<url>http://blog.thesource.com/images/RSS2Image.gif</url> <link>http://blog.thesource.com/Default.aspx</link> <width>77</width> <height>60</height> </image> <item> <title>FM Headlines Hiro Ballroom In NYC</h1> <article> <h1>FM Headlines Hiro Ballroom In NYC</h1> <p>Blog Author — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:34:40 GMT</p> <p></p> <p> FM knows the routine. Fly into town on the red-eye, eat, rock the show, mingle with fans, then its back on another Boeing 757 to do it all over again. City after city, the quartet comprised of members Kev-nish, J-Spliff, Prohgress, and DJ Virman consistently deliver performances filled with immaculate timing and natural chemistry. On another hot and humid night in New York City, the four West-Coasters have made their way to yet another K-town tucked quietly in Midtown Manhattan. Waiting patiently for their Kalbi and Mandoo to be served, Far-East is chopping it up with several other prominent Asian-American music figures, soul-singing phenomenon Vudoo Soul and Hot 97’s Miss Info are among FM’s welcoming party.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><o:p> </o:p>“We won, we won four- nights in a row at Blazin 98.9’s hot or not contest. Just one more win and we’ll be added to their playlist,” shouts Kev-nish as he receives a very pleasing text-message. As he informs his group mates of the news a sense of self-satisfaction takes over his crew. It has been about six-years since the Far-East Movement stepped on to LA’s underground hip-hop scene and based on their appearance alone, the child-hood friends didn’t always draw applause and accolades by feisty rap fans. FM had to earn their respect the same way as any other aspiring hip-hop group. That meant performing like it was their last show whether there was three or three-thousand people in the crowd. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><o:p> </o:p>After filling their stomachs with some Korean-cuisine staples, the boys of FM must excuse themselves to make an early entrance to the night’s venue where they’ll be performing as part of a Mcdonalds sponsored tour. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“It seems like every night now, we either have a show or appearance to do. No more hanging-out with homies,” says Prohgress with a bit of despair. As their car arrives and the group is whisked away to nearby club Hiro Ballroom, the group must quickly get prepared for only their 2<sup>nd</sup> performance in the Big Apple. Tonight representatives from Bad Boy Entertainment are in attendance, and the venue is packed to the brim with slanted-eyed clubvgoers looking to wind down after a long work week. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><o:p> </o:p>It’s about 1:00 am and Miss Info takes over the DJ booth and cuts the music to a mute, after a brief intro she asks the finicky NYC crowd. “New York City, are you ready?”,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>DJ Virman immediately drops the beat and the west coast explosion unleashes on stage and like skilled surgeons the emcees cut through every snare and bassline Virman throws down. With their signature call and response abilities, FM is able to draw the usually skeptical and self-proclaimed <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">cool </em>New Yorkers into their realm. “ I Love New York, I really do; the crowds here will let you know if they are feeling you or not”, exclaims Far-East rhymesayer J-Spliff after their performance. The FM boys controlled the audience that night, finishing their set off with current radio smash, “Lowriding”. Newly-formed fans mobbed the stage from all angles, trying to get an individual glimpse of the group’s members. There’s no doubt about it, the Far-East Movement has found a new home in the East. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><strong>BY: Mikey Fresh</strong></o:p></p> </article> <article> <h1>Unsigned Hype - C.H.A.S.E.</h1> <p>Blog Author — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:59:39 GMT</p> <p> </p> <p> North Philly is a long way from Hershey Park and the other mountain side resorts that the state of Pennsylvania has to offer. The “City of Brotherly Love” has continually charted some of the highest murder rates in the country and has only seen a recent increase in crimes being committed by black males under the age of twenty-five. For anyone to call this place home, the constant struggle is to getaway from the violence. After moving from Houston to the 32<sup>nd</sup> & Dolphin block of North Philly which happens to be a gang infested section of the city at four years old, a charismatic and storied emcee named C.H.A.S.E. bounced around through more schools and states that he can count on both his hands. “The one thing I definitely remember about Houston was going to the Galleria Mall and they had an ice skating rink in the middle of the place. Those were some of the few positive memories from my childhood,” says C.H.A.S.E. on one of the summer’s most unbearably afternoons.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><o:p> </o:p>It’s just about rush hour in lower Manhattan’s financial district and peaking down from a 26<sup>th</sup> floor roof deck, young C.H.A.S.E. can see Wall Street tycoons and CEO’s scrambling to make their way home. But unlike the business men and women so many floors below him, he’s not in rush to go anywhere. “I’ve lived in shelters, city missions, abandoned buildings, cars, basically the streets. Experiencing all the rough situations gave me a better outlook on life, and opened up my mind,” explains the twenty-eight year old emcee. Writing rhymes since the age of twelve, C.H.A.S.E has studied the masters and carefully developed a flow and style that carries a diversity to suit the teeny-bobber crowd as well as Hip-Hop purists in search of real lyricism. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>“I’ve been recording music for about 10 years, and over time I experimented with every different rhyme scheme, flow, and pattern. From real life situations, stories, and songs for the ladies I can do it all,” says C.H.A.S.E whose two-hour excursion to Manhattan seems all too routine these days. As a teenager he was inspired by the likes of Public Enemy, Nas, and the late Big Pun. C.H.A.S.E refers to Big L as one of his favorite emcees of all time, and admits to struggling in the early-days of his career, when he was still trying to develop his own skills. “I think when everyone rapper first starts and is trying to develop their own style, they sound just like their favorite rapper and I wasn’t any exception, “says C.H.A.S.E. with a short pause before bursting into laughter.