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The Last Word: 3LW/Cheetah Girls Star Exposes Joe’s Abusive Past, En Vogue Goes Reality TV and Justin Timberlake Turns Golf Pro
Whats new, good people? Its time to celebrate the arrival
of the weekend as we think on the moving memorial for Michael Jackson,
speculation involving Alaska governor Sarah Palins surprise announcement that
shes resigning from office at the end of the month, the death of former
Tennessee Titans quarterback at the hands of his troubled mistress and
President Obama interacting with playboy Italian Prime Minister Silvio
Berusconi while visiting Italy.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the McNair family as well as
fans and friends of the star athlete. Shout out to iconic radio host Casey
Kasem, who signed off the air permanently after 39 years of counting down the
hits on American Top 40, all the media, speakers, performers and fans who made
the MJ memorial a peaceful and respectful event without turning it into a
circus and the sounding boards, who just continue to do what they do best.
OK. Ring the Bell. Let it begin. Bring on the Last Word for
the week ending July 10, 2009.
1. Former 3LW/Cheetah Girl Member Inducts Joe into the
He-Man Woman Beaters Club
Just when you think you know an artist, theres always
something that comes up to prove how much you really dont. Case in point: former
3LW/Cheetah Girls member Kiely Williams, who has decided to weigh in on the hot
topic of domestic abuse.
In a recent interview with EURWeb, the singer confessed to
seeing her mother become an abuse victim at the hands of someone who many
wouldnt peg as a member of the Chris Brown beatdown society. The guilty party,
according to Williams, is none other than R&B hitmaker Joe as she recalled
how bad the crooner treated her mother.
I have had my own personal experience with domestic abuse
with my mother having been in an emotionally and physically abusive
relationship with the R&B singer JOE for several years, she shared. I saw
the toll it took on her and how difficult her recovery was. I wish Rihanna the
best and hope that she gets through what I know is a terrible ordeal.
As if the whole Chris Brown situation isnt enough, now we
got this. Makes you think. Who will be the next singer to have his domestic
abuse situation revealed?
2. Living Colour Rocks On With Their Chair in the Doorway
For those who go beyond the realm of Hip-Hop and R&B for
a musical fix, heres some news for all the rock heads.
According to Billboard.com, the 80s/90s hard funk rock
band Living Colour is releasing its first album of new material nearly six years,
The Chair in the Doorway. Although group members Vernon Reid, Will Calhoun and
Doug Wimbish havent recorded collectively in a long time Living Colour
front man Corey Glover is quick to say that the new project doesnt mark a
reunion.
Everyone sees the video and thinks we’re a band from the
eighties or we broke up or we’re not together, he said about the clip to
collectives Grammy-winning hit Cult of Personality. But it’s not a reunion
thing. In some form or another, all of us have been playing with each other.
Will and Doug have a band that I would sit in every now and then. Vernon had a
band that I’d come in and do some stuff. Even in those times when we weren’t
together we were still playing together.
And while its good to have Corey and the boys back on the
scene, they realize that times have changed and theyve matured into veterans
of the music game.
Because we are older, we got kids that’s the
impetus for the name of the album, The Chair In The Doorway, Glover said about the 11-song project, which was
recorded in various locations over the last few years. Sometimes it’s the most
ridiculous things are the most obvious. The most obvious thing to me is Yeh we
are older. Yeah we live in a post-9/11 world. We do have these things. But we
still got to eat. I can’t let the world stop me from being me.
Look for Living Colours The Chair In The Doorway to arrive in stores on September 15.
3. En Vogue Thinks of Reality Show Exposure
They may have been gone for a while, but En Vogue has
definitely not been forgotten as they contemplate catching up with fans via a
new reality TV show.
According to group member Dawn Robinson, the move would
serve as another venue to get our music out there.
The industry has changed, she told Singersroom.com. It’s
not just about getting a record deal anymore. It’s about exposure.
En Vogues reality TV show dreams come as the quartet reunites
for its 20th anniversary. And while theyve had much success with classic hits
like Hold On, Dont Let Go, Free Your Mind My Lovin (Youre Never Gonna
Get It)and Whatta Man, Terry Ellis admits it didnt come without a downside.
Twenty years in the business is a long time and we’ve had a
lot of fun in the process, but there’s also been some ups and downs and we’d
like to share some of that, she said.
As of now, no network hasnt been confirmed for the
potential reality series. But dont worry. Plans call for En Vogue to release
their first album in more than five years in late 2009/early 2010.
4. Soul Train Enters DVD World; Michael Jackson Footage
Possibly Included
If youre like me and still mourning Michael Jackson, a
little help may be on the way, courtesy of Soul Train.
