Dipset: Reunited! Upcoming Tour, and more.

Image Credit: thatplum.com

Article by: Christine O'Connor

Twitter: @christineeeeO

Given the number of reunions over the last couple of years (Outkast, G-Unit, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Mobb Deep), it makes sense that the Dipset would eventually return to grace us with their musical expertise.

Dipset will embark on a 5-stop club tour. The entire Dipset group will not only go on tour together, but they will also release a new mixtape. The Diplomats, also referred to as Dipset, was founded by Jim Jones and Cam’ron in 1997. The original group members were Cam’ron, Jim Jones, and Freekey Zekey. Rapper Juelz Santana joined Dipset in 1999.

Due to creative differences and personal issues, the members of Dipset parted ways in 2007. Most of the members released solo projects. New record labels and new cliques were also formed. The main feud was between the leaders of Dipset, Cam’ron and Jim Jones. Breaking all ties with Cam’ron, Jim Jones formed ByrdGang. Although Freekey Zeekey joined Jones’ ByrdGang, he also started his own record label, 730 Dips. Juelz Santana formed his Skull Gang clique, and signed an artist deal with Def Jam Records. Meanwhile, Cam’ron formed his group, the U.N, and Dipset West in 2009.

Much has changed since Cam and company’s reign in the hiphop world from 2002 to 2007. New York City and its traditional brand of street rap no longer has the stronghold it once had over listeners. The sound of the streets is secondary to a sound that is unique becoming all the rage these days. Even former hiphop heavy weights such as Rick Ross, Jeezy and T.I. have experienced a dip in sales and overall popularity, with “safer” acts such as Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Drake all but ditching the hardcore demographic and leapfrogging the veterans in terms of musical success and appeal. 

Dipset should stick to pleasing their core audience on a new mixtape instead of attempting to step too far out of their comfort zone as far as producers and guest features. The last thing fans want to hear is Dipset far-removed from their roots after such a long-awaited and anticipated reunion.

The Dipset reunion may bring a breath of fresh air to hiphop. It may shake things up in the rap game. Hopefully they will be bringing the sound of the streets back to rap music.

Article by: Christine O'Connor

Twitter: @christineeeeO

Jim Jones Extends His 'VampLife' Brand By Releasing New Soda This Halloween

by: Dana P. (E.I.C.)

Dipsets own Jim Jones is catering to all you thirsty folks out there! Even better, he's doing it for those who are about that '#VampLife !' 

Jim Jones joined Angela Yee, DJ Envy & Charlamagne Tha God on the Power 105.1 Breakfast Club, to talk about his newest project in the works, "Vamp Soda."

Capo discusses teaming up with Top Pop as the first flavor of "Vamp Soda" will be "Vamp Berry." 

According to XXLMag.com

"Distribution for the cold beverage will begin in his hometown of New York and will disseminate over to states including New Jersey, Florida, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, California, Ohio, and Illinois. Why did Jimmy join the soda business you ask?"

Vamp Soda is set to be released in stores beginning on October 31st, 2014. 

Jim Jones Talks The Possibility Of A Potential Dipset Album In The Works

Image Credit: Juelz Santana's Instagram (thejuelzsantana)

Wu Tang Clan check. G-unit check. Next up on the roster to reunite in the hip hop scene could be fan favorite Dipset! In a recent interview with Vlad TV, Rapper Jim Jones spoke on the possibility of his lethal group releasing new music and maybe even an album.

When asked about the likelihood of a Dipset album in the future, Jim responded "I would like to . . We've been doing music so I guess we been working towards that." The Harlem native also confirmed that other members of the Diplomats have been cooped up in the studio making new music as well; name dropping Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, and Hell Rell to be exact.

Contrary to the beef most people think happened to make the group members go their separate ways, Jim Jones says it wasn't like that and clears up the speculations.

" I mean we came up so close . . when the discrepancies happen or whatever made people . . the beef or whatever made people to think it was this that . .  it’s that personal cause we all so close. So it's kind of funny and awkward and sh-t like that. But I know, well I felt that I guess everybody else would've felt the same that with time this sh-t will blown over and it'll all heal itself. You know maybe we messed up some opportunities maybe we didn't but we're still here to talk about it and now we starting to do music again. And the people still want it so and that's the most incredible thing that over these years people still want to see us in action. I mean that goes . . that stands for a lot because we put a lot of work into this game I mean I don't know if people are paying their dues anymore but we definitely paid ours from the moment we got in this b---h. And we went hard and we never let nobody take nothing from us or compromise our dignity. But we definitely was humbled by certain situations and we definitely gave back when we need to."

