Alot of you youngsters out there may only know Ice Cube as that old guy actor from Friday and Barbershop who occaisonally raps, but in reality the man is one of the pioneers of West Coast gangster rap and the guy who most of your favorite rappers probably grew up listening to. This past Friday Cube Steady Mobbed his way through B.B. King's in Times Square, and he brought along Daz and Kurupt of the Dogg Pound and the Clipse for the ride.
The occasion was the only New York date on Cube's promotional tour for his new album Laugh Now, Cry Later, due out june 6th. Unfortunatley I couldn't make it, which is dissapointing since it's not everyday you get to see a living legend performing classics up close and personal in a small venue like this, in New York City no less. Man, I remember a period in time when The Dogg Pound might not have gotten a very warm reception in this town, but thankfully those days are in the past.
As long as we're on the subject of legendary M.C.'s, I think it's worth mentioning that Kool Keith's alter ego Dr. Octagon, who was long believed to be dead after being offed during the intro of Keith's other alter ego, Dr. Dooom's First Come First Served LP, is poised to reclaim hip hop from the legions of Pop artists trying to "water down the sound that comes from the ghetto." OCD International will release The Return Of Dr Octagon, the long over due follow up to Kool Keith's Dr Octagynacologist on June 27th, 2006. To support the release in the realm on the internet, they have created an 8 episode digital comic featuring 8 weeks of chapters. Each week will feature another episode, artwork and a special downloadable new remix by artists such as Prefuse73, Spank Rock, Aesop Rock, Mike Relm, Kid Loco, Her Space Holiday, Rob Sonic and more. Go here for more info and to download the first two chapters.
Finally something possitive to talk about in NYC blog... too bad the artist involved are from the West Coast and Virginia.
When are we gonna talk good about someone from NY, besides Jay-Z? Thats why I admire the South, if you read Sohh Southerns blogs, He got nothing but Love and support for the South, even the wackest shit the south has to offer, they respect it...
Meanwhile, we talk so much shit about all our artist, some of them Legends like Mobb Deep, Banks, Busta, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Ghostface, Dipset(referring to the most recent blogs) I mean, some of them suck... but do we have to talk bad or make fun of a NY rapper on a daily basis, and leave all the love to other rappers.
One-I agree with you completely on that one. I think it's the bucket of crabs mentality. As soon as one NY MC makes it everybody and their momma starts to hate on him/her.
Because this doesn't involve G-unit, game, or rappers from ATL, this blog will get 20 entries...I missed the concert in Philly but I know the show was some good shit.
Gimme my Clipse album, I've waited long enough.
If it wasn't for Cube, there would have been no N.W.A.
Without N.W.A., there would be no Dr. Dre.
Without Dr. Dre, there would have been no Chronic (the album).
Without the Chronic, there would have been no West Coast.
Without the West Coast, there would have been no "gangsta" rap.
Without "gangsta" rap, a lot of these rappers you see today on T.V. would not be here.
A lot of entertainers(I mean rappers) owe a lot to Ice Cube.
This is Georgia talking.
Thanks for posting an update on Kool Keith. He's been one of the most original MC's ever with his crazy styles and flows. I caught him in Atlanta a few years back with DJ Lucky Luke and he tore it down. Can't wait for this new CD. Paging Doctor Octagon, Paging Doctor Octagon!
-JMizz
Everytime I read a blog it's always someone hating on NY in a subliminal way...
Jump off... Just remember where this rap shit started...
- D$
Nuff Respect To Cube, Tha Dogg Pound & Tha Clipse For Rockin That Joint! The show was on tha 1.
Tha DR. Is back baby! Girls clean ya coochies and get ready 4 a a full cavity inspection! Like Bing Bing Bing, Ricochet Rabbit Grab It Like I'm Poppa!