Variety reports that
DVDs of the long-running dance show are coming to a store near you and will be
released under the Time Life label. Among the performances captured will be
concerts by Al Green, Aretha Franklin and the Temptations. The deal to release
the Soul Train DVDs was underway before the music legends unexpected death on
June 25.
Although there arent any specific Soul Train DVD titles
planned, various live footage of Michael Jackson performing I Want You Back, Dancing
Machine and Don’t Say Goodbye Again with the Jackson 5 and Whatever You Got
I Want, What You Don’t Know Won’t Hurt You and If I Don’t Love You This Way
from his days as an emerging solo act can be pieced together for releases. In
addition, extensive footage of music icon accepting various Soul Train Music
Awards through the 1990s as well as his induction into the Soul Train Hall of
Fame are along with a performance of Dangerous at the ceremony are also in
the possession of Time Lifes parent company, Direct Holdings Americas.
The company, which acquired DVD distribution rights to the
entire Soul Train catalog, plans to license clips from the series for other
outside uses.
Now this is something I can get with. Don Cornelius in his
prime introducing and interviewing performers as only he can. Not too mention
all the memorable dancers that have gone through that Soul Train line. Classic
material, indeed. Cant wait.
In Other Words
* Justin Timberlake is setting the wheels in motion to bring
his love for the game of golf to the masses.
Sources tell The New York Observer the former boy band members literary agent, David
Vigliano, sent editors a short proposal by Timberlake last month. Despite
Vigliano and Timberlakes publicist not commenting on the project, The
Observer says the book will be something
of a memoir, consisting of stories of rounds he has played and people he has
played with.
The page-turner is the latest chapter in Justins
relationship with golf. The crooner, who started playing the game as a boy,
regularly competes in charity tournaments, in addition to owning an
environmentally friendly golf course in his hometown of Millington, Tennessee.
* The road back to musical prominence has gotten a bit
closer for Whitney Houston. The songbird will put on a free concert in
September for fans. The early morning comeback show, which will kick off Good
Morning America‘s autumn concert series,
will feature Houston performing her hits as well as songs from her
early-awaited new album. At this time, no exact date or location has been
confirmed for the performance.
* If she has her way, Shakira will add mother to her
resume as she plans on taking time out to start a family. In an interview with
the El Tiempo newspaper, Shakira
mentioned that she will focus on a family after the October release of her
as-yet-unnamed album. Although she confessed to wanting two kids, her boyfriend
Antonio de la Rua would like three.
Shakiras forthcoming album is the follow-up to her previous
effort, Oral Fixation. The songstress
new single is Loba, which is Spanish for She-Wolf.
The Alchemist: High and Mighty
On his previous album, The Alchemist successfully put together a cohesive album filled with grimy bangers. Five years later, the producer/rapper is still on the same tip, but this time with more diversity from production to guest appearances. Chemical Warfare (out July 7th) is a must buy, a well thought-out coordination of sinister melodies and hooks with the kind of verses that call for numerous rewind that moments.
Now most hip-hop fans are familiar with The Alchemist. They know his catalogue of highly sought-after beats, and they know his role as Eminems trustworthy DJ. But do they know how he became Ems DJ? Or what took so long for a producer of his caliber to even get a chance to work with Slim Shady on a full track?
We were as curious as the fans, so we caught up with the multi-tasking producer to check out what hes been cooking up. Trust usfrom working with Kid Cudi, to exclusive new Relapse 2 material from Eminem, to the Jewish reign in hip-hop, The Alchemist is always happy to drop knowledge on his beat science.
AllHipHop.com: Have you spoken to Prodigy lately?
Alchemist: Yea, I go visit him. I spoke to him on the phone. Hes actually good. Getting his health right, mind right, staying away from the bulls***. He reads and watches the news. Hes up on more current events than I do. I knew he had some s*** to say about the swine flu thing. He says, Son, you know that was just so the health industry could get money off the vaccine. Theyre just putting out a flu so everybody gets scared so they could go make money. Im like, Damn, son. You got the theories over there even. But Ive been playing a lot of music over the phone. Were working, man.
AllHipHop.com: To kick things off about the album, why did Eminem only spit one verse on the track Chemical Warfare?
Alchemist: Its leakage. That version leaked out before we could finish the track, man. But now the full track is ready.
AllHipHop.com: What about those short joints with Fabolous and Lil Fame?
Alchemist: Those were actually all short records. I wanted to have those songs that are used as a mediator between songs like those old Premier s****. Plus, I feel like attention spans for people are shorter these days.
AllHipHop.com: In regards to the album, I really liked the joint Thatll Work.
Alchemist: That was like an experimental beat. I had a sample on the MPC and I held on to all 32 buttons with my hands and the chopped sound goes, Doo-loo-loo. I was like, That s*** sounds ill! So I just pressed record and I put my whole hand on the MPC pads. I could have never programmed it like that. It was some mistake s***.
