Free Agent: Trent Reznor

I know this isn't REALLY rap news, but considering who Trent's worked with, (Puffy, Zach de la Rocha, El-P, Saul Williams, and NERD, among others), it seems to be pretty prevalent to everyone, everywhere, in music.

Trent Reznor, on NIN.com stated that, "I've waited a LONG time to be able to be able to make the following announcement: as of right now Nine Inch Nails is a totally free agent... it gives me great pleasure to be able to finally have a direct relationship with the audience as I see fit."

For those of you that pay attention to the world outside of rap, Radiohead has recently dropped their label and released a self-distributed album. Radiohead also lets fans name their own price for the album on their website.

Maybe if rap did the same thing, we'd get variation on the radio. :-)

So, here's my commentary portion: all the rich rappers who think they're so talented need to put their money where their mouth is and drop their labels, self-distribute, and lets see talent face off against the bullshit. Dig?

Lil Wayne ARRESTED!

*waits as the eruption of cheers subsides*

Actually, that wasn't the sound at all outside of the jail where Lil' Wayne was held. People protested as bad as they did for Michael Jackson.



He got the Paris Hilton treatment and was out later that day.



The charges were regarding a missed court date in 2006 where Wayne was found with marijuana and 100 Xanex and hydrocodone pills.



His lawyer shone light into why Wayne was so "bankable" in his comments about the case, "He's never missed a court date or any professional obligation. That's why Wayne is so bankable."

So that's why? Well, I guess that gets part of it down. Now we have to figure out the talent area, because no matter how much the guy shows up, you're not gonna keep around a janitor that shits on the floor.

Walkin' Out, Steppin' Up, and Other Such Phrases

Wu-Tang Clan ain't nuthin' to fuck with, and they showed it by securing a deal for a sample of the Beatles' "As My Guitar Gently Weeps". The song it is featured on (as well as a possible performance by Erykah Badu?) will be on their upcoming album 8 Diagrams. For those of you who don't know the magnitude of this, this is the FIRST EVER legal Beatles sample, (no, Dangermouse's "Gray Album" wasn't legal... good, yes; legal, no). The album is set to drop in early December.




Del Tha Funkee Homosapien has signed to Def Jux records, (El-P's label that also features Aesop Rock who has a new album. Pick that shit up). He's also delayed his much-anticipated solo album, entitled 11th Hour for a 2008 release date.




Upon the second week of their "feud". Kanye and 50's record sales PLUMMETED. Kanye's Graduation sold 226,000 copies in the second week, (compared to the 957,000 sold the first week). Curtis sold a mediocre 691,000 that first week and dropped to a meager 143,000 copies in the second week. Quick trivia: The Massacre sold 1,100,000 in the first week. Late Registration sold 860,000 in its first week. Looks like Kanye's on the rise and 50 is rap's little Icarus.




Dr. Dre's Detox is delayed AGAIN! Wow... surprise, surprise. As for Eminem, they're three songs away from delivering the "retired" rapper's newest effort. Boy, another rapper that goes into retirement only to come out. Unpredictable... or something.