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><o:p> </o:p>Chase now makes the commute to New York City just another step in his quest to rise to the top of the Billboard Charts, the Philly native is a firm believer in pushing his musical endeavors outside of his city’s limits, “We need to open up our minds, and think outside of the box. A lot of times artists from Philly won’t even support each other because they might not be a Beanie Sigel or Freeway, out mentalities are too local." C.H.A.S.E cites his love of Hip-Hop as his motivation to keep striving for higher goals in his career, “The first time I heard my voice on a tiny tape recorder is when I just fell in love with making music. I used to just make tapes with my boys having fun, and it kept us out of trouble for a while,” explains C.H.A.S.E.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><o:p> </o:p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">After wrapping up a freestyle session for a crowd of scantily clad women who just happen to be sun-tanning on top the New York City loft, Chase immediately checks the constant buzzing of his Iphone. With the help of websites like Myspace and Reverb <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Nation, fans have been inquiring about the kid from places he’s only read about or seen in movies. For a young man was once homeless and living on streets, the transformation into a burgeoning emcee has been no easy ride, “ I’ve always been a loner and never really fit in. Moving around a lot as kid and being exposed to all kinds of different areas really had an affect on my writing. It gave me a lot of diversity in my flow and lyrics,” says C.H.A.S.E.</span></span></p> </article> <article> <h1>Introducing Unsigned Hype - C.H.A.S.E</h1> <p>Blog Author — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:54:34 GMT</p> <p><font face="Arial"></font></p> <p><font face="Arial"></font></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><font face="Arial">WWW.MYSPACE.COM/PHILLYCHASE<br /> <br /> WWW.REVERBNATION.COM/PHILLYCHASE<br /> <br /> WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PHILLYCHASE</font></p> </article> <article> <h1>Jacob The Jeweler Gets 2 1/2 Years In Prison</h1> <p>Blog Author — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:37:43 GMT</p> <p><a onclick="return openSS(this.href);" target="ss" href="http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Jacob-the-Jeweler-New-York-businessman-Detroit/photo//080624/480/45e56c0b48fb44159dd1582099723fcc//s:/ap/20080624/ap_en_ce/people_jacob_the_jeweler;_ylt=AtakYTWG2IYOyDLiBSfH5enqChkF"></a></p> <div class="storyhdr"> <p><span>By DAVID N. GOODMAN, Associated Press Writer </span><em class="timedate">Tue Jun 24, 4:28 PM ET</em> </p> <div class="spacer"></div> </div> <p></p> <p>DETROIT - The <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1214339330_0" style="BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none">New York businessman</span> known in the hip-hop world as "<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1214339330_1" style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">Jacob the Jeweler</span>" was sentenced Tuesday to 2 1/2 years in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1214339330_2">federal prison</span> for lying to investigators looking into a multistate drug ring. </p> <div class="lrec">Jacob Arabov, 43, pleaded guilty in October to falsifying records and giving false statements as part of a deal with federal prosecutors.</div> <p>"I feel ashamed that I broke the laws of this country, a country that has been so good for me," the Soviet immigrant told U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn. "I will carry this shame for the rest of my life."</p> <p>The <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1214339330_3">plea deal</span> called for a recommended sentence of three years, one month to three years, 10 months in prison. Cohn shaved seven months off the minimum term, citing Arabov's extensive philanthropic work and noting many letters of support.</p> <p>"He's a very charitable man," Cohn said, ruling Arabov would remain free on bond and report to prison Jan. 15.</p> <p>Cohn also fined Arabov $50,000 and ordered him to make a $2 million forfeiture payment to the government. A defense lawyer handed an <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1214339330_4">Internal Revenue Service agent</span> a cashier's check for $2 million.</p> <p>U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Murphy said people who sell jewelry and other expensive goods "are in an easy position to help narcotics dealers hide their assets."</p> <p>"Today's sentence should be a strong warning that such conduct carries serious consequences," Murphy said in a news release.</p> <p>Arabov immigrated from Soviet Uzbekistan at 14 and built a successful <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1214339330_5">New York jewelry business</span>. He was arrested in 2006 on accusations that he and others conspired to launder about $270 million in drug profits.</p> <p>Prosecutors dropped the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1214339330_6">money laundering charges</span> in the plea deal.</p> <p>Authorities accused Arabov and others of conspiring to launder drug profits for the "<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1214339330_7" style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">Black Mafia Family</span>," a ring that operated out of the Detroit area from 1990 to 2005. They say he tried to hide the ownership of part of $5 million worth of seized jewelry.</p> <p>The seven-year investigation resulted in the indictments more than 100 people nationwide, federal authorities say.</p> <p>They say about 1,100 pounds of cocaine and $19 million in cash, cars and jewelry were seized beginning in 2000.