DMX & KRS-One
Photo: Jemal Countess/WireImage

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"That's the maaaan! That's the maaaan, right there! That's the maaaan!"

The booming voice delivering the props was instantly recognizable to anyone within earshot. DMX had just arrived on the red carpet at VH1's "Hip Hop Honors" in Brooklyn last week and caught sight of KRS-One.

"Don't even start it, that's the man," the Blastmaster said back to X.

The New York icons instantly hugged and connected. It's the kind of behind-the-scenes moment that makes events like these so memorable, when legends turn into fans and exchange compliments like business cards.

"You got me through two years up north with 'The Bridge Is Over,' " the Dog told the Bronx bomber. "Real talk. Real talk. You got me through it, baby. You got me through it."

KRS-One pulled X beside him and then began talking to MTV News about this year's Hottest MCs list. Even though DMX has as many New York hits as Derek Jeter, due to recent troubles — like a three-month prison sentence for animal-cruelty, drug and fraud charges — he hasn't been active musically for a while. But the Teacher put up the case for X anyway.

"DMX, everything this brother spits is hot," KRS said. "Everything. This is the heat right here. When I stand next to MCs, this is who I wanna stand next to. This brother gets it in. And not many cats that make hit records can also get it in on the mic. It's sorta like you trade in one for the other: You make a hit, you leave the streets. You stay in the streets, you can't make a hit. This right here, [though,] is living proof. Get at me, dog."

"If I'm the heat, this is the fuel," X countered. "This is the fuel that's off the heat. It's an honor, real talk."

VH1's "Hip Hop Honors" air on October 13.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily: DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, DMX, KRS-One And More

• DMX
• KRS-One

Mary J. Blige
Photo: Rick Diamond/ Getty Images

Former Black Moon frontman Buckshot said getting Mary J. Blige on his new single wasn't about money — it was about friendship. Buck and the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul go back to the '90s, when Buck's artists and Boot Camp Clik members Smif-N-Wessun rapped on the remix to MJB's "I Love You." The two have been cool ever since.

"One of the last times I saw her before this song was in front of Sony studios," Buck remembered. "Me and Mary played a game of basketball right in front of Sony studios. You know how you would be in front of your building and you would use the wall as a hoop? So me and Mary was literally on the sidewalk just playing ball, bugging out. Mary, she really is Mary J. Blige. She's 'hood, she's elegant, she's real."

Buck also developed a great relationship with Blige's husband/manger Kendu over the years, so when he and KRS-One were coming up with the first single from their dual LP Survival Skills, they decided to call on old friends.

"The song is called 'The Way I Live,' " Buck said. "In the chorus, Mary says, 'I'm in the grind every day and that's the way I live.' When she started to sing that chorus, it's like, OK, [the song] became that much brighter. KRS-One said in the song, 'When you lose your job, you find your work.' A job is a job, when you lose it, you feel your work and your worth. The song is about being on the grind, but not accepting the grind — changing the grind.

"Everybody's got a song: 'I'm out there hustling, putting in work,' " Buck added. "But everybody does the same thing. What make this song different ... we're not talking about trapping and hustling. We say we go to the depths of who we are to find our true hustle. And that's why I love Mary J. When she started to go in on the end of the song, she has a name we call her: MC Brook. So we was like, 'Brook is about to go in.' She loves rhyming. Mary loves to flow and she's nasty. That's basically what the song is about — reaching within the depths of yourself to find a grind you created."

Survival Skills is due in stores September 15. Buck says he and KRS have known each other for over 15 years and decided to make an album together for the love of the sport.

"Kris has got this hunger that's impeccable," Buck said. "He's like a 16-year-old kid. You gotta be there to watch somebody who really loves to construct, build a house. You get to see the bedroom, the bathroom — you get a whole love for it because you see it constructed right before your eyes."

• Mary J. Blige
• KRS-One

Big Daddy Kane at B.B. King's Bar and Grill in New York on November 14
Photo: Dmitriy Goldin

"Rap soloist, you don't want none of this." What if Rakim did listen to a lot of cats in the streets back in the day, and took Big Daddy Kane's lyrics from "Set It Off" as a stone-cold dis? We might have seen the greatest battle of all time. Or, what if Kane decided to test the blast master KRS-One? What a showdown that would have been.

Last Friday night in New York, BDK was sitting back in chill mode, fantasizing about two dream battles with his peers.

"It would have to be Rakim and KRS-One," Kane answered, when asked whom he would have wanted to battle back in the day in a dream face-off. When asked how the battles would go, Kane displayed the humor that enhanced his obvious lyrical and style acumen in the late '80s and early '90s.

"How would it go?" he asked, before impersonating a boxing commentator. "Out comes Hardy. Griffin retreats back to his corner." (Kane's real name is Antonio Hardy, and Rakim was born William Griffin.)

A big burst of laughter immediately filled the room ("Mad Money" Murph, whom you've heard shouted out in plenty of Kane's records, was there as well). Then, getting a little more serious, Kane explained the rationale behind his dream battle.

"It's the type of thing where, if you gonna battle somebody to prove your greatness, you wanna go to somebody that shares that same seat with you," he said. "Those are probably two of the ones who I felt like [could present a challenge]. Also, [Kool] G. Rap, but I've always felt like G. Rap was like a brother. With us, it was friendly competition."

Kane was in New York on Friday celebrating his 20th anniversary in the rap game. Not only was he partying at B.B. King's Bar and Grill, Daddy Kane was also rapping, sounding as great as he did two decades ago.

