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Paul Williams: The Punisher’s Manifesto

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Lifestyle

Paul Williams is angry. For the past few years, his callouts of the elite fighters from welterweight to middleweight have mostly fallen on deaf ears. Sure, the man nicknamed the Punisher has had his share of meaningful bouts (Antonio Margarito, Winky Wright, Kermit Cintron), but not the defining fight that would serve to make him a viable star.That opportunity may come this weekend, when he rematches Sergio Martinez for the linear middleweight title. Their fight last year was a sleeper hit, becoming recognized as one of the best fights of 2009. Now, there’s much more media attention on Paul Williams than ever before going into November 20. Is the Punisher ready to deliver?

 

AllHipHop.com: The last fight with Sergio Martinez was great. A lot of people were split on who won that fight. What do you plan to do to make sure you have an easier time?

Paul Williams: It really don’t matter. Inside or outside, we’re just going to work him that night. Either fight he loses.

AllHipHop.com: Because you throw a lot of punches, you are prone to getting countered and hit a lot yourself. Did you spend a considerable amount of time tightening up that defense?

Williams: Nah, we’re going to do the same thing in this fight we always do. No different at all.

AllHipHop.com: A win over Martinez, and you’d become the recognized middleweight champion of the world. Is that enough to make you stay at that weight?

Williams: I don’t know, but we’ll probably still move around. I kind of like going up and down.

AllHipHop.com: Moving in between welterweight and middleweight spans 13 pounds and you haven’t been at welter since 2008. Have you noticed any affects on your body, good or bad?

Williams: To me it’s not a big difference. The main thing though is I get to eat a little more at the higher weights.

AllHipHop.com: You and Mayweather both retain Al Haymon as an advisor. Have you explicitly tried to get contract in place to offer Floyd or any of the other big fighters?

Williams: We haven’t really been reaching out to them. We’re just taking it one fight at a time, and whatever happens, happens. They definitely know we want to fight them: Pacquiao, Mayweather, Mosley and the rest. We’ve been calling out all those guys on the websites.

AllHipHop.com: Some people have said even though you are a good fighter, you don’t have the charisma or “it factor” to really be a star. What do you think of that criticism?

Williams: Their entitled to their own opinion. I’ve been doing the biggest fights I can possibly get, and I put on a good show for everybody. People know who I am, it’s just the big star names haven’t given me a shot.

AllHipHop.com: Do you sense HBO backing you more now than before?

Williams: Yeah, as long as you keep winning the door will open. I still leave that to Al Haymon and George Peterson to get those big fights for me. But, I think once we take care of business on the 20th, the big names won’t be able to ignore me anymore.

AllHipHop.com: Run us through a typical Paul Williams training day.

Williams: Straight hard work with blood, sweat, and tears. You push it to the limit; go hard or go home. You can rest after the fight. I do about 25 miles in a week of roadwork. Sparring depends on how we feel, around about 30-40 rounds.

AllHipHop.com: Martinez has a real unique style, especially his movement. Was it difficult finding sparring partners that could emulate him?

Williams: Not really. But we really don’t care about how he moves. We were just looking to get some left-handed sparring partners.

AllHipHop.com: Let’s go back to last year briefly. When Kelly Pavlik pulled out of your fight last year, was there ever any serious talk of renegotiating?

Williams: Nah, he definitely forgot about me. They didn’t want that fight anyway. Two weeks later he fought somebody else. He didn’t want it like that with me.

AllHipHop.com: Before Mosley and Pacquiao, you were the first fighter to beat Antonio Margarito when he was being avoided and still a champion. Considering his hand wrap scandal, did you feel anything out of the ordinary about his punches?

Williams: Margarito got a solid punch, you’ll feel it. I didn’t feel anything strange, but I can’t say for sure if he did or didn’t use it with me. I just know he hit real hard.

AllHipHop.com: Does he rank as the hardest puncher you’ve ever faced?

Williams: Not the hardest, but it all depends on the type of punches. I’ve been hit harder. I’d probably say Walter Matthysse hit me with some good shots. But it was just like one good shot.

AllHipHop.com: A lot of people were very disappointed at the aborted ending of your last fight with Kermit Cintron. Do you think he quit, or was legitimately injured?

Williams: Man, he was trying to get out of that fight. He was a wrestler in school, he knows how to fall! Then I watched the fight. If he did say his side was hurt, I probably would’ve believed him. But he fell out of the ring, sat on the table, hit the floor, and then started holding the back of his head. His head never hit the floor! [snickers] C’mon, man!

