Guess who's performing in Monterey this week? Can you say: beeeyotch!? That's right, short dog will be in town. Nothing like seeing a Bay Area legend on his own turf. I know I'll be in the house--after all, it is spring break and I have nothing to do but see shows.

One of my favorite artists, J-Zone, has a short article up entitled "5 Things That Killed Hip-Hop." I suggest you peep it. J-Zone is one of the funniest dudes in the game, and his second album, Pimps Don't Pay Taxes was an absolute masterpiece. If you don't know, seriously just go and buy it. Props to Crate Kings for the hookup.

Baltimore stand up: The Wire may be over, but hip-hop in Murderland USA is just starting. Pitchfork reviews Food For Animal's new disc, Belly, and has mostly good things to say. Definitely worth peeping. '"Shhhy" will make you lose it like a 14-year-old at a Rage Against the Machine show. ' Also in new in Baltimore hip-hop is Darkroom f. Ogun, "Money Talk." Their disc, Hamsterdam: The Album drops May 27th! Shit is hot.

There's R. Kelly and Ne-yo beef. No, really: there's R. Kelly and Ne-Yo beef. Get 'em, Kels!

Akrobatik and Chuck D did a song together. They're both pretty cool.

There's some more new AZ tracks off Undeniable, "Go Getta" and "No Superstar." I'm so ready for this thing to leak, and speaking of forthcoming albums, Nah Right has an updated II Trill tracklist. People are hyping this thing, but Bun B just isn't much of a solo artist--the fact is, his best joints are when he shows up as a feature, or when he's on a duo with the Pimp. Let's hope he breaks his slump with this CD. (And while we're on UGK, check out The Big Bun B Post over at Nah Right)

Tony Silver obit in the NY Times. From the article: "New York’s lavish, brilliantly colored graffiti was a kind of urban heraldry that from the 1970s onward symbolized the city to the rest of the world. It leapt boldly from spray cans onto walls, bridges and — in what practitioners considered their crowning glory — the outsides of subway cars. Some observers saw it as a dazzling form of public expression, others as an unsightly public nuisance." Probably should put a little more emphasis on that "unsightly nuisance" part. Style Wars is 90 percent of the reason people came to recognize graf as being legitimate in-and-of itself. Prior to that--and even still today--people are unwilling to acknowledge it. Medium often trumps message, fools.

UK Grime is on the come-up, yet again, as Fader takes time-out to interview Dexplicit--but will it the scene ever gain legitimacy with American rap audiences? I sure hope so, but really doubt it. Even Dizzee has barely crossed over, and he did a track with UGK.

"Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It (Remix), with Nas and Scarface. Just, wow.

The haters are out in force on Lil Weezy, with a spoof condom ad. Peep it for laughs, but if you're interested in rap music, peep Wayne performing in Europe and then listen to a snippet of his new single, Lollipop, which starts--almost immediately--with a "no homo." This song is hilarious.

Other shit that dropped this week: RA The Rugged Man's American Low Life mixtape, a new RZA single off Digi Snax, and a Bun B & Lupe fiasco track.

Kanye West is complete idiot.

Finally, Jayceon is out of jail. Burn one for me, homie. Nothing like an 8 day bid, heh.

... And no, I'm not touching the G-Unit/Fat Joe nonsense. It's ridiculous and I'm sure both camps are happy as fuck that the blogs are dancing all around it. How many posts has Nah Right and IllRoots put up on it this week? It's such a joke. So much hype, and all over some mediocre rappers. Sometimes the hip-hop blogs are no better than gossip columns. Star Magazine? US Weekly, anyone? Where's the music at? Real talk.

(If you're looking for the mix that drops today, though, I will link you to it. Elephant in the Sand is worth peeping just for the cover art)