Set Still Strong

HipHopDX spoke with 40 Cal yesterday and the Harlem member of Dipset sounded off on Prodigy’s infamous remarks, rumors on Dipset’s disbandment, the blues influence on hip-hop and more. This all comes on the eve of 40 Cal’s CD/DVD combination, The Yellow Tape, being released on April 1st.

40 Cal on Prodigy’s remarks insulting Cam’ron and Jim Jones, “Prodigy’s remarks? No, I heard about it, but it went on deaf ears kind of. It wasn’t even enough for nobody to start talking about. He said what he said but I don’t know, no one really paid attention. When I say something everybody hears it. I don’t know what he was doing, he just dropped a bunch of names, and was talking shit before he went to jail. I mean I find it ironic that he did that right before he went in.”

40 Cal on recent rumors of trouble within Dipset’s ranks, “We are doing ok, but it is not the same. It used to be a little tighter. At the end of the day we all love Dip Set, its like nothing changed. It’s just that everybody wants to do more solo things, as a group you always want to do your own projects. We’re like a super group. Look at any other group or crew they ain’t do it like us. I mean, look at the Jackson 5, you could talk about Michael’s and Janet’s albums and that’s about it. I mean some people could talk about Tito and Randy. With Wu-Tang it’s even like that, but us we are all real. Truthfully, I’m the newest member, you know, of the original Dipset, but my name is still relevant and still resonates. Everything is everything, and everybody is still yelling Dipset.”

40 Cal also addressed his upcoming projects, and what to expect, “Well, I’m coming out a few months after The Yellow Tape with an album. I mean, I might be arguably the most consistent dude in the game. I got another project after that, I mean not to mention all my fellow cohorts albums, with the label, bla bla bla, I got crazy stuff coming out. You know, get The Yellow Tape, keep it locked for all Dipset stuff. Hit up myspace.com/40caldipset.”

Reported By Jake Spilman

Tha Bo$$ Is Next

Last year, 50 Cent didn't have the year he thought he should have had. He wasn't alone in thinking that. Many fans also believed 2007 wasn't quite the best year for Fif. Some even went so far as to say he may have been falling off. Now, 50 admits there were errors made, but he mainly puts the blame on the label. According to new reports, 50 is stating that the label heads, including Eminem, asked Fif not to release too many mixtapes citing that the tapes would take away from his official album record sales.

"They think I'm crazy," 50 told MTV about Eminem and label heads. "Sometimes [Em] misses why I put it out. He goes, 'Why did you put it out?' But I can't be as hot as I'm gonna be if I don't play around. I gotta spar before I go fight the champ. That's my concept of it. If I don't go out and make material and lock in, I'm not gonna make the best possible material for the next [official] project."

Aside from mixtapes and albums, 50 has also been working on beef. Recently, he and Fat Joe were in the midst of a war of words and photos. Now, he is going against rumors that claim he created a photoshopped picture of Joe's wife.

"The Hip-Hop Weekly [a fake cover] came out, and it was a thing with [Benzino] supposed to be [sleeping] with Fat Joe's wife. I didn't make that. I didn't have anyone [Photoshop] that. Why would you do that? I work for Hip-Hop Weekly? They'll know that there are issues between me and Joe, so when he approaches them, they'll say, 'Nah, it must be 50. You know how 50 is.' But I didn't care, 'cause I don't like Joe neither. It doesn't matter to me that they did it, but it didn't come from me."

Now, 50 is throwing warning shots at another MC, Rick Ross.

"Rick Ross is doing good. I also complimented him that he had the #1 album. I said, 'Just don't stand too close to this fat piece of ...' I'm saying that because of what [Joe's] trying to do. He runs to Miami and hangs out with them like he's running Miami? Does Fat Joe run Miami? I don't think Fat Joe runs Miami. I think people from Miami would be upset you're even questioning that. The fact he can influence DJ Khaled on the radio, does that mean Fat Joe runs Miami? ... I don't care if [Khaled] ever plays my records. He's not important enough to what I'm doing for it to matter. Not to say Miami doesn't count. He doesn't count for it to matter to me."

G-Unit's next LP, Lock and Load is scheduled to drop in the Summer. Before I Self Destruct, 50's new album is set to hit shelves late in 08.