Jimmy even joked in the interview that it's kind of hard working with his fellow Dipset brother Cam'ron in the studio being that by the time they finish reminiscing on the old days it's nearly time for him to go home. "It's kind of hard because we be talking sh-t about old days and so much sh-t and catching up and by time we get to the music it's like, 'Damn I got to do this verse and get out of here.'"

It would be exciting to see another monumental hip hop group reunite for new music so then fans can get back to chanting Dipset, Dipset, Dipset, Dipset!

Check out Jim's full interview with Vlad TV 

​here.​

— Brittany C. Jackson

Twitter: @xPlatinumChanel

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Hip Hop Pioneers Steer The Genre Back In The Right Direction With Their Performances At The Source360

If you're an avid Hip Hop fan, all your dreams would have come true on the evening of September 20 as The Source Magazine hosted their first annual Source360 concert at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The magazine racked up one hell of a roster as they recruited notable hip hop pioneers  like the Wu Tang Clan and Lil' Kim to grace the stage for a night of good ole fun—  and HipHopShortStop.com was front row and center taking it all in.
The streets of Brooklyn were greeted with sounds straight out of a stereo as notable group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony kicked things off to a great start being that they were the first act to reunite and hit the stage. The group put the crowd in just the right mood as they performed hits like "Crossroads" and "Notorious Thugs" featuring the late and great Biggie Smalls.

Following the Bone Thugs-n-Harmony set, the next group up held nothing back cause it's Dispet for life ya heard! The Diplomats members Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and Cam'ron did the crowd right after they tossed hit after hit after hit; you couldn't help but to sing along. Not only did the boys have the crowd going crazy , their chemistry and interactions were so strong that on-lookers couldn't help but to acknowledge them as brothers.

The Queen Bee was the life of the party as she showed the crowd that age nor a newborn baby girl was going to slow her down from letting you know that she has still got it going on. Lil' Kim knows how to put on a show as she performed her hit singles from her Junior Mafia Days all the way to her latest tracks off her Hardcore Mixtape. Kimmy Blanco is an entity on her own but she made her set even more memorable by bringing out a couple of celebrity guests on her set like rappers Maino, Havoc of Mobb Deep and Bobby Shmurda.

And finally the moment you've all been waiting for; the headliner of the show—  Wu Tang Clan. With this reunion performance, Wu proves that they're still boss. All living members of the clan were present and accounted for as they passed the mic off to their brothers spitting hard-hitting lyrics that ultimately made history in not only the hip hop genre but also in the music industry. The chemistry the guys possessed on stage put the crowd at a lost for words and instead focused on the group in a positive light as fans held their Wu Tang forever signs high up in the air for the rest of the night.

Watch all the Source360 action come alive here.

— Brittany C. Jackson (@___PXC)

Five Reasons Why Eminem Is The People's Champion

Image Credit: Eminem's Instagram (@eminem)

While Marshall Mathers was out raging hell on The Monster Tour alongside pop princess Rihanna, his new track "Guts Over Fear" made its way up the Digital Genre R&B/Hip Hop chart. As of September 6, HipHopDX.com reported that the single was holding down the third spot with 134,328 units sold.

Even when the Detroit native is swamped with work outside the studio, he still seems to hold stain in the Hip Hop scene. BET recently announced its 2014 Hip Hop Awards nominees and Eminem has been blessed to snagged the following three: "Best Collabo,Duo or Group," "Lyricist of the Year" and "Album of the Year."

Amazingly, the real Slim Shady recently landed a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for his bars on the 2013 track "Rap God." Eminem has been recognized for having the most words in a hit single clocking in at 1,560 words in six minutes and four seconds.

Eminem has teamed up with the Detroit Tigers for an official merchandise collaboration. The clothing line items were released on September 3 and holds a close place to his heart since it represents his hometown. In addition to that, he also took to Instagram to reveal limited edition clothing merchandise for sale in an effort to drive support for his upcoming album SHADYXV.

And finally, although Dipset rapper Jim Jones doesn't have a spot for Em on his top five rappers list, that hunk of a hunnie Denzel Washington sure is hype to have the rapper on his. In a recent reddit Ask Me Anything session, the actor revealed that Eminem is one of his favorite rappers and he is indeed a fan. So who would ever go amongst the word of this Hollywood A-lister?

With all these achievements, how could one not deem Eminem the "Rap God" of our times?

— Brittany C. Jackson

Twitter: @xPlatinumChanel