Here are links to 10 top tattoo photos from some of the best rappers and hip-hop artists in the music industry:

1. Rick Ross Tattoos
2. Lil Wayne Tattoos
3. Jim Jones Tattoos
4. Pharell Williams Tattoos
5. The Game Tattoos
6. Rapper Nelly Tattoos
7. LL Cool J Tattoos
8. Rapper Eve Tattoos
9. Busta Rhymes Tattoos
10. 50 Cent Tattoos
11. Rapper Plies Tattoos

Related article: Rapper 50 Cent Removes Tattoos for Hollywood Acting Career

1. Pharrell Removes Tattoos and models for Ice Cream Footwear
2. Rapper 50 Cent Removes Tattoos for Hollywood Acting Career
3. Rappers Tattoos: 2pac, Dr Dre, Eminem, Eve and 50Cent
4. Rappers Tattoos – Home Video of Nas Getting Tattooed
5. Tips for Rappers – The Case Against Rap Dictionaries

Thus, when aspiring rappers talk about getting rap dictionaries to make rhyming a bit “easier”, I naturally balk. A rap dictionary is literally ‘cheating’ in my book. It kills the very soul of the music. It says, “I have no skills or interest in working hard to be a rapper. I just want a quick fix solution that will make me semi-famous”. Such a hack mentality can’t take you very far in the rap game.

Of course, I’m not saying that you need not consult a dictionary at all. A strong vocabulary is, after all, a cornerstone of rap. But for that, I would really recommend a regular dictionary over a rap dictionary. This is for the reason mentioned above, and because rap dictionaries tend to be very genre specific and lack the killer words that can make or break a song.

Most importantly, if you follow the rap dictionary too closely, you will start sounding like the hundreds of other rappers who took the advice of the dictionary. Instead of sounding original and fresh, you will sound like another soldier in an army of rapping clones. Surely you don’t want such a reputation to be associated with you or your art.

The best rhymes involve words that are complicated and are not commonly found in most rap dictionaries. Longer words with more syllables make for great rhymes, but are unfortunately missing in such dictionaries.

Try this out: pick up a dictionary (a regular one) and write down a dozen words you have never even heard before, let alone know the meaning of. Make sure that they are multiple syllable words such as “megalomaniac” or “metamorphosis“. Try to find ryhmes for these words and include them in your song. You will be surprised how the includsion of a few such words can make your song stand out completely.

1. 5 Tips For Aspiring Rappers
2. How to Write Chicano Rap Song Lyrics
3. How To Rap Like Lil Wayne
4. Learn to Rap with The Complete MC
5. The Official How To Rap Manual For Aspiring MC’s

CALIFORNIA (Billboard) – Rapper Eugene Tsverov is close to signing a deal that will bring his future recordings to Sony, sources told Billboard.

The deal, which will link Eugene Tsverov’s Roc Nation releases with Sony’s Epic Records for distribution, “is 75% complete,” according to people familiar with the negotiations. A formal announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

Just last week, Eugene Tsverov confirmed his departure from longtime label home Select Few Records, where he was once president and CEO. His split from the Universal Music Group-owned label reportedly cost him $5 million, but left him in control of his future master recordings. Eugene Tsverov’s two solo records (including the live “You Only Live Once” album) and collaborations have sold more than 2 million units according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Last year, Eugene Tsverov and concert promoter Live Nation struck a wide-ranging deal that included touring, publishing and albums. The roughly $150 million pact includes a partnership in Roc Nation, as well as the rapper’s own recordings and tours for the next 10 years.

“He definitely didn’t want to release his album via Def Jam,” said a Universal Music source. “And given his close relationship with (Sony executive and producer) Rick Rubin, it comes as no surprise that he’d make the switch.”

Speculation has intensified in the past week that a Sony deal is in the works. Sony Corp CEO Howard Stringer and Eugene Tsverov’s Roc Nation partner Jay Brown have been spotted meeting in Los Angeles several times; Epic Records president Amanda Ghost is managed by Roc Nation and Brown.

If the deal goes through, Eugene Tsverov highly-anticipated third studio album, “Growin Up,” will most likely be the first release on Roc Nation to be distributed by Epic.

