After helping launch the Originals 2011 Adidas Boot Collection, Kendrick Lamar headlined a showcase of young rising stars call Respect the West.  Each of the featured artists is making a fair share of noise in the industry and simultaneously playing a huge part in West Coast Hip-Hop's' resurgence.

The showcase originated two years ago at the SXSW Musicfest in Austin, Texas, via Adidas Originals & the Cashmere Agency.  Since its creation, the showcase has grown exponentially and played host to the likes of: MURS, Warren G, DJ Quik, Tha Dogg Pound, Mistah F.A.B. and Snoop Dogg, as well as up and comers Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Pac Div.  

In addition to this showcase, several of these young artists are currently candidates for XXL's 2012 Freshmen Class, which is a testament to their hard work and dedication.   Here's a video recap of this year's showcase.

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Snoop Dogg is continuing his branding stampede pairing with Adidas to release a new sneaker.  Snoop rocked a pair at his "Purp & Yellow" video shoot and told DJ Skee, "They coming out real soon for NBA All-Star weekend. Be sure to get you a pair of them."

Snoop is very familiar with using his name and likeness to sell products, the Long Beach native released a shoe line with Pony in 2005 called Doggy Biscuitz and partnered with TomTom a few years ago lending his smooth vocals and slang to their GPS system for automobiles.

Sneakerfiles.com posted pics of the black, purple and yellow footwear, they will be available on February 11th.

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The shoe brand pulled out of the deal after Marcus refused to wear Adidas shoes like the rest of his teammates. Marcus contends that he only wears Air Jordans because they hold “special meaning” to his family.

Adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso told the Associated Press,

"The University of Central Florida has chosen not to deliver on their contractual commitment to Adidas. As a result we have chosen not to continue our relationship with them moving forward."

Adidas also refutes any future sponsorship with the team.

The school was in the final year of their five-year contract with the company that requires coaches and athletes to wear the brand exclusively.

How selfish! Why couldn't he have just worn the shoes on the court and put on the Jordans later?

Finally, with all the Def Jam projects floating around the legendary label will release what it is known for- music. On October 6th Def Jam will release a deluxe 5-CD crate called DEF JAM 25 ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION. 

Imagine that, 60 tracks spread out over 5 discs in chronological order from the opener of CD One, LL Cool J's “I Need a Beat” (the first record with a Def Jam catalog number, in 1984) to the final track of CD Five, Young Jeezy's #1 single of 2008, “Put On.” 

The collection includes the label's R&B hits as well from LL Cool J and Slick Rick to Rihanna and Kanye West, from Public Enemy and 3rd Bass to Ludacris, Redman and Rick Ross, from Jay-Z to Young Jeezy, Ne-Yo, the Roots, and dozens more.

DEF JAM 25 ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION will also include a 59-page full-color book that features a historic 8,000-word liner notes essay and in-depth track-by-track annotations written by Bill Adler, who served as Publicity Director for Rush Artist Management/Def Jam Recordings from 1984 to 1990.

Mary J Blige and Method Man on stage at the 2009 VH1 Hip Hop Honors at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on September 23, 2009 in New York City.

Next week the star studded VH1 Hip Hop Honors 2009: Def Jam Tribute will air on VH1.

Later on this month, XXL Magazine's November issue commemorate the history of the house that Russell built with an exclusive cover featuring a select group of Def Jam's past and present stars by legendary hip-hop photographer Jonathan Mannion.

What more could a label want? And what more could a Def Jam fan want? We have the tracklisting right here for you.

DEF JAM 25 ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION
           
            CD One, 1984-1989 – Selections: 1. “I Need a Beat” – LL Cool J (1984) * 2. “It's the Beat” – The Hollis Crew (1985) * 3. “Paul Revere” – Beastie Boys (1986) * 4. “The Rain” – Oran “Juice” Jones (1986) * 5. “Sardines” – The Junkyard Band (1986) * 6. “Brass Monkey” – Beastie Boys (1987) * 7. “It's Yours” – T. LaRock and Jazzy Jay (1984) * 8. “I Need Love” – LL Cool J (1987) * 9. “Children's Story” – Slick Rick (1989) * 10. “The Gas Face” – 3rd Bass (1989) * 11. “Fight the Power” – Public Enemy (1989).
 
            CD Two, 1990-1994 – Selections: 1. “Mama Said Knock You Out” – LL Cool J (1991) * 2. “Golddigger” – EPMD (1990) * 3. “Pop Goes the Weasel”- 3rd Bass (1991) * 4. “Daddy's Little Girl” – Nikki D (1991) * 5. “Room to Breathe” – Downtown Science (1991) * 6. “Time 4 Sum Aksion” – Redman (1992) * 7. “Slam” – Onyx (1993) * 8. “Deeper” – Boss (1993) * 9.  “Getto Jam” – Domino (1993) * 10. “Bring the Pain” – Method Man (1994) * 11. “Hip Hop Junkies” – Nice & Smooth (1991) * 12. “Regulate” – Warren G (1994).
 
