…or rap. Actually his verse on this isn’t awful.

Lupe Fiasco ft. Pharell – Kick Push Remix

Shirt by Plain Gravy 

San Antonio Spurs vs Sacramento Kings – I can tell you right now, NO TEAM IN THE WEST WANTS TO PLAY THE KINGS.  They have been playing as good as any team since they aquired Ron Artest.  When you combine the physicallity of both Ron Artest and Bonzi Wells, they can dish out more pain than a tagteam matchup from the WWE.  Plus the frontline of Brad Miller and Shareef Abdu Raheem (although he never has been in the playoffs before) is damn good.  We all know what Bibby brings to the table in terms of clutch shooting.  That being said, these are the Spurs they are playing.  The most exciting boring team I can think of. The Spurs have not played their best down the stretch though and Manu is not 100% but when all is said and done combined with some Robert Horry heroics the Spurs win 4-2.

Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Lakers – I’m really excited about this matchup. Did I mention I’m really excited about this matchup.  Besides that, I’m really excited about this matchup.  Phoenix has no interest in playing defense whatsoever.  Kobe should average 50ppg during this series, really.  I think Vegas is taking bets on what Phoenix will do more, shoot 3′s or attempt alley oops.  I know Phoenix has won 50 games this year but the famous X-factor is Phil Jackson. Kobe wants nothing more but to be MJ’s.  I can hear it now…. "Kobe’s shot on Nash..GOOD!..The Lakers Win!" Craig Ehlo will be happy. I have to again go against the grain here and say LA is going to pull the upset.  LA wins in 7.

Dallas Mavericks vs Memphis Grizzlies – Honestly, this one series that I could care less about the actual game and more about the post game comments made by Avery Johnson. Dallas is much improved on the defensive end this year and they have an MVP canidate in Dirk Nowitzki.  On the otherhand, I do think the Grizzles are a pretty well balanced team which is partly due to the job Mike Fratello has done in balancing the offense and trading away that weirdo named Jason Williams. Eddie Jones and Mike Miller are constant threats on the perimeter whenever they throw the ball in to the bearded monster Pau Gasol but Dallas has so many damn weapons on offense and Josh Howard is a problem on both ends of the court for any team.  This series is going to be alot closer than people expect but Dallas wins 4-3.

Two new Joey tracks.

Joe Budden Ft. Coke – Stuntin’  

Joe Budden Ft. Neema – Start Something 

I see how you XXL cats are moving. Releasing these little article snippets late on Friday afternoon’s when nobody is really paying attention. Uh huh. Well eskay is always paying attention.

Here is a little bit more from the Busta interview in their next issue:

Why haven’t you cooperated with the police?

It’s a time and a place for everything. This man’s life—his name, his legacy, who he was—is not going to be misconstrued by the agendas that really don’t have the same value for this man’s life the way we do. I need to be real clear, real patient, real understanding and real focused of the way this situation needs to be dealt with. And I have to consult with a team of people that advises me in the most appropriate manner necessary. I’m not gonna jump out of a project window and kill myself in the process, because that point will serve no purpose to adding to whatever support that I have already obligated, and have already effectively executed, concerning the support that’s needed by my man’s family. I serve no purpose in killing myself in the process of handling the situation in the way that it needs to be handled.

According to SOHH, Kat Williams aka Money Mike aka A Pimp Named Slickback, has signed an album deal with none other than Camron’s Diplomat Records. I remember reading an interview with him where he said he was recording a rap/comedy album, and I heard the Dipset rumor, but now it appears to be official. Cam is said to have sealed the deal by blessing Williams with a custom Dipset chain recently in Atlanta. 

If you’re curious about Mike’s lyrical abilities, you need look no further than Game’s Ghost Unit mixtape from last year, where  Pimpin’ hooked up with the Compton rapper for a dis track aimed at Rocafella artists the Young Gunz: 

Chris and Neiffy I’m all in you sweety
Y’all can’t beat me
You’ll see when you meet me
And I’mma say it real clear so you niggaz understand
Fuck the Young Gunz and both of your fans
Somebody in your camp should’ve told you to stop it
And now you two rappers gettin’ fucked by a comic
I done been to New York
You niggaz aint a factor
How does it feel to get dissed by an actor
And y’all can’t really diss a nigga at all
I made one fuckin’ movie I’m more famous than y’all
And it’d take more than some Young Gunz to hurt me
I put your momma on the stroller bitch aint but thirty
Y’all just got mustaches how y’all gonn burn me
Two young gay virgins a Bert and Ernie
You don’t concern me cuz y’all aint hot
Y’all the only girl group Rocafella got
Now the fact just don’t say my name no more
And try to keep your CD out the 99 cent store

Not bad for a comedian huh? D4L better watch out or they might end up on the wrong end of a Money Mike dis next. In the same MTV interview he said "I’m not gonna ever be a great rapper…But I can flow better than 36 percent of the rappers out there. As long as ‘Laffy Taffy’ is out there, I could be a genius, lyrically." He ain’t lying.

