By now, you have probably heard The Game go at Jay-Z pretty hard in a freestyle in Madrid, Spain..if not, check out the video. The Game taking shots at Jigga isn’t a new thing, he does it from time to time, but ALWAYS takes it back after throwing a jab or two. So with this latest attack I am skeptical about drinking the kool-aid. Let’s face it, the Game can match bars with Jay. There is no question about that, if you deny it, you are lying to yourself. If Game would go at Jay with the same tenacity that he went at Bleek, Budden, Ja, and 50 with, he might can lay the old man down. The time is now, Jay is ripe for the picking. It is time for one of these new school cats challenge Jay and win. The Game might be the one to do it. The old guard must pass it on to the next generation.

My questions to Game: ARE YOU FOR REAL THIS TIME? By the time I post this I hope you have not  issued an apology and said that you was just playing to the crowd and didn’t really mean it. You did call out the man wife..so I’m expecting Jay to really have something for your ass in the next week or so. BE READY. Second question: WHY DO YOU DO MOST OF YOUR DISSES OVERSEAS? What’s up with that? You talking greasy in Europe, but when you get back stateside, you make it seem like you was just “messing around”. When you get back home, can we expect more disses?

So Game, if you are going to do it…GO ALL THE WAY IN. (PAUSE) Make history, this could be one of the best lyrical battles in a minute. Do it for all those that came before you but came up short. Do it for Jaz-O, who simply was upset because the dude he brought in the game became WAY more successful than him. Do it for Prodigy, while I know you and him aren’t like that anymore, but do it because he put pictures of a “gangsta” rapper in a ballerina suit. Do it for Nas, who was involved in a CLASSIC battle with Jigga,and (depending on who you ask) beat him and to turn around and kiss his ring like Superman did Lord Zod and WORK for him! Do it for Dame. No explanation needed on this one.

I would love to see these two go back and forth..could be EPIC, as long as The Game is serious and Jay takes the bait. WE SHALL SEE!

Download: The Game – “I’m So Wavy”

As the youngest member of the nappyafro crew, I find that it is my duty to show a different side of the new school Hip-Hop. I mean, Bow Wow USED to be a decent rapper, right? And Romeo isn’t that bad at all. I feel like the new school generation gets a bad rep only because they cater to their same generation: a group of teenagers who just want to jump on the floor and move. Only problem is they make their ENTIRE album like that and their actual talent is lost in the mix.

But I was surfing the web and I found a couple of Hip-Hop artists that I just haven’t seen in a while. Are they finished? Have they given it up? I don’t know; some I wish they would just quit, and others I kind of want to stay in the game. At any rate, here we go.

Asia Cruise

I first saw her on BET’s 106 & Park when her video was the new joint of the day. Her song, “Selfish”, is kind of blah, but I mean that’s one more female in the game, right? Plus she’s Asian! I love seeing diversity in the game, to be honest; Hip-Hop and R&B should be open to all people, not just African Americans, and to me that’s what the game needs. This single came out in March, and then POOF! She was gone, just like that. I guess the album was pushed to next year?

Arab

I know I dissed him in one of my other columns, but come on: we all gotta eat. I can’t front: he’s got no skills at all, but I thought he would make a bigger imprint on the rap game then just a one-off single that he featured on. Well…OK, I take that back, but at the same time I expected a single to be released around this time for him, or something. At least an appearance at an awards show.

Saigon

I could spend all day on this one…WHERE ARE YOU MAN?!? After a bunch of mixtapes and even more delays, my patience for the “best album in the last 20 years” is growing thin. I mean, you had the time to do four episodes of Entourage; where the hell is this album? Jay, please release Blueprint 3 so you can sign this nigga and get his shit straight. Damn!

Young Dro

Not sure where he is either. Like King Jerm, I co-sign this dude. I don’t think he’s the absolute best on Grand Hustle like he does; T.I. recently got better with Paper Trail. Dro’s lyrics are really good; he showed a lot of skill on his debut and even went Gold, something even T.I. can’t claim to have done. But after two singles (both pretty hot), he was gone. I saw him Big Kuntry’s music video, but that was it. Shame, again, just like a lot of Grand Hustle artists. Is T.I. becoming the Jay-Z of Grand Hustle? Let’s hope not.

Memphis Bleek

Haven’t seen much of this guy in awhile, and by a while I mean in three years, ever since his last album. He’s never been the best rapper, but he is just ONE hit away: I’d like to see him get that hit and become the success story that Common is today, but seeing as once Jay starts Roc Nation up, Bleek will be flying solo with his own label, I don’t know if that will happen.

Bottom Line:
Well, I wish the best of luck to all of these artists. I’m probably missing out on a whole bunch of people: shout out to Wale, Kid Cudi, and most of the “New School of 2008″. Let’s hope they get a hot single or something?

