With the unprecedented success of the Hilltop Hoods, you would assume that the commercial floodgates of Australian hip-hop had opened. But for many in the scene, commercial and international recognition still seems a long way off, writes Dan Rule.

A PERFECTLY aligned collection of gold and platinum, ARIA-accredited records hang high on the wall behind Tirren Staaf's desk. A book of graffiti art rests proudly on the shelf; the business section of the paper blanks one side on the desk.

"Man," he sighs, nodding first to the right, where the view takes us south, across the rooftops of central Prahran. "Things have certainly changed from a few years ago."

He gestures in the other direction, where a doorway opens into Obese Records' spacious offices, and the industrious quiet of half-a-dozen employees going about their business.

"We used to do the whole distribution operation out of the back room of a shop, which was seriously about the size of a couple of photo booths," he laughs. "Then of course, we got this little record called The Calling by the Hilltop Hoods."

After the death of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on December 27, a lot of speculation has been made about the political conflict in the country. The death, which many are calling an assassination, occurred two weeks before a state election, where Bhutto was a leading opposite candidate to President Pervez Musharraf, whom many believe was behind her death.

Grand Scheem, an independent rapper based in Miami, had something to say on the matter. Born in Karachi, Pakistan, he has been featured in Rolling Stone, The Source and XXL. He used the civil wars going abroad, and compared to film and music within the Hip Hop context to help others understand.

By Allen Starbury

DMX recently revealed a more spiritual side of his persona during an interview with MTV, and says he has decided to go in the studio to complete his first-ever gospel-rap album.

According to the rapper, the album will not include the topics you usually hear from him. This one will be "without cursing -- how 'bout that one?

"No songs about bitches, no songs about robbing, just straight 'Give God the glory,'" he continued.

The gospel album is not the only news though. He will be dropping another album as well. In fact, the other album will be a second disc accompanying the gospel album, making it a double album. One disc is a straight hip-hop release, while the other was created with the Lord in mind.

By Howard University Hilltop Editorial Board

We all hear about degrading hip-hop lyrics. And we hear about the lyrics that promote violence and illegal acts. But what about the songs that we think are totally innocent?

A Hilltop staffer spoke about her church choir doing the "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" dance, during a service in hopes of intriguing their younger attendees of the service. Perhaps a less degrading song would have been more appropriate to encourage children to want to come to church every Sunday.

Another Hilltop staffer confessed that he did not even know the Soulja Boy song was saying "Superman that ho." He just heard "Superman" and would do the dance. Furthermore, does anyone know what "Superman that ho" really means? It's gruesome.

Simply Google "Superman that ho" and when the Urban Dictionary link pops up, click it. Same goes for the Spiderman-which is almost just as gruesome. Girls especially, will probably be disgustingly surprised at what they are singing and dancing to.

Doing "the Heisman on that ho" is another example of a lyric that may not have a well-known meaning. It's pretty funny how girls find themselves doing the Heisman on that ho all the time, probably without realizing that the intent of the song was to degrade them. Which came first, the lyrics or the meanings?

The world of Hip Hop in 2007 became more mainstream as well as begrudgingly more gay friendly. The artist Kanye West must be singled out for his stance against homophobic lyrics, the campaign in which went global and potentially may change the world of pop music. This year was also a very important one for the emergence of so many openly gay Hip Hop entertainers. Please review the articles below.

	Rap star Kanye West calls for an end to homophobia in the hip-hop community
	The lyrics may be ugly, but gays like hip-hop
	Hip-Hop Culture Forced to Re-examine Itself. “I’m here to say that hip-hop ain’t dead, he just needs to get free!” rapper and activist Tim’m T. West called out.
	A political Fiasco,Rapper Lupe Fiasco talks gay rights, hip hop and Hillary Clinton
	HomoRevolution Tour highlights new genre

By Kai Beasley

Many Americans view commercial hip hop as little more than a venue for scantily clad women and shallow lyrics about drugs, fast cars and fast cash. But on the West African stage, hip hop is proving to be a political weapon, capable of inciting rebellion and change.

"We don't talk about the girls and the bling bling," says Abdoulaye Aw, the founder of Propagand'Arts, a firm that introduces African artists to the American hip hop industry. "We use our music to educate the people and talk about the real issues."