AllHipHop.com: Whyd you decided to put Juvenile and Three-6-Mafia on it?
Alchemist: At first I sent it to Ludacris. But he wanted to use it for his next album. So I was like, Nah, Im good. I want this s*** to come out now. So I ended up sending it to Juvie and he got on it first.
AllHipHop.com: And it came out ill.
Alchemist: I loved how the record came out. When Three-6-Mafia got on, it had the bounce of a South record but it still sounds
AllHipHop.com: real gritty.
Alchemist: Yea! I felt like this is them coming to my world and me meeting them halfway. I didnt want to do 1st Infantry part two. I wanted to do something to follow where I left off. So I had to change the casts. Some of the characters are still there.
AllHipHop.com: Yea, you still have similar characters, but compare to your first album, which had a heavy Queens presence, I felt like this one had a large West Coast presence instead. Beginning with Lose Your Life with Snoop singing the hook
Alchemist: That record went through stages. What really made it ill to me was the video. Once the record came out, it got some love and I was like, I need to add some visuals to this. I didnt want to do one of those Khaled videos where Im in the background going [imitating Khaleds dance moves], Yea! Yea! This is my s***! So I thought, If I make it into a cartoon, I can control this s***. Its a gangster record and Im going to do a gangster video? Lame, man! At the time I thought of rap zombies. One time when we did a show in France with Mobb Deep there were about 4,000 people in the crowd that were like, Oh! [Flailing his hands imitating zombies.] I remember looking at P like, Yo, they look like zombies! So I was thinking Im the Pied Piper and I have my squad of rap zombies to f**k up s***. The dude who did the video is this guy name Devin Flynn who used to have a show on Cartoon Network called Yall So Stupid. You dont do acid? Watch this s*** because youll feel like this is what acid feels like.
AllHipHop.com: I have another question about the track Therapy, which features Blu and Kid Cudi. When you recorded that joint with Cudi, did you think he was going to be big as he is now?
Alchemist: My manager, my brothers my manager, he and Paul Rosenberg have told me about Cudi years ago. He actually worked at the Bape store. Paul told me about this dude and gave me two songs and Day N Nite was one of them. And I was like, Yo, this s*** is hot. He came over and recorded couple things. The way he recorded his vocals I was like, This dude is sick.
AllHipHop.com: Was he high?
Alchemist: We were high, yes. Hes kind of like Snoop. Anything I ever did with Snoop the minute the beat came on, in about 20 seconds the hook was already there. Like [Snoop] will hear the beat and go, Uh-ho! [Mumbling.] And thats the hook. Thats the same thing with Cudi. He was ill with the way he controlled his vocals.
AllHipHop.com: What about Blu?
Alchemist: My two favorite rappers that are new are Blu and Jay Electronica. I wouldnt even say they are new because theyve both been around. Theyre so incredible because I feel like they still have that artistic integrity, which hasnt been compromised by getting a big deal or catering to the radio, which I cant say for this new crop of artists. But it still feels like labels are mad at those two. I like the rappers that are making the labels tight!
AllHipHop.com: And Jay Electronica?
Alchemist: He is like the wind. He is not a rapper! He is like a spirit. The first time I met him he was supposed to come over at night. Didnt show up at all. Next morning hes knocking on my door. So Im like, Whats up? Hes like, You want to just go for a walk? [Laughs.] It was the weirdest s*** ever! I was like, Uh Word! Hell yea! We rolled up some weed, it was a Sunday morning and we walked all the way to the West Side Highway just chopping it up about life and everything. He asks mad questions and acts like a student, but hes a teacher.
AllHipHop.com: Going back to Eminem, you just confirmed that he laced a full track with you. Can fans expect an Alchemist-produced track on the next Eminem album?
Alchemist: Anything can happen, man. The relationship is getting much better.
AllHipHop.com: A lot better than that time when the car accident occurred few years ago?
Alchemist: I mean at the time, I was just his DJ and he was under the influence of so many drugs, man. He doesnt even remember that I was out there with him. When the fans heard I was linking up with Em theyre thinking, Theyll be making music together. Not Alchemist going out there doing funky scratches. At the time, there was too much s*** going on for him that he didnt realize, Yo, I got Alchemist on my team. Thats a fully loaded gun on my belt alongside other heaters.
AllHipHop.com: Did you think that you were going to make music?
Alchemist: Part of the reason I got in the camp was because I knew the protocols. I knew Em before he blew up because of Paul [Eminems manager]. Ive seen the whole s### even without being in the whole circle. I think that was also one of the reasons like, Oh, Als not going to be hawking Em with beats. The whole year I was on tour with him, I never did that once because I knew how to play my cards. Now that Ems sober, hes asking me more now.
