December 2005 Archives

After surpassing public expectations and wrestling with constant skepticism of their hit single "Laffy Taffy", D4L has bounced back with a vengeance as their follow-up single "Bet 'Cha Can't Do It Like Me" is rising up the charts and slowly silencing the critics as we speak.

I caught up with D4L's frontman Mook B while the group was in Memphis on tour and got we got a chance to talk about the surprising D4L success as well as the criticism, and the alleged animosity between D4L and Dem Fanchise Boys.

SOHH.COM
First off, the D4L buzz is crazy right now. I'm even hearing that you cats have been out on the east coast getting all kinds of love and you know that's big for an Atlanta artist, what's up with that?

Mook B.
Oh man, New York showed us too much love when was up there. Much love to everybody up in New York for real. Shots out to Kay Slay, Funkmaster Flex and everybody in New York man we did the grimiest club up in Manhattan and crunked it up.

SOHH.COM
How do you answer the critics who label you one-hit wonders and commercial artists?

Mook B.
We just give all praises to God and we don't even think about what people say or think about us at all. We just thankful to be here because coming from where we from we supposed to be either dead or locked up somewhere. We from four different projects in Atlanta so the odds was against us from jump.

Co-Founder of Crunk Incorporated, Serious Lord of Crunk has begun his pursuit to seek justice against Lil Scrappy, his attorney Leron E. Rogers, and officials from Warner Brothers Music/Reprise Records.

From the press release:

Lord was recently arrested for protecting Lil Scrappy from receiving bodily harm as the Orlando Police tazered and fought children in Orlando, Florida. According to Lord , Lil Scrappy never appeared in court to aid him. Once Lord was released, he was met with disturbing news. Not only had shares of Crunk Incorporated been allegedly manipulated, but monies had allegedly been dispersed by Warner Brothers Music/Reprise Records to Crunk, and divided without payment to Lord.

Lord says:

"Several false allegations were made against me by my business partner Lil Scrappy and Crunk Incorporated artists' Crime Mob in an attempt to gain more money and power. Officials from Warner Brothers Music/Reprise Records and Lil Scrappy's new attorney, Leron E. Rogers, allegedly assisted them in their perpetuation of lies and deceit in order to smear my name. In order to gain the trust of these young people, I suspect that Warner Brothers Music/Reprise Records and Mr. Leron E. Rogers attempted to destroy a hero. I'm the only person who took them in, and made their dreams come true."

Quit cryin, Lord! This happens to alot of unwitty young entrepo-neers who get into the game with these EDUCATED, SLICK lawyers who run game for a living.

Every five years or so Atlanta changes its hip hop taste and forces other areas to either copy or step up their game and right now we are in the midst of one of those area changes right now. I think we can all admit that the "crunk" era is all but dead right now. Lil Jon, Pastor Troy and damn near everybody else rode that truck until the wheels fell of but "crunk music" has met it's life expectancy.

Out with the old and in with the new...As we usher in the "Snap"era.

Those in Atlanta have been familiar with the snap for a while now but as with everything else, the rest of the country has caught on and now they treat it like it's brand new. We've been snappin' and trappin' for a minute now but groups like Ben Hill, D4L, and Dem Franchise Boys have brought it to the light (as Gipp would say).

Atlanta's crunk movement pioneers, The Youngbloodz have recently announced the launching of a Cuban restaurant in the Wyndham Hotel in Midtown Atlanta. Sean Paul and J-Bo plan to do it real big on the entreprenurial side as well as with the music in 2006. Their album, Ev'rybody Know Me recently dropped and is getting major props as we speak.

"You know, after selling 300,000 of our first record Against Da Grain, and more than doubling that with Drankin' Patnaz over 700,000 sold, again, we're on another level. Making money now. And making investments."

"My uncle’s wife is 100% Cuban. My uncle has been in the restaurant business for a while. They had an opportunity to invest some money and make some money. We co-own the business. I’m just in the background." Sean Paul says.

It's Christmas time in Atlanta and you know what that means right, yeah you guessed it Diddy's in town throwing his 3rd annual Christmas Party at Visions Nightclub downtown.

It has always puzzled me how everybody rushes out to an event just because an entertainer tags his name on something. Do we really go with the hope of meeting and greeting these celebs? I don't care where you are Miami, NBA All-Star Weekend, The Super Bowl...you name it, if it's a Diddy party we come out in droves. Talk about pimpin', this is ultimate pimpin' ladies and gentleman-from city to city.

Still riding the enormous wave of a their smash single "I Think They Like Me", a remix featuring super-producer Jermaine Dupri and fellow SoSo Def artists Da Brat and Bow Wow, Dem Franchise Boys are preparing to drop their sophmore LP, On Top Of Our Game in early 2006. However, the current year still holds some unfinished business as I caught up with them at their jam-packed video shoot for "Lean Wit It" in the heart of Atlanta.

The popularity of the four Atlanta natives was evident as I approached the video shoot at the Pool Palace, arguably the hottest club in the city, located in Bankhead. I was carefully screened by security and it was immediately apparent that the four Bankhead natives, Buddie, Jizzal Man, Pimpin and Parlae were definitely the toast of Atlanta right now.