"If it wasn't for Cube, there would have been no N.W.A. ..." Posted by: Chevy G. Hustle
I highly agree with Chevy. To take it a step further add Snoop, 50 & Eminem into the mix becaus without Dre, neither of them would be as relevant. Snoop & Xzibit will be the first ones to credit Cube for their careers. I have been a Cube fan since the NWA & The Posse CD. I missed him at the Up In Smoke tour because I lived in Miami and he left the tour before they came there. I am in GA now and look forward to seeing Cube on Thursday. Cube didn't just grab the mic and talk about how many people he shot/robbed like some of the other "gangsta rappers", he told stories that had a message with a uniques delivery. Besides LL, no other artist from hip hop's golden era is as relevant as Cube. KRS, Face, Slick Rick, Rakim & G Rap are all dear to the fans of that era, but Cube & LL have managed to capture fans today as well. I'm sure I'm not alone when I wish that hip hop could go back to the golden era (at least up to the year 2000). I know growing up my Mom use to say that music is not the same as in her day, now I find myself saying the same...lol
Sup Chevey:
Schoolly D is the God Father of Gangsta Rap. NWA made it popular. But that's still real talk about dudes owing Cube. That said Cube Always ha the most charisma in NWA. I think it was a tie between him and Ren as far a lyrics. Ren could truly spit that psycotic shit. Cube just had more of a presence. Now Cube looks like a gangsta Gerald LeVert. His first three solo albums was hot like fish grease, though. Kool Keith is definitely an innovator but now it just takes too much patience to listen to him. The Clipse? FIRE!! That "Got It For Cheap" Vol. 2 is a classic minus dude saying "MANNO!!" after every bar. I never really got into the Dogg Pound...
I agree with you skdamc, when Cube was with NWA, I liked him more because of his charisma, but he and Ren were tied as lyricist It's like to me Raekwon is the best lyricist in the WU, but Meth has the charisma. Charisma is like a secondary element of hip hop because most of the popular artists are popular because of it. Cube's verse on "Parental Discretion ..." is the illest verse on that Straight Outta Compton CD to me though. When he went solo, that's when he became an even better lyricist which is why every magazine/website's top 10 MCs list always includes Cube.
Knuk if u Buck
YEAH IM WAITING ON THAT NEW CLIPSE ALBUM TOO.
ICE CUBE IN NY. YOU GOTTA LOVE THAT. THANK GOD THE EAST COAST VS.WEST COAST BULLSHIT IS OVER!
NOW IF WE COULD JUST END THIS SOUTH VS.NY BULLSHIT.
GET MONEY!!!!!
HOW DID I FORGET ABOUT DAZ AND KURUPT.I STILL BANG MY DOGG FOOD ALBUM.
Big up to Cube for doin' his thing in the game for all these years. Movies, TV, Music, Cube done did it all and still doin' it. I'm still waitin on that Clipse album too...It's way overdue.
Good lookin on the mention of Kool Keith, the most original MC in the game waay before anybody heard of Andre 3000 (not hatin though).
do ya'll remember the day when Westside Connection dropped the album Bow Down? I specifically remember a track on their where they totally diss new york and said "Ya'll n****s will never get our respect." i am glad to see that things have changed. Doggpound aint stompin on buildings and they get a warm reception. I am glad to hear that. let's just be thankful they didn't perform New York New York. OR did they?
oh yeah, i forgot. why am i posting on here? this doesnt have anything to G unit or jay z or camron. man, where is that blog at? cuz i know everything about the rap game and i need to argue.
maybe people will just stop posting gay ass blogs all the time. f**king internet warriors.
I saw Cube in Philly & the show is Fire!!!,if it comes to your town don't miss it.You're right,sometimes we do forget how much of a pioneer Cube is-my kids know him as that guy from 'Are we there yet?',and that's cool-but Dad remembers him from "Who's the Mack?" & "Jackin' for Beats"
"Once Upon a Time In the Projects"
"No Vasaline"
"Check Yo Self"
"Burn, Hollywood, Burn"
"Fuck Da Police"
"It Was A Good Day"
"Wicked"
"Gangsta,Gangsta"
"Horny Little Devil"
"Turn Off The Radio"
"Cave Bitch"
"Black Korea"
"Doin' Dumb Shit"
"Get Off My Dick And Tell Yo Bitch To Come Here"
The list goes on and on.....
Cube's first three were the most consistent among Hip-Hop History. I'm fucked up that I remembered so much.
preach chevy g. preach.
cube legendary statis.check out kool keith on ultramagnetics first album the joint "im housing things"this is in the mid 80S.sons flow was insane.
new clipse album comming soon, there is a god.kurupt still a menace on the mic.battle tested with a seal of approval.daz one of the best producers.damn that was a nice show.hip hop at its best.
What's the hap bxconnect and skdamc?
Anybody got a link to download some Kool Keith material? I remember ultramagnetic mc's. But barely. I'm a young cat, and that's a little before my time.
