JAW Top 10 Urban Blogs
Chris Brown Trending Topic #TeamBreezy
Lil’ B:
Titles New Album,
“I’m Gay.”
JAW
contents features Blogs: RapRadar, ConcreteLoop, Boosip, NahRight, MissInfo.tv, and more Chris Brown: Ease Up Breezy Lil’ B: Is Hip-Hop Ready for “I’m Gay”
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G-Shock
Available at Macy’s www.gshock.com
departments Editor’s  Letter 7KH 2I¿FDO 7RS +LS +RS %ORJV &KULV %URZQ 7HDP%UHH]\ /LO % 1HZ $OEXP ³,¶P *D\´
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Letter From The Editor Blogs  have  no  rules.  They  make  their  own.  That’s  why  I  read  them.  They’re  expressive.  They  speak  from  an  opinion  standpoint,  which  I  can  always  respect.   There  are  so  many  to  choose  from.  They’re  limitless.   Like  others  need  their  coffee  in  the  morn- ings,  I  need  my  blogs.     MediaTakeOut  and  World  Star  Hip-ÂHop  (just  to  name  a  few)  prove  my  point.   There  is  no  shame  in  their  game.  If  you’re  black,  talented,  and  make  mistakes,  expect  to  be  posted.  Chris  Brown  is  no  stranger  to  the  blogs.  Correct  me  if  I’m  wrong,  but  Breezy  is  the  most  talked  about  young  black  talent  on  the  posts.   Bloggers  constantly  write  about  him  daily.  From  his  outburst  from  “Good  Morning  Americaâ€?  to  dying  his  hair  beach  blonde,  he  can  be  easily  found  on  a  blog  page.   The  “Deucesâ€?  star  dedicates  his  album  F.A.M.E.  (Forgive  All  My  Enemies)  to  those  same  people  that  doubted  him.  This  issue,  I’m  recognizing  the  most  talked  about  urban  blogs.   These  blogs  are  viewed  my  millions.   They  give  us  magazine  workers  a  run  for  our  money.   Whether  you  believe  it  or  not,  people  cannot  wait  to  hear  the  latest  gossip.  Blogs  have  the  power  to  draw  DQ DXGLHQFH DQG NHHS WUDIÂżF IRU WKH VLWH 6DGO\ WKH content  doesn’t  necessary  have  to  have  a  reliable  source  or  any  source.  With  that  said,  JAW  has  made  it  fairly  easy  for  viewers  and  ranked  the  must  view  top  urban  blogs.  Who  knows-Â-Â-Âmaybe  your  favorite  blog  is  on  the  list.  Â
Jonathan  White Ediitor-ÂIn-ÂChief Follow  me:  twitter.com/JonWasHere View  Blog:  highendblog.wordpress.com/ 6
ROCAWEAR
THE OFFICAL TOP 10 BEST HIP-�HOP BLOGS
With  thousands  of  hip-Âhop–related  blog  sites  popping  up  on  the  net,  JAW  has  ranked  the  best  to  view.  At  this  point,  imagining  hip-Âhop  without  the  Internet  is  like  imagining  modern  life  without  electricity— vaguely  comprehensible  but  clearly  tedious,  inconvenient  and  primitive.  Whether  the  World  Wide  Web  is  actually  the  new  streets  is  debatable,  but  the  ease  of  exchanging  music,  words  and  ideas  has  forever  altered  the  way  hip-Âhop  is  created,  marketed,  distributed,  sold  and  discussed. Â
$OEXPV VLQJOHV DQG YLGHRV OHDN RQOLQH ÂżUVW L7XQHV KDV UHSODFHG ERWK ORFDO UHFRUG VWRUHV DQG QD- tional  chains.  And  Twitter,  YouTube,  Facebook  and  MySpace  are  increasingly  narrowing  the  dis- tance  between  artists  and  their  fans.  In  an  effort  to  help  readers  wade  through  the  ever-Âdeepening  stream  of  information,  JAW  has  assembled  a  list  of  the  10  Top  Best  Hip-ÂHop  Web  Sites.  Blogs,  lyrics  archives,  MP3  downloads,  artist  pages  and  digital  record  pools  are  all  included  here.  9
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Rapradar.com:  Backed  Miss  Info  (real  name:  Minya  Oh)  by  Eminem’s  manager,  links  up  news,  music,  videos  and  Paul  Rosenberg,  and  humor.  And  although  the  content Â
fronted  by  longtime  hip-Âhop  is  fairly  standard,  her  insider  in- journalist  Elliott  Wilson  (Ego  dustry  connections  and  real-Âtime  Trip,  The  Source,  XXL),  Rap  Twitter  omnipresence  strengthen  Radar  was  launched  in  early  her  brand  and  lead  to  the  occa-Â
2009  to  bestow  the  public  with  Slim  Shady Â
sional  exclusive.  Info  rarely  pens  lengthy  manifes-Â
exclusives,  a  healthy  collection  of  daily  links, Â
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aggregated  content  and  grainy,  cinema-ÂveritĂŠ Â
personality  to  separate  herself  from  the  army  of Â
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bloggers  with  arid  Tumblr  pages.
