Finally got a new camera! With New Year's only 24 hours away... it's a time for change"Never Not Working"

Some tools of the trade

 

This album cover has been floating around the net...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Air Jordan V x Air Force One... Dope or Wack?

 

 

WHY ASIANS WILL NEVER MAKE IT Well, not never, but almost certainly will take another generation before us Asians in general will ever see light in the music industry. Many of us speak in length of how Asians are scarce in the industry, however, we exist in many ways behind the scenes.  People of more power, prominence and respect earn a position ahead of where I and many of us stand today.  And so far, we lack leadership from those who count. Leadership under the example of Martin Luther King and what he was to the African-Americans is an over-statement.  But leaders of many who can pull strings together to help bring us all along, not necessarily to the top, but as close or even just the stepping stone to the border of mainstream success is that 'push' that we thirst on. Those who've already clinched principal success and their road towards it is monumental.  They were the generations who came long before our acceptance in society.  Their struggle and strength to overcome adversity is creditable to even where we are able to stand today.  However, their excessive amount of struggle in the past dictate that our generation 'have it too easy' or want us to earn through the 'amount of hard work and hustle we went through'.  The tough love instinct is exactly what I will pass down myself, but to my kids.  This is a grown man's game we're dealing with and across the nation many Asian artists constantly grind while lacking the channels to take their music to the next level.  And those who hold the keys to those pathways appear to have lost the definition of a pioneer. A pioneer is someone understood as the one who opens doors to his land or field he has discovered & earned.  Who worked hard not just for the sake of his people but so their coming generations were able to carry the torch.  The reluctance of a help me-help you attitude will prolong the success of Asian Americans for as long as they come.  Everybody's rush for their own fame and sole attention of a small race in America isn't going to bring anybody dominance and respect if they dont have their own people looking up to them. I voice my concerns in the unity of our ethnicity.  For those who protect their accountability by urging themselves to blend into the white American society.  Those who fear to step up and take charge of a movement.  I'd die for their power as I will work until my demise to have generations after me not struggle as we did in the music industry.  Not for money but for mainstream acceptance and credibility.  But until I get there, I feel no more of a remorse to those who are already there.  Not a challege, but just a response to the truth of the matter. Otherwise, we have no choice but to create our own genre as Latinos did with reggaeton & African Americans with hip hop.  But are we capable for such breakthrough?  Can 5% of a population create such following?  The question remains.

Kyu "Kwik" Kim is currently the CEO of Brother's Keeper Ent, whose premier artist is Chi-town own's Rook.

                        www.rookadamus.com

 

                                                     "Dumb Rappers Need Teaching"

                   My dudes Defame and Tegano of the WRONG CROWD

 

                                             Wrong Crowd Ciphers

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LMt1fG21x9I  Defame Featuring SEAN PRICE

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UvIaSIJK1aM Defame Featuring SAIGON

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FONYpnO-d68 Tegano Featuring JOELL ORTIZ & Tony Sunshine

For More peep http://youtube.com/wrongcrowddvd ( Shyheim, Jin, Boot Camp, more)

 

Prodigy Announces the Release of New Solo Album Titled

 

H.N.I.C. Part 2 on Voxonic Music.

 

 

Album to be released in multiple languages using Voxonic's 'Voice Conversion' technology

 

NEW YORK (December 25, 2007) - Prodigy, one half of the hip-hop's legendary platinum selling duo, Mobb Deep, announced the domestic release of his second solo album, H.N.I.C. Part 2, to be released world-wide on Voxonic Music in partnership with AAO Music/Reality in March 2008. The announcement comes at a bittersweet time as Prodigy is preparing to start serving a 3 ½ year bid which begins early January 2008.

 

"Throughout my life, I have always lived through adversity.  I'm a survivor. You don't understand the mental power that I have." While I'm locked up, I'm going to be writing lyrics, working on the script for my second feature film, Dope, and finish writing an autobiography of my life which will be finished by the time I'm released.  My mind is going to be focused and I'll have time to think and map out my entire plan. The experience will make me a tougher, stronger person.  I'm gonna work on getting out faster, so I can get back to doing what I do best.  When I get home, it's gonna be on!"

 

The new album released by Voxonic Music will be Prodigy's second official solo album.  H.N.I.C. Part 2 returns "P" to the more edgy real life street tales that have been Mobb Deep's signature for nearly a decade.   Alchemist and Havoc will produce a bulk of the album along with several other hot up-n-coming producers. 