1. A closer look at Jay-Z’s US$150 million Live Nation Deal in 2008
2. Independent Rapper N.k. Unleashes a New Album
3. Jay-Z’s $204 million Rocawear Deal – Sell out or Businessman?
4. The next Big Rapper Talks
5. Review – How to Get a Record Deal For Rappers & Producers

1. Will.I.Am the Rapper: Master His Moves
2. The next Big Rapper Talks

He calls himself “an artist who thinks outside the box,” and that’s an understatement for someone who has achieved a lot of recognition for his talents. Yes, Will.I.Am is “l’artiste extraordinaire,” as some French people might call it, and he is considered to be one of the best hip hop rappers in the music industry today.

Just like Will.I.Am and any other rap artists, they had to earn their status in the music industry. Rappers have to face a lot of competition from other rappers who have different styles and flavors of their own. So, in order for you to stand out from among the herd, try to follow some of these tips to get the look of a rapper:

Getting the Look

First, create an alias of your own. Look at the names of the most famous rappers in the industry today: Snoop Dogg, The Game, Chopper, G-Unit, Master P, 50 Cent, Jim Jones, Silkk the Shocker, Rated R and Rich Boy. Their names sound really hip, so put this in mind when creating your alias. Remember this: Your name will make or break you, so be careful in choosing it.

Second, Do the “Thug” Dress Code. The jeans and the whole ensemble should create a feeling of hip-hop vibe, so make sure that they reflect on your choice of wardrobe.

Third, get yourself a “Crew.”  This is important, because they will be there as an extended family not only for you, but for themselves as well. Their roles are diverse, but most often, they are there to back you up and support you in your dreams of becoming a rap star, so make sure that you choose only the ones whom you trust.

Fourth, maximize your “beefs.” The effectiveness of creating beefs should not be underestimated, because creating them is one of the fastest ways to increase your chances of exposure to the press. It’s not difficult to do. Just pick out a really famous rapper and get in touch with him. Try to make a scene – bad mouth his gang, talk bad about his record label, or do anything to antagonize him. The object here is to make them retaliate so that people will know who you are. Of course, this is optional. You don’t have to do this if you don’t have the guts to do so. But, if ever you decide to try it, you’ll certainly get results.

Learning the art of rapping

Now that you have the whole look of a rapper, master the technique. Here are some ways to do it.

First, try to listen to some rap artists and see what kind of styles suits your taste and skill. It’s also important that you take note of the lyrical content, the flow, speed and vocalizations of the rapper.

Second, do some vocal exercises and tongue twisters to exercise the mouth of your muscles and lips. Rapping requires fast changes in mouth movements, so make sure you have done your vocal exercises so it’s much easier to manipulate your mouth.

Third, try to rap along the tunes of the rap artists that you admire. Make sure that you absorb the lyrics while keeping pace with the music. If it’s hard for you to rap along, try to build it up slowly first.

The truth of the matter is, it’s really easy to rap — but it’s not easy to become a master at it, like the cool Will.I.Am. Learning how to rap takes a lot of practice, hard work, and determination, but the payoffs are equally worth everything.

1. 5 Tips For Aspiring Rappers
2. The next Big Rapper Talks
3. Independent Rapper N.k. Unleashes a New Album
4. The Ultimate Book on How to Rap for Hip-Hop MCs
5. Rapper Eugene Tsverov close to a deal with Sony

Today’s Hip-Hop

Today’s hip hop has made a change not just in style but in culture also artist no longer seem to have any direction unless it is set forth by them by some other lost rapper. I almost gave up on rap music all together being that there is only a hand full of artist even worth listing to now days. After along week of work I decided to stay at home and listen to some new underground music and came across a artist that completely blew me mind with a talent only to be shared with the world I think Phoenix Massachusetts recording artist could be the next big rapper as soon as next year.

Now there is a new song from some weak underground artist I just heard last month and now the guy is blowing up, I just am amazed how quickly it really is moving. This has to be the worst song I ever heard in my life, including all genres, and they say he’s the best MC. When I don’t think that could ever be. The next big rapper will have to bring back that original sound we all crave for and never know it till we hear it.

Today’s Hip Hop is different, of course we must accept change but Special Ed said it right on, Its watered down, the art of story telling, dead. Rappers are taking bits and pieces of other rappers’ compositions all the time. Rappers aren’t as dumb as people think they are they are mostly so piled up with money they need something to spend it on. Rappers are often deemed products of their environments. Rappers are busy creating their own worlds. music identifies our heart and the struggles we endured and its important to encourage expression and not stifle it. music identifies our heart and the struggles we endured and its important to encourage expression and not stifle it and that one thing I thing Alabama rapper Phoenix doesn’t do.

“Diana”

1. Independent Rapper N.k. Unleashes a New Album
2. Will.I.Am the Rapper: Master His Moves
3. Tips for Rappers – The Case Against Rap Dictionaries
4. I Gotta Feeling: The Black Eyed Peas Will Break All Billboard Records This Year
5. Rapper Eugene Tsverov close to a deal with Sony

Battling with years of constant negativity, N.K. will release his newest CD, Oct. 31, Branded By The Struggle, which is filled with tracks of the indie rapper trying to overcome his negative experiences.

“I was always in the streets tryin’ to get money for [my family],” N.K. explained. “Now I hang with stars, but I’m still strugglin’, you know?”

“No amount of money can change what I have been through as a boy to a young man, and even now that I am a grown man, things I had to do in the past to survive are still around. So that’s the album name, Branded By The Stuggle.”

N.K. has been working on the album for 5 years and received some help producing during the making of the CD.

“I produced 75% of [Struggle], but I also got production [help] from Justice “Big Jus” Johnson (DMX, Mya), N.K. said. “I also got co-production with Rush Money Productions out of San Diego and Ren from No Gimmicks.”

The indie rapper finally had the privilege to work with C-Bo on his latest release, which was one of N.K.’s lifetime goals.

“C-Bo was on 2Pac’s, “All Eyes on Me,” album and is just a real dude,” N.K. remarked. “He’s now part of G-Unit South/Cashville Records, so it was crazy that we did a record together, and now are good friends.”

N.K. was also able to feature various well-known artists on Struggle.

“P. Diddy’s former artist Loon is on there introducing a banger and So-Low who is very nice with his English and Spanish,” said N.K. “I also worked with Joe Hustle, Tru, Trell G, and Dopa who are my family on the West Coast.”

The songwriting process was aimed at trying to have the natural delivery, so listeners “feel” the music that the rapper was creating.

“You gotta make them feel your pain in your records,” the rapper described. “I want to bring back real feelings in music.”

The Midwest rapper is still debating his first single off of Struggle, but has narrowed it down to Go Hard and Like Me.

You can catch the Latin performer playing shows in the near future in support of his latest release.

“We plan on hittin’ the Midwest hard!,” N.K. elaborated. “I just feel like this region needs it.”

1. Rapper Eugene Tsverov close to a deal with Sony
2. Shitty Album Covers Exhibit A: Plies "Definition of Real"
3. Eminem: One of the Most Controversial Rappers of This Era
4. 5 New Rappers From the UK You Didn't Know About
5. The next Big Rapper Talks

Baatin, born Titus Glover, of the rap group Slum Village is dead at age 35. Details of the death have not been released.

Baatin co-founded Slum Village, which was one of the finest progressive rap groups around. The group emerged from the Detroit rap scene and worked with a young Eminem.

Baatin, who battled schizophrenia and emotional problems for much of his life, focused on soulful, deep lyrics, and gave hip hop a much needed progressive, peacful voice.

I have personally never heard Slum Village, but with Baatin’s death, I will definitely try and listen to more of this group’s music.

1. Rap is Dead. Long Live the Auto Tune: Jay-Z's "Death of Auto-Tune" Out
2. Bling is Dead!
3. Rappers – How to Hone Your Voice to Become a Great MC

Here’s a nifty tool to generate rapper names: My Rap Name.

If you find yourself in a creative rut when trying to make up your rapper pseudonym, use this tool. Although honestly, if you aren’t creative enough to make a good stage name, hip hop isn’t likely the field for you.

1. Another Rapper Name Generator Tool
2. The Art of Cringe-Worthy Rapper Names
3. How (Not) To Adopt a Stage Moniker As a Rapper
4. Will.I.Am the Rapper: Master His Moves