Kanye West; Singer - Turned - Designer?
In Friday's Daily Rap we have a look at this year's Grammy nominations, Grammy Nominations, Pimp C is remembered, we wonder if Kanye West is really going to give up rap music and Brandy gears herself up for come-back.
Pimp C Remembered
It was the first anniversary yesterday since the passing of Pimp C, one half of the Texas duo UGK. Pimp C was found dead in an Los Angeles Hotel room last December after accidentally overdosing on prescribed medication.
It had been just two years since the rapper had been released from prison after serving four years of an eight year sentence for failing to comply to the terms of his community service after pleading no contest on charges of aggravated burglary. Pimp C and partner Bun B were one of the first acts to put Texas on the Hip-Hop map.
However it was their appearance on the 1999 Jay Z song Big Pimpin that propelled the duo into the mainstream.
Various rappers and friends of Pimp C have been talking about his death and just how he is missed to media.
Kanye really giving up rap?
There have been various reports that super producer Kanye West is throwing in the towel on his rapping career which have been denied by the rapper and those associated with him. However yesterday a story broke that does confirm that West just might be taking a break from the music industry to concentrate more on fashion.
Kanye who has constantly kept Hip-Hop as up to date with trends and styles has offered to work for free within a fashion house to learn and understand the intricate world of fashion before embarking on a career in the industry. "I want to and will be the real thing,"
He previously wrote in a blog entry. "I will not just be a 'celebrity designer,’†and like anything he turns his hand to, he plans on learning from the best having reached out to Louis Vuitton and Raf Simons to offer up his services.
Kanye who released his 808s and Heartbreak last week currently sits on top of the album chart selling 450,000 in the first week of sales.
Brandy gearing up for come-back
Having been the focal point for her involvement in a car accident that saw one person left dead, R&B songstress Brandy is ready to face her fans with her new album Departed which will be available next week.
The aptly titled Human which the singer says was her release from all the negative press surrounding her this year as she went through emotional turmoil stemming from the accident sees Brandy work with someone who helped launch her back in 1998 with her second album.
Rodney Jerkins, famed for working with the A-List ladies of R&B was there with Brandy in the studio working on this her fifth album. "We have great musical chemistry," Jerkins explained in a recent interview with Billboard. " 'Departed' was the first song we did together after reuniting. And that says a lot: Most of the time you don't find the single until you're at the end of a project."
Welcome back Brandy.
Grammy Nominations
Lil Wayne topped the list of nominations for Hip-Hop and R&B this week when the Grammy Nominations for 2009 were announced. Lil Wayne who has the highest selling album this year within Hip-Hop with his Carter III project is up for eight awards. Close behind him with six nods each are Kanye West, Jay Z and Lupe Fiasco.
In R&B Ne-Yo and new songstress Jazmine Sullivan are up for seven and five awards respectively. The 51st Grammy Award Show will take place in Los Angeles on February 8th next year. To see the full list of nominees for the Hip-Hop sections please see below
Best Rap Solo Performance
Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)… - Jay-Z A Milli - Lil Wayne Paris, Tokyo - Lupe Fiasco N.i.*.*.e.r. (The Slave And The Master) - Nas Sexual Seduction - Snoop Dogg
Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
Royal Flush - Big Boi Featuring Raekwon And Andre 3000 Swagga Like Us - Jay-Z & T.I. Featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne Mr. Carter - Lil Wayne Featuring Jay-Z Wish You Would - Ludacris Featuring T.I. Put On - Young Jeezy Featuring Kanye West
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
American Boy - Estelle Featuring Kanye West Low - Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain Green Light - John Legend & Andre 3000 Got Money - Lil Wayne Featuring T-Pain Superstar - Lupe Fiasco Featuring Matthew Santos
Best Rap Song
Lollipop - D. Carter, S. Garrett, D. Harrison, J. Scheffer & R. Zamor, songwriters (Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major) Track from: Tha Carter III Low - T. Dillard, M. Humphrey & T-Pain, songwriters (Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain) Track from: Mail On Sunday Sexual Seduction - Calvin Broadus, S. Lovejoy & D. Stewart, songwriters (Snoop Dogg) Track from: Ego Trippin Superstar - Lupe Fiasco & Soundtrakk, songwriters (Lupe Fiasco Featuring Matthew Santos) Track from: The Cool Swagga Like Us - D. Carter, S. Carter, Clifford Harris & Kanye West, songwriters (M. Arulpragasam, N. Headon, M. Jones, J. Mellor, T. Pentz & P. Simonon, songwriters) (Jay-Z & T.I. Featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne)
Best Rap Album
American Gangster - Jay-Z Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne The Cool - Lupe Fiasco Nas - Nas Paper Trail - T.I
Melanie Cornish