EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: The Lox SHUT DOWN BB Kings with Special Guest Dej Loaf!

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

Hip Hop ShortStop has got some EXCLUSIVE footage of The Lox performing at BB Kings last month in New York City! Jadakiss, Styles P & Sheek Louch put on a show that was the absolute BEST we've seen them perform yet! The energy was surreal & the crowd was definitely full of true hip hop heads singing along to every song, as The Lox went onto perform an entire HOUR of non stop new joints & hella classics! 

Know your role! The Rock returns. Monday Night Raw Recap

Image Credit: www.wwe.com

John Cena and my favorite lunatic, Dean Ambrose, were supposed to have a 3 on 2 handicap match as the main event this evening. Ambrose deciding he'd rather go grab a hot dog at Nathan's. Good choice. Cena is so obsessed with Rollins, let him take care of that. 

I can't believe they made Big Show apologize on Smackdown. With all the disrespectful things Lana gets away with saying about America, you'd think that Soviet streetwalker would get sent to "sensitivity training." This really irks me. Rusev isn't even Russian! 

A lot of things bothered me about Raw tonight. Who let Tyson Kidd back in the ring? He's lucky he's married to a Hart. I don't even want to get into the Kathy Lee and Hoda bit. WWE heard us all bitching about that and sent us THE ROCK! After a little flirting with Lana, The Rock interrupts Rusev to send him to the Smackdown Hotel. 

I'll be dreaming of a mustard covered Orton tonight. Thank you, Ambrose. A boring 3 on 1 beat down turned into my greatest fantasy. Condiment covered beef cakes. Hunter announces Cena vs Ambrose, winner takes on Rollins inside the steel structure at Hell in the Cell. Can't wait! 

-Loveblump

How Anthony Duclair Can Change Hockey

Image Credit: Anthony J. Causi; nypost.com

What a crazy headline. Perhaps I’m baiting you to read this, because talk about hyping up a guy who hasn’t even played one second in the NHL yet. Over the course of sports history, there have been more Ryan Leaf’s than Peyton Manning’s. The emotion of being excited in sheer ecstasy, while cheering our favorite teams and athletes on, is why we are fans. If things work out right, Anthony Duclair is about to gain a huge fanbase soon.

If you’re not familiar, Anthony Duclair is a 19 year old kid out of Montreal, Canada that was drafted 80th overall in the 2013 NHL draft by an original 6 team, the New York Rangers. I can spare you the several paragraphs of what it means to play in NY, the sports capital of the world & where the media is at its most intense.

Duclair, playing for the Rangers affiliate, the Quebec Remparts, of the QMJHL, scored a hefty 50 goals last year and was named a First Team All-Star at only 18 years old. To put it in perspective, Duclair was born when Derek Jeter was taking his first at bat, in August of 1995. 

Duclair has excited Ranger fans this preseason, scoring a goal in nearly every game he played and bringing a sense of vigor, unbridled enthusiasm and energy, to what has been an elder statesmen team. 

Will Duclair be the next Rangers mega-star, akin to Henrik Lundqvist, Brian Leetch, Rod Gilbert, Andy Bathgate, Frank Boucher, etc? Only time will tell. However, if he can be as good as the hype and if his play carries over from what Ranger fans have seen already from his junior hockey & preseason games, the NHL may be on the receiving end of a huge financial & exposure boom.

It is no secret that the NHL is considered the fourth most major sport, and in some places the fifth. (NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA Football, NHL.) Many sports media outlets barely give it a byline. It took the Rangers to make the Stanley Cup for New York’s number 1 sports media figure & the icon of all sports radio, Mike Francesa to even talk hockey. Hockey has done itself no favors with the lockouts & a poor commissioner, but I have addressed that already in a previous article, here at HipHopShortStop.com.

So why do I think a 19 year old kid from Canada can become the sports number 1 megastar? It’s not because he’s another Canadian player in the league. It’s not even because he’s a French-Canadian. Simply, he’s a black French-Canadian. For the NHL, this black kid from Canada can become green real fast. 

Image Credit: Bruce Bennett; BlueShirtBanter.com

The NHL is predominately a white mans sport, full of Europeans, Canadians and Russians. It has a miniscule black fan base scattered across the country. Hockey just lends itself better to Caucasians because in some countries, it is the only sport they have. In America, we have many options and for parents trying to make ends meet, hockey is a very expensive sport to have your child play, with the costs of equipment, rink time, traveling, etc. Anyone can pick up a basketball, football or a glove. It’s not the same for hockey.

Hockey has had black stars over the years, but never has there been a black superstar playing in a major market in America. For the NHL to have a potential one in New York City, this can be the time to get African-Americans into the sport.

