SOHH NYC
New York is back, forget what you heard
Jadakiss Speaks on his Upcoming LP "The Last Kiss"
Posted on February 10, 2009 9:35 AM
Finally an interview worth reading.
I'm worried about Kiss's sales... mainly because I know how fickle Def Jam is. That label has become more of a burden than an actual boost for a rapper's career. And that defeats the whole purpose of seeking help from a label. Better off taking it back to the old days and selling sh*t out your trunk and focusing on doing shows more than anything.
Well, Jadakiss is trapped now. For how many albums, I don't know. But I hope it's not more than two. Jadakiss on Complex:
Jadakiss: I ain't really feel no pressure for the album. There's a little pressure because of how the game is changing, and all the digital technology, and how finicky the fans ears are. I'm just a blessed person, just to get love in general. Of course this album is going to be different than my other two because there was much more money spent. The computer thing is sort of trickery, so it's really not even the music. If you make good music, they believe in you, but you have to have your websites poppin', you got to be on these blogs, you got to be at all these types of events. You got to be everywhere, and doing everything, and the more they see and hear you, the more chance you have at success.
Complex: The album's original title was Kiss My Ass. Did the label make you change that to something a little more Wal Mart friendly?
Jadakiss: The label would have left it at Kiss My Ass and let it sell five units if that's what I wanted to do, but from a business point, business man aspect of it, that wasn't smart. People loved it, hardcore hip-hop fans and genuine fans that have been following me loved the idea of that title, but just the fact that Circuit City is closing, Virgin Megastore is closing, there's not too many outlets where you can even get CDs, so to limit my joint to two of the biggest retail stores, I would have been an asshole. {END}
Damn. Did he say Virgin Megastore is closing? Yeszzir! The one is Times Square is done. They're closing up shop in April. So if you live in the area, I suggest you get in there some time in March and stock up on those good deals.
This is not looking good for people like me to don't download for the sake of saving my PC from viruses. BUT, who do we have to blame? The idiots at the labels who didn't foresee this a decade ago.
Now, you can expect it to be harder for artists like Jadakiss to move units. Relying on just the internet will get you NOWHERE. Having massive support of the music stores is what pushes sales. Without that, you have nothing. With that said, a domino effect can be expected from the toppling of the Virgin Megastore chain.
You guys are late. Hip Hop has lost its commercial value for quite some time and many of you are just catching on. Did it take Virgin closing for you to see the light? Too much violence at award shows, video shoots, clubs, and just about anywhere ignorant rappers and their fans convene. I specify IGNORANT rappers because you don't hear about violence involving acts like the Roots or Common. Soulja Boy didn't kill hip hop Gangsta rap did. The sooner the ART of Hip Hop replaces the gimmick driven domination of music that falsely claims to rep the imaginary "hood" everyone is so in love with the better.
You know... The hood where people drive around in $300k cars, live in multi-million dollar mansions, hang in St. Barts and the Hamptons in the summer. Yeah, that hood. I'm sure so many of you identify with that lifestyle. Sure you do.
The delusions of the artists have contaminated the fans unfortunately and now people spend all their time talking about who's real and who's a fraud.
Newsflash: Real gangsters don't entertain for the amusement of others.
I like Jada's music but lets be honest, how rough can it really be in Westchester County? Not saying there aren't incidents there too but Westchester was once the second richest county in Nation and it's where the Clintons now reside. Yeah, there's a project or two but listenting to Jada's music you'd think he was from ENY or Brownsville. This is ENTERTAINMENT and if we start calling one psuedo-thug a fraud where do we stop?
Some of you remind me of myself when I was young and thought wrestling was real. Just enjoy the show already.
@ Nimrod. I like your post. You hit he nail right on the head. Not too many people understand whats happened to Hip Hop in the last decade. Its gone from an artform to a business oriented market. Hope there are more people out there like you that understand this concept.
Nimrod, just because it's Westchester County, doesn't mean it doesn't have it's poor areas or less fortunate areas. Yonkers definately has it's share of projects (I know since it's my hometown afterall). No different than Brownsville or whatever borough you rep in NYC. That's the misconception people have. Just because they show case the nice or rich, don't mean there isn't poor or grimey undeneith that. Jada came up in Warburton. And that's definately a hood. A lot of you really need to venture outside the 5 boroughs and see the rest of NY. A lot of it, is no different than the 5 boroughs. Unless you go way upstate like Buffalo or Albany.