</p> <p>The men the government says led the Black Mafia Family, brothers Terry and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1214339330_8" style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">Demetrius Flenory</span>, pleaded guilty last year and are awaiting sentencing.</p> <p>Arabov, also known as the "King of Bling," became popular among hip-hop and R&B artists in the mid-1990s.</p> <p>He launched a line of religious-themed jewelry with Kanye West, who later named him in songs including "<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1214339330_9" style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dceeff">Diamonds From Sierra Leone</span>," in which he asked, "These ain't conflict diamonds, is they Jacob? Don't lie to me man."</p> <p>He also manufactured Lil' Kim's line of Royalty watches.</p> <p>Taken From : <font face="Arial"><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080624/ap_en_ce/people_jacob_the_jeweler">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080624/ap_en_ce/people_jacob_the_jeweler</a></font></p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>TJ's B Day Bash</h1> <p>Blog Author — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:54:59 GMT</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Terrence J from 106 & Park had a b-day bash the other night with a Coming to America Theme! Wait wasn't that done by an MTV Super Sweet 16ner already? Man what ever happened to being original? </span><br /> <br /> Location: NYC <br /> Images Via: Alltheparties.com </article> <article> <h1>Cops Who Killed Sean Bell Get Off.. You've Got To Be Kidding!</h1> <p>Blog Author — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:38:37 GMT</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The cops involved in the Sean Bell shooting back in 06 walked out of court today without any charges against them peep this: <br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The three cops who killed Sean Bell on his wedding day in a 50-bullet barrage were cleared of all charges Friday - sparking tears inside the courtroom and anger on the streets outside. “The defendants are not guilty of all charges,” Queens Supreme Court Justice Arthur Cooperman declared. “The burden was on the people to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each defendant was assumed to be innocent.” Cooperman said justification was used as a defense, he had to consider the “mindset of the defendants, not the victims. What the victims did, was more important to resolve the issues at hand than what was in their minds.” </span><br style="font-weight: bold;" /> <br style="font-weight: bold;" /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Oliver, who fired 31 times and reloaded once, and Isnora, who fired 11 times, had been charged with manslaughter, felony assault and reckless endangerment. They faced up to 25 years in prison if convicted on all charges. Cooper, who fired four times, faced up to a year in jail if convicted of reckless endangerment. None of the detectives testified, although their grand jury testimony was read out loud at the trial. Sean Bell’s father, William, said he would call on the feds to try the cops for violating his son’s civil rights if they were acquitted. </span><br /> <br style="font-weight: bold;" /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bell, a 23-year-old father of two, was killed on Nov. 25, 2006 near the Queens strip club where he’d just had his bachelor bash. His friends, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, were badly wounded when the cops opened fire on Bell’s car. </span><br style="font-weight: bold;" /> <br /> Man when will this ish end! Keep your head up fam it'll get better!<br /> </article> <article> <h1>MJ Back in the Studio.... But All By Himself</h1> <p>Blog Author — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:36:15 GMT</p> <br /> <br /> Looks like Michael Jackson is headed back into the studio but according to sources he'll do it all on his own. Without his kids, any producers and no women around him during the recording process. Peep this via NY Post: <br /> <br /> “Michael is producing the album himself and then will sell it to a record company when he’s finished.” To maintain the utmost concentration, “Michael has banned his kids from the recording studio. He realizes this is very important and doesn’t want any distractions.” Jacko has also sworn off women for the time being, despite never seeming to care much for them anyway. Jackson - who supposedly had been seeing his children’s nanny, Grace Rwaramba - told pals, “He’s not going to be involved in any personal relationships with women until he gets this record done. He’s dumped the nanny - she’s not around any more.” <br /> <br /> Hmm.... Something seems off! MJ is a musical genius but he may need help from producers! I guess desperate times call for desperate measures! </article> <article> <h1>Aww...MiMi Caught Lipsyncing on Good Morning America</h1> <p>Blog Author — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:11:28 GMT</p> <param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_w0AwGCjqnw&hl=en" name="movie" /> <param value="transparent" name="wmode" /></object> Damn where's Ashlee Simpson when you need her? And then she did another song and didn't know they were on air! Talk about being unprepared and awkward moments! <param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xvJbs6QTwP0&hl=en" name="movie" /> <param value="transparent" name="wmode" /></object> </article> <article> <h1>Solange Promo Pics</h1> <p>Blog Author — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:56:22 GMT</p> <font size="3"><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Check out Solange's new promo pics for her upcoming album Hadley Street Dreams. From what I hear the album is set to drop on August 26. From the looks of things Solange may be on to something!</font> </article> <article> <h1>NEW VIDEO FROM THE ROOTS</h1> <p>Blog Author — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:22:49 GMT</p> <br /> The Roots - Rising Up (Feat. Wale & Chrisette Michele) <param value="http://videos.onsmash.com/e/fbWMqUzasZLTyu8p" name="movie" /> <param value="true" name="allowFullscreen" /></object> </article> </main></body></html>