"Well, who's gonna come, we will see," he said backstage before his performance. "That's based on surprises, but I know on my part, I'm here to have fun and do the damn thing. I wanna entertain and make sure people have a good time. It's a celebration that means a lot to me."

A little before showtime, friends and famous fans of the Prince of Darkness such as Ice-T, Sugar Hill Gang's Wonder Mike, Greg Nice, XXL Editor in Chief Datwon Thomas, Tony Rock, AZ, Roxanne Shanté, Positive K (who performed his classic "I Got a Man"), DJ Polo, DJ Enuff, Miss Info and Busta Rhymes crammed into the jam-packed building — everybody wanted to hear those hits.

"My best album is probably my second one, It's a Big Daddy Thing," the MC said. "I like a lot of the songs on there. It was put together ... just the structure of the album was tight." He said that Long Live the Kane was his favorite to make, though, because it was his first.

One of Kane's closest friends and collaborators in rap, Biz Markie, was the first to touch the stage on Friday night. The diabolical one set it off with hits such as "Something for the Radio," "Going Off" and "Pickin' Boogers." Roxanne Shanté then got onstage with Biz and the MC-turned-doctor blessed the mic with some throwback flavor on "Def Fresh Crew": "I'm Shante, he's Biz Markie/ Side by side, you know it's we/ No, I don't speak French, when I say 'we'/ I mean us two, not 'Yes, sirree'/ Everyone knows that I am much better/ Come on Biz Markie, get it together/ Talk to the girls, you know they are wack/ Tell those crabs they sound like cats."

Biz killed it, wowing the crowd while finishing off with "Nobody Beats the Biz," "Vapors" and "Just a Friend."

When it was time for Kane to come on, a live band, dressed in black suits and red shirts, played the beat to "Another Victory." Kane arrived onstage, wearing a black vest, red dress shirt and jeans.

His first four records were unmerciful: "Set It Off," "Warm It Up, Kane," "I Get The Job Done" and "Smooth Operator." The second verse of the latter was rapped over Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On."

Later, when Kane asked the crowd what year they wanted him to take it back to, a man in the crowd yelled, "Take it back to them bad Reagan years." As the show progressed, BDK told the audience, "No excuses now that Barack is in the White House," before going into "Ain't No Half Steppin'."

Kane's finale included cameos from Masta Ace, Craig G and Marley Marl, but unfortunately no Kool G. Rap. The Brooklyn King's send-off was "Raw," which made everyone in the crowd look forward to the 25th anniversary.

• Big Daddy Kane Celebrates His 20-Year Anniversary In The Game In New York

• Big Daddy Kane
• Rakim
• KRS-One
• Busta Rhymes
• Ice-T

Common performs at the 4th Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors show
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images

NEW YORK — Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Hip-hop addicts were OD-ing this weekend as rap concerts monopolized the Big Apple. The Roots, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Common and Q-Tip kept the b-boys saying, "Hoooooo!" and the fly girls doing the wop.

Friday night at the Nokia Theater, the Roots headlined a concert in conjunction with VH1's Hip Hop Honors show, where not only did they perform, but they backed Big Daddy Kane and MC Lyte.

Black Thought showed mind-blowing breath control as he channeled the spirit of Kool G Rap during a cover of the lispy legend's "Men at Work."

"Dope 'cause I'm a death wish, not even Bob Hope's," he rapped. "Rhymes are rugged, soul flooded, cold-blooded/ You ain't better, you're butter, so just shut it/ Here to perform, having a brainstorm, make a rain form/ How rap groups run to keep the name warm/ Putting heads to beddy-bye like Freddy so get ready/ 'Cause I'mma get crazier than Crazy Eddie."

Thought also imitated the entire Wu-Tang Clan for "Protect Ya Neck." MC Lyte paid homage to her brother Milk Dee with a verse from "Top Billin' " (that's Milk's voice looping in 50 Cent's "I Get Money") and brought back classics like "Paper Thin" and "I Cram to Understand U."

After presenting Black with a pimp cup for his birthday (and a cake at Thursday's Hip Hop Honors — see video at left), Big Daddy Kane made the theater go dizzy with a handful of classics from "Set It Off" to "Warm It Up, Kane" to "Smooth Operator." Big Scoob came out for "Raw," during which he and Kane did an electric dance routine that included splits and midair chest-thumping.

On Saturday night, Boost Mobile held its annual Rock Corps concert at Radio City Music Hall. Yung Joc, Hurricane Chris and Swizz Beatz (Swizzy brought out Jadakiss and Eve) were the appetizers, and later NYC favorite Fabolous came out for a handful of joints, including "Make Me Better," "Baby Don't Go" and "Keepin' It Gangsta." For "Gangsta Don't Play," reggae icon Junior Reid came out. Keyshia Cole's set was as brief as a cup of coffee, but she did have one of the biggest pops of the night with her hit "Let It Go."

Co-headliner Busta Rhymes tried to make the most of his 15 minutes — yes, 15 minutes for Bus is sacrilege — teasing the crowd with snippets of his monster hits, such as "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" and "Break Ya Neck." Ludacris' time was limited as well, but he did squeeze in "Number One Spot" and more.

Sunday (insert fatigued intake of breath here) was the last night of shows. It all pointed back to the Nokia Theater, where Common and Q-Tip — who have joined forces for a side project called the Standard (album due in 2008) — performed separate sets at a concert presented by 2K Sports.

Tip opened, and fans were hoping to be surprised by a reunion of A Tribe Called Quest — but the Abstract Poetic went it alone.

"New mutha----in' York," he yelled, excited to be in his hometown.