 

For the first time ever, hip-hop fans around the world will get to soak in the provocative thoughts of Prodigy, one of hip-hop's most prolific lyricists. Through the Voxonic technology, fans in other countries will be able to hear Prodigy's H.N.I.C. Part 2 in his own voice converted with 99% accuracy into different languages including Spanish, French, and German. Voxonic Music, the recording home of international reggae star, Ky-Mani Marley, has trademarked an exciting new technology.   "I'll be the first hip hop artist to release a record that's converted into foreign languages using the Voxonic voice conversion technology. The technology they use is a great opportunity for me to keep supplying my fans around the world with music to hold them down while I'm away," states Prodigy. "I want to thank Fred and Arie Deutsch of Voxonic for believing in me and recognizing the wide appeal my music carries."  Arie Deutsch, President of Voxonic Music and Voxonic, Inc. states "Voxonic is excited to work with an artist the caliber of Prodigy.  Our technology will allow Prodigy to market himself with unconventional methods no other hip-hop star is currently using.  H.N.I.C. Part 2 will be a great way to demonstrate the international influence of Hip Hop and how Voxonic's technology can help bridge the communication gap for artists and their fans."

VOXONIC MUSIC & AAO Music /Reality will embark on an aggressive online and grassroots campaign to promote the project. "AAO Music is known for our creative and unique marketing campaigns," states Peter Kuys, Chairman of AAO Music.   Kuys further says "We welcome the opportunity to work with Prodigy and challenge the traditional marketing ideas."

 

A unique web site has been created at www.hnic2.com through which Prodigy will be able to blog with fans using the Voxonic technology.  A world premiere of the controversial video for the first single, "ABC," can be viewed online at www.hnic2.com along with an exclusive interview with New York HOT 97 Radio personality, Angie Martinez.  In this insightful interview Prodigy reveals his thoughts about the recent conviction and his impending sentence. 

To view visit  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR2FQ5PaAe4.

.  During a studio session in Queens, Tony Sunshine took a minute out to talk about his relationship with Terror Squad, a new deal, and who the nicest emcees are ~?Biggie, Jay-z, Nas?~. Nope, “He’s refreshing to the ear right now. There ain’t really that many nice emcees out there. To me his in a lane by himself. I ain’t have a favortite rapper after Pun died. Right now Joell Ortiz is my favorite rapper”, declared Tony Sunshine. Keeping his presence known via Terror Squad’s last full length album True Story and a barrage of mixtape songs and remixes, Tony has been busy negotiating yet another deal for his next solo release,“I stay in the studio, constantly doing shows everywhere, and just being productive. I’m on my 7th major record deal. I’m currently on TVT working on my next solo project”. ~ Tony Sunshine.To dead all the TS beef rumors; “ I’m always gonna be Terror Squad, I’m not a Terror Squad member because I was found on the corner trying to spit for Joe or Pun. We come from the same neighborhood, grew up together. Terror Squad is more then just a label to me, it’s more then just Fat Joe, Big Pun, Tony Sunshine…whoever” - Tony on what Terror Squad represents. Connected through more then just music and holding on to a loyalty that seldom lasts in today’s rap game there are still some wounds that may never truly heal, when asked about Cuban Link, Tony Sunshine quickly replied with five simple words, “ I don’t fuck with him”. Riding on the theory that “one monkey don’t stop the show” the rest of the TS members are still holding down the mission set out by Big Pun (RIP), “ Me and Joe are great, that’s my brother, man. A lot of people tend to thrown shit on the game… if you don’t live it , don’t speak on it because you don’t know what’s going on.” ~ Tony Sunshine. Another constant barbershop topic has been Remy Ma’s status in Terror Squad, but whatever case no static exists between the two, “ Rem is love, I don’t have any problems with nobody. I just think that people need to keep family business – family business and stop trying to market your self on the “he say, she say bullshit”. There’s no argument there - even the artists today are busy talking shit about each other on mixtapes, radio, internet clips and the ever so popular hood Dvds.

The thought of being signed to a major label as just another tax write-off may sound like a myth but numbers don’t lie. If your 1st single doesn’t get those BDS spins, I’m sorry the label isn’t going to put up the money and effort for your first album. T. Sunshine offered some food for thought, “These labels sign you because they think you’re Dope. For me it’s always been - “They think my music is incredible, but at the end of the day they look at me like “ How we gonna market him, he’s latino” theres never been a really credible Latino bad boy R&B singer so to speak.” True story, Latino singers like Marc Anthony and J-Lo have experience phenomenal success but their ghetto passes have always been in Jeporady. Tony Sunshine is the singer who can be heard being blasted through Panasonics in the park and in the bedroom after dark. Forget the weather report Tony’s Sunshing all summer long ,“I got a mixtape comin out, I got real artists like Jae Millz, Maino, and Papoose is getting ready to jump on a track. Coming real soon!!!” ~ Tony Sunshine.

