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AHH Stray News: Pitbull, DJ Toomp, Jay-Z & Linkin Park, Snoop

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

Following Slip-N-Slide

Records’ recent court victory against TVT Records over an unreleased Pitbull

album, the Miami rapper has released a statement about the collection of previously

recorded songs. A United States District Court Magistrate Judge sided with Slip-N-Slide,

ruling that the label can release Pitbull’s Welcome to the 305. "I

want it to be clear that this is not my second album. These are some old tracks

that I recorded soon after I left Luke Records," Pitbull told AllHipHop.com

in a statement. "El Mariel will be my follow-up album to M.I.A.M.I."

The two labels squared off in a Miami court, where Slip-N-Slide owner Ted Lucas

claimed Pitbull signed over all rights to the recordings when he was granted

a release from his contract in 2003 in order to sign with TVT. TVT claimed that

Slip-N-Slide was unjustly benefiting from TVT’s involvement with Pitbull, which

helped turn the rapper into a major recording star.

Grammy-nominated

producer DJ Toomp, along with longtime friend and business associate Bernard

Parks Jr., have joined forces to launch NZone Entertainment, a new label venture.

The duo desired to start their own company after years of crafting hits for

other artists and propelling them to stardom. An Atlanta native, DJ Toomp has

churned out hits for Young Jeezy, Ludacris, 8 Ball & MJG, Stat Quo, and

Boyz N Da Hood, among others. Most recently, Toomp produced T.I.’s "24’s,"

"Motivation," and "U Don’t Know Me" off Urban Legend,

and "What U Know" from the rapper’s forthcoming album King.

Parks is credited as one of the masterminds behind Goodie Mob who contributed

to the rise of Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family. NZone, in conjunction

with DJ Toomp’s production company Zoneboy, is currently focused on launching

the careers of Jack Bona and Suga Suga. The latter artist recently released

the single, "Do It With No Hands," and is touring and working on his

debut album. "I have these eyes and ears and I know what it takes to be

successful in this business and so does Bernard," said Toomp. "We

want to discover a star…We want to win."

Jay-Z and Linkin

Park will perform together at the 48th annual Grammy Awards, taking place on

Wednesday (Feb. 8) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The two acts join previously

announced performers John Legend and Kanye West, Madonna with Gorillaz, and

others. Comedian/actor Dave Chappelle will also introduce an all-star tribute

to Sly and The Family Stone, which will include Maroon5, will.i.am of the Black

Eyed Peas, Robert Randolph, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Joss Stone,

Legend, Ciara, and others. The ceremony will be broadcasted on CBS at 8 p.m.

E.T.

Snoop Dogg will

host "The Rapper’s Challenge Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament," a one-day

event slated to take place in Miami on May 5. Snoop and a variety of celebrity

rappers, actors, and top poker players from across the country will participate

in the event, which will take place on board a Casino Ship at the Port of Miami.

Later in the evening, various rappers will compete for $25,000 in a Monday Night

FightKlub battle. The Entrance fee for the "Rapper’s Challenge" is

$15,000 and includes no-limit Texas Hold ‘Em tournament play, access to the

pre-event Celebrity Registration Party, a Monday Night FightKlub, Uncle Reo’s

BBQ, the After-Party in South Beach, VIP admission to various clubs on South

Beach, and travel expenses (airfare and hotel). Snoop’s Uncle Reo will barbecue

on the top deck. Tickets are available for spectators as well, starting at $2,000,

with an additional $500 fee to play in the Charity Tournament.

Police Seek To Question Tony Yayo & Others In Busta Video Shooting

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

Police are seeking

to question G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo in connection with a shooting on a Busta

Rhymes video set that left one man dead with a gunshot wound to the back.

While he is not

an official suspect, police are seeking to question Yayo about a heated argument

that took place on the set of the video, which was being filmed on location

in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, New York.

Israel Ramirez,

29, was gunned down shortly after midnight on Sunday (Feb. 5), about a half-hour

after a group of men were ordered to leave the building after an argument on

the set.

He

was rushed to Woodhull Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1:10 a.m. Ramirez

was in charge of guarding Busta Rhymes’ cache of jewelry, which was being used

in the video.

Police are investigating

what rappers’ entourages were present and if any of the men were connected to

the shooting.

Rhymes was shooting

a video for his latest single "Touch It (Remix)". The video’s cameo

appearance list included G-Unit members 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks, DMX, Mary J.

Blige, Missy Elliott and other high profile celebrities.

Yayo and Rhymes

are labelmates on Interscope Records, home to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment

and 50 Cent’s G-Unit Records imprint.

Contradicting earlier

reports, Rhymes, Ramirez and others were in front the studio when shots were

fired, sending people running for their lives.

The make of the

gun used in the shooting has not been confirmed: reports have cited the shots

came from an AK47, while others have identified the weapon as a 9mm or a .45.

Eight spent shells were also recovered.

Police are scanning

video footage to see of the murdered has been captured on tape but have yet

to find a suspect or a motive in the shooting.

According to the

New York Post, police are having difficulties contacting Busta Rhymes

and at least 50 other people that believe were at the scene of the shooting.

Chicago High School Students Like Dem Franchize Boyz

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

Atlanta rap group Dem Franchize Boyz were recently held up from leaving a Chicago high school after a performance, due to a minor prank.

One of the students decided to pull the school’s fire alarm to prevent the group from leaving the building.

Due to the fire alarm, the students had to use the schoolyard as an exit, which in turn blocked the path for DFB to make a quick exit.

Even under the supervision of the Chicago police, fans stood in front of the vehicle preventing any movement of the car.

It was reported that one student opened the door to the vehicle and pulled the passenger door off the track while trying to climb in the vehicle.

An accident report was filed, but no one was injured.

Dem Franchize Boyz’ second album,

On Top of Our Game, is due in stores

Tuesday (Feb. 7).

Rapper M-1 Speaks Out Against Black History Month

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

While some choose to view Black History Month as a celebration of Black achievements, Dead Prez member M-1 has released a statement denouncing it and urging Black people to speak out against inequality all year round.

“I think the concept of Black History Month is insulting and offensive to all people of African descent,” M-1 stated. “It seems like a measly, meaningless offer from the parasitic and capitalistic system that has amassed an empire of wealth from our worldwide community.”

A known political activist, M-1 (a.k.a. Mutulu Olugabala) serves as local president of the Brooklyn Chapter of the National Peoples Democratic Uhuru Movement and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement.

The rapper has also supported Friends and Family of Mumia-Abu Jamal, the Hands Off Assata organization, and participates in the annual Black August celebration in New York.

“Instead of offering us 28 days in February, we should be awarded reparations as this so-called Black History Month doesn’t include any agenda to lift oppression from Black life i.e. war on drugs, taxes, awful healthcare conditions, and economic disparity,” said M-1. “Further, the actual name of this ‘sacred’ month is damaging propaganda in [and] of itself.”

M-1 also referred to his new music video for “Til We Get There,” which depicts a group of neighborhood kids replacing the words “Black History Month” on a mural with “African History Year.”

“As my partner Sticman would say, we should call it Crack History Month because of the damage that has been done to our community,” the rapper added. “I propose a ban on the term ‘Black History Month’ because it doesn’t identify the land mass and the people that produced everything that we know as culture today.”

M-1’s solo debut, Confidential, is due in stores March 21.

Ursula Rucker: Hip-Hop Librettist

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

Hip-Hop has many roots. The genre gets its soul from the blues, its edge from the streets and its rhythm from the Motherland – but the artistic side comes from poetry. Anyone who is a fan of both Hip-Hop and poetry holds the name Ursula Rucker in reverence. Her haunting and poignant rhymes closed out three of The Roots’ CDs, which catapulted her into the burgeoning spoken word movement of the ‘90s.

