Rapper's Delight

Nas & Damian Marley Reunite
Lately, Nas has been making headlines for reasons other than his music. Now, the Queens bred rapper is making news for his upcoming collaboration album, Distant Relatives, with Damian Marley. The rap/reggae duo's first single 'As We Enter' will be available on iTunes 2/23. Peep the video below and take a behind the scenes look as Nas & Damian discuss the joint project.

Video Soul

"read more learn more change the globe
ghetto children do your thing
hold your head up little man
your a king
young princess when you
get your wedding ring
your man is saying "She's my queeeen""

Saturday Soul

A First Hand Account of Maxwell's Return To NYC [VIBE]
Alaskan Blacks Speak Out On Palin [Chicago Defender]
The Fight Continues...Aretha Responds To Tina Turner [USA Today]
Introducing Leigh Jones & Taiwah [Songs In The Key of Life]
Young, Black, and Republican...Say What? [Hip Hop Republican]
John Legend & Brandy Create New Music Together [SoulBounce]
50 Cent's Directorial Debut...Oh Lawd!!! [Rolling Stone]
Rolling Stone Delivers The Truth About Sarah Palin [Rolling Stone]
Al Green Performing 'Good Times on Soul Train...Classic Sh*t [YouTube]
Maxwell Returns to NYC [YouTube]

Soul Tracks

Great rappers have the ability to not only tell a story but take you, the listener, along for the ride. Jay took us on an emotional ride with 'Song Cry.' Scarface forced us to face the grim realities of death on 'Never Seen A Man Cry.' Brooklyn born MC Biggie Smalls took us on a journey 'from negative to positive' on the track 'Juicy.' Nasir Jones gave us a glimpse of life in his childhood stomping grounds, Queensbridge housing projects, also home to Marley Marl, MC Shan, and Roxanne Shanté. 'Project Windows' was recorded for Nas' 1999 release, Nastradamus, widely considered his weakest piece of work. However, our focus is on the mind-blowing track 'Project Windows.' Nas channeled the spirits of literary geniuses Langston Hughes and James Baldwin: "Black hoods, cops and projects/Sewers flooded with foul blockage/The gutter's wild and every child watches/Chains and top locks get ripped off hinges." Describing the projects as a 'mental slavehouse,' Nas touches on "the life of every kid, lookin' out project windows," from dope fiends and drugs to hustlers and hoes. Ronald Isley's heavyhearted vocals add to the brilliance of the track.

Soul Fixin

Rock The Bells
The 2008 Rock The Bells Festival, hip-hop's premier summer event, is still in full effect. The festival includes performances by hip hop legends De La Soul, Rakim, Nas, Raekwon and Mos Def and new jacks Kid Sister, Santgold and The Cool Kids and many more. The festival is making stops in New York, Miami and Cali in the coming weeks. For complete tour dates and info on how to purchase tix click here.

Soul Fixin'

Nas Takes A Stand Nasir Jones is joining forces with members of progressive political organizations Color of Change and Move On to deliver a petition to Fox News' New York headquarters tomorrow. The petition is apart of a campaign to demand Fox News to stop attacking black Americans, especially Sen. Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.

In recent programs, the Obama's celebratory fist pound was described as a 'terrorist fist jab,' and Michelle Obama was labeled 'Obama's Baby Mama,' a clear attempt to associate the Obama's with negative stereotypes. In May, a Fox guest called Obama 'Osama' and went on to say that the assassination of Obama and Osama would be a good thing.

Color of Change states "these aren't one-time incidents--they're part of a pattern that continues no matter how often Fox is forced to apologize. Fox has a clear record of attacking and undermining Black institutions, Black leaders, and Black people in general.5,6 Their team of producers and on-air personalities uses innuendo to prey on fear and racist stereotypes that ridicule the progress, politics and personalities of Black America."