"We're winning, by the way: 8 to 3," he added, pointing to the Yankees logo on his hat. Although nothing can compare to seeing Tip and Phife Dawg do Tribe joints in their entirety, the music is so beautiful, everyone was excited to hear Tip do half a record here and there, such as "Check the Rhime." Tip did Phife's rhymes on "Award Tour" and "Electric Relaxation." And let's not forget, Tip does have two very big solo tracks: "Vivrant Thing" and "Breathe and Stop."

Common was theatric, poignant and potent during his show.

"Go!," "U, Black Maybe," "Testify" and "Drivin' Me Wild" riled fans up. He then started paying tribute to hip-hop, with a bevy of covers such as N.W.A's "Straight Outta Compton" and Nas' "N.Y. State of Mind." Then he gave fans the ultimate moment with an off-the-head freestyle cipher that included KRS-One and Q-Tip.

"We do this here, and you know we don't stress/ I got my n---a Common and KRS," Q-Tip rhymed.

"Right here, this is the Teacha/ I wanna hear a shout from Nokia," spit KRS, who had just minutes earlier surprised everyone with "The Bridge Is Over" and "South Bronx."

Common followed with a warning to sucka rappers: "I put you on a stretcher, you can call me love 'cause love's gonna get ya/ When it comes to this, MCs, you know I gotta snuff ya, and when it comes to this you can't tell me nothin'."

Later, at the end of "Misunderstood," Common listed some people who he thought were misunderstood: Tupac, Malcolm X, Kurt Cobain, Lauryn Hill, Michael Vick and the Jena Six. He finished his set with "The Light."

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Stars Spread The Love At VH1 Hip Hop Honors

• Common
• Ludacris
• Q-Tip
• The Roots
• Busta Rhymes

Big Daddy Kane performs at the Paradise Theater on Friday
Photo: Walik Goshorn

NEW YORK — Circa the late 1980s, Hurricane Chris — the kid who can be heard lately singing "Hey Bay Bay" — was just a bayyy-bee. And when somebody said, "Superman that ho," chances are they were referring to the actual Man of Steel thwarting one of the Legion of Doom's dastardly plots, not the new dance by a rapper named Soulja Boy.

On Friday night at the Paradise Theater in the Bronx, rap's golden era was back in full effect with a party and concert held in hip-hop's birthplace. There was a tribute to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, and while the Grandmaster himself wasn't present, the fab quartet of four MCs (founding member Cowboy passed away in 1989) — Melle Mel, Kidd Creole, Rahiem and Scorpio — didn't just sit back and let everyone tell them how beloved they are. Nah, the FF actually took the stage and performed.

Melle Mel's fanny pack gave away his age — after all, who under age 40 that doesn't play in the NFL wears one of those outside the gym? — but he showed youthful energy with his boys, sliding from side to side on several records and even leading the audience in a three-step (not the same old two-step). The highlight was their performance of "The Message" and bringing out the Sugar Hill Gang for "Rapper's Delight."

Big Daddy Kane's dance steps were undeniably a fan's delight. Kane, who performed before the Furious Five, had most of his hits handy, but he really tore down the house when his former backup dancer Scoob Lover made a surprise appearance. Scoob's fancy feet showed he can still spar with movers like Omarion, especially when he did the classic step of holding his right foot in his hand and using his left leg to jump over it. Kane joined in, standing in front of Scoob in the handshake position and both doing a split. "Come get some, you little bum!"

KRS-One came out later, showing that when you have skills, you can rap over anything. He dropped lyrics to "You Must Learn" over classical music, and "The Bridge Is Over" and "Black Cop" especially did it for the people. Marley Marl was KRS-One's DJ for the night and fellow Queensbridge native/ former KRS foe MC Shan, who stood next to Marley enjoying the Teacha's set. Shan had opened the night's festivities.

Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh closed the concert with the tag-team precision of wrestling legends the British Bulldogs. Rick did "Hey Young World," then Doug joined in for "The Show and "La-Di-Da-Di." Then the Ruler fell back and let Doug do his own songs like "Freaks" with Lil' Vicious.

The party continued at a separate event Saturday night at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in Times Square, where Roxanne Shante held a 1987-themed party. Dookie-rope chains, flattops with blond streaks and even custom-made Dapper Dan suits could be seen in the crowd.

MC Shan came out once again and performed as did Just-Ice, Kangol from UTFO, Bow-Legged Lou from Full Force, Smooth Da Hustla and his brother Trigga Da Gambla, Lovebug Starski, Mobb Deep's Havoc and Roxanne herself.

Seen a great show? MTV News wants your photos, videos and reports from all the latest concerts for our new You R Here community. Check out the site to read, rate and comment on reviews from around the globe. We'll put the best stuff on our You R Here blog, and even in on-air news!

• KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Furious Five, more live at the Paradise Theater

• Big Daddy Kane
• Melle Mel
• KRS-One
• Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

KRS-One
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Randy Hubbard Parker, son of rapper KRS-One, was found dead in his Atlanta apartment over the weekend in an apparent suicide. He was 23.

Simone Parker, KRS-One's wife and Randy's mother, said Tuesday (July 10) in a statement that her son's death was related to "severe depression." The family is planning a private memorial service in Florida on July 18, which would have been Randy's 24th birthday. Plans for an August memorial service in New York are under way.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner's office said Parker died on Friday from a gunshot wound to the head, and listed the cause of death as suicide.

KRS-One was on tour overseas with producer Marley Marl and was not available for comment at press time, but the statement conveyed his and Simone Parker's appreciation to everyone who has offered condolences.