It’s no secret that that our government is doing everything they can to fight terrorism, even going as far as to raiding the homes of suspected “terrorists” and forcing them to days of agonizing interrogation. Most emcees wouldn’t even fathom the idea of talking like a terrorist; The Hip-Hop Cops are enough to worry about. But in order to stand out in the over-populated race to Hip-Hop stardom you have to come with something that the next man’s not, “Some people got it, some people don’t. I got it. I’m bringing raw lyricism back to the game”- explains Singapore Kane. Don’t worry about the science behind his name just yet. Picture Me Rollin; Preemo is telling you to come up to NYC every weekend to be on his Sirius Satellite program and fans from Beantown to Bolivia are saying “you next to blow”. Sounds like a dream, but for one young man out of a small hood in Boston, it’s a true story. “I think it’s definitely harder for a Boston cat to get on, but I’m here to change all of that. At the same time I still in live in Boston, and come up to NYC on a weekly basis to push my music, but a full time move, we’ll see…”, - Singapore Kane.

Growing up around Gangstarr affiliate, Big Shug, showed Singa that the interstate-connection between the Bean and the Rotten Apple could be formed through a Militia, “Big Shug is from my hood in Boston. We’re from Mattapan, aka Murda-Pan. He’s one of the veterans, Big ups to Shug. That’s the roots right there. He took me under his wing, brought me up to New York and introduced me to people. We formed a bond, and he basically put me on, that’s my man. – says Singapore. After being featured on Big Shug’s critically acclaimed LP, Who’s Hard?, Singapore hit the mixtape circuit releasing his own full-length mix cds through his own company, “Militant Music group is basically a company that I founded so I could put out my releases when I wanted to. Being a cat from Boston there’s a few independent labels that’ll fuck with us, but there was really no outlet for me to put music that I felt was hot, so I started my own.” – explains Singapore.

An abundance of guest appearances such as a stand out verse off The Devil’s Rejects’s 06’ release Necronomicon have built Singa’s repertoire. The album was featured in The Source, XXL, and Hip-Hopdx.com and stayed on the independent charts for months. Singapore wasted no time and treated fans to a 2^nd mixtape this year titled Terrorist Talk and formed a joint venture with Dynasty Muzik. Not concerned with the controversial name and backlash it may receive, he believes it’s the art that’s most important, “Just express it from the heart that’s what really counts. Anybody can create image and dress you up, make you look a certain way. But when you come from the heart- that’s genuine. – Singapore. You can check for Singapore on Sirius Satellite radio with DJ Premier, Friday nights at 12am – 2 am. Not to mention, a Preemo-produced banger with Termanology that should be terrorizing the streets at any moment. Singapore is one of the few up-coming emcees only concerned with bringing the truth and integrity back in the art of rhyming, “You should definitely put some of your experiences into your art. Personally, I write lyrics off my life and close people around me. It’s all real, I got dudes in prisons that’s like you gotta tell my story, speak for me!! I definitely speak from a reality point of view, my shit is based on life facts but I’m an artist too.” – Singapore Kane

www.singaporekane.net

 www.mmgsite.com

By Mikey Fresh

www.myspace.com/Singaporekane

www.myspace.com/MMGSite

www.myspace.com/dynastymuzik

Print posted @ Wednesday, August 15, 2007 11:05 PM

During a brief break from a full press day in the UK, Pharoahe Monch dissects some joints off his long awaited album Desire. As told to Mikey Fresh.

 

“Free”

Free is a song that I did because subject-matter is straight up lacking in the music industry. I compare that to slavery and the record labels to plantations. Really, to break-down some of my woes with the system. This is a real heart-felt track and I felt like we needed a song like this.

 

“Welcome to the Terrordome”

Obviously, it a Public Enemy record that I re-did on the album. To try and tackle that song was crazy because I think Chuck D’s lyrics are still relevant to this day. I heard the beat and just started spittin’, and it just fit perfect. We sent the track to Chuck and he gave it the thumbs-up. Then I wrote the 2^nd verse because a lot of my fans are younger and there’s a whole generation that doesn’t know about the orginal, so I really wanted to get through to them. The record was produced by Sean C.

 
“What It Is”

This is a self-produced song and probably my favorite record off the album. It’s that classic Pharoahe, that internal affairs, 89’ stepper type of joint. Kind of spooky and errie, but I felt I really went in on it. Lyrically, I think it’s definitely the best off the album. I’m not saying to much content-wise, but for some of my fans this is why they fell in love with Pharoahe Monch, raw lyricism.

 

“Trilogy”

I think the fans are really going to feel this one. It’s almost ten minutes long and incorporates three different beats to tell one story of a relationship gone bad, produced by Mr. Porter and featuring Dwele on the vocals. I don’t want to give too much away on this one, but I know it’s going to a fan favorite.

