Henry's Rap / Hip-Hop Blog

Every year VH1 celebrates the vision, innovation and overall accomplishment of seminal hip-hop artists. Major players like Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Rakim, and A Tribe Called Quest have all been honored by fellow artists at the annual ceremony. There are no specific set of criteria for picking honorees, but artists who helped set trends and influenced hip hop in a powerful way are almost always included.

The event is still relatively young, but the reception within the hip-hop community so far has been mostly positive. As you get ready to watch a telecast of this year's honors show, take a moment to peruse this handy guide to the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors.

If you ask me, Devin the Dude is one of the most talented rappers to bubble up from the southern rap ooze this decade. And that's not just my Houston bias speaking. Devin's 6th album, Landing Gear, is one of the new rap CDs worth checking out this month. Other artists with new albums on the horizon include: Black Milk, Statik Selektah, and the Knux. Here's a complete rundown of October's Top 10 Rap Releases.

Album art © Razor & Tie

The expression "paper trail" refers to a time-honored process of penning one's innermost thoughts. It's no coincidence that T.I. chose this phrase as the title of his 6th and most definitive album. For starters, Tip had many a problems to write about this time. Did I say write? Yup, T.I. ditched that off-the-top nonsense rappers always brag about and reverted to actually writing down his lyrics. The last time T.I. expressed his thoughts in black and white Trap Muzik happened. Well, lets see if he reignites that magic on Paper Trail.

Album art © Atlantic

Well, if this week's lineup doesn't get you excited, nothing will. Today marks the return of T.I.P., whose Paper Trail is in stores as we speak. Also, Termanology, the greatest half-white, half-hispanic rapper, gets a chance to make his case with Politics As Usual debuting today. Plus, Murs reminds us that election season is right around the corner with his eagerly awaited comeback, Murs for President.

Here's this week's new releases at a glance:

• T.I. - Paper Trail
• Termanology - Politics As Usual
• Heltah Skeltah - D.I.R.T
• Jean Grae & BSBD - The Evil Jeanius
• Murs - Murs for President

2008 Hip-Hop Releases Calendar: September | October | November

Album art © Warner Bros.

Jay-Z and Norwegian production duo Stargate have merged forces to form a new label dubbed StarRoc. The StarRoc umbrella includes a record label and publishing company under Jay-Z's Roc Nation deal with Live Nation. Both parties hope to find new talent and develop artists through global partnerships that will include music distribution, publishing, touring, and merchandising.

Stargate, which is comprised of Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen, has produced hits for the likes of Ne-Yo, Rihanna, Jennifer Hudson, and many more.

On a related note, Jay-Z will release his final Def Jam album, The Blueprint 3, sometime in December. Word on the street is that Kanye West has been assigned the role of primary sound architect for BP3.

Photo © Scott Gries/Getty Images

Anyone else eager to see the much-hyped Biggie Smalls biopic, Notorious? Jamal Woolard (better known as Gravy) was tapped to play Biggie in the movie, while Angela Bassett plays his mom, Voletta Wallace. Notorious will hit U.S. theaters on January 16, 2009. Here's the official teaser clip to hold you over till then.

• Notorious Teaser Clip

50 Cent will have to find someone else to diss when it's time to promote his new album, because Kanye's not willing to bite his bait this time. Kanye announced via his blog that 808s & Heartbreak, previously slated for December, will now arrive a month earlier. This is probably Kanye's way of avoiding another SoundScan battle with 50 Cent who also has a new album, Before I Self Destruct, scheduled for December.

Run DMC could become just the 2nd hip-hop group, behind Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The legendary rap crew is among the 9 nominees being considered for induction at next year's Rock Hall ceremony.

Other nominees include:

• Jeff Beck
• Chic
• Wanda Jackson
• War
• Little Anthony and the Imperials
• Bobby Womack
• Metallica
• The Stooges

Run DMC consists of Rev Run (Joseph Simmons), DMC (Daryl McDaniels), and Jam-Master Jay (Jason Mizell). JMJ was fatally shot on October 30, 2002. As a pioneering hip-hop group, Run DMC left an indelible mark on hip-hop in the 1980s with such hits as "Walk This Way" and "Down with the King." And who can forget the monstrous "My Adidas"?

To be nominated, an act must have released its first record 25 years prior. Next year's enshrinement ceremony will be held on April 4th in Cleveland, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

After parting ways with Interscope, Busta Rhymes has found a new home next door at Universal Motown Records. The Brooklyn MC is said to have inked a long-term deal with Motown, which will now release his much-delayed longplayer, Blessed. No official date has been set for the album, but I'll keep you posted as soon as I hear anything.

Before his death in September 1996, Tupac Shakur gave the world hundreds of songs -- some great, some listless. So, narrowing this list to 22 turned out to be such a hefty task. 2Pac managed to touch on every subject, be it good or evil, joy or sorrow, racism or tolerance. If it was worth discussing, 'Pac had it covered. In fact, I dare say that if he was alive today, he would have ran out of things to rhyme about. As a tribute to one of hip-hop's greatest minds, we present to you 2Pac's 22 best songs of all time.