| In today’s dismal music climate, especially in the | | | | |
| hip-hop scene, release dates are sort of a joke. How it | | | | Young Money – “We Are Young Money” |
| usually works is the artist’s record label will keep | | | | & Lil’ Wayne – “Rebirth” |
| tossing singles to the radio until one catches on. They | | | | I have no idea what is going on with this record and I |
| will continue to push back the record until a single | | | | doubt any of the parties involved do either, but if they |
| catches on. If the single catches on early or if the | | | | are smart they will release it as quickly as possible, and |
| album leaks onto the internet early, they will push up | | | | definitely before Christmas. The latest rumors are that |
| the release date. Sometimes if a single doesn’t | | | | Lil’ Wayne’s much delayed “rock” album, |
| catch on they won’t release the record at all. I say | | | | “Rebirth” will now be packaged with the album |
| all this to warn you that, although all of these records | | | | by his new crew, Young Money. This is a great idea, in |
| are scheduled to come out before Christmas, the | | | | these tough times for the record industry, a double disc |
| record labels or artists could push them back to God | | | | set for the price of a single could really fly off the |
| knows when. So, keep that in mind. Because | | | | shelves, plus, Lil’ Wayne did have the biggest selling |
| aftermarket car parts don't fit in the stocking, pick one | | | | album of 2008, so he is guaranteed to move units. |
| (or all) of these and that special someone will have a | | | | Young Money already had a hit single with “Every |
| rappin' good Xmas. | | | | Girl,” but that was a few months ago and they |
| | | | | have already stopped playing it on the radio, so |
| Timbaland – “Timbaland Presents Shock Value | | | | hopefully they push their new single “Bed Rock” |
| 2” | | | | and get the album in stores ASAP. |
| Timbaland was the biggest record producer in the | | | | |
| world around 2006, but in 2009 he’s been trying | | | | Snoop Dogg – “Malice in Wonderland” |
| hard to keep his sound fresh. In the sequel to his huge | | | | Led by the bouncing, The-Dream helmed single |
| hit, “Shock Value” he is going the same route as | | | | “Gangsta Luv”, Snoop has been working on |
| last time—producing all the tracks himself with | | | | auto-pilot mode recently, happy to bang out mediocre |
| co-producer Danja and enlisting some of the hottest | | | | tracks and call it a day. The tracklist for “Malice in |
| names in hip-hop, rock, R&B, pop and country to | | | | Wonderland” gives me high hopes, though, since it is |
| guest on them. “Shock Value 2” promises | | | | a tight 14 tracks and features R. Kelly and Lil’ Jon, |
| something for everyone with appearance by Justin | | | | two guys who I’ve been hoping would make a |
| Timberlake, Drake, Nickelback, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, | | | | comeback soon. |
| Daughtry and OneRepublic. | | | | |