Bucktown or Brooklyn; whatever name you chose doesn’t change the clout that this particular borough of New York City entails. Michael Jordan, Spike Lee, Biggie… Crooklyn flat out produces babies that in some shape or form will go on to make a long lasting impact upon the world. Thanks to MJ a whole subculture was birthed through his 1^st ever shoe with Nike, finally in 2007 the birthplace of the legend has a small boutique supplying with the hood with J’s in all different flavors and styles.”We definitely wanted to build ourselves as a brand and we took a big risk opening up around here. No one wanted to open up a sneaker boutique in East Flatbush, Church Avenue. The truth is the kids around this community wanted this type of product, and no one was giving it to them,” says Steve, marketing director for Wealthy Hostage in Brooklyn’s East Flatbush neighborhood.

Not limiting it's goods to just Jordans, Wealthy Hostage carries a full selection of clothing and sneakers from brands such as Greedy Genius, Crooks & Castles, and M.O.B for the ladies. Wealthy Hostage focuses on sharing and introducing new brands to local consumers, “We’re trying to educate our customers, keep them aware of the latest styles and really showing the kids around here that you can do anything you want. You just have to hard work and stay focused,” says Steve The very same kids no longer have to cross the water into Manhattan to get fresh. The focal point of Wealthy Hostage is too serve the community. A lifestyle that promotes creativity, individuality and no cookie cutter “norms”, “street wear” was just the name that they gave it, “For me, street culture is a whole art-form in itself. There’s no limitations, you can do whatever you feel is right,” Steve, Wealthy Hostage

 

Loyalty seems to be a thing of the past, right now any mixtape vendor in the city is carrying at a vast supply of “Cam’ron vs. Jim Jones”, Lil’ Wayne vs. Hot Boys”, “50 Cent vs. Game”, etc mixtapes. The notion that controversy and beef sells has been exploited by too many Hip-Hop artists. Let’s face it, the rap game is the new WWF. Only the phony wrestling has been replaced with trash talk about your opponent’s street creditability, baby’s mama, or whatever. The latest to fall victim to the hype is J-Hood and D-Block, more specifically the Lox. Those oblivious to one of the most consistent street camps out, D-Block’s formal members were Jadakiss, Styles P, Sheek Louch, and young gun J-Hood. Together the four Yonkers-bred emcees held down the mixtape circuit for the last 5 years. J-Hood was The Lox’s secret weapon, signed to D-Block when he was only sixteen; he impressed fans with his street-heavy metaphors and story-telling abilities.

For almost six years J-Hood has dedicated himself to D-Block releasing countless mixtapes and even going to war when the Lox found themselves going toe to toe with 50 Cent. However, with all the comradery that was depicted in their music and Dvd appearances, recently there has been a serious “falling out” between Hood and The Lox. He claims that that his label and management has failed to provide him with any real money and that he is a victim of empty promises. In a statement he personally released online J-hood stated, “I think I’ve been loyal since the beginning to the label and the individuals that run it. I have devoted six years of my life to making our movement prosper with no realistic reward or success, knowing my worth and what I’m capable of. If for any reason I happen to fail to accomplish what I intend to which is be successful, I feel more comfortable knowing it will be from a decision I made, and not one that was made by the next man.” Things have gotten worse since J-hood began releasing statements online, and turned ugly when a youtube video surfaced on the net’ of Hood dragging his D-Block block chain through the street. He went on to claim that Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch won’t sign his release papers, and have even threatened to request money for his freedom.

We often hear the phrase “do onto others what you want done to you”, if this is true to life, it is apparent that the Lox have learned nothing when they went through the exact same thing with Diddy almost 10 years ago. When the Lox went public about how Diddy was mistreating them both financially and professionally. The streets were flooded with “let the Lox Go” propaganda such as t-shirts, stickers, and a street team that ran amuck denouncing Diddy’s business practices. Eventually, the Lox’s contract was bought out by the Ruff Ryders, but it certainly was no easy ordeal. However, the Lox too have spoken out on the situation, have showed no empathy toward J-Hood, Styles told MTV , “I don't understand Hood though, because Hood came up to me before all the stuff on the Internet...He was unhappy. I got love for Hood. He came up under us, he was unhappy, his album wasn't out. So I was like, 'Cool, you want out, there's no fine. I'll go talk to the lawyers, no problem.' A week later, I see the Internet stuff, him dragging the D-Block chain. It's dumb.” The argument now is Hood going public with matters to attract attention to him or just trying to set the record straight?

 

 

 

 

 

The wise words spoken from America’s ghetto poets have been ostracized and blamed for polluting the minds of its listeners. Yet, the youth who take these poems as the soundtracks to their lives simply see no evil and speak no evil. Scarface is one of these poets, a ghetto boy that put Houston’s notorious 5^th Ward on the map. With well over 10 solo releases to date, Face has another chapter of the Rap-a-lot saga waiting to be released. Gathered up together in NYC’s infamous Quad Studios, a selected bunch was treated to a listening session of Scarface’s new album, Made Men.

