Kanye West Visits Occupy Wall Street

Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons finally made his presence known at Occupy Wall Street, after some people had begun calling out the Def Jam founder for his silence. He also brought a famous friend with him, hip hop superstar Kanye West.

Kanye West showed up briefly sporting a gold grill and talking with Simmons. Simmons tweeted the news.

“Kanye west is on his way to #occupywallstreet," Russell tweeted.

Kanye's Music Banned In China

Rapper Kanye West's music has been officially banned from the Internet in China, according to the country's Ministry of Culture department. "E.T.," West's hit single with Katy Perry, has even been barred from personal websites, along with 100 other tracks deemed to be a threat to Chinese culture.

Lady Gaga, The Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, Beyoncé Knowles, Britney Spears and others were among those banned.

“Certain websites have been allowing users to play, listen to and download the listed songs,” the ministry said in a statement. “Such actions have disturbed the online music market order and endangered national cultural safety.”

Music regulating online began in China two years ago and this is the third time they've banned what the Ministry of Culture deems "tasteless and vulgar."

2011 MTV VMA Performances

LADY GAGA - YOU & I

JAY-Z & KANYE WEST - OTIS

PITBULL FEAT. NEYO - GIVE ME EVERYTHING

ADELE - SOMEONE LIKE YOU

CHRIS BROWN - YEAH 3X/PROTECT YA NECK/TEEN SPIRIT/BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

BRUNO MARS - AMY WINEHOUSE MEDLEY/VALERIE

BEYONCE - LOVE ON TOP

LIL WAYNE - HOW TO LOVE/JOHN

Syl Johnson May Sue Kanye & Jay-Z

Veteran soul singer Syl Johnson could file suit against rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West for an uncleared sample of Johnson's "Different Strokes." The sample is used in the track “The Joy,” from the deluxe edition of the top-selling Watch the Throne.

Numero Group, the publishing company for much of Johnson's catalog, Island Def Jam originally contacted the label to clear the sample--but it was for West's 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Once that previous incarnation was abandoned, Johnson was shocked to see the song on WTT and the wrong copyright holders credited in the album's liner notes.

Numero Group tweeted about the possible litigation.

"Hey @kanyewest & @JayZ, thanks for illegally sampling Syl Johnson on "The Joy" and then crediting us(?). Have your lawyers call our lawyer," the tweet read.

Jay-Z and Kanye West’s ‘Watch The Throne’ Sells 436,078, Breaking an iTunes Record

Billboard has confirmed the first week sales of Watch The Throne. According to Nielson Soundscan, Jay and Kanye sold 436,078 copies in total,  including both digital and physical CD sales. 321,000 of those units were through downloads. They also broke iTunes records for first week sales with 290,000 downloads, beating out Coldplay’s previous record set in 2008 with their LP, Viva La Vida.

WTT marks the 12th #1 album debut at Soundscan by Jay-Z, and the 5th #1 album debut by Kanye West.

"Watch the Throne" Tour Adds Dates

More Shows Announced For Highly-Anticipated Tour

Kanye West and Jay-Z's upcoming "Watch the Throne" tour has garnered such a huge reaction from the public that more dates have been announced to the tour's itinerary. The tour has been significantly altered, with some venues enjoying two nights of shows from hip hop's dynamic duo.

There will now be two shows in Atlanta, GA, and a second show in Toronto as well.

There were several other dates added, which are included below:

10-28 - Atlanta, GA - Phillips Arena
11-14 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - BankAtlantic Center
11-15 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
11-19 - Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk Hall
11-22 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
11-24 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
11-27 - Pittsburgh, PA - Consol Energy Center
11-29 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
12-03 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
12-16 - Tacoma, WA - Tacoma Dome
12-17 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena

Jay-Z & Kanye West's "Watch The Throne" Breaks iTunes Sales Record

Hov and 'Ye's collaborative album becomes the highest selling digital album in history for first-week sales.

Jay-Z and Kanye West's collaborative album Watch the Throne, which was released exclusively to iTunes last Monday (August 8th), has broken a record for the online store.