Much respect to Schoolly D. I just listened to Schoolly D for the first time in 2002. Forgive me, I'm young.
If it wasn't for Cube, there would have been no N.W.A.
Without N.W.A., there would be no Dr. Dre.
Without Dr. Dre, there would have been no Chronic (the album).
Without the Chronic, there would have been no West Coast.
Without the West Coast, there would have been no "gangsta" rap.
Without "gangsta" rap, a lot of these rappers you see today on T.V. would not be here.
A lot of entertainers(I mean rappers) owe a lot to Ice Cube.
This is Georgia talking.
Posted by: Chevy G. Hustle at May 16, 2006 02:30 PM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And most importantly, if it wasn't for Ice Cube, there would be no "Are We There Yet" movie.
And also, if there was no Ice Cube, there would be no Lisa Raye, dancing butt naked in the Players Club.
[goes to watch it]
I'm not sure where you could download it but, on a personal note, I got an ORIGINAL pressing of Ego trippin' (I D.J.)with Ego bits as the istumental, The Show, Dre Day, and some more shit diggin' through my man's vinyl 'cause he switched to c.d.'s (that's cheatin')Kool Keith had the balls to come at RunDMC when they had New York on smash back in '86. Check Kool Keith's first verse on "Ego Trippin'". It's kinda like Kool Keith begat Keith Murray, MF DOOM and in a certain aspect Pharoh Monch. If you listen closely you could even peep an influence on KRS-One. It's seems now though Kool Keithis kinda bored with M.Cin' and just says anything shockin'. My 2 cents.
"best believe you wont recieve no dividends"
skdamc what happened o 3xdope?greatest man alive was good but had nothing on dividends.any song wherr the girl is bigging up steady b is one for the classic vaults.
Sup Bxconnect:
E.S.T. of Three Times Dope got major cake off Beyonce's album. His gov. name is Rob Waller (for you liner note junkies) He does writing for major artist. As far as Chuck Nice and D.J. Wood, I haven't a clue. The Greatest Man Alive was slept on big time. That song was by Cool C (Glamorous Life) who is now on death row (not the lable, the row)for killin' a cop back in '96. Steady turned states on him. TRUE SNITCH
and got life. Steady was hot though. I saw him do some live shit with a Linn Drum on stage.
At one point, Cube even held the record for cameos. Probably still does because he is still appearing on other artists' albums. Oh yeah, Cube also gave Jamie Foxxx his big role in a movie. Not to mention Dude who played Damian on Friday After Next. So not only has Cube given birth to MCs, but actors also.
bxconnect and skdamc:
What were y'all first experiences of rap?
LEGEND....when I was like 11-14...sheetiittt...u couldn't tell me shit about Cube....he was always the coldest in NWA(Ren right behind him)....And when he left the group....he took shit to a completely different level...he was talkin about shit wayyyyyyy before it was really exposed to the rest of the world..he talked about police brutality wayyyyy b4 the world finally saw Rodney get his ass whooped by them cops....he talked about how there were no BLACK owned stores in the hood and all you see is Asian bodega owners and they treat you like shit, wayyyy b4 u saw that shit on Menace 2 society....he was so fucn raw, he talked about TRILL ass issues that affected the hood and the world....he always talked about the state of blacks and where we needed to be....he still had bangers, but he never compromised his art..and he was still a platinum ni99a, it wasn't about that..who can you say that about now....w/o making wack ass booty cheek music to do it....NOBODY...Jay=no, 50+ hell to the nawww., Nobody....lol, shit after Boys N the Hood came out...I used to lie to my ni99as and say he was my cousin, since we have the last name....I have been to alot of shows in my life....but Steady Mobbin 92....best fucn show I ever saw....(Del the funky Homosapien, WC and the MAAD circle, Naughty by Nature, Cypress Hill, Black Sheep, Scarface, Lynch MOB)...the fuc outta here....and that was right after he stop fuck NWA and Ruthless...ni99a please..there were so many pic boothes that were clowin NWA that you could take a pic in front of....I read an interesting article last year about CUBE....it made a great deal of fucn sense....What if CUBE had been killed when he was young like PAC, and what if Pac was still alive? yeah CUBE's music stinks now(post Lethal Injection)...If he would have been killed like right after Predator he would have been immortalized wayyyy more than Pac....any head that was a fan of both can tell you CUBE earlier material was wayyy more controversial and raw....PAC dind't even really scrath the surface with "Trapped" or "Brenda's got a baby"....CUBE was too ill at the time...which is why it hurt so bad to see him fall off, just like it hurt to see WU fall off, or Kane fall off...and now you have all these fucbag emceez outta no where, and all the young people know is that, and they don't know about the real ni99as....its a sad day right now breh!!!