The artists say that their desire to educate is what sets Senegalese hip hop apart from its American counterpart. The musicians have a preference for substance over entertainment value.

By Mel Cooke

After Ras Frazer had asked the crowd for support "from yu a bun b.........m an' sodoweak" at the Sting Road Show outside Ken's Wildflower Lounge, Port Henderson Road, Portmore, early Saturday morning, his brief performance did not last much longer.

And there was a tussle with a member of the Supreme Promotions team, organisers of Sting, after the microphone was snatched from his hand when he walked to the back of the stage.

MC Nuffy said that "nodoby cyaan go roun yasso", indicating the rear. However, he explained, there was a condition "when yu have a sponsor show."

"All my show whe no have no sponsor yu can sey anyting," he said. With sponsored shows, though, "the sponsor have suppen inna de paper when de promoter come to dem."

"If yu breach de contrac' yu no get de res' a de money," Nuffy said, pointing out that if there was no sponsor there was no concert. "If yu no like certain man yu no haffi chat bout dem," Nuffy said.

By Jonathan Cohen

As expected, Michael Jackson will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his iconic "Thriller" album with a new edition of the set, due Feb. 12 via Epic/Legacy Recordings. It will include remixes by Kanye West, Akon and will.i.am, plus rare and unreleased material from the time period.

West remixes "Billie Jean," while will.i.am has revamped "The Girl Is Mine" and "P.Y.T." The album also features a new version of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" with both Akon and will.i.am.

Among the unreleased tracks is "For All Time," which was recording during "Thriller" but left on the cutting room floor. Jackson has personally mixed and mastered the song. Also featured is Jackson's original "Billie Jean" demo and the rarities "Someone in the Dark" and "Carousel."

Rapper 50 CENT keeps a friendly reminder of his rivalry with hip-hop star KANYE WEST in his office - a stuffed teddy bear.

The G-Unit frontman keeps the soft toy - a reference to the mascot regularly featured in West's album artwork - next to pictures of friends and fellow entertainers Justin Timberlake, Madonna and Jessica Alba.
But unlike his other memorabilia, the In Da Club hitmaker isn't a fan of the cuddly bear - he uses it as a ventriloquist dummy to mock West.
Showing off the toy during a special edition of MTV's Cribs last week (29Nov07), the rapper stood next to a picture of King Kong saying, "Kanye wants to say goodbye", before kicking the small bear under a desk.

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He leads the list with eight, followed by Amy Winehouse, while the Minnesota Orchestra got a nod for Beethoven's 9th.

By Jon Bream

Will Kanye West graduate to the Grammy for album of the year?

The outspoken, critically revered rapper has consistently and loudly complained in the past when he didn't win the big prize, but his third CD, "Graduation," brought him eight nominations, including album of the year, on Thursday.

West will compete for top album at the 50th annual Grammys along with Amy Winehouse's forward-feeling retro R&B "Back in Black," country stalwart Vince Gill's ambitious, satisfying four-disc "These Days," the Foo Fighters' versatile, rockin' "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" and jazz hero Herbie Hancock's all-star tribute to Joni Mitchell, "River: The Joni Letters." Featuring three hit singles so far, the hyper-creative West's "Graduation" is the biggest seller of the bunch -- No. 3 on the list of the year's best sellers, to be precise.

Dancehall dons' anti-gay lyrics fuel local calls for Jamaica sanctions

By Sigcino Moyo

In his book "Words to Our Now", Thomas Glave, SUNY Binghamton prof and gay Jamaican-American author, ponders the “gnawing fear” of the Jamaican LGBT experience.

"How will it happen?" he asks of the all-too-inevitable violence faced by gays and lesbians in Jamaica. "With fire... gasoline... machetes" pickaxes" hammers" guns" knives" simple strangling" or a good old-fashioned stoning?

"Will our father do it to us, or a neighbour? A boyfriend, or a co-worker? Will everyone in our community turn on us?"

Considerable international attention has been given recently to anti-gay violence in Jamaica following a rash of deaths there.