According to reports, the LP has become the highest selling album in the store's history for first-week sales, moving about 290,000 copies to break Coldplay's previous record with 2008's Viva La Vida, which sold 155,000 copies.

Upon its release last week, Watch the Throne rocketed to number one in 23 countries worldwide. Final first-week sales, inclusive of digital and physical units, will be reported on Wednesday.

Jay-Z Explains Album Title

Jay-Z gave an in-depth explanation of the Watch the Throne album title. According to Jay, the title is meant to inspire fans to protect hip hop music and culture. He wants fans to preserve the music.

"It's just protecting the music and the culture, like, it's people that's in the forefront of the music," Jay told radio host Lorenzo Thomas. "It's like, 'Watch the throne,' protect it. You just watch how popular music shift and how hip-hop has basically replaced rock n roll as the youth music. The same thing could happen to hip-hop. It could be replaced by other forms of music. So it's just like making sure we're putting that effort in making the best product, so we can contend with all these other music."

"With all dance music that's dominating the charts right now, indie music that's dominating the festivals and still holding off rock n roll," he continued. "Just to hold our place and make sure -- the hip-hop culture is still the most dominant form of music around the world."

"Otis" Maybach to be donated

Specialty Car Will Be Donated To Benefit African Drought Victims

Rappers Kanye West and Jay-Z are putting the vehicle from their “Otis” video up for auction. The specially-made Maybach will be donated with benefits going to the victims of the East African drought. Over 2 million people have recently fled their homes in Somalia due to the worst constant drought the region has seen in decades.

Over 12.4 million people have been affected by the East Africa drought and famine.

"What is happening in the Horn of Africa is the most severe humanitarian emergency in the world today, and the worst that East Africa has seen in several decades," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement. Clinton also revealed that the U.S. was donating an additional $17 million to the nations around the Horn of Africa.

Birdman on "Watch The Throne": "It's older versus younger"

Birdman shared his thoughts on Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne album. The Cash Money founder says that the album reflects an older perspective in hip hop, and he still believes that hip hop is a younger man's game.

He also alluded to Lil Wayne and Drake doing something similar.

"It's older versus younger," Baby said in an interview. "I listened to a few songs [off Watch The Throne] and it feels like an older feel to me. I think with Drake and Wayne, they young. They young cats. You got 23 and 28. Then you got Jay-Z and them, who are older and really on their way out the game. Then you got Wayne and Drake and them, who are still youthful [...] So, it's two different types of music all the way across the board. But what they're doing is great -- I think it's great for the game, great for the business, great for retail as a whole. I just think when Wayne and Drake get together is going to be something real special also because we more youthful."

Ghostface Killah: “Watch The Throne” (Album Review)

1. No Church in the Wild (ft. Frank Ocean) – Thought the beat was kinda average at first to be honest wit yall. But the shit been growin on me. The fact that Jay brought back one of his most boring flows…the same one he used on Pray off American Gangster…didnt help nothin tho. Yeezy drops his least EMPHASIZED bars in a minute n gets the green light from Jiggaman to bring autotune back. I dont kno what hour in the day this shit was recorded but it sounds like some 5 AM shit. In the end tho… both them niggas got the job done n start shit off on the rite foot nahmean. The victim of Breezy’s high pitched goon squad attack did his thing too.

2. Lift Off (ft. Beyonce) – I almost aint wanna even comment on this shit son…. I dont even kno what to say bout it yo. This shit sounds like the anthem the fairies in Ferngully would use to go to war against evil humans to or some shit b. This shit is like Shia LeBeouf in song form yo. Lissenin to this shit is like havin ya ears penetrated by a million microscopic dicks namsayin. Shit sounds like niggas doin aerobics on a magical cloud of daisies. How many meadows did Kanye cartwheel across before he decided to make this beat? Seriously yo…. Jus how many lily pads did the nigga skip across the pond on before he got inspired to make some shit like this? Definitely one a the worst songs Jay ever been involved in…thats includin those lame joints off Vol 3 wit Amil n Mariah or the worst songs off Kingdom Come….EVEN the Timbo joints off Blueprint 3. Like this joint is SOFT son. Guess thats why Jay only spit like 5 n a half bars on it. Its like the song Yung Berg would play before he goes n commits his latest string of L’s. Shit is jus terrible son…especially since it took like 6 niggas to produce this muthafucka. 

