Part 2: Looking Forward

Part 1: Looking Back

Most in the Hip-Hop community believed Alfamega’s career had come to an abrupt end in the first week of May 2009. T.I. had kicked him out of Grand Hustle without even notifying him. The whole ordeal was based on a report by thesmokinggun.com, which pegged Alfamega as a government informant. At the time of the report, few realized that he was going through one of the most traumatic personal experiences of his own life. But beyond the facts often lie emotions, and sometimes even the truth.

Here in part two of our exclusive interview with Alfamega, who remains focused on healing and getting back to the music. The former “Grand Hustle Muscle” and his manager Reek shed more insight on what the last couple of months really mean.

AllHipHop.com: With everything that’s happened, were does your music career stand right now?

Alfamega: Me, I’m moving forward, I’m still on my own two feet. Like I said, I have no ill will towards anyone. I’ma just take everything on my own shoulders and run with it. I’m Muslim, I pray five times a day. I don’t hate that dude [T.I.]. I’m disappointed in his actions.

AllHipHop.com: Did you get a chance to speak to T.I. before he started his sentence last month?

Alfamega: I haven’t spoken to dude. But I checked on him. I talked to people who’s around him. The people around him keep saying ‘Why don’t you just call him?’ For what? I ain’t got nothing to talk to him about. He took his stance where he’s at, Imma stand over here where I’m at. [Editorial Note: Since this interview, Alfamega tells AllHipHop.com he has since reached out to the Grand Hustle camp and sent a message to T.I. that he’d like for the two of them to speak.]

AllHipHop.com: What do you think was T.I.’s motivation in making the announcement he made?

Alfamega: He had his legal issues. People tried to spread rumors, “Alfa had something to do with his case.” Come on man! He know that [isn’t true]. If y’all go talk to him, Tip know for a fact, Alfa ain’t have nothing to do with his case. Alfa ain’t even know his case was going down. Alfa ain’t even know he was doing what he was doing with dude. I’m not part of your security team. My name got brought up in it in the indictment. They mentioned my name and they mentioned C Rod’s name.

AllHipHop.com: Were you with T.I. on the night he got arrested?

Alfamega: No, I wasn’t there. I found out he was arrested [because] I got a call from Busta Rhymes. I was on my way home. I was with my people. The people that was with him when he got arrested was C Rod and them. I wasn’t with him.

AllHipHop.com: So how did your name get involved?

Alfamega: The dude Biggs, the informant, he involved my name in that s**t. He put C Rod’s name in it. Basically it was a blatant lie. He threw our name in there. But all of a sudden, everybody wanna scream “Alfa, Alfa. His name was in Tip’s indictment, how come nothing ain’t happen to him?” If you go back and read the indictment, what was there for you to lock us up for? Ain’t nobody knew what Tip was doing.

Reek: If you look at the video from the BET Awards, immediately, you see the emotions that’s pouring out of Alfa.

Alfamega: I was the first one screaming “Free T.I.P.” I wasn’t even gonna perform. They made me perform.

Reek: “Hurt” was performed that year. And you can tell from the look on the crowd, they had no idea why he was screaming free TI. Some people are gonna say that still can be acted out. But anyone that knows Alfa knows he wears his emotions on his sleeve. That’s authentic.

AllHipHop.com: With all that being said, do you betrayed?

Alfamega: I feel disappointed. If you look up the word “disappointment” and “betrayal” comes up under that, I guess you could say that. I’m not a scholar. I’m a regular Joe. Like my manager said: I wear my emotions on my sleeve. If I don’t like you, I don’t like you. I’m not gonna walk around and shake hands with you and kick it with you like I like you.

AllHipHop.com: Now, back to that document that says you were originally sentenced to 110 months and your sentence was reduced. You’re saying that information isn’t factual. So where did the document come from?

Alfamega: I don’t know. I’m telling you if a document existed like that it would have my signature on it. Every time you go to court and you sign a plea agreement, you gotta sign it. There ain’t no if, ands or buts about it. Anybody that been arrested for anything [knows] you gotta sign the paperwork.

AllHipHop.com: Do you have any ideas where it would’ve come from? [Here is the original report.]

Alfamega: [Laughs] Believe me: if I knew, you would know. CNN would know.

AllHipHop.com: Who’s the guy you supposedly provided this evidence against?

Alfamega: This guy named Ali. I didn’t even know Ali from the streets. We don’t know each other. That man ain’t came out and said nothing against me. And this what people not looking at. They say this man got locked up in ’97; this man got out in 2002. He got out a couple of months after I did. This man been on the street this whole time. If this many had any beef with me, he know my name and he know my face. This man coulda been stepped up and said something. So why everybody saying this and that, and this man ain’t never came to me. I don’t have nothing against Ali. I’ma apologize to him for his name getting caught up in all of this. I’ma do that right now. I know that’s something that’s on his shoulders right now because his name is in the middle of a lot of bulls**t.