On Nas' recent untitled album he raps about Fox News' continued use of negative sterotypes when reporting news on people of color on the track 'Sly Fox.' Peep the music video below.

Soul Fixin'

The Jones ExperienceNasir Jones is taking his show on the road. The Queens born MC is embarking on a nation wide tour in support of his ninth studio album. 'The Jones Experience' kicks off July 19 in Chicago, ending September 5 in Minneapolis.
For complete listing of tour dates click here.

The thought provoking MC sat down for a Q&A with Rolling Stone. Check out a portion of the interview.

How do you feel about that word?
"Nigger" is from the African-American holocaust — and you can't play around with that. It's probably going to make people uncomfortable. It's definitely no disrespect to my people, or to the people who fought for my rights in this country, and died for us.

On "Black President," you sample an Obama speech. You think he'll win?
Everyone around me knows he'll be the president. Bush made everyone feel like niggers. When 9/11 happened, everyone felt like they been duped. I think people know that Barack is honest. I don't think about McCain, because he's a part of the old world, the dead America.

Your dad is a jazz musician. How did he influence you?
He was a man who controlled his life. Other kids didn't have fathers like that. Either their father wasn't around or they were in jail — they weren't musicians who traveled the world and came back with stories. I grew up with my pops the jazzman. He'd be in the house smokin' weed. He gave me weed when I was, like, nine years old. That was cool.

Check out the complete interview.

Soul Fixin'

Nas & The Wall Street Journal
In anticipation of the release of his new album, Nas sat down with the Wall Street Journal's Adviser. Readers of the WSJ aren't your typical rap fans but you can't blame a man for trying to reach a broader audience. Nas touches on his new album, jazz music and even Bob Dylan.

You're one of just a handful of people who've had a long career in hip-hop. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully I'll still be doing what I'm doing. When I watch Billy Joel, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, I see myself headed down their path. These guys have been around for decades and they still love it. I would look to them. Hip-hop is still young but we're going to see it grow older. We're going to be going to Snoop Dogg concerts in the meadow.

On the album you address race, politics and other big themes. What do you hope listeners will take away from it?
At the end of the day you should be able to go pick up a Lil Wayne album and a Nas album and not get the same thing on both. Rap should be like other music where it's not all the same content. I'm just giving people a different thing.

Your father, Olu Dara, is a jazz musician. What have you borrowed from jazz?
Jazz has a feeling to it that pushes me. I can hear the tempo and I can hear flows that I want to produce. It gives me direction for what I want to do with my words.

For the entire interview,click here.

Soul Fixin'

June Is Black Music Month
Our beloved President, George W. Bush, has proclaimed June 2008 as Black Music Month. Who said George Bush doesn't like black people? In an official proclamation, President Bush said "throughout the course of American history, black musicians have used their great talents to share the richness of the African-American experience and to develop a uniquely American style of music enjoyed throughout the world. This month, we honor the pioneers of African-American music and today's contemporary artists who have enriched the lives of people everywhere."

In honor of Black Music Month, Public Soul Announcement takes a look back at some memorable album covers.

Video Soul

Video Soul

Nas Debuts "Be A Nigger Too" Video

Nas has released the first official video for his upcoming untitled 9th studio album.Directed by Rick Cordero, the video was inspired by old Spike Lee films. Clocking in at over 8 minutes, the video includes clips of Nas looking at his reflection through a mirror and rapping about racism, politics and religion and what appears to be a white slave owner pointing a gun at a black male slave. You may or may not agree with Nas' use of the N-word, either way take a look.

