Do you want to see more interviews from artist?

Or would you rather find out about new music dropping and reviews on them?

Maybe you just want to bootleg some music?

Or just watch some dope videos?

WHATEVER it is drop your thoughts in the comments below and I will respond to each one and in the coming weeks I’ll do it.

From the Bronx, New York emerges an extremely talented emcee with the cadence and presence to take the music world by storm.  He dropped a free for download LP/mixtape entitled “Heaven’s Fallout,” on his Myspace page with opening songs such as “Vietnam” and heart-wrenching songs such as “There’s Nothing Left.” This cat proves that a hip-hop emcee is eclectic in the music they listen to and also the music they make.  Freestyling over electronic bands such as Royksopp and the Prodigy and even Fueled by Ramen’s Fall Out Boy, this Bronx-raised emcee shines on his song choice.  Who else could I be talking about?  Who else rocks Supras and spit a clean freestyle for the mainstream masses on BET’s “Rap City” a month ago? Mickey Factz, people; if you don’t know who he is, you will by the end of this interview.  I sat down with Mickey Factz to get more incite on who he is, and what drives him to make music. 

First and foremost, man I would like to thank you for thanking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with me.  I wanted to ask you man, why did you pick the name “Mickey Factz?”  Is there any significance behind the name? 

Mickey:

The name Mickey comes from Natural Born Killers. He was a ruthless killer who loved Mallory Knox to death. Mallory is Hip Hop to me. Facts are all I talk about in my music, but since I have an edge to me, the 'z' is added. 

Do you feel any stress on your shoulders being an emcee from the birthplace of hip-hop, Bronx, New York?  Who were and are some of the emcee’s from New York that you grew up on and look up today? 

Mickey:

No stress at all. I feel honored to be from this borough. I grew up on Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Biggie, KRS-One, Big Pun, Big L etc. Any lyricists who could tear you apart in a cipher [as well]. 

Is “Heaven’s Fallout” an album or a mixtape?   

Mickey:

It’s a conceptualized album. It’s my 3rd actually. The first one was “In Search of the N.E.R.D.” The second was “Flashback” 
 
How would you define your music?   

Mickey:

My music is the fork in the road to greatness. Everybody usually makes the right when you get to the fork. But if you want to be daring and feel like you’re REALLY getting somewhere, make that left and experience something life changing. 
 
The internet is a powerful tool man for independent artists, and I can say that I would not even know who you were if it wasn’t for the ‘net.  How do you feel about using the internet to promote and market yourself?   

Mickey:

It’s a blessing for me. I have access to tons of people who surf the net and go on to blogs to find some of the hottest talent out. I use it to my advantage because I'm thinking outside the box when it comes to marketing and promotion. 
 
When you were featured on BET’s “Rap City,” how did that feel to know that you were gaining more exposure to a grander and more mainstream audience? 

Mickey:

It was amazing because the goal is to be seen by everyone's eyes. I can't wait for the next installment. 

Brah, I can hella relate to “There’s Nothing Left” on the “Heaven’s Fallout” release; I wanted to ask you if that was all truthful accounts of what happened to you? 

Mickey:

Yes. That was one of the realest songs I ever wrote. Every word is the truth. It’s one of my more favorite songs on “Heaven’s Fallout.” Really touching…. 
 

I had no idea what Supras were until I heard your song, “I Love Your Supra’s.” I had to go cop a pair after I seen them.  Are you sponsored by Supra and how would you define your style of dress? 

Mickey:

Supra and GFCnewyork have a continuous growing relationship. They understand the direction I'm going towards, and they support it 100%. My style of dress is definitely one to admire. Quite frankly, I'd call it breath taking. 

I know that the Bronx is your hometown, but do you have any other place or city that you can call your second home? 

Mickey:   
The studio. [Laughs]. Homesweet home. 

You are the only emcee that I have heard to use rock and electronic bands instrumentals to freestyle over.  A lot of cats do not realize that hip-hop is a gumbo pot and is mixed of different types of music to make hip-hop.  What bands do you listen to? 

Mickey:

Currently it’s diverse. Vampire Weekend, Janelle Monae, Chester French, Aerosmith, Daft Punk, Telepopmusik etc. I try to broaden the sound that I listen to on a daily basis.