Since her first single “Supernatural” was released in 1994, Ursula released two albums; SupaSista in 2001 and Silver Or Lead in 2003. More than just a wordsmith, Ursula balances worldwide activism, being a mother of four and her poetry career with tours, speaking engagements and performances. She wears many hats, but according to her, one of them isn’t being a spoken word artist.

The Philadelphia native is preparing the release of her third studio album, Ma’at Mama, which promises to be as sensual and soulful as it is revolutionary. Rucker kicks a verse with AllHipHop.com Alternatives about the state of poetry, the state of Hip-Hop and the state of the struggle.

AllHipHop.com Alternatives: Do you remember your first poem?

Ursula Rucker: No. I was young when I started writing poems. It was probably some sweet little love note to my mom.

AHHA: What first inspired you to read your poetry in front of an audience?

Ursula: I’m not sure if it was inspiration or the white zinfandel. No, I guess it was just the right time in my life, right place, right moment.

AHHA: How did the idea of making albums that are very musical come about?

Ursula: Well, I started recording poetry with music some 12 years ago, at King Britt’s invitation to do something for this house track he was producing. That’s how the whole marriage of sound and word came about for me.

AHHA: Is Spoken Word [the same as] Hip-Hop? Or are they different genres?

Ursula: Spoken Word is just that to me: a genre, a trend. Poetry is my art, not Spoken Word. Hip-Hop, in the true sense, is so much bigger than a mere genre or trend…so much bigger.

AHHA: The Roots brought you into the national spotlight, and at the time it was very different for a Rap album to end with poetry. Do you think Hip-Hop would take a risk like that now?

Ursula: Sure. Common had The Last Poets on that joint last year. It ain’t gonna be happening on a grand scale, but it will happen again.

AHHA: Any Hip-Hop artists you want to work with now?

Ursula: RZA, Bahamadia, Grand Agent, Nas…to name a few.

AHHA: What is your take on the misogyny debate in Hip-Hop?

Ursula: The misogyny debate? What is the debate about? It exists and it’s bigger and worse than ever, period.

AHHA: What have you learned as an artist from the time you first began to now?

Ursula: To be more fearless in my writing. I’ve learned a great deal about recording and performing with music and the intricacies and beauty of language…the language of words and music.

AHHA: What can your followers expect from your new release?

Ursula: A not-so-electronic-music driven album. Ma’at Mama is organic; lots of live instrumentation, more Hip-Hop and Soul centered and more mature. And as always, the poetry is the main focus.

AHHA: What does a poet need in order to make a career out of poetry?

Ursula: That’s always a difficult question, ‘cause I never set out to do this s###. It called me, you know? It truly is my calling. So, all I can say to a poet is be true, honest, real to the art. Don’t do it for the three minutes of fame or the thrill of being behind the mic. A poet has to love poetry or it ain’t gonna work.

AHHA: Black poets in the ‘60s and ‘70s spoke a lot about war, racism, sexism and social ills. With similar problems occurring now, do you think today’s generation has taken up the torch?

Ursula: Not sure if you’re referring to today’s generation of poets or all folk. If it’s all folk then hells no. There are always a handful of those who plug away on the artist, political or whatever front, striving for positive viable change. But it ain’t enough. We need all the help we can get. It’s some heavy sh*t goin’ down. Folks have to wake up, for real.

AHHA: Who is your favorite Spoken Word artist and why?

Ursula: My very favorite poet is Sonia Sanchez. I also like many others though: Ted Joans, Jean Toomer, Anne Sexton. Contemporary-wise, [I like] Rich Medina and Saul Williams.

AHHA: Anybody up and coming we should be checking for?

Ursula: Yeah. Malene Younglao, she sings on the cut “Rant” on my album. She has a band called Younglao, Punk, Hip-Hop, Rock. Great lyrics, dope music, amazing presence.

AHHA: Who is your favorite Hip-Hop artist and why?

Ursula: Wow, tough one. I’ll just go off the dome and say Bahamadia, for obvious reasons. She’s the dopest emcee ever. [She] keeps her s### real, don’t change for nobody. Which is why she’s not more well known and plus, she’s Philly to the core.

Ellington Jordan: True Meaning

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

Ellington “Fuji” Jordan has been making music for years with legendary artists, and is still continuing to grow in his craft. He co-wrote the song, “I’d Rather Go Blind”, which has been recorded by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, B.B. King, The Noel Redding Band and Rod Stewart to name a few. He was also a member of the psychedelic funk group Black Merda, a band that has been such a musical inspiration that even Ja Rule sampled some of their material. Jimi Hendrix and Creedence were close personal friends of his, and to say that his resume is extensive is an understatement.

Ellington spent time in a prison, almost unaware of when he would be released. The time he spent being incarcerated gave a him new chance at life. He gained a humble demeanor and developed his musical abilities. Although his famous friendships and associations are fond memories to Ellington; the balance of personal peace and harmony is his focus. A person can’t always live on the run – it becomes physically and emotionally draining. They must eventually try and find their way home.

Ellington Jordan’s new album Almost Home in itself is emotion. The song “Solider” tells a tale of a man that left home to fight in a war, but never found his way home – one of many tales that speaks to the soul. AllHipHop.com Alternatives conversed with Mr. Jordan about his journey through life and the importance of finding necessary balance.

AllHipHop.com Alternatives: How did you get the nickname Fuji?

Ellington Jordan: My dad gave it to me. He was in World War II and had a picture of Mount Fuji in his footlocker. Years later he started calling me Fuji.

AHHA: What musical artists did you find inspiration from over the years?

Ellington: Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Joe Turner, Ray Charles and Willamina Thornton. George Clinton hypnotizes you.

AHHA: Clinton is the Godfather of Intergalactic Funk!

Ellington: Yeah, it was like a little kid seeing and hearing for the first time I love his music.

AHHA: How did you get involved with the Rock group Black Merda?

Ellington: In Detroit with Eddie Kendricks from the Temptations. I moved there from L.A. They were playing at the C-Club – Edwin Star was backing for them. I had never heard a sound so magical before in my life

AHHA: Almost Home is the title of your new album. The phrase seems like a contradiction. What’s the meaning behind it?

Ellington: It’s a combination of experience and a request to write a song for a movie. I was talking to homeless people around a fire. A guy told me about [Vietnam]. He was in Vietnam and came back, but couldn’t figure things out. He had changed, as well as the world in which he once knew. He was lost in a daze. It interested me – I never saw anyone who had been in war. The experience it self must be very traumatizing, not to mention shooting other people. The guy had a Medal of Valor but couldn’t even pawn it to get money. It was worthless here, but overseas it meant something. He almost made it home, but not fully.

AHHA: Did you ever think that the song “I’d Rather Go Blind” would be covered by artists like Rod Stewart or Fleetwood Mac?

Ellington: No, I had no idea. I’m not an optimistic song writer. If it has meaning and means something to someone, then I’ll finish it. If not, then I throw it out. I got tired of losing and being down. I was in prison and didn’t know when I was going to get out. I sat in a piano room and began to write. I was working on a song once, “Peace Be To The Living And The Dying Be To The Dead”. I stopped writing because I thought that it was too political. Riddle and I were working on it. Some songs won’t get through the music filtering system. You can only go so far, or they’ll stop you. If no one else will benefit, I can’t write. You can’t just write for yourself, you have to also write things that will be important to other people. I wanna write a song like Crosby, Steels and Nash’s “Ohio”. I don’t like to listen to what the industry says – lolly-pop music goes nowhere.

AHHA: What do you want people to get from your music? What kind of music do you ideally want to write?