Jigga is worth over a half a billion dollars, and has a rep for being a business man, so we know he’s not going to just toss his money around, but is he really just going to leave Roc-A-fella? I mean, if you hadn’t noticed, Roc-A-fella earlier this summer, dropped a large number of it’s artists, including Freeway (one of the most underrated artists ever), Young Gunz (a rap duo), Peedi Peedi (Whatever), Tru Life (Still on Doggystyle Records), and Jadakiss (what!). If you don’t believe me, check out the Roc-A-fella website: only artists in the line-up are Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Kanye, DJ Clue, and Memphis Bleek. What is going on at Roc-a-Fella??

In 2001, Roc-A-Fella was the shit. Seriously. The Blueprint was out, and people was all over the Roc. They actually were putting out other people too, like Freeway, Beanie Sigel, DJ Clue, Amil, and Memphis Bleek. Then the ROC broke up in 2004 and everything went downhill! We lost Beans, M.O.P., and others. We had Roc La Familia with N.O.R.E. and Hector “El Father”, but that label folded soon after. We got Kanye, but that was the ONLY artist on Roc-A-fella making hits, which is still true today sadly; Jay’s been doing his thing, but he hasn’t been on the top of his game. American Gangster has filled me with hope for the future, but still, what is up with Roc-A-Fella??

If you ask me, Jay is holding back on Roc-A-Fella projects so he can move the artists over to Roc Nation. But will anything change when Roc Nation is formed? I’m a HUGE Jay-Z fan, but when it comes to promoting his artists, he’s not on top of things: Freeway only sold 100k 6 months after his album was released last year! Then when he complained to Def Jam, he was dropped! All because of no promotion. I’m not on LL Cool J’s side cause I don’t think he would’ve moved more than 500,000 units, even with promotion, but hopefully Jay will get his shit straight with Roc Nation.

Below, I’ve listed artists who could go to Roc Nation. Some will happen, others I put on because I want them to happen, and some I’m probably flat-out crazy to even think of. But anyway, here it goes:

Jay-Z (CEO)
Reason: Duh
Chances of being signed: Again, Duh

Beyonce (A&R)
Reason: I read about this somewhere: Beyonce is supposed to become the A&R of Roc Nation to help scout for talent. She’d be good for the job: maybe we’d see more female acts on Roc-A-Fella.
Chances of being signed: Incredibly Likely if Jay can get her to do it.

Freeway
Reason: He’s been on the squad for almost 10 years, and Free at Last was bangin’. He didn’t deserve to get dropped, hopefully he’s not angry with Hov like Peedi.
Chances of being signed: Likely if Jay wants him back.

Memphis Bleek
Reason: Do you have to ask…? I mean, Bleek is kind of mediocre as a rapper, but Hov’s been holdin’ him down since ‘96. This is a no brainer.
Chances of being signed: Extremely Likely

DJ Clue
Reason: The only DJ on the roster. I guess they could afford to lose him: He’s done solid numbers in the past, but Professional 3 wasn’t too successful, and Jay might want a new sound for Roc Nation. I’m going to go with maybe here.
Chances of being Signed: Sort-of Likely, but if Jay wants new DJs, adios

Kanye West
Reason: He’s the biggest artist on R.O.C. right now, including Jay-Z himself. But I think once Roc Nation is formed, Kanye will leave to work on GOOD Music: he’s got a big enough fan base to stand alone.
Chances of Being Signed: Depends on how arrogant Kanye is

Lil Wayne
Reason: According to D-Dot’s interview, Weezy will head over to Roc Nation if Jay calls him. With the numbers Tha Carter 3 did LEAKED, Jay would have to be an idiot not to pass this up. However, Weezy’s already got Young Money Ent., and is big enough to own his own label, plus I’m still skeptical Weezy would leave Baby like that. But if he does, it would make Roc Nation HUGE, and possibly start an even bigger beef.
Chances of being Signed: It’s up to Weezy

Saigon
Reason: Even though his debut album STILL hasn’t been released, he’s got potential. Jay has worked with him before, and Just Blaze is cool with Jay, so he’d put the good word in for him.
Chances of being Signed: Very Likely; Saigon’s not going to say no.

Rick Ross
Reason: It’s called Roc Nation! Jay needs some southern acts that can sell records, and Rick Ross has proven that, having the first album to go gold. They worked together twice before, so maybe?
Chances of being Signed: Sort-of Likely; I doubt Ross would decline.

Nas
Reason: A living legend, and probably the only guy on this list with a classic besides Jay(unless you conside C3 classic). Nas and Jay are businness partners now and good friends, so why not? However, he’s already signed to Def Jam, so it wouldn’t happen in the near future, unless they made a joint venture of some sort.
Chances of being Signed: Likely in 2 years, unless Nas is actually going to do something with Ill Will Records.

Well, there you have it. A solid roster if I do say so. I think Roc Nation will amazing, especially since Live Nation will be giving Jay 5 million a year; he can use that to promote his artists! If he does, Roc Nation could be the biggest rap recording label, rivaling even Def Jam. Here’s hoping.