With the entire world on lockdown, rappers and producers alike have been forced to think outside the box. Luckily, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland came up with the idea to launch Verzuz, a series in which legendary hip-hop figures face off against one another in a friendly competition. And while the events themselves have been few and far between, many have since used the format to debate their own what-if scenarios, with Elliot Wilson of Rap Radar recently musing on a possible Jim Jones Vs. Cam'ron matchup.
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Wilson took a moment to field the question to Jones himself, during a FaceTime conversation with the Dipset veteran. Though rappers are generally known to be a confident bunch, Jones showed humility by admitting that Cam would likely take the win. "I think Cam wins," says Jones. "You gotta figure, how many platinum records and singles does Cam have? You got records with Kanye, "Really Mean It," "Oh Boy," "357." It's just way too much heat that Killa's got."
"He started his solo career way before I started mines," continues Jones. "He's the one we all started rapping after. I watched him rapping since were in high school. Undeniably it would be Killa. He got some great records and he got a great catalog. His catalog is a little bit more extensive than mines due to the fact he started it solo career before I started mine. Then we rolled into The Diplomats and lo-and-behold, Jim Jones creeps up out the crevices. I'm grateful to even be mentioned within that category when it comes to doing music."
Future, Diplomats & Others Redesign Their Hometown NBA Jerseys
Mitchell & Ness and Bleacher Report link with Future, The Diplomats, DJ Khaled and other artists to remix their hometown NBA jerseys.
Mitchell & Ness and Bleacher Report have teamed up with eight hip-hop artists for a limited collection of basketball jerseys and gear inspired by their hometown teams. For instance, The Diplomats put their spin on a blue and orange New York jersey, while Future created an electric Hawks jersey with a nod to "Zone 6" on the back.
Other artists/teams featured in the collection include: E-40 x Golden State Warriors, ScHoolboy Q x Los Angeles Lakers, Big Sean x Detroit Pistons, Wale x Washington Wizards, DJ Khaled x Miami Heat and No Limit x New Orleans Pelicans. Each of the special edition jerseys are on sale now for $175, but there are also t-shirts, shorts and hats included in these collections.
Scroll down for a look at the eight jersey designs and click here to check out all of the gear.
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Juelz Santana Has Been In Jail For A Year
Juelz Santana, currently serving a 27-month prison sentence, took to Twitter to reflect on an unfortunate anniversary.
Currently in the midst of serving a 27-month prison sentence over weapons charges, Dipset rapper Juelz Santana has taken to Twitter to reflect on an unfortunate milestone. He's officially been in jail for an entire year, serving a little under half of his intended sentence. "The 1 year anniversary I been incarcerated," writes the rapper, his chosen emojis speaking to his mindstate; sad but staying strong in the face of adversity.
Though it seems as if Santana still has a while to go, the possibility of an early release has been previously teased by his wife Kimberly "Kimbella" Vanderhee. At the end of December 2019, Kimbella took to Instagram to predict that Juelz would be home by Summer of 2020, though she neglected to specify as to whether the favorable news was a done deal. Either way, Santana appears to be staying the course, using the opportunity to get brolic while waiting out the remaining days.
Luckily, the rapper's fanbase has opted to remain supportive. Many fans took to Twitter to implore him to stay strong, and it's clear the rapper has been taking their unconditional appreciation to heart. Not long ago, Santana offered up a new song to satiate his patient followers, the highly personal update "23 & 1." Arriving complete with a message from Meek Mill, Santana's latest single provided a heartfelt examination of his current situation: "Locked in a cell 23 and 1, sitting up in jail hoping freedom come," he raps. "Worst part about it I can't see my son, or my daughter they too young to know what's going on / my oldest son hit me saying 'hold your head' / said 'I'm praying for you dad hold your head' / brought tears to the eyes of a grown man."
Stay tuned for more news on Juelz Santana's incarceration and the new music that will inevitably come as a result. Keep your head up, Juelz!
Diplomats’ Freekey Zekey Opens Up The Harrowing Night He Was Shot
Freekey Zekey finally opens up about the night he was shot.
It’s no secret that Freekey Zekey of the Diplomats has been battling one of hip-hop’s most notorious labels: “snitch.” You may recall the incident that landed Zekey with the “snitch” moniker to begin with. In 2003, Zekey was involved in a car accident that ultimately escalated into a firefight that left the rapper shot and his friend Eric Mangrum dead. It didn’t take long for authorities to apprehend several suspects, including a man named Chauncey Dillon. During Dillon’s trial, Zekey was called in as a witness. As the story goes, Zekey didn’t name names nor point fingers, but his description of “a man in a green jacket” was enough to nail Dillon as the triggerman and land him thirty-years.
Following the trial, many were quick to deem Zekey’s courtroom conduct as “snitching,” and the unfortunate label has hovered over his head for years. Today, Queenzflip and DJ GMoney of FlipDaScript linked up with Zeke to discuss the elephant in the room. Off the bat, Zekey is hit with the blunt question: “why’d they say you snitched?” Clearly expecting this, the Dipset rapper defiantly explains that “the bitch was all in em. There’s no reason for my name and snitch to be in the same sentence.”
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He explains that the courtroom transcription doesn’t lie, and invites doubters to look to the public records for validation of his innocence. “There are two things a man doesn’t want to be called,” he explains, naming a homophobic slur and “snitch” in the same dubious category. The hosts proceed to play footage of an interrogation with one of Chauncey Dillon’s entourage from 2003, which Zekey feels will clear his name once and for all. He also takes a moment to recount his own experience on “the scariest night of his life.”
“I’m looking for parking, and a n***a hit my truck,” he says. “My father told me that’s the move. They hit the truck, you get out to see what’s going on, they see the jewelry you got on you. When I got out, I was on the run. I was like fuck. I don’t want to get locked up! We go around the corner, and they just sitting there. I should have known.” He explains that he tried to exchange information without getting the police involved, only for one man to reach for Zekey’s gun. “I grabbed his motherfuckin hand, the n***a started letting off,” he recalls, complete with sound effects. “Once it jammed, I spun him around and put the n***a in a Full Nelson.”
By this point, everyone had drawn their weapons, and Zekey all but counted himself dead. “Now when these muthafuckers are trying to shoot me, I’m aiming this n***a at all the hammers.” Unfortunately, a human shield is far from impenetrable, and Zeke took a bullet all the same. He remembers how some of the men were crying for him to be “hit in the head,” prompting him to cry out “don’t do that!” Eventually, the attackers peeled off, and Zekey recalls seeing his friend Eric Mangrum on the ground. “There was blood all over the place, and I was like damn I feel cold too,” says Zekey. “He said ‘Zeke, I’m cold, I’m cold.” I said ‘damn, don’t worry about that, you gon’ be alright.’ But now I’m getting cold.”
Check out the entire interview, which finds Zekey’s brilliant storytelling on full display, below.