We're off and loungin...or at least we'll be sporadically updating over the next few days.
Time to enjoy the fam, the fun and the sun..fuck that, the A/C...
"I came from the town that invented the style of throwing up throwin it down.."
There's something about straight, no chaser style of music and GLC's got it captured in this video.
No flash, no floss...
No big bubble booty girls droppin it like it's hot...
It really feels and looks like he either took the money out his pocket to put this together or pocketed the money the label gave him and gave us this...
But it's cool.
He brings out a certain "regular Joe" look, something more realistic, by capturing his hood, his boys, the landmarks and blemishes of the city...all in less than five minutes.
GLC- CHI STATE OF MIND
Fresh off his RCMH performance, Jay-z took the time to do another one of his chats with his fans via the Roc-A-Fella website. I could've chopped it up and quoted various things but I'll just give you the most important lines...
Will you appear on Nas' Def Jam debut Hip Hop Is Dead?
Aiyo...somebody who knows somebody tell Jay we want a Smoking Sessions chat!
After hearing Crazy Baby steadily screaming "it's the piano!" all day long, I let Rhianna's "Unfaithful" spin a few times and discovered I actually like the song.
But, I kept thinkin back to Mario Winans' "I Don't Wanna Know" and now this? I then started to ponder "Are motherfuckers really allowing all this cheatin'"?
Who are these sorry sap, sacks of shit posing as men that are barring this?
My dudes, if your chick is singing along to loudly to this or you're in this situation for sure, you are granted a few options...
1.) Throw a brick through her momma's plate glass window...
2.) Put one of her friends in the cobra clutch on the couch while you videotape the whole episode...
Cha·ris·ma - Pronunciation Key (k-rzm); n. pl. cha·ris·ma·ta (-m-t)
I'm back, Mr. Magic City Blowin Color Purple I make it rain on yo fo'head Thought I had a fan the way I blow that money You'd thought I had a plan the way I throw that money The Feds outside and they checkin his tag But still the boy move wit'a helluva swag a. A rare personal quality attributed to individuals who arouse fervent popular devotion and enthusiasm.
It's like the soundtrack to my life Everyday I'm under investigation But I will not stop, so you can stop the hatin What more can I say, it's like my gift and my curse To fail or succeed, I don't know whats worse... They just tryin to find a glitch in my matrix b. Personal magnetism or charm: a television news program famed for the charisma of its anchors.
One slip and I'm back to the basics Red or blue pill what would you do? When the same aggins you love got hate in they blood 2. In Christianity, an extraordinary power, such as the ability to perform miracles, granted by the Holy Spirit.
I know God's watchin over me, so is the Feds When love turn to hate and aggins rather ya dead Lord have mercy, Jesus Christ All the bad I done will you still protect my life? Maybe...maybe not Until I keep an extra clip in that Glock...
So... the buzz is that Gillie The Kid wrote for Weezy...
"Not for Carter 2," Gillie laughed. "I wasn't around for Tha Carter 2. Give all the credit to Lil Wayne for that. But it was a whole lot of things going down for Carter 1. Holla at your boy, Wayne." Source - MTV.com
CunninLynguists are geniuses. Not just for their namesake, but because they are one of the most original and creative groups making hip-hop today, and released the best album you probably haven’t heard this year. Their third album is appropriately titled “A Piece Of Strange,” the album’s dark feel evokes a unique blend of emotions. This is soul music.
“A Piece of Strange” conjures memories of Outkast with DJ Kno’s (native ATLien) smooth smoke infused grooves and Deacon the Villain’s Kentucky fried slang-filled introspection, or it may cause flashbacks to “Aquemini” on spaced out rock tracks like the album’s Chonkyfired last song, “The Light.” But more than anything else, this album causes the listener to contract a severe case of déjà vu to “Soul Food.”
Just like the GooDie MOb’s debut (hip hop’s most fitting acronym considering their current group status) they sing hooks together on “Nothing To Give,” “What Will You Do,” “Remember Me,” they have a reverence to the group’s most notorious song about mental prison on “Brain Cell,” and by the fourth song it’s no coincidence that one Cee Lo Green is the album’s first guest on “Caved In.” Just check out the hook on the second song “Since When,”
“I heard ‘em say Southern folk can’t rhyme Some of yall must be out ya Goddamn mind Yeah its about that time, we got that shine, and n….s been about them lines Since when? Ever since a pocket full of stones Ridin dirty in the Chevy sitting heavy on chrome Ever since Goodie Mo’ had Food for Soul and them dirty red dogs hit the do’”
But don’t get me wrong, they don’t rely on Jay-Z’s liberal interpretation of imitation (or biting) being the highest form of flattery to their heroes. In fact, the parts of the album that don’t sound like it was produced in the The Dungeon during the mid 90s are its highlight.