AllHipHop.com: How do you think you’re going to be affected by all of this moving forward, as far as the relationships you had established, etc.?

Alfamega: If you were my friend, you’re my friend. If you got something to ask me, come to me and ask me. If I ain’t never bulls**tted you before, I ain’t gonna bulls**t you now. If you take the side of what’s on the internet and all that, me and you was never like that any way. It is what it is. If you don’t wanna mess with me? Cool, don’t mess with me. I’ma do me.

AllHipHop.com: With that being said, how do you plan on dealing with your label status?

Alfamega: I never listened to the radio interview. But I was told he said I ain’t got nothing to do with them, right?

AllHipHop.com: But at the same time, since you never got a release, if you put out something and it sells, they get a cut. So what’s the plan?

Reek: That’s the issue the public doesn’t understand. Business is not handled through the internet. Business is not handled through radio interviews. When real business transactions take place, it’s done in black and white. Which means you have a binding contract, which my client Alfamega has with Grand Hustle. They’re still obligated to Alfa. So you can denounce whatever you want, you can make all the accusations that you want, but until you present us with some kind of documentation, you’re still contractually obligated to us. So right now, what [T.I.]’s done is breached the contract. There are certain things that an artist has to do or provide to a label, and that’s stipulated on the contract. On the other side, there are obligations that they have to provide. There’s nothing that stipulates that if you catch a case or something like that or if you have any past history, we’ll void this contract. So he’s basically put Alfa in the driver’s seat. They can buy him out of his contract. I think right now, Alfa’s in a great position. I’m not a lawyer, but I have some knowledge of the contract between Alfamega, Grand Hustle and Capitol.

AllHipHop.com: So what’s next for you guys?

Reek: Before this whole situation had taken place, a lot of people where probably not aware of this, he was being promoted as “the Grand Hustle Muscle.” But through out the whole Shawty Lo/T.I. beef, he was the one denouncing the beef. Besides the Dirty Awards where there was that altercation where Alfa was, again, being a soldier for Tip and riding for Grand Hustle. You didn’t see Young Dro, you didn’t see L.A. You only saw Alfamega and Big Kuntry. All that to say, Alfa’s gonna continue to do what he needs to do. Grand Hustle, where they go with that, that’s on them. Jason [Geter] is an intelligent businessman, him and Tip, they built a successful organization. But you have to realize what you have in your camp.

R.I.P. MICHAEL JACKSON

What is going on with Hip-Hop this week? Jay-Z is still mad at everyone who uses autotune (except for Lil Wayne, T-Pain, and Kanye West…the major users of autotune. They also where a lot of tight pants and colorful clothing which is also what Jay-Z hates but once again I digress.) Speaking of Jay-Z, he and The Game are about to have another lukewarm feud. (I wonder if Memphis Bleek will get involved). Speaking of The Game, he apologized to 50 Cent for their old beef (We will see how long it lasts). Speaking of 50 Cent, he is releasing mixtapes again (Did he stop?) and dropped a new one called Forever King. All of that brings us to the artists that are still releasing music oddly linked to the recently passed King of Pop. (Rick Ross? Neverland? Really?). This, of course, brings us to the pop icon that influenced generations of music and was laid to rest yesterday.

Michael Jackson’s death shook up the whole makeup of last week’s charts and his influence can still be felt in this week’s Chartwatch – three of the top five slots are MJ’s. Anyone whose funeral can sell out the Staples Center has a weight in this industry that can not be denied. Jackson’s album, Number Ones, sells 337,000 copies this week and holds the number one spot. The latest Now disc, Now 31, takes the number two spot. Jackson’s Thriller takes the number three spot selling 165,000 units. (I’m a big fan of MJ but if I see the “Thriller” or “Billie Jean” video one more time…I mean ONE MORE TIME…I’m probably going to watch it. But I’ll complain about it later.)

Brad Paisley’s new album, American Saturday Night, grabs the number four spot. I don’t listen to country so I have no idea if it’s good or not. Well somebody is buying the album if he’s at number four. That brings us once again to Michael Jackson who holds the number five spot with The Essential Michael Jackson. That’s the last you’ll see of MJ in the top ten but it should be noted that he has three other albums in the top 50.

Rob Thomas claims the number six spot with his new album Cradlesong followed by Wilco’s self titled album.

The Black Eyed Peas fall to number seven with their astonishingly chart topping album The E.N.D. I like to think with the overabundance of MJ music out there right now people have come to realize what good pop music is and have reduced the buying of Perez Hilton’s nemesis. Either way it’s nice to see all parties involved in that little feud have very little exposure nowadays.