Ellington: Music that contains information that someone can hear and understand. They want to talk about it, but no one does it. They may not have anyone to talk to. “Dirty Water”, “Solider” and “Almost Home”, let you know that someone knows what you feel. My weapon is my funk, it’s my machine gun. I hate violence, war, and things that are bad for you. I suffered a lot in my career. I had an album come out before Barry White. I can’t be an artist to be molded – I’m a free spirit.

AHHA: What kind of frame of mind are you in while writing songs? Do vary your style depending on the artist?

Ellington: I do write music that I hope gets accepted by people – I never want to write something for self. I don’t want to be just known as a song writer, but rather a contributor to someone’s life. I’ve sat and talked with people have given music life – I’ve talked to Creedence and Jimi Hendrix, who I miss dearly. He was a burnt offering. You burn incense to bring a sweet odor. He brought something to see, smell and eat. He never elaborated in what he did. You can hold onto his music… no, his essence – and it will never go away.

AHHA: You don’t know how right you are.

Ellington: I’m glad to have known him.

AHHA: Are there any last words that you would like to say?

Ellington: God bless all. Long live Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Scarface.

Remy Ma: Straight, No Chaser

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

For almost a decade, Remy Ma waited her turn as labels toiled, release dates spoiled, and still no album. But five years removed from her initial introduction to the masses, "Lean Back" reached the suburbs at the same time Hip-Hop wanted a new reigning female.

Without heavily relying upon her Terror Squad comrades, There’s Something About Remy is propelled by another Scott Storch single for the clubs, and mortared with songs that reflect the ruggedness of a Bronx childhood, as well as the changes of motherhood. These same issues were also discussed between AllHipHop.com and Remy. Never one to stay diplomatic, Remy also speaks on her love of the leaf, Pun’s family, and every street-chatter-point you could imagine. This is Remy Martin, straight – no chaser.

AllHipHop.com: This album is five to six years in the making, how it does feel?

Remy Ma: Hmmmm, it feels great. [laughs]

AllHipHop.com: Okay. That was real generic.

Remy Ma: It feels greeaaat. I feel like Tony the Tiger right now.

AllHipHop.com: Was it your decision to release on February 7th? Did you make it that way so it could drop on the day Pun passed?

Remy Ma: No, it was actually it wasn’t.

AllHipHop.com: I know There’s Something About Remy got pushed back a couple of times. [Click here for exclusive Remy Ma content, downloads and music.]

Remy Ma: Exactly, from September to December to all the way through to February. It just so happens it got changed to February 7th. It’s either that or Valentines Day. But they picked the 7th. They didn’t (even) realize what it was until I schooled them and told them what it was the 7th was. I didn’t even tell them, I asked them like ‘Uh, do you know what the 7th is?’ [It] must be a sign it’s supposed to be that way.

AllHipHop.com: How do you think SRC is doing as a record label with your project?

Remy Ma: I think they f**king suck. But hey, thank God I got good material, hopefully that’s enough. The numbers weren’t what they wanted at the time on [my first single,] “Whatever.” They were scared to death and they went with the “Conceited” song when they should just waited, they were f**king beasting and mad scared. My album been done since this time last year. That just goes to show you how retarded they are.

AllHipHop.com: Being that you are in a male dominated game, did the label ever ask you to s### it up?

Remy Ma: Umm, no not really. That’s more like my friends who do my make up and hair. Like, “Rem, put on this, wear that.” If I choose to – yeah, but on the regular basis it’s a no.

AllHipHop.com: You got Executive Producer status on your album. Usually Fat Joe gets the exec title on Terror Squad-related albums, how did you pull that off?

Remy Ma: Well, this isn’t a Terror Squad album for one. This is a Remy Ma album, and I put 150 percent into this project. I was picking my beats. I was picking the order of my songs, making sure the mastering and mixing was right. I did what I was supposed to do to get Executive Producer status.

AllHipHop.com: Whose idea was it for the album cover? It’s a little kiddy pornish.

Remy Ma: With the dress and Tims, that was me. That’s me right there. The hair is done, make up’s done. Looking beautiful walking a pit with Tims on.

AllHipHop.com: What’s up with the Reebok 5411’s? You been rocking them heavy?

Remy Ma: Umm, actually Reebok made me my own Remy Ma “Conceited” limited editions. I pick my own colors and it has my name and stamp on it. I love them. I’ve always loved them, [since] back in the day when they were still [cost +tax] $54.11. I just felt like no one else was rocking them. So I’m going to be different and bring them back.

AllHipHop.com: Recently you did a freestyle with some slick comments about Foxy going deaf and video vixen Buffie the Body. What was that all about?

Remy Ma: Nothing, it was just good punchlines. I thought it was hot. I don’t have anything against Buffie at all. Foxy either. I just spit anything sometimes and I don’t care. You thought it was a hot line…

AllHipHop.com: Speaking of outspokenness, when The Game came on the scene, he was running around saying he wanted to hit it. What was your reaction?

Remy Ma: I don’t know, I would of probably let him pipe if he asked right [laughs]. Nah, I’m playing. Like knowing Game, how he talk reckless, I took it as a compliment, he’s a sweetheart.

AllHipHop.com: So did you’ve spoken to him about it since then?

Remy Ma: Yeah, when it first happened I spoke to him like, “Oh word? I’m going to get at you on my next freestyle.” He was like, “Aight, whatever.” It was like real cool. On some real friendly back and forth s**t. It’s nothing.

AllHipHop.com: Well it caught my attention. How did you feel about Pun’s family putting his TS chain up for auction?

Remy Ma: That was insane to me.

AllHipHop.com: I’m from the Bronx myself and that hurt my heart.

Remy Ma: That’s crazy. Like if I had Pun’s chain and I was starving, homeless, dying on the street and I didn’t have a pot to p### and a window to throw out of, I would never in a million years think of putting my man’s chain on eBay. I’d f**king pawn it before I do that. At least you can get it back. If that thought even crossed your mind, if you going to be that grimy, pawn it. How are you just going to sell it to someone who you supposedly loved so much, to someone you don’t even know? Like what the f**k is that about? Like that was crazy to me. Give a call to a friend, a relative who thinks that they might want it, no pawnshop, just go straight to eBay with it that’s crazy to me.

AllHipHop.com: What’s your current relationship with his family?

Remy Ma: I mean, I never see them. I never speak to them.

AllHipHop.com: Have you ever ghostwritten for Joe?

Remy Ma: Is that the rumor?

AllHipHop.com: Yeah, where you been?

Remy Ma: [laughs] Umm, nah I don’t write for Joe. Even if I was ghostwriting , are you supposed to tell?

AllHipHop.com: No, but I still got to be on my J.O.! [Remy laughs] What did you think of Cam’s diss to Jay?

Remy Ma: I don’t care [and] I don’t. Why? I just don’t be caring about s**t. I want an answer; I’d like to see this s**t happen. I hope Jay say something back so Cam can say something back again. So they go crazy [at each other].

AllHipHop.com: Instigating, huh?

Remy Ma: Pretty much!

AllHipHop.com: So you got a man huh?

Remy Ma: No, not really my man, but a man.

AllHipHop.com: You still claiming single status?

Remy Ma: Yeah.

AllHipHop.com: How’s parenthood changed you?

Remy Ma: The biggest thing would probably be right now, like having to put him in school being that I’m [working] all the time. He stays with my mom in North Carolina. Having him away from me is the toughest thing.

AllHipHop.com: Do you play him your music?

Remy Ma: Yeah, he knows more about rap music than me.

AllHipHop.com: What do you think you accomplished with this album?