If you could work with any artist, band or composer (dead or alive), who would you want to do a project with? 

Mickey:

I'd work with Jimi Hendrix. [He’s an] absolute monster when it comes to letting music embody him. 
 

Are you touring this summer?  How do you feel about the line-up for Rock the Bells?  Man…I know you’re going, right? 
 

Mickey:

Yeah, I’ll be doing a couple shows here and there. Keep your eyes open. I'll make a surprise appearance at Rock the Bells as well. 
 

Are there any last words that you would like to leave with the HipHopRemix.com heads? 

Mickey:

”The Leak” is available every week for free on my Myspace page at www.myspace.com/itzmickey. 
 
”The Achievement” LP will be due out at the end of the year as well. 

Mickey Factz has all of the charisma and talent to push him into the high-level plateau that he is destined for.  Thanks, Mickey for taking the time out of your schedule to do this interview with me; “Heaven’s Fallout” is a free download on Mickey Factz’ Myspace page.  Make sure you go download it and support this cat. 

TMZ has reported that:

Even though jurors in the trial of R. Kelly absolutely believed it was him on the tape, they could not reach a guilty verdict because they said there was "not enough evidence to prosecute." Huh?!

The jurors were also "absolutely disgusted" with the tape. Unlike the bootleg version you can buy on the street corner, the version they got to watch was "clear as day." Ew.

Shout out to Khal on this

{mosimage}I had no idea that N.E.R.D. was dropping an album today until a friend of mine had told me about it yesterday.  I woke this morning and placed “Seeing Sounds” on; I was completely blown away by the beautiful blending of vocals of Pharrell Williams and Shay Haley and Chad Hugo’s production.  There’s no other group out that is hardly as eclectic as these two Virginia natives, and “Seeing Sounds” is definite proof of this statement being so true.  The song, “Everybody Nose” instantly bangs through my stereo and is extremely reminiscent of production of hip-hop when it was in its Golden Age (1988-1996).  This song is definitely something that you should add to your “Get the Party Started” play list on your iPod because it will for sure get your ass up and ready to hit the club. 

 “Seeing Sounds” is only 12 songs, and will have you wishing that it was 24 tracks longer by how complete and great it is.  This album has something for everyone’s musical pallet; “Anti-Matter” and “Everybody Nose” for the hardcore hip-hop heads, “Yeah You” and “You Know What” for the soulful cats, and “Spaz” for the rock fans.  The eclectic level of “Seeing Sounds” is damn strong enough to have music fans of all different genres to be able to find songs that will fit their personal preference.  “You Know What” being one of those truly feel-good songs has the power to have to nodding your head for the 4 and a half minute vacation to a musical utopia of peace that it takes you to. The smooth guitar and synth production and dramatic bass line in complete unison placed together with Pharrell’s contagious vocals and lyrical content, “You Know What” compliments “Seeing Sounds” completely.  Another song that you can add to that “Get the Party Started” play list for your “getting ready for the club” mood is “Laugh About It.” Pharrell’s vocals over the party-driven beats of Chad Hugo on this song makes you feel at ease with whatever is stressing you in your life; it has that element to bring the most stressed day into an ideal one.

By far every song on “Seeing Sounds” is great, but there’s something so incredible about “Sooner or Later.” The breakdown at the end of “Sooner or Later” is so dynamic that you feel invigorated by how talented all three of N.E.R.D.’s members are; a near seven-minute musical wonder it is for sure!  Who would have thought a song about an annoying person sending you text messages and calling you all day could sound so smooth?  Only N.E.R.D. on the song “Yeah You!”

Unlike most albums nowadays where you’ll buy an album with 15 songs and only 3 will be good, “Seeing Sounds” by N.E.R.D. will not be disappointing at all!  Go cop that! NOW!  “Seeing Sounds” blows most currently-released albums out of the water with its complete and utter sheer explosiveness of talent.  This damn album will be in heavy rotation for a long time.

