Nas’s Kelis-inspired, Life Is Good closer, “Bye Baby,” gets the appropriate personal video that reveals even more details of their breakup. We see images of the wedding, the bitter end at the divorce table, to finally a cathartic Nas toasting a new beginning with his close friends. And of course, since Guy provides the sample, Aaron Hall is on hand for his vocals. Life is indeed good.
Thurz is back with a creative video for “Colors,” off last year’s L.A. Riot project. Strong Arm Steady comes along for the ride, too.
Skyzoo has created what he calls the “bridge” between his last project, The Great Debater, and his forthcoming album A Dream Deferred. Named Theo vs. J.J. (Dreams vs. Reality), Sky has crafted a very unique approach to this 12-track mixtape:
With this project, I wanted it to be a bridge between “The Great Debater” and “A Dream Deferred.” This mixtape literally picks up where “The Great Debater” left off and leads you directly into “A Dream Deferred.” The tape is split into 2 parts, Theo Huxtable and JJ Evans. The first half of the tape has me rhyming as if I were Theo, with the world from his point of view. Being well off, having to live up to a family’s expectations due to their success, etc. The second half is from JJ’s view, with the sound being slightly more aggressive and the stories built with an “in need of something” attitude. The tape is the idea of the vast contrasts of a life that my people and I dreamed of and aspired to as kids. (Theo) versus a life that was more of our reality (J.J.). This one is for US. Enjoy.
That explanation alone should be more than enough to warrant the $4.99 download. The entire tape can be previewed below.
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez insists his only focus is on his September 15 WBC title defense against Josesito Lopez, but the young titlist revealed yesterday that his short list of future opponents names three of the top fighters in the sport: Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.
Following a one-hour media workout that consisted of five rounds of sparring, heavy bag work and calisthenics, Canelo had the below to say about Lopez and his future plans.
Every fight there’s more and more pressure and more and more attention on me. The way I deal with it is to take it one fight at a time. Keep training and trying to get bigger every day. I want to learn and I’m still learning.
I don’t want to say I’m the best, but I am a world champion and I want to fight the best. I’d love to fight guys like Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, but first I have to get past Josesito.
This is going to be a tough fight and a great fight for the fans. Josesito has a great chin. I feel I’ll have to work him little by little and throw my best combinations to hurt him.
He’s my opponent and he’s definitely earned the opportunity for this fight. He’s durable, he’s dangerous and he’s coming to win. He’s coming to win and to take my belt.
I’m not even thinking of the $100,000 knockout bonus. I just want to win convincingly for all my fans. I’m dedicating this fight to them.
My sole focus is on Sept. 15. Fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend is a very big responsibility for me.
Working in Santa Monica at this gym has been great. Everything has gone perfectly. I’ve had good sparring and I’ve been working with guys that are similar in size and style to Josesito.
I’m relaxed and I feel no pressure. It’s different for me now than it used to be. I don’t have as much private time to myself; people know me and recognize me, but I fight for the people, my fans.
I’m looking for a big win so that fans can celebrate happily and properly on Mexican Independence Day weekend. This is a very important date. I hope the fans come out and support us. This is a big night and I’m really looking forward to the fight.
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We can forget about Pacquiao, whose Top Rank affiliation and disinterest in fighting again above the welterweight limit all but disqualifies him from Canelo’s list. Should Mayweather and Pacquiao continue their nonsense, Floyd would be a candidate, but unlikely until April or May of 2012. That leaves Miguel Cotto, who still has an open December 1 date and is, in my opinion, the best choice for a fan-friendly and exciting fight. If I were a betting man, that’s the fight we’ll get should Canelo take care of business on September 15.
“Knockout Kings,” headlined by Canelo Alvarez defending his WBC Super Welterweight World Championship against breakout star Josesito Lopez, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. In the co-featured attractions, WBC Featherweight World Champion Jhonny Gonzalez defends his crown against former World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in fight presented in association with Promociones Del Pueblo, former World Champion Marcos Maidana faces perennial contender Jesus Soto Karass in a fight presented in association with Universum Box-Promotion and Leo Santa Cruz defends his IBF Bantamweight World Championship against former Two-Time World Champion Eric Morel. The Saturday, Sept. 15 quadruple-header, packed with Mexican pride and power, will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be televised live on SHOWTIME Saturday, Sept. 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Tickets priced at $400, $300, $150, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now and available for purchase. Ticket sales are limited to 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Photo Credits: Ed Keenan, K2 Productions
WBA middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin touched down in New York City earlier today as he makes rounds before his September 1 title defense against #3 ranked opponent Grzegorz Proksa.
At 23-0 with 20 KOs, Golovkin has been looking for the opportunity to prove against a name opponent that his power and skill are for real. In the amateurs, the 30-year-old Stuttgart, Germany resident holds victories over Lucian Bute, Andre Dirrell and Andy Lee. The biggest name on his professional ledger is Kassim Ouma, who he stopped in his first title defense last year. Golovkin followed that win with two stoppages over LaJuan Simon and Makoto Fuchigami.
It’s no secret that this is Golovkin’s ”audition” as a possible opponent for the winner of the September 15 clash between Sergio Martinez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. He won’t find an easy dance partner in Proksa, who just recently avenged an upset decision loss to Kerry Hope with an eighth round TKO last month.
Golovkin vs. Proska airs this Saturday at 9:45 p.m on HBO. The undercard will feature former WBO junior middleweight titlist Sergiy Dzinziruk against Jonathan Gonzalez.
The card will take place live from the Turning Stone Casino in Verno, NY.
Murs and Fashawn take their lyrical talents to space for the first video off their forthcoming Duck Down album This Generation (September 25). The video is directed by Todd Angkasuwan.
Fans awaiting Showbiz & AG’s Mugshot Music album are treated today to the first leak from the project with the O.C. and Frank V-assisted “Everytime I Touch the Mic.” No word yet on an album release date.
What happens when rappers get fed up with the music industry? If they’re talented, they’ll channel it into their music and give you a track like “Mysterious Business,” which details the never-ending struggle where art meets commerce. The trio of Sleepy Will, Kamikaze and 7evenThirty covers the disallusionment from the perspectives of the street, money compromising art, and dealing with the calculated risks needed to stand out in a oversaturated market.
“Mysterious Business’ will be featured on 7evenThirty’s Heaven’s Computer project, due out September 25.
Let Josesito Lopez tell it, size does not matter. It didn’t factor into his stunning June upset of Victor Ortiz, a fighter competing at welterweight that’s scaled as high as middleweight on fight night. Lopez, who had never competed above 140 pounds, succeeded in breaking Ortiz’s jaw in two places to force a stoppage and earn another shot at adding to his ”modern-day Rocky” story when he faces Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on September 15.
Lopez does have a point; weight-wise, there’s not that much of a disparity between Ortiz and Canelo. What Lopez’s challenge, and possible undoing, will be is dealing with the Canelo’s combination of power, solid chin and economical but fairly accurate punch output. Not to mention Canelo won’t have the leaky defense that allowed Lopez to land repeated haymakers on Ortiz.
The first 24/7 episode on the September 8 bout between Andre Ward and Chad Dawson details their family lives, training methods and the importance of this fight to their legacies. Although Ward is the favorite since Dawson is coming down in weight, you’ll note that Ward admits this is a “50-50″ fight. Who’s your pick?
