04/21/05 | New Planet Asia Single "The Medicine"
       Planet Asia will be hitting the road this summer in support of his upcoming LP release "The Medicine" on Gold Chain Music/ Battleaxe Records. "The Something to Prove Tour" will hit 25-30 US and Canadian cities in June. Inspectah Deck (Wu-Tang) and Afu-Ra will join Planet Asia as they tear down stage after stage.

"The Medicine" LP will be out on September 6, 2005. Guests include Prodigy, Black Thought, Yard Government, Jonell, and more. The album is produced by Evidence & The Alchemist. The single is available for download below in Mp3. Commercial vinyl will soon follow.

» Planet Asia - The Medicine


Shouts to Liquor Barrel for the heads up!

04/20/05 | New Music From Ice Cube & Xzibit
       Ice Cube recorded a brand new track for the soundtrack of his new movie "XXX: State Of The Union". It's called "Anybody seen The PoPo's?!". This is actually the same song that we posted a couple days ago entitled "Multi-Million Dollar Movie Freestyle". However, "Anybody seen The PoPo's?!" is the real title, so here it is in full length and good quality.

In related news, according to AllHipHop.com, Cube is set to release the 1st single off his new album early summer, followed by the album in late summer. We'll keep you posted on that!

Xzibit has a song on the same soundtrack featuring Korn. It's called "Fight The Power" and is on some heavy rock shit, X going crazy on this track!

"XXX: State Of The Union" is in theaters April 29th.

» Ice Cube - Anybody seen The PoPo's?
» Xzibit featuring Korn - Fight The Power


Happy 4/20!

04/20/05 | Update From Platinum Bound Entertainment
       The New Mdash Album "Keep Smoke Alive" drops next on Platinum Bound Entertainment, this is the follow up to the "Po Broke and Hungry" album that is still causing a buzz in the streets wit heavy promotion. "Keep Smoke Alive" features all new tracks feat. The Game, Huslah, Young Dru, Tilt, Sean T, Prohoezak, Lee Majors, Stizon Skrilla, Sweet Willie Whites Shoes and more......

Also, Platinum Bound Ent is releasing a compilation called "Family Ties" dedicated to Mac Dre (RIP)....featuring solo tracks from Mdash, Tilt, Kobra Abysmal, Playa Rae, Marsh Nut, Mista Cane, Young Dru, Rux, Coolio Da Unda Dogg, Lee Majors and more to be added....featuring production from Tatem 1, Remy/skolin, The Beat Machine, and Davey D.

Platinum Bound's current project is the NBD mixtape "Derogatory Statements Vol. 2" which we've been promoting here on Westcoast2k in the past. This has been out for a few weeks and has been blazin the streets with tracks by Mdash, Tilt, Marsh Nut, Daddy Rich, Playa Rae, Arsen & Mista Cane, and many more. Here's 3 tracks from the mixtape:

» Kobra Abysmal - In The Wind
» M-Dash Feat Young Moe - They Surrender
» Mista Cane - Hope Not

04/19/05 | Re-Introducing Diego Redd
       There's not too many MC's out of Fresno blowing up on a national scale, but Diego Redd is looking to change that. The Fresno born & raised rapper has been puttin it down underground style for a minute. Diego was actually signed to Def Jam back in 2000, but got caught up in label drama and left shortly after that. At that time he was workin with such producers as No I.D., Clark Kent and Supa Dave West and hitting the studio with Xzibit and Nate Dogg.

Diego released his debut album "Living Proof" late last year which featured most songs from his days on Def Jam. The album had appearances by the likes of WC, E-40, Jelly Roll, Yukmouth, Poppa LQ, Underworld Rebellion, Young Trey, and many more.

Here's some music from the album to show you what Diego is all about.... The first song is a collabo with WC produced by Westside Connection's producer Young Trey, and Trey laced his trademark sound on that one. The second "Dear Skeam" is a dedication to his locked up homie Skeam. Its a nice Hip Hop influenced beat laced by Hecktik, this is actually one of my favorites. The 3rd and last track is the Jelly Roll produced "Come On", which shows that Diego's able to ride any beat.

» Diego Redd - Out of Control Feat. WC (Prod. By Young Trey)
» Diego Redd - Dear Skeam (Produced by Hecktik)
» Diego Redd - Come On (Produced By Jelly Roll)


If you're interested in "Living Proof", you can pick it up by clicking here.


