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BattleRap.com Launches Under Loud.com
2007-03-02 18:24:02
So, anyone who’d kept there head up and there eye out would know that Battle Rap promised Cash Prizes up to $10,000 and a Record Deal. Apparently they launched last night under the domain loud.com   So whats the format?  You sign up for your free account - Then you go through a contest that takes ten weeks. Upping a new track once a week. So should you make it all the way through, You will have uploaded ten tracks all in all. For any aspiring up and coming rapper, I suppose its worth having a look at.  Best of luck to everyone!
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Dumbing it down! The mainstream idiots
2007-03-02 12:23:16
Rap’s getting dumber, So dumb that when someone says anythig half-way intellectual you all sit up and go, “WOW”. Papoose’s “Alphabet Slaughter” had heads reeling going on about how dope it all was. But was it all that?  Heads won’t read something on the internet if its too long and the paragraphs aren’t short enough. All these heads want something short and sweet to the point. When you watch tv and an ad-break comes on, Do you start flipping the channel? I mean,  When I’m blazed.. I can watch a program till the ad-break, flip the channel.. Forget about the last channel and watch 10 diffrent shows but only half of them. The effect this has on our music? Rappers produce content that will be bought, Its business, This is our mainstream. If you don’t appreciate the concious message rappers send with there thoughtfull and word-smithed drops. They won’t create them. You’ll get more ‘club bangers’ with catc...
More About: Idiots , Main , Dumb , Idiot , Down

Cam trys to instigate more beef on Flex.
2007-03-01 18:21:05
I’m bored of the beef and I’m sure you’re bored of reading about it. But, I take great pleasure in highlighting how stupid these guys are. Cam’ron was recently on HOT 97 with Flex , discussing the recent beef - He wasn’t content with that and so went at “Coochie Whipped” Nas & “Camel Face” Jay-Z. So where do we start in breaking it down?  As you know - a clip from Tru Lifes dvd leaked onto youtube. With Tru Life going at The Diplomats and Cam’s response?  ”Who is that? I don’t know who that is.” - Really? Apparently he’s got your teams chains and you don’t know who that is? Shying away from Bleek, Cam questions why’s Bleek involved? Proabbly because thats Bleeks team and he’s never been shy of beef, Most of these mainstream heads wouldn’t know who Bleek was if it wasn’t for beef, Much.. like.. Cam himself. “I ain’t never had a problem with Bleek. I don&#...
More About: Gate , Beef , More , Tiga

Fuck the Klan? Bishop Lamont
2007-03-01 00:19:07
“Fuck the Klan ” shouts Bish op Lamont - attempting to lay rival to Eminems crown of King of Controversy. Ofcourse who’d back a man with such desire? None other than Dr. Dre. New to the mainstream field Bishop dosen’t appear naive nor shy. Knowing that controversy sells tracks to the rebelious white-kids who make up the majority of the market share for hip-hop sales! Bishops going after them. Set to drop on Eminems newest of LP’s and Detox. Bishops going all out to make a name for himself.  A bit more about Bishop? He’s been on Aftermath since ‘05, He’s done joints on both the soundtracks to the computer games, Madden 07 and NBA live 06′. He’s also featured with Warren G on Warrens album, “In the mid-nite hour” Bishops albums is set to drop in Summer 2007 with, Dre’s coming out the following fall. But with 50 on that side of the fence? Who’ll he beef with?  Who’s doing the produciton? Dr. Dre, Ba...
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Crash Prize Tournaments at Offical Urban Underground
2007-02-28 06:18:02
Offering $50 for the winner of each Tour nament we’re hoping to have a high number of sign ups! We’re running a straight X vs Y diss audio tournament, 8-16 slots, Winner takes $50’s dollars you can find out more and sign up here - Audio Tournament - “Fuck Ya Life”  And our Graphic tournament follows a similar format, Winner takes $50 dollars, a X vs Y tournament with our Tournament runner, Rowe deciding on the format for each found! Sign up here - Graphics Tournament - Chaos in that ass! (Ed: whatever that means)
More About: Men , Ground , Urban , Name