• KRS-One

<i>Young Jeezy Presents USDA: Cold Summer</i>
Photo: Def Jam

A few years ago — well, back in 334 B.C., actually — Alexander the Great's Greek army defeated Persian King Darius III in the Battle of the Granicus. Now, on the Tuesday (May 22) anniversary of that feat, a fierce battalion of new releases barrel their way into stores. Lower the drawbridge — this week is going to be one serious battle royal.

Expect the most damage to be done by top generals in three genres, with Young Jeezy and his USDA crew representing the rap set, Maroon 5 suiting up (ever-spiffily) for the pop denizens, and Ozzy Osbourne rising from his coffin once again to power up the metalheads.

Here's the battle plan:

It's Getting Cold in Herre: Young Jeezy Presents USDA: Cold Summer is pretty much all about them — at last, Jeez Louise is getting to introduce his obligatory rap group, which also features Slick Pulla and Blood Raw. The only featured guests of note are Jadakiss and Bun B, who surface on a bonus-track remix of "Go Getta." Other ice-cold tracks include "Corporate Thuggin'," "Quickie" and "I Keep Tellin' Myself." No indication yet of which member is telling himself what.

Color Them Sadd?: At first glance, Maroon 5 don't seem particularly thrilled to be back — their sophomore LP is led by "If I Never See Your Face Again" and also features "Not Falling Apart" and "Better That We Break." But there are signs of hope on It Won't Be Soon Before Long, which follows their ridiculously auspicious debut (read: four times platinum), Songs About Jane: Frontman Adam Levine — who croons, "Give me something to believe in," on the band's "Makes Me Wonder" single — has promised that the album is more upbeat. So what about the LP title? "It can mean whatever you want it to mean, but don't spend too much time thinking about it," the band said in a statement. Roger, loud and clear.

Ozzsome: Ozzy's studio-album sales have been slipping in recent years — 1995's Ozzmosis went double platinum and its successor, 2004's Down to Earth, only pushed about a million copies. But the Ozzman is packing some extra insurance this time around: Inside limited copies of his Black Rain is a ticket code that should make your entry to Ozzfest — oops, sorry, FreeFest — easier. While we'd kill to see Osbourne reprise either Michael Douglas or Andy Garcia's New York cop roles in a remake of the 1989 flick of the same name, we'll be satisfied with Ozzy's musical deluge instead. Only Joan Osbourne and her Time Life release Breakfast in Bed stand in his way.

Would They Lie to You?: The Used finally delivered their live CD/DVD package Berth in February — a year or so late — but they're back just three months later with Lies for the Liars, their first studio effort in two and a half years. This one is padded with a bonus DVD too — well, the special edition is, at least (it has special casing and a larger booklet as well) — but has high expectations to measure up to: Its predecessor, 2004's In Love and Death, sold more than 3 million copies. In case that isn't enough Used goods for you, the band's going to cough up a yet-untitled EP of Lies outtakes in the coming months.

Strange Connections: AFI, who are often mentioned in the same breath as the Used, are surreptitiously connected to a couple of releases this week. Jade Puget, who has played guitar for the band for almost a decade, helped produce the debut album by AFI tour partners the Dear & Departed. Another act hailing from Orange County, California, the Appearance, are also stepping up this week with their first effort — which was recorded with AFI producer/engineer Chris Fudurich.

Also cropping up this week — even though they don't have any new original material out — are Metric. They chalk up a reworked version of Stars' "He Lied About Death" for the band's Do You Trust Your Friends? comp, which also features Apostle of Hustle, the Dears and the Stills. Frontwoman Emily Haines is slipping out her new EP, What Is Free to a Good Home? exclusively on iTunes this week, with a CD version dropping July 24. The set features five songs that didn't make the cut on her Knives Don't Have Your Back debut LP, as well as a remix of the album track "Mostly Waving." And tour pals the Death of a Party pipe up from San Francisco to christen Double Negative Records with the first album released by either party, The Rise and Fall of Scarlet City.

Who Are You?: Expect to find a few people you might know in a few places you might not expect this week. If you're a Wolf Parade fan, don't overlook Handsome Furs' Plague Park — the Vancouver, British Columbia, duo is actually WP co-founder Dan Boeckner and his fiancee. Likewise, Ramones aficionados should take a peek at Uncle Monk, the introduction to the bluegrass two-piece of the same name, which features Tommy Ramone. Fiction Plane, who churn out Left Side of the Brain, are fronted by Sting's son Joe Sumner, while Young James Long is actually a new disguise for underground stalwart P.W. Long — he gets a hand from Taylor Young of the Polyphonic Spree on You Ain't Know the Man.

Elsewhere, Mike Gordon and Gordon Stone put a Phish shine on Adrienne Young's Room to Grow; and members of Get Up Kids, the New Amsterdams, Hot Rod Circuit and more help ex-Anniversary member Josh Berwanger with his Only Children's Keeper of Youth. Oh, and a couple of artists are leaving familiar folds so they can make their own solo outings: Meg Baird takes a breather from Espers to push her first opus, Dear Companion. And Tim Armstrong finally puts out his A Poet's Life — which has been available for free online since mid-April — in CD form (with a bonus DVD so you can get your money's worth).

Out of Sight: Deeper within the dense thicket of this week's releases lie a handful of titles that won't be screaming at you from the ends of the record racks. Metal spazz-out fiends the Number Twelve Looks Like You crank out a limited-edition four-track EP through Hot Topic featuring the new song "Sleeping With the Fishes, See?" Equally far-out electro-experimentalist Cex ekes out just 1,000 copies of his new Sketchi LP through Temporary Residence. Mont de Sundua — a clangy rock project courtesy My Morning Jacket's Jim James and members of the Insects — issue an eponymous LP that's only available at select Think Indie consortium record stores. And if you're into the whole multi-channel thing, Mobile Fidelity has a treat for you: The Super Audio CD version of the Pixies' watershed album, Surfer Rosa.