AllHipHop.com: Right, but I also heard that Em only likes to rap over either his own beats or Dres beats.
Alchemist: Yea, because he doesnt need more usually. You have unlimited Dre beats, and your own beats. What more beats do you need? Their relationship is ill because it seems like its gotten better.
AllHipHop.com: Really?
Alchemist: Yea. It seems like once Em sobered up and Dre realized it he was like, You want to go? Lets go! For six months Dre was out there. It was like six dudes—Mark Batson, Dawaun Parker—his whole clique of guys. And I wasnt out there, but from the stories Em told me it sounded great. Now that his head is straight his rhymes arent straight. He is making the most psychotic s***s Ive ever heard. He has a song on Relapse 2 thats so crazy. You know Underground?
AllHipHop.com: Yea.
Alchemist: It takes off where that stops and obliterates that. He rhymes in his regular voice Im afraid because the rhymes might slip out of my mouth. [Laughs.] Put it this way, theres a song called Insult to Injury.
AllHipHop.com: You said it.
Alchemist: God! When mof*****s hear this s***, theyre going to s***!
AllHipHop.com: Dope. Now I have a theory. You ready? Old-school white rappers like MC Serch and the Beastie Boys to new-school white rappers and producers from Ill Bill, Necro, High and Mighty, Asher Roth, Drake, Scott Storch and yourself are all Jewish.
Alchemist: Is that true? Serch?
AllHipHop.com: Serch is Jewish.
Alchemist: Yea, but Asher isnt Jewish. Thats a misconception.
AllHipHop.com: I see. But Drake is half-Jewish.
Alchemist: No, no, no. He said, Lyor (Lie-Or) Cohen in an interview. How are you going to say Lyor (Lie-Or) when you know its supposed to be pronounced Lyor (Lee-Or)if youre Jewish, man. I dont know.
AllHipHop.com: [Laughs.] He wasnt raised to be a good Jew. But if his mom is Jewish
Alchemist: This is like that s*** in Howard Stern Is He a Jew?
AllHipHop.com: [Laughs.] But why do you think Im not saying cats like Bubba and Lil Wyte arent dope.
Alchemist: Because they arent Jewish, man! Everybody know its because of that! They got to convert, man! [Laughs.]
AllHipHop.com: [Laughs.] Get your Bar Mitzvahs on!
Alchemist: Get your Jewish bars up, man! Its got to be because they are not Jewish. Go get that circumcision, man! [Laughs.] You know this a new theory youre coming up with right now! Its like Evidence too. He was like, Why are all dope white rapper names start with E? MC Eon, Evidence, Eminem, Everlast… He had a whole list one day. By the way Evidence is half-Jewish. You really might be on to something here, man? [Laughs.] Jewish rappers? I dont know, huh? Well, the industry has a lot of Jewish guys. Maybe they favor them. So based on your theory, if Bubba was Jewish, he wouldve blown up.
AllHipHop.com: Maybe [Laughs.]
Alchemist: Huh? [Laughs.] Am I putting words in your mouth?
AllHipHop.com: [Laughs.]
EXCLUSIVE: Lil Wayne’s Manager Disputes Bahamas Lawsuit Account
Superstar Lil Waynes manager is countering a Bahamian promoters claim that the rapper missed 2008 concert because he was unconscious at the time of the scheduled performance.
On Thursday (July 9) TMZ.com reported that Red City Entertainment had filed a lawsuit against the multi-platinum artist in regards to a missed appearance on September 27 of last year.
The promoters claim that when Wayne was a no-show at the venue, police officers discovered him unconscious in his hotel room.
Red Citys suit seeks a total of $432,000, with $210,000 of the amount representing Waynes advance, and the rest covering travel and other expenses tied to the show.
But Waynes manager, Cortez Bryant, offers a much different account of the events.
In a statement sent to AllHipHop.com, Bryant explained that the September 27 date was actually a make up date for a concert scheduled the day before.
Our show was set for September 26th last year, Bryant explained. We arrived on time, ready to perform and learned that due to lack of payment from the promoters. The sound company they had hired packed up and left the venue before Wayne was scheduled to hit the stage. So they were forced to cancel the show. On those grounds, at that moment, they were in breach of contract and forfeited their deposit.
Bryant went on to explain that after several requests by the promoters, Wayne agreed to reschedule the show for the 27th, his birthday, despite having made it abundantly clear that he did not want to work on that date.
But Waynes agreement to perform was contingent on the promoters promise to ensure that all arrangements surrounding the performance were up to a certain standard, Bryant said.
I presented their case to Wayne and he said he would do it if the promoters had everything right, based on our contract, he added. I then told the promoters to extend our rooms and if, and only if, there were no problems at the venue, then he would take the stage.