Remy Ma: It’s just like it’s a solid album all the way around. I didn’t any [miss] points or anything else I missed, like I’ll catch it on the next album. Seriously like if you starving and you hungry, my album is an eight course meal. It’s something you need.

AllHipHop.com: No more battling?

Remy Ma: Yeah, it’s a wrap. It was just for fun. I never really joined it. It was just something to do at the time.

AllHipHop.com: What do you hate the most about the rap game?

Remy Ma: Probably all the extra politics and payola and how n***as pay to get their songs played, to get videos played and pay for the extra radio spots. And just people who really grind, people who got talent get pushed to the side. They have to go through extra s**t because everyone else is paying.

AllHipHop.com: Who are the biggest b*tches?

Remy Ma: Probably the dudes. They be acting like b****es, they f**king tell everything, they gossip, they f***ing mad catty. It ain’t enough b****es in the game to be them.

AllHipHop.com: What’s your favorite spot in New York City?

Remy Ma: Hmmmm, all the weed spots. [laughs]

AllHipHop.com: What’s the strongest weed you ever smoked?

Remy Ma: Recently, I smoked some “train wreck” when I was over in L.A. That s**t had me f**king stupefied.

AllHipHop.com: Is it a problem that you smoke heavy and Fat Joe doesn’t?

Remy Ma: I been broke him out of that. I had to explain to him like listening I’m a pothead, that’s what I do and that’s it. Like get over it. I don’t even think it bothers him. He rather someone smoke a pound of weed, before someone smoke one cigarette and I feel the same way, so we good. I hate cigarettes.

AllHipHop.com: What’s the side of Remy Ma that the public doesn’t know about?

Remy Ma: Probably the more intimate side, like if you were ever to talk to my shorty [man], people wouldn’t ever believe how I really act. It’s not even how I really act, that’s just me. No drama, no screaming, no yelling, no smacking your baby mama type s**t. Whoever I’m loving, they get to see that side.

AllHipHop.com: Sounds like you might be whipped…

Remy Ma: Negative.

Audition

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / Music

Artist: P.O.STitle: AuditionRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine

In 1991, Public Enemy and Anthrax made history iby remixing “Bring tha Noise”. The effort fused two cultures, Metal and hip-hop, that long stood side-by-side, but never on the same block of cement. Fifteen years later, Minnesota’s P.O.S combines the cultures for an anger-driven, lyrically clever Audition (Rhymesayers) for the legions of Twin Cities fans looking for another self-made indie star. The Doomtree stand-out’s album may speak louder to rhythm savvy Punk fans than Hip-Hoppers, but it’s a guilty pleasure for all.

“P.O.S. is Ruining My Life” is a stellar confessional. P.O.S, like Joe Budden, admits that he struggles to maintain a relationship with his father, moments before generalizing women of waiting on the next best thing in life. Though he’s ranty and self-absorbed, P.O.S uses universal issues, and offers a delivery that mixes the timing and style of Punk, but with the avant-garde egoism of hip-hop. Holdsteady singer Craig Finn drops in on “Safety on Speed” which begins as a diatribe on the film, “Predator”, before evolving to a song about disappointment in general. Things like this are hard to take seriously, which is what separates P.O.S’s songs from the usual “woe-is-me” rapper

Musically, this is the first project besides MM…Food?, that Rhymesayers has made without relying on Atmosphere beat-maker Ant to wax some Soul. Instead, choppy guitar and break collages by Lazerbreak and Sims, mixed with DJ Turbo Nemesis’ cuts create new dimensions. Though Little Brother fans may cover their ears, lovers of Cage and Anti-Pop Consortium should be delightfully pleased.

The People Vs.

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / Music

Artist: Trick TrickTitle: The People Vs.Rating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Henry Adaso

As Cassidy or Snoop Dogg would probably tell you, being accused of murder can make you a very rich man. Having received a clean slate on an alleged murder charge that landed him a seven month stint behind bars in 2004, it was only natural that the 33-year old Christian Mathis (known to the world as Trick Trick) traded in his street life for music hustle. By capitalizing off his first major deal and achieving what had eluded him at Click Boom Records nearly 14 years ago, Rock-city’s own Tricky has crafted a manifesto that chronicles his jagged past. Like the album art, however, The People Vs (Motown) is far from being a well-balanced album.

The aforementioned murder charge is the subject of Trick’s musing on “M-1” (a slang that implies first degree murder), where he barks out “not guilty” with DMX steeze over a gritty drum shiver. You can almost hear the snares gasping for air as they strive to keep pace with Trick on the congratulatory “Get Bread”, and “My Name Is Trick Trick” – one of several thug braggadocio-themed tracks on The People Vs. The latter touches on his well-publicized fracas with Trick Daddy; “Trick Daddy broke my arm? C’mon you saw the tape/ain’t nobody breaking s### this way…/I don’t whoop na’n n#### for nothin’/U got stomped then you had to do somethin’ (b**yotch!)”.

Things are not all ugly on this album, as the Goon Squad chief discards his gruffness for the pulsating “Leave Your Past”. As expected, the joint reaffirms the power of moving on, but takes an unusual turn evolving into an elongated instrumentation for an additional minute or so. An affiliate of Trick’s for over a decade named Eminem (you may have heard of him) lends his superstar hands on the radio-active “Welcome to Detroit”, but plunders into mediocrity on the insipid “No More To Say” alongside Proof (of D-12). Not even Jazze Pha’s catchy ditty “Attitude Adjustment” is enough to offset the Lil’ Jon regurgitations on “Let’s Scrap” and “Head Bussa”, both poorly-sequenced as track-closers.

Trick fails by allowing trite gangsterisms to outweigh substance, but successfully concocts an album that gives the world a peak into the mind of a relevant player in the Detroit Hip-Hop scene. Christian Mathis may have beaten his case against the state but the musical battle The People Vs. is a lopsided one with Trick Trick on the losing end.

Windmills of the Soul

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / Music

Artist: Kero OneTitle: Windmills of the SoulRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Brolin Winning

An emcee/producer/DJ based in the Bay, Kero One has been making hip-hop since the mid-nineties, but is just now releasing his debut full-length. After a pair of dope 12-inches, “Check The Rhyme” and “Keep It Alive!” plus a successful Japanese tour, he steps out with Windmills of my Soul (Plug Label), a mostly self-produced affair that bubbles over with jazzy breaks, mellow live instrumentation, and intelligent, slice-of-life lyricism.

“In all the Wrong Places” chronicles failed attempts at true romance, with acoustic guitar flourishes and some impressive Fender Rhodes work. “The Cycle Repeats” is an upbeat graffiti anthem, built on rugged snares and swirling flutes, injected with nice cuts from DJ Seoul Control. We also get treated to two outstanding instrumental selections that really showcase Kero’s ability behind the boards. The appropriately titled “It’s a New Day” is practically guaranteed to put a smile on your face with its shuffling drums, funked-out live sax, and Bob James-style keys, while “Ain’t That Somethin?” evokes thoughts of MF DOOM or Count Bass D thanks to the stellar synth loops and weird dialogue samples.

The 13 songs on here deal with real life concerns; showing love for good music, the ladies, family, and friends. There are no fake drug kingpin proclamations, no murderous threats, and no misguided attempts at Dirty South t#### bar music. If that’s your thing, this album probably won’t win you over. However, for heads looking for something slightly less formulaic, Kero One has got what you need. Windmills isn’t the kind of album that’s gonna incite a riot on the dancefloor, but it’s an undeniably nice, highly musical debut that will likely be embraced by b-boys and girls sick of the status quo.

Hit Producer Scott Storch Angry At Grammys

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

Scott Storch has

a bone to pick with the Grammy committee. The super-producer, who was named

Billboard’s number one Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop producer of 2005, feels

he was snubbed in the Producer of the Year category for the 48th annual Grammy

Awards.