AllHipHop.com: What boxers inspired you to get into the sport?

Williams: To be honest, I never really got into the boxers myself. My favorite is myself, and that’s not trying to be cocky.

AllHipHop.com: How about on the Hip-Hop side? Who are you listening to?

Williams: I like T.I., Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, pretty much all my down south artists.

AllHipHop.com: What’s your prediction for the 20th?

Williams: However it plays out he’s done. If I go after him and it’s a short night, he gets the short end of the stick. If he gets out boxed over a long night, he got the long end of the stick. [laughs] Either way Paul Williams gets the victory.

AllHipHop.com: Let’s go back to Mayweather and Pacquiao for a minute. Let’s say you were able to fight both of them. Their styles are drastically different. How would you adjust your strategies for both?

Williams: Same Paul Williams, nothing different for either. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

AllHipHop.com: Your final thoughts on the fight?

Williams: I’m definitely putting on a big show on the 20th and coming home with those belts. That’s the only thing on my mind. I’m not taking Sergio Martinez for granted, but my confidence level and the way I feel, I’m gonna hurt this guy on Saturday. People, who are not my fans, still come check it out for a good fight.

Paul Williams vs. Sergio Martinez airs this Saturday (November) at 10:00 PM ET on HBO.

Ismael AbduSalaam is a senior staff writer for AllHipHop.com, and the creator of Beats, Boxing and Mayhem, a website specializing in boxing and Hip-Hop coverage.

Historic Eric B. and Rakim Reunion at the Long Island Music Hall of Fame Induction Gala

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

(AllHipHop News) Pioneering Hip-Hop group Eric B. and Rakim reunited for the first time in years on November 16th, during the Long Island Music Hall of Fame’s Induction Gala at Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York.  The pair stepped on the stage together to receive their award from music business executive and long-time friend, Bert Padell.Rakim, originally from Wyandanch, and Eric B., from Queens, seemed emotionally moved by the Long Island Music Hall of Fame Award.  “I want to thank the committee for understanding what we do and giving us this prestigious award.  We definitely appreciate it,” Rakim said. “You know what Rak, we never got a BET award, a Soul Train Award, a Grammy, but guess what.  We got a Long Island Music Award!” Eric B. said. Afterwards, the two of them surprised their fans when the two embraced for a hug.”This was the moment that all hip-hop fans and Gala attendees were waiting to see. Eric B. and Rakim are living legends who produced so many classic songs,” LIMHOF Vice Chairman Tom Needham said. “We have all been waiting for this to happen. For rap fans, it is almost as if John Lennon and Paul McCartney had reunited after they broke up the Beatles.”While Eric B. and Rakim didn’t perform together, Rakim did a solo set of his hits, including classics like “Eric B. is President” and “Juice (Know the Ledge).”Other performs at the Long Island Music Hall of Fame’s Induction Gala included Eddie Money, Joan Jett, Lou Reed, Eddie Palmieri, Roy Haynes, DJ Johnny Juice, Laurie Anderson and others. For more information about the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, log on to limusichalloffame.org.

Prince Harry Wants Snoop Dogg For Royal Engagement Party

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

(AllHipHop New) Prince William has been in the headlines around the world this past week, since it was confirmed that he was engaged to Kate Middleton. To celebrate the engagement, Prince William’s brother Prince Harry is planning a Hip-Hop party to celebrate, with performances by rappers Snoop Dogg and Tinie Tempah. According to The Mirror, Prince Harry is planning to meet with Snoop Dogg’s representatives when he arrives in London next week. Tinie Tempah, who is reportedly close to signing a deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, has already cleared his schedule for royal celebration. “The party will be low-key but fun with mini-burgers, fish and chips,” a source revealed. “They’ll do a formal party with their family too, but this one is for the cool kids.”Prince Harry’s respect for Hip-Hop artists has been well documented over the years. He’s associated with artists like Pharrell Williams, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Ms. Dynamite and DJ Goldie, who were reported to be filming a reality show in Buckingham Palace for the BBC.

Exclusive: J.Cole Talks New Mixtape, Plans For Debut Album

By: Mike WinslowCategory: MOBILE

(AllHipHop News) J.Cole is officially a force to be reckoned with. Last Friday, the release of his mixtape Friday Night Lights crashed his site DreamVillian.net, after an estimated 4,000 users logged on per second, to download the North Carolinian’s latest material. J. Cole, who is on the BET Music Matters Tour, hopes to land some top cameos from took the time out to speak with AllHipHop.com about his latest mixtape.