When I arrived at the venue, the security was horrible, causing it to be an unsafe environment and the sound system wasnt up to our contracted standard, Bryant continued. I then told the promoters Wayne wasnt coming because they didnt have their setup to a contracted standard for the second night in a row.
On July 2, Lil Wayne was forced to cancel a European tour, on his doctors orders.
On the day the ten-date tour was scheduled to kick off in Paris, his team issued a statement that while he had arrived in Europe ready to perform, he was forced to postpone his performances due to doctor-mandated rest.
Fans were advised to hold on to their tickets, as dates are being rescheduled.
Lil Waynes hectic touring schedule last year contributed heavily to the total earnings of $18 million that landed him the number six position on the 2009 Forbes list of Hip-Hop Cash Kings.
Rapper Pitbull Thanks God For Beating DUI Charge
Pitbulls claims that he was erroneously arrested in December of 2007 on DUI charges have been validated, as the rapper was found not guilty of DUI charges today (July 9).
“I had my day in court and justice was served. All my life I have fought for everything I have achieved and we fought this accusation to the end, Pitbull told AllHipHop.com. I want to thank my attorneys Jim Best and Joseph Vredevelt; and all the fans; and, most of important of all, I thank God for letting justice prevail.”
The rapper went on trial yesterday (July 8) for an incident in 2007, when he was arrested for traveling 93 MPH on the Palmetto Expressway.
The police report claimed Pitbull, born Armando Perez, failed a number of field sobriety tests, after officers smelled alcohol on his breath.
The Cuban-American rapper took the stand and told the jurors that he was targeted because he is a celebrity, despite the fact that the arresting officer clocked him traveling at 93 MPH.
The arresting officer claimed that Pitbull refused to exit his Mercedes-Benz and when he finally did, he failed field sobriety tests.
Pitbull had refused to take a Breathalyzer test and according to testimony, the incident was not caught on the arresting officers dash board camera.
After three hours of deliberating, jurors found Pitbull not guilty.
Pitbulls attorneys James “Jim” Best and Joseph Vredevelt of Best and Associates were pleased with the not guilty verdict.
“It is a vindication for Mr. Perez who has contested these allegations for the past two years, Vredevelt and Best said in a joint statement released to AllHipHop.com. Justice truly was done in this case and we thank the jurors for their time and the people of Miami for their support of Mr. Perez during this trial.”
Pitbull’s latest single “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho” is #17 on Billboard’s Hot Digital Tracks chart.
A Breakdown Of Forbes’ Top 2009 Hip-Hop Earners
Despite earning 57% less between June 2008 and June 2009 than he did in the same period the previous year, Jay-Z has topped this years Forbes list of Hip-Hop Cash Kings.
The Roc-A-Fella co-founder raked in an estimated $35 million in the 12 month qualifying period.
While his income was almost $50 million less than what he made to qualify for last years list, Hova still managed to reclaim the top of the list from fellow entrepreneurial rapper 50 Cent, who fell to the number four position this year with estimated earnings of $20 million.
According to Forbes, one of the biggest reasons for the drastic change in income for both rappers was that they each had huge one-time deals to include in their 2008 earnings.
Rapper 50 Cent received $100 million from Coca-Cola for his stake in Glaceau, the company behind VitaminWater; while Jay-Z signed a one-of-a-kind 360 deal with concert promoter Live Nation, receiving the lions share of $150 million last year.
But like most other business men, Hip-Hops top earners have definitely been affected by the current economic climate. Last year, the top five artists on the list earned a combined $500 million.
This years top 5 earners Jay-Z, Diddy, Kanye West, Akon, and 50 Cent made a total $300 million.
According to Forbes.com, the Forbes Hip-Hop Cash Kings list includes male recording artists whose work is primarily classified as Hip-Hop or Rap.
The earnings estimates used to compile the list are calculated from record sales, digital downloads, touring, films, TV shows, endorsements, books and other entertainment ventures.
Management, agent and attorney fees are not subtracted from the gross totals. Forbes analysts assessed that what has kept Hip-Hop artists afloat is licensing.
Jay-Z earned approximately $1 million from Budweisers use of Show Me What You Got in a recent ad campaign.
In addition to earnings from Bad Boy Records, Sean John and his reality TV ventures, which include Making the Band and Runs House, a portion of Diddys earnings came from his relationship with Ciroc Vodka.
Kanye West added to his income last year with the release of the limited-edition Nike Air Yeezy, and is expected to add to his 2010 income with his new shoe partnership with Louis Vuitton.
Common also earned some licensing money through his Lincoln Navigator ad campaign.
Despite the economy, Hip-Hop is just as powerful as its ever been in the endorsement and licensing world, explainrf Ryan Schinman, whos company Platinum Rye is the worlds largest buyer of music and talent for corporations.
