June 2005 Archives

Gangster music in the south is alive again, or was it ever alive? Anyway, after reviewing the self-titled debut release from Atlanta's own Boyz N Da Hood I have to give credit where credit is due. I must admit, their first release Dem Boyz was in my opinion overrated, I saw the song as a commercial product aimed to prey on the mainstream hip hop listener. I felt that judging from the first release, the group lacked the grit and lyrics to even remotely warrant using the one of the name of arguably raps most influential group of all-time's greatest hits. I still feel this way somewhat, but I will give the group props for releasing a credible production all the way through. Maybe it was the attachment to Bad Boy that caused the doubt, similar to when Eightball & MJG headed east and signed with P. Diddy, but they managed to release adequate work last year on the label. So, despite the hesitancy I gave it an unbiased, concious listen and this is what I thought.

"Got ta' Be mo' Careful" as my pops used to always say! Yeah, Jazzy was robbed in broad daylight at a restaurant while attending the BET Awards in Los Angeles. Word is, they got him for his jewelry among other things. I heard this through a couple of sources and it was confirmed on the Frank-Ski show (103.3) Wednesday morning.

I needed no confirmation really, having lived in Cali before so I already know how dangerous it is. Everybody's trying to eat at any cost. I mean one bedroom apartments rent for around $1,000-plus, and that's in the hood. Therefore, it really is in your best interest keep an entourage, especially if you are trying to be so icey.

Underground hip-hop trio Digable Planets will be performing in Atlanta on Wednesday June 29th at The Loft. Real heads might remember the group from their initial breakthrough singles, "Cool Like Dat" and "Where I'm From" from back in 1993.

People! I just finished listening to Trillville's Target Practice CD, a response to Lil' Scrappy's Full Metal Jacket, a paper thin diss on Trillville's Don P, that has grabbed the ear of the underground streets here in Atlanta for the past couple of months. Honestly, both of these projects are a couple of mediocre street productions full of accusations and insults. Scrappy accuses Don P. of being a homosexual with no lyrics basically, and Don P. and others shoot the accusations down and retaliate with insults of their own.

"Yo Jon, you need to come up out of that Miami sunshine and see about about your boys man, they up here trippin with each other... and they need to chill," is probably what I would tell Lil Jon if I could talk to him right now. As a matter of fact has anybody bothered to tell these cats that we don't beef in Atlanta and that's why we are who we are. Remember when East and West Coast riffs were happening, Outkast and the rest of the A was relaxin talkin' bout Do You Want a Benz or a Beamer. That's just the way we do it here. A-Town down that means we down with each other just trying to make this thing happen by puttin' our own stamp on the music game and making money, so yeah both of you backup singers need to calm down.

"What's Beef...Beef is when you need two gats to go to sleep/ Beef is when ya mom's aint safe up in the streets/ Beef is when I see you... guaranteed to be in ICU...Now What's Beef?" Real talk, spoken by one of the greatest. Now do yall really want to get into that type of situation? Didn't think so?

Can Da Brat really make a successful comeback from The Surreal Life? You know, the television show that we have all labeled as the official burying ground for celebrity has-beens.

My first thought was no way, there is no coming back from the dead. But as me and a few friends listened to her verse on the "Oh I Think Dey Like Me-remix" I might have to say otherwise. I mean she spit a crazy 16 bars that actually amps the song up a notch or two. But as nice as her lyrics were I couldn't help but see Mini Me riding on the beat with her for some reason.

But she might be one of those artists that can't carry a song by herself but is fire when offering a verse or two. And with Jermaine Dupri staying on top of the game and coming out with his new CD she might be able to resurrect herself from the doldrums with So-So Def. We'll see, because the buzz is she's working on another project as we speak.

To celebrate the release of their debut album, Boyz N Da Hood hit all the 'hood record stores to show love to the folks that supported them from day one. The scenes at The Sound Shop at the Mall West End and DBS sounds in College Park were like the NBA All-Star game opening intros. When Young Jeezy stepped off the tour bus he was greeted with chants of his name...the same went for Duke and Big Gee. But Jody Breeze was welcomed with high-pitched screams from hordes of star-struck females.

Even though their videos and press pics have them mean-mugging the foursome was all smiles as they traveled their stomping grounds signing CDs and posters for adoring fans. Their grins widened even more when they watched themselves perform on 106 & Park.