Saturday Soul

Joy Denalane [Myspace Page]
Al Green's Soul Revival [Rolling Stone]
Nas' ode to Obama, "Black President" [SoulBounce]
Black Music Month:In the Midnight Hour: Soul for Lost Love and Crises of Faith [VIBE]
Remembering Bo Diddley [BET]
Celebrate Black Music Month [AOL Black Voices]

Soul Fixin'

Hip Hop Community Supports Obama

Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been dubbed the "Hip Hop Mayor." Could Obama be the "Hip Hop Prez"? Many in the hip hop community are throwing their support behind Barack Obama. MC's such as Jay-Z, Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def and 50 Cent have publicly endorsed Obama's historic run for the White House. On the eve of Obama's historic win of the democratic nomination, Diddy said "today is one of the greatest and proudest moments of my life. Not just as a black man, but as an American. Senator Obama becoming the Democratic nominee for president is history in the making and proof that we do live in the greatest country in the world." Queens born MC Nas has dropped the song "Black President," the track describes Nas' hopes for Obama should he win the election and the trials and tribulations he faces along the way. In a recent MTV interview, the outspoken and thought provoking legend had a few choices words about a possible Obama presidency,"there's never been a president to address the slaughter of young black people by this country's police," Nas fumed. "When your government's police are killing one section of people, that's genocide. There's never been a president to even acknowledge it. You don't acknowledge that? That's a big thing President Obama has to recognize when he gets in office. "I'm five presidents in ... and I ain't seen nothing happen to stop the police murders on young, black people," he added. "Why would I believe in the system? With that being said, I think Barack can cure that disease and help cure the country. Not just in that area with us blacks, but also with all Americans. Women are getting treated like dogs. You know how hard it is for a woman to prove she was raped? The system is warped. They throw young guys - who's starving - in jail just trying to survive on the streets. Throw them in jail forever. Young kids, 18 years old, executed in Texas. Yet, child predators get to come home and do it again. I think it's so much our president can do. [Obama] seems like a human being. I say that because a lot of presidents don't seem like human beings. They seem like straight-up businessmen who care about nothing but the business. Nah, you gotta care about the people."

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

Soul Fixin'

Nas Unveils Album Cover And New Video"I ain't Farrakhan or Chuck D, I'm just a Queensbridge nigga that got rich...I love pissing people off and stirring up stupid muthafuckas."Over the weekend, Nas hosted the premiere of the music video for his controversial new single "Be A N*gger Too" and unveiled the cover of his upcoming untitled album. Directed by Rick Cordero, the video was inspired by old Spike Lee films. The video includes clips of Nas looking at his reflection through a mirror and rapping about racism, politics and religion and what appears to be a white slave owner pointing a gun at a black male slave. Speaking of the album artwork Nas said "the cover speaks for itself...it says nigger real loud." Nas recently dropped plans to title the album Nigger, the album will now remain untitled. Speaking of elder civil rights leaders who opposed the naming of the album, Nas said "this record is about how the older generation looks down on us. ... There's a crew of older black people, [they're] on their way out and we're on our way up. It looks like hip-hop niggas is about to make that Oprah money, and that's scary to them."

Soul Fixin'

King Jay & Queen Mary
Mary and Jay have recorded a new joint "You're Welcome" produced by Swizz Beatz. Rumors are now swirling that Jay and Mary are working on a collabo album. Being a fan of both Mary and Jay I would love to see a Mary & Jay collabo album. "Can't Knock The Hustle" is a classic.They collaborated on the song "Turn Off The Lights", which was hard as hell!! The chemistry between the two at Jay's Madison Square Garden concert was great, Mary sang the hook on "Song Cry." How does Jay do it all? Recording artist, club owner, part-owner of the New Jersey Nets, and fledgling hotelier...YES, Jay plans on opening a hotel in Manhattan. Rumor has it he plans on starting his own label and making an album with NAS.He is also going on tour with Mary and creating an advertising agency with Steve Stoute, Translation Advertising, an agency that will help marketers reach "urban" (BLACK) consumers. At times I am disappointed with hip-hop but it has opened so many doors for African Americans. Who would have ever thought a kid from Marcy Projects would become one of the great business men of our time.Thanks Hip-Hop. Take a listen to Jay & Mary's latest collabo.