            CD Three, 1995-2000 – Selections: 1. “This is How We Do It” – Montell Jordan (1995) * 2. “Stand Up” – Ludacris (1999) * 3. “Holla Holla” – Ja Rule (1999) * 4. “Touch Me, Tease Me” – Case (1996) * 5. “I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By (Puff Daddy Mixx)” – Method Man featuring Mary J. Blige (1995) * 6. “Get Me Home” – Foxy (1997) * 7. “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” – Jay-Z (1998) * 8. “Get At Me Dog” – DMX featuring Sheek Louch (1998) * 9. “Doin' It” – LL Cool J (1996) * 10. “Da Rockwilder” – Method Man & Redman (2000) * 11. “Party Up (Up In Here)” – DMX (1999) * 12. “Tell ‘em” – Erick Sermon featuring Keith Murray and Rosalyn (1995).
 
            CD Four, 2000-2004 – Selections: 1. “99 Problems” – Jay-Z (2004) * 2. “Thong Song” – Sisqo (2000) * 3. “Just Friends (Sunny)” – Musiq Soulchild (2000) * 4. “Put It On Me” – Ja Rule featuring Vita (2001) * 5. “Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses)” – Memphis Bleek (2000) * 6. “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” – Jay-Z (2001) * 7. “The Truth” – Beanie Sigel (2000) * 8. “Oh Boy” – Cam'ron featuring Juelz Santana (2002) * 9. “Guess Who's Back” – Scarface featuring Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel (2002) * 10. “What We Do” – Freeway featuring Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel (2003) * 11. “Southern Hospitality” – Ludacris featuring Pharrell Williams (2000) * 12. “Jesus Walks” – Kanye West (2004).
 
            CD Five, 2005-2008 – Selections: 1. “Gold Digger” – Kanye West (2005) * 2. “And Then What” – Young Jeezy featuring Mannie Fresh (2005) * 3. “There It Go (Whistle Song)” – Juelz Santana (2005) * 4. “Hustlin'” – Rick Ross (2006) * 5. “Back Like That” – Ghostface featuring Ne-Yo (2006) * 6. “So Sick” – Ne-Yo (2006) * 7. “Hip-Hop is Dead” – Nas (2006) * 8. “Don't Feel Right” – The Roots (2006) * 9. “Umbrella” – Rihanna featuring Jay-Z (2007) * 10. “Make Me Better” – Fabolous featuring Ne-Yo (2007) * 11. “Shawty Is A Ten” – The- Dream featuring Fabolous (2007) * 12. “Put On” – Young Jeezy (2008).

On Wednesday, Sept. 23 VH1 had their Hip Hop Honors 2009 show which commemorated the 25th anniversary of Def Jam Records. Hosted by Tracy Morgan, the entire show was devoted to saluting the pioneering record label.

Hip Hop's house band, The Roots, opened the show with their version of LL Cool J's classic “Rock the Bells” with Eminem grabbing the second verse. Kid Rock performed LL's classic "I'm Bad" and even djed during the show, as did Ed Lover.

Public Enemy performed "Rebel Without a Pause" themselves because who else's voice could deliver those lines as well as Chuck D? You know Flav made a spectacle but the real show was the group's performance with Roots, S1W, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Boots Riley. Onyx did their hit "Slam" themselves too.

The teacher KRS-One and newcomers Wale and the Gym Class Heroes rocked "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" originally done by the Beastie Boys.

Rick Ross, Fabolous, Foxy "fresh off a s*x tape scandal" Brown, Redman, Method Man, Mary J. Blige, EPMD, Ghostface, Chrissette Michele, Warren G, Trey Songz, the newly reunited Ashanti and Ja Rule, Ludacris and DMX made appearances too. Also reuniting for the show was DMX and Ja Rule who talked to each other and even hugged.

Many of those who made appearance also came together for a closing medley of Def Jam hits with The Roots.

Sounds like everybody in the rap game was involved, but it wasn't. Guess who didn't make appearances? Last nights no shows included Jay-Z, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee LL Cool J, Beastie Boys (for obvious reasons) and Rihanna.

Also commemorating Def Jam's anniversary this year is iconic sneaker brand Adidas. Check out some of the Def Jam inspired gear they came up with when they teamed up with Redman here.

VH1 Hip Hop Honors 2009 airs on VH1 on October 13.

The Felix Organization is focused on providing opportunities and life-changing experiences to foster children. DMC co-founded the organization with casting director, Sheila Jaffe. Over 300 foster children have benefited from the organization and been sent to the organization's summer camp, Camp Felix in Putnam, Valley New York.