T.I. and Nicole Scherzinger are featured on the double cover of Rap-Up’s December 2007/January 2008 issue, on sale now at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million, Safeway, Vons, 7-Eleven, newsstands, and Rap-Up.com. Inside you’ll find:

T.I. IS NO STRANGER TO CONTROVERSY » The rapper who’s currently under house arrest shares how he maintains his fast-paced lifestyle, his plans to marry and start a family with girlfriend Tiny, staying out of trouble, his friendship with Suge Knight and Jay-Z, and retiring from rap.

It’s definitely not the look I’m going for. I’m working diligently, daily, to try to reform, and rectify these things. But until I do, I need everybody to bare with me. If they can’t bare with me one way, they gonna have to bare with me another.

CONTINUE READING

Thank Guawd “Breakin Dishes” is finally a single, bout damn time! Hehe, that was the first song I loved immegiately after listening to Good Girl Gone Bad (Def Jam) and doing a review. The song, similar to Nelly Furtado’s late-2006 “Maneater” as far as synth, is about a female narrator pissed and wrecking havoc on account of her spouse’s frequent lateness returning home; suspects he’s cheating. Go Rihanna, brekin’ dishes and kickin’ bitches! <3.

Breakin’ Dishes // PROD. BY TRICKY STEWART + THE D R E A M

The D R E A M - Love/Hate » Love Hate (Def Jam), or “Love Me All Summer, Hate Me All Winter,” is the debut album by singer and songwriter The-Dream. The album drops December 11 and will include the singles “Shawty Is Da Shed” and current single “Falsetto.” Most of the production for Love Hate was done by none other than Tricky Stewart and appearances by Fabolous and Rihanna of course. I really enjoyed Love Hate, it’s a vibrant album, I get this whole Prince + Dream + Dark Vadar + house + club vibe; meaning it seems he pulled some Prince inspirations and fused it with his own sound. I can literally play the whole album through and not skip one damn song becos that’s how much I love it! So I might have to go out December 11 and get me a copy!

Fast Car // Nikki // Ditch That… // Livin’ a Lie ft. Rihanna

Mary J. Blige // Growing Pains » Growing Pains (Geffen) is the name of MJB’s new studio album which hits stores December 18 and includes the hit single “Just Fine” produced by The-Dream and Tricky Stewart. The album starts off as this big celebration with the first single “Just Fine” that kind of gave me this Jackson vibe, I still think she shoulda got them on the remix or something, that’s a hot joint right there! Anyway GP continues to mid tempo and then to some real nice downbeat, classic ol’ school joints to say it best, that’s what it sounded like to me. Guest appearances for this LP includes Ne-Yo, Ludacris, and you know Mary had to get Usher on this project — he ripped that shed! Yes you should go get this album, the arrangements and production are pretty solid and Mary delivers as always! Two thumbs up! My favorites are “Roses,” “What Love Is” and “Come To Me (Peace).” AND “WORK THAT!” <3.

Just Fine // Roses // Work That! // What Love Is CONTINUE READING

Surfing Def Jam a while ago, found the video for The-Dream’s new single “Falsetto,” decided to post it. I should have a review up shortly, in the meantime, check out a full preview of the album on KILLED THAT! Thanks Andrew!!