Rockport will be releasing the Limited Edition Morgan Coast boat shoe on Thursday, March 1st via their site (www.rockport.com).

Since the original Morgan Coast shoe from the brand released in 1994, as the official boat shoe of the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race (later known as the Volvo Ocean Race), the new limited edition release places the focal scope on Rockport’s rich sailing history. Equipped with two colorways (white and navy), the Morgan Coast shoe includes many design cues and distinctive features that can be found on traditional sailing boats:

° Oversized grommets at the sides, with reinforced rubber gaskets

° Zig zag stitching on the upper, reminscent of stitching found on actual sails

° Shoe laces that replicate the look of nautical rope

° Ingenious hardware at the collar of the shoes which mimic pulley systems used in sailing

Each of the special shoe will be individually numbered (from 1 to 200) and will be packaged in shoe bags made of sailcloth and canvas. Expect to drop $200.00 on the pair when they arrive March 1st.

Young Money/Cash Money soldier, Tyga’s sophomore LP Careless World: Rise of the Last King, officially hit stores yesterday (February 20). Despite reports that it was recalled due to an uncleared sample, everything has since been taken care. The XL rated disc features super star appearances from Nas, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Wale, Chris Brown, Robin Thicke, J. Cole and much, much more. The question is, will the popularity of his hit, “Rack City,” his YMCMB affiliation and the LP’s all-star lineup translate into sales? The XXL staff weighs in with their first-week sales projections. Stay tuned to XXLMag.com next Wednesday (February 29) for the official Nielsen SoundScan results.—XXL Staff (@XXLStaff)

Jesse Gissen – 75,000

Carl Chery – 60,000

Ralph Bristout – 89,000

Mark Lelinwalla – 70,000

Samtubia Edwards – 40,000

Jayson Rodriguez – 64,000

Adam Fleischer – 63,000

Add to the conversation with your own projections in the comments section.

“I made both of those beats [Tuesday], and they recorded yesterday,” Sledgren revealed to XXLMag.com. “I made ‘em in my hotel and we came straight [to the studio].”

He also understood that the sound wasn’t something that people necessarily expected from him, but the Pittsburgh native was happy about that. “People know me for a lot of samples and stuff, so I’ve been going for a sound that isn’t a sample, and I try to change my drums up,” he said. “I’m just trying to do different shit. When I was coming up, I used to watch producers that were tight, and I liked the ones that I couldn’t define their sound. It was never easy to make a Timbaland beat or something like that. I just feel like a lot of other producers, it’s kind of easy to mimc them, and I want to be one step ahead. If Wiz wouldn’t have said [on Twitter that] I made that beat, people probably wouldn’t have guessed it.”

This is only the beginning of new Taylor Gang music, the 2011 XXL Freshman producer pick reminded. “Taylor Allderdice is finished. We’re just waiting on that. That’s the big project right now. We’re tucking things for the album as we go along. There are actually things that were supposed to go on the album that’s going on to the mixtape. Shit’s definitely gonna be tight. I’m not sure of a release date for it.”

The Pittsburgh native also said that, like with Wiz’s breakout release, Kush & Orange Juice, he and Cardo will handle much of the production. “There’s not that many songs on there,” he continued. “I did kind of what I did for Kush & Orange Juice. But I think there might be one more song that’s on there. It’s like three songs, I believe, that I did. There’s like three that Cardo did, and that’s like over 50 percent of the production, is me and Cardo. It’s not a part two [to Kush & Orange Juice], but these things never stop. It’s just a continuation of that.”

“Wiz’s album, when he was going in, I had total block,” Sledgro admitted. “I’m not even gonna lie. I wasn’t submitting stuff. He was like, You ready for me? And I just didn’t have what I felt I was supposed to give to him.”

Now, though, they’ve got plenty of stuff in the stash. “Me and Wiz have probably about 20 tracks that aren’t out that are new. I just want the world to hear that right now.” —Adam Fleischer

It looks like The Standard, Common and Q-Tip’s super group, might have gotten a new all-star member.