Tween stars and rock legends are very reliable, but the impact of Hip-Hop on pop-culture and fashion continues to lead the charge, Schinman told Forbes.
Two of the few rappers to actually see their income increase this year, Akon and Lil Wayne, did so simply by outworking most other artists.
The bulk of their earnings came from hectic tour schedules and financially rewarding collaborations.
FORBES HIP-HOP CASH KINGS 2009
1. Jay-Z :: $35 Million 2. Sean Diddy Combs :: $30 Million 3. Kanye West :: $25 Million 4. 50 Cent & Akon :: $20 Million each 6. Lil Wayne :: $18 Million 7. Timbaland :: $17 Million 8. Pharell Williams :: $16 Million 9. T-Pain :: $15 Million 10. Eminem :: $14 Million 11. Dr. Dre :: $13 Million 12. Snoop Dogg :: $11 Million 13. Ludacris :: $10 Million 14. Common, will.i.am, T.I., & Swizz Beatz :: $8 Million each 18. Andre 3000 & Big Boi :: $7 Million each 20. Flo Rida, Rick Ross, The Game, & Young Jeezy :: $6 Million
E-Thugs Are Gonna Kill You!
I took a bit of a break from writing. Life is real and some of my previous editorials had some people after me. I have been running in fear of my life. The thugs The E-Thugs.
Im petrified of all these E-Thugs roaming the Internet Superhighway terrorizing everybody like they own the web or something.
If you don’t know, an E-thug does all the things that a real life thug does except those actions physically violent or intimidating. Typically, they have better-than-average computer skills, particularly within the context of message boards and “keystyling.” The “E” in E-Thug stands for “electronic” for the oldies reading.
The E-Thugs have landed and they can stand you down solo or with a gang of other E-Thugs. This phenomenon has progressively gotten stronger over time and as the online platforms have grown. So, the larger the audience, the harder the E-Thug.
What the E-Thug isn’t so good at is face-to-face interaction and confrontation, but they can fend off just about any typist attacker with a swift movement of their fingers.
I can’t lie.
I’ve written several of my columns and the comments and commentary of the E-Thug would make me believe that my life was in danger. Whenever I start seeing somebody typing in all caps, laced with profanity and irrational thoughts, I can only visualize a psychotic person slamming their keyboard foaming at the mouth. Like, this person has to be plotting a murder, if they only had the IP address of their victim.
I’m from an era that experienced much of life without computers, so when you had an issue, it was usually dealt with after school or face to face. Generally, the crowd would congregate as well. Or, even more fun, we would play the dozens, a right of passage where you verbally sparred with friends (or enemies) through hurtful, funny jokes. These things happen in the digital space now. If a twitter fight breaks out, people run to that page to see what is being said.
If you were a genuine thug, you could get away with pushing people around. Even those dudes would get tested from time to time. The point is, everybody knew there was some sort of bounds that they had to operate within or else you may end up writing a check you couldn’t cash.
Most e-thugging is associated with the young and reckless, but that’s not totally true. Recently, I have seen grown professional men e-thugging and digital gang banging on each other. Its just weird to me and also shameful. Perhaps they want attention or to make up some aggression that they lack in physical interaction offline. Men have always needed to show their masculinity in some way or another, whether its lifting weights or typing hard enough to damage their PC.
On the others side, I have seen actual thugs discover the computer and magically become E-thugs. But these dudes are generally more serious and will even give their prison number or something as a badge of authenticity. They can go back and forth, between real thug and E-Thug. But, their P.O. may not appreciate terrorist threats in real life. I dont know.
But, what I do fear happening is one of these wack job E-thugs is going to feel the need to cross over and make their gangster felt offline. Somebody is going to mess around and create the next Columbine disaster or worse. For now, they lurk under the cloak of anonymity and live “strapped” with threatening words that beg the question “What if?”
What if…
Some fun pictures. Please do not take these images personally and kill me.
Good Guy aka Everyman is a columnist on AllHipHop.com and his columns appear every Thursday or when he sends them over.
Of course his views are not necessarily that of AllHipHop.com, but secretly wish we had a big chain.
Royce Promises Classic Slaughterhouse Debut, Speaks On Budden Issues
With his latest EP dropping this past Tuesday (July 7), Detroit veteran Royce da 59 is the lead emcee to kick off an EP series buildup to the anticipated debut of the super group Slaughterhouse.
Each member (Joe Budden, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, Royce Da 59) will release an EP in the month of July in preparation for the groups self-titled LP on August 11.
As the member with the most released albums (4), Royce revealed this project represents the first time hes had hands-on involvement on an albums marketing strategy.
