Gems speaks! Part II and III after the jump… via Sean Read more…

SEMTEX TV – DELA SOUL, MOS DEF, NAS, WILL I AM, KANYE WEST, DAMON ALBARN ROC THE MIC @ THE G.O.O.D. MUSIC AFTER PARTY from DJ SEMTEX on Vimeo. Now this would have been ill.

via RH: We’re pleased to unveil our latest original series, “Welcome To Chicago”. This series features out of town artists getting hip to the Windy City via our own artistic tour guides. The jump off episodes features Cleveland’s Chip Tha Ripper getting a crash course on Harold’s Chicken, Chicago boutiques, as well as SoundScape Studios…

Damn.  This just came across my desk and is the type of shit I hate to have to report on. CBS 2 Chicago Reports: A Chicago-based rapper could be performing his next set inside the Metropolitan Correctional Center after being charged by federal authorities with robbing an Oak Park bank in 2007. He was wanted in…

So Big Wiz and Sharod have been in my ear constantly about the gentleman pictured above, Chekk Famous. Finally I was able to get my hands on some material from his upcoming DJ Shotime hosted mixtape which will be dropping in the near future, to see what all the fuss was about. Chekk Famous –…

See what I mean.  Here he splits custody with No Age. Fader’s 10th Anniversary Issue will be available on iTunes and on newsstands next week.

According to the AP: AP reports “After a tough year for Kanye West, the rapper admits that he’s had it with showbiz and is contemplating making his music more of a weekend hobby. He also opens up about being on his own without a woman in his life” Don’t you love how the press can…

Visual’s Working Class Legend drops 1.29.09. Visual – “Grown Man Business” (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) Update: Shouts to Webb for the Mp3

Here’s Vi’s video for “Yea Yo”, a.k.a. the track that was featured on HBO’s Entourage. From Vi’s upcoming debut, Supposed 2 Be, due out in early ’09. I spy GLC, Really Doe and COLD HARD all making cameos here.