Image credit: Open Bar Entertainment

RESPECT.: Hey X how’s it going?

It’s wonderful I can’t complain!

RESPECT.: How does it feel knowing the new single and project is out with the Serial Killers?

Well it’s great coming back to the marketplace. I love working with these guys and we have two other projects which are volume 1 and volume 2. This is the first project we done in a year or 2 so It feels good to be back.

RESPECT.: I see it is released under Open Bar Entertainment which has been around since 1995. What does it take to stay in the game for so long.

I love it. I love music and what it has done for my life . I love what it represents as far as the culture. It is dope I love it and I’ll continue to do it. I don’t put a time stamp on myself when I should and shouldn’t participate. . It’s a part of who I am.

RESPECT.: We love that you love it. The lead single “Get Away With It,”  how did that come about?

In the studio we all agree once all the music is finished. We were able to pinpoint which one should come out. We knew this is the one.

RESPECT.: This album of day of the dead is actually dropping the day of Halloween.  Tell us about it!

It’s a stand alone project so it’s not volume 3. Volume 3 will be coming out next year. It’s our first time ever putting it out for retail so that is a big deal. The kind of production and delivery we have on these records is not typical like what’s in mainstream now. That is why we call ourselves the Serial Killers. We really are focused on killing the rhymes. Halloween is the right setting for the type of music we make here.

The post RESPECT. Interview: Xzibit Gives Us Details on ‘Day Of The Dead’ Project with the Serial Killers appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Okay, so just when I declared that I wasn’t going to be watching as much TV as I usually do, Empire goes and signs up veteran actor, Taye Diggs to join it’s already lined up Season 3 cast. I guess vows are meant to be broken especially when you got someone as hot as Diggs playing a role. (But that smile tho!)

According to Entertainment Weekly, the Murder in the First star will start out the season on Empire’portraying a character whom sources say will put you in the mind of current President Barack Obama; Diggs will play a New York councilman by the name of Angelo Dubois whom has a wealthy family background and could really pursue “big time” clientele and business. But instead chooses to focus on local politics and community issues which is an exact replica of what President Barack Obama forges to do and has done since his election.

Empire seems to have quite a celebrity line-up this season which includes: Xzibit, French Montana, Sierra McClain and Birdman. I don’t know who requested the other celebrities but according to EW, Taraji P. Henson personally requested Diggs – under one condition:

“I requested Taye Diggs you know. Taye Diggs you owe me a Chanel bag! “Okay whoever I get a job for on Empire, you owe me a Chanel bag.” Empire star Taraji P. Henson joked to EW

Empire has been one of the hottest shows to hit the network to date and with the long list of celebrities they keep adding it will keep getting hotter. So all jokes aside about the bag, Henson gave us a little information about what we could expect to see from Diggs character:

“Well, he’s sexy and he’s a smart politician. That’s all I know right now. And he loves him some cookies.

And I’m sure he won’t be the only one. Empire Season 3 premieres Wednesday, September 21st at 9 p.m. on Fox.

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Since the premiere of Empire, we have gotten the opportunity to see some of our favorite celebrities on the show such as Chris Rock, Alicia Keys, Common, Lenny Kravitz, Estelle, Snoop Dogg & even the Queen B herself, that’s B as in Billionaire, Oprah Winfrey, just to name a few. Fans will be happy to know that Empire now has a new celebrity that they plan to keep around for quite some time, well at least for Season 3 and that person is none other than Xzibit.

According to Complex,  Xzibit appeared on Season 2 of Empire and played the role of a rival to Luscious Lyon played by Terrence Howard. Xzibit, whose real name is Alvin Joiner announced the exciting news on his instagram page today.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGzeYBCQ3Y-/?taken-by=xzibit

I have to say it’s going to be really nice to see Xzibit as a regular on TV again. He’s a great performer and actor whom has received accolades from other movies such as 8 Mile, xXx – State of the Union and the the X-Files. He also hosted and produced the best show (in my opinion) to ever grace TV: MTV’s popular series, Pimp my Ride. Xzibit’s character of “Shyne” will be around for a while to make sure Luscious does not suddenly “get away” with any cruel intentions or will he?