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and  news  links,  NahRight Â
tors  and  apologies  to  Taylor  Swift  distinctly  appear Â
presents  material  with  little  judg-Â
to  be  his  handiwork.  Now  the  blog  has  changed Â
ment  or  analysis—a  blurb  of  ex-Â
from  his  own  leaked  songs  of  G.O.O.D  music.
2dopeboyz.com:  Smart,  knowledgeable  blog  that  doesn’t  think  East  Coast  and  under- ground  are  epithets. Â
Kanyewest.com:  Formually  known  as  anyew-Â
estuniversity.com,  The  blog  was  updated  several  times  daily,  with  fashion  photos,  in-Â
terior-Âdesign  links  and  MP3s  that  underscore  ’Ye’s Â
Nahright.com:  Arguably  the  most  reliable  eclectic  sense  of  cool.  And  although  he’s  aban- hip-Âhop  blog  for  gorging  on  a  steady  stream  doned  the  claim  that  he  works  without  a  ghost- of  new  MP3s,  video  clips Â
planation  from  founder  Ahsmi  “Eskayâ€?  Rawlins  and  crew  is  VXIÂżFLHQW 'XH WR WKH IUHTXHQF\ RI XSGDWHV FRQ- tent  skews  toward  artists  with  a  heavy  Net  pres-Â
blogger,  the  all-Âcaps  rants  about  Twitter  persona-Â
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Allhiphop.com:  Launched  back  in  antedi- luvian  1998  by  Greg  “Grouchyâ€?  Watkins  and  Chuck  “Jigsawâ€?  Creekmur,  AllHipHop Â
ence,  but  there’s  also  an  intentional  emphasis  on  became  the  grand  dame  of  material  from  promising  underground  artists. Â
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Missinfo.tv.com:  Best  known  for  delivering  lac-Â
rap-Ânews  sites  wby  virtue  of  dependable  original  report- ing,  opportune  Q&A  inter-Â
erating  gossip  scoops  on  Hot  97,  this  former  views  and  those  famed  e-Âmail  editor  at  XXL,  Vibe  and  Rolling  Stone  joined  EODVWV :ULWLQJ TXDOLW\ FDQ
the  print  world’s  great  migration  to  the  Net  back  in  seesaw  between  professional  the  spring  of  2007.  On  her  crisply  designed  blog,  and  greenhorn,  but  sprawling  coverage  of  music,  10
fashion,  gadgetry  and  sports  gives  aspiring  jour- ogetically  lowbrow  site  has  managed  to  become  a  nalists  a  valuable  place  to  amass  clips  and  sty- meaningful  online  player.  Sometimes  a  serving  of  listically  sand  off  the  rough  edges.  All  the  while,  digital  junk  food  hits  the  spot.