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TRACK LISTING

We Made It (Featuring Linkin Park) (Produced By Cool & Dre)
Kill Dem (Featuring Tosh) (Produced By The Neptunes)
Blown (Featuring T-Pain) (Produced By Cool & Dre)
Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On Em) (Produced By Grind Music Productions)
Decision (Featuring Mary J Blige, Jamie Foxx, John Legend & Common) (Produced By Dr Dre)
Right Now (Produced By Focus & Dr Dre)
I’m Go & Get Mine (Produced By DJ Scratch)
If (Featuring Nicole Scherzinger) (Produced By Rick Rock)
Throw It Up (Featuring Lil’ Wayne & Ludacris) (Produced By Cool & Dre)
G-Stro (Tentative Title) (Produced By The Neptunes)
Let Me Show You (Produced By Busta Rhymes & DJ Scratch)
Hits 4 Days (Featuring J. Holiday (Produced By Dready Beats)
If You Don’t Know Now You Know (Featuring Big Tigger) (Produced By Focus)

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Billboard news is reporting:

R. Kelly's child pornography trial was adjourned today (May 28) after a lawyer for the R&B singer said he received a call from a man who claims to have information relevant to the case.

Judge Vincent Gaughan said attorneys needed time to depose the man, who potentially could impeach someone else's testimony, but didn't elaborate. Kelly attorney Sam Adam Sr. said the man was flying to Chicago tonight from another state.

So, could this be it for R. Kelly?

Thoughts? 

Billboard is reporting that the rapper was waiting on the anticipation of leaving to release his music.

Saigon says he's in talks with several major labels as well as a non-traditional music company for his next artist deal. His latest single, "Believe It," was released today (May 21) via TheMegatrondon2.com. Saigon says he has seven viral videos ready to release but was waiting until his contract was resolved.

"I'm not that excited about going to a major label," Saigon says. "They would have to make it so I'm set for the rest of my life. They want too much for the little that they're giving."

Saigon adds that he was left "without much support" when the A&R rep who signed him, Kyambo "Hip-Hop" Joshua, left to join Columbia three months afterward.

"They gave me $18,000 to shoot the video for 'Pain In My Life' and I'm seeing Plies get $100,000 and Lupe [Fiasco] get $150,000," he says. "What the f*ck? Those artists are friends of mine, but now I'm happier than I've been in a minute."

While Just Blaze tells the people via his blog about the recent departure:

We have been quietly working to get released from Atlantic.

Sometimes you need to do things without talking about them. And get what you want.

We finally got that…

With 100% ownership of the masters.

(Most folks who claim they own their masters when they get released may have them (or copies of them) in their possesion, but they don’t own them, so they can mixtape stuff all day, but can’t go on and ever offically release them… we are free to take them wherever we like, however we like )

((Most folks that get a release granted don’t even get their masters period and whatever label they DO end up on will have to buy them from the previous label, plus all types of overrides and fees))

Thank you Atlantic for recognizing the situation for what it really was and doing the right thing.

There are already new situation(s) in the works.

More to come.

(I’m not going Strictly Business- style on this one right now. I have too much going on in Real Life County)

Oh yeah I didn’t forget my promise.

I’m just 4 or 5 weeks late on it.

Had to work out the release first.

Here you go.

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Going on its 5th year R. Kelly could be actually facing 15 years in jail for having sex with a girl who was 13 at the time. Yet, the girl who is accused to be in the video tape of the incident states that it is not her on the tape. 

Nonetheless Jurors are finally hearing the opening statements of the trial as The New York Times reports. Juror were warned:

"On Tuesday by a prosecutor that they would be required to watch a videotape of an “under-age child performing sex acts that you have never seen before.” In an opening statement in Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago, the prosecutor, Shauna Boliker, said, “A child doesn’t choose to be violated and placed on a videotape, a videotape that will live on forever — long after this child becomes an adult,” The Associated Press reported.