After a short intro, the heavy bass of the 1st internet leaked single “Never” starts knocking through the speakers. Classis Face right here, I mean he still got it. Though the concept is nothing new, nobody can deny Face’s gangster. “Big Dog Status” is strictly about the bragging rights and Southern pride. The flaws though are a redundant hook repeating “Big Dog Status” and a weak verse from Wacko. The album keeps moving though and shows much improvement, track four serves us with the famous Lenny Williams sample, reincarnated as “Girl You Know”. Basically, Face breaks down how you keep a lady on the “side”. I like the track but, I’m not too crazy about the production on here, peep Mobb Deep’s “Home” and you be the judge. Fellow Rap-a-lot brethren , Z-Ro pops up the next track titled “Burn” which is another story about life in Houston’s 5^th Ward, Girl

Made Men continues to gain momentum with tracks like “Go” featuring up and coming artist Nina which is softer cut but very reminiscent of Face’s 90’s hot streak, “Boy Meets Girl” flexing his never ending arsenal of hood stories, and “Git Out My Face”. This track will kill any notions of Scarface getting soft in his age. Hip-Hop is the art and passion for a generation misunderstood by most of America. Sadly, the music has been exploited for financial and corporate gain. Made Men is an album that is a reminder of what real Hip-Hop stands for.

 

  It's the winter, so find someone to stay warm with....Hibernate love 'em hate 'em, cant live with out 'em

 

 

Whether you like it freshly squeezed or earned in the streets, your Juice represents who you are. For one Bronx native Juice was the inspiration for a life-long passion and the same career choice that Q was chasing before getting caught up. “More or less on the turntables I refer to myself as 31 flavors, I got something for everybody, always have, always will. I’m like a clash between a Kid Capri and the vocals of Funkflex’s on the radio,” says DJ NOE from a midtown Starbucks just a few blocks away from where he overseas a full-time Director of Security position and your favorite rapper goes to get some new jewelry. NOE, also an acronym for Nice On The Equipment is in charge of keeping Hip-Hop’s “go to guy” for bling, Jacob The Jeweler from harm’s way. A family-like bond with Jacob and his family has brokered relationships for NOE with cats like Busta Rhymes, Swizz Beats, and Nas, “once I got involved into the whole security role in Hip-Hop my character references just built themselves. Not only do I know how to DJ, but I know everything that goes on behind the scenes. I’m directly involved in every aspect of my career,” describes NOE.

 Playing his part in the formation of Unrated Entertainment which is run by Jacob’s newphew Michael Milman, NOE hasn’t relied on his connections for respect, “I did about 7 mixtapes already, I’m working on my next release which is gonna be titled The Lyfe coming out on Un-rated Records Produced by Alex Guarnera. I’m currently holding both DJ and A&R duties, we have our first artist that’s developing right now, Prosper.” ~ NOE The grind is just a daily routine for the kid, years of radio, DJ’ing, and promotional work have set the blueprint for what Unrated Ent.  is gearing up to release this year . The days of interning and working for free are over, “I did years of college radio at Dean College and Nickels college in Boston”, the success of Hip-Hop entrepreneurs comes from their ability to give the people what they want,“The whole radio thing from being a personality, picking my slots, and knowing the amount of actual music being played in an hour versus commercials introduced me to the grind work of the music buisness, but I love all music man, I even did a rock program for a few years.” says NOE.

 
In today’s climate line dancing and beats made from one loop have replaced the lyrics and boom bap sound that created New York Hip-Hop. NOE is definitely not one of those dudes who will let his city become a joke, “You gotta have your EQ and vocal game up to make it now. A lot of cats are now cut ,copy ,and past kind of DJs. Some of are famous for their voice some for their music, I want to be recognized for both of them,” ~ NOE The DJ is now being looked at by labels as artists, PR, street team, etc. Seeing this opening and recognizing flat-out that it’s “his time to shine”, NOE is ready take Unrated Entertainment from being locally respected to internationally accepted.

 

 

Community service and sneakers, the two may not seem a like a matching pair, but to any true sneakerhead serving your own neighborhood with the most exclusive and sought after kicks holds the same weight as helping seniors citizens and feeding the homeless. After only three years since the opening of one of Harlem’s most premiere sneaker boutiques, Goliath has become a staple in the uptown community. “ I started out as a collector, just for lack of a better word. I just liked a lot of different sneakers and I always wanted to open my own business so why not focus on something you love,” recalls Rosemary the creator and sole owner of Goliath. Complete with hosting barbecues and other community events, Goliath brings a certain style that was previously only found downtown, “Bottom line is that the people needed product that they couldn’t find uptown. I know a lot of the guys downtown and I respect them a lot, in matter of fact they were a source for a lot of my sneakers when I first opened Goliath,” says Rosemary

 
Standing tall in a predominately male dominated business, Rosemary has built from scratch a brand that is recognized worldwide as a representation of Harlem’s famed street fashion. “Their really into the sneaker and t-shirt culture and just as a whole the Japanese have always been drawn to Harlem and embraced its culture,” explains Rosemary on Goliath’s recent success in the overseas market. Believing that “competition is good because it stirs creativity” Goliath is establishing themselves as a brand that is strictly there to benefit their customers, “DJ Clark Kent, Ed Lover, Juelz, Jim Jones, and Jadakiss has been in a few times, but to me our local customers are the people that really support the store because they come in every week and hold us down. Our whole purpose is to serve the community,” says Rosemary.