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Mediatakeout.com: Â Fashion Â
Fail! Â
Which  Flavor  of  Love  Star  is  Knocked Â
Up?  Diddy  tthrows  up  in  club!  Ah,  the  Perez  Hil-Â
members  of  the  site’s  teeming  Ill  Community  mes- ton  methodology  for  success:  gossip,  lots  of  capi- sage  boards  have  spent  eight  long  years  scrutiniz- WDO OHWWHUV SLFWXUHV RI FHOHEULWLHV Ă€DJUDQW FDSWLRQV ing  the  most  important  topic  in  rap-Âforum  history:  and  more  gossip.  Judging  from  MediaTakeOut’s  Jay-ÂZ  vs.  Nas—who  lost  and  why? Â
7 Â Â 8 Â
collection  of  sex-Âtape  stills,  entertaining  paparazzi  ÀLFNV DQG
 Concreteloop.com: Â
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Urban-Âentertainment  blogging  since  2005. Â
content  more  than  compensates  for  low  produc- tion  values  and  dubiously  sourced  scoops. Â
Vladtv.com:  Once  known  as  the  DJ  behind  (QWULHV DUH IROORZHG E\ ÀRRGV RI FRPPHQWV VRPH dope  mixtapes  like  Biggie’s  Rap  Phenom- are  spam,  and  many  are  repeated),  so  clearly  this  enon,  Vlad  chose  car  crashes  over  crab  GLJLWDO GXPSVWHU ¿UH LV ZDUPLQJ D IHZ KHDUWV
scratches:  His  video  site  is  a  low-Âgrade  repository  for  miscellaneous  clips  and  a  few  original  mono- logues  from  veteran  morning-Âshow  hosts  Star  &  Buc  Wild.
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.  Worldstarhiphop.com:  A  clearinghouse   for  any  video  footage  that  could  conceivably  appeal  to  hip-Âhop  rubberneckers,  World- 101  College  Place:
star’s  pursuit  of  the  lowest  common  denominator  Fresh  new  site  created  by  Hampton  University  makes  the  gossipmongers  at  TMZ  seem  cut  from  students  in  the  journalism  and  communications  the  Walter  Cronkite  cloth.  Besides  music  videos,  department,  101  College  Place  has  a  lot  to  say.  artist  interviews  and  content  ganked  from  other  These  future  media  professional  write  stores  of  RXWOHWV :6++ SRVWV XS FOLSV RI WHHQV ÂżJKWLQJ interest  and  relatable  to  higher  learning.  Topics  crackheads  singing,  car  crashes,  local  ciphers,  include  entertainment,  food,  fashion,  and  politics.  UDSSHUV EHHÂżQJ DQG VRIW FRUH SRUQ &ODVV\" 1RW Be  sure  to  follow  them  on  Twitter:  @HUJAC30 really.  Despite  allegations  of  rigging  page-Âview  stats  and  charging  artists  for  coverage,  the  unapol- 11
Quality NOT Quanity
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Ease Up Breezy DESPITE Â CONTROVERSY, Â CHRIS Â BROWN Â REMAINS Â ON Â TOP Â OF Â THE Â CHARTS
tively  is  thorough  music.   The  dancing  phenomenon  does  that  with  his  latest  album  ) $ 0 ( ZKLFK ODQGHG KLP KLV ÂżUVW GHEXW DW WKH No.  1  spot.  Â
With  the  success  of  his  album,  Chris  should  have  nothing  to  worry  about,  right?  Wrong.  F.A.M.E.  doesn’t  always  come  with  fortune.   He  still  has  to  deal  with  the  critics  that  insist  on  bringing  up  his  dark  past.  Doesn’t  seem  like  the  “Deuces�  star  Forgiven  All  [His]  Enemies  from  his  latest  outburst  on  Good  Morning  America.
Appears  that  Chris  Brown  didn’t  like  the  outcome  of  the  interview  taken  place  with  anchor  Robin  Roberts  at  GMA.   Throughout  the  interview,  you  VHH &KULV VTXLUP ZKHQ EHLQJ DVNHG TXHVWLRQV regarding  Rihanna.  He  made  it  clear  that  he  didn’t Â
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wo  years  since  the  unforgettable  want  to  address  the  matter,  but  to  only  focus  on  encounter  with  pop  star  ex-Âgirlfriend  his  new  music.  The  behavior  shown  after  an  in- Rihanna,  and  Chris  Brown  is  still  de-Â
fending  himself  from  his  actions.  Breezy  may  never  really  be  completely  forgiven? Â
