BYALPHONSE MCCULLOUGHCalvin Broadus, a.k.a. Snoop Doggy Dogg and his bodyguard Mckinley Lee were cleared of manslaughter charges, specifically first and second degree murder and conspiracy to committ asssault, but the jury deadlocked on charges of voluntary manslaughter and a charge against Snoop of accessory after the fact. After the trial, Snoop told the press "I have been praying to God for this. For the last few months I've been trying to figure out if I was going to be able to raise my son, you know what I'm saying?" The jury will continue to deliberate on the outstanding charges. We'll keep you posted. Amidst growing animosity between the coasts, The Dogg Pound released the video for "New York, New York", where Snoop, Daz and Kurupt talk about "smoking two thousand mcs" and kick over NYC landmarks. Mobb Deep answers back with "L.A., L.A." a piece you may not be able to find anywhere but the underground ... also if Jay -Z's debut album, "Reasonable Doubt" in stores anywhere vic it if you must, but get yours quick `cause it won't be in stores long. Featuring the underground hiznit, "Dead Presidents" and "Politics As Usual", the lp is on the independent Roc-A- Fella Records. Jay-Z is the former partner of the Jaz ("Hawian Sophie"and "Word To the Jaz") and was featured on Original Flavor's "Get Open" and eclipsed the crew he was rhymin' with... Next up from the Wu-Tang camp is Tony Stark's a.k.a. Ghostface's lp to be released on Razor Sharp Records, Rza's label on Sony. Makin' my walkman mad right now are Broadway's "Must $tay Paid" on Nervous; the Blahzay Blahzay remix of "Danger" featuring Smoothe Da Hustler & Trigga, "Raw", the b-side of "Woo-Ha!" by Busta Rhymez on Elektra, "Metro Theme" by All-City on Mercury/Armee, Royal Fam's b-side, "I Declare War" on Capitol, "The Score" by the Fugees, "I Don't Wanna Ill", by Large Professor on Geffen, and "What Makes The World Go `Round", by Shyheim, featuring Smoothe & Trigga.
The upcoming soundtrack release for Sunset Park comes correct where a couple of soundtrack projects fell off further than the UCLA championship hoops squad. Sunset Park, starring Fredo Starr of Onyx, boasts an all-star line-up featuring 2pac, The 69Boyz, Big Mike, The Dogg Pound, Junior M.A.F.I.A., MC Lyte, featuring Xscape, which is the first single. The butter is spread by Mobb Deep with "Back At You", Ghostface Killer gets at your chest with "Motherless Child", and Queen Latifah, who sounds like she's had it up to you know where with critiks, marks "who be committin' that black on black crime/the pound [steel] is by my side" and wanna-be mc's "booty rappers posin' as gun clappers and bitch smackers/need to switch to being actors/image is all you're after/hold your laughter". Somehow I don't think the next album is gonna be all love-love.
That's it for me this week. Look for more in-depth stuff next week, but things are maaaad hectic, but things will return to norm soon. Maintain.
'Phonse