 

What seems like only yesterday was the emergence of the Lone Star State Hip-Hop takeover, artists like Mike Jones, Paul Wall, and Slim Thug were thrown into the limelight and became the faces and names synonymous with Texas Hip-Hop. Blending in with his environment was one emcee who has been creeping through all the iced out grills, candy paint, and purple drank. Hakeem SerikI aka Chamillionaire posses the ability to adapt to Hip-Hop’s constant change of environment. Just like the animal that Chamillionaire’s named after, he has been able to disguise himself from his enemies and remain a house-hold name. His latest project is the Ultimate Victory, “I’m a little upset that it leaked early, but the response has been crazy. With the last album, I heard people saying “Chamillionare only got some songs“, and not a complete album. I wanted to show people that I can make a quality album, that was my goal with this project.”  ~ Chamillionaire.

 
The reality of this is that it has been over two years since “Mike Who?” and “tippin on 44’s” has been popping. The lack of substance and possible over indulgence of the “good life” may be factors in these young Texans ability to remain as competing players in the game; recently another member of the Screwed Up Click suffered a major heart attack, artist Big Moe is still in a coma. “You don’t know how people are going react to your music until they actually hear it”, says Chamillionaire while discussing the criticisms Hip-Hop purists have about southern rap music. Last year. Cham had the biggest single of his career and quite possibility of the whole summer, “For, “Riding Dirty”, it was just a jamming’ song. I wasn’t even thinking about a single when I made it. It didn’t have a “club’ beat or anything, we were rapping really fast on it. It didn’t follow radio-song formula“, says Chamillionaire. Following suite has never been his steez, the pressure that new artists are forced to deal with regarding album sales from their label is putting the balance between art and commerce into serious disarray. The blueprint that Port Authur, Texas Godfathers UGK set over a decade ago has been blatantly disrespected. Chamillionaire is one of the few that is still here and taking his career out of some corporate company’s pocket and into his own two, “There’s a lot of songs that I don’t want on my last album, I’m just being honest. The A&R’s, and execs. etc they really push you like “ you gotta make this kind of song and that kind”, but  with Ultimate Victory I didn’t have any of that.”, says Chamillionare.

 
Chamillionaire has played almost every position in this game. From the handing out concert flyers to being handed Grammys, Cham has put everything into making it to the top, but still the driving force in his life and career is his passion for the music, “I love doing my mixtapes. People were skeptical at first, but when I dropped the first Mixtape Messiah, the response from my fans was incredible. With my mixtapes, there’s nobody telling me how I gotta make my music. Everybody now is doing the same thing.  Wth the mixtapes, I’m always experimenting with different sounds, I hated hearing that the South wasn’t lyrical or creative, “says Chamillionaire The redundant sounds of today’s radio is leading the new generation to ringtone rapper hell, but the Mixtape Messiah is back to take us up to the pearly gates. With Hip-Hop’s current infatuation with guns and diamonds, it’s hard to decipher between whether someone is famous for their talent or rap sheet. “One single does not make you a star”, obviously all of us didn’t not take the Brand Nubian gem seriously. Cham on the other hand has an old-school flavored vibe when making his music, “I never try to make it a hit song , I just worry about making a jamming songs. That’s it, I don’t try to make one “ring tone record”, “one club song”, “one girl”. That’s how you get caught up making “formula music”, ~Chamillionaire The Ulitmate Victory may be a metaphor for Chamillionaire’s position in the game, or maybe just a declaration of far he has really come. To each his own, just understand this Chamillitary general has no plans showing his true colors just yet, “Right now, I’m my own biggest investment, so I’m going to continue to make music for as long as I can, but I don’t be a rapper forever. I am a businessman and my goal is to branch out. I never want to feel like I ‘m being outshined by my artists. I’m cool with playing the background and putting other people on. “ ~ Chamillionaire

 

 

 

 

I was recently blessed with the opportunity to talk with…well let’s just say a man that knows a little something about Hip-Hop and the major crisis that the city, “where it all started at”, is gowing through. With an overgrowing trend of simply unoriginal and ignorant “emcees” emerging from NYC, and I’m using the word “emcees” loosely, these imposters are giving the city a bad rap . Talking about the enormous amount of gats you own, shiny jewelry, and all the hoes you bag, does not make you an emcee. Both a veteran of the New York City music scene and spokesperson for the streets the emcee can introduce himself.

