SOHH NYC

Ja is a good dude. The whole 50 beef took him off his stride. People act like they don't know he was hotter than Jay at one time. Jay was always in someone's shadow. First it was Big's then Puff's, then Ja. Just as he got the top slot to HIMSELF Nas ethered him and before he could recover there was Em followed by 50. I dabbled on the music promotion side a little back then so I speak from a BUSINESS standpoint when I say these things. Hard Knock Life catapulted Jay to headliner status but other than that he was just another good rapper. The timing of it was off because Puff was becoming a juggernaut with the support and exposure BIG's death gave him. That's why Jay had to tour UNDER Puff on his first major tour.

Anyway, I had to go into that because these internet trolls who think they know everything but never leave their keyboard are gonna get emotional over what I said about Jay. LOL!

Much love to Ja Rule. His rap career is over but his team is still making moves. Good for them! Queens run this game. Ask Russell Simmons. LOL!

Brings back good memories. It's hard to believe after all these years he was once arguably the hottest rapper out of Ny in the early 2000s. Then 50 Cent came along with a street buzz, multiple mixtapes of disses towards Ja, the fans rooting for the underdog (50 Cent at that time) even some of Ja's fans, had Dre and Eminem behind him and that's all she wrote for Ja's career. Sad really when you think about it.

Nimrod you sound like you dont know what you talking about. Nas ethered him? They beef must have really been on the hush.

JA went plat 4 times and gold once. Ja was on his way out anyway. E real made a great point the other day. When you think about it, Em is really responsible for Ja's downfall. Em edified 50 during that time period. 50 was a national unknown and it was with Em's endorsement that made this Ja beef go. 50 had UNSUCCESSFULLY tried dissing other rappers before Ja and it was met everytime with one big failure after another. This was why he was so happy that after sniffing hov's nuts for months that Hov finally acknowledged him at summer Jam.

Ja had a successful career and one that is matched by few rappers. I was actually corrected by E Real because for years I said 50 ended Ja's career but was corrected because the reality is that it really was Em who ended Ja's career. Without Em and 50 being signed to shady aftermath 50 would have looked like Jimmy Jones looked when he attempted to diss hov.

Oh, before I forget, I hear that Prodigy's people are about to be thrown out on the streets. Apparently the banks are forclosing on his home. I wonder where all these 50's cult followers are now. What happen to "Fif takes care of his crew"

Well Let's see.

Spida Joke - Broke

Hav - Broke

Prodigy - Broke

Young Buck - Broke

Hot Rod - Broke

Banks - Probably have a little cheese from all the G-Unit shows 50 let him be apart.

Yayo - is a loyal lover so I am sure 50 give him a weekly allowance for the blow jobs he rec from Yayo.

Anyway, cult followers, how does a man who supposedly has 500 millions dollars let Prodigy people be subjected to being thrown in the streets.
Now that he is being exposed, I am sure he will handle his debt, but what happened prior to being exposed. I thought Mobb deep signed with G-Unit so they could eat. Like Game said, the only one who eats at G-Unit is 50. He gives Banks and yayo his left over scraps and the rest of those niggas are forced to eat like a common street bum.

50 is just as fraudulent as Ross. You cult followers are just too ignorant to see it. Her he is buying Ross' crackhead baby's mama and her crack head friends 10,000 dollar fur coats and whiteboy $100,000 automobiles but won't pays his man mortgage will he is locked down up top.

I wonder how profitable G-Unit is anyway. Don't get me wrong, 50 is caking but I bet that company G-Unit is in the red. I bet you the auditors are not giving that dude good news. Anyway, the deception and the ilusion of Curtis the fraudulent con artist Jackson continues on.

As for Ja, falll back. You thing is over with. Find a new lane.

CLARIFICATION: Thanks for reminding me how much of a chump Ja Rule was... and that wasn't even a diss (LOL). One look at the images of him doing what he does, and things are put into perspective.

My point is this: Ja was never a "hardcore" rapper (differentiate that from "gangsta"). He had a niche, which was a blend of Hip-Hop/R&B... and that's what sold. For example, he reminds of LL Cool J in their target audience and material. Ja was never a lyricist or the type that could convincingly address the "street" perspective - multi-colored bandannas and all - BUT THAT WAS PERFECTLY FINE. Ja was Ja!

Regardless, I always took him as corny. His voice was just too exaggerated and easily viewed as fabricated. Even worse was his visual performance: a bony scrub always flailing his arms and mean-mugging upclose on the camera. Nah... could do without all that. BUT HE WAS SUCCESSFUL, and there was no denying that.

