DJ K-Swift Death = Foul Play?

Shame. Once again.

Via HipHopDX.com

This morning, The Baltimore Sun's website profiled the life of pioneering club and radio personality DJ K-Swift who passed away in a swimming pool accident earlier this week [click to read]. The article reveals the importance Swift had on the city, with one record executive claiming that her programming determined "a B-more hit."

Although the article itself makes no allegations, online readers and numerous voices in the Baltimore music community are alleging foul play in Swift's death.

An online article, written anonymously last May alleged that stations, namely 92Q and K-Swift were among the few local artists given airplay. The deejay was managed and in business with Unruly Records, a label seemingly given preferential treatment in breaking regional records. The article reveals testimony of payola, specifically with deejays including Swift.

Unruly Records has released the following statement on their website, from president Shawn Caesar, "Unruly Records is deeply saddened by the loss of our friend, sister, label mate, and legendary female deejay 'K-Swift.' In this time of bereavement, it is our prayer that the memory of K-Swift remains in the heart and minds of those who knew her well." The site also has directed press and media to their legal council.

This morning, an anonymous source, claiming to be a longterm acquaintance of K-Swift contacted HipHopDX, adding that her death was suspicious. "The pool water was disgusting, from all that I've heard, not the kind that was going to be swam in by anyone," the source said. The pool was an above-ground pool without a platform, making the diving motives questionable in the five feet of water.

HipHopDX will keep you updated of further developments in this story.

And this blog.

NaS Behind A Petition Against Fox

Haha. NaS is my hero. Fox...no.

Via HipHopDX.com

When Nas dropped his Untitled LP with "Sly Fox" in the track listing, many saw the more political side of Mr. Jones. On the track, he goes in depth to speak on Fox News and what they refer to as "fair and balanced" reporting. He voices his distaste and attacks Bill O'Reilly in the process. Although that was simply one song about the matter, it appears that Nas is taking the inspiration for the track and being active about stopping the news corporation from continuing what he calls "patterns of racist attacks against black Americans."

A petition has been signed by 620,000 people so that Fox News stops those said "patterns of racist attacks." Nas, ColorofChange.org and MoveOn.org have issued a statement noting that this petition will be sent to Fox offices in Manhattan today, July 23, 2008 at 2:00p.m EST.

Nas' statement on the matter cites Fox's declaration of Senator Barack Obama's wife Michelle Obama as "Obama's baby mama." He also cited Obama being confused with Osama Bin Laden on the network and a pundit claiming they both should be assassinated. Another instance of this cites Bill O'Reilly talking about a "lynching party" for Michelle Obama.

"Fox poisons the country with racist propaganda and tries to call it news," Nas said in the statement.

James Rucker, executive director of ColorofChange.org added to this.
"When Fox talks about lynching the woman who may soon be our first lady and then refers to this wife and mother as a 'baby mama,' they are maligning not only the Obamas, but black women and black people across this country," Rucker stated. "We have over 600,000 signatures -- more than half a million people -- saying that we won't stand for Fox's racism and hate-mongering."

Detox To Be A November or December Release

Via HipHopDX.com

According to Dr. Dre, his long-awaited third studio album Detox is nearing completion - and could be here before the year is up.

"I'm just now — over the last couple of months — starting to feel that it's going to be right and it's something I can be proud of, and everybody is going to love it," says Dr. Dre to USA Today. "In a perfect world, I'm shooting for a November or December release."

According to Dre, who does not often speak on the project, his goal is not necessarily to raise the bar for Hip Hop production values, like 2001 and The Chronic before it. "I've never set out to do that," says Dre. "I just make the music feel the way I want it to feel and I don't put it out until I'm totally happy with it. Then it does what it does."

Since he first hinted at the project in 2002, Dre's Detox has been a subject of speculation ever since. The project was slated to some out in 2004, yet faced constant delays. Mentions of the project appeared on albums by Eminem, The Game and Snoop Dogg, yet never amounted to anything. Further speculation was fueled by mixtapes like Pretox, hosted by Mick Boogie, as well as countless artists and producers revealing they had contributed to the album in some way.

"We have an entirely new thing going with the drums that's incredible, and we're still developing that." says Dre, who revealed all "the usual suspects" will make guest appearances, including Nas, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne.

And if you thought Detox was a long wait, Dre says the next one (if there is a next one) will be even longer. "I'm going to put this record out, promote it, tour and then become a hermit. I'm going to stay in the studio and produce."

As for future plans, Dre, who was instrumental in launching the careers of Snoop Dogg, Eminem and 50 Cent, is interested in working on new artists rather than established ones.

"All I want to do is sit in the studio with that person for a year and try to create another masterpiece."

NaS Leads Album Sales This Week

About time Wayne gets taken out.

Via HipHopDX.com

After endless weeks of controversy, Nas' Untitled [click to read] album reigns the charts with 186,600 copies sold in its first week. Grabbing the #2 spot is Lil Wayne's Tha Carter 3 [click to read] with just under 105,500 copies sold. If Wayne's sales continue at this pace, he'll be due for a double platinum plaque by next week! David Banner's latest effort The Greatest Story Ever Told [click to read] debuted this week at #8 selling 51,800 in its first week. Rihanna maintains her spot in the top 10 with the re-release of Good Girl Gone Bad selling 41,200 copies in its 59th week on the charts. Usher's Here I Stand [click to read] rounds out the top 5 leading Hip Hop/ R&B artists at #19 with 26,000 copies sold this week.

Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)

Rank Artist Album This Week Total
1. Nas
Untitled
This Week: 186,640
Total: 187,078

2. Lil Wayne
Tha Carter 3
This Week: 105,490
Total: 1,912,052

8. David Banner
Greatest Story Ever Told
This Week: 51,805
Total: 51,902

10. Rihanna
Good Girl Gone Bad
This Week: 41,269
Total: 1,482,574

19. Usher
Here I Stand
This Week: 26,071
Total: 906,641


G-Unit takes a drop from #9 last week to #24 this week with Terminate On Sight [click to read] selling 21,200 copies this week--a 42% decline from last week's numbers. Plies' Definition of Real [click to read] comes in at #26 selling 20,500 copies. Three 6 Mafia grabs the #29 spot with Last 2 Walk [click to read] selling 18,431 units this week. After reports surfaced that the self-proclaimed drug pushin', gun toting "boss" Rick Ross is in actuality a former corrections officer, his sales have yet to suffer this week. Trilla [click to read] sold 9,700 copies this week, only a 4% decline from last week. However, next week's numbers (the first full sales week after this week's revelations about Ross' past) will be the true sign of any fan backlash.

Other Notables

Rank Artist Album This Week Total
24. G-Unit
Terminate On Sight
This Week: 21,219
Total: 159,369

26. Plies
Definition of Real
This Week: 20,522
Total: 400,789

29. Three 6 Mafia
Last 2 Walk
This Week: 18,431
Total: 156,835

58. Rick Ross
Trilla
This Week: 9,702
Total: 629,610

74. Tech N9ne
Killer
This Week: 8,076
Total: 57,771


Will August heat up on the charts with new albums on the horizon from heavy-hitters like The Game, Ne-Yo and Nelly? Or will the youngins get schooled by new projects from Ice Cube and LL Cool J? Can femcee/ producer Missy Elliot come in for the sneak attack and shock the charts? Stay tuned as DX brings the play by play.