3. Niggas in Paris – If you can ignore the homoerotic title the shit actually aint bad son. I prefer it once the beat changes up tho. It starts off soundin like some shit them Young Money niggas mighta left behind in the studio one day. Like I swear I can hear Gudda Gudda gettin his mediocre on in the background for the first 2:43 minutes. But then shit gets dramatic n its all good yo. it aint really the monster track niggas made that shit out to be tho.

4. Otis (ft. Otis Redding) – First off they need to not be actin like Otis Redding is a “featured” artist on this shit. Since when do niggas sample a dude n then call that shit a feature. Son aint even been alive for like 40 years b. Otis Redding is my dude tho…so dont get that shit twisted son. That bein said…this shit still goes nahmean. Folks been divided on this joint for a minute…but that aint stop the dozen hasbeen ass niggas who hopped on this shit from strugglin the fuck out on it (Im lookin at you DMX).

5. Gotta Have It – This shit probably the least Neptunes soundin beat the Neptunes ever produced yo. Not sayin thats a bad thing tho. Im glad they aint bring no bongos or space sounds to this shit g. Niggas is jus tradin bars on some back n forth shit n basically talkin bout the usual shit they do. Kinda jus a filler joint nahmean. It probably wont be the next single or nothin…but its still a ill joint namsayin. This shit also got The Godfather of Soul’s voice all over it…but they aint put “featuring James Brown” on the tracklist for some reason. Guess they missed that one.

6. New Day – “Me n the RZA connect”….thats a nice little quasi-hook rite ther namsayin. Sorry yo…this aint the 36 Chambers RZA…but it aint the “fuckin ridicalish” aint had a meal in a hot minute soundin RZA neither yo. It basically dont sound like a RZA joint at all son. He aint bring out the pointy ass rings n get on his BONG BONG shit or nothin but the god did his thing namsayin. Shit has Kanyes fingerprints all over it still tho.

7. Thats My Bitch – I aint the biggest fan a this shit rite here yo. It aint horrible or nothin but I remember when this shit was unleashed at the end a last year n it still aint grow on me like that. Its got all that retro hip hop shit happenin on it but I aint feelin the end results like that. Not sayin its wack….but I be skippin this joint usually.

 8. Welcome To The Jungle – If Jay gon insist on usin this niggas bullshit ass beats still…the least he can do is make sure that Swizzy dont go near the booth yo. Ayo Snoop Budden…nobody gon need to hear you gettin ya “One hand in the air if you dont really care” on durin the hooks to no joints ever ever ever again son. Jus go back to contaminatin whats left of Alicia Keys n stop cashin in those favors niggas owe you to get on these high profile joints you malnourished ass lookin muthafucka. Son been urinatin wackness on these songs for years now b…. so can we jus acknowledge that the nigga got no business actin like he kno how to put together a hook now n stop lettin this whippet lookin muthafucka get near a mic? 

9. Who Gon Stop Me – Now THIS shit is a problem yo. When it started the god was like ok cool….you kno…I was enjoyin it….the bassline was soundin like a lion growlin n shit. There wasa ill mood to it. Im diggin the joint namsayin….but then it starts really transformin into a monster after a couple minutes….n its like yo…we got a serious contender for best song on the album now. By the middle it sounds like niggas is drivin Lamborghinis around in the studio n drums is hittin like automatic weapons. I love this track son.

10. Murder to Excellence – Another ill joint. Not a lot I can say bout it tho son. If you heard it you kno its jus a solid track namsayin. Like a lotta these songs its got a change up in the beat halfway through. If I had to guess Id say its probably Wyclef’s favorite song on the album tho.