Nationality & supporting your own has always been a huge and important issue to people. I mean, just look at the Olympics, that’s what it’s all about, people competing and cheering on their own. There is a reason why blacks voted more in the history of the country when Obama ran. They voted for Obama in record numbers, just because he was black and not because of any political party devotion. I mean, do you know any black people who cared about golf until Tiger Woods took over? It is the same principle of Dominicans supporting their Dominican players in the MLB. Japanese people flocking to the MLB over players like Matsui, Ichiro, Tanaka, Nomo, etc. Remember Linsanity? And before him Yao Ming? Linsanity took over the NBA and was all over the media for a month until the Knicks foolishly let him go. Yao Ming generated the NBA billions of dollars in China with TV deals, marketing, etc. If Duclair can be as good in the NHL as he has been everywhere else, he can possibly create a surge of a whole new fan base, the African American market. 

Image Credit: ThePinkPuck.com

When Sidney Crosby was about to enter the NHL draft, the hype was all over the place. Except for injuries and choking in the playoffs, he has lived up to expectations. The NHL even protects their golden goose through officiating. Rules were changed to help increase scoring to help Crosby. However, Crosby, while a league star, never was able to brand himself and the sport in a way a Derek Jeter, a Michael Jordan or a Peyton Manning did, despite being the best. However, Duclair doesn’t have to be the best. He just needs to perform at a high level.

The NHL needs to try to increase scoring. If a 19 year old kid, can take the league by fire & he’s black, the NHL will get new eyeballs watching them. Especially in NY. With the baseball teams done & not great to be begin with, the Same Old Jets, the terrible Knicks, all NY fans have left are the NY Giants. But what about day-to-day? That is where Duclair can make his case.

I am putting way too much pressure on Duclair. We’ve had the Great White Hope in the NBA, but can the Fresh Prince of Duclair be the black jeebus of the NHL? For hockey’s sake, I hope so. For the Ranger fan in me, I fucking hope so! I am not trying to overhype the guy and saying he’ll be the next Gretzky, but there is a ton of potential in the kid and he can potentially draw the NHL tons of money. Sure it means that means the NHL can raise ticket prices even more, but it’s good for the sports overall exposure.

Black or white, Duclair is a good hockey player. I hope he becomes a megastar with that blueshirt on. Facing facts and reality, if Duclair surpasses expectations, we might see more hockey jerseys in the streets. The NBA has cornered the African-American market, changed their marketing to embrace it and has made billions off of it. They might have to start sharing the pie one day.

Anthony Duclair, being already affectionately named The Duke by Ranger fans, (Shirts are already being made by WeBleedBlue.com, soon to be copied by knockoff WeBleedBlue.comscab sites), can always wind up being chronically injured, involved in an NFL type scandal, or just being a bust. I’m excited as a Ranger fan. He hasn’t even played one game yet, and I already have him as the black Gordie Howe. I do not mean to cast insane pressure or speak in hyperbole. I am pointing out that we may not be too far off from a black-golden period for the NHL.

I bid good luck to Anthony Duclair. Playing in the biggest sports market, for an original 6 team fresh off a Cup run at only 19 years old is a rough & difficult task. As a Rangers fan, I hope he kicks ass and takes not only the Calder award, but the Hart award too. 

Keep your eyes open people, we might not be too far off from young people & black people trading in their Lebron James & Kevin Durant jerseys for the Rangers #63 jersey.

The old joke used to be, “Do you know why black people hate hockey? Because the only thing black in hockey is the puck & that gets slapped around.” Hopefully the new joke will be, “You don’t watch hockey, why, because you need your athletes to have rap sheets?”

Sign me up for the Duclair fan train. First stop, right above Penn Station, the next, only time will tell.

LETS GO RANGERS!

Sean McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com
HipHopShortStop.com

Nas Signs Harlem Rapper Dave East To Mass Appeal Records

Image Credit: Dave East's Instagram (whoisdaveeast)

It looks like Nas has got something really clever up his sleeve. The hip hop mogul continues to beef up his label roster by adding an additional player to his team of sick MCs within the past week. On October 2, MTV reported that Nas has signed Harlem native Dave East as the newest member of his record label Mass Appeal.

On October 1, Nas dropped a hint of his admiration of Dave East during an interview with Power 105.1's Angie Martinez Show. When asked about the 25 year-old, the rapper referred to him as "a real one" but unfortunately he was not at liberty to talk about him at that time.