Song Title of the Week:

"Guess the Baby's Weight" from Young Knives' Weekends and Bleak Days

Other Notables:

Battles' Mirrored
After four warm-up EPs, the New York band comprising members of Tomahawk, Helmet and Don Caballero has finally mustered up the guts to put out a proper album — and The Guardian and Pitchfork have been falling head over heels for it. The band incorporates lyrics for the first time on the math-rock release, which features "Leyendecker," "Prismism" and "Ddiamondd."

The National's Boxer
Battles' fellow New Yorkers the National are a bit further along in the game — they're dropping their fourth album this week. The indie rockers have also been getting lots of Pitchfork love, and they primed their new material on MTV's 24-hour "Human Giant" marathon Saturday morning. The ever-prolific Sufjan Stevens notches another album credit on the full-length, which includes "Mistaken for Strangers," "Racing Like a Pro" and "Fake Empire."

Boris with Michio Kurihara's Rainbow
After hooking up with doom-metallers SunnO))) and a fleet of their Japanese experimental-noisemaking peers, including multiple stints with Merzbow, it's only right that Boris finally set up camp with Ghost guitarist Kurihara. The U.S. version of the album has a different closing song than the Japanese edition — we get "No Sleep Till I Become Hollow," they got "... And, I Want."

New Releases:

· 40 Cal. - Broken Safety 2 (Babygrande)
· Amandine - Solace in Sore Hands (Fat Cat)
· Amber Pacific - Truth in Sincerity (Hopeless)
· American Catapult - Trees of Mystery (Cooking Vinyl)
· The Appearance - Lost in Aurora (Adrenaline)
· Tim Armstrong - A Poet's Life (with bonus DVD; Hellcat)
· Meg Baird - Dear Companion (Drag City)
· Battles - Mirrored (Warp)
· Beardfish - Sleeping in Traffic: Part One (Inside Out)
· Ben + Vesper - All of This Could Kill You (Sounds Familyre)
· Benni Hemm Hemm - Kajak (digipak; Morr)
· Bergraven - Dödsvisioner (Hydra Head)
· Birds of Avalon - Bazaar Bazaar (Volcom)
· Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum (Graveface)
· Boris with Michio Kurihara - Rainbow (Blue Chopsticks)
· The Bravery - The Sun and the Moon (Island) [Buy]
· Michael Brecker - Pilgrimage (Heads Up)
· Brimstone Howl - Guts of Steel (Alive)
· Carnal Forge - Testify for My Victims (Candlelight)
· Cex - Sketchi (limited to 1,000 copies; Temporary Residence)
· Chick Corea and Bèla Fleck - The Enchantment (Stretch)
· The Dear & Departed - Something Quite Peculiar (Record Collection)
· Death Before Dishonor - Count Me In (Bridge Nine)
· Ediblered - Welcome to My Bad Behavior (Select)
· Erasure - Light at the End of the World (limited edition features two bonus tracks; Mute) [Buy]
· Fiction Plane - Left Side of the Brain (Bieler Bros.)
· Foghat - Live II (Metro City)
· Funker Vogt - Aviator (limited edition comes with bonus CD: Metropolis)
· Handsome Furs - Plague Park (Sub Pop)
· Hayseed Dixie - Weapons of Grass Destruction (Cooking Vinyl)
· Hiroshima - Little Tokyo (Heads Up)
· Holly Dolly - Pretty Donkey Girl (Capitol)
· Raheem Jamal - Boombox (Brick)
· Kraak & Smaak - The Remix Sessions (two CDs; Quango)
· KRS-One and Marley Marl - Hip Hop Lives (Koch)
· Ladyhawk - Fight for Anarchy (EP; Secretly Canadian)
· Amel Larrieux - Lovely Standards (Bliss Life)
· Chris Lowe - Black Life II (The Next Think Smokin') (Nature Sounds)
· The Maccabees - Colour It In (Geffen)
· Manes - How the World Came to an End (Candlelight)
· Marduk - Rom 5:12 (Regain)
· Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long (Octone) [Buy]
Read: "Maroon 5 Back With 'Harder' Album After Adam Levine Gets Sick Of Partying"
· Miracle Fortress - Five Roses (Secret City)
· Mont de Sundua - Mont de Sundua (self release; only available at Think Indie consortium record stores)
· Motor - Unhuman (Mute)
· The National - Boxer (Beggars Banquet)
· Octavia Sperati - Grace Submerged (Candlelight)
· The Only Children - Keeper of Youth (Side Cho)
· Joan Osbourne - Breakfast in Bed (Time Life)
· Ozzy Osbourne - Black Rain (limited copies come with Ozzfest ticket codes; Epic) [Buy]
Read: "Never Say Die: Ozzy Says He Wants To Make Another Sabbath LP"
· Judith Owen - Happy This Way (Courgette)
· Parts & Labor - Mapmaker (Jagjaguwar/Brah)
· Planet X - Quantum (Inside Out)
· Point One - Unlucky Stars (Adrenaline)
· Jean Luc Ponty & His Band - The Acatama Experience (Koch)
· Sherman Pore - For My Lady Love (Z-Entertainment)
· Reckless Tide - Helleraser (Locomotive)
· RedCloud - Hawthorne's Most Wanted (Syntax)
· Poncho Sanchez - Raise Your Hand (Concord)
· Arturo Sandoval - Rumba Palace (Telarc)
· Shapes and Sizes - Split Lips, Winning Hips, a Shiner (Asthmatic Kitty)
· Silent Force - Walk the Earth (Locomotive)
· Stars - Do You Trust Your Friends? (Arts & Crafts)
· Suidakra - Caledonia (Locomotive)
· Paul Taylor - Ladies' Choice (Peak)
· Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers - Solid Ice (Telarc)
· Ultra Naté - Grime Silk Thunder (Tommy Boy)
· Uncle Moe's Space Ranch - Moe's Town (Tone Center)
· Uncle Monk - Uncle Monk (Airday)
· USDA - Young Jeezy Presents USDA: Cold Summer (Def Jam) [Buy]
Read: "Jay-Z, Fabolous Hear Jeezy's New Project — But When Will Xtina Holla Back?"
· The Used - Lies for the Liars (also available with DVD; Reprise) [Buy]
· Voxtrot - Voxtrot (Playlouderecordings/ Beggars Group)
· Loudon Wainwright - Strange Weirdos: Music From and Inspired by the Film "Knocked Up" (Concord)
· We Are the Fury - Venus (One Big Spark/ East West)
· Wheat - Everyday I Said a Prayer for Kathy and Made a One Inch Square (Empyrean)
· White Rabbits - Fort Nightly (Say Hey)
· Adrienne Young - Room to Grow (Addie Belle)
· Young James Long - You Ain't Know the Man (EP; Southern)
· Hans Zimmer - "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" soundtrack (Walt Disney)
· Various artists - Just One More: A Musical Tribute to Larry Brown, a Great American Author (Bloodshot)
· Various artists - Roots Man Dub (two CDs; Heartbeat)
· Various artists - Super Cool California Soul 2 (Luv N' Haight)
· Various artists - "La Vie en Rose" soundtrack (EMI Classics/ EMI Music Catalog Marketing)
· Various artists - "Once" soundtrack (Canvasback/ Columbia/ Sony Music Soundtrax)
· Various artists - "Wild Tigers I Have Known" soundtrack (Jnana)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· The Beach Boys - The Warmth of the Sun (Capitol/EMI)
· Jeff Buckley - So Real: Songs From Jeff Buckley (Legacy)
· James Chance - Soul Exorcism Redux (Roir)
· Maynard Ferguson - The Essential Maynard Ferguson (two CDs; Columbia/Legacy)
· Benny Goodman - The Essential Benny Goodman (two CDs; Bluebird/Legacy)
· H.I.M. - Uneasy Listening Vol. 2 (Universal Republic)
· iiO - Reconstruction Time: The Best of iiO Remixed (Made)
· Lujuria - Lo Mejor De (Locomotive)
· Charles Mingus - Charles Mingus in Paris: The Complete America Session (two CDs; Sunny Side) and Tijuana Moods (RCA/Legacy)
· Modern English - Everything Is Mad (High Times)
· Nina Simone - Just Like a Woman: Nina Simone Sings Classic Songs of the '60s (RCA/Legacy)
· Squealer A.D. - Confrontation Street (Locomotive)
· Various artists - Motown Remixed Vol. 2 (Motown)