Its the one Ive been most involved in. Normally in the past I would do a project and hand it over to the label and say ok, yall do your thing, Royce told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive interview. Im very involved with the media campaign of it, and also getting together with the guys and trying to make this work for our solo careers as well as the group. The beauty of it is we all have our respective careers. We dont want to get in a group and just be looked at as group members. Were all sitting on monster sh*t as solo artists. We want to strategically put em up out to where were controlling a part of the music business for a certain amount of time Its a powerful movement.
While fans of their solo work remain excited, there are some who question whether Slaughterhouses debut will just be a collection of battle-heavy, mixtape styled rhymes as opposed to a cohesive album.
To those critics, Royce promises the project is the best artistic achievement the foursome has done in their careers.
We got real records. The album sounds like one of our solo albums with us all over it, Royce explained to AllHipHop.com. Because were a group doesnt mean were gonna go in and sway from the formula any of us would use for our own albums. We were more concerned about making records than doing 13 onslaught Slaughterhouse records, because people already know we can do that. Im telling you, everyone is going to be surprised when they hear it. Its classic and all 4 of us think so. Its the best project that any of us have been a part of. Were real proud of what weve come with.
Yesterday, Wu Tang founding member Inspectah Deck released a venomous diss (House N*gga) aimed at Joe Budden in response to the Jersey emcees brief feud with Method Man.
When asked if the group has reservations about Buddens outspoken nature getting them into unnecessary beefs, Royce affirmed that Joe has the groups full support.
Im going to hold him down [even] if Im uncomfortable with something hes saying. Ill go to him, I wont go to the media and disagree with Joe, Royce clarified. His personality is just stronger than the average persons, thats what makes him special, thats what makes him that character in the group. We let him be who he is, and we just keep a close eye on him, like you probably shouldnt have said that, but dont worry about it were gonna straighten it out. Because hes never said nothing too crazy where someone will want to kill him The real n*ggas, were always gonna squash it [with them].
The full interview will be featured soon on AllHipHop.com
Pitbull Talks DUI Trial; Seeks Justice
Miami Rapper Pitbull wants the world to be clear on one fact regarding his on-going trial in his hometown: his in court by choice and not by obligation.
The bi-lingual superstar, who recently released his first single “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho), as a Polo Grounds Music recording artist, went on trial in Miami-Dade County Wednesday (July 8) to face DUI charges stemming from a 2007 arrest.
Following several reports in the media about the trial, Pitbull, born Armando Perez, issued a statement through via his attorneys.
The reports that are circulating in the media regarding my DUI trial are inaccurate and incomplete, Pitbull told AllHipHop.com. “Ive chosen to take this case to trial to make sure justice is served.
The rapper and his legal team maintain that he was erroneously arrested on December 21, 2007, when he was clocked driving at 93 mph on the Palmetto Expressway in Miami.
According to reports released to the press after the arrest, Pitbull was visibly intoxicated, demonstrating slurred, rapid speech after initially refusing to step out of his vehicle once stopped.
The police report states that once Pitbull stepped out of the car, officers detected the smell of alcohol on the rappers breath, despite his apparent attempt to cover the smell with chewing gum.
Pitbull eventually agreed to a series of field sobriety tests, which he reportedly failed.
His blood alcohol level was not released to the public.
Mr. Perez is currently in trial defending himself against the untrue and greatly overblown allegations, added his attorney Joseph Vredevelt. We intend to finish this trial in the next day and with a favorable result.
If Vredevelts prediction is accurate, a verdict should be handed down later today (July 9).
Jacob the Jeweler Forfeits $2 Million In Laundered Funds
Jacob Arabov has forfeited $2 million dollars in illegal proceeds, as a part of his plea agreement conviction for laundering the drug profits of a nationwide drug conspiracy network.
Arabov, known affectionately to Hip-Hop stars as Jacob the Jeweler, was sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison for lying to federal authorities about the ownership of $5 million worth of jewelry seized from Terry Flenory, co-head of the notorious Black Mafia Family that operated throughout the United States from 1990-2005.
Under law, drug forfeiture money appropriated by authorities can only be disbursed and used by law enforcement agencies.
Of the $2 million seized, $1.6 million was distributed to seven law enforcement agencies in and around Detroit, the Black Mafia Familys original base of operations.
The Detroit, Groose Ile Township, Birmingham, and Livonia police departments received $267, 200, with the same amount going to the Livingston County Sheriffs office.
The River Rouge Police Department received $198,800, while the Waterford Police Department retained $67,200.
The remaining $400,000 was kept by the federal government.
The Black Mafia Family was founded by the Flenory brothers Demetrius (Meech) and Terry (Southwest P) in the early 90s.
Their vast criminal empire drew extensive police attention when the group began publicly promoting themselves in Hip-Hop circles throughout Atlanta (Young Jeezy, Bleu DaVinci): throwing lavish parties, creating DVDs, and even erecting a prominent Billboard in the city.
In 2005, a series of drug raids and turns of key members into informants effectively the dismantled the drug trafficking organization.
