The Cypher

The BET Hip Hop Awards will air in South Africa on Top TV this weekend. Yes, Lil Wayne has the most nominations. No, Gucci Mane didn't show up with another face tattoo. Yes, Mike Epps is the host and no, Willow and Jaden won't be doing their rendition of Bus' It Baby at the awards which were taped in Atlanta. Boohoo. All those things are great but what most people only ever look forward to is The Cypher. Treated in black and white, this is where the artists who don't really have major record label backing as well as some rap greats (Common, Black Thought etc) get to spit their 16s to DJ Premiere scratches. Two years ago, Nicki Minaj finally won some folks over - even though they scratched their heads at that cigarette move - when she was featured alongside Joe Budden, Buckshot and Crown Royyal. This year, The Cypher will feature the likes of Gilbere Forte (you know Dude did an air punch to Gilbere's inclusion, right?), Chris Sutton, XV and Jay Rock amongst others. So until we can see more footage, here's something for you to snack on:

2009 BET Hip Hop Awards "The Cypher" Crown Royyal, Nicki Minaj, Buckshot & Joe Budden from Crown Royyal on Vimeo.

Far From Ordinary

You be the judge.

When Dude hit me up this morning to ask me if I'd heard the 3rd installment of Joe Budden's Ordinary Love Shit, I wasn't quite sure what the big deal was. Just Joey being Joey (read super emo), right? But when someone preempts his leak with this tweet:

"Serious question 4 Budden fans... #OLS3 is comprised of nothing but my real life pain & agony, knowing that, do u REALLY wanna hear this?" - @joebudden

Then you have to at least give it a listen. And with that, for once, The Ordinary Girl - a certified president of Team Tahiry in my mind - is not judging Joey. His relationship with model, Esther Baxter sounds emotionally taxing so his ultra-EMO-ness is justified on this one. This is the final song in his series.



I know what you're thinking: he used Frank Ocean's Novacane instrumental? Why yes. We told you Frank is that dude. If you missed the first and second Ordinary Love Shit joints from Joe Budden then you can find them on Rap Radar here and here. And, lastly, you can download Ordinary Love Shit 3 HERE.

In The Mood

Doesn't Joey look like Swizz Beats' long lost brother here?

When it comes to music, Joe Budden is always in the mood. Ok, the corniness stops there. Anyway, Dude insisted blaggers and blaggettes had to be put on Tahiry's ex's latest mixtape, Mood Muzik 4. Yes folks, there are three more before this one. Ok, ok, ok, teasing aside, theblagg loves Joe Budden. And theblagg loves you. So why not bring the two things we love together? Well, here you go then:

The Making of Joe Budden's Mood Muzik 4 from Dan M on Vimeo.

Team Tahiry PSA

We think it's in the public's interest to know that Joe Budden made a huuuuge mistake treating Tahiry like garbage. Let's reflect on the good times, shall we?



Where's Joe Budden TV today? Something tells us Tahiry doesn't care to know

More On The Hip Hop Girlfriend*

Yesterday these photos of Kanye West and Amber Rose, shot by fashion photographer Terry Richardson, hit the internet. And you know theblagg has plenty of love for ARose and 'Ye - even if there are rumours that Robocop might be smashing Kim Kardashians ex, Reggie Bush. So Dude and The Ordinary Girl had to say something. Hey, the 9 to 5s were getting to us. Here it is:

Dude: She was a good match for Kanye. She is his Tahiry.
The Ordinary Girl: Why do you say that?
Dude: I say that because now all the girls after Amber are gonna wanna act like her. They will wanna be in his pictures and wanna get modelling jobs like she did. Just like what Tahiry and Joey had.



The Ordinary Girl: And you think that's wrong? Aren't they entitled to do that if Amber could do it?
Dude: You see we will never know if she intended to do all that but the next girl coming into a relationship might want to come with ulterior motives. And then she'll be nothing but a user. You don't think that?
The Ordinary Girl: You know I love Amber but I don't think she was looking to be Kanye's beard. The fact that she is so different says all that. See the problem with the likes of Somaya is that they have nothing to offer. They aren't Somaya first before So-and-So's-Sidepiece. I think Kanye is in for a tough time because instead of Amber coming out with a "tell-all" book or whatever she actually sang Ye's praises. Acknowledged that she wouldn't be where she is today without him. Where else is he gonna find that?



Dude: Word up yo. He needs to get back to her.
The Ordinary Girl: I wouldn't say that though.. Do you mean he must go back because he might not find another person to make him happy? Not that he is unhappy right now but still... what are your reasons?
Dude: Okay, I admit he doesn't need to go back to her but I like them together.

Let's just hope ARose doesn't pull a Somaya Reece and go on radio talking about her ex's skills...



*still the American edition, of course.

The Need

Girls are needy. Hip hop is worse. And sometimes the music has the girl as head cheerleader. But mostly, they refuse to co-exist. It seems when it comes down to it, you can find another Tahiry (or better depending on what team you're on) anywhere. He doesn't need that. He needs the music more than he needs a Mrs. Always. Another slice of a day in the life of a rapper.

hi-tek - all i need is you by theblagg

"Come see you at night and in the morning you're alone."

A Def Jam Disaster

Wow. How did we miss this?
Dude's two favourite 5-to artists, Christina Milian and Joe Budden, collaborated before both parted ways (read were dropped) from Def Jam? Was young Corey in a good mood? Oh, that's right, this was pre-Fifi-Dobson-clone-haircut-and-internet-boobage-overload Rihanna was Japan-klapped and made into a supestar.
But I digress.
Mrs The-Dream and the sucker that let Tahiry go made a pretty decent song. Pity about the video.

Dude Said We Only Listen With Our Eyes

"That's not true!"* protested The Ordinary Girl as she saved image 3589 onto the desktop.




*Hey, Team Tahiry needs someone to be the lookout girl. Don't judge.