The Best Rapper Alive Is...

by: Jozen Cummings

When VIBE decided to let the people decide The Best Rapper Alive, we just wanted to have a little fun. But with a final tally exceeding 920,000 votes, it’s safe to say we touched a nerve. Since the competition began on July 21, the NCAA tournament – style bracket sparked bedlam. T.I.? Nas? Joe Budden? Rick Ross? Decisions had to be – and were – made.

In the early rounds there were few upsets, as most of the higher-seeded competitors triumphed. Until the final eight MCs remained, it looked as though all four No. 1 seeds – Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Eminem, and Andre 3000 – would land in the final four. But then, the bark of underdogs could be heard in the distance.

The lesser of the two upsets took place in the Big Punisher bracket. Andre was defeated by No. 3 seed The Game, just as his album, LAX (Geffen), was impacting nationwide. In the Pimp C bracket, Lil Wayne, the man who many thought would take home the title, lost to Ludacris, also a No. 3 seed. Unfortunately for The Game and Luda die-hards, Cinderella would not be anyone’s date to the big dance. Jay-Z and Eminem easily beat out Ludacris and Game respectively, setting up a titanic final matchup. In the end, Eminem prevailed in a surprising landslide victory. Despite no proper album releases, since 2004’s, Encore (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope), 69 percent of the votes went to Detroit’s native son easily outpacing office favorite Jay-Z’s 31 percent.

"It’s obviously an honor to have won the fans' support by being voted the Best Rapper Alive,” Eminem said in response to his victory. “I don't think that there is any one rapper that is simply the best though. Everyone who was in consideration and many others are the best at certain things, and at what they do. But since VIBE's offering the distinction, hell yeah I'll accept!"

But no matter the victor, one thing was clear: The debate about who The Best Rapper Alive is (or is not) lives on. We just might have to do it again next year.

For a complete breakdown of all the matches, go to VIBE.com/bestrapper.

By Roman Wolfe

Rapper Eminem will host an exclusive release party in New York on October 21 in celebration of his second book, The Way I Am.

The Way I Am is a collection of Eminem’s personal stories, photographs, artwork, never before seen lyrics and reflections.

The book, which also comes with a DVD featuring unreleased interviews and personal footage of Eminem, lands in the stores the same days is the rapper’s event, which is being held at a secret location.

Fans will be able to listen in to the event via Eminem’s Shade 45 Sirius satellite radio station, which will broadcast from the venue with hosts Angela Yee, Drama King DJ Kay Slay, while producer The Alchemist will man the turntables.

According to Eminem’s longtime friend and manager Paul Rosenberg, the book has several unique features that will be attractive to the rapper’s fan base.

"A couple of my favorite things about the book are the cover and the detachable lyric sheets," Rosenberg said. "The cover is a red acetate film that slides over the traditional book print. The red jacket masks the collage of Em's handwritten lyrics on top of the underlying photo... you kind of have to see it to really get the effect. Also inside the book in the back are several perforated pages which one can pull out of the book. On these pages are reproductions of Em's actual lyric sheets for songs like 'Stan' and 'Lose Yourself.'"

According to Rosenberg, despite Eminem’s superstar status and proven sales record, seeing the rapper’s vision through was not an easy feat.

"I fought hard for the book to have the pages detachable because there is something special about being able to hold the actual page in your hand and turn it around and around to decipher what Em's semi-legible writing is saying," Rosenberg continued. "You have to really see the lyric sheets to fully understand what I'm describing."

Eminem’s 208-page book The Way I Am hits stores October 21 on Dutton Adult, a division of The Penguin Group.

The Pattaya International Music Festival has come and gone and if you weren't lucky enough to be there in person or watch it on TV, well, YOU MISSED OUT, on three days of Music and Fun on the beach. Artists from all over Asia came to fill the hunger of thousands of music fans. All kinds of music was played during these three days, on three different stages, from Hard Rock to Rap to Thai Country. What ever style of music you enjoy it was all here for your thirsty ears. But since this site is dedicated to HIP-HOP, I will only tell you about the all the great Hip-Hop acts that played.

POP Chuvit (Malaysia)

"Pop Shuvit was created by throwing together a bunch of friends with different musical backgrounds from various musical genres that is evident in their eclectic hybrid of Hip-Hop and Hardcore creating a somewhat surreal but tasteful blend of Nu-Rock." (http://www.myspace.com/popshuvit ) Pop Shuvit is from Malaysia and they came to Pattaya with one thing on their minds. ROCK DA HOUSE!! With their infectious beats and solid lyrics, Pop Shuvit had the crowds rock'n out, Thug Style. Let it be know to ALL, that their is a new king of the Rock/Hip-Hop genre.

One thing I forgot to point out is over the three days of live acts I saw, MOST of the rock singers SUCKED when they performed live, but not Moots. The dude can sing. Major PROPS to you Moots and the whole POP Shuvit crew.

AZN (Thailand)

AZN (pronounced ASIAN) is a new Hip-hop group in Bangkok. Six people make up this tight crew of Thais that know how to flow. Even though they have just recently come into the spot lite they are an experience crew that have often worked with major groups like Thaitanium and DJ Buddha. They played a few of their catchy tunes and had the audience bobbin their heads. AZN, better recognize fool!