The Producer of

the Year nominees for the Feb. 8 ceremony in Los Angeles are the Neptunes, Jimmy

Jam and Terry Lewis, Danger Mouse, Nigel Godrich, and Steve Lillywhite.

"I was extremely

disappointed to find I was not nominated, and even more so when I saw the list

of nominees," said Storch.

Last year, the

veteran producer opened the first 20 weeks of the year with back-to-back number

one hits—Mario’s "Let Me Love You" and 50 Cent’s "Candy

Shop," featuring Olivia. "Candy Shop" went on to become the number

one ringtone of 2005.

Storch ended the

year strong with Chris Brown’s "Run It!" which held the number one

spot on the singles chart for five weeks, as well as five songs on Billboard’s

Hot 100 Year End songs chart.

Overall, Storch

produced 13 hit singles that were released in 2005.

Although he said

he isn’t trying to disregard the nominees, Storch feels it’s hard to justify

some of the names when looking at the big picture.

Three of the candidates

(Danger Mouse, Godrich and Lillywhite) have one or two albums credited to their

names for the entire year, said Storch, adding that Jam and Lewis have worked

with many artists but have not had as many 2005 number ones as Storch.

Man Shot Dead At Busta Rhymes Video Shoot In Brooklyn

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

Police are seeking

suspects in an early morning shoot-out on the set of a Busta Rhymes video shoot

in Brooklyn, New York.

Israel Ramirez,

29, was shot once in the chest and was pronounced dead a short time later.

Rhymes, who was

in the studio at the time of the shooting, was not injured.

Rhymes was shooting

a full length remix video for his single "Touch It," on Green Street

in Greenpoint, known for it’s thriving artistic community.

Last week, Busta

Rhymes released three all-star remixes to "Touch It."

The video will

feature Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige, DMX, Papoose, Rah Digga, Lloyd Banks,

Sean "Diddy" Combs, Winky Wright, Garry Sheffield, Raekwon and others.

Shortly before

the shooting marred the all-star video shoot, Rhymes was in good spirits.

"Touch It"

is taken from his highly anticipated Aftermath/Interscope debut The Big Bang,

which is slated for an April release date.

"I am blessed

to be in a position at this stage in my career that I could put out one record

and completely dominate the scene with the crème de la crème of

NY," Busta Rhymes said shortly before the shooting took place. "Mary,

Missy, Rah Digga, Banks, DMX and Papoose…its just the beginning.”

Police are viewing

surveillance footage from nearby buildings hoping to identify a suspect in the

murder.

Representatives

for Interscope declined to comment on the shooting.

Philadelphia Rapper Cool C Granted Temporary Stay Of Execution

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

Condemned rapper Christopher

"Cool C" Roney was granted a stay of execution by a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

judge on Wednesday (Feb. 1).

The rapper was

scheduled to die on Mar. 9 for the 1996 murder of police officer Lauretha Vaird.

When Vaird, 43,

responded to a silent alarm at a PNC Bank branch in Philadelphia, she was shot

in the chest as she entered the bank, according to reports. She was not wearing

a bulletproof vest that day.

Cool C, 36, along

with rapper Warren "Steady B." McGlone and Mark Canty were convicted

of first-degree murder for their role in killing Vaird, a nine-year veteran

who was Philadelphia’s first female officer ever killed in the line of duty.

In Oct. 1996, McGlone

and Mark Canty were sentenced to life in prison, while Cool C was sentenced

to die by lethal injection.

Last month, Pennsylvania

Governor Ed Rendell signed the rapper’s execution warrant. But Judge Gary Glazer

has issued an order to put Cool C’s execution on hold until his post-conviction

litigation is resolved.

An early pioneer

in Hip-Hop, Cool C was a member of the Philadelphia-based rap collective The

Hilltop Hustlers in the late 1980s. He hit it big with "Juice Crew Dis"

and the 1989 hit single, "Glamorous Life."

Snoop, Luke Form Youth Football Leagues

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

Amoro Management Corp., a company specializing in large-scale real estate development projects in major U.S. cities, will sponsor rapper Snoop Dogg’s “Snoop Youth Football League” (SYFL) by creating an endowment fund to raise more than $1 million for the league.

The national program kicks off Saturday (Feb. 4) during Snooper Bowl II, which takes place at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit and features a live performance by Bow Wow. Amoro will present Snoop with a $10,000 seed check.

Snoop started the league in 2004 as a way to make football more affordable to underprivileged youth.

“It’s too easy for kids to join a gang,” said Snoop in a statement. “I want to make it even easier to play football. I have a passion for teaching youth life skills through football.”

Those who are unable to make a donation but have great credit can utilize Amoro’s Credit for Charity program to support the league without paying cash out of their own pocket, Taylor added.

Proceeds from the endowment fund will go towards funding football programs for youth and possibly college scholarships.

This year’s Snooper Bowl will feature Snoop’s Junior All-Stars against the Detroit PAL All-Stars. The winning team will receive the Snooper Bowl Trophy, created by Tiffany & Co., makers of the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy for the NFL.

Last year’s game was considered one of the most successful officially NFL-sanctioned events of Super Bowl week.

The NFL assists SYFL with youth initiatives such as the junior player development and Play Safe! programs.

“Our investors are used to double and triple digit returns on their investments,” said Amoro founder, Ephren Taylor. “Individuals who wish to support Snoop Dogg’s SYFL program can invest in the endowment fund, and the returns from their investment will continue to fund the SYFL for decades to come.”

Sponsors for the game include Spirit Airlines, Tiffany & Co., XM Satellite Radio and Natural Resources Media, which will videotape the event in HDTV, a first for any youth sports program.

In related news, Snoop’s one-time rival Luther “Luke” Campbell, who has mentored children for over 20 years through his Liberty City Warriors youth football league, announced his new venture, The National Youth Football League (NYFL).

The NYFL begins play this year and is affiliated with the Orange Bowl Youth Football League.

“I’m excited about this opportunity to develop the National Youth Football League and to be a part of the OBFYL,” said Campbell, a founder of the Liberty City program. “We have been meeting with teams throughout Dade and Broward during the off-season and all of us are looking forward to kicking off the National Youth Football League this season.”

Campbell said the majority of kids in his Liberty City program progressed in their academic performance last year.

“One of our kids this year was a failing student at the start and by the time we were playing in the Super Bowl he was an all ‘A’ student,” Campbell said. “With the academic progress reporting system that we have implemented, I’d like to think that we are not only helping develop great athletes but scholars as well.”

More information on the National Youth Football League is available at www.orangebowl.org.

Cartoon Network Announces Cast Of Andre Benjamin’s Untitled Cartoon Series

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

The Cartoon Network recently announced the cast of an upcoming animated series created and executive-produced by OutKast member Andre 3000.

Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins of TLC will join the cast of the untitled cartoon series, which is currently in production at Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank, Calif.

Veteran voice actors Crystal Scales (“The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron”) Jeff Glen Bennett (“Johnny Bravo,” “Camp Lazlo”), Tom Kenny (“Camp Lazlo,” “SpongeBob SquarePants”) and others will lend their voices as characters to the series.

Andre 3000’s voice will also be featured in the half-hour animated series, which focuses on a group of outcast children in Atlanta and their mysterious mentor.

Benjamin is executive-producing the project through his production company, Moxie Turtle. Veteran Tommy Lynch, creator of “Kids Incorporated,” “Romeo!” and other children’s television shows, is also executive-producing the series through his company, Tom Lynch Co.

Also on board as head writer is Patric M. Verrone, who has written for “Futurama,” “Pinky and the Brain” and “The Critic.”

