Yelawolf brings a little something different to the hip-hop game with Looking for Alien Love. Check out his space age rap.

Click here to listen and download.

Today most people know Jive Records for Britney and Justin. Here’s why they’re the 11th most important hip-hop record label of all time.

Long before Clive Calder built Jive Records into the pop music juggernaut that featured  Britney Spears, Nsync, The Backstreet Boys, R. Kelly and Justin Timberlake, and which sold for $2.74 BILLION, the label was the home to some of the most important acts in hip-hop.  These artists achieved both commercial and critical success and some went on to be among the biggest icons in all of entertainment (like Will Smith…).  In fact, in the 80’s and early 90’s Jive put it down so hard in hip-hop and R&B it seems almost inconceivable they would eventually morph into the most successful pop music label of all time.  All of it is a tribute to the musical genius of Clive Calder.  Here are just SOME of the artists that make Jive Records the 11th most important hip-hop record label of all time.

Freaks Come Out at Night – Whodini

P.S.K. – Schooly D

Wild Wild West – Kool Moe Dee

Freaky Tales – Too Short

My Philosopy – Boogie Down Productions

Check the Rhyme – A Tribe Called Quest

Summertime – DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince

Trigga Gots No Heart – Spice 1

93 til Infinity – Souls of Mischief

The Most Beautifullest Thing in this World – Keith Murray

Touched – UGK

Rapper’s Ball- E-40

Previously: #20 Rakwus Records, #19 Loud Records, #18 Select Records, #17 Rap-A-Lot Records, #16 No Limit Records, #15 Sleeping Bag Records, #14 Uptown Records, #13 Ruffhouse Records, #12 Cold Chillin’ Records

Bun B ft. Pimp C, 2Pac and Trey Songz. Nuff said…The song is Right Now (and that’s when you should get this)

This is another big record for the Summer of 2010.  Click here to download.  Bun B’s album Trill O.G. drops on Tuesday, 8/3.

Speaking of Drake cameos…he MURDERED his original verse on Rick Ross’ Aston Martin Music. Wonder why it didn’t make the album? Check it out here.

One reason could be that he spits for 2 straight minutes.  It would have been his song if they kept it.  Click here to download.

Drake is doing an incredible job holding Weezy’s spot as the guest MC of choice. Bun B’s new “Put it Down” ft. Drake is fire.

Boi 1da supplies the track on this one.  Click here to download.

Freddie Gibbs teams up with Statik Selektah to drop his new mixtape “Str8KillaNoFilla.” Check it out here.

Click here to download.  Tracklist below:

1. Dollar$ 4 Dope (Intro) (Produced by Rome)
2. Face Down (Produced by Develop)
3. National Anthem (Fuck The World) (Produced by L.A. Riot Music) | Music Video
4. Born 2 Roll
5. Str8 Killa No Filla ft. Big Kill (Produced by Block Bettaz)
6. In My Hood ft. L.E.P. Bogus Boys (Produced by Finger Roll)
7. Rep 2 Tha Fullest ft. Jay Rock (Prod. by DJ Burn One & B Flat Trax)
8. Slammin’
9. Live By The Game (Produced by Block Bettaz)
10. Serve Or Get Served (Interlude) (Produced by Statik Selektah)
11. P.S.A. (Pussy So Amazin’) (Produced by DJ Burn One)
12. Personal OG (Produced by Block Bettaz)
13. Best Friend (Produced by Speakerbomb)
14. Do Wrong ft. Pill (Produced by Koncept)
15. My City ft. V.P. & D-Edge
16. Crushin’ Feelin’s (Produced by Statik Selektah)
17. Goon Shit ft. Sick Jacken & Planet Asia (Prod. by Josh The Goon)
18. The Ghetto | Music Video
19. Rock Bottom ft. Bun B (Produced by K-Salaam & Beatnick)
20. 4681 Broadway (Prod. by L.A. Riot Music)
21. Slangin’ Rocks (Produced by Speakerbomb)

The 12th most important hip-hop record label of all time would have been #1 in 1988.

#12 Cold Chillin’ Records

Many people say the golden age of hip-hop was in the late 80’s and early 90’s.  If you fall into that category, there’s no doubt Cold Chillin’ Records featured some of your favorite artists of all time (in any genre).  Cold Chillin’ also has the unfortunate legacy of playing a vital role in one of rap’s first major beefs between 2 artists repping different regions.  Many of Cold Chillin’s artists hailed from Queens, including MC Shan who became embroiled in a war with KRS-ONE who was from the Bronx.  Fortunately, beef was resolved on wax back then but the war and resultant battle records that would come from the conflict between MC Shan’s Juice Crew and KRS’ Boogie Down Productions would span a few years before fading away.  Those wars would be a harbinger for far worse things to come in hip-hop, but more on that later.  For now, revel in the glory that was Cold Chillin’ Records.

The Bridge – MC Shan

R.A.W. – Big Daddy Kane

Nobody Beats the Biz – Biz Markie

Streets of New York – Kool G Rap & DJ Polo

Me and the Biz – Master Ace

The Symphony – Marley Marl

Previously: #20 Rakwus Records, #19 Loud Records, #18 Select Records, #17 Rap-A-Lot Records, #16 No Limit Records, #15 Sleeping Bag Records, #14 Uptown Records, #13 Ruffhouse Records

Arguably the most acclaimed artist in hip-hop was on the 13th most important hip-hop record label of all time.

#13 Ruffhouse Records

Ruffhouse Records is another one of those record labels where few outside the music industry knew the label, but EVERYBODY knew its artists.  Ruffhouse was founded in 1989 by Chris Schwartz and Joe “The Butcher” Nicolo who got his nickname due to his skills at chopping up tracks.  Even before he helped found the label, Nicolo showed his chops by working with legends like DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.  It was with them that he won his first Grammy.  It would be the first of many.  In fact, one of Ruffhouses releases would go on to garner five Grammys by itself.  Though Ruffhouse is long gone as a label, its legacy lives on through its artists.

Previously: #20 Rakwus Records, #19 Loud Records, #18 Select Records, #17 Rap-A-Lot Records, #16 No Limit Records, #15 Sleeping Bag Records, #14 Uptown Records

The truth about Inception (serious spoiler alert)

Much has been written and discussed about the movie Inception (a must see if you haven’t already–but go ready to focus intensely for a 2.5 hour period).  Many people have different theories about the “meaning” of the movie.  In “reality,” we may never know what was fully in director Christopher Nolan’s head, but that’s part of what makes the film so meaningful to people.  Regardless of what you believe, click here for a very compelling interpretation.

Kanye West did not start by going to the press or TV to promote his new album. He went straight to Facebook. Here’s what he had to say.