DJ Rough (Singapore) VS DJ Spydamonkee (Thailand)

Originaly billed to play solo DJ Rough came out with DJ Spydamonkee and the two took turns doing their things. It is unknown to me why DJ Spydamonkee came out since he had his hands full being the DJ for 4 other groups (Buddha Bless, Q'ty, Gancore Club and Joey Boy). Maybe he came out to support a fellow DJ, but it turned into a massacre. It started off with DJ Spydamonkee doing his thing, playing beats and doing a little mixing. DJ Rough throwing in a little scratched and carrying a few tunes while Monkee was preparing for the next set. (Rather quickly I must say) Nothing too hard, just a nice and smooth mix. He played for 5 or 10 minutes and then turned it over to DJ Rough so he can do his thing. And wouldn't you know it the first album he puts on he loops a track saying "can't cut, can't cut". I don't know about you, but he just called out my boy. FOOL!! It was over after that, Dj Spydamonkee served him his ASS on two turn tables. Showing him how a pro uses his tools. You DJ Spydamonkee wasn't showing off when he first started, he was just doing his thing being a gentalman and helping a fellow DJ out. DJ Rough got his ASS handed to him and after that he couldn't keep his composer and couldn't find the right album to play and DJ Monkee had to carry him for the rest of the show. IT WAS SICK. Don't come to Thailand and think that our boyz don't know their sh*t.

Next up was Thaitanium. The pioneers of Thai Gangsta Rap. They came on the stage ready to bring the house down, and thats just what they did. From the the moment they came on till the moment the left the crowd was electrfied with the Thai Riderz. Everyone in the crowd and I mean EVERYONE in the crowd had their hands up and their bobbin to the Thugged out grooves of Thaitanium. Dj Buddha was tearing the sh*t up and the audience was in Gangsta heaven. Thaitay played alot of songs from their previous albums and a few from their new one. This was another one of those awesome concerts you shouldn't have missed. Thaitay, Mutha-F**ka

Too Phat (Malaysia)

This wa Too Phat's second time at the festival and I can see why they were invited back. This Malay crew gottha beats and lyrics to the party jumping. If I had to describe them in one word it would be: SMOOTH. When you listen to them your like Damm they know how to flow. This is what R & G sounds like.

Buddha Bless (Thailand)

Buddha Bless hit the music sceane about 2 months ago so they only performend two songs. They burst on the stage to their current hit "Fire"(which is a Dance Hall Thai Rap style) and started running and jumping up and down. I was enjoying it till I realized that they were lip syncing to their song. Then I was just upset, cause I like the song. I mean come on, you made it to the big leauges and your going to lip sync, COME ON. Anyways the next song they did they didn't lip sync and it was good. I just wish they would have performed better.

Joey & Gancore Club (Thailand)

One thing I can say about Joey Boy is he IS the founding father of Hip-Hop in Thailand. Many Hip-Hop artist in Thailand have tried but Joey Boy is the only one who has consistantly stayed in the game for the past 10 years. He has dropped many albums and helped launch the careers of many recording artists. And the man knows how to put a show on, full of dancing girls in skimpy cheerlearder outfits. YUM! They did the intro and then his crew came on. Buddha Bless did their thing (see story above). Then an R&B female group called Q'ty came on and sang their hit single. Next up was Gancore Club. They did their thing, which is sort of a Thai version of JA Rule meets Biggie Smalls. Their stuff was cool, but it didn't do anything for me. After a tough 20 minutes (felt longer) Joey Boy came on and did his thing. His style is a mix of Thai Ragga muffin/Dance Hall/Hip-Hop. Many hitz were played from his old albums as well as he new one. Over all he put on a very enjoyable show.

50 cent in Thailand

After a much anticipation, Fiddy (50 cent) has come to Thailand. 7 hours and 2 sore feet later I am still wondering if it was worth all the hype. You bet your sweet ass it was. The sets were a bit short, but over all it was a great night.

The night started in the parking lot with a couple of blunts and a few 40s. Then a slow progression to the concert with 20 deep. Oh Man was it cool. Met a lot of people and a few starz like Biggie from Asian Embassy and Da Jim (what a nice guy). We went inside just as Thaitanium came on. They rocked the house. They are the best Hip-hop group in Thailand by far. They played thier old hitz as well as a few new ones. By this time I was well off my face, but loving every minute. After a great sission by Thaitay we had a 20 minute break and then Fort Minor came on. Mike and his crew are 100% proz. Awesome show, the beats were Phat and the gangsta violin playerz were the sh*t. An hour and a half of pure Hip-hop bliss. They played their hitz as well as a few of L.P.'s stuff. Another 20 minute break and Fiddy came on. Whaat can I say. He rocked the house. He did his sh*t and played the crowed right. At one point he encourged the crowd to sing: "I want to smoke, drink and fu*k. He did this a couple of times , then he brought up two little girls and asked the crowd "What ya'll want to do?" The whole crowd was silent. Smooth, if not for the feeling that it was a bunch of BULL. Cause we all know thats just what he's going to do after the show. All in All it was a very good night.

See you next time for more hip newz,

Gaur