Twelve half-hour episodes are being produced, along with a special one-hour premiere, which is slated to debut this fall.

Department of Justice To Decide Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff’s Fate

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

Defense attorneys

for Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff recently petitioned a federal judge

to require the Department of Justice to rule on a decision in McGriff’s pending

death penalty case.

McGriff’s attorneys,

Jean D. Barrett and David A. Ruhnke, have requested U.S. District Judge Edward

R. Korman to require that the Department rule on whether the convicted drug

kingpin’s murder trial will proceed as a capital or non-capital case by March

27.

In a legal correspondence

to Judge Korman, dated Jan. 27, Barrett and Ruhnke cited the attorney general’s

"death penalty protocols" as the basis for the request.

The Department

protocols require that the U.S. Attorney submit his or her death penalty recommendation,

no later than "67 days prior to the date on which the government is required

to file notice that it intends to seek the death penalty."

"There will,

however, not be answer on this issue for several weeks; Supreme’s case is at

the so-called ‘death desk’ at the Department of Justice in DC and they have

until March 27 to make a decision," author Ethan Brown told AllHipHop.com.

Brown wrote the

book, Queens

Reigns Supreme: Fat Cat, 50 Cent & the Rise of the Hip-Hop Hustler,

which details the criminal underworld of Queens, N.Y., McGriff’s ties to The

Inc., and the borough’s relationship with the Hip-Hop industry.

Judge Korman set

a peremptory trial date of April 3, which gives the DOJ a little more than two

months to rule on the case.

If a decision on

the death penalty is not made by the start of the trial, the case would proceed

as a non-capital case.

The charges against

McGriff are the result of a coordinated initiative by federal and local law

enforcement agencies, including the New York City Police Department, the IRS,

FBI, and ATF.

Five individuals

and two corporations are charged with an array of offenses, including racketeering,

drug trafficking, money laundering, and murder, including the slaying of Queens

rapper Eric "E Money Bags" Smith.

There’s Something About Remy: Based on a True Story

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / Music

Artist: Remy MaTitle: There’s Something About Remy: Based on a True StoryRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jessica Dufresne

There are some harsh realities to being a female MC. Sometimes you can be very talented, but not attractive or sexy enough—so you get no love. On the other hand, you can have no skills but be pretty enough, and get a break. You can’t be too hard, because that’ll turn off the fellas, but yet if you’re too sexy, women will accuse you of setting us back and those same guys who’ll love you won’t actually be taking you seriously. Fortunately, Remy Ma knows how to straddle the many fine lines, and does it so well that she defies classification as “another female rapper”.

Rather than depending only on her sex appeal or just how tomboy-ish she is on There’s Something about Remy: Based On a True Story (Terror Squad/SRC/Universal), the BX lyricist realistically balances out the two, which leaves you no choice but to focus on what matters: skills. Using wit, dexterity and just the right amount of braggadocio and social awareness, Based on a True Story is a solid debut after holding fans’ patience hostage for six years.

The heat begins with a declaration by her mentor, the late great Big Pun that, “sometimes you gotta send a woman to do a man’s job,” which is quickly justified as Remy goes in on “She’s Gone”. Over a soulfully sinister Buckwild beat, she shows you she can go as hard as her male counterparts and when it’s over, you believe her when she says there’s no b*tch iller than her. More top-notch production by the likes of Cool & Dre, Agallah, and Scram Jones, among other, are the right foundation for Remy’s flow and spit-fire lyrics. Her versatility shines as well when she softens just a bit on tracks like “Feels So Good”, featuring Ne-Yo as her persistent love interest, “Thug Love,” a previously unreleased and Alchemist produced song with Big Pun and the poignant “What’s Going On.” On the latter, Remy ponders what to do about an unplanned pregnancy while Keyshia Cole wails emotionally on the hook. Also, the highlight of the album, “Guilt”, is where she displays her storytelling power when you’re taken through a first-person account of events leading up to a hit-an-run of a child. Her vulnerability also peeks through on the very personal “Still,” where she addresses three different people in her life about the pain they caused her.

The only things that drag down the project are ironically enough, the two lead singles, “Whateva”, produced by Swizz Beatz and “Conceited” by Scott Storch. But if you’re using those to judge her, you’re doing yourself a disservice because she’s so much more than party rapper.

Based on a True Story proves talent knows no sexual orientation, and finally Remy Ma has the album to back up what Pun (RIP) knew all along.

Queen Latifah Honors Women Activists

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

Queen Latifah, a brand spokesperson and creative advisor of the Curvation Project, helped pay tribute to five women who dedicated time and energy to local women’s programs.

In a taped message, Queen Latifah congratulated the five national finalists of the Curvation Project Confidence Awards, which sought to acknowledge women who have helped other women regain self-esteem.

The award recipients were: Yvonne Pointer of Cleveland; Mattie Palmore of Washington, D.C.; Lorraine Bowman of San Diego; Jillian Bullock of Philadelphia; and Kristin Bradfield of Phoenix.

“We received more than 350 nominations from around the country, filled with examples of how women are helping others to live more rewarding lives,” said Queen Latifah. “While the entries were all amazing and we would love to recognize everyone, these five stood out as being both extremely inspirational and deserving of national recognition.”

The five finalists will be flown to New York for an awards ceremony and will meet Queen Latifah as well as national leaders of top women’s organizations who were part of the selection process.

“I credit much of who I am today to the confidence I was given as a child and the inspiration of strong, independent women like my mother and grandmother, who showed me the power of believing in myself,” added Latifah. “So I’m particularly delighted to honor these finalists, who are motivating others in the same way, and look forward to meeting them in New York to share the news of who has won the national honor.”

The Confidence Awards are part of the Curvation Project’s Confidence Initiative, which includes the online community Curvation Nation.

More information is available at www.curvation.com.

Rewind The Rhyme: Ice Cube

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

There was a time when lyrics really mattered. I remember as a kid pressing “play” and “rewind” over and over again so I could memorize what I considered to be hottest verses in rap music. It was one thing to like an artist, but if you really wanted to be on top of your game, if you really wanted to show that you knew your stuff, if you truly respected the game, you had to know the rhymes that defined it, line for line! But those days are essentially gone. As most artists seek to produce records that will bring them money and the subsequent mainstream success, lyrics have taken a back seat to catchy hooks and hypnotic beats. It’s got a lot of folks sounding like De La Soul wondering, “Whatever happened to the emcee?”

The emcees themselves will answer the pressing question in my reoccurring feature called, “Rewind the Rhyme with Amanda Diva and (insert your favorite emcee’s name here).” The Hip-Hop-loving folks at AllHipHop.com will uncover how some of rap’s greatest lyricists created their most classic records/verses, how things have changed or remained the same in their creative process, and whether lyrics still matter.

Before the kiddie flicks and family fun movies, Ice Cube, through his scalding honesty and intensity, came to be regarded as one of rap’s most respected wordsmiths. A living legend, he is accredited with, among other things, solidifying the gangsta rap movement with classics like “N***a You Love to Hate” (1990’s Amerikkka’s Most Wanted) and the laid back “Today Was a Good Day” (1992’s The Predator). About to release his fifth solo album of new material, Laugh Now, Cry Later, I sat down with Cube at Mirror Image Studios in New York City to rewind the rhyme and talk about Cube’s writing process on some of his most renowned records, his new music, and if he’s still the n***a you love to hate!

Amanda Diva’s Rewind The Rhyme with Ice Cube.

AllHipHop.com: Do you still listen to Hip-Hop?

Ice Cube: Yeah.

AllHipHop.com: You still do?

Ice Cube: Yeah, what else I’ma listen to?