 

MF: Let everyone out there know who you are and what you’re about.

Blitz :The name is Blitz the Ambassador, born and raised in Ghana,West Africa, nah mean. Now residing in Brooklyn, New York, I am a MC, revolutionary activist to be real about it, you know. Been rhyming forever, man. I got two albums out already, the 3^rd one, Suicide Stereotype, is coming out this year. So be on the look out.

MF: Blitz, you have been doing shows around NYC for some time now, if I’m not mistaken?

Blitz: Yea, you know I been here in NYC for about 8 years now. I know the circuit pretty well. Also, though internationally places like Europe and Japan. I’m big on international Hip-Hop… internationally spreading the concept of Hip-Hop. I’m not your average NYC emcee man. I’m rocking in Ohio, rocking in Michigan, everywhere just trying to spread the word.

MF:: Why is it that fans overseas seem to appreciate the music and culture a lot more. Right now, I feel like everything is just about the money. The creativity…diversity… everything I should say is just gone. Everybody now is just following the next man.

Blitz :That’s the irony, even when I was growing up in Ghana, we had the idea that like…how can I put it; if you don’t have hip-hop 24/7, you’ll definitely pay more attention to it and focus in on what is really important, so the little that we got, we appreciated. Of course there’s always that commercial stuff coming in but from 1^st hand experience… from graf writing, b-boy’ing, Mc’ing, DJ’ing, beat boxing, all these elements are just something people overseas still really care about. We just have it here, where everywhere we look, from TV commercials to billboards, we see Hip-Hop.. It’s a business these days. I’ll be in Europe, I mean they don’t even speak the language but they understand the universal head nod, you know what I mean… its amazing. I love going to places where people appreciate our culture. I am definitely taking advantage of being able to travel the world and getting that old school energy, I think it will birth something totally new for Hip-Hop.

MF: That’s crazy man. I can imagine all the madness that happens when you’re in a city and you can’t even speak the language.

Blitz: I got so many stories…. LoL, from bus drivers taking us to the wrong cities because of the language barrier, foreign cops harassing us, and so on ,but I still love it. Everything in the name of Hip-Hop, these cats still man genuinely love the music, its like 95 all over again for overseas Hip-Hop heads.

MF:Who do you think is really doing it right now and making music with some substance?

Blitz: Well a lot of cats underground are still doing great music, we can go from the Madlibs, MF Dooms, J-Dilla – Rest in Peace. You name em’, One Below, Black Milk, we still have people that are making good, classic Hip-Hop. The Problem is the channels have been so disrupted that you really can’t get us all in one room. You can’t really get everything in one cake. You have to go searching for it, but who knows maybe it makes the fan appreciate the music more, I don’t know. I’m still a fan of Hip-Hop to the core, I’ve always known that good Hip-Hop was never really going to be super mainstream, maybe you have one or two that creep through like Common for example, a really good emcee that has commercial success and it’s pathetic. Lupe hasn’t even gone gold, but his music at least from the stand point of an emcee. He’s definitely trying to raise the bar and take to an area to where not everybody is going. Its likes maybe our reality has changed , maybe what we thought what would be popular and sell a million copies is not the reality anymore.

MF: I agree record companies are making 1^st week sales, singles, and so on too much of a high priority.

Blitz: It should be about satisfying your fanbase and putting out your music correctly. If a hundred thousand people pick it up, that’s a blessing, if 500 hundred thousand people pick it up that’s a blessing too. You have to realize what made groups like Gangstarr, Gangstarr wasn’t selling 5 million on their first album. Now it’s like if your 1^st album doesn’t go diamond in like 5 weeks you’re not considered successful and that’s the problem.

MF: Who is really to blame for all nonsense going on in Hip-Hop?

Blitz: Well this is this is the issue, it would be ill to point the finger at one entity. Of course the industry has been a blood sucker from day one, it’s ludacris to think they got your back. The fans also are part to blame because somewhere along the lines we lost focus on what was really going on this whole time. The artists of course also have to take a share of the blame because your only going to get pushed around if you give in to it and settle for something. The blames goes around, we all gotta take a share of the blame. If Hip-Hop is ever going to make a resurgence and ever speak for the people again it cannot be from one sphere point. I don’t think one entity is like God in this. I think labels need to lose that mentality. “We can do anything, just take someone and make them an artist now.”, after a while the fans start to see the lie.

MF: How do you feel about the current state of Hip-Hop?

Blitz: I can’t say I’m happy with it and I’d be lying if I said otherwise. Any respectable Hip-Hop head can’t whole heartily say they are comfortable with where the game is today. I mean there pluses, but more minuses to what is going on right now. I think it’s the balance we lack, when I fell in love with Hip-Hop, it was about the idea that you can be whatever you wanna be. You had Biz Markie being silly, Rakim being super lyrical, KRS-One - political, NWA - gangsta, There was just a great amount of people talking about different aspects of life. People today feel like you have to be the same thing and it is clearly killing the creativity but the bright side is that, we are all not walking that path,.There are still some cats that’s willing to stand up and say what they believe in, not this cookie cutter ideology that you have to be this and that, you don’t have to be anything but you.