Diego's new project "Dog Eat Dog: Only The Strong Survive" is already completed and should be out in a few weeks. Expect production from No I.D., Clark Kent, Scott Storch, Kanye West, and more. Diego Redd already worked with Kanye in the past and got his stamp of approval after hooking up with him for the Boost Mobile commercial.

As you can see, Diego Redd is doing it big, so be sure to add him on your "To Watch" list. Check back for the latest on Diego Redd here on Westcoast2k.

04/19/05 | New Music From Diamonique & Lunch
       The Fingazz Remix of Ciara's "1, 2 Step" featuring Diamonique been getting some radio spins. You can hear it right here... "1, 2 Step (Fingazz Remix)". Diamonique also teamed up with I.E.'s Lunch to remake Ice Cube's & Yo Yo's "Bonnie & Clyde". They're version is called "Bonnie & Clyde 2005". Both tracks are available on Dia's new 12" single. Expect Diamonique's album sometimes this summer.

04/13/05 | Snoop Dogg Holds Summit To Squash Beefs
       The following is a news report on the "West Coast Summit", courtesy of MTV:


UNIVERSAL CITY, California — A week after pledging West Coast unity at a press conference for his tour with the Game, Snoop Dogg took his mission a step further Wednesday (April 13) by hosting a hip-hop peace summit and squashing all of his own beefs.

Rappers from Game and Xzibit to the D.O.C. and Young MC met behind closed doors in a hotel conference room to discuss a unified future for West Coast hip-hop.

"I felt we should come together as one, organize, unify and start making records with each other and be about a cause," Snoop said afterward. "It's time for us to start standing up for something. It's called Protect the West. We're all moving together, we ended all our beefs."

Snoop, wearing a Protect the West T-shirt, said he ended his longtime feud with Suge Knight, as well as beefs with Jayo Felony and Kurupt, who has now rejoined Tha Dogg Pound.

"Anybody who thought they had a problem with me or had a problem with me in the past, I called them up and told them I don't want any problems," Snoop said. "I ain't got time to beef. I'm 30-something years old with three kids at the pad and they're trying to see their daddy."

Knight wasn't in attendance and was not available for comment, but Snoop insisted the Death Row Records founder was supportive of the Protect the West cause. "It's not an individual move, it's not about me and him personally, but we need to end all personal beefs because business doesn't move with beef," he said.

Kurupt was in attendance, as was Nate Dogg, Warren G, Daz Dillinger, Suga Free, Eazy-E Jr. and comedian Steve Harvey, who worked with Snoop on putting together the event.

"A lot of people had tensions from old crews, street activities, in general just hatin'," Daz said. "Everyone who had beef was in one room, and everyone who left today, beef should be squashed."

"It was a very positive vibe up in that room, I was pleasantly surprised," Young MC said. "What I was doing was a different genre and a different era than a lot of cats up there, but I still have love for everybody."

Snoop called Wednesday's gathering a business meeting more than a summit.

"It was me relaying to them that the banging in the business ain't making us no money," he said. "If we come together and move as one unit, money will be there and the opportunity to shine will be there. ... What it's all about is saying, 'I'm from the West Coast, you're from the West Coast, let me get your number, we could probably do some music together.' "

"Some of us don't even know each other," added Suga Free. "Some of us don't even mingle with each other, but we're in the same business. Why is that? ... The West Coast, we need some unity. We need some education out here with the artists that are touring and flying around the world like Snoop and Game are."

Snoop, who said he was motivated to host the summit because he feels West Coast hip-hop doesn't get the attention it deserves, encouraged his peers to follow in the footsteps of rappers in the South.

"Why are they so successful?" he asked. "Well, they all work together and have great harmony. This is the West Coast, we built on gangsta, gangsta, gangsta, but sometimes we gotta know when to have peace. It ain't always cool to be gangsta to your homeboys. And if you from the West Coast, no matter if you're Blood, Crip, Spanish, we all homeboys."

Snoop and Game, who come from rival Los Angeles-area gangs, said last week their How the West Was One Tour, which kicks off Friday in Utah, should serve as an example of how West Coast rappers can come together to benefit each other.