AllHipHop.com: Nah, you know a lot of folks be like, “I don’t even listen to Hip-Hop no more, yo. I’m straight old school, straight old school.”

Ice Cube: Nah, I listen to everything. I mean, I listen to old school, but I listen to new school, rap, R&B.

AllHipHop.com: So, on a scale of one to 10, where do you think lyrics rank on a scale of importance in Hip-Hop these days?

Ice Cube: [Listen] One-to-10 on importance? I mean, as far as the game go, lyrics are always gonna be some of the most important things. Just as important as your beats. But, nobody ain’t saying nothing important right now. You know what I mean? Nobody ain’t really saying nothing significant that’s gonna change somebody life. It’s a few MC’s out there that are trying to do it. Or that have been consistent with it. I mean you know, you can’t dismiss what The Roots are doing. You can’t dismiss what people like dead prez is doing and Common and Kanye and people like that. But for the most part the Hip-Hop nation just don’t want to hear [lyrics] now like that.

AllHipHop.com: Let’s start off with a record that did change a lot of people’s lives and lyrically I think this is the record you get most “props” for.

[“The N***a You Love to Hate”-Amerikkka’s Most Wanted]

Ice Cube: [Listen] DAMN! (Smiling) I remember doing this record! Greene Street Studios, SOHO right? Green Street Studios, with Chuck D, the Bomb Squad, Eric Sadler, Keith Shockley, Hank Shockley. You know this record to me represents the best of both worlds. You know coming straight from NWA with that West Coast gangsta flow, but over a Public Enemy conjured up-you know they used to be like mad scientist up in there with them beats flippin em-and it was like the perfect marriage at the right time. It was exactly what Hip-Hop needed and uh, you know the record Amerikkka’s Most Wanted is still my favorite record.

AllHipHop.com: Really?

Ice Cube: Yea, ’cause my memories of doing that record and what I had to go through to get it done makes it just kinda like close to my heart.

[“Today Was a Good Day”-The Predator]

AllHipHop.com: So let’s play this next record. I think this is probably your best known record. When folks think of Cube this is the record most point to that don’t really know your history.

Ice Cube: [Listen] At the time I did “It Was a Good Day,” people was trying to pigeonhole me saying, “All he can do is one type of record.” And you know, I’m a B-boy, I like all kinds of Hip-Hop. I’m not just, “Oh I like the gangsta stuff and that’s it.” So, “It Was a Good Day” was trying to show that, you know, whatever comes from me is not gonna be because people are saying I should do this kind of record, or I should just stick with what I’m doing. ‘Cause people was not really wanting me to do this record in my camp. They was saying, “You do hard records. Why you gonna do this?” And I was like, “That’s exactly why. Because it’s dope.”

AllHipHop.com: I think a lot of people miss the point of this record though. They miss the irony.

Ice Cube: Yeah

AllHipHop.com: The record is ironic in that it’s a good day cause n****s ain’t get shot? That’s crazy! But people don’t see it that way.

Ice Cube: Exactly. It is. It is. But when you really strip the song down, life is hard in the ghetto. All these land mines you try and duck and you’re happy that everything is going alright. Basically the song is saying, if you get through the day it’s a good day, without getting shot or going to jail or people you know getting shot or going to jail.

AllHipHop.com: On the new album do we have any joints that lead to a laid back Cube or is it a whole new Cube?

Ice Cube: It’s a lil’ dibble and dabble of both, of the old and the new. I got a song on there called “Growing Up.” It reminds me a lot of “It Was a Good Day.” It’s that old Minnie Ripperton sample, “Back Down Memory Lane.” It basically takes us through the history of Ice Cube from the time I met Dre all the way to XXX II (XXX: State of the Union). It’s one of those songs that felt a lot like “It Was a Good Day”.

AllHipHop.com: So we got this new album and the name of the album is?

Ice Cube: Laugh Now, Cry Later.

[“Chrome and Paint” Street Single off of New Album]

AllHipHop.com: And where did you get that title from?

Ice Cube: That’s a title that a lot of the people in the penitentiary use; tattoos people get. It kinda describes their life when they were on the street and them paying for it now. You know, laugh cry later is kinda the feel of my album. It’s got, you know, the club bangers, the political records-which is the cry later kinda feel. It kinda encompasses that. You know I didn’t want to do a whole political record and I didn’t want to do a whole record where I was just trying to get it jumped off. You know so, it’s a record that flows from kind of one tone to the next. Laugh Now, Cry Later really is the state of the world in a way. You know, you could say it’s the state of the world, the state of America, the state of urban America. Now everybody’s doing a lot of playing and nobody’s really thinking about when God gonna make us pay for all this at some point in time. That’s really what inspired me to make it that title.

AllHipHop.com: How do you know as a writer when a verse is done; when a record is finished?

Ice Cube: When the song is complete and I rap it acapella and I rap it with the beat that somebody gave me before we recorded and I go set it down, but I wanna go in there and rap it again because I wanna hear how it’s sounding. Cause I know that it’s fire, you know what I’m saying? (laughs) So, that’s how I know, to me, that a song is complete and a song is good, is that I wanna-I’m like anxious to get to the studio. I’m like busting at the seams to get there. That’s how I know, that this is it.

[“We Be Clubbin”]

AllHipHop.com: You’ve got classics. Hits! A bevy of them. Did you know that they were classics when you made them? Did you know that these were lyrical classics that people would be repeating these words? Don’t be modest!

Ice Cube: In some cases yeah and some cases no.

AllHipHop.com: Name one that you knew.

Ice Cube: “We Be Clubbin.”

AllHipHop.com: You knew it?

Ice Cube: I knew it! I knew, like “We Be Clubbin” that nobody was really rappin about being in the whole club experience. It was a song that kind of kicked off talking about how it feels to be kickin’ it in the club. So I knew that it was something that a lot of people was doing. You know, I did that song in ’96. So it was something that a lot of people was doing, but a lot of people wasn’t rapping about it. So I knew that would do it. I knew “F**k the Police” was gonna be. I knew “Today Was a Good Day” was gonna work.

AllHipHop.com: Yeah?

Ice Cube: Just cause of the sample. Using the Isley Brothers I felt like I was winning before I even started rappin so…

AllHipHop.com: Did you have any idea that “N***a You Love to Hate” would end up being one of them records that defines you?

Ice Cube: Yea it’s like a record that, like if “F**k the Police” marks NWA, “N***a You Love to Hate” kind of is like the stamp. If you want to explain to anybody what Ice Cube is about, you could probably play that record and get then and now.

AllHipHop.com: So are you still that n***a?

Ice Cube: Oh yea, fa sho, fa sho!

C-Rayz Walz: Mind of a Lunatic

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

Napolean Bonaparte once said, “There is only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.” Almost 200 years later, C-Rayz Walz may be living evidence of such within Hip-Hop. The Uptown anthem-maker was ripping apart battles and releasing twelve-inches long before he garnered a major spotlight through MTV’s Made. Street-lore suggests that long before the C-Rayz choked the mic, he was choking vics on sidewalks. So if you think he’s weird for being different, don’t be so quick to judge.

AllHipHop.com traveled to C-Rayz’ Bronx residence to watch the MC do something his friends Raekwon and Ghostface would surely approve of – cook fish. But as Walz fries flounder, he drops severe science on the recent surge of fame and criticism, a poorly received album in Year of the Beast, as well as teaching at a highly-accredited university this year. C-Rayz shares on his bond with unlikely comrade, Juelz Santana. The MC also touches upon pornography while watching an Evil Angel release in another room. Within his reflections, C-Rayz makes some interesting, some hilarious, and some downright strange claims. Amidst it all though, his passion is quite clear. The one-time stick-up kid is back to show a legion of fans another route, and continuously bring the character back into Hip-Hop.