"Man this shit is like Christmas Day when I used to open my He-Mans and shit," says Duke.

Plenty of jokes were exchanged on board the tour bus over Busy Bee Chicken wings and Newports cigarettes. The scenes were so hot that even Bad Boy exec Harve Pierre was in attendance. The whole hood followed them...the whole 'hood. We're talking ice cream trucks here people.

The day included radio interviews at Hot 107.9 and V103 with Greg Street. The night was capped off with a album release party at Compound hosted by Mr. Multitask himself P. Diddy

Kronik Kandy, Hydro Blunts or lemonheads- tough decision huh? Well that's one of the choices that consumers are being presented with these days. Yes, hemp-laced candy has hit the neighborhood corner stores, consequently stirring up quite an uproar between marketers and lawmakers. Of course Mr. Let's Get Blowed himself, Snoop Dogg has decided to provide endorsement for the candy, along with Warren G. Surprised? Naw, you know they remain "true to the game".

Lawmakers contend that the candy is being marketed directly to the youth, yet marketers say otherwise: "In our research, we have found that our Kronik Kandy is mostly used by customers trying to kick the habit of using marijuana," said Tony Sosa, head of Hydro Blunts, which coincidentally has its main distribution center in.....drumroll please.....the ATL. "Basically our candy is part of a lifestyle, like hip hop and rap music," Sosa added. Really, is that so?

Damn, and I thought the 25-cent urban 'tater chips were insulting. Now this.

Recently Ludacris participated in the Xbox event, "Game with Fame" where video game players get to go up against celebrities. It's funny how Luda, in a statement at the event, is able to give props to his sponsors AND sneak in a reference to his latest single all in one sound bite. Peep:

"There's nothing like kicking back, relaxing and playing some Xbox, and with Xbox Live, I have the opportunity to game with my fans 'all over the world'."

It wouldn't be hip-hop without promoting your own album, even at someone else's promo event.

It's almost a week later and people are still talking about that wack Musicfest. So I'll talk about it too, just one more time.

As I trudged through all of the event's write-ups (mostly stuff about Lauryn Hill's craziness and the rain), I found Maggie Large of the Mason Telegraph discussing Biz Markie's performance. She says:

The real question is, does the Biz still remember the lyrics to his songs? I'm not trying to be rude. He posed the same question to the audience. Perhaps it was rhetorical. But the answer was a resounding. . .sort of. He got a little lost on the last verse of "Just a Friend" but filled in with blah blah blah to cover.

I wonder if Maggie realizes that "blah blah blah" really is apart of "Just a Friend's" lyrics.

Remember last week I said I wish I could be at Vibe's Musicfest? Well, forget that. I'm glad I didn't attend. I would have been cool with the uncooperative weather, but I heard the bigger problem was a storm named Ms. Lauryn Hill.

Tony explained in the comments section:

"Lauryn came out wearing a mushroom wig that made most of us question what was going on in that head of hers. Although her voice was incredibly strong, I question her stability. She was acting very "strange" throughout the entire show. She gave instructions to her band members as which instruments should be played. At one point, she had them start a song over because she felt that someone was off key."

It gets crazier people.

Usually a movie that has half a dozen guest starring rappers will be pretty horrible. Best example- Ed Lover and Dre. Dre's corny "Who's the Man?" movie. Biggest exeption- the hip-hop classic "Juice"

That's why I'm suprised by the trailer for the movie "20 Funerals", which features a boatload of ATL rappers, including Big Boi, Lil' Jon, Killer Mike, Slimm Calhoun, Big Gipp, Now City, and Konkrete. Despite history, this flick actually seems like it could be good! None of the artists look like they have starring roles, which is a smart decision, word to Samuel L. Jackson.

Today is the first day of Vibe's Musicfest at the Georgia Dome. I went to the Summer Jam concert last week in New York, but I'd much rather be at Musicfest.

With soulful acts like Kanye West, John Legend, Lauryn Hill, and Faith Evans, this weekend is the perfect alternative for the "grown and sexy" set. Plus ATL natives Ludacris, Big Boi, and T.I. will bring their best for the hometown crowd, no doubt.

If you're in the city and you miss these performances, then you're a lame. Don't talk to me.