The first rap song that I learned word for word was "Criminal Minded" by BDP.
chevy it would have to be looking out the project windows at j and adams projects building 710 tinton ave watching two niggas with afros rocking at a jam in the park.i was about 6 or 7.the first single my moms copped for me was "looking for the perfect beat" bam and the soulsonic force.
I didn't know that bout EST skdamc,lol...my brother and I were talkin bout that about a month ago, like where are them ni99as(3xDope), or a whole lotta ni99as....see..thats why there should be a real deal talk show real people talk about REAL HH, and callers should be able to call in....theres just too much to type...we could rap bout this all day...I have been a head since like 7(the days of breakin....wayyy b4 crush groove)...I been on it!!!
Cube wrote for Dre remember that.
BX Boro
Spin1er
ZULU NATION
and most of NWA, except for Ren
BX Boro
Spin1er
ZULU NATION
Lemme see that Clipse album already.
im not good at memorizing shit but i did, Braveheartz - Quick To Back Down, the only song i still kno by heart, like heard that shit so much, niggaz still be bumpin it in my hood
Who had a fight backstage at cube show at bb kings?
THAT'S NEWS TO ME ABOUT EST, ALSO.
KOOL KEITH & CED-G PRODUCED MOST OF BDP'S CRIMINAL MINDED ALBUM W/O ANY CREDIT OR $$$.{KRS SAID THAT 'BOUT 10YRS AGO}
I BOUGHT CRITICAL BEATDOWN BEFORE I HEARD ANYTHING BASED ON THE COVER. {THAT'S HOW I GOT WISE TO A LOT OF CLASIC JOINTS.} THAT TAPE WAS BIG IN THE SOUTH!!
CUBE IS A LEGEND!! I WAS LISTENING TO DEATH CERTIFICATE YESTERDAY. ONE OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS EVER. PERIOD
Ice Cube gets major props, my man is akin to a black panther revolution on a microphone!!!!"real talk".......
Now the dogg pound dazz and kurupt can still eat a motherfucking dick!!!.
That video they made years ago kicking over NYC buildings still warrants a beatdown!!!
Kool Keith is still a motherfucking scientist!!!- that motherfucker was ahead of his time when he first came out,light years ahead of the game.
To the new generation of NYC youth beware because this summer is duck season, and all you perpertrating motherfuckers who wear banadanas throwing up gang signs are gonna get mudholes stomped in your chest!!!!
This is motherfucking NYC we not crips and bloods- we Black Spades,Savage Nomads, La Familia, Zulu Nation, Universal Zulu Nation,Netas,Ching a lings,etc etc.
Its motherfucking duck season on fake ass crips and bloods!!!.......
Triple Assault Zulu Nation Chapter 9 - Bronx Borough - Major Thorough.
Peace to the whole Ghetto Brothers and the Mighty motherfucking Zulu Nation!!!
NYC....................................
What the FUCK is it 1981 in England with that Down By Law, we made that shit up in the Bronx eons ago.
Bronx NY
Spin1er
ZULU NATION
Peace to all
Spin1er
Universal Zulu Nation
Bronx NY
Junior Pa i am from The Bronx , That's why i said Down By Law, because i am co-signing my nigga England represent!
This is Bronx River Chapter 9 Triple Assault zulu Nation out The Bronx Borough Major Thorough.
Peace Be................
let fifty break it down to u niggaz why nas should of shot gay z for talking on baby mama, its queens think u bitches!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq91uGiZYMY&search=50%20cent
To the first commenter ONE, I know what your saying, but blogs aren't about dickriding whoever is from your region just because it says New York on their driver's license. Nor are they advertising vehicles for artists who have an album dropping or a new product the want to sell us. That's why I write whatever about whoever from NY. I've given props to artists and I've slammed some on here and it has nothing to do with a crab in the bucket mentality. I don't work for any of these artists record label's marketing departments and I don't see any of their royalty checks and I damn sure am not here to make their lives easier. People can take it how they want to take it, but NY hip hop fans being real with themselves and their artists will never be the cause of the death of NY hip hop, if anything, telling these dudes about themselves should help improve the situation. And if it doesn't, then oh well, ya'll can blame it all on my posts.
Yo I aint racist, cuz im halfblack.
But DONT MONEY FROM CLIPSE LOOK BLACK AS HELL.....That bitch black as fuck......lolololol..lol..hahahahahaha.....................
That bitch look like Burnt Peach Cobbler........lol
That bitch look hungry as hell................LOL
Yo Chevy:
My first TRUE experience with Hip-Hop, the incident which made me fall in love with the culture happened on a Summer day in 1981. I used to go to my cousin's house in North Phily. Similar to to New York, Philly used to jam in parks and playgrounds. Well, there's this playground called Berks at 16th & Berks across from Temple football's practice field. it was a hazy Friday night and the Sex Machine Crew had plugged up in the play ground. Their DJ "Energizer Tyzer" was cuttin' up "Freakazoid" and James Brown. Then, this dude pulls up on a ten speed bike, with his work clothes on. It looks like he had been painting. I was like, "What is this dude doing up there with them?" Then he grabbed the mike..... He said to the DJ,'Yo, Tyzer, let's test this turntable right here." He verbalized a scratch and the DJ repeated it. Then he said,"Let's test this turntable right here." He repeated his verbalization but at the end the dj let the record go and...Pandemoniun. Dude started spittin'. The crowd goes off. He passes the mike to this chick and she starts spittin'. The M.C.'s name was Ready T and from that moment on, I knew I had to be involved. Now I have earlier memories like being in Gymnastics practice and us practicing to "Rapper's Delite". The first rap record I ever brought was "Super Rhymes" b Jimmy Spicer.I heard my first Cold Crush tape when I was in the tenth grade in 1982. I wrote my first rhyme in the eight grade. I djed my first party in 1986. In spite of all Hip-Hop has been through, I never lost my love for the culture, hell I did my first windmill in 1984, breaking my nose in the proccess. I've seen Jazzy jeff and Will Smith perform at house parties, I've seen Cash Money(the DJ) perform at skating rinks. I saw T-La Rock live and ran basketball with KRS-One, DJ Doc and McBoo.My son is on speaking terms with Dougie Fresh. When my son was a baby, I didn't teach him nursery rhymes, I tought him "Eric B. is President" and "Peter Piper". I will defend Hip-Hop to the end and I can't stand people criticizing it without knowledge of the culture. I am first generation Hip-Hop and I am proud of it because this culture is mine. I define it,not some talkin' head on T.V. not MTV, not BET, not radio.
skdamc:
That's real hip-hop. I didn't know Philly had it jumping it like that.
You was rocking Cold Crush tapes in 1982? I was born in 1982!
I got love for this hip-hop culture too. I'm young, but I fell in love in with hip-hop the first time I saw Public Enemy and LL Cool J on the same stage. That was 1987. I remember it like yesterday. Imagine a 5 year old looking at the crowd get HYPE when LL bust out the radio!
I'll never forget it.
That's real Chevy. I WAS LL when I was in the service. You couldn't tell me shit. I had the kangol, long gold chain(fake) and Jordans (No. 1 banned by the NBA) I like to think me and my boys helped to expose Europe, Germany in particular, to Hip-Hop. we had our little crew and we ran shit in Ashauffensburg, West Germany. I'm tellin' my age but this ws BEFORE the Berlin wall fell.(85-86) We repped Hip-Hop hard, and check this: Three of us were from Philly, 2 from the ATL, 1 from Chi-town, 1 from St. Louis, 2 from Jersey, and ONLY 1 from NY (Brooklyn) we even had beef with these other soldiers from Newark, NJ and the BK. True to Hip-Hop form we battled it out. Man I got stories and the stories I have and many other people like me are important and relevant to the history of this culture. WE have a responsibility to speak on our history or folks are gonna think Hip-Hop started with Hammer(No disrespect) Eminem(No disrespect) or Vannilla Ice(Fukkin' Rapist).
damn it feels good ta read a blog with no hatin... good shit, definitely would love ta read more blogs like this.... productive hip hop shit
^^^
much respect skdamc. this was a great hip hop blog.