Ladies! Do you like sex? Do you like birthdays? Do you like birthday sex? Really…oh? Well, Def Jam artist Jeremih is still dropping his debut album and grabbing the number nine spot. The self titled album enters the top ten charts on the wave of his successful single “Birthday Sex”. That is followed by heavy metal’s Killswitch Engage’s self titled album at number ten. Later down the charts are last weeks debut’s Ace Hood and Maino. They came in at #26 and #32, respectively.

DROPPING THIS WEEK

So you still say Hip-Hop is dead? You’re madder at the autotune than Jay-Z. You’re still wondering why everyone is wearing tight pants and where all the good Hip Hop music went. Well guess what…it’s still here. It never actually left. You just kept listening to whatever the radio fed you (Boom Boom Pow, anyone?) until it became popular. Every week artists from all different facets of Hip Hop are releasing albums. So quit complaining about Soulja Boy making too much money and go pick up and album by some of these artists.

But you say, “I’m not shelling out $16 for an album with one song.”

When was the last time you saw an album for $16? You can get a lot of full length cd’s for 10 bucks. Plus go back and listen to some of your old records. A lot of them had one song and you don’t even listen to that one anymore. (I’m looking at you Skee-Lo).

Then you say, “I’m lazy as *#&$ and I don’t want to leave my house.”

Ummm…..Amazon, Itunes, etc. (I would just say internet but we all know you guys love to bootleg).

So give some of these new albums a try. If Alchemist isn’t Hip Hop enough for you then I don’t know what to say. Since we’re already talking about him let’s start of this week with Alchemist. Now if you haven’t had a chance to pick up one of his albums you are truly missing out. Check out some of the videos he has online and you can see dude creates some amazing music in what looks like a run-down halfway house. All jokes aside, he drops his second studio album Chemical Warfare this week featuring Eminem, Kool G Rap, Twista, Maxwell, and a whole bunch of other people.

Next we have an artist from the label founded by El-P. Definitive Jux releases the third studio album by Cage titled Depart From Me. The album has production by El-P and Aesop Rock with the bulk of it being done by Sean “F.Sean” Martin. Interesting fact: The first video from of the album was directed by Shia LaBeouf. That’s right…Transformer’s Shia LaBeouf. I’m always on the fence with Definitive Jux. You either love it or hate it. Fans of Cage or the label may want to give this one a listen.

Chicago MC by way of Los Angeles, Chali 2na, returns with his third studio album Fish Outta Water. Now I know last week we had an artist releasing an album with the same title but I sure that’s purely coincidental. The former frontman for Jurassic 5 drops a new album with features from brothers, Damien and Stephen Marley, and Beanie Man. Fans of Chali 2na, Jurassic 5, or West Coast Hip Hop should take the time to listen to this one.

A few weeks ago we showed you a new collection of music by the late, great J Dilla entitled Jay Stay Paid and now we bring you another collection called Dillanthology, vol 2. The new album features The Pharcyde, Slum Village, Busta Rhymes, and The Brand New Heavies to name a few. It’s Dilla so it’s sure not to disappoint.

At this point I’m not exactly sure who all is involved in the whole Dipset and Skull gang crews but another member, Un Kasa, is dropping an album. The Best of Un Kasa is a 2 disc album offering…wait for it…the best of Un Kasa. It’s Dipset so if you like it then buy it. Speaking of Dipset, I saw a documentary on Jim Jones early this week that was actually pretty good. I mean really good. Good enough to make me listen to a Jim Jones album good. (Not good enough to make me listen to the whole thing but good nonetheless).

Well, that’s the Chartwatch for this week. Try to hit a store or something and pick something up.

AllHipHop.com has teamed with UStream.com to bring live coverage of the Michael Jackson memorial service.

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009. Today (July 7), a huge memorial service is taking place for the world’s biggest entertainer.

According to reports, Jackson’s memorial service is expected to be the most watched event ever, in broadcast history.

Check out this live stream and coverage.

AllHipHop.com

12:36: The Jackson family takes to the stage and memorializes their family member, Michael Jackson. The ceremonies are coming to a close. Michael’s casket has been wheeled out.

12:24 PM: “We are the World” is being performed in honor of Michael Jackson.

12:19 PM: Shaheen Jafargholi takes to the stage and performs the classic track “Who’s Lovin’ You.”

12:13 PM: Smokey Robinson returns to the stage. “He will never really be gone. He is going to live forever and ever and ever,” Robinson said. “He has made an enormous impact on all of our lives, all over the world. I am a firm believer in blessings. And I’ve had so many in my life. And one of greatest was to know The Jacksons and Michael Jackson. I believe so much in God. I believe so much that this is not it. We have life after this is done.”