Anyway, I am looking forward to Jada's album.
Man you all are sleeping on Turo Slash Krazy from the Chi, he has to be under rated because he latino but give duke a chance.
real talk. jada kiss is dope he gets hated on alot i dont think being on the ROC was a good look for him. Jay-z dont promote his artists they have to do that themselves.
hiphop is dying out.
you have to be able to promote yourself or
have a gimmick to get out and some shine.
i think its time to let the small guys in.
Nimrod...You Way, WAY, WAY OFFFFFFFFF on this one.
Talking about westchester county, You are straight up an idiot.
Pelham, Yonkers and Mount Vernon might as well be NYC...They ride the same train, the same subways and their crime rate is HIGHER, per capita wise. If you think its so straight up, walk around Yonkers at 3AM with some jewels on and see WTF happens...Yonkers and MV are nothing to play with. Dont be so street stupid, you might end up getting got.
Sometimes its better to sit and look STUPID then to open your mouth and remove all doubt....
Here is the link...
http://www.complex.com/blogs/2009/02/09/jadakiss-talks-lox-reunion-roc-a-fella-50-cent/
I am going to have to support Nim on this one. Normally this particular view point of his I would have strongly disagreed with. In fact, just 6 months ago, I did strongly disagree with him, right here on this site, but I have moved closer to point of view on this topic.
I have never really been deep into Yonkers, but all I know is that when I do drive through West Chester county or have business there, or visit a couple of Queens from college I know (in New Rochelle) that sh8t looks as calm and surburban as can get. I mean it looks like you could raise Opie Taylor in the parts of west Chester County I have been in. New Rochelle, White Plains, Mount Vernon all look like great places to raise a family. In fact, the only thing that have made me nervous that is in West Chester County is that f*ckin Tappen Zee bridge, and that isn't nothing. In fact, driving over Tappen Zee you will see some of the most beautilful scenery that you will see anywhere in the state of New York. So, I would not necessary think of West Chester Couty in the light of Brownsville or ENY. In fact, not even close. When I think of West Chester County, I honestly think about money and the surburbs.
Anyway, what I see today is not the Hip Hop my brother intoduced me to when I was 6 or 7 years old. I am not talking so much about the music, although the artisst back then right up intil the the mid 90's were far superior than thse black face clowns, today. This group of artists out today are the worst since the genre recive national and international attention. Now Jada is one of the few cats I dig.
I call Hip Hop the New Uncle Tom. Anyone who is still on 360 will see me write a blog entitled that soon. Really, look at it. Black people have never really own it once it went corporate, but we did own the spirit of it. Hip Hop was the Black CNN. Hip Hop was a vehice that allowed the world to engage in a enthnographic display of Black Northeast culture (mainly New York City). It was a truth teller. But look at this, the number one star in the genre is a white guy. How did that happen.
Today, the music and artist does nothing but tells lies. They talk about how rich they are. My dudes in Brooklyn are not rich. Hip Hop to manipulates images for the fancy for white teens, to line the pockets of white men. It kills our people in terms of images it offers and the ignorance it promotes. It is no longer a friend of our people. Look at what people have gravitated to over the last few weeks. That is not hip hop. That is Black buffoonery. I really do want it to die. Hip Hop today in general is the 1970's modern day Black exploitation film, just on wax.
I hope that Bill O Rielly and others kill it. I want it to die. If we can have it, than I don't want anyone to have it. this garbage today is not what we (New Yorker gave to the world). I don't love this. I have this. I love what we use to have, but not this. It's garbage. People talking about the 50 - rick beef is Hip hop - please stop lying - it is not.
I pray for 2009's version of Hip Hop's death.
@Bigup2bk...It's like you read my mind when it comes to these type of topics....Only thing is, Nimrod is wrong about Gangsta rap killing Hip-Hop...NWA, Dre & Snoop, Tupac, Biggie, The Gheto Boys....They didn't or never killed hip hop, they enlightened it.....
@ Clo-fresh:
Yeah, I disagree with Nim too on that point. I thought that NWA was really a wake up call to the country. NWA, in a sense, did it's job. I had no idea what the culture was in the west before NWA. Although none of them lived the kind of life the talked about, other than Easy E, kinda (he sold a little weed). Cube was a former college student, Dre was an R & B dancers and aDJ's, Ren was just a rapper trying to get on and DJ Yella was Easy's man and a DJ. I mean they were just as fraudulent as 50 and Rick are. However, after hearing NWA - when the Riot King riots jumped off - NWA made sense to me. F8cked the police after the Rodney King situation became a reference to fall back on ando understand why people went all out in LA.