Ludcaris? Father Dies, R.I.P Wayne Bridges
2007-02-27 18:17:03
As you no doubt know Ludacris grabbed two Grammys “Best Rap Album” for “Release Therapy” and “Best Rap Song” for ?Money Maker.?  Both where dedicated to his father Wayne Bridge s who unfortunatly passed away in the early hours of the morning (feb 25th).   I’m celebrating his life knowing that he has moved on to a better place and I will continue to make him proud -Ludacris Rest in Peace Wayne Bridges
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What Is Hip-Hop? The Pioneers [DeeJaying]
2007-02-27 18:17:03
Following our What Is Hip-Hop? post we’re going to embark on what is DeeJaying and its history in greater depth. The Dj and the Mixtape the heart of hip-hop Alot of heads mistaking belive that hip-hop started with some guys spitting a cypher on a street-corner and it blew up from there. Alot of heads are wrong - In my minds eye there where three Pioneer ing DJ’s and these three had there part in the foundation of Hip-Hop. The Pioneers.   Dj Kool Herc Without argument Kool Herc is considered the ‘Grandfather of Hip-Hop’ being the pioneer to develop ‘hip hopping’ the turntables. An effort in which he’d have two copys of the same joint, play the break on one table and then play the break on the next, playing the break over and over. The “Breakbeat” being the foundation for B-Boying.   DJ Grandmaster Flash The master of the “Wheels of Steel” Grandmaster Flash a very technical minded head when it came to Turntabl...
More About: Hip-hop , Hat , Deejay

B-Baby! Youngest of Break Dancers.
2007-02-26 06:15:04
Check out this little guy ripping up the floor. Whilst his technique might be slightly off he’s only a young’en. I know alot of heads who wished they where that nice when they where that young.  /*
More About: Baby , Dance , Break , Young , Dancer

B-Baby! Youngest of Break Dancers.
2007-02-26 00:14:02
Check out this little guy ripping up the floor. Whilst his technique might be slightly off he’s only a young’en. I know alot of heads who wished they where that nice when they where that young.  /*
More About: Baby , Dance , Break , Young , Dancer

Semantics II - TreaZon
2007-02-26 00:14:02
  Semantics the branch of linguistics which studies meaning in language Following my exposure to “Semantics I” last year I felt TreaZon was a wordsmith apprentice, Dabbling into the world of emceeing and verbal acrobatics. Don’t get me wrong, I liked his joints. I just didn’t think he was worth alll the hype given by his team, Lyrically Prepared. Times passed and another mixtape drops, TreaZon has passed through the ranks swiftly and grasped the concepts of wordsmithing, creating track after track of fire and becoming a grand master of words.  The Mixtape? Semantics II a presumptious name for  a mixtape and if you’re one to take anything from a name, You’d expect the joint to be hot. much to my approvement it is. TreaZon offers a blend of variety - Showing he can bring the heat on any beat. TreaZon aqquires a number of rhyme schemes and deliverys showing his versatilty and ability to pull it all off well. Having a few love song joints, A fe...
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What is Hip-Hop?
2007-02-25 12:14:01
It seems along the way alot of people have lost perspective on what Hip-Hop really is. With heads split into two camps, “Hip Hop is dead” and “Hip Hop will never die”.  The second group claming to know truly what hip-hop stands for and that the former are disgruntled with the ‘genre’ rap and not Hip-Hop itself. So lets break it down and go back to Basics.  What is Hip Hop? Emceeing DeeJaying Breakdancing Grafitti  These are what we know as the four disciplines of Hip-Hop. They arrived in the 1970’s housed in the South Bronx. They where adopted by New Yorks Black and Puerto Rican communites. Who used them in part as an alternative to violence, Gang conflicts where settled with battles in some or all of the disciplines.  What is Deejaying? Its the manipulation of the record using “Cutting and Scratching” over the groove so it makes ’strange’ and ‘cool’  sounds.  What is Emceeing? It’s basicaly rhymi...
More About: Hip-hop , Hat

