Good News, Bad News.

While the Brooklyn team sulks around the office with the news of Guru from Gang Starr’s massive heart attack and subsequent coma at the ridiculously young age of 43 (Moment of Truth was a big high school record for this writer, I totally dated myself), we’re on the lookout for a cheer up.

The new album from the Gorillaz might just do the trick. Check it out, streaming on NPR a full week before its release! “Plastic Beach”, featuring Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Bobby Womack (!!!), De La Soul, Lou Reed and members of The Clash, this is guaranteed to be carrying us through the blossoming spring months and keeping spirits high.

Meanwhile, news coming from Guru’s camp that he’s scheduled to undergo surgery soon, so keep those good vibes coming, with or without help from the Gorillaz crew.

Posted by:

Sean Gardner

“If Snoop’s Vader, who’s Yoda?”

Yesterday, the homie Snoop hit up Times Square with a legion of Storm Troopers + Anakin Skywalker (his momma named him Anakin, so I’mma call him Anakin.) Snoop showed up to help Lucafilm LTD push its new Star Wars collection with Adidas. Snoop rocked the Vader themed track suit.

Had me thinking, if Snoop’s Vader, who is hip-hop’s Yoda?

Posted by:

Biko Baker

Snoop Dogg Keeps Giving Back To The Community

What do you get when a famous rapper and an NFL free agent pair up? Simple. New hope for a brand-spankin’ new community sports center. This is what happened when Snoop Dogg and NFL star Willie McGinest teamed up with local Long Beach, CA councilman Dee Andrews on Wednesday, openly declaring their support for the Kroc Center.

The Kroc Center, a $140 million dollar project, will feature pools, playing fields, a gym, and cultural and educational spaces. Fundraising efforts had recently suffered setbacks due to the economic recession but it is expected that this announcement by the celebrities will help raise both support and the necessary funds to build it.

Turns out the center is meaningful to Snoop and Willie too. The Kroc Center will be built in their hometown of Long Beach, California. Willie grew up playing sports on the same piece of land where the center will be built. Snoop’s dedication to youth empowerment through sports, as we profiled earlier this year on 99Problems, becomes even more evident here: he has decided to create a song for the center, which will then receive all of the profits as well as the profits of a benefit concert that he plans to hold there.

As Snoop sings in “Been Around The World” from his 2008 album “Ego Trippin”

I know I’m always on the road, I’m always gone

And you say I’ll never make records for you no more

Well this record is from me to you baby

Love em or hate em, these guys never forgot where they came from… their dedication to their community provides an inspiration to us all! Much love to our boys from the LBC!

Posted by:

Yolanda Clatworthy

Beef is Bad For Hip-Hop…ask Snoop Dogg!!!

There was once a time when beef was good for hip-hop.  But today things have gotten out of hand. Sorry 50 Cent and Rick Ross, your current skirmish isn’t doing anything positive for the music industry.

That’s why we have to give Snoop credit for being a leader in the hip-hop world.   From his frequent calls for West Coast rappers to work together, to his work with youth in the Snoop Dogg Football League, Big Snoop Dogg takes action everyday to make sure the world is a better place.   Yeah he’s a rich and famous rapper, but he gets lots of love from us.

Posted by:

Biko Baker