NOTICE HOW VIRTUALLY ALL OF THOSE JOINTS WERE R&B-ish? Ja Rule money-maker records were mostly collabos with R&B chicks. Meanwhile, real lyricsts and emcees are getting no love. But, hey, that's the business!

Nimrod, I concur with your point that he was taken out of his element and made the mistake of following that path. That's not what had given him commercial success (nevermind that he probably DID get down with real goons).

@Big up it's funny you can see Em made 50 but not see how Em falling back affected his career. 50's success rode the coattail of Em. I'll add on to what e-real said by saying it was Benzino's self destructive battle with Interscope that took Em off his game and adversely affected 50's sales and popularity while destrying The Source.... Everyone lost. Em's white fans are responsible for 50's success. Plain and simple. Once they stopped showing up he was doomed no matter what type of music he put out. I listen to people talking about "real" hip hop or "real" lyricists as if any of that has anything to do with COMMERCIAL success which is what every hip hop artist yearns for. Real this or real that is all subjective. Look at Soulja Boy's success. People criticize 50's music as if this is about music. If Em heats up so will 50 and those of you who don't get it will be left scratching your head.

Hip Hop first and foremost is a BUSINESS! Not a culture, not an ideology, not a form of expression, not the ghetto CNN, although there may be elements of all involved but primarily its about the bottom line. It's all pretentious and none of it REAL.

@ Nim

Co-sign 100 percent.

That is well stated. You have had the proper perspective on this thing since day one.

@ Bigup2bk

LMAO

I know it's going to be difficult for most of us to do, but I'm going to ASK my "blog-brothers" to try and evaluate Ja Rule WITHOUT the 50 Cent grading curve. LOL. I know... it's real hard to do... just the mention of the name "Ja Rule" is automatically associated to all that happened. Immediately, we find ourselves picking sides. We can't help but look at dude through rose-colored glasses.

As an individual artist, I must give Ja Rule his due credit for being successful. He had tons of records, videos, and radio spins. Yes, he was bigger than Jay-Z for a time. But no matter what numbers he accomplished, I must be unbiased and honest when I say that I SIMPLY DIDN'T LIKE DUDE. And I've given my reasons in the previous post.

He reminds me of Mase and the level of success and exposure he was enjoying in his prime.

For me, there are bigger issues and discussions that stem from this: Ja Rule was a testament to the notion that "hybrid" artists (yeah, I said it) were the only way for rappers to do numbers and make money. He was a very successful experiment of a Hip-Hop act that relied heavily on R&B influence. It may well be that label execs and talent scouts are the ones that pushed him in that direction. Because we all know that those guys have a lot to say about the image of their artists.

Funny thing is, Jeffrey rolled with a crew that got down with real goons. But throughout his whole career, he never managed to portray that image - in fact, when he tried he failed miserably.

The experiment worked for so long and was duplicated by others... UNTIL SOMEONE [who shall remain nameless] CAME AND PROVED THAT THE HARDCORE & GANGSTA ANGLE COULD BE LUCRATIVE AS WELL.

In 2009, the pendulum has swung back to the other side. Hardcore & gangsta angle no longer works commercially. Kanye West is the new "hybrid" rapper king.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT

Bigup2bk and Nimrod, I see that y'all two are actively posting. Well, I've got a little time today myself... it's a Monday and work is manageable.

I'm already enjoying the posts from both of y'all because you're making your statements and substantiating it with some form of logic. We're not going to agree on this one today, but you know we keep it grown and do this like gentlemen! Nuff respek!

As I'm reading, I'm "reacting" to a few points or views. Let me state them first and I'll hit y'all back with the details.

[We couldn't stay away from the Curtis Jackson element... LOL]

1) Em made 50 Cent and it has been Em's absence that has led to 50's decline. [I disagree]

2) Nimrod: "Hip Hop first and foremost is a BUSINESS! Not a culture, not an ideology, not a form of expression, not the ghetto CNN, although there may be elements of all involved but primarily its about the bottom line. It's all pretentious and none of it REAL." [Do you mean to say that COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL Hip-Hop is first and foremost...]

There's more, but let me start with that.

React:

What's Good, homie.

I actually thought that Nim hit it out the park with his first post concerning Ja with respect to your question.

Ja's music isn't something I enjoyed. However, the sista who was my girl during the majority of Ja's run loved his work. I think that as an artist he was successful.

I don't like 50 and i think that his music is awful but he has been a highly successful artist.