Is Hip Hop Dead? [Npress?s Perspective]
2007-02-24 00:12:01
Here’s a piece by my man Npress, that following the request for guest authors. This is his submission Is Hip Hop Dead ? Hip hop is in a transition period. Whats going on right now is a transformation that was inevitable. When this art form first emerged in the public eye, it was very simple, but still original.. From its primitive state it developed slightly further to what is now referred to as the golden era. It was at this point where the gangster image of hip hop that is still perpetuated today was derived and solidified. It worked AT THE TIME. Times were very different, these guys really were gangsters and thugs tellin grimy ass life storys, shits just different now. People are liven different, im not sayin theres any lack of gangsters and thugs out there, they just arnt real in Rap any more. (few exceptions obviously..) The Problem? The problem is, every rappers out there now trying to mirror whats gettin paid. Who can blame them? Get paid! But that’s again where th...
More About: Press , Perspective

Weekly Round Up - #1
2007-02-23 18:11:13
So starting this friday, we’re going to have the Week ly Round Up - A link list of what hot contents been posted this week by other hip-hop blogs. So lets go. Noel Murray and Nathan Rabin over at AVClub have a very interesting crosstalk asking. “Is Hip-Hop Relevant To Middle-Aged White Guys?” - My opinions on it after reading it all? Is they have some valid points - but I have to ask to myself, who cares? Eskay at NahRight posts up Redmans Live From The Bricks Mixtape.  I’m downloading it as I type this up and I recommend you do too. In fact, I’d check Nah Right reguarly because Eskay seems to up all the hot shit. Bsidewinsagain is also really worth a look-up by you heads, dropping some of the hottest old school b-sides and more. I know, slack but thats it for this week, I’ve been ehum, ill - and haven’t been reading all that many blogs.
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Tru Life gets at Dipset
2007-02-23 00:10:01
Jay-Z dismissed Cam’s beef and claimed he ‘wasn’t on his level’. It just seems to me that Jay-Z couldn’t handle the drama and set ‘Tru Life ’ to work. Trust me, You’re not alone in asking, “So who’s Tru Life ?” - Tru lifes had beef with Jim Jones for a minute; The dipset founder wouldn’t sign Tru Life and this got the heads back-up a little. It’s been the typical back-and-forth drama, dipset wearing roc chains, roc wearing dipset chains. Jim Jones allegedly challenged Tru to a $50,000 fight but Tru never accepted. The beef carrys on though and here’s a video of Tru going at Jim and the Dipset crew, Enjoy. Tru Life and his crew hit hard at Dipset on this one. Tru Life - 1 Dipset - 0 Tags: tru life, dipset, hip hop
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Akon?s suffering from Kanye?s Foot in Mouth Syndrome
2007-02-23 00:10:01
 Having stated the Eminem was getting back with Kim on BBC Radio1 interview. Akon made him self look just a tad stupid when a press-release was issued by Eminem denying the claim. But he’s gone one better and claims he could get Beyonce and Alicia Keys. ?Oh, man! Alicia Keys, Beyonce - I?m pretty lucky in that respect, but I guess it comes with the circles you find yourself in when you get success.? When asked if Jigga should be bothered Akon responded with Nah, he?s got plenty of other things to be concentrating on! The man has his own basketball team. I doubt he?s going to be worrying about stuff in the past like that! And he sells records too, you know. I know that if I was Akon, I’d stop running my mouth in regards to people I’m affilated with or people I want to work with in the future. Akon needs to stop this now or he’ll find himself the joke of the industry. Tags: akon, jayz, beyonce, alicia keys
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5 ways to Promote your Mixtape
2007-02-22 06:08:03
The Mixtape  is all about generating hype about who you are,  what you do and what you’re bringing out next. The mixtape sets the stage for your album, It generates the hype you need and gets your name out. Thats great and its a well proven method,  But you’ll need to hype up your mixtape. Alot of heads have forgotten all about the world outside of the internet for promoting things, So here we go heres Shay’s Five ways to Prom ote your mixtape. Flyers, You have to speculate to accumilate and whilst you’ve pushed out all this money for studio-time and pressing the cds, cover art etc. You have to remember this is an investment into your marketing and not the end product.  Well placed flyers will generate hype for you, your mixtape and your site. Sponsor a Club Night, Play the club, Alot of clubs will let you play if you bring heads and they aren’t the sort of people they don’t want around - (drug dealers/usuers, people who conceal weapons, or people ...
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The Albums dying out?
2007-02-21 18:07:04
I was going to write a post highlighting and discussing the Topic but Sacha over @ OhWord beat me too it. Dropping some real talk on the situation that relates to the whole music industry not just Hip-Hop check it out at Oh Word
More About: Albums , Dying , Album , The A