AllHipHop.com: What have you been up to since Year of the Beast came out?

C-Rayz Walz: I?m about to do a winter tour. A whole bunch of ski lodges. I want to let everyone know what?s coming. Wherever there?s snow, that?s where I?m going to be at. I?m letting motherf**kers know that I?ve been staying in the lab. For real, I?m changing my name to C-Rayz Lab this year. My next solo album is called Crazy. It?s got Flava Flav and KRS-One on it.

AllHipHop.com: Listening to your discography, we can hear your style continuously evolving into the lyricist you are today. What would you say is the motivation behind your changing attitude?

C-Rayz Walz: My music is a straight, direct reflection of who I am. It?s more enlightened, more comedic. It?s everything that I am and there ain?t no negativity to it. A lot of people can?t say that, you know what I?m sayin? Later on this year, you?ll see when I come up on a more commercial scene and start rubbin? elbows with known people, I won?t compromise my craft. My s**t is next level, but it?s still street on a personal level. I had to take it to the hood.

AllHipHop.com How can you become commercial by taking it to the hood? The hood doesn?t buy records…

C-Rayz Walz: The hood never buys records, but the hood becomes the records. The records become the hood. Meaning, these kids who buy 50 Cent records [become] hard, in Iowa! They?re hard in Little Rock! They?re banging hard out there and they ain?t been around nothing [that I?ve been]. So I gotta report what?s really going on. There ain?t been a $10,000 chain in my hood in years. You know how the game go. Too much hustlers, not enough customers – so now everybody?s selling drugs through music.

AllHipHop.com: So it seems things are bigger than Hip-Hop?

C-Rayz Walz: I?m supposed to teach a Hip-Hop course at Berkeley. I?m preparing for that s**t. The job is offered for the end of this year. Hopefully, I?ll develop my skills as a professor so I can be prepared for [it].

AllHipHop.com: What will you teach your students?

C-Rayz Walz: [How to be] conscious of your thoughts. As soon as you get that thought, it?s born and it?s up to you to harvest it or cancel it out. When I get negative thoughts, I?m always like, “Cancel, cancel, cancel.” For instance, I always think about grabbing my son by the ankles and slamming him on the concrete. Now, I think about people who do things like that. [They] probably had an ill thought. Once they had that thought, they began the process of making [it real]. That may be an extreme example, but the energy of doubting yourself may be just as strong as that. When you think about your own failures, it?s like, wow, your brain remembers that. Humans are definitely part elephant, man.

AllHipHop.com: How are things going with your label, Definitive Jux. It?s been said that you aren?t happy with your current situation with them.

C-Rayz Walz: I really appreciate them for everything that they?ve done. They?ve really made me rekindle my creative spirit that made [founder El-P] want to sign me. I?ve said thousands of things about him in past interviews, personal s**t doesn?t bother [me]. But Jux as a whole, is not as Definitive as it was when I came on board.

AllHipHop.com: What happened?

C-Rayz Walz: I?ve been on tour [by myself] for the last two years just to survive. If we were to tour as a whole label, we would be much bigger. I?m tired of going on tour and having people ask me, ?Yo, when is Jux going on tour? When we gonna see Aesop? When we gonna see El?? I?m tired of saying, ?I don?t know.? I planned on coming to them for marketing ideas but it?s kinda late for it now. My label ain?t helping me to do that.

AllHipHop.com: Let me first say that your fans are very passionate about your work and a lot of them have questions for you. Many of them want to know why, in their opinion, your latest album, Year of the Beast, is not on the same level as your earlier work. They say that there has been a definite change to your music–and it has been negative. How would you respond to that?

C-Rayz Walz: All right, imagine this: There would be a whole different view of my work if I called my album Nerd Rap. I don?t need a fan. If you relate to my music and you wanna buy it, that?s on you. I made [Year of the Beast] for me. [My discography] is a different aspect of truth?it?s a big book with gold embroidery around it.

AllHipHop.com: It?s been a while since it happened, but do you care to talk about the MTV Made episode?

C-Rayz Walz: Ayo, if my man Nile [the Minnesota teen he mentored known as “The Blizzard”] was here right now, and you had any inkling of rhyming in you?he would blaze you. You would wanna stop rhyming. That s**t was real, and there was nothing fake about it. People come up to me every day and tell me, ?That was the best Made I ever saw.” They really captured a lot of good elements.

AllHipHop.com: How would you respond to someone saying that the episode exploited the culture by exposing it to white suburbia?

C-Rayz Walz: [My philosophy is] ?be comfortable.? Whether we?re in the ?burbs or the hood all we have to do is have a conversation to make a connection. Hip-Hop runs the f**kin’ world. People still don?t realize that. My phone rings all the time [with suburban kids saying] ?C-Rayz, my friends is faking the funk. Can you spit a hot eight bars to let ?em know [that we?re connected?] “Eight bars for those that don?t think I?m horrid/ So you called the vampire/ He hit you back with garlic/Crossed your middle fingers for you/ Then left you in the back like LaToya while the Jack son?s upon you/ Clap son they royal/ Battle wasn?t royal/ Even Verizon said he?s online/ He?ll employ you/For futuristic flows you know what you know/For C-Rayz Walz 718 is the code, peace.” And then I hang up. That energy keeps me alive.

AllHipHop.com: Your skills at MC Battling are well known. Off the top of my head, I can say that you?ve defeated Supernatural on multiple occasions. But I want to discuss a time when you lost a battle to Immortal Technique. What do you think about him?

C-Rayz Walz: Immortal Technique is rich. He went platinum in Ecuador [Laughs]. I think I bust his ass that day, but I think it was the crowd?s [fault that I lost]. He is the only MC that can give it to me in a battle at this point. Technique is a motherf**ker on the mic, and I love him. He doesn?t give a f**k about humanity and he?s giving a positive message [at the same time]. He?s balanced it out.

AllHipHop.com: I want to talk about your run-in with another MC, Juelz Santana. I heard you and him got locked up together?

C-Rayz Walz: Locked up? Juelz? Me and him got sent to central bookings mad times together in Manhattan Tombs. Juelz left me and my man from 197st & St. Nick. He was released earlier, and instead of keepin’ it like a selfish cat, he spread love and left it with me and my man. We smoked it,

and gave the small clip to the cell-scavengers after we were high as hell. That s**t was crazy.

[ At this point in the interview, C-Rayz excused himself to go to the room where the p#### video was playing ?to make a phone call.? He exclaimed, ?I gotta beat off to this!? Immediately knowing he was detected, he flipped his words around and said ?I got a beat off of this?to freestyle to!?]

AllHipHop.com: You must get a lot of groupie love on the road, right?

C Rayz Walz: I got h**d from a p### star before?

AllHipHop.com: Who?

C-Rayz Walz: [Smiles] Wait for her album to drop.

AllHipHop.com: Oh, I know who you?re talking about?

C-Rayz Walz: Ayo! All y’all fake ass players, take a page out my book, man. Go to shortie?s house, play some music, take a shower, smoke a L and then bounce in like ten minutes. I can?t believe I?m sharing this with the world. [Then] pretend you?re on the phone with your man and be like ?Aight son, I ain?t forget about you?pick me up at 81st and 5th. One.? Don?t pay her any attention. That will drive your girl crazy. You?re playing love tag. The next time you see her, you?re ?it.? [Smiles] All of that was in my old life. I?m celibate this year, you know what I?m sayin’?

AllHipHop.com: But the year just started…

C-Rayz Walz: [Laughs] This year I?m a ?sell-a-bit? of records! I?m tired of this p***y s**t, for real.