Ja made alot people wealthy. I can't put Ja in my top 20 simply because I don't like his style of music but in terms of prodictivity, in my view, he was one of the most successful artists to touch a mic.

Sorry, Have to disagree with Em ending Ja's career..Ya'll typed all these long ass paragraphs, when the Wanksta vidio really deaded Ja's career...
@Bigup2bk...I hear you dawg..But come on now...Why should Fif be responsible to pony up money for Prodigy's family home..Prodigy been in the game for bout 15 years now, and has only been on G-Unit for like 3 years...I don't think homie has even made some scrilla being signed to G-Unit yet...It's P's fault of why his family is in the crisis that they are in, if he was the one providing all finances..Furthermore, Fif is not the person who he should be taking this up with and rightfully so... Now, if Fif wanted to be a good dude and have a heart, he could, but being that it's all business and that the last time he loaned a G-Unit affiliate some scrilla, he got burned...

HERE GO MY 2 CENTS DON'T KNOW MUCH BOUT QUEENS OR NYC IN GENERAL TO COMMENT ON 50 OR JA'S UPBRINGING BUT IN MY OPINION JA WAS ONE HELL OF A HOOK WRITER WHO DID HAVE SOME DECENT LYRICS. WHICH I LIKED CAUSE ITS NOTHING WRONG WITH A LIL FEEL GOOD MUSIC WITH A NICE BEAT BUT IT ALSO BECAME HIS DOWNFALL CAUSE 50 ALSO USED THAT 2 HIS ADVANTADGE AND NOW LOOK AT 50 HE DOES THE EXACT SAME THING AND AS I RECALL 4 OUT OF THE 6 RECORDS JA PUT OUT WENT PLATINUM. WHICH IS NOT BAD CONSIDERING HE WAS ROLLING WITH THE HEAVY HITTERS OF JAY DMX AND DIDDY THROUGHOUT THAT ERA. ALL IN ALL FROM BRAZILIAN KID STANDPOINT JA WAS BETTER THAN 50 THAN ME JUST CAUSE JA DID WHAT HE KNEW WAS BEST TO MAKE RECORDS 50 TRIED TO LIVE ON SOME WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE 2 ME SOME HIGHLY FABRICATED STREET CRED AND I SEE ENOUGH VIOLENCE IN MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD SO I DON WANNA LOOK AT SOMEBODY GLORFYING IT ON MY TV SCREEN BUT THATS JUST ME

@ Clo-fresh:

I just posted to you but Reckless didn't approve of it. So here is the edited version of the first post.

I agree with you. My comments are made in the context that the 50 cult followers view him as a Gang leader and not a corporate head. I don't know of any corporation that will save an imprisoned employee's family from forclusire. Corporation are cold hearted entities.

Anyway, what 50 is doing is well within the norm of wnat corporations do. However, the way 50 has let this Gang leader- boss image grow and how he has prosper from it makes him as fraudulent as ross.

50 is not loyal to these dudes and they are his employess so he souldn't be. He is a corporate head and he acts within the corporate culture. The imagery he gives off is a bunch of bullsh*t.

In my world, he shouldn't be expected to pay off of P's bills. However, if you are going to push this street gang and mafia marketing imagery than live it out to the fullest or tell the people that you are a fraud just as Ross is.

At the end of the day, they are all frauds.

Whats good peeps? I remember Ja from back when holla holla came out. That joint was decent. Then one night I was at one of homeboys places and they were playing the whole Venni Vetti Vici album and it was FIRE! He had some serious bangers on there. I rocked with his next 2 cds too. He did find his niche with the R&B flavored joints and did it well. As we all know 50s attack damaged his reputation. Also though the Gotti trial and the loss of Ashanti are factors in his decline.

[Spoke too soon... work's gonna be more demanding today than I previously thought.]

I REALLY wanna go in on the two points I quoted earlier but I'm gonna have to pop in and out (I can still read y'alls comments, though).

@ Bigup2bk. Your last post to Clo-Fresh was a respectable clarification of your initial statements. Well put. Nuff respek.

To the opinion that Em made 50 Cent and it has been Em's absence that has led to 50's decline. [I disagree... but this will have to be my abridged response.]

>> 50 Cent had a huge buzz on the streets before going commercial; that's how Em found him.

>> It was Em who initially benefited from the connection to 50 Cent. In fact, Em altered his image from that point - tattoos, wife beaters, etc.

>> When Em came out, he got love simply for being the "Great White Hype" (like what Asher Roth is enjoying right not). He was the comical kid with crazy lyrical ability. But just look at the "My name is Slim Shady" video and you'll see what I mean.