Music DVDs:

· Elvis Costello - "The Juliet Letters" (Rhino) [Buy]
· Doro - "20 Years: A Warrior Soul" (two DVDs and one CD; Locomotive)
· Jerry Lee Lewis - "Greatest Live Performances of the '50s, '60s and '70s" (Time Life)

Digital Releases:

· Emily Haines - What Is Free to a Good Home? (EP)
Available on iTunes; CD digipak due July 24 · The Young Knives - Weekends and Bleak Days (Hot Summer) (EP)

Coming Attractions:

May 29: · Les Claypool - "Fancy" DVD (Prawn Song)
· Danzig - The Lost Tracks of Danzig (two CDs; Megaforce) [Preorder]
Read: "Glenn Danzig Preps 'Final' Tour, Film, Box Set And, Uh, Dolls"
· R. Kelly - Double Up (Jive) [Preorder]
Read: "New R. Kelly LP Includes Akon, Jeezy, 'Flirt' — But No 'Closet' Till July"

June 5: · Chris Cornell - Carry On (A&M) [Preorder]
Read: "Chris Cornell Ready To Carry On As Solo Artist: 'I'm Best In My Own World' "
· Marilyn Manson - Eat Me, Drink Me (Nothing) [Preorder]
Read: "Marilyn Manson Reveals He Came Close To Suicide; LP 'Was My Salvation' "
· O.A.R. - Live From Madison Square Garden (two-CD set and two-DVD set; Everfine/Lava/Atlantic)

June 12: · Fabolous - From Nothin' to Somethin' (Def Jam) [Preorder]
Read: "Fabolous' 'All-Stars' Jay-Z, Jeezy, Rihanna Make LP Somethin' To Be Reckoned With"
· Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris [Preorder]
· Various artists - Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur

• Young Jeezy
• Maroon 5
• Ozzy Osbourne
• Stars
• Battles

• Jay-Z
• Snoop Dogg
• Tupac
• Notorious B.I.G.
• Nas

KRS-One (file)
Photo: Reggie Anderson

Rap pioneer KRS-One, who built his reputation on fiercely political music, is taking heat for comments he recently made about September 11.

Thursday's Rush & Molloy gossip column in the New York Daily News alleged that "the hip-hop anarchist has declared his solidarity with Al Qaeda by asserting that he and other African-Americans 'cheered when 9-11 happened,' " and said that KRS's words "defiled the memory of those who died in the terrorist attacks."

