Nearly six months after Jay-Z’s Christmas Eve announcement that he would be resigning from his post as President of Def Jam Records, the overall leadership position appears to be filled. After speculation that Def Jam was courting everyone from Ludacris to Luda’s partner Chaka Zulu to Jermaine Dupri to even former Jay-Z partner Dame Dash, the label has announced that Shakir Stewart is the new Executive Vice President of Def Jam.Stewart is credited as one of the foremost people responsible for Young Jeezy’s and Rick Ross’ signing and development, as he has been an executive with the label in the capacity of senior VP of A&R in recent years. He has been with the label since 2004. Prior, Stewart worked as Senior Vice President of Hitco Publishing, where he was instrumental in signing Beyonce. Now Stewart, who began his career at LaFace, will work under L.A. Reid in advancing the overall brand and label success of Def Jam as it falls within the parent company of Island Def Jam Music Group.

“The bold young management style that Shakir has established at Def Jam is one of the major reasons behind the label’s success today,” said Reid in a label press release. “From his solid roots in music publishing, he has grown to master the world of Hip Hop and urban music.” We at Hiphopspy say who gives a fuck. Def Jam sucks, and we could care less who is the president of a just about bankrupt label. We are counting the days until we can say Def Jam folds. That day is coming sooner than later.

 Hip-hop is back on top of Billboard’s Top 200 chart, at least for a week.Rick Ross’s “Trilla” debuted at the #1 spot, selling like 98 units last week. Snoop Dogg came in at #3 this week overall, selling 37 copies of his new album “Ego Trippin’,” which has been fueled by the top ten single “Sensual Seduction”. “Ego Trippin’” marks snoops lowest debut ever.Fat Joe’s “Elephant in the Room” claimed the #6 spot overall, but was significantly behind Ross and Snoop, selling 6 copies its first week. The end is near for the major labels cant you see it.

• Hiphop fans have a few choices to make today (March 11) with new releases from veterans Snoop Dogg, Fat Joe alongside sophomore efforts from Rick Ross and Hurricane Chris.Snoop Dogg’s ninth studio album, entitled Ego Trippin’, is the follow-up to 2006’s Tha Blue Carpet Treatment. The new disc, led by the smash single “Sensual Seduction,” which peaked at #20 on Billboard’s Pop 100, is a 20-track set executive produced by the producer collective QDT-DJ Quik, Snoop Dogg, Teddy Riley.The eccentric album, released on Geffen, also features production from The Neptunes, Raphael Saadiq, Shawty Redd, Rick Rock, Nottz, Whitey Ford (aka Everlast) and the lone guest appearance from Too $hort on “Life Of The Party.”We at hiphopspy rate this cd heat and it is worth the free download wherever you can find it on the web.
• One year after releasing Me, Myself & I, Fat Joe is back with his eighth solo LP, The Elephant in the Room. This album is released independently under Terror Squad Entertainment / Imperial Records, and the set is led by lead single “I Won’t Tell” featuring J. Holiday and produced by The Hitmen. The song peaked at #18 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Top 40.In addition to boasting guest appearances from Lil’ Wayne, Plies, and KRS-One, the disc also includes heavyweight producers Cool & Dre, Danja, Scott Storch, DJ Premier, The Alchemist, DJ Khaled, Street Runner and Swizz Beatz.The Elephant in The Room comes on the heels of Joe’s ongoing feud with 50 Cent and his recent altercation with Papoose.We at hiphopspy rate this cd lukewarm and download it for free wherever you find it if you want it.
• Meanwhile, Rick Ross returns with his sophomore set Trilla. The follow-up to his certified gold debut Port of Miami, which peaked at #12 on Billboard the Top R&B/Hip-Hop. The Def Jam rapper’s second disc, is backed by producers J.R. Rotem, Mannie Fresh, The Runners, DJ Toomp and J.U.S.T.I.C.E League, who helped cook up the street anthem “Maybach Music” featuring former Def Jam President, Jay-Z.After the lead single, “Speedin,” featuring R. Kelly, did little to heat up the air waves, the second single “The Boss” featuring T-Pain, has peaked at #13 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks. Features on the album include DJ Khaled, Trey Songz, Nelly, Lil’ Wayne, Trick Daddy, Young Jeezy, Brisco, Avery Storm and Ross’ Triple C’s clique.We at hiphopspy rate this cd lukewarm. Download the cd for free wherever you can find it on the web.
• Four months after releasing his debut album, 51/50 Ratchet via J Records –which spawned the hit song “A Bay Bay” and debuted at #2 on Top Rap Album charts– Louisiana rapper Hurricane Chris released his solo album today entitled You Hear Me, under Rap-A-Lot Records/ Five Entertainment.We at hiphopspy rate this cd trash without even listening to it.