12:07 PM: Usher takes to the stage and performs Michael Jackson’s haunting classic “Gone too Soon.”

11:59 AM: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee speaks to the crowd, on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus and the United States Congress. “To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson and to this wonder family of brothers and cousins, we understand the Constitution and we know the laws. And we know people are innocent until proven otherwise,” Congresswoman Lee told the crowd to a thunderous applause. This was in response to comments made by NY Congressman, Peter King. Jackson lee introduces house resolution 600 to officially honor Michael Jackson as a national treasure of the United States.

11:52 AM: Rev. Martin Luther King III and his wife Bernice speak on Michael Jackson’s passing.

11:47 AM: Jermaine Jackson takes to the stage singing “Smile” from Charlie Chaplin’s 1936 movie “Modern Times.” This was Michael Jackson’s favorite song.

11:45 AM: Rev. Al Sharpton hugging The Jackson family:

11:39 AM: Brooke Shields, one of Michael’s closes friends tearfully spoke. “Michael was one of a kind. I was thinking back to when we met and the many times we spent together. Whenever we were out together there would be a picture taken and a caption of some kind, like an “odd couple or unlikely pair.” But to us it was the most natural and easiest of friendships. I was 13 when we met. From that day on, our friendship grew. We had a bond. Maybe it was because we both understood what it was like to be in the spotlight from a very young age. Both of us needed to be adults very early. But when were together, we were two little kids having fun.”

11:34 AM: John Mayer takes to the stage and performs “Human Nature”

11:25 AM: Reverend Al Sharpton gives a fiery sermon for Michael Jackson. “He created a comfort level, where people who felt they were separated, became interconnected with his music. Michael made us love each other. Michael taught us to stand with each other. There are those that like to dig around mess. But millions around the world, we are going to uphold his message. Michael rose to top. Michael never stopped.”

11:19 AM: Jennifer Hudson delivered a powerful version of Michael Jackson’s “Hold Me Like the River Jordan.”

11:15 AM: Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Kobe Bryant speak. “He was so incredible. He always had command of his band, his brothers and the audience. I truly believe Michael made me a better basketball player as I watched him be so great,” Magic Johnson said.

11:13 AM: Here’s a picture of Michael Jackson’s golden casket.

11:09AM: This is a moment I wished I didn’t have to see come,” Stevie Wonder said. “As much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good. As much as we may feel, and we do, that we need Michael here with us, God must have needed him far more.” Performed “I Never Dreamed You’d Leave In Summer.”

11:03 AM: Michael Jackson montage begins.

10:54 AM: “He was the consummate student. He studied the greats and became greater. He raised the bar, then broke the bar. His talent and creativity thrust him and entertainment into another stratosphere. The Motown family mourns the death of Michael Jackson, who was like a son to me.” Berry Gordy.”

10:49 AM: Lionel Richie comes out and sings “Jesus Is Love.”

10:45 AM: Queen Latifah: “One of the first records my brother and I ever bought was “Dancing Machine. Thank you. Michael was the biggest star on earth. He let me know that as an African-American, you could travel the world. There was a world outside of America.” Queen Latifah read a poem by Dr. Maya Angelou.

10:40 AM: Mariah Carey starts, her beginning is a little rough. Trey Lorenz.

10:36 Pastor Lucious Smith begins opening comments. “As long as we remember our time with him, the truth is he is never really one at all. As long as we remember him, he will be there forever to comfort us.”

10:30 AM: Choir takes to the stage and service begins for Michael Jackson. R.I.P.

10:24 AM: Michael Jackson’s hearse:

10:11 AM: Service starts with Smokey Robinson leading the service with letters from Diana Ross and Nelson Mandela.

10:07AM : Fans have been ordered to take their seats.

9:57AM: Casket is being offloaded and prepared for stage.

9:49 AM: Michael Jackson’s body has arrived in a golden casket, at The Staples Center.

9:45AM: Mariah Carey will sing, Stevie Wonder is going to sing “I Never Dreamed You’d Leave In Summer” and all artists will sing “We Are the World” with Lionel Richie

9:44 AM: Jesse Jackson and his family arrives

9:15 The hearse carrying Michael Jackson is enroute.

8:57 AM: Pictures of Michael Jackson’s progam: 

8:40 AM – Thousands of fans are in front of the the Staples Center. Fans are beginning to enter The Staples Center.  Four blocks are roped off and you need tickets to get any further than said blocks.

8:36 AM (PT): Michael Jackson’s body confirmed to be at The Staples Center in Los Angeles. Family members are currently in a private service this morning.