Lyrically Prepared - Intergration
2007-02-21 18:07:04
Two of my faviourte underground heads, ThreatZ and TreaZon have as promissed dropped a joint LP mixtape and sent it my way. This joints hosted by MC Mint “White Boy” Condition, offering his usual humor on the joint. Truth be told having heard Semantics by TreaZon which dropped last year. I was looking forward to this joint. But was skeptical about ThreatZ given my opinon on his past efforts. Now theres no question and what was being said to me earlier has now become clear, Threatz brings a solid performance on the joint. Delivering an on point flow consistently, his lyrical forthought and ability is outstanding compared to my opinons of yester-year. The joints one to catch when it drops, (allegedly 21st of Febuary) - Tracks of Mention are “Dropping Jewels” showcasing Threatz and Treazon running the “Diamonds are Forever” beat and killing it just as well as Kanye ever did - Everyone loves this joint and I can see why - A hot flow delivering the on...
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32 Best Rap Songs Ever, Mixtape!
2007-02-21 18:07:04
Following some hard work by Seamo, OUU’s resident ‘Reviewer’ - He’s compilled “The Best Rap Song s Ever ” mixtape, compilled based upon OUU members suggestions and opinons. Check it out. DISK ONE  Common - I Used To Love H.E.R  Geto Boys - My Mind Playing Tricks On Me  Grandmaster Flash - The Message ft The Furious Five  Jay Z - Dead Presidents  Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt II  Nas - The World Is Yours Jay Z - Renegade ft Eminem  NWA - Straight Outta Compton Public Enemy - Fight The Power  Warren G - Regulate ft Nate Dogg  Nas - One Mic  Wu Tang Clan - Triumph  Slick Rick - Children’s Story  Notorious B.I.G - Juicy  Tupac - Changes Dilated Peoples - Worst Comes To Worst  DISK TWO  Eminem - Lose Yourself  Sugar Hill Gang - Rappers Delight (7mins version)  The Pharcyde - Runnin Big Daddy Kane - Ain’t No Half Steppin  Kool G Rap - Fast Life ft Nas  Tupac - Dear Mama  Eminem - The Way I Am  Gangstarr - DWYCK  Common - Be  Kanye West - Jesus...
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Miss Issa - ?She makes music too??
2007-02-21 18:07:04
As you can see from the picture, Miss Issa isn’t the sort of girl you’d kick out of bed, Well as long as she didn’t start singing! The latin R&B star has featured on Staying Up with Fat Joe, I’m not sure who made the worst carrer move on that joint, Fat Joe or Issa. Either way the Latin beauty is claimed to be the replacement for the under-the-radar J.Lo and I no doubt expect to see her on a number of collab Joints with our hip-hop up and comers. I just have to ask. Will this be because of her music or because of her potential grab to Music Video viewers. You know? Perhaps I’m wrong I had a brief skim through her album and its the usual-so-so pop drivel we’d come to accept from the industry, Perhaps she’ll do better on hooks and the like.  I really doubt it.
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Pole Dancing? Get ya Safety Gear on.
2007-02-20 00:04:14
Her intentions were good, but If you’re going to hit the pole. Know what your doing and if you don’t, then get the safety gear on And that my fellow hip-hop fans is called the Pole Dancing Face Plant.
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Busta requests a truce with the 50, Game drama
2007-02-20 00:04:14
Busta took a while to pass comment on the 50 and Game beef but now he has.  Following the needs of his desire to have both artits on his up-coming album “Before Hell Freezes Over”.  Perhaps given the cirumcstances you’d do the same. I mean after all Busta wants to live up to the albums name. He’d be doing so in getting both rappers on the same joint What did Busta have to say then? “If you listen to ?The Devil?s Advocate?, which is the title track on his (The Game?s) album, I didn?t agree with his role at how he handled the situation.” Busta on Fifty “50, even though I don?t agree with everything he has done, he is still someone of an orchestrator of the situation from a general rank standpoint. If you are an apprentice, coming under someone. there is a general pride and ego. You gotta swallow a certain thing. It?s a part of being conditioned for greatness. Humbling yourself is the key when it comes to reach a certain place. That doesn?t app...
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Beef Sells - 50 Cents Marketing Scheme - Kill A Cam
2007-02-19 06:03:03
50 Cent - Beef Market ing Only a fool would deny that beef doesn’t market, perhaps a topic that would source a lot of debate. But, would Nas and Jay-Z be so famous had it not been for their beef? In time bringing both their weights up and their public exposure? Its no exaggerating that the majority of 50’s early exposure came from his allegiance with Eminem and Dre and then his beef with the likes of Ja and Game.  A beef that during its end left us mind-numbingly bored. So, 2007 starts and within the first two months, 50’s taking shots and getting responses. Calmly he responds offering Cam an out. One which we all know Cam couldn’t take giving his mindset. And then atypical to the teaching of The Art of War 50 begins to Divide and Conquer aligning himself with a very naive and fame hungry Jim Jones. Jim indirectly sides with 50, Claiming that the whole situation is no more than “aggressive competition”. - To the casual eye Jim’s no more than ...
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Seriousness Killed Hip-Hop (Hip Hop is dying part 2)
2007-02-19 06:03:03
Part 2 in the 5 part series of hip-hop is dying. Imagine rappers rapping about something that isn’t rap, that isn’t the hood, your ice or armageddon. Imagine an industry where rappers rap about waking up next to a girl with no teeth, an industry where rappers, rap about positive things. Even if it is kept hood with boasting about a score or perhaps about whats going right in the world. You see - In my opinon those days are gone, Artists such as are a breed that have long gone and there feel good vibe and love for the games fading away, Artists who now come out with similar styled tracks are shunned and fans question there ability even with sound and prooved artits such as Eminem, following his drop of Encore featuring songs like “Just Lose it” and “Big Weenie“. Ems album and ability where put into question with fans up-in-arms stating they hope he becomes more serious on his next album. Why? Why do we need more “Serious ness” in a genre...
More About: Hip Hop , Hip-hop , Part , Dying