“I was searching for a title that kinda explained my situation,” J.Cole told AllHipHop.com. “I found it with that. I love the fact that the character of J.Cole is like this high school varsity athlete. So I wanted to stay in that realm in terms of the story. It feels like the big game is coming, you know its feel like that pressure that a player feels. It’s a few things, there’s pressure, excitement, anxiety, confidence, doubt all those things right before the big game. I felt that name kind of embodied all feelings.”

Friday Night Lights is slim on guest appearances, although the mixtape features several high profile rappers, including G.O.O.D. Music’s Cy-Hi Da Prynce, Pusha-T, Big Sean and the label’s CEO, Kanye West.According to J.Cole, he would like to work with Kanye West for his major label release, which is slated for 2011 via Jay-Z’s record label, Roc Nation.

“It’s up to Kanye, you know. I’m like a huge fan. What I want to do is just get the level of my name up, my weight up and my credentials up,” J.Cole revealed. “[I’ll] get enough notches under my belt and then I’ll reach out to Kanye. I kinda want to at least feel somewhere in the vicinity of the work he has put in before I go in with him.”

Although his upcoming debut has no release date, J.Cole has been in the recording studio to keep the music on his album from becoming dated.

“The mixtape was step 1. It’s about generating the level of interest for the album, that’s my main concern,” J.Cole told AllHipHop.com. “And of course I am going back in December and I am going to try to do new songs. If I needed to drop an album next week, I can do it. It will be incredible. But since I dropped the mixtape, I feel my standards are now even higher than they were. I want to go back in to do better songs, that’s just how I work.”

T.I.: Letter From Jail #3

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Uncategorized

This experience is truly a pain I have never felt before and that’s saying a lot for a n#### who’s been down locked up as many times as I have. I see this as a real ass whoopin’. The kind you don’t just go back outside to play afterwards. You take ya ass to bed and don’t come out of your room until it’s time to go to school. I don’ t know what effect this will have on my life moving forward but I’m certainly sick and mother f*cking tired of going to jail, juve, prison, the pen, correctional facilities or whatever else you want to call it. I’d have been better off doing a 5-10 year bid one time than going in time and time again for days, weeks and months for the last 15 years of my life. Even though it’s been a long road, I’m still standing, barely but nevertheless still standing. At one time I thought my motivation for continuing was for my fans, my partna Philant, my pops, my grandmama, even for the haters or the people I let down. But nah… I got to do this s### for me!!! I’ll be God damned if I’ve come all this way and made it through so much hell to let it go down like this! F*ck that! If an hour in the dark is worth a second in the sun then pass me my mother f*ckin’ shades cause I’m ready to cash my darkest hours in…ASAP!!! A lot of folks had fathers or father figures in the house to raise them into manhood. I’m not trying to make any excuses for my situation but my father was a hustler that lived in New York. My uncle was a local big time dope boy turned 10 year federal inmate. My mother and grandparents did the best they could but I found my manhood in the trap and in prison systems. But I found it. And nan one of mine will ever have to feel the cold tight grip of a handcuff or grace the presence of a jail cell if I can help it. Over my dead body! So if you can’t respect that you ain’t rocking with my movement then F*ck you dog! I know a bunch of mother f*ckers who are…..

– Love KING

Eyedea’s Death Ruled An Accidental Overdose

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

(AllHipHop News) Veteran rapper Michael “Eyedea” Larsen died of an accidental overdose medical officials have disclosed. Eyedea, 28, was found dead in his St. Paul, Minnesota apartment on October 16th. According to Ramsey County medical examiners office, the rapper died from opiate toxicity. Chief investigator Don Gorrie told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the specific drugs found in Eyedea’s body was not disclosed because it is not public information.Eyedea, who released three albums as Eyedea and Abilities with the Rhymesayers label, was a revered emcee who had been recording since the late 1990’s.

DMX Arrested In Phoenix

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

(AllHipHop News) DMX has been arrested again. The gruffly-voiced New York native was arrested in the Maricopa County section of Phoenix on Thursday for a parole violation and jailed. The rapper was incarcerated for failing to report to his probation officer.  This is the sixth arrested in Maricopa County alone for DMX.X, real name Earl Simmons, was on parole after a conviction related to an assault. DMX recently performed in the area at a show where him yelling “F** Jay-Z” garnered him headlines throughout the media. His chief producer Swizz Beatz put out a new single with DMX and Busta Rhymes this week. Click here for the new song, “Ya’ll Don’t Know.”

Hip-Hop Rumors: Game And Tony Yayo Twit Beef! Tip Appoints New Boss!