DJ Kno orchestrates a masterpiece theatre which features multiple interludes which serve as effortless instrumental segues to Deacon’s narrated sinful themes like their hood’s way of life on “Nothing To Give,” a Crash-like racial narration featuring Tonedeff at “The Gates,” and a love song to everyone’s favorite Mary on “Beautiful Girl.” Kno, who was the group’s second MC on CL’s first two albums has allowed newest group member Natti fill his vocal role and now elects to strictly handle the beats. And it’s Kno’s essentially southern, but not regionally biased, sound that gives this album it’s cohesive yet diverse feel. Especially in his excellent usage of guitar throughout the album, it’s almost as if Kno chooses to speak through the beats and his best verses are his guitar solos.
This album is a multi-layered refreshing sound for the ‘06 that is open for many interpretations and comparisons. Now listen for yourselves…
When Siegel got shot, a few things ran across my mind...
1.) "Bang bang Siegel Street Gang!"
2.) Damn this dude has the worst fuckin luck - jail, stepdad gets murdered, his record label essentially dissolves.
3. Son gully for taking pics fresh out of the hospital...and this dude is chubbier than a motherfucker. Hit the treadmill Beans, we seen what happened to Pun.
4.) Wow! Son stay in the hood. He keeps it real.
Then, you start to wonder "what's real?"
For rapper's it's always a thin line but at some point these dudes gotta get smarter...
Once one starts acquiring gold and platinum plaques, there's no need to stay in the hood coppin quarter waters and splittin sacks with the crew.
To Beans and even regular folk who've found some level of success - Understand that real is based off reality.
Your reality now is you have concierges or at least lil fellas happy to be your weed carriers. No need to handle the late nite runs for that purp or take that burner charge.
Your reality is now that you have the ability to sign checks and create at least a few business opportunities.
Your existence now has you flying around the country and the world. Your vision should expand. No one said say fuck the hood...but we understand that your visions and experiences are further than a few blocks radius.
At a certain point, you have to help end this backwards thinking that's been perpetuated for years.
No other race or culture takes offense that it's members achieve like Black folks and hip-hop culture.
Understand - if you made it out the hood, we're happy for you. We're glad to see you achieve things.
You don't have to try to stay in the hood to prove a point.
Prove a point by taking a piece of the hood with you and speak for the rest of the hood as you're out connecting with people who otherwise wouldn't hear the voice of South Street Philly, The Wild Hundreds in Chi or South 8th out here in Cashvegas...let'em know we exist.
I was gonna speak on this song anyways but the past few days, time has had a way of having it's own way of timing...
This track showed me two things...
* It was good to hear Snoop come back to the mic with some passion and, really, he sounds like at any given time he can get back on that "Deep Cover" shit whenever he chooses...
* It was even better to hear someone finally say fuck the Terminator. No, it won't have the same effects of Kanye's spazz on Bush but it still needed to be recorded so that it could be stored as a piece of auditory history for future generations to reference just so they know "nah, folk wasn't cool with that."
I'm a Gemini and I've been told before that I definitely have two sides.
Recently, a female friend imparted to me...
I've known you for years and it feels like I just met you. I get all excited when you show your feelings. I like it. It's actually a very attractive side you have. But you are soooo complex...one minute you're natural and have feelings. But then the "fuck it" side kicks in..."fuck everybody!" I see you have this amazing side that you only show tiny bits of...Then the rest is "fuck it all" and untouchable. Funny thing is I'm intrigued by both because one is just as interesting as the other.
She went on to tell me "you have this mystique, like Mr. Big"
Big and his broad, cig in hand...I could dig this persona
Here...let me show that I do have a softer side as well as the ability to reveal my emotional side.
The World's Greatest Joys According To Gotty™ AKA The Softer Side Of Things AKA Half My Heart...
1. Having someone intimate, not just a random someone, soft on the other side of the bed when you wake up.
2. There's nothing better than hearing a small child's laughter or seeing them smile with that twinkling glow in their eyes.
3. Watching the syndicated episodes of Sex In The City and learning that, as much as I think I know, I know so little about how women's brains work. Women are peculiar creatures.
4. The most magnificient thing in the morning is enjoying a cup of coffee and a cigarette in your sock feet, boxers and no shirt.
5. Layin back coolin' with a good book > hittin up the club.
6. There's something attractive about when a women whines "Teee-whyyyyy" because of some dumb shit I've done and quite possibly it's the reason why I do ignorant shit.
7. Although most men, myself included, are often called "selfish," there's generally nothing more rewarding than ensuring the happiness of those around us.
8. I get that "sugar lump" in my throat every time I watch Hardball and G-Baby gets killed.
There you have it...
Salute!
Gotty™
StereoTee went another step and created a "commercial" on behalf of the TSSCrew...