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Best Female R&B Artist
Mary J. Blige
Alicia Keys
Keyshia Cole
Mariah Carey
Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Raheem DeVaughn
J. Holiday
Ne-Yo
Trey Songz

Best Group
Danity Kane
Day26
Gnarls Barkley
Playaz Circle
UGK

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Missy Elliot
Eve
Kid Sister
Lil Mama
Trina

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Common
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
Snoop Dogg
Kanye West

Best New Artist
Estelle
Flo-Rida
Chrisette Michelle
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
The Dream

Best Gospel Artist
The Clark Sisters
Kirk Franklin
Deitrick Haddon
Marvin Sapp
Trin-I-Tee 5:7

Video of The Year
Ashanti – The Way That I Love You
Erykah Badu – Honey
Mary J. Blige – Just Fine
Alicia Keys – Like You'll Never See Me Again
UGK feat. Outkast – International Players Anthem
Kanye West feat. T-Pain – Good Life

Best Video Director
Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto
Benny Boom
Gil Green
Chris Robinson
Hype Williams

Best Collaboration
Chris Brown feat. T-Pain – Kiss Kiss
Kanye West feat. T-Pain – Good Life
Flo-Rida feat. T-Pain – Low
Keyshia Cole feat. Lil' Kim & Missy Elliott – Let It Go
DJ Khaled feat. Lil' Wayne, Fat Joe, T.I., Big Boi & Ludacris – I'm So Hood (remix)

Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Halle Berry
Queen Latifah
Jill Scott
Chandra Wilson

Best Actor
Anthony Anderson
Don Cheadle
Idris Elba
Terrence Howard
Denzel Washington

Female Athlete of The Year
Cheryl Ford
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Tamika Catchings

Male Athlete of The Year
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Tiger Woods
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Chris Paul

Viewer's Choice Award
Alicia Keys – No One
Lil Wayne – Lollipop feat. Static
Chris Brown – Kiss Kiss feat. T-Pain
Keyshia Cole – Let It Go feat. Missy Elliott & Lil' Kim
Soulja Boy Tell 'em – Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)
Jordin Sparks – No Air feat. Chris Brown

BETJ Award
Raheem DeVaughn
Chaka Khan
Ledisi
Jill Scott
Angie Stone

Lifetime Achievement Award
Al Green

Humanitarian Award
Quincy Jones

Performers (so far)
Usher (opening act)
Lil' Wayne
Mary J. Blige
Nelly

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Hip-hop in the nature of the threat of capitalism is a problem that is not new to the culture.  Venture capitalists such as Viacom, MTV, and BET have come into the hip hop culture and turned it into a cash cow.  What a lot of people do not seem to realize about hip-hop is that it is much more than music, it is a culture.  Break dancing, graffiti, and turntablism are the 3 other corresponding elements of the hip-hop culture that are often forgotten and misinterpreted.  It has always been a truly interesting thing to me to see how conglomerate companies like Viacom could take a culture as raw as the day it was birthed in the streets of New York City, and strip down the music into a minstrel entertainment ground for the current generation that are now in there growing teenage and elementary years.  But, the so-called genre of hip-hop that is portrayed through the mediums of radio and TV airwaves to the youth is what I like to call “hip-pop.” The whole message in the music has been lost; you now can turn on your television set to MTV or BET (both owned by the same conglomerate, Viacom) and see the 21st  This diamond-laden jewelry that these cats worship and exalt so highly looks like an iced-out noose and shackles to me.  The overly-gaudy clothing that these cats rock shuckin’ and juvin’ on the television sets looks like the stereotype of the Zip Coon here to entertain the middle-class white kids that consume 70 percent of hip-pop albums. century minstrel show for yourself.

Viacom has stripped down the true hidden message of upbringing, pride, and self-awareness that was birthed and installed into the true essence of hip-hop music.  Since Viacom and Clear Channel damn near own all of the television and radio stations in this country, they control the mainstream music market.  Why would they distribute hip-hop music with a higher message and purpose when they can keep the youth in disarray and brainwashed with the minstrel show rappers out now?  Exactly; it’s a huge cash cow to them.  What sense does it make to be a “hip-pop” artist when you do not have the control over what can be placed on your album?  The more ignorant the music gets, the more ignorant the youth become.  Hip-hop music is a huge influence on people’s lives (our youth’s especially); as long as hip-hop artists still allow themselves and their talent to be stripped down and glittered up in the ridiculous jewelry, hip-hop will forever in Nasir Jones’ words be dead.  But, to me, it will never be dead; it’s just on life support.  Support the independent hip-hop music movement.