The seeming Jamaican government authorities' reluctance to do anything about it, despite calls from Amnesty International, has Helen Kennedy, the executive director of Egale Canada, the largest gay-lesbian group in this country, openly questioning the Harper government's pledge to dole out $600 million to bolster the infrastructure of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries over the next 10 years.

"Why are we using taxpayers' dollars to support countries that don't observe basic human rights?" Kennedy wonders. Jamaica still has a prohibition against the "abominable crime of buggery" on the books.

And nowhere in recent talk of constitutional reform on the island is the issue of gay rights addressed.

Common gave West his first chance, only to be eclipsed by his protege. But they’re still best friends

By Pete Paphides

Common’s Covent Garden suite is big enough to accommodate an elephant, but the one in the room is a metaphorical one. The previous night Common opened for his best friend Kanye West at the O Arena, West’s first show since his mother Donda died during cosmetic surgery. The headliner sang Hey Mama and promptly broke down at the end of the song. But Common’s camp say that the 35-year-old rapper will speak only on condition that no mention is made of West’s mother. Oh, and also anything else whatsoever to do with Kanye West.
It could be tricky. Even if Common doesn’t want to discuss his buddy’s woes, the two rappers pretty much come as a pair these days. How do you mention Common’s album Finding Foreverand its predecessor Be without mentioning the hip-hop star who produced them – not to mention the long friendship that precipitated them?

By Ben Hoyle

Brighton and Hove is to become the first British city to prohibit art that incites racist, homophobic or sectarian violence.

Proposals to ban from the city’s pubs, clubs and galleries any exhibition, music or performance that provokes hatred of minorities are expected to be ratified next week as part of a review of the council’s licensing policy. Failure to comply could lead to a venue losing its licence.

Freedom of speech campaigners questioned the right of councils to police public taste in this way, on the day that two High Court judges ruled that Jerry Springer – The Opera was not blasphemous (see story below).

Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said: “Whether it’s Jerry the opera or Jerry the rapper, we must ensure that we are preventing criminal offences and not just offence itself.”

The catalyst for Brighton and Hove council’s initiative is the “murder music” targeting gay men that has been popularised by Jamaican dance-hall reggae artists such as Buju Banton, Beenie Man and Sizzla.

By Darryl D. Smith

Some call it an epidemic. Others call it a freedom of expression. Some just don't care. Wearing sagging pants has become the norm for many young African American men, whichever side of the issue they take.

Sagging, as defined by Wikipedia, is "a fashion trend for wearing pants below the waist to expose one's boxers, practiced by males." Sagging has been linked to prisons, where some inmates were not given a belt to hold up their pants.

Walking around Grambling State University's campus today, one can almost instantly see a male student wearing sagging pants.

One freshman is content with his style of dress, which includes sagging.

"I don't like my shorts above my knees," said Justin Woodard.

The reaction to the sagging pants fashion is mixed.

"It's a freedom of dress," said Kimberly Monroe, a Grambling State senior. "You should be able to wear what you want to wear."

Tiffany Wells, however, disagrees — somewhat.

"It's cute to a certain extent," the junior said. "If it's too low where I can see your underwear, then that's not attractive. I like more of the Kanye West type."

One freshman doesn't like the style at all.

"I think it's sloppy and trifling," Jiordelysah Lewis said. "It's a bad image of our black men."

Kanye West attended funeral services last week for his late mother, Dr. Donda West, in Spencer, Oklahoma, and several friends in the music industry come out for support.

The ceremony was held on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at True Vine Ministry Church and attendees included recording artists Jay-Z, Beyonce, John Legend, and Anita Baker.

After breaking down during a concert in Paris, France, on Nov. 17, the next day Kanye addressed a packed arena in Brussels, Belgium, where he told the audience:

“[These songs are for] problems that we’re going through … hard times. Who would ever have thought that these same songs would have to help me?

“Every show, every song I do has a different meaning to me now, whether it’s ‘Heard Em Say’ – ‘nothing’s ever promised,’ ‘Can’t Tell Me Nothing,’ ‘Jesus Walks,’ ‘Touch The Sky’ … [what] don’t kill me can only make stronger!”

West also explained that he will continue touring, despite advice from friends to “go home and clear [his] head.”

He resumed his “Glow In The Dark” tour through Europe on Thursday in London.