Crews Killed Hip-Hop (Hip Hops dying - Part 1)
2007-02-18 18:02:02
Welcome to the 1st part in a 5 part series on what killed hip-hop Crews killed hip-hop - Back in the early days Nas, Rakim, LL, Big L, Redman where all heads who where noticed for there legendary status. All of which was founded on there music alone. The good old’ days. Artists who could drop a dope album and it could reach a peak without a single guest apperance. These days have long past, Its all about Label Mates, Crew Beef, Guest Appearances, Named Producers. With crews like. G-unit, Dipset, Aftermath, Wu-Tang, Roc a Fella, Black Wall Street, Machine Shop Spot. Its become a requirement that you have Guest Appearances. A track produced by the Neptunes, Blaze, Timberland, Dre etc.. If you don’t have a crew its hard getting up there and if you have a crew and theres no drama you won’t hit any headlines and you’ll stay well below the radar. I point you all to my Gunit vs Dipset 50-Beef Marketing Post Now don’t get me wrong some crews had a winning for...
More About: Hip Hop , Hip-hop , Part , Dying , Kill

Goodie Bag Downloads
2007-02-18 18:02:02
The guys over at OhWord have put togther a hot goodie-bag download of some classic and rare hip-hop joints. Including 3.Parental Advisory - ?Let Loose The Lingo? 6.Lakim Shabazz ? ?Style Wars? And 14.Professor X. featuring Brother J., Wise Intelligent, Big Daddy Kane, Freedom Williams, The College Boyz, Two Kings & A Cypher, Shock G, Ex-Girlfriend, Chuck D. ? ?Close The Crackhouse? All fresh tracks which  are well worth a peep - so head over to OhWord and download it http://www.ohword.com/blog/633/were-not-d one-yet-20-bonus-tracks
More About: Downloads , Download , Down , Good , Load