KRS-One's comments came during an October 2 discussion panel at The New Yorker Festival. He ignited heated reactions when he stated that security guards at the Twin Towers did not let blacks enter because of their manner of speech and dress, and that because of that discrimination, "when the planes hit the building, we were like, 'Mmmm ... justice.' "

The often controversial rapper (see "KRS-One On Nelly: 'I Can Slap Him Around For Days' ") also said he felt that voting adds to society's corruption and that "America has to commit suicide if the world is to be a better place." The statement incited former Nirvana member Krist Novoselic — also on the panel — to shout in response: "That is wrong, man. Suicide is not the answer."

In response to the Daily News story, KRS released a statement on Thursday to explain his words.

"Like everyone," he wrote, "I was shocked to read that I and other African-Americans actually 'cheered when 9-11 happened,' and that I have 'declared my solidarity with Al Qaeda.'

"I would never just say something as crazy as 'we cheered when 9-11 happened'!" he continued. "I was making an objective point about how many hip-hoppas as well as the oppressed peoples of the world felt that day."

The rapper said that when he was asked why hip-hop has not "engaged the current situation more [meaning 9-11], my response was 'because it does not affect us, or at least we don't perceive that it affects us. September 11 happened to them.' I went on to say that 'I am speaking for the culture now; I am not speaking my personal opinion.' "

KRS said that after he stated that the hip-hop community's response to the attacks was "Mmmm ... justice," he had hoped to say, "Now of course, a lot of our friends and family were lost there as well," but was interrupted.

In the lengthy statement, KRS went on to explain that his words were taken out of context and that some of what he said may have been misunderstood because "I am a poet and I speak poetically."

With regard to his statement about America committing suicide in order for the world to become a better place, KRS explained: "If you want to go beyond voting, American interests must put a gun to its head and commit suicide, because as long as we are only interested in American interests, we go out and invade the rest of the world."

Though he was saddened by 9-11, the rapper said, he and many members of his community who were "racially profiled and harassed by the World Trade Center's security" felt a "sense of justice, a sense of change, a wake-up call watching the Twin Towers fall."

"For the record," the rapper said, concluding his statement, "I am an American philosopher. I speak and seek truth." KRS apologized "if the slander that the Daily News has printed regarding my political views has offended anyone in any way."

"However," he added, "we do have a voice and a point of view, and if you are not prepared to hear what hip-hop has to say about its view of world events, then don't ask!"

• KRS-One

Turns out the lull in record releases following the Fourth of July weekend was just the calm before the storm.

The Roots have been taking hip-hop to the next level for years, with a focus on live music and a full band backing up rapper Black Thought onstage and in the studio. This week, they release The Tipping Point, an album that borrows its title from Malcolm Gladwell's 2000 book of the same name, which explains how trends "tip" and become mainstream sensations, spreading like viruses.

Bringing the funny to this week's batch of new releases is Adam Sandler with his newest comedic effort, Shhh ... Don't Tell, his first release since 1999's Stan and Judy's Kid, which featured the second installation of the "Chanukah Song."

The Polyphonic Spree's latest, Together We're Heavy, (a title that is both literal, weight-wise, and ironic, sound-wise) hits stores this week. Meanwhile, They Might Be Giants release The Spine, their eighth full-length studio album.

KRS-One is back after just a year between albums. He releasesKeep Right this week, the follow-up to 2003's D.I.G.I.T.A.L. Dancehall star Beenie Man takes it Back to Basics on his new LP.

Jimmy Buffett gets even more laid back this time around, but it's OK: He has the proper documentation to mellow out for a while. The "Margaritaville" singer is releasing License to Chill. Blues Traveler, on the other hand, get a little more active with their live disc, Live on the Rocks.

Some other notable releases this week include Lars Frederiksen & the Bastards' Viking, Widespread Panic's Über Cobra, Dr. John's N'Awlinz: Dis, Dat, or D'Udda, the Fiery Furnaces' Blueberry Boat, Quincy Jones and Bill Cosby's The New Mixes, Volume One and Sparta's Porcelain.

Honorable mentions for creativity this week ... For best band name/concept: the George W. Bush Singers with Songs in the Key of W, an album of songs based on the president's speeches. For best album title: the Texas Thieves with Killer on Craig's List.

Out Tuesday, July 13:

• A Perfect Murder - Unbroken (Victory)
• Ancient - Night Visit (Metal Blade)
• Joan Armatrading - Live! All the Way from America (SLG/Denon)
• Beenie Man - Back to Basics (Virgin)
• Regina Belle - Lazy Afternoon (Peak)
• Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard, Steve Swallow and Billy Drummond - The Lost Chords (ECM)
• Blues Traveler - Live on the Rocks (Sanctuary)
  Buy Now: Live on the Rocks (Sanctuary)
• Jimmy Buffett - License to Chill (RCA Nashville)
• C.AARMÉ - C.AARMÉ (Burning Heart)
• Candiria - What Doesn't Kill You (Type A)
• Carbon Leaf - Indian Summer (Vanguard)
• Cattle Decapitation - Humanure (Metal Blade)
• The Cinch - Shake If You Got It (Punk Rock Dirtnap)
• Darlington - Euthanize Me (Disaster)
• DJ Clever - Troubled Waters (Gigantic)
• Dr. John - N'Awlinz: Dis, Dat or D'udda (Blue Note)
• The F Ups - The F Ups (Capitol)
• Ricky Fanté - Rewind (Virgin)
• The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat (Sanctuary/ Rough Trade)
• Michael Franti - Songs From the Front Porch (Boo Boo Wax/ iMUSIC)
• Lars Frederiksen & the Bastards - Viking (Hellcat)
• Von Freeman - The Great Divide (Premonition/ Koch)
• Funeral for a Friend - Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation (Atlantic)
• The George W. Bush Singers - Songs in the Key of W (True Believer/Oglio)
• Otis Gibbs - One Day Our Whispers (Benchmark)
• Gioia - Expose This (Koch)
• Dave Grusin - Now Playing: Movie Themes (GRP)
• Guttermouth - Eat Your Face (Epitaph)
• Scott Hamilton and Harry Allen - Heavy Juice (Concord)
• Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos - While the Music Lasts (Blue Thumb/ Verve)
• Ezekiel Honig - People Places and Things (Gigantic)
• Charlie Hunter Trio - Friends Seen and Unseen (Ropeadope/ Artemis)
• Incapacity - Ninth Order Extinct (Metal Blade)
• Indian Summer - Carbon Leaf (Vanguard)
• Quincy Jones and Bill Cosby - The New Mixes, Volume One (Concord)
• Klement Julienne - Panamerican (Dreyfus)
• Junior Jack - Trust It (Nettwerk America)
• Kool Keith & Kutmasta Kurt - Break U Off (Dmaft/ Oglio)
• KRS-One - Keep Right (Grit/ Inebriated Rhythm)
• Joe Maneri, Barre Phillips and Mat Maneri - Angles of Repose (ECM)
• Märtini Brös - Love the Machines (Poker Flat)
• Mutual Admiration Society - Mutual Admiration Society (Sugar Hill)
• Nanook of the North - The Täby Tapes (Hidden Agenda)
• Only Crime - To the Nines (Fat Wreck Chords)
• David Pack - Unborn (Oglio)
• Joshua Payne - Your Love, My Home (Blue Thumb)
• Guy Pearce - Soundtrack to "A Slipping-Down Life" (Koch/ Commotion)
• Amanda Perez - I Pray (Virgin)
• The Polyphonic Spree - Together We're Heavy (Hollywood)
• Rescue - Flamingo Minutes (Slowdance)
• Chris Richards - Tumblers & Grit (Lake Effect/ Emergent/ RED)
• Rogue Wave - Out of the Shadow (Sub Pop)
• The Roots - The Tipping Point (Geffen)
  Buy Now: Tipping Point (Geffen)
• The Roots of Orchis - Crooked Ceilings (Slowdance)
• The Saint - Grown Folk Music (Uncle Junior/ 7 Heads)
• Adam Sandler - Shhh ... Don't Tell (Warner Bros.)
  Buy Now: Shhh...Don't Tell (Warner Brothers)
• Nikola Sarcevic - Lock-Sport-Krock (Burning Heart)
• Sheetal - Love of Ages (Artemis)
• Snapper - The Connect (Thump)
• Sparta - Porcelain (Geffen)
• Steel Pulse - African Holocaust (Sanctuary/ Ras)
• Ken Stringfellow - Soft Commands (Yep Roc)
• Tack Fu - 85 Decibel Monks (Rosemary)
• The Texas Thieves - Killer on Craig's List (Dr. Strange)
• They Might Be Giants - The Spine (Idlewild/Rounder)
• The U.N. - U.N. or U Out (W.O.R.L.D./ 456)
• Voetsek - The Castrator Album (Six Weeks)
• The Waxwings - Let's Make Our Descent (Rainbow Quartz)
• Widespread Panic - Über Cobra (Sanctuary)
• Various artists - 2XH Vs. HHR Vol. 1: Where Is My Robotic Boot? (Hydra Head)
• Various artists - Confuse Yr Idols: A Tribute to Sonic Youth (Narnack)
• Various artists - Jimmy Martin: A Tribute to the King of Bluegrass Vol. 1 (Koch Nashville)
• Various artists - The Blackest Album 4 - An Industrial Tribute to Metallica (Cleopatra)
• Various artists - Tranquility: Music for Yoga & Meditation (Vanguard)
• Various artists - Soundtrack to "A Cinderella Story" (Hollywood)
• Various artists - Soundtrack to "My Architect" (Koch)
• DVD: "Latino Freak Show Volume 1" (Music Video Distributors)

July 20:

• Faces - Five Guys Walk Into a Bar (Rhino)
• Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives (Interscope)
  Read: "Hives Album Preview: Out Of The Garage, Into The Laboratory"
• Ashlee Simpson – Autobiography (Geffen)
  Buy Now: Autobiography (Geffen)
  Read:

• Kevin Lyttle - Kevin Lyttle (Atlantic)
• Old 97s - Drag it Up (New West)
• Pearl Jam - Live at Benaroya Hall (Ten Club/BMG)

August 3:

• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Live (Vanguard Records)
• Cherie - Cherie (Lava)
• Marc Broussard - Carencro (Island)

• The Roots
• Adam Sandler
• Beenie Man
• The Polyphonic Spree
• KRS-One

Luda, Fab, Eve And More Show Up For VH1's 'Hip Hop Honors'

• Ludacris
• Fabolous
• DMX
• KRS-One
• Gym Class Heroes

Nas, Wu-Tang, More 'Rock The Bells' At Jones Beach

• Nas
• Wu-Tang Clan
• RZA
• Method Man
• Raekwon

Common, KRS-One, More At Smirnoff Signature Mix Series Launch

• Common
• Q-Tip
• DJ Premier
• Just Blaze
• KRS-One

KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Furious Five, more live at the Paradise Theater

• KRS-One
• Big Daddy Kane
• Furious Five