Marc Ecko Goes Head To Head With Denver Over Graffiti 

Snoop to release novel in the fall 

Pimp C’s Bentley Totaled By Fleeing Gang Members 

Media Takeout has the audio of Eminems Eulogy at Proof’s funeral 

2nd Duke Stripper Didn’t See Rape

Detroit Pistons vs Milwaukee Bucks - I really like alot of players on the Bucks (Redd, Ford, Simmons) but let’s be real. It’s just a tune-up for Detroit. Bogut a rookie and should get abused whenever he’s on the floor by Detroit’s frontline.  Magloire is a pretty solid center for Milwaukee whenever he decides to put forth effort but that isnt too often.  Detroit is primed for a championship run, Milwaukee is just happy to be in the playoffs. Detroit wins this one 4-0.

Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls – Miami is pretty much in the same situation as Detroit.  They are ready for their championship run but Chicago is ALOT better than Milwaukee so this playoff series could manifest some interesting games and matchups.  Shaq will probably force Tyson Chandler to miss the rest of next season by the time the series is over but the matchup I do want to see is Dwayne Wade vs Ben Gordon. Dwayne Wade is clearly the superior of the two but BG is no pushover.  I think the games overall will be tight but Miami will win them down the stretch.  Miami wins 4-1.

New Jersey Nets vs Indiana Pacers – This matchup will probably be the best out of all the matchups in the East.  I dont know who has a bigger head these days, Nets fans with their dreams of making the finals or Jason Kidds son? I know realistic Nets fans are thinking they can atleast make a run to the Eastern Conference and they just might but Indiana is as hard a matchup as any first round opponent in the Eastern playoffs.  If there is to be an upset in the first round, I think this will be it. If Jermaine O’Neal is somehow healthy, there is NO ONE on NJ who can check him. The X-factor for Indiana is Jamal Tinsleys health and conditioning and if Peja can somehow rewind back to 2002 and get himself going.  On the otherhand, NJ has one of the most electrifying players in the L with Vince Carter and we all know what he is capable of doing both in the regular season and the post season. I’m going to go against the grain with this one and say Indiana upsets NJ 4-2.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Washington Wizards – Do you really think David Stern is going to allow his golden boy ‘Bron to get cooked by Gilbert and get sent home in the first round? Hell nah.  I mean technically, Washington should win this series but them refs got the call from Stern, they know what time it is.  I wouldnt be suprised if a player on the bench gets called for a foul on Lebron during this series.  Cavaliers win 4-2

There’s a new Raekwon interview up over at XXL and it it looks like somebody had an extra helping of crabby patties for breakfast that day. There are so many quotables, but here are some of the standouts people will be talking about tomorrow:

For you to keep asking me questions, whatever, whatever. I’ma give it to you, but I can’t even get caught up in any kind of politics no more. It’s about artistry. I’m in there making a painting right now.

I never lost my way. Muthafuckas lost their way, if anything. You got a lot of dudes out there that’s legendary [who] ain’t really got the politics behind their art. My shit stay growing, it’s just that the people need to grow with me. It’s a new generation, [but] I’m from a generation where [everyone is] very solidified in knowing who I am. I can’t keep trying to satisfy everybody that don’t understand.

Either I suck or I don’t suck. It’s like in the Vibe magazine, how the fuck y’all niggas gonna give me two [stars]? How the fuck y’all gonna give me two [stars] and then give [more] to all these country muthafuckas, who I feel really don’t get busy like that. That’s not saying that I don’t got a lot of respect for country niggas, ’cause I do got a lot of respect for country niggas, but that shit is bullshit, man. Niggas is classifying that shit as hip-hop? Get the fuck outta here, man. I ain’t going for that, man. 

And I ain’t stooping myself down to another level to be some shit that I’m not. And I ain’t got nothing against nobody in the South. This ain’t me going at the South, ’cause I was the first nigga to give OutKast and them niggas a muthafuckin’ shot in New York. If you really wanna go back and check your history, at who helped muthafuckas’ careers, I was the one that gave Nas his fuckin’ shot. Me and my family. We were the dudes that gave all these niggas a shot…Kanye West, all these niggas, and now muthafuckas act like they don’t got to pay homage? We gon’ make y’all pay homage with this record.

So there you have it. Take it how you want to take it, but I understand where the man is coming from. This is the guy responsible for one of the greatest albums ever recorded and I feel his pain. If you want to get all offended and emotional, as I’m sure some of you will, then as The Chef himself would say: It’s whatever whatever.

Warrant issued for D12 member Swift after he skips court for Proof’s funeral

Tony Yayo tries to distract us from his lack of cooperation in the Israel Ramirez shooting by doing charity work (or at least that’s how the Post spun it) 

Snoop and Game sued for concert beatdown 

Duke lacrosse player has alibi