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Hollywood Not For Him

By: Tiffani Cage

Rapper Kanye West sold his Beverly Hills home, just nine months after purchasing it, said AOL News.

West has reportedly sold his six-bedroom, four-bathroom house and has not even moved into it. West bought the house in February of this year, for a whopping $7,150,00.

According to AOL News, the Real Estalker blog says that the house’s sale price is about $8.699 million.

During a concert in Paris on November 17, West broke down during an attempt to perform his song “Hey Mama,” which was dedicated to his mother, the late Dr. Donda West. He was consoled by band members. The Grammy-winning rapper buried his mother in her hometown of Oklahoma City on November 20. West’s mother underwent a fatal cosmetic surgical operation. West also pulled out of the scheduled taping of the Victoria’s Secret Show.

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London, Nov 27 - Outspoken rapper Kanye West once planned to be a porn star.

West seriously considered a career in porn movies before his fiancee Alexis Phifer changed his mind, thesun.co.uk reported.

He said: 'That career choice popped into my head once or twice. Which guy doesn't want that? Just sometimes in their life. This was my mentality before I was engaged.'

West also revealed that before he met Alexis he was a womaniser. 'When you first get money you go to the Gucci store, you buy two of this, three of that. Now that I have finally matured, and I'm in a place where I can actually be faithful, I can see an attractive girl and say 'wow she looks nice,' and just let it be that,' the rapper said.

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By Richard Ford

Gay rights campaigners have highlighted the lyrics of some of reggae’s biggest stars in their campaign for a new offence of inciting gay hatred.

Ben Summerskill, the chief executive of Stonewall, the gay rights group, said that although there was protection against racial and religious hatred, there was no such law specifically for gay people.

He told MPs last month: “We are mindful that there has been an increase in the incidence in recent years of what seems to us to be very obvious examples of incitement to hatred that would not be otherwise caught by the criminal law.” He said that a key area of concern was the creation and distribution of some reggae music.

Mr Summerskill gave MPs an example from a record called Hang ‘em High by the popular Jamaican artist, Beenie Man. The song included the lyrics “Hang chi chi gal wid a long piece of rope”. Mr Summerskill explained: “The key lyric in that means, ‘Hang lesbians with a long piece of rope’.”

Mr Summerskill said that Beenie Man had also released a single called Batty Man Fi Dead, which means, essentially, that gay men should die.

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by Alan Leo

A week after his mother's death, Kanye West returned to the concert stage Saturday night, only to break down in tears, People.com reported.

A video on YouTube captured West's emotional moment in Paris. Nearing the end of the more than 60-minute performance, with the riff of "Hey Mama" beginning, West attempted to introduce the tribute, saying "This song is for my mother. ..."

"He just cracked," one attendee told People. "He was at the end of his concert and had just started to dedicate the song and then he just lost it completely

Donda West died last Saturday after undergoing cosmetic surgery. Funeral services are planned for Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

"He said the word, 'Mother' and just couldn't go any further," journalist Meddy Magloire said. "A back-up singer, the DJ and a guitar player came over to console him. It looked like he might collapse. He just couldn't continue."

Magloire told People that the audience of 5,000 was silent, then offered calls of encouragement that grew into applause.

West walked off the stage, but returned collected to end the night with "Stronger."

By George Rush, Soo Young and Nancy Dillon

Kanye West is devastated and seemingly "in denial" after a botched plastic surgery likely led to the sudden death of his beloved mother, friends told the Daily News.

The rapper, who has been in Europe on tour with his album "Graduation," needed several days to gather the strength to fly back to the U.S., family friends said.

Adding to the tragedy, a friend says, the Grammy-winning rapper didn't think his mom, Donda West, needed any physical improvement - much less radical cosmetic surgery.

"I don't think Kanye was aware Donda was getting the surgery, or certainly the extent of it," a family friend said. "He loved and supported her just the way she was. He thought she was beautiful."

Donda West, 58, died on Saturday at a Los Angeles hospital just 24 hours after receiving a breast reduction and tummy tuck from Dr. Jan Adams, a well-known TV doctor with a hidden history of DUI convictions and six-figure medical-malpractice judgments.