I'm a No Limit motherfuckin soldier till I die We run this place, and I say the same shit, with a gun up in my face I ain't scared to die, bitch like I said before, hoe 3rd Ward, I'm from that motherfuckin Calliope
Projects supported worldwide by drug dealers
Transformin wimpy ass niggaz into killers Taking over, worldwide, doin shows oversea Bringing bitches to the telly, put them hoes upon they knees Gangstafied, like my motherfuckin homies Kane and Abel No Limit, the world's numberone fuckin rap label (worldwide) Competition get smoked like we smokin blunts I take a playa hata and knock out his fuckin fronts Dope slanga, now I'm slangin CD's A million records (platinum), it used to be some QUARTER KI'S TRU tattooed on my back bitch thats my click Ready to hop into some motherfuckin gangsta shit I say No Limit loud, cause we ain't scared of nobody Organized by P or should I say, John Gotti Real niggaz, put ya guns up if ya feel me But if ya talk shit, bitch ya betta kill me Like Skull I'm a hoodlum 4 life, I told ya We be some motherfuckin No Limit TRU soldiers
On one of the hardest first songs on a compact disc ever, C-Murder went comatose on that verse from the crew's early days, setting the mantra for the label as well as his own future...
"Ask my God how he thought travellin the world sound/Found it hard to imagine he hadn't been past downtown..."
Hip-Hop History Lesson...
Remember that ill clip @ the beginning of "Respiration"?
You know...
"what'd you do last night? "
"we did umm, two whole cars
It was me, Dez, and Mean 3 right?
And on the first car in small letters it said
all you see is.. and then you know
Big, big, you know some block silver letters
That said ..crime in the city right? "
"it just took up the whole car? "
"yeah yeah, it was a whole car and shit..."
The homie Neil Diamonds has really been chastising me for not showing resepct to the roots, especially graff...
So my son went straight to the PO & shot me this movie...
And I remembered something...
Graff is truly a part of the essence of hip-hop - a rugged & raw form of expression showcased in any area where young cats are strugglin to find ways to let the world know what's goin on with them.
cookiehead: lemme use that waterbaby pic... pauiie:k cookiehead: hmm....i'mma need a lyric to match it... cookiehead: let me scan my memory bank... pauiie: lol cookiehead: Ahh....i got it pauiie: ? cookiehead: We heart Nirvana pauiie: they named a song after me pauiie: =D cookiehead: ? pauiie: there's a song named "paulie" pauiie: by nirvana cookiehead: Polly cookiehead: not paulie pauiie: i renamed it foo pauiie: so it's PAULIE cookiehead: the fuck outta here lol pauiie: cuz i fucken said so
Did you see Shaq's stepfather @ the games when the camera pans to him after Shaq hits from the charity stripe? The release and relief on his face almost saying "thank you Jesus!" and looking damn near ready to shed a tear.
I remember feeling that same zeal when I taught my daughter to confidently swim...at that moment, I felt a certain joy for her that, even as a verbose dude, I can't find the words to describe...there was so much happiness in that moment that it simply made me well up.
I imagine that any father would have to be proud if his son "made it" in entertainment as parents often live their dreams and measure their success by the successes of their children.
Therefore realize there has to be a certain joy shared by Common & his father each time the elder is invited into the studio for "Pop's Rap."
Com has always maintained a contextual balance between aspiring to show his growth and new knowledge while still keeping it simple enough for the average cat to follow. And, when you hear you his father speak @ the end of tapes, you realize why Com's roots are so firmly entrenched in the streets and his heart so open to change. Pops emits that rugged, "I'll cut you to the white meat", old street aggin speak and, at the same time, an enlightenment that only life, age and experience can give a man.
We, as men, emulate the strong alpha males in our lives, whether they be our biological fathers, uncles, stepfathers, coaches, the local store owner, the hustlers...we aspire to be "men" but have hearts for those around us, just like those select males who balance the scale between disciplined and caring.
But when you hear Pop's rap, you realize that Lonnie Lynn just wants to share the lessons imparted to him by his own Dad throughout his life and give a stage to thoughts of the man who raised him.
Respect due to my own father and both my grandfathers, the men who raised me...it's hard being a goddamn King but they've shown me that, with fortitude, it's possible to do it.
Happy Father's Day to all those men who take the time to be fathers and not just daddies.
DTP has been known to host a varriety of flops. Whether it be I-20, or Shawnna, the label has never really had much Disturbing of the peace, other than it's originator Ludacris.
Two men will change that streak in the VERY near future.
Shawn Jay and Smoke.
The two combined are the very country-oriented hip hop group Field Mob.
Their new album, Light Poles and Pine Trees, is full of bangers for the ride, the club, or just to sit back and nod your head to.
The lead single,"So What" featuring Ciara, is a Jazze Pha production with funny yet inspired lyrics about a relationship between the Mob and some ladies with hating ass friends. Yet, the album goes deeper than just a couple of hot singles.
