Hip-Hop 2.0: The Week in Review

A roundup of this week’s hot hip-hop/technology related news.

• Software Morphs Rapper Prodigy Into Global Cipher
  Mobb Deep’s Prodigy has a new album coming out, “H.N.I.C. Part 2.” I didn’t realize that enough people purchased the first one for there to be a part 2, but nonetheless the rapper is hooking up with technology company, Voxonic, to have his upcoming release available in nearly 1500 languages. The cute part is that all of those translations will actually be in his voice. I didn’t know he had 50 Cent reach to warrant this, but whatever it’s an interesting tech tidbit. [WIRED]
• Unlike Trent Reznor, Saul Williams isn’t disheartened
  I suppose after seeing what’s deemed to be Radiohead’s success, and after looking at the downloads for Niggy Tardust NIN’s Reznor felt a little disappointed. Williams says they haven’t even really marketed the product yet though. And besides, it’s still a success if they earn more from it than they would have from a label project. [CNET]
• Global Grind: Missing the Mark
  After GlobalGrind exec Navarrow Wright’s second appearance on Run’s House, African-Americans in the Web industry have been analyzing the project. In most cases it’s the design of the site that’s frustrating the critics, but some also don’t get the business model. [Liz Burr]
• Hip-Hop Word Count
  Everyone’s buzzing about Staple Crops project — a site that uses a a rubric that estimates the education level needed to understand each rhyme as well as, rates the artistic sophistication employed through the metaphors, similes, cultural references, consonantal/vocalic alliteration and overall pattern of each rhyme. Kanye West’s Big Brother gets a 9.
• Wi-Fi music polling device takes heat off the DJ
  Collaborative DeeJaying wirelessly is the premise behind Smart Party, developed by scientists at UCLA. Smart Party system relies on people carrying Wi-Fi-enabled music-playing devices. Software running on each device beams each user’s playlist to a nearby computer, which is connected to an amp and speakers. The computer takes a poll of titles to work out the most popular genre and can also copy and play tracks from each device. It can then play music from the most popular overall music genre or tracks supplied by each party-goer in turn.[New Scientist]

Bonus: Crank Dat Jiggaman

About the Author
Lynne d Johnson is SVP, Social Media at the Advertising Research Foundation, where she guides members on how they can best utilize social media to gain insights and achieve their business objectives, directs the activities of the ARF’s Social Media Council, and expands the ARF’s social media presence. Previously she was Director, Social Media (and Senior Editor/Community Director) for FastCompany.com, a leading website and community for people passionate about business ideas also offering the complete content of Fast Company magazine. There she wrote Digital Media Diva, a technology blog following web, media, and consumer trends. As a consultant Lynne works with technology and Web clients in the areas of content, community, and brand strategy. Prior to joining Fast Company, she was the General Manager, New Media for VIBE, SPIN, and VIBE Vixen where she she managed marketing, editorial, production, business development, and sales operations for the magazines’ websites and mobile properties. Lynne also serves on the Board of Directors of the Literary Freedom Project, the advisory board of Black Web 2.0, and the Key Influencers of Interactive One. Her personal blog, Lynne d Johnson || music, media, my life, which launched in July 2001, is the recipient of the 2006 Black Weblog Awards Black Blogger Achievement Award.
See all posts by Lynne d Johnson.