>> Through Em, 50 Cent got the dollars and affiliation that was able to give him the national exposure he needed - radio spins, music vids, actual LPs that were sold at stores and could be charted on Billboard.

>> White kids flocked to 50 Cent NOT for his affiliation to Em, but for the image he [and urban Blacks in general] portrayed. He was a Wigger's dream come true, and you could buy his CDs and wear his clothes.

>> On the other side, 50 Cent was feeding the streets. His lead singles got the radio spins, but the content of the full LP [especially mixtapes] were definitely, absolutely what urban Blacks got down with. It matter whether or not he was affiliated with Em.

>> I've NEVER heard Em's records being bumped on the streets of Brooklyn. But "Wanksta" was practically the background music to the streets. But due to Em's connection to 50 Cent, people warmed up to him. The best thing that Em did was featuring himself on 50 / G-Unit records.

My bottom-line is that Em is the one that benefited from 50 Cent. Em gave him the opportunity to reach more people and expand his empire. So, I disagree that it has been Em's absence that has caused 50 Cent's popularity to wane.

So, what DID cause it? Ah, mayne... I'm outta time.

Nimrod: "Hip Hop first and foremost is a BUSINESS! Not a culture, not an ideology, not a form of expression, not the ghetto CNN, although there may be elements of all involved but primarily its about the bottom line. It's all pretentious and none of it REAL."

My response to this is, you must mean COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL Hip-Hop is first and foremost...

Nim, you just like me - an over-the-hill (32) Hip-Hop "head." So I KNOW that must've been a typo.

This current commercial genre is not the place for people who love (and do it for) the art, culture, and manner of expression. Look, I listen to more than Hip-Hop; matter of fact, I'm international with mine! But Hip-Hop has always been another facet of myself expressed through beats and rhymes. I say that "real" lyricists and poets should stay in the underground and leave this commercial sh*t for the kiddies and hybrid rappers.

I was in DC last month and was heavy in the underground scene, visiting clubs and small shows with local artists. As I told you before, I used to roll with a whole gang of DJs and was kickin it with them. All I can say is, Damn!... Hip-Hop is beautiful.

One cat from DC that exemplifies this is the dude TABI BONNEY. That's the Hip-Hop that flows in my veins, fam! He's starting to get a little "above-ground" buzz, which has people like me worried. We've all see what that does.

"Put Me In the Pocket" (my boy's even in this video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqiKdUke69Q

Shouts to the DC Hip-Hop scene

In fact, for discussion sake, I'm putting the kid Tabi Bonney as the definition of REAL Hip-Hop. The rest can be categorized as COMMERCIAL. It's like a whole different denomination of Christianity (that was bait... back to my old tricks!)

"Put Me In the Pocket"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqiKdUke69Q

What it DOESN'T have: Coonery and Uncle-Tomming, Blackploitation, plastic thugs and druglords, flossing cars and jewels you don't actually have, the list goes on.

What it DOES have: Excellent, excellent production (that beat is on-point), a self-respecting emcee with crazy but mellow lyricism and seems to be comfortable in his own skin.

@ REACT

IM NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY BUT IM CURIOUS SINCE IM TRYING TO LEARN ALL THE AMERICAN LINGO WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF AN UNCLE TOM AND PLASTIC THUGS AS WELL AS COONERY PLEASE EXPLAIN

I remember that time, I use to hate Murder Inc. Hate their songs and just hate seeing them on TV. However when they were knocked down I started to like their music.

@ REACT...Hip-Hop may be a business...But it never started out that way... It was all about the essence, passion, beauty & love for Hip-Hop..
But of course, once white folk start to undeniably see the money being made from Hip-Hop of course it turned into a business but minus the passion & passion....
Black Folks no longer control Hip-Hop.

@React

Here's the thing. I worked in the game and there's so much behind the scenes politics going on. Point blank. 50's buzz was primarily on the streets of QUEENS. I lived in BK when he was putting out his mixtapes and I was in the streets if you know what I mean. He's really a Queens phenomenon in the streets of QUEENS and that doesnt add up to the success he experienced globally. I remember him being on MTV with Sway and being asked what he feared most and his reply was Dre and Em or letting them down or something to the effect. He was humble in their presence. Little did they know what a monster he'd become. Why do you think he reminds people of his affiliation with Em every chance he gets now. He himself has seen the light and is falling back in line

I'm not gonna write a thesis to prove my point but tons of cats have had the same level of NYC street buzz and failed to have the success 50 had. I emphasize NYC because dudes think what's happening in their little world is reflective of everywhere else. When Wanksta dropped 50 already had the machine behind him. Giving Em all the credit is not entirely accurate but he was the gateway with the built in base. Shifting focus was easy then there was Dre and of course Jimmy Iovine. I believe it was Big Up who once described 50's ascension as the culmination of a "perfect storm." Please note only a white boy would let a subordinate shine like that because he understands the fans are merely on loan and will return home when instructed. Jay Z, 50, Nelly or no other black artist would dare blow an artist under them the way Em did 50 because they might not recover. Only a white boy with command of the real dollars/white dollars aka fans would make that move. The dynamic of race dictates EVERYTHING at the end of the day but it's not cool to discuss it.