I finally caught up with the group on their tour bus during an intermission at the video shoot and we talked about their forthcoming LP, their famous SoSo Def mentor and what it's like to be Dem Franchise Boys right now.

It's Official, Grand Hustle Entertainment and Atlantic Records have announced the signing of Atlanta-based DJ, DJ Drama to a long-term deal.

It's really nothing new because Drama was T.I.'s DJ on his last two major tours. But there must have been big money involved for him to sign an exclusive deal, considering how big he was on the independent mixtape circuit both nationally and internationally. We'll see if it's really an exclusive rights deal or a partnership, time will tell.

One of the big uproars in the city right now is the so-called atlanta anthem, "The A-T-L" created by Dallas Austin under the careful guidance and instruction of Mayor Shirley Franklin. “The ATL” is performed by Ciara, Monica, Jagged Edge, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins of TLC and Sammie to name a few.

One detractor argues that the hip hop anthem might as well say "bring your boom-box and your bling-bling to Atlanta.” while another says that it caters to “gun-blazing, Ray Lewis-admiring thugs.” (So I see we still haven't got over Ray and his O.J. imitation)...

What's Up with Luda? First the rebel suit, now he's dissin "America's favorite dumb ass blonde chic" Jessica Simpson.

Incase you missed it Luda said this about Jessica on TRL, " I think Jessica Simpson is flawless except for one thing-I would get her a bunch of little butt shots. She needs the injections in the behind. Okay, I take it back, she need a new man for Christmas. I'm a Jessica Simpson fan don't take it the wrong way."

<And everybody mumbles>Damn...and she ain't even got a man to defend her no more, that's messed up.

A couple months ago I had the chance to venture down into the "deep dirty", the backwoods of Mississippi. As always, I made it a point to keep an ear to the street and by the time I left the crooked letter state my ears were buzzing.

Everybody was talking about a new artist named Big K.R.I.T and after I got a chance to hear his material, I definitely understood why.

At only 19 years of age and under the watchful eye of an Atlanta-based management team, the young artist/producer has already accumulated a catalog of music (I did say a catalog). Influenced by old-school artists like The Dramatics, The Manhattans, and The Ohio Players, Big K.R.I.T is producing and writing his own music with a southern flair that's causing a major stir all over the south with several mixtape appearances and a number of gritty singles.

The long-anticipated Ludacris Presents Disturbing The Peace compilation finally dropped yesterday and it's on point. Ludacris does a nice job overseeing this project, he's come a long way from the "one-hit off the entire CD" days of I-20 and Shawna.

I have to give it a slightly better grade than Purple Ribbon's Got Purp Vol. 2 CD simply because of the versatility with several different types of artists appearing from Redman to Ghostface to Trick Daddy. So basically, as my man DayShawn from The Ultimate Hustler would say....basically it's got something on there for every type of hip hop listener.

ATTENTION! This post is strictly for the grown and sexy, I repeat... strictly for the grown and sexy!

The new Anthony Hamilton CD Aint Nobody Worryin just dropped today and it is hands-down a classic CD, believe it. After going platinum with his first joint Comin from Where I'm From he definitely bounces back real nice on this album.

Some songs to keep an eye on, "Preacher's Daughter" and "Sista Big Bones", a tribute to the plus-size females (to each his own). This 13-track CD is socially conscious as well soulful and you can let the CD spin from beginning to end with no interruptions, it's just that smooth. SoSo Def really did their thing this year and this album just enhances the legacy JD is still building.

Also, The Youngbloodz drop Ev'rybody Know Me today with the album release at Visions alongside Nelly and his Christmas party. If the first single "Presidential" is any indication of how the CD will do, we might be looking at a platinum joint for the Drankin Potnaz too.

Big, Big ups to the Ying Yang Twins on their "Best Performance By A Duo or Group" grammy nomination for the song "Wait". When you get grammy nominations you know you put in work that year. Say what you will about them being commercial but my guyz move units consistently.

D-Roc and Kane have been doing it for a minute now, so much respect is due. I remember spinning their first joints back in the day, real heads remember "True City Thugs" and "One on One" back in '98-99. Alot of people think Ying Yang came out of nowhere but they've grinded for a minute to get where they are.

Bling tones? A full page ad for Bling tones in XXL...Why? Last I checked, heads don't even say the word Bling anymore. As a matter of fact the last time I remember somebody even using that word was when, 2000.

C'mon somebody, get creative for me. If we're going to continue to put money behind "Bling" then we might as well let Hammer make chips off the old adage "It's All Good" (15 years later). Step your game up like Lil Jon and release a Desktop Player or something.

Let's force these rappers to step their game up for real. Get original, bring new ideas to the marketing table, quit playing it safe and roll the dice.

No disrepect, but am I only the only one who's tired of seeing Fabo from D4L kick his damn leg up sideways or what. Don't get me wrong, I do respect D4L musically because they did their thing this year no doubt, but that leg kick I'm just not feelin'.