Since the newcomer's Twitter feed is currently flooded with congratulations tweets, we can assume that the signing is official. Dave East joins artists Fashawn, Boldy James and Bishop Nehru as Nas' label signees. As fans can tell from the bars he spits on his Black Rose mixtape, Dave East is a promising artist. Now with Nas' stamp of approval , the rapper is set to do bigger and better things.

Check out Dave East's hype flow in his "Broke" video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lc8n9oZX68

— Brittany C. Jackson

@xPlatinumChanel

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

Wu Tang Clan Announces Release Date For Their 20th Anniversary Album 'A Better Tomorrow'

Image Credit: Brittany C. Jackson | Source 360 Concert

Wu Tang Clan ain't nothing to f--k with! Following their reunion performance at the Source Magazine's first annual #Source360 concert, the legendary group gave fans a little something more to be excited about. On October 2, Wu officially signed their latest industry deal with Warner Bros. Records.

Warner Bros. Records Instgram (wbr)

All nine of the group's living members—RZA,GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and Cappadonna— broke the news during a press conference at the label's California office. Wu Tang is kicking off their stay at Warner Bros. with a great start; with their first release being the group's 20th anniversary album A Better Tomorrow.

Steregum.com's Twitter (@stereogum)

A Better Tomorrow will be the group's sixth studio album which they just confirmed a release date for via Twitter on October 4.

With this sweet deal and the upcoming release of their 20th anniversary album, hopefully Wu can knock some sense into these knuckle heads in the music industry today by providing us with some real hip hop to hear!

— Brittany C. Jackson

Twitter: @xPlatinumChanel   

TGIF with Matt Dawgs: Finally The Rock Has Come Back To Baywatch,Stephanie vs. Quitters, and More

T.G.I.F. with Matt Dawgs: #272

Image Credit: wwe.com

Good day to you all and welcome to We Want Insanity. I am your host for today, Matt Dawgs and this is my column. Today is the end of the work week and the time to look back at all the goings-on over the past seven days as I wrap it up with a bow and spout it out bit by bit. Buckle up. As previously noted, you can catch my OTHER COLUMN which is the “ WWE NETWORK PPV OF THE WEEK ” where I and 3 friends discussed an old WWE/WCW/ECW PPV from the archives. Join us THIS SUNDAY as we review WWE “King of the Ring 2002” and check it out to see if it is worth watching. Also check out this week’s “ THE QUESTION ” where James Guttman, James Bullock (why do we have two James writing for the site? We need to change his name to Mitchell or something) and myself answer a random question each week.
MATT NOTE: If this isn’t a sign that the world is ending, please note that George Clooney was married last weekend. WTF?
BONUS MATT NOTE: Derek Jeter is retired and with retirement, has started a WEBSITE to communicate with fans without a filter.
WWE NEWS AND NOTES:
- Another week gone and another lackluster and without effort RAW in the bag. Honestly, how many main events in a row are we going to get a DQ finish? Plus, always involving the same cast of characters to boot? How many combinations of Cena/Ambrose/Kane/Orton/Rollins matches are we going to see?
- 1,000% Chance that Stephanie had that speech planned in advance calling the fans of Chicago a bunch of losers for chanting for a quitter when they broke out in a CM Punk chant.
- STEPHANIE MCMAHON (after the crowd chants for CM Punk): “Why do these people cheer for quitters? Because they can relate to them. They’re quitters themselves. They’d rather quit when life gets tough instead of digging in and fighting for what you believe in. Instead, you just give up. Things get hard. You quit. Get in an argument with your wife, you quit your family. You either quit or you steal.”
- I enjoyed the Paul Heyman/Seth Rollins INTERACTION and apology from Rollins. Good heel logic used in this segment.
- Dean Ambrose was the star of the show from beginning to end. His unpredictability and “Loose Cannon-ness” is a breath of fresh air.
- I with Dolph Ziggler would get a serious push. I know he is IC champ and WINNING MATCHES more frequently but I can only imagine this is short term and he will be buried again. Sad but trye.
- POOR DAMIEN SANDOW. Don’t get me wrong, playing Miz v2.0 is hilarious and he is great at it. But it has no shelf life. He is officially typecast as a comedy prelim/mid-card act and it is going to be super difficult for him to break that stigma if WWE ever decides to push him seriously. Incredible because he was RED HOT when he had the MITB briefcase and almost beat Cena for the title on RAW last year.
- HHH having Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble as his stooges is fantastic. Plus the fact that they are still young enough to bump around and eventually have a match if need be is a HUGE plus considering when Vince McMahon had Patterson and Brisco as his stooges, they were limited in what they could do in a storyline.
- By the way, if you had any doubt that Miz and Sandow are a prelim comedy act ....
- See more here.