True story, the golden era of Hip-Hop may be long gone but as long as there are cats out there like Blitz, who are still dedicated to preserving and reinventing the culture, the same culture that critics said wouldn’t last a year. The B-boys and B-girls of the world will never die. Media stations like MTV and Hot 97’ may no longer support real music, but you can be certain somewhere right now in New York City there are true emcees striving and fighting to preserve this beautiful art form known as Hip-Hop.

 

 

 

 

 

Separation anxiety isn’t easy to handle for anyone. Mixtape DJ’s may be the only exception to the case with technology and the internet making it easier and easier for any kid to start churning out “mixtapes”. The floodgates have opened and success will depend on what you can do to separate yourself from the competition. There are a few real DJ’s that have found a way to adapt to their environment while still giving a reason for Justo to smile down on us, “I’ve been DJing for 11 years now, but when I was younger I played the drums, violin, piano, and saxophone. Then one day Hip-Hop came around I started seeing all the DJ battles and people mixing, scratching- I knew from the beginning that’s what I wanted to do. My aunt would have the old DMC battle tapes on vhs and I would see DJ’s like Roc Raida, Babu, and such. I was just fascinated by it. – DJ On Point

This Queens native has hosted and mixed all of Joe Budden’s critically-acclaimed Mood Muzik series mixtapes, built a personal fanbase with his own mixtapes, and toured the world with acts like Busta Rhymes, DMX, Nore and Method Man, “I DJ’ed for Mobb Deep and we went to Australia, Finland, and India. We did the first rap concert ever in India. It was crazy, they just loved the music, I can’t describe what that felt like” says DJ On Point.” The grind doesn’t stop for the kid, fans haven’t stopped asking about the next Mood Muzik release, “I wanna get some kind of major distribution for Mood Muzik 3. It’s coming along crazy but to the public, it may seem like it’s moving slow because Joe’s working on his album at the same time. He’s a brilliant artist and he won’t just make records to make them. Every song counts. Mood Muzik 3 and his 2^nd album are going to be crazy. You’ll see.” -says On Point. With major plans in store for 07’ On Point has another rising-star ready to go for the crown, “I’m working with a new artist, Vic Damone, he just got signed to Universal/Motown through Def Squad, Eric Sermon.He’s outta Jamaica Queens, 40 Projects. We been working together for about 4 years, been through a couple different situations. But just in the last couple months Sylvia Rhone personally signed Vic to Universal/Motown; there wasn’t no A&R or nothing like that.”-says On-Point.

Versatility is key and raw talent will take you the rest of the way. You can have the best equipment, but you can’t fool the people forever, “I don’t think the computers and technology are taking away that much from “real DJs”. At the end of the day when you get hired to do something if your skills are not up to par you can’t fool anyone- says On-Point. Take it like a man, everybody can’t be on top, the truth is some DJ’s are killing the game. One “hot” mixtape doesn’t mean you’re solidified, “The New York Club scene is very oversaturated including the mixtape scene. I came in right before the internet age took over like when you still had to go up to the record labels get the music from them directly. Now anybody can go on the internet get some songs and make a mixtape. You gotta develop your name- it will open up other doors. – On Point

R.I.P Pimp CDamn, Pimp C was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel room early yesterday. Reports are still not clear, but there were no drugs, or signs of homocide on the scene. Pimp was one of the pioneers of this Southern rap thing. We reminisce over you....Prayers go out to Pimp C's family and the rest of the UGK Family.

Dead prez – Hip-Hop
http://youtube.com/watch?v=c0r4fU1T3aw

Jim Jones-Ballin
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DfcoGFcdD-c

Juelz santana
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8OafrhSn6Rw

DMC
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VPvrzb_bsOE

Snoop
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nF1bYxnuwmw

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hBUE8LsoLwk

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bBdb_rdmTrQ

http://youtube.com/watch?v=h4p4kZ6QvzY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7ESzFB48J_g

LL Cool J
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NvP0UhjfQFc


MOP-

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YzJ0k_clip0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bBdb_rdmTrQ Entrance
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bt1OMFhRxXE


Raekwon - Cream
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2a5MePRMCCU

Wu-Tang Raekwon & Cappadonna


Cappadonna
Juelz Santana & Jim Jones




Jam Master Jay
Papoose

JMJ
Dead Prez

Everlast




Shucky Ducky of Boot Camp Clik was havin a good time

MOP



Lee Quinones
Snoop Dogg




DMC

                                                                          LL COOl J

                                                                 Erick Sermon