Beef Sells - 50 Cents Marketing Scheme - Kill A Cam
2007-02-18 18:02:02
50 Cent - Beef Market ing Only a fool would deny that Beef dosen’t market, Perhaps a topic that would source a lot of debate. But, Would Nas and Jay-Z be so famous had it not been for there beef? In time bringing both there weights up and there public exposure? Its No exagerating that the majority of 50’s early exposure came from his Alligeance with Eminem and Dre and then his Beef with the likes of Ja and Game. A beef that during its end left us mind-numbingly bored. So, 2007 starts and within the first two months, 50’s taking shots and getting responses. Camly he responds offering Cam an out. One which we all know Cam couldn’t take giving his mindset. And then atypical to the teaching of The Art of War 50 begins to Divide and Conquer aligning himself with a very naieve and fame hungry Jim Jones. Jim indirectly sides with 50, Claming that the whole situation is no more than “Agressive Compeition”. - To the casual eye Jim’s no more than a med...
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Lyricaly Prepared do it again - Mixtapes to drop!
2007-02-18 18:02:02
Lyrically Prepared do it again. Mixtape s soon to drop! Whats good heads? Just a quick heads up from the OUU Crew Lyrically Prepared from the Mint45 have announced that they’ll be hitting up the Studio on the 18th of Febuary to bring you guys some hot mixtapes by the 21st. Anyone remember Stand Up from Semantics by Treazon & Threatz? If you don’t check out our Myspace Page and check it out there. The Lyrically Prepared Duo, Threatz and TreaZon have left Eleveation trails behind them, surpassing heads around them. So I doubt I’m alone in looking forward to the three mixtapes. LP Soldierz - Integration TreaZon - Semanticz II:Back To Studies Threatz - The Moment Of Truth All hot to drop on the 21st, Don’t belive the hype / Watch them Blaze this MIC More info on Lyrically Prepared can be found at. Lyrically Prepareds Myspace,TreaZon’s Myspace,The Mint45 Label Homepage The Official Urban Underground Offical Urban Underground - Bringing you the hottest ...
More About: Apes , Again , Tapes

Is Hip Hop dead?
2007-02-18 18:02:02
Hip-hop is dead A sentiment shared by many heads - especialy after Nas put it out there with his similarly titled album.But is this pro-claimed demise of Hip Hop no more than groupies and dick-ryders trying to carry the message of those they Idolise? Lets be honest! How many of these heads know what hip-hop is? You see alot of the hip-hop market being 13-18 year olds who want to break in. Hip-hop kicked off in the 1970s, Its birth, Its first conception. The Four Components, MC’ing, DJ’ing, Graf and Breaking - Lets be honest.Half of these self-titled ‘hip-heads’ don’t know the first thing about hip-hop they listen to Rap, Dress up baggy and suddenly they’re Hip-Hop gurus? I don’t buy that, Nor do I buy that hip-hop is dead, I agree its taken a twist that alot of your mainstream fans don’t like and one that your ‘old skool’ heads disagreed withfor years and years prior. The south hitting the main-stream, Beef rising to new le...
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Rip Doc Doom
2007-02-18 18:02:02
Doc Doom shot in Compton [WuFam ] If I gotta go out, you’re comin with me, like 50/50Split decision, Doc. Doom, the rugged rhyme physician //Talk rude, bubble-goose, straight outta Hell’s kitchenVerbal hitman, Bobby Steels’ ditch-diggin henchman The Wu-Tang affilate known for his apperances on both Killa Bee’s albums was apparently recording to drop on RZAs new albumand to drop on a New Black Knights Album. The Wu’s Black Knights member Doc Doom was shot in compton the night of the 11th of febuary. Yet another head hit by the hip-hop violence, Another rapper out. Condolences from the OUU Crew Go out to all heads associated with Doc Doom, Arguabbly a very underated and very sick rapper. Don’t know who Doc Doom is? Doc Doom video on the Offical Urban Unerground.com Its just unfortunate that as many of the heads out there think, The whole situation was no doubt over something 99% insignificant. You have people that are serious out from the hood and...