This week has been extremely exciting in terms of new music. Both the Kanye and 50 albums leaked within a few hours of each other yesterday (A coincidence? I think not.) My boy Nile has the full scoop on that for you.

Check out the first edition of NEW MUSIC FRIDAY. Be sure to send me tips and new music at killedthat@gmail.com. It may just get featured next week!

Note: to visit the Myspace pages of any of the artists below, simply click their photo icon.

Kanye West- “I Wonder” This is by far my favorite song off Graduation, Kanye’s third studio album. The sample is extremely well done. The production is amazing, and Ye’s lyrics are on-point. Well done for a College Dropout!

The-Dream feat. Fabolous- “Shawty Is A Ten (Remix)” The-Dream really knows how to throw a party song together. The song did pretty well this summer, but getting Fabolous on the remix is really going to give this song the push it needs. Dream’s use of the voice box has me thinking… would T-Pain approve? Dream’s new album, The American Dream, hits stores October 16, and he claims it’ll go at least platinum. I’m going to have to see what else he has in stores for us before I cosign on that…

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Today marks the two-year reunion of the devastating Hurricane Katrina. Our hearts go out to all those effected by the disaster.

There are mixed feelings about whether or not the United States’ government has made any progress in rebuilding New Orleans. While many schools, businesses, and other commercial property have been reopened, hundreds of thousands of residents are still either homeless or living with family in other areas.

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PHOTOS BY WALIK GOSHORN FOR KILLEDTHAT.COM

Last night, Kanye West gave a select group of industry folk an inside look at his forthcoming album, Graduation. I was one of the lucky few to be able to attend the event, and am now giving you all an inside look at the album Kanye claims is “one of hip-hop’s Top 10 best records”.

The record begins with “Good Morning,” a chill introduction track during which ‘Ye proclaims his inadequate grades in college, yet flaunts his sharp sense of style–ultimately pronouncing himself the “fly Malcolm X”.

“Champion” is undoubtedly the dopest track on the album. According to Kanye, its one of those “personal theme songs” that allows people to take their minds off depression and struggle and focus on being productive.

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This is without a doubt my favorite cut off the Common album. Lily Allen does her thing on the hook, and the production is smooth and effective. The video is pretty dope, too. Check it out, and be sure to cop Finding Forever if you haven’t already. It’s a classic!Spotted at Concrete Loop and Real Talk NY.

Before we start off on a rant, we want to provide the following disclaimer:

We love Kanye. We support Kanye. We’re excited for Graduation.

However, there comes a time in every blogger’s life when they’re forced to admit that something they had high hopes for, in reality, turned out to be wack.

Case in point: Kanye’s new single, “Homecoming”. The production overrides Kanye’s voice, which, in this case, could actually be a good thing. The lyrics aren’t necessarily on point, and Chris Martin’s vocals aren’t too impressive. P.S. What’s up with Martin’s yodeling and random shout-outs to Lake Michigan? Could have sworn he’s from the UK…

Listen: Kanye West- “Graduation (Feat. Chris Martin)”

What’s going on? I’m Sam and am new to the Killed That team. I’ll be on here giving you an inside look at stores, restaurants, products, clothes, trends, and new labels.

Here’s who’s Killing That this month in Fashion/Style:

Logos can be cool, despite all the bad buzz they receive in the fashion world. Kanye, Diddy, and Eve can make logos look hot–but more often than not, you’ll be associated with wannabes carrying fakes from Canal St., regardless of whether your bag or accessory is the real thing.

One brand, however, has brought logos back from fashion purgatory: Goyard.

Goyard was founded in 1853 in Paris. Currently, Goyard is sold in fewer than fifteen locations worldwide, including two freestanding boutiques in Paris and San Francisco, Bergdorf Goodman, select Barneys New York locations and after its current expansion, the Toronto Bloor Holt Renfrew. (courtesy of Wikipedia).

Why you need it: Goyard’s signature print, as shown above, is less recognizable than Louis Vuitton, but suggests an insider knowledge of what’s hot before it hits the masses.

Expect to pay: $500 and up for wallets, $1,000 and up for bags. Mens and Womens.
For more info: log onto Goyard’s web site.

Alright, so I’ll admit it… I’m a little swamped over here. I need some help maintaining this site!

If you’re interested in writing for an innovative, forward-thinking, and exclusive blog, please contact us at killedthat@gmail.com! Please send us some writing samples and let us know what you’re interested in blogging about. Possible topics include: gossip, music, movies, sports, cars, gaming, technology, and fashion. Not a writer? That’s cool; we’re looking for photographers and promoters as well!

Be sure to pass this opportunity on to friends and family!

Welcome to the first edition of NEED TO COP! This is the first of many album reviews to come on Killed That.

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I wasn’t able to listen to Talib Kweli’s new album, Ear Drum, until just now. It’s been an extremely stressful week filled with applications (shout-outs to COLLEGE!), work (what’s going on Def Jam?), and reading a terrible book. Well I’m finally here and ready to share my excitement for this amazingly well-put-together album. Ear Drum has to be the freshest hip-hop album to come out this year.

I’ve never been one of those “Hip Hop Is Dead” advocates, but after hearing nothing but “A Bay Bay” and “Crank That Soulja Boy” this entire summer, I was starting to worry this genre had lost all its creativity.

Well, not to fear, ladies and gents. Ear Drum is without a doubt Kweli’s best. He sounds free at last, and the album just shines. Guest producers will.i.am and Kanye West bring smooth production to the table, and collaborators Justin Timberlake, Norah Jones, KRS, and Jean Grae add even more flavor.

Ear Drum will definitely give Kweli the mainstream attention he deserves. I’m not a huge fan of “Hot Thing,” his current song on the radio (It sounds like an attempt at selling out), but the video is extremely creative, and a lot of people have been digging it.

You’re going to need to get the entire album for the full Ear Drum experience; it flows really well from start to finish. But I understand some of us are on tight budgets, so in that case, I’d recommend “Hostile Gospel, Pt. 1,” “Soon The New Day (Feat. Norah Jones),” “Country Cousins (Feat. UGK)” and “Give ‘Em Hell (Feat. Coi Mattison & Lyfe Jennings)”.

Album Rating: A-

Oh, and you thought we weren’t going to hook you up with an audio exclusive?

Listen: The Nature (Feat. Justin Timberlake)

LG, the company behind the Chocolate Phone, is set to unleash a sexy new cell phone in the UK dubbed the “Viewty“. The Viewty, or KU990, features a beautiful touch screen interface and a five-megapixel camera (amazing considering most phones these days are shipped with a 1.3 or 2.0 megapixel lens). And get this: you can upload the videos you take directly to Youtube.

The camera on the back comes with a Schneider Kreuznach lens, autofocus and manual focus, image stabilization and LED photo light, and can shoot video at up to 120 frames per second.

While we haven’t received any more technical specs on the phone, we’ve been told that the device will debut on the UK’s 3 network. Pricing TBA.