More standout tracks are...
Smilin' Feat. Ludacris, which is one of the best hater songs ever created, with a guest appearance from one of the leaders of Southern hip hop, makes for a great song. Blacker The Berry, which explains the hardships of being a dark skinned-person growing up and contains a well-placed Tupac sample.
Eat Em Up, Beat Em Up, is the sexually laced track about how perverse the two are, with outrageous lyrics such as
You're pregnant? Glad it ain't mine It's a fact I was strapped I ain't lyin' Doctor said it's a little girl? Good. Now I get pussy AND head AT the same time
Pistol Grip, which is a track explaining why they make sure they are always holding, and using metaphors including comparing banging a chick and getting shot by a dude. (Just listen, you will get it). Sorry Baby Feat. the only other DTP member worth listening to (Bobby Valentino), which is a song about not getting tied down by chicks true to hip-hop's "I just crush alot" mantra. It's Over, which is a track about the come-up and how underrated they are, which is very true considering most fans outside of the South hadn't heard of the group until recent years. The second verse of this song is straight FIRE!
Basically, I had low expectations for yet another Ludacris weed carrier, but I was pleasantly surprised by the lyrical content and flow of the two country boys.
Picture of BMF's Meech & his victim Wolf during better times... Photo courtesty of http://jimiflixx.com
Rusky Mafiosousually keeps me on my toes about all things hip-hop and social.
Today, we were rappin when he posed a question to me that had been asked of him..
"Someone asked me about gun culture in rap, and why there have been a slew of shootings lately...Why can my white washed roomate go to any concert he wants to (rock shit, of course) and NEVER have a story about dudes beefin or someone getting shot outside. BUT, if I talk to my bird who likes to go to the reggae club every week and who used to promote at hiphop and reggae spots in L.A. and H'wood, she's got all kinds of tales about dudes knifing in the club...shooting at the club afterwards...all kinds of violent shit...Why is gun culture so prevalent in hip-hop and not white music. Ann brought up this point of how Johnny Cash and some othe older kuntry cats used to sing about killing dude and loading their guns....but theres not a connection with violence stemming from that or surrounding that genre of music."
Immediately after that, I started peeping some recent hip-hop news and it wasn't hard to find some worthy tidbits...
Can we not grow, move forward and leave some of the negative behind?
I'd like to think so but we have to be aware of the constant spotlight on us, as artists and fans. With privilege and entitlement comes responsibility that we all have to accept, like it or not.
As the floodgates are opened and more seedy characters enter the game, will outsiders to the culture label everyone involved with the culture as negative?
In the studio surrounded by weed carriers and hangers-on, can a rapper be held in complete accountability for the action around him?
In a way, yes and no.
No, in the sense that you have to seperate yourself from certain elements that could endanger your livelihood. But at the same time, you are expected to maintain some connections to your original crew who held you down when you were splitting pizzas and sleeping on random couches.
Thin line...
In Jacob's case, with the amount of money being exchanged, yeah he prolly knew some things & yeah the Feds are prolly getting some help from...let me stop speculating. But if I'm Jacob, as long as these dudes are bringing me lump sums a few dollars under $10K, I'm taking that shit, I'm not asking questions. I'm watching my cash register cake up & my name as well as my product spread even further around the country.
Although none of us can claim to know the intricate dealings of Jacob or buddy from DFB, it reeks of guilt by association...
As for the comments made by the rep from Cristal, it does indeed have some underhanded swipes that hint @ race. He reportedly says hip-hop but in general, when you say hip-hop, who does that include as the racial majority in the eyes of most?
Is hip-hop shooting itself in the proverbial foot? As we progress in terms of financial stature & gain some forms of leverage, are we eating ourselves alive from the inside out?
Perhaps. Although it was based on a rebellious nature and a vehicle of expression, shit's changed. Cats are feeding their families off their rap hustle. But how many outsiders want to be directly associated negative connotations that hip-hop carries with it as baggage.
While the little $200 we spend in the club to feign status prolly won't effect Cristal's profit margin, one has to wonder how much disgust they have for hip-hop as a community to turn down the free fuckin advertising rappers give them...
Sorry fam, no real answers or solutions today. Just observations and opinions.
Feel free to add your .02 in the comments section.
The game's almost on.
I'd like to send a special *golf clap* out to Shaq for hitting those clutch freebies the other night. The whole goddamn bar breathed the proverbial sigh of relief & every brother in the spot, no matter who they were cheering for, gave each other a pound LOL.
And I know I ain't the only one who let out a "hell motherfuckin yeah" when they seen Mr. Mean (GP for the unintiated) hit that goddamn jumper...
We're off and loungin...or at least we'll be sporadically updating over the next few days.
