DX News Bits: Jeezy Loses His "Young", Romeo

While preparing for his fourth studio album Thug Motivation 103, southern rapper Young Jeezy has changed his rap name to simply Jeezy, according to Def Jam’s official site.

 “Lose My Mind,” featuring Plies, was recently released as the album’s first single. Jeezy’s Thug Motivation 103 tentatively has a summer release date.

In other news, New Orleans rapper Romeo has signed on to be a featured character in a new comic book series and movie video game called RESQ 3.

Created by Outside The Box Vision, RESQ 3 is an interactive series that provides edutainment for grade school children and their parents. “What makes us different is that we create product for the consumer, making a conscience effort to mix in the usual fun and excitement with a sense of wonder,” explained Olatokunbo Betiku, founder of Outside The Box Vision.

RESQ 3 is still in its developing stages.

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50 Cent Says "Black Magic" Won't Be A Techno Album

50 Cent recently announced plans to record his fifth studio album, which will be titled Black Magic. In a previous interview, he said the music on the upcoming project is inspired by genres he was exposed to while in Europe, and will be "more up-tempo, more Dance." Fif told radio host Tim Westwood that the LP, however, would not turn into an uncharacteristic techno album. The biggest difference, he explained, will be the structure of the music.

"It's still 50 Cent on the record," Fif told Westwood. "I'm using different song formats. I'll write a rap song in the sequence of a different kind of record." When asked exactly what that meant, he said, "R&B records may have eight-bar verses and bridges along with the actual chorus. A traditional Hip Hop record has three sixteen-bar verses. So to write it in a different format instead of writing it the way a traditional rap record is written, it's to experiment with different things. It's still Hip Hop music, still 50 cent content. It's just written in a different way. "

50 said he's already recorded three tracks for the album, although he did not reveal much information about production or possible features.

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Ice Cube Blogs About "I Am The West", Mack 10

On July 13th, Ice Cube will be releasing I Am The West through his own Lench Mob Records. The former N.W.A. and West Side Connection member's ninth full-length solo is already shaping up to support its bold title.

On his IceCube.com site, the star rapper and actor wrote about his recording process. Cube said that he's receiving beats from west coast veterans DJ Quik and E-A Ski. In addition, after not working together on a solo album in nearly 20 years, Ice Cube wrote that he is in talks with original C.I.A. group-mate Sir Jinx. The two did work together on West Side Connection's Terrorist Threats. "I listen to beats and see if they call my name. See if a song or hook will just spill out. I stop forcing lyrics just because I got a beat from a hot producer. If nothing comes out. No song will be made, no matter who does the beat. It's an honest process," wrote Cube.

Titling his entry "July 13th," Cube emphasized his marketing strategies and staying the course. "If we stay on schedule we'll be alright. Being independent is beautiful because we can do things "out the box" that record companies would usually frown at. Instead of working from a ready-made cookie-cutter marketing plan, we can tailor make a marketing plan specifically for me. I hate when rappers do dumb shit trying to sell a record. 'Going on Regis & Kelly is not going to sell you hip-hop records!' Wrong crowd."

Lastly, Ice Cube spoke on former protege and estranged West Side Connection partner Mack 10. Both WC and Cube have not publicly spoken about the Inglewood rapper at length in years, though have made it clear they are no longer affiliated. Asked by a fan if the emcees will ever reunite, Cube answered, "I never say never, but he has the kiss the ring first."

I Am The West is planned for July 13th on Lench Mob Records.

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50 Cent Talks Sex Tape Lawsuit, Blames 'Pimpin Curly'

In an interview with Tim Westwood on 1Xtra, 50 Cent spoke on the lawsuit filed by Rick Ross' baby mother, Lastonia Leviston.

“That wasn’t me, that was Pimpin’ Curly," said 50, placing the blame for the sex tape he leaked featuring Leviston on his comical alter-ego. "When a a person tries to say... you’ve done a mental harm to them. Then they might want to consider the recordings of Rick Ross saying that she’s an actual call girl. Or the pamphlets that I’m showing in the tape, that’s saying that she’s available. So how distraught is she that a tape went out? They think I bought the tape, I didn’t even buy it.”

The sex tape was released at the height of the Rick Ross/50 Cent fued. The Pimpin' Curly character was featured in a series of short episodes, and was used as a vehicle to diss Ross.

Since the release of the sex tape, the beef seems to have quieted down, though the two sides have not come to terms with one another.

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Dame Grease To Serve As Executive Producer On LOX Album

This week, it was revealed that New York-based producer Dame Grease will be lending his producing talents for The L.O.X.’s upcoming album.

Dame Grease confirmed the news of his latest project at iStandard’s “Behind The Rhymes” event.

"It's official, actually, Kiss asked me personally," Dame Grease said in a video that was posted on NodFactor.com. "This was before they were gonna take it to Puff or wherever because the thing is, just checking statistics like the success that we had with The L.O.X., we all had together and sold 1.5, two million records.”

Dame Grease has produced a number of L.O.X. songs including tribute song “We’ll Always Love Big Poppa,” “If You Think I’m Jiggy,” “Let’s Start Rap Over,” and more.

In the video, Dame also makes sure to clarify that he is not a rapper.

"I'm not an emcee I will never actually grasp the title of emcee 'cause that's not me. I put out emcees. I produce emcees. I'm a hood narrator. I just keep it groovy," Dame Grease explained.

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