Were there other factors than Em? Absolutely but remove Em and 50 was nothing but another in a long line of NY mixtape rappers with so-called street buzz. Ali Vegas, Papoose. Murda Monk. Red Cafe. Maino, etc. What they all lacked was Em's fan base. If you wanna make money in rap you have to cross over and Em was the best bridge a rapper could have.

You can throw in the comparisons to Pac and 50 and you see the formation of the perfect storm right there. They meticulously marketed him as the second coming of Pac only this time he'd survive the attempt on his life and it WORKED... "I want them to love me like they love Pac."

Anyway I'm done with this. I'm not a fan I'm a businessman who makes his money in this field so my perspective will be different. My understanding of this sh*t determines whether I eat or go hungry and I've been eating quite well off of this for a minute.

I'm out.

correction^^^^^^^minus the essence and passion.

Nimrod wrote: "Please note only a white boy would let a subordinate shine like that because he understands the fans are merely on loan and will return home when instructed. Jay Z, 50, Nelly or no other black artist would dare blow an artist under them the way Em did 50 because they might not recover. Only a white boy with command of the real dollars/white dollars aka fans would make that move. The dynamic of race dictates EVERYTHING at the end of the day but it's not cool to discuss it."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yes, race dictates everything. And in this model, Em was NOT in the driver's seat. What you said about the relationship between a boss and the artist under them is correct - in the conventional setting - this is far from that (because of race).

Em was (and still is) finding acceptance in a Black man's genre, one that is known to speak on presence and effects of racial injustice in society. Furthermore, the White audience that buys hardcore and gangsta rap CDs do so because of their affinity (dare I say "worship") of Black/urban culture. So this setup is far from being conventional and the same equation doesn't apply.

The White boy letting his subordinate shine was not a matter of choice, but of the inevitable. Them "sharing" the White fanbase simply made their pairing a good business move.

Did Black people in cities across America begin to support 50 Cent's music simply because Em was behind him? [I'd say No]

Did White people, Wiggers in particular, who are enamored with the image of the Black male, begin to follow 50 Cent simply because Em was his "boss"? [Again, I'd say No]... it just so happened that the Wiggers listened to Em too.

But Em's rep and reach to a wider fanbase was greatly helped by having 50 Cent on his team.

Ay, Nim. What's your take on a kid like Tabi Bonney?

LMAO!!!!

Laughing at the Brazilian dude who wanted help keeping up with the terms "coonery" and "uncle-tomming"... yet he tags "Nigga" to the end of his screen name.

I can't even BEGIN to speak on how much people of all races are enamored with the Black/urban image. They can be as white as rice, but listening to rap music and tossing the word "Nigga" around a few hundred times makes them feel like their part of the family.

THAT right there is the answer to why White kids by gangsta rap music. That kid right there from Brazil?... yeah, let's just call him "Exhibit A".

When the Hell was Ja more popular than Jay? If you felt that way, maybe the people who you were around sucked as much as he did. Once he started singing he was done. If the b@tches liked him....so what. There opinion doesn't count on whats good. Think if we took there opinion on things like finance and honor. We would be screwed. Point is...50 pointed out what we all should've seen...he's a fag.

Thats the Truth

By REACT on March 30, 2009 5:40 PM

LMAO!!!!

Laughing at the Brazilian dude who wanted help keeping up with the terms "coonery" and "uncle-tomming"... yet he tags "Nigga" to the end of his screen name.

I can't even BEGIN to speak on how much people of all races are enamored with the Black/urban image. They can be as white as rice, but listening to rap music and tossing the word "Nigga" around a few hundred times makes them feel like their part of the family.

THAT right there is the answer to why White kids by gangsta rap music. That kid right there from Brazil?... yeah, let's just call him "Exhibit A".

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

SMH well it's statements like these that keep so much tension in the world. so REACT u seem like an intelligent BROTHER as it seems by your conversation and dialect but no amount of knