The release this week of Trill OG, the third solo album by Bun B, marks a new phase in the Houston rapper’s career. (Listen to the album here.) He’s been through the industry’s wringer, having been dropped from Jive Records when Pimp C, his partner in the duo UGK, was imprisoned in 2002. Then Bun was devastated when Pimp died shortly after his release from jail in 2007.

Trill OG is the first project completed entirely without Pimp C, but Bun B handles hip hop with an unwavering business mentality. He’s now pointing his career in a new direction — he’s teaching. In the spring 2011 semester, Bun B will be a distinguished guest lecturer at Rice University for a class called Religion and Hip Hop Culture In America. The teaching gig was set up through the H.E.R.E project (Houston Enriches Rice Education Project), an on-going mission to improve relations between Rice University and the greater Houston community by offering students research opportunities and different classes. When I spoke with him on the phone from Houston, it was clear that Bun B does not take his role lightly.

How did you first become involved in this?
I was guest lecturer for the hip hop and religion class in fall ’09 and I got to talking with Dr. Anthony Penn, the teacher of the class and head of religious studies at Rice. We found out that we shared a lot of the same ideas and it occurred to us — well him primarily — that me being an addition to this course in a teaching aspect could be an opportunity to create something very new and very real in higher education.

How do you feel about taking on this role?
At first I was a little bit hesitant because when you’re dealing with a prestigious university [like] Rice you want to make sure your actions don’t reflect upon the university. But Dr. Penn and the H.E.R.E Project were very confident that I could carry it off.

Are you nervous at all?
Absolutely, I would be a fool if I wasn’t. I have to be very careful with what I do because this could either open a lot of doors and opportunities for other people or it could shut them down solid. Point blank, period. I know that everybody doesn’t want to see this happen, so we just have to be careful not to give anyone any ammunition to shoot this down. But I feel good about it.

What’s the course going to include?
We’ll be reflecting on the nature and content of hip hop as a religious experience. As well as religious expression. We’ll discuss the history of rap music and find the different parallels and correlations between religion and hip hop. People will be surprised at how many instances there are. Just the Five-Percent Nations presence in hip hop alone during the late ’80s and early ’90s — we could teach for days just on that. And other different things — we have Jewish rappers now.

Did you ever consider teaching at any point in your career?
Not at all. I didn’t even think [Rice] would ask me to come back and be a speaker at graduation, much less teach a course at one of the finest institutions in the country.

This is a new role for you.
It definitely gives me an opportunity to speak directly into people’s lives. In my field of employment, we don’t get to do that as often as we like, we try to send the best messages we can through our art. But when you have these up close and personal moments, it’s an opportunity to explain yourself — what you do and what you said and it helps people understand things better. That’s all I want to do, I just want to help people.

What do you want people to understand?
People assumed initially that only people who grew up in the hood could understand hip-hop, but we’re speaking to real situations and true experiences that people from all walks of life can learn from.

You’re bridging gaps with the position, and it makes you a role model. Are you comfortable with that?
It’s a little off-putting at first, but once you go ahead and accept it then it’s a different situation. I realized that if what I love, which is hip hop, was going to continue then I was going to have to play a hands on role in the development for the future cats.

You seem balance a lot of different tasks with a regimented business plan.
That’s a good way to sum it up. We have ideas we have direction. We set up everything we want to do to ease the situation and then we go into it cautiously and determined. Then we come out on the other end looking good.

Who’s “we?”
I have a real strong family behind me. My wife keeps me focused all the time and then my team, my management team, my Too Trill staff. I have a lot of people who work very hard to keep me and my business in order.

VIA Lindsay Sanchez for NPR

and Congrats On the 5 Mics Big Homie !

From Last Month…Uploaded June 11th…What a great speech…

Rest In Peace Bishop Walter Hawkins. GOD Bless him and his family through these trying times.

“What worries me are people who mistake their desire to get rich with their absolute compulsion. You can’t mistake those two things. When people have the wish to be rich but know in their heart of hearts that they do not have what it takes to get there — the long hours, the hard work, the ability to face up to fear of failure — they are going to cause themselves and those around them endless problems.” – Felix Dennis

“Learning to evolve or die is a cardinal virtue” – Felix Dennis

“If you haven’t got the balls to ask people for money because you’re going to lose it, then you’re certainly never going to get rich.” – Felix Dennis

“The purpose of being an entrepreneur is to make a lot of money and have a lot of fun.” – Felix Dennis

“People will surprise themselves at how much money they can raise. There are a lot of vendors who are willing to take a risk on you, if you are totally up front with them and as long as they don’t risk too much. That’s the way I did it. “- Felix Dennis

On this week’s edition of Black Enterprise Business Report, we feature Bishop T.D. Jakes, pastor and CEO of The Potter’s House and TDJ Enterprises, respectfully. Our Wealth for Life focuses on “Love, Marriage, and Money” with Dawn Brown, Senior Financial Advisor for Altfest. The Entrepreneur of the Week segment features a mother-daughter team, owners of the Harlem-based bakery, Make My Cake. Plus, the Luxe Life shows you how to have a glamorous wedding on a tight budget.

I think about how easy it can be to talk or tweet reckless. Jokes are jokes, but if being a comedian isn’t your strong suit, and it won’t get you a check, who do it. I think talking or tweeting reckless to a certain degree makes you sound more ignorant, less business like. Like my Uncle used to say, “Comedian’s out of work and y’all trying to be funny.”

That being blogged…I know for a fact that God gave me One Mouth and Two Ears, so I listen more than I speak, which gives me leverage. I never miss an opportunity to brand myself or speak my mind, but I think before I speak so I can get my message across and protect my brand at the same time. I’m learning …and it all takes SELF DISCIPLINE !

*I also merge the wisdom of Jerry Weintraub and others, Jerry of course …says “When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead ” and you should read his book to understand why.

VIA Joel’s Blog

A while back, I read about this door-to-door salesman who was selling vacuum cleaners. He arrived at this one particular house, and a young man came to the door. The salesman could tell the young man wasn’t feeling up to par, but he gave him his sales pitch anyway. Finally, the young man said, “Listen, I don’t need a vacuum cleaner, what I need is a kidney. I’m waiting for a transplant.” He went on to explain that there were about 500 people on the transplant list in front of him. The salesman said, “I understand” and packed up his kit and started on his way. However, before he drove off, something down inside him said, “You were sent here for a reason. Not to sell a vacuum cleaner, but to give this young man a kidney.” The salesman immediately called his wife and then his father and told them what happened. They both agreed, and so the salesman went back to the door and said, “Let’s go see your doctor. I want to donate a kidney to you.” Wouldn’t you know it, they were a perfect match. Several weeks later, they had the transplant operation. Today, both men are as strong and healthy as can be.

I want to encourage you today because God knows what you need, and He knows how to get it to you. You may not see how it can all happen, but God can. He can make a way out of no way. Remember, He has you in the palm of His hand. He knows every need. He knows every struggle. He knows every dream and every desire in your heart, and He has a plan to bring it to pass. He’s a supernatural God. Choose to put your faith and trust in Him today because He is working behind the scenes to lead you into victory in every area of your life.

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19, NIV).

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“Dear friends,

Register today for this groundbreaking event.”

Avi Lewis talks to Cornel West, professor of African American Studies at Princeton, hip hop artist, and one of the most controversial academics in the US about the state of democracy for African-Americans in the US today, US foreign policy, global recession, and his dispute with Lawrence Summers