After flirting with mainstream success with Trinity, Slum Village's newest hit just might earn them a date with stardom. Between promotional stops in Virginia, group member Elzhi spoke on working with Kanye West, former band mate Baatin and the new album.

Since losing founding member J Dilla prior to recording Trinity, Slum Village responded by releasing their biggest hit, "Tainted." Now trimmed to a duo since Baatin's departure, the Detroit collective is scoring big once again with the Kanye West-assisted "Selfish."
"We was blessed to get him before he even went platinum. I just look at that song as a blessing 'cause the label was trying to get him to give us a 'Stand Up,' like Ludacris or something," Elzhi told SOHH.com via phone. "But he was like, nah. I'm about to give ya'll SV and it just worked out well."

According to both parties, Slum Village and Baatin parted ways early last year. In an exclusive interview conducted last fall, Baatin told SOHH.com that he suffered from schizophrenia and that he received a letter of termination signed by T3 and Elzhi shortly after recovering from a coma.

"If you remember his verse off 'Tainted,' he's going through that same exact thing he spoke of on 'Tainted." Just letting the business get to him, let them alter the way he think. He's getting better now. We've been praying for him. Hopefully, on this newer, newer album, after Detroit Deli you'll hear more Baatin," Elzhi revealed.

Elzhi further discloses the struggle Baatin faced between the allure of the streets and his bandmates.

"We didn't really kick him out. He left himself. He was like, them ni99as in the streets got more love for me than ya'll do up in here. And I was like, how you gon say that, man them dudes out in the streets are just content that you're throwing your money around and buying them little champagne and buying them little drinks at the bar. Don't want to tell you to slow down when you drinking heavy and wasn't there when cats tried to give you a talk. I done had many talks to tell him to slow down. I got crazy love for Baatin and I still kick it with him though. But ya'll just got to understand that it's not the same guy ya'll knew from Volume 1."

During the previous interview, Baatin also stated he didn't feel respected by his former band mates and that Elzhi went as far as dissin him while the trio was onstage together.

"I got too much respect for Slum Village," Elzhi said in response to Baatin's allegations. "Baatin embraced me so I would never bite the hand that extended out to me. He just thought everybody was against him. That was part of his illness."

Drama aside, SV is back on track and scheduled to tour with D12 and Bone Crusher this summer. As far as music, Elzhi is confident that their latest LP is also their most focused work to date.

"The album, Detroit Deli we're basically giving everybody a taste of what Detroit is about. We felt like it's never been represented like that and that's no disrespect to groups like D12, Eminem and Royce The 5'9" because they're doing their thing too, but we're just kind of coming from a different angle," Elzhi explained. "Detroit is made up of different musical genres. You got the Motown sound and you got the Techno capital as well as grimy and gritty like Esham. We're just coming from the Motown side of things, but we representing the people that you see in the streets. There you have it."

Slum Village's Detroit Deli featuring guest appearances from Kanye West, ODB, Dwele, J Dilla and MC Breed hits stores on June 29.

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Redman and adult film star Sinnamon Love will grace the cover of the second issue of urban adult magazine, Fish 'N' Grits'.

Red's partner Method Man was featured on the publication's premiere issue, which also included articles with Kanye West, Too Short and The Clipse. This time, Twista, Avant, E40 and Youngbloodz share their sex tales.

"Our magazine is upscale and urban," Camille Burgos, co-publisher of Fish 'N' Grits said in a statement. "Magazines for men generate top sales in today's marketplace. But no one is able to offer what we offer. Either they don't showcase women of color on a regular basis, or they tease you with partial nudity. 'Fish 'N' Grits' is able to bring it to you full and up front and no holds barred. Music and sex have always been kissing cousins and Fish 'N' Grits expounds upon that truth!"

Fish 'N' Grits' second issue featuring Redman on the cover is on newsstands now
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50 Cent is sponsoring Days of Thunder driver Steve Hobday for an upcoming race in U.K's Rockingham venue.

50's car will be competing against Europe's fastest drivers for the battle of the bands. The event will also include a performance by 50, G-Unit and U. K's top DJ, DJ Tim Westwood. The performance will mark 50's only outdoor appearance for the summer.

"This is fantastic news," Steve Hobday said in a statement. "The whole team are really excited about running with 50 Cent on the car. 50 is a big fan of NASCAR and this style of racing and I'm sure we'll give him something to cheer about before he goes out on the Rockingham stage. Perhaps he'll even write a rap about us!"

50 Cent and G-Unit's Rockingham performance takes place on June 6th.