Last year, both Flenory brothers were sentenced to 30 years in prison under CCE (Continuing Criminal Enterprise Law) classification.
REVIEW: “Subway Art”
Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant, both world-class photographers in their own right, reclaim graffiti fame with this 25th anniversary re-release of their remarkable visual documentation of graffitis golden age in the late 70s and early 80s. The portfolio-sized book is not one of those stuffy academic releases dedicated to the history of graffiti, its commercialization, or global significance. The portraits in Subway Art only depict either one of two things: the artist and/or his work.
The graffiti writers (most of them started out as young delinquents bombing trains) latched on to the idea of Cooper and Chalfant recording their lives through photos, though they did not necessarily have the foresight to realize they were being immortalized as pioneers of a major phenomenon. Even the photographers themselves were hard-pressed to predict the graffitis continental influence. Henry Chalfant admits, We never thought of the book as an exhaustive survey of the entire history of the graffiti movement; rather it was an extraordinary record of a movement that we had observed from our point of view.
Surveying the freight-car long photos of iridescent piecesmost of which were done by aerosol cans in train lots at the end of the 2, 3, and 5 lines in the Bronx and Brooklynone cant help but ponder the peril behind producing some of these fabled works. Among the artists who went on put on exhibitions and establish careers as graphic designers were also artists who have been in or out of jail or who have died before their time.
Chalfant and Cooper, who both have worked extensively outside of graffiti in the world of photojournalism, situate these pictures of extravagant artwork within the backdrop of New York Citys crumbling financial standing in the 70s. Within the book are pictures of graffiti set behind dilapidated buildings and vacant lots, and artists posing on dirty trains.
Of course, graffiti has been both condemned by visual art puritans like one trustee at the Museum of Modern Art who suggested graffiti writers should be lined up at dawn and shot and lauded by a Hip-Hop generation that has embraced it and accepted it as a viable medium of expression. But this collection of photographs, very respectably, is just about the artwork itself. The transcending can take place elsewhere.video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsfree video player
Sneak(er) Peek: Adidas X Def Jam
Def Jam and Adidas; two disparate companies sharing innovative pasts and futures. The former holds place as the essential Hip-Hop label, built on acts like LL Cool, Slick Rick and Public Enemy. The latter is a bedrock in sportswear, and inadvertently or not, Hip-Hop fashion harking back to the debut of ubiquitous Pro Model/Superstar (aka Shelltoes).In celebration of Def Jam and Adidas 25th and 60th anniversaries, respectively, as the common thread, the two companies have teamed to produce the adidas Originals Def Jam collection. This clothing will include sneakers and apparel. Special make-ups of traditional Adidas kicks including the Superstar, the Forum Mid and the Stan Smith. Tees and track jackets (see photos) will also be included in the line. [cont. below]At a recent Adidas sponsored release party for their Blackout! 2 album, Def Jam artists Redman and Method Man gave their take on the Adidas and Def Jam union. To me Adidas is synonymous with Run-DMC. Adidas is synonymous with fat laces, and taps on the bottom of the shoes, ya know, shell toes, said Method Man. Their history alone is way beyond Redman or Method Man. The influence that Adidas has in the hood, I really cant tell you. I just like a fresh pair of sneakers. Its three brands the brothers really mess with, and Adidas is one of them.
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Adds Redman, Connecting with Adidas and knowing they history means a lot. Im glad to be a part of the family, serious. As far as the partnership with Adidas, I guess they needed some personality. All the staff that works for Adidas is probably young, was probably into our music when they was a little younger. Somebody was like why not Red & Meth? Its good that we can stand out. We can appeal to the younger crowd.
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Lately the now de rigeur rapper clothing lines or collaborations can tend to turn off buyers weary of their tendency to include auspicious logos and low brow pandering in their designs. But the adidas Originals Def Jam collection seen below and to the left combine traditional adidas designs with smart details like AD.60.DJ.25 inscriptions and subtle homages like the burgundy colorways that DJs will remember from the Def Jam labels 12 record sleeves. Current Def Jam acts including Ghostface Killah and Young Jeezy will be revealing their own special adidas and Def Jam co-branded clothing in the coming months. The collection will be available at select retailers and the Adidas Originals store beginning in July and August. aqua blogs about Hip-Hop, kicks and everything in between at Slang Rap Democracy.
Huey Ft. Lil Wayne
“Another Planet”
Sic Osyrus Ft. Esso and Sav Killz [Heater Of The Day]
“Still Love Her Remix”
Dorrough Ft. Jermaine Dupri, Soulja Boy, Jim_Jones, Slim Thug, E-40 And Rich Boy
“Ice Cream Paint Job Remix”
Step Brothers [Alchemist And Evidence]
“Just Step”