and Jones. Well according to Jim Jones, that never happened. Jones continues to publicly deny any such phone call with Cam or even trying to reconcile their differences. Cam then came out and publicly stated that he never wants to record with Santana or Jones ever again.

Well all that doesn’t seem to be a problem for Juelz Santana as he himself isn’t too partial with Cam anyways. As a matter of fact, Santana has had no words for Cam since he told the press that the reason the two stop speaking was because Santana had an addiction to syrup. Santana denies any such addiction and was infuriated with Cam for even stating so. He recently spoke to MTV News during the video shoot for Skull Gang’s ‘I Am the Club’ and assisted us by shedding light on the topic at hand. These were his comments when questioned about a Dip Set Reunion:

“I’m just glad that people get to see the type of person he really is. Once again, he said a lot of things about Jim — [talking to] him, which I don’t really know about. We all had separate relationships at the end of the day. [Cam] has yet to tell people what Juelz did. You dig what I’m saying? Let’s be serious. At the end of the day, [Cam] can’t look in the mirror when it comes to me. He knows how loyal I was to him. He knows how much of a brother I was to him.”

And with Cam not wanting to record with either him or Jones, Santana continues to state that it makes the situation a whole lot easier to explain as well as move on:

It kind of makes me feel good, ’cause it lets the people know you don’t have to ask me that [reunion] question. He’s telling y’all. ‘No matter what the fans want, I’m not doing it.’ It takes a load off my back. Cam gave y’all the answer. He’s the boss. He’s always been the boss. I never tried to take that away from him. It is what it is. I’m moving forward. We all got kids. I got family, my peoples got families. We’re moving forward.”

At press time, while everyone around him has had groups or is in the process of developing theirs, he just recently inked a deal for his own group Skull Gang. So in essence, while Santana is still in the process of completing his long overdue joint collaboration with Lil Wayne, his Skull Gang debut album will be released on May 5. Keep posted to 24hourhiphop.com for more updated news on the Dip Set crew as well as a review for the upcoming Skull Gang album.

Cam’ron needs to stop complaining and get back on his game. His upcoming album ‘Crime Pays’ needs to be a step up from all his other albums or he’s going to need a lot of help. Jones doesn’t want anything to do with him and Santana either, what does Cam have left?

Eminem to Judge ‘Vibe Verses Presents Number 1 Stan’ Contest

New York, NY – It’s good to see Eminem back in news after such a long hiatus away from practically everything.In light of his upcoming album ‘Relapse,’ the Shady one himself has been popping up left and right featuring in different guest spots in good spirits of promoting the album.

Em recently inducted the legendary Run DMC into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, released a video to his first single, and now he has been asked to be the judge for a Rap contest being put together by Vibe Magazine. They’ve entitled the contest ‘Vibe Verses Presents Number 1 Stan’ inspired by the hit record that Shady wrote on his sophomore album years before.

The Vibe Verses Contest is a competition put together by the celebrated magazine whereby participants would upload a 60 second video clip of themselves freestyling to Em’s ‘Stan’ instrumental. The top 10 finalists will be chosen by Vibe.com users. The magazine will personally contact the top 10 winners and send them another instrumental track where they would have to provide another 60 second video clip. Those last 10 final clips will then be forwarded to Eminem where he will personally choose the top 2 by May 8. The chosen 2 finalists will be flown to a special Vibe event where their material will then be judged by an audience vote. The winner will receive a special microphone with the engraved etching of ‘Number 1 Stan.’ They will also be featured in the magazine and the website. All entries are due by April 21.

In a press release to the media announcing the contest, Eminem provided comments for the participants:

“Battling is the way I came up, so it’s gonna be interesting to watch a rap battle unfold online. Vibe is taking it out of the clubs and street corners and putting it on the Net. MCs better bring it, because I’m watching.”

Vibe’s ‘Real Rap Edition’ issue will hit newsstand on May 19 at the same time ‘Relapse will be officially released to a world of anticipating fans.

This competition shouldn’t be that hard for the contestants willing to participate as many talented artists have already written to songs to the iconic Stan. However, I’m just not quite sure about the grand prize for the winner. They should offer, at least, a label audition or studio time to record a demo with mixing and mastering.