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We’ve all heard the stories of record labels and the ups and downs being contracted with one may cause.  Here and now BET network is taking us all behind the scenes of some of the greats.  Tonight, May 17th at 8:00 ET and 9:00 ET make sure to tune into the first part of the eight-episode-docs-series.  Uptown Records is the first up in the spotlight to dig into all the dirt, good and bad with a Part I and Part II episode of the journey.  Some of Hip Hop’s most iconic labels will be featured  in the eight-week series for one-hour long like, Grand Hustle, Loud Records, Slip-N-Slide, Terror Squad, Ruff Ryders, Disturbing Tha Peace (DTP), and Murder Inc.  

Founder, Andre Harrell will be among the industry insiders like, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, and Guy’s Teddy Riley and Damion Hall giving they’re unique takes on Uptown’s success, legacy, and so much more.  We can expect to see some never-before-seen footage in an up close, first-person narrative kinda way.  The series is executive produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions and DTP co-founders Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Bridges’ manager Chaka Zulu, and Jeff Dixon.

“The dreams and visions; the successes and failures … we want young aspiring entrepreneurs to have a blueprint as to what really goes on in this business and understand how much work it takes,” says DTP’s Dixon of the inspiration behind the series. “We [as African-Americans] also want to document our own history, especially in this industry. This is like our natural resource. No one can tell these stories like us.”

According to Billboard, these are some of the other power players that will be “playing” in each episode of Inside the Label:

Uptown Records: Andre Harrell, Diddy, Jay Z, Mary J. Blige, Babyface, Teddy Riley, Damion Hall, Brett Ratner, Laurieann Gibson, Robin Thicke, Sanaa Lathan, Doug E. Fresh, Al B. Sure, Eddie F, Kim Porter, Father MC, Jeff Redd and Monifah.

Grand Hustle: T.I., Jason Geter, Young Dro, Kevin Liles, Lil Duval, Killer Mike, DJ Toomp and B.O.B.

Loud Records: Steve Rifkind, RZA, Xzibit and E-Swift.

Slip-N-Slide Records: Ted Lucas, Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, Trina and DJ Khaled.

Terror Squad: Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Noreaga, Cool & Dre and Jesse Terrero.

Ruff Ryders: Joaquin Dean, Darren Dean, Chivon Dean, Swizz Beatz, Eve, The Lox, Irv Gotti, Drag On, DJ Clue, DJ Kool Herc, Lyor Cohen and Jimmy Iovine.

Disturbing Tha Peace: Ludacris, Chaka Zulu, Jeff Dixon, Chingy, Bobby Valentino, Shareefa, Lil Scrappy, Bangladesh, Lil Fate, I-20 and Poon Daddy.

Murder Inc.: Irv Gotti, Ashanti, Ja Rule, Jay-Z, Charlie Baltimore, Kevin Liles and Lyor Cohen.

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Compton’s AD returns with the visual to his latest release “Juice,” which has been burning up L.A. radio stations and streets alike. Produced by Los Angeles production team, League of Starz and directed by JD Films and Echosworld, the high-energy visual features OG lowriders, good measures of bottle and booty poppin’, topped off by a guest appearance from Hip-Hop veteran Xzibit. Also, look forward to appearances from AD on social media heavyweights’ The Westbrooks new reality show, premiering on BET this fall.

The post New Video: AD – “Juice” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The beginning of this new track will leave you startled. You will wonder whether it is an old western sample or the soundtrack of a vaguely familiar TV Show. Xzibit joins PKnuckle on this new track entitled “Block Monsters.” The beat appropriately samples from the TV Show “The Munsters.” Follow XZibit‘s orders and “[Turn] up the volume, let [him] take you down a notch or two.” “Block Monsters” is now available for free download.

The post New Music: PKnuckle feat. Xzibit – “Block Monsters” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

“Got a call from Paul, told me shit wasn’t working, exchanged words, I told him tell me that shit in person, he probably told Em, and by the way that he said it, unapologetic,  twisted it, made it about him, I saw Slim and he said he didn’t recognize me, was it that or did he let another man define me?”

Xzibit’s new album Napalm hits stores tomorrow. On “1983” we are giving an extremely introspective version of Mr. X to the Z. You may remember back-to-back Eminem features on his two Dr. Dre-produced albums in the early 2000’s, however not much happened between the two afterwards. With audio recordings of his late mother spliced between the verses, Xzibit details his parting ways with Paul Rosenberg, his mother passing and his resentment towards MTV. Listen below.

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