Media  outlets  are  have  proven  this  claim.  Chris  %URZQ FRQWLQXHV WR DQVZHU TXHVWLRQV DERXW WKH incident  when  he  already  addressed  from  countless  statements  and  sit  down  interviews.   The  21-Âyear-Âold  has  had  about  enough.  Seems  like  the  only  way  for  Chris  to  express  himself  posi- 14
terview  was  unacceptable  for  someone  that  has  been  through  anger  management.  Completely  losing  control  back  stage,  Breezy  smash  mirrors,  threw  chairs,  and  stormed  out  the  studio  in  rage.  Fed  up  with  journalists  going  back  to  the  past  and  not  his  music  breaks  him  down. Chris  Brown  needs  to  get  re-Âsing  the  line  “Live  your  life‌  Don’t  let  them  bring  you  down,â€?  from  his  latest  single  Beautiful  People.   In  the  video,  you  can  see  Chris  just  being,  well,  Chris.  In  the  streets  late  hours Â
in  the  night,  Breezy  rides  scooters  with  his  friends.  Throughout  video,  it  shows  behind  the  scenes  foot- age  from  the  process  of  F.A.M.E,  from  studio  time  to  party  time.  If  Breezy  can  remain  has  joyful  as  he  ZDV LQ %HDXWLIXO 3HRSOH KHÂśOO EH MXVW ÂżQH +DWHUV ZLOO FRPH ZLWK VXFFHVV ,WÂśV KRZ \RX KDQGOH FULWLFLVP which  makes  all  the  difference. Â
Believe  it  or  not,  but  Chris  Brown  is  the  future  of  R&B.  He  has  the  potential  to  be  King  of  the  Pop  game.  The  Look  At  Me  Know  star  will  be  internationally  known.  The  entertainer  is  constant  with  proving  to  his  audience  that  be  can  both  sing,  dance,  and  perform  on  stage. Â
Breezy  must  be  ready  to  handle  the  critics,  haters,  and  fans.  They’re  going  to  continue  to  come  at  him  hard.  Stay  strong  Chris!  Deuces.  15
(From Left to Right) Terrance J, Rosci, and Chris Brown on 106 n Party Album Release of F.A.M.E.
(Fron Left to Right) Tyga and Chris Brown performing Look At Me Know.
(From Left to Right) Bow Wow and Chris Brown hit the stage on BET’s 106 n Park
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Is Hip-Hop Ready for “I’m Gayâ€?? A  VERY  STRAIGHT  RAPPER  SAYS  NEW  ALBUM   WILL  BE  TITLED  “I’M  GAYâ€? Â
in  his  prospective,  means  being  ositive  and  being  your  own  individual. Â
For  all  of  the  outrageous  stunts  that  Lil  B  has pulled  in  the  past  year  -Â-  releasing  songs  titled  “Justin  Bieberâ€?  and  “Miley  Cyrus,â€?  this  may  be  his  most  controversial  move  yet.
Since  announcing  the  album  title,  Lil  B  told  MTV  that  he’s  received  death  threats  for  the  title.  “I’m  very  gay,  but  I  love  women.  I’ve  never  been  at- tracted  to  a  man  in  my  life.  But  yes  I  am  gay,  I’m  so  happy.  I’m  a  gay,  heterosexual  male,â€?  he  told  MTV.  “I  got  major  love  for  the  gay  and  lesbian  community,  and  I  just  want  to  push  less  separation  and  that’s  why  I’m  doing  it.â€? 7KH SUROLÂżF ,QWHUQHW REVHVVHG %D\ $UHD UDSSHU announced  at  Coachella  that  he  would  call  his  next  album  “I’m  Gay  –  a  provocation  that  extends  past  the  comfort  zones  of  many  rap  fans.  This  isn’t  WKH ÂżUVW WLPH JD\ FXOWXUH DQG KLS KRS KDYH FRPH into  contact,  but  since  Lil  B  is  a  rapper  right  on  the  fringe  of  the  mainstream,  and  he’s  putting  himself  LQ WKH PLGGOH RI WKH JHQUHÂśV ORQJ WHUP FRQĂ€LFW RYHU homosexuality.
Lil  B  is  arguably  the  noisiest,  oddest,  and  most  intriguing  Bay  Area  rapper  out.  Born  Brandon  McCartney  with   tattoos  on  his  neck,  chest,  and  arms,  and  grills  in  his  mouth.  Former  member  of  The  Pack,  Lil  B  is  dedicated  to  being  Based,  which Â
B  insisted  he’s  not  a  homosexual,  but  that  he  is  JD\ L H H[WUHPHO\ KDSS\ ÀLSSLQJ WKH ZRUG DQG IRFXVLQJ RQ LWV RWKHU GH¿QLWLRQ +H LV WDNLQJ D stand  for  everyone  to  be  free  of  judegment.    19
“Yes, I am gay, I’m so happy. I’m a gay, heterosexual male.”