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Rumors

DISCLAIMER:All

content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual

info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.WHO: illseedWHAT: Rumors, Funnies, Fails and more!WHERE: illseed.com, twitter.com.illseedHOW: Send your rumors, sightings and ill pics to illseed at [email protected].MONTANA FISHBOURNE IS MAKING GOOD USE OF HER MONEY

Just went you thought this girl was getting better, she totally returns with a vengeance. If I had to put money on it, I would say that she did this new interview with Hustler magazine a ways back and its just coming to print now. She make quite a bit of paper for her sex tape and she knows exactly what she’s going to do with her money. Peep the quotes.

“I don’t want to get real big ones (breasts). I would just go one size bigger.

“And I want to get my p**sy tightened… I want that kung fu grip.”

FLAVOR FLAV STARTS…LINE OF FRIED CHICKEN?

We’re generally used to rapper starting lines of clothing or something typical like that. But, Flavor Flav is going to do something stereotypical and start a line of FRIED CHICKEN! He recently broke it down in a an interview:

I’m also launching FFC – ya’ll heard of KFC right? – well this is FFC, Flav’s Fried Chicken.The Colonel better watch his back, G! The Colonel might end up in my fryer!”

He’s also got some vodka coming out too.

“I want you all to keep on the lookout – it should be on the shelves by January – I’m launching a thing called ‘Le Flav Spirits’. I’m comin’ out with a cherry vodka, a berry vodka, an olive vodka, a sweet tea vodka, a bubblegum vodka and grape vodka. Also, I’m comin’ out with ‘Le Flav Cognac’ and ‘Chateaux Le Flav’ which’ll be some bubbly. Champagne, that’s right folks – Poppin’n’drinkin’!”Source UnknownLOOKS LIKE I WAS WRONG!

I was told that Young Dro had left Grand Hustle to do his own thing on the indie tip, but I was wrong. Recent reports say that T.I. has made Dro the HNIC until he gets home.

“I talked to T.I. a few days before he went in. We were just riding around, kickin’ it in the Maybach, just going over our plans for the future. But it wasn’t on no sad s###. He still in high spirits. ” Dro tells VIBE. “We were talking over shrimp and oyster like bosses…I called him again the night before he went in to just reassure him and let him know I’m P$C for life. He knows I’m a winner, and I’m going to make sure everything is in order until he comes back home…T.I. is my homeboy for life. Everything I do is for Grand Hustle. He knows he made mistakes and he’s manning up to all of it.”

THE GAME AND TONY YAYO GET GANGSTA ON TWITTER

This is just sad.

MORE BEEF!

The fans lose. This would have been cool if you ask me.

[Source]

GREEN LANTERN TRAILER…

I’m not sold on this.

EPIC WINS OF THE DAY

Fallon is a fool for this one. Jimmy Fallon imitates Neil Young, sings Willow Smith’s song “Whip My Hair” and then gets the boss Bruce Springsteen involved. CLASSIC.

ILLSEED’S QUICKIES

I can’t believe this. Syndey the Tranny is claiming he/she slept with Lil Wayne right before he went to jail.

Common is writing his autobiography.

Chris Brown may come off thug in his music, but the judge presiding over him gave him praise for being a model convict.

Ever since she dissed Rick Ross, Chrisette Michele says the Bawse has been unavailable to him.DR. DRE. AND SNOOP ON THE VIDEO!

“Kush” has set off the fact that Detox is on the way!

Dre looks like he will twist somebody’s neck off! NICKI MINAJ PROMO PIC!

I’M OUT!LONDON, WE LOVE YOU!!  They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!

Black Eyed Peas Bring Hip-Hop Back To The Super Bowl

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

(AllHipHop News) Rap group Black Eyed Peas have been confirmed as this year’s halftime entertainment for Super Bowl XLV, in an attempt to update the halftime game’s image. The Peas’ performance on February 6th at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas, is the first time an urban/Hip-Hop group has played during the Super Bowl’s halftime show since 2004. While rap artists like Nelly, Kid Rock and Diddy performed, scandal erupted when R&B singers Justin Timberlake ripped Janet Jackson’s shirt open and exposed her bare breast, causing what was later dubbed “nipple gate.”The stunt caused nationwide outrage and in the ensuing aftermath, CBS was fined $500,000. According to the Dallas Morning News, The Super Bowl is the biggest concert of the year, drawing over $107 million viewers. The NFL has been criticized over the years for the choice of performances during the Super Bowl’s after “nipple gate,” which included artists like Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and The Who. The Black Eyed Peas’ new album The Beginning is due in stores November 30th.