They say they're from the different projects of the "A" but I can't even see brothers in Grady Homes catching on doing the high kick. I just can't see it. Although I did see Heather Hunter do a trick like that in a porno before.

But I guess some would argue that that's Hip Hop, keeping it real with originality. But this one here is taking it to the extreme, plus it's on some wack shhh.

Still rotating these Technics daily and trying to keep everybody aware of what's really bangin in the streets and the clubs of the "A". Here are this week's singles to keep an eye on.

1. Diamonds - Slim Thug feat. Young Jeezy - Slim Thug drops a real nice 16 bars on this remix backed up by Jeezy and Thugga's compadres. The production? Mannie Fresh is holdin it down on the boards for this one. Mannie, you know you're stepping your game up when your beats become recognizable without mention of your name.

2. I Just Touched Down - Big K.R.I.T - Southern banger for real! Pick this one up and you'll have a hard time getting it out of rotation. The production is supertight with a nice old school sample overlapping the beat, all done by K.R.I.T. as well which is rare. This is one of those joints that you can definitely ride to. You can pick up his See Me On Top Vol. 2 Mixtape here and keep an eye out for my feature on Big K.R.I.T later this week.

3. Lettin' Go - - Janelle Monae - A must have for the ladies. Real smooth single off the Purple Ribbon CD, this or "Time Will Reveal" might end up being the biggest seller off the album when all is said is done. This is just her introduction, something that the A has been missing, a female singer blowing with some substance over hip hop beats.

4. Strip Club - Red Cafe/Mack 10/Fat Joe- I'm lovin this, not necessarily ATL artists but put it like this, Red Cafe (always in ATL) Mack 10 (caught a domestic case in ATL) so there's the connection. I hear they have plans to re-release this plus I'm feelin everything Red Cafe is puttin out right now. With him and Papoose the east is finally starting to look up again.

Just caught an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution reporting that there are over 11,000 students from the New Orleans area that are now registered in the greater Atlanta area school system. That's alot of damn people! So I have news for you ATL, it's only a matter of time before the New Orleans sound begins to have its influence here.

Five years from now, many of those 11,000 students will be the new breed in the game. Even the current elementary students will be the teens who are doing it. It's going to happen. And just to think, that 11,000 doesn't include the over-18 New Orleans natives that are already in the recording studios workin'.

Biz Markie will be on the 1's and 2's for the fourth annual charity fundraiser benefiting The Center for Homeless Women and Children hosted by super producer Tricky Stewart and Red Zone Entertainment. The event will take place at The Compound on Wednesday, December 7 at 9 p.m.

The event, which last year drew hundreds from the Atlanta entertainment community will boast the finest entertainment. Performing this year will be several Red Zone artists. "No matter how much we enjoy making music day in and day out, nothing compares to the thrill we get from lending a hand to help those in need, especially at this time of year." says Stewart.

The benefit is supported by V-103, who will be hosting a live remote broadcast from the Compound with producer Brian Michael Cox, Hypnotiq, No Name Entertainment, ASCAP, So So Def and Soulstice Media Group.

Did anybody get a chance to hear Ms. Voletta Wallace's interview on 107.9 (The A-Team) this morning? She was on for at least an hour answering questions and also promoting her book "Biggie: Voletta Wallace Remembers Her Son, Christopher Wallace, aka Notorious B.I.G", the entire interview was too long to quote but here are a couple of questions and high points from her appearance.

What is your relationship with Afeni Shakur?
"My relationship with Afeni Shakur is beautiful one, we both have an incredible bond having lost two sons in the same violent way. We are forever connected"

What is your relationship with Diddy and how close are you?
"We have a wonderful relationship contrary to what others say, and we are close. Let's put it like this...If I were to call Puff and he was sleeping I would only have to say to the person on the phone, Tell him he's having a bad nightmare and to wake up for Ms. Wallace and he would."

Believe it or not I'm finally feeling you a little Bow! When I first heard the CD, "Fresh Azimiz" was the first joint that I liked, come to think of it-it was the only cut I liked. It's a nice club banger and the video surprisingly does the song some justice (jus' a lil' bit).

A few reasons why I'm actually diggin this video:
First, No JD all up in the video! Way to stand on your own two youngster.
Second, gotta' give it up for Bow Wow sportin' the platinum grill...A thug is being born as we speak!
Next, No appearances or verses from J-Kwon...Bow was like look man I don't need them wack ass verses, just ride the hook cousin. But what's up with the Mike Jones affiliation and appearance?
Finally,give it up for dude getting jocked by the over 30 chics in the club. Big ups lil homie.

After reading the NY Times article Scenes From An Arranged Marraige, I'm left with a mixed opinion regarding the strategy of pairing artists who don't know each other and putting them off on the public as being "clicked out" just for the sake of sales. On one hand I do understand the marketing end of it all but why we gotta' be lied to for the sake of a profit. Tell us anything!

So all you starving artists need to quit shopping your demo's and focus more on shopping your damn selves I guess.

I don't know but it's always good to pay attention to the signs, if the "pairing up" with Dr. Dre and then 50 didn't work for this Governor cat then it might be the idea and not the artist that isn't working out.