04/11/05 | Xzibit "Criminal Set" (Video)
       We got a new video of the week up for download which is Xzibit's bangin' new single "Criminal Set" along with "Saturday Night Live". They are both combined into one tight video and Xzibit really put it down for the West on that one. It has cameos from the whole Steady Gang, Ras Kass, Jelly Roll, Battlecat, Boo Ya Tribe, Mr. Cartoon, and many more. Jelly Roll is in the outro singing his part from "Saturday Night Live". Click here to vote for the video on "106 & Park", this shit deserves to blow the fuck up! Download the video below (7 MB):

» Xzibit - "Criminal Set" / "Saturday Night Live" (Video)

04/09/05 | Dirty Birdy "Mixtape Volume 2" (Audio)
       As promised earlier, here some audio from the Dirty Birdy "Mixtape Volume 2". This shit is bangin from front to back, Birdy ain't no joke. It's actually more like a street album, every track comes with hook and original beat. We got 3 tracks for preview, if you like them please make sure you purchase a copy of the mixtape when it drops. I'll keep you posted on that, but expect it to drop after the "Tweet Tweet" album (in stores April 26th), so around May. Now on to the audio & song credits... click on the highlighted titles to download the tracks:

01. Dirty Intro (Produced by Dirty Birdy)
02. Gigante (Produced by Dirty Birdy)
03. Take My Life Away Feat. Dr. Stank (Produced By Dirty Birdy)
04. Ain't My Fault (Produced By Crackajack)
05. I Rote D Rimes (Produced By Dirty Birdy)
06. Where We From (Money Gone) Feat. Dr. Stank (Produced By Crackajack)
07. Ballad For The Fallin Baller (Produced By Dirty Birdy)
08. Tweet Tweet Mutha Fucca Feat. Diamonique (Produced By Booquarm)
09. Ignorant Crew (Produced by Dr. Stank)
10. If U Wanna (Weed Song) Feat. Shorty Mo & Al Fila (Produced By Dr. Stank)
11. 18th Birthday (Produced By CMT)
12. Girlz Feat. Dr. Stank (Produced By Dr. Stank)
13. My Bitch (Produced By Dr. Stank)
14. If U Don't Know (Produced By Dirty Birdy)
15. Apple Pie (Produced By Fingazz)
16. Hey Yo Feat. Dr. Stank (Produced By Crackajack)
17. Hip Hop (Produced By Crackajack)
18. Rollin & Ridin Feat. Props & Mondo (Produced By Dr. Stank)
19. Shorty's Outro (Produced By Dirty Birdy)
20. I,I,I, E Feat. J-Walq, Shorty Mo, Sefor & Diamonique (Produced By Dirty Birdy)


What up Jeffrey, what up Bird!

04/09/05 | Bigg Steele Freestyle Sampler (Audio)
       Check out some exclusive freestyles by Bigg Steele from his "Size Does Matter" album sampler mixed by DJ Coke-E who laid down a sick mix. It's a little sneak preview for whats to come from the album. Including the underground heat rock "World Wide Reign". Git it below along with the banger "Bubble Bounce (Remix)" featuring Hi-C (if you slept on it all this time).


» Bigg Steele Freestyle #1
» Bigg Steele Freestyle #2
» Bigg Steele Freestyle #3
» Bigg Steele - World Wide Reign
» Bigg Steele - Bubble Bounce (Remix) Feat. Hi-C

04/05/05 | THE DIRTY BIRDY INTERVIEW!!!
       It's always a pleasure to share things with everybody out there in which I truly believe, especially if it involves somebody talented and unique that's dedicated to Hip Hop. But this here goes beyond beats and rhymes - it's pure entertainment. Thank god there is still MC's around like Dirty Birdy. God knows he ain't no newcomer to the game, he's a true B-Boy who's been here since day uno. It took him some effort to be where he is right now, but best believe it's gonna pay off. WestCoast2k chopped it up with Bird in this indepth interview to discuss the highs and lows in his career, the Black Spooks project, the Inland Empire Hip Hop scene, his upcoming mixtapes & album, and much more. Birdy also dropped a freestyle for the netbangers out there, you don't wanna miss that one. Click here to read the interview, and support Dirty Birdy if you like quality music!


On a side note, look for some exclusive audio from the "Dirty Birdy Mixtape" Volume 2 in the next two days. This mixtape is bananas y'all, and it's safe to say that it's gonna be one of the best mixtapes of the year. No bullshit. It comes with all original produced beats, not the same ole jacking for beats type of thing. If you liked Volume 1, you gonna LOVE Volume 2. Trust me on that one.