In today’s edition of New York’s Daily News, it was revealed that the duo are interested in adding another MC to the crew and while it has not been confirmed yet, collaborator of both living legends, Nas, is most definitely interested.

Q-Tip was instrumental to Nas’s success at the beginning of his career, producing “One Love”—the fourth single off the Nasty MC’s seminal debut LP, Illmatic— and “The World is Yours (Remix).” Nasir also produced the A Tribe Called Quest documentary, Beats Rhymes and Life. Meanwhile, Com and God’s Son recently recorded “Ghetto Dreams” for the Chicago native’s last album, The Dreamer, The Believer. They’ve also both appeared on Hi-Tek’s “Music for Life” and Jadakiss’s “Why (Remix).”

Although The Standard formed in 2007, they have yet to put out any music, instead focusing on their solo material.

Com has been promoting his last record, while both Q-Tip and Nas are steady at work on their next discs.

Stay tuned to XXLMag.com as this story develops.—Jesse Gissen (@JesseXXL)

As if designing Aston Martin cars, painting and collecting fine art and partnering on a new sneaker line with Reebok wasn’t enough, Swizz Beatz continues to expand his horizons.

The superproducer was recently in South Korea, where he announced his ambition to help bring Korean pop artists or K-Pop artists to the United States.

“I found that Korean Pop Music is a new expression and the world is open to new things,” Swizzy announced during a press conference in South Korea. “And I think that right now K-Pop in Korea is leading in that area. I would love to be that one to introduce it to the West.

“The biggest thing about K-Pop is how much its elevated to the next level,” he continued. “Geniuses like Kanye West and others that are smart enough to work with K-Pop groups understand that music is universal. I believe in leadership and setting the pace. I like to be the first.”

While K-Pop groups like the Wonder Girls and Girls Generation have already begun crossing over into America, Swizzy hopes that he can help usher in more Korean acts.

Last summer, Swizzy expressed the feeling that working with Reebok puts him in elite company.

“I want y’all to understand the movement and opportunity that we all have,” he said during a Reebok party in midtown Manhattan, New York. “Reebok is definitely back. I am happy to be the creative director globally that puts me up there with the Marc Jacobs and Karl Lagerfelds. To have that position coming from the South Bronx…I tell everyone that the sky is not the limit, it’s just the view.“ —Jakinder Singh

Also Check: “Glimmer”

And: “The People”

Name: Young Gliss

Age: 23

Reppin’: Philadelphia

My standout records and/or moments have been: My record Glimmer and working with hip-hop legends such as Dice Raw, The Roots, Prodigy and Killer Mike.

My style and/or skills have been compared to: I like to consider my style my own, but I’m influenced by artist I grew up listening to such as Lupe, Jay-Z and Nas. That’s also the same artist I have been compared to.

I’m gonna change the game by: Bringing music back to originality and staying true to myself and being myself.

My goal in hip-hop is: To be the king, but I guess that’s what everyone wants. On another note, I just want my whole team to be on and my family to be straight. Hopefully in your top five list, when everything is said and done.

I’d Like to Work With: If I can make it happen, I would feature Kid Cudi on a hook and a guess verse with Wiz Khalifa.

I’m gonna be the next: Hip-hop legend

To check out more of my music go to: youtube.com/YoungGlissTV and @YoungGliss where I post my music.

Lil B releases the new video for the title track off of his upcoming mixtape God’s Father, and it’s his typical one-on-one with the camera, though he seems to be trying to step up his lyrics a bit.

A day after being featured on XXLMag.com’s The Break, Logic returns with this new video for his track “The Spotlight,” off of the Maryland native’s upcoming mixtape.

Peep the tracklisting below:

Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def) – Niggas in Poorest from Highsnobiety on Vimeo.

Yasiin Bey provides a new video to his recent release “Niggas in Poorest,” the first bars he released since changing his alias from Mos Def.

For his “Shot Caller (Remix),” French Montana got an assist from the two executive producers of his upcoming debut album, as Diddy and Rick Ross joined the party, and now the three unite for this new video.