11. Made In America (ft. Frank Ocean) – First of all son….Lionel Richie called from 1986 n said he wants his song back yo. Word. Sade jus holla’d on twitter to say this shit is soft as fuck namsayin. I think Elton John wants to conceive babies to this joint b. Drake said he gon soak in his lotion pool to this shit rite here for like a week son. I think Wiz Khagina is scissorin wit Amber Rose to this shit rite now as we speak yo. I heard this shit gon be used for the next Gwyneth Paltrow movie too. I dont kno how the same nigga that did Who Gon Stop Me had anything to do wit this shit but apparently he did nahmean. This shit sounds like two niggas hang glidin over the ocean together at sunset holdin hands son. I think this is bout to be on Yung Berg’s yoga playlist. I cant fuck wit this shit at all b. This shit is like audio lesbian comin out my speakers son.

12. Why I Love You (ft. Mr Hudson) – Its almost like they knew they couldnt end the album on that Made In America shit. Contrary to the title n the fact that it says “featuring Mr Hudson” on this muthafucka….this shit goes hard yo. Mr Hudson does his thing too son. I fucks wit this joint forreal forreal. Might even be my favorite tomorrow.

Bonus tracks:

13. Illest Motherfucker Alive – Ok now…when you call a song “Illest Motherfucker Alive” you really gotta live up to that shit son. This shit kinda almost lives up to the name of the song…but it aint that special yo. But Im not mad at it. Actually if Made in America n Lift Off made the album I dont kno why this shit is jus a bonus track namsayin. I think Breezy’s cousins are singin at the end a the song tho.

14. H.A.M. – This joint is still ass. Id rather listen to a whole Tyga mixtape son.

15. Primetime – This shit cool namsayin.  Aint like my favorite song on earth or nothin….but No I.D. aint go n “Timbaland” these niggas wit no bullshit ass beat at least. Son always comes through wit sumthin decent or better. This shit better than decent tho nahmean.

16. The Joy (ft. Curtis Mayfield) – This shit shoulda been a official track on the album b. I dont care how old it is now…I still love this joint. I guess they aint wanna give they fans all this old shit…which is cool namsayin. But…AGAIN yo… if Lift Off gon be on the album anyway…you might as well jus swap that wit some old shit that AINT softer than Game’s emotions b. N they put Thats My Bitch on the album anyway so maybe there aint no real excuse for makin this shit a bonus joint. But why these niggas got “featuring Curtis Mayfield” on this shit?  I think Jay n Ye better cut that shit out before it becomes a trend for these lame muthafuckas to start havin “featuring (insert dead artist here)” on they joints too b. 

Word yo. The album might got some filler n a couple joints thats jus beyond wack…but its still a pretty tight project son. Niggas produced the shit outta this muthafucka b. This aint jus some shit where dudes looped up a beat n banged out some drums on top n called that shit a finished product namsayin. Nah yo…niggas put some work in to get this shit done par. Tone appreciates that type a artistry tho nahmean. But it aint like its all fancy tricks n aint no real magic happenin under all the bullshit smoke n mirrors n shit namsayin. Niggas straight went HAM on summa thses tracks son…but not on the HAM joint tho. Another thing I appreciate is that niggas tried sumthin original n new. Plus they aint flood this shit wit guest appearances from they artist rosters n turn it into the Firm album. Hate it or love it…its probably gon be like that rare joint where niggas memorize all the lyrics to it after a week either way. Anyways I give this shit a solid 4 Zeus slaps namsayin. 

Aight peace.

G.O.O.D. Music Lands Def Jam Deal

Kanye West's imprint G.O.O.D. Music has inked a worldwide, long-term deal with Def Jam Music Group. Big Sean's debut album will be the first release under the new agreement.

"G.O.O.D. Music is an exciting new chapter in the long and successful association of Kanye West and Island Def Jam," said Island Def Jam's current CEO, Barry Weiss. "As a recording artist and a producer over the past eight years, there is no one who has made a greater impression on the game than Kanye. We look forward to working closely with the new and established artists that he will be bringing to G.O.O.D. Music, which is already off to an impressive start with Big Sean."

Island Def Jam's President/CEO Steve Bartels says the investment is worth it due to Kanye's track record.

"Kanye's genius has been proven time and time again on records and onstage," said Bartels. "He not only pours it out for himself, but he has made the difference with his presence on innumerable projects with other artists who are indebted to him."