So I thought and still feel that NWA was Hip Hop. The same is true with Ghetto boys. I mean look at scarface. Scarface taught cats alot of truth. Ghetto Boys were def Hip Hop, in my opinion. I like Tupac prior to Death Row way more than Death row Tupac. I thought that he was a better artist outside of deathrow. At death row, he tried be something that he wasn't, which is a gangsta. Even Ice T, said "I had no idea why Pac tried running with the LA gangs. That wasn't his thing. he didn't know anything about the LA gang culture. He was out of his element." I agree with Ice T. I think Suge knight found a pyschologically wounded brother in Tupac and then exploited his problems and talents. Pac was convinced that suge was a mobb boss and that he was the underboss. It was almost like Pac got sick (psychologically) right in front of our eyes. That stuff he was doing toward the end went against everything he was taught. He divided two coasts dissing New York and the east Coast, although he is from the bronx and went to school in Maryland, at Baltimore High School for the performing arts. Pac wasn't a punk but he wasn't gangsta either. He was just a smart cat who got sick and made some bad decisons and unfortunately those decisons cost him his life.
Anyway, I could go on and on - but I don't see that as to what is killing it - although some of it did contributing to the death of it. However, Hiphop is def not what it used to be. I want it to die. If I ever get up close on it, I popping off in it, repeatedly. Hip Hop 2009 deserves to die - and I hope that it burns in hell (saying that in my best Samuel Jackson voice...lol)
He should have NEVER let the public,labels,or media pressure him to change the title from KISS MY ASS to the LAST KISS!! It didn't work for Nas. If he kept it at Nigger, it would be Platinum by now! Look at Niggas4life & Strictly4myNiggas! Controversial titles DO SELL! & aint nobody checkin for walmart and their lame ass" we don't sell explicit versions"policy!
@MissWhatsThe Word
Actually, I venture much farther than you imagine. Spent New Years in London watching the fireworks from Westminister bridge as Big Ben ushered in 2009 and I'm in LA at the moment in W. Hollywood. I've been all over the world and my journey started in a REAL hood. I know more about Westchester than you think. I don't rep any hood by the way. I rep myself thank you.
@Showtime
Obviously you're not a homeowner or you wouldn't be so proud of stats that eat away at the value of your property. I'm sure there's lots of chain snatchers and cases of missing hubcaps in Westchester. I better tuck my chain when I'm over there huh. I'm shaking in my shoes LOL! Go look up the average tax bracket of a Westchester residents then come back with your tail between your legs.
Dude. Grow up. I mentioned ENY and Brownsville not because I live there but because going back to the 80's those precincts have had the highest murder rates in the entire state on a consistent basis. I don't recall Yonkers or anywhere in Westchester EVER making the front page news. My point was if you listen to Jadakiss you'd think Yonkers was some hardcore inner-city slum and we both know it is so far from that. Stay focued on my main point which is ALL artists who claim to rep the streets embellish. Some more than others.
@Clo Fresh
The perpetuation of violence, drug dealing, gangbanging, etc., has contributed greatly to the destruction of the genre in a vicious cycle of art imitating life, imitating art. Not to mention the greater social implications. I purposely didn't mention names because FANATICS will rush to champion their object of worship. But all of the people you mentioned played a role in getting us to where we are.. It started off as the artists telling the stories of their hoods even though most came from nice homes and even when they didn't they certainly weren't part of the picture they painted. Slowly but surely the artists began to assume the identity of their most adored CRIMINAL figure and to reinforce the new image acted accordingly. Some even took the names of infamous movie characters and actual street figures. Next came the rash of violence that has ended every hip hop award show and caused a few untimely deaths. If you don't see the connection between the imagery and lyrics of gangsta rap and the mayhem left in its wake I don't know what to tell you.
I think while there are some differences on how we got here, we can all agree that we are "here" and "here" is not a very nice place to be. The question becomes how do we get out of "here" and go where we need to go.
The music as it is now really isn't Black music. This is not "soulful" music. It doesn't speak to us as a people. It speak to us as Black rappers are paid to portray us as a people. The rappers are Toms, let's face it. How can you be as paid as you say you are and still be controlled. Anyway, right now, I would rather have nothing than what we have now. What we have now is an embarrassment. It needs to die.
@Bigup
You're right. ALL of the gangsta rappers are paid to portray black people a certain way and they do it for the proverbial 30 pieces of silver. Those most skilled at it are rewarded the most with endorsment deals and partial ownership of sports teams.
When Biggie spoke of electrical tape around your daughter or your daughter tied up in a Brooklyn basement there wasn't anything soulfull about that. It's not a new problem. It has its roots in NWA and the aforementioned acts Clo Fresh claimed ENLIGHTENED us. The quest to rationalize our favorite artists creates loopholes for the new breed to exist. The tree must be UPROOTED. Just trimming the "branches" will not suffice.
@ Nim:
Yeah, no doubt. I can't argue with that. However, on balance I am ok with giving cats a little creative liberty to paint some portraits about crime. I just hate when that is the only portrait painted. For example, I didn't have a problem with the Mele Mel's "the Message." I thought was one of the most important Hip hop joints, ever. Mel and Flash and those cats were not posing as gangsters either. They just said "here America, here is a window, look in"
I mean let me whisper this so my fellow New Yorkers don't start crying like little girls. When Suge made this sh*t real (during all that westcoats -east coast bullsh*t) three people were clearly shook and exposed as phonies. That was puffy, Dr. Dre, and Biggie. Dr. Dre after saying he was a gangsta for close to a decade at that time was so shook that he renounced being a gangsta, gansta music, took all the insults directed his way without responding, left Deathrow basically without a penny after making the company millions, and vowed to never make gangsta music as long as he lived. That kid was shooked hard.
In fact, the next artist he signed Was Em who talked about his hatred for his mother and issues regarding white impoverished dysfunctional children and families.
Puffy was clearly shook too. He kept trying to issue a truce with suge. He kissed his @ss so much that it was sickening and he still was still scared. And finally, sorry Brooklyn, Big was shook something crazy too. Big's joint "I am going back to Cali"...he was basically saying to Suge and others "I don't want any problems with any of you cats in Cali. Please leave me alone - I don't want beef with you. I am scared." And he was scared. In fact, he said that he was scared in his interviews.
So my point being is that it was clear these cats (all of them - except Suge) didn't want any problems. Dre, Big and Puff wasn't built like Suge. The little ass Barber somewhere in Compton who knocked Suge's ass out is built like Suge but they weren't. Anyway, I say that to say that I agree that most of Big's stuff was over the top, but i think most people in their heart see him as an MC and not a gangsta. Gangsters don't start copping pleas when sh*t start popping.
so those cats were not gangstas and at times the stories Big spoke about are good and should be expressed. I just don't want a constant diet of it. Give me some balance. Your overall point, I can't argue with you. I agree, and yeah you caught me with my hand in the cookie jar by giving Big a pass, but he was a great story teller.
I just see today Hip Hop as so much worst than his era. I wish we could kill this thing and start all over.
Bigup2bk:
I enjoy the music of all of those artists because I saw it for what it was... Entertainment. I see the problem basically being a new breed of fan who have no idea what gangsta, crime, murder, drug dealing, etc., really represents. The fans are just as phony as the artists if not more. They are meant for each other in a sick way. They feed off of each other. Gangsta rap gave so many NERDS the chance to claim something they could or would never live. That goes for Artists and Fans. To attack it is to attack their sense of self and self-worth. I said nothing specifically targeting anyone but they became uncomfortable and they know why.
If their connection to rap is their only connection to the imaginary "hood" they will defend rap tooth and nail. I'm not going to rehash details of my life to make a point. I'll just say the real hood is a joke these days and we can thank gangster rappers for that too. Go to what use to be the hood and their heroes are no longer legendary gangsters it's now correction officers with tales being crime bosses and gangsta rappers who wear pink like Cam'ron. LMAO! I'm not promoting legendary gangsters but if you aspire to be a gangster what sense does it make for Beanie Siegel to be your role model? That's like wanting to be the next Jordan but only watching Tennis.
Real recognize real but square pants fans couldn't tell a real G if he slapped them in the face or a real hood for that matter. They think if they see lots of black people that makes it the hood. Too funny and ignorant I might add. Anyway, I'm out for the rest of the day. Gotta hit these bricks and make something happen.
Peace!
Yeah, it basically goes back to a simple capitalistic supply and demand marke with a WWE marketing concept. Make these idiots apart of the illusion. Give them a false owebrship of it. Let them chase the false high and manipulate them into believing that they have a stake in this bullsh*t. Have them buy into it and defend with their life. Make it become their crack.
Yeah, I agree. Anyway, I am out too. Oh and since you are in La, if you bump into suge, knock him on his ass again.
Peace
Buffalo and Rochester (western ny) are worse than anywhere in NYC and these cities go back and forth every year on the per capita crime capital of New York State.
In response to your riri and cb post
I guess this is how the shorty felt when you got slapped with that violation of a restraining order that landed you in the that weekend stay in the county jail huh Gyant.......N8ggaz ain't forgot you jolly green F*gggot.
@nys
Crime rates are just that - CRIME rates and they also rely on accurate reporting of crimes which I'm sure is the norm in those small towns because EVERYTHING is a big deal. Crime rates can mean shoplifting or purse snatchings or car theft or a host of other PETTY criminal activities like public drunkness that some of you are so desperate to use as validation of your delusional sense of self. Smalltowns seem to be filled with small minds as well. Get a grip. If there was so much crime in upstate NY or Westchester, which is the beginning of upstate, then why are vast majority of ALL inmates in NY State penitentiaries from Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx? Stop it with your bulls*t stats. You won't find a dude from anywhere upstate setting up shop in NYC but you will find cats from the NYC all over the country doing what they do. Get over yourself already. I've been to Ruff Buff and it's more backwards than some of the most countrified spots in the South. Pick a big city in the South and they got more game than any city upstate.
You clowns are so desperate to be gangsters talking about crime statistics. Now go steal somebody's radio and to raise the "crime rate" in your one horse town silly rabbit.
at nimrod..
i agree and dont agree with u bout westchester...like ice cube said ..every hoods the same.....and thats true i dont glorify the hood cuz everyone trying to get out...but facts are facts and u can get shot anywhere anyways it is true that westchester aint as dangerous as bk in fact i had a friend that was "chillin" in bx one night in the middle of the projects and just got shot in the head for no reason...so it goes to show you that you should play your position and respect ur suroundings cuz wherever u r u can get killed
It's cool Nimrod. I wasn't going at you. I was just speaking from my experience. You saw the nice parts. I'm not knocking you. I was just saying, don't think everybody had your experience. Because they didn't. When Jada talks about Yonkers, he's going to rep School Street, 354, Jefferson, Nephrahan, Warburton, Cottage, Mulford, Ravine, Slow Bomb, Whitney Young, Runyon Heights, 7 Pounds, Glenwood Gardons. All PJ's I might add. When you think Mary J. Blige, You think Slow Bomb projects in Yonkers, building 537. Not Westchester County. When you think DMX, you don't think Westchester County. You think School street in Yonkers. Again, I understand what you're saying and I'm not knocking it. I'm just saying don't judge because you saw the good. It doesn't mean they came from the right side of the tracks.
@MissWhatsTheWord
Giving a neighborhood credit for DECENCY should never cause a problem. The only part of Westchester I ever spent time on was 3rd street in Mt Vernon back in the day. I know all about 3rd and 3rd by the way. If you look at my original post my point was Jada's music is not an accurate reflection of his environment. Next thing I know people start coming with crime statistics and very personal war stories. LOL! My facts and data were countered with perspective mostly.
I meant no disrespect whatsoever. One of the most thorough homies I have is from Mt. Vernon but that doesn't change the reality of the things I said.
The places you mention mean something to the residents of those areas only. Remove the entertainment element and who can we talk about on a broader level from any of those spots? Real hoods don't get their identity and reputations from entertainers and singers masquerading as gangsters. I love DMX but he's a junkie not a tough guy.
I know a thing or two about the streets. The real streets produce bigger than life STREET FIGURES not street figure wannabes aka RAPPERS. Who are the bigger than life street figures from Westchester? Just name one not connected to the music biz. There aren't any. You can judge a hood by the products of that environment. I know the names of bell ringers all over the country but not one comes to mind from Westchester or Upstate period.
Lots of oldtimers from Harlem with loot moved up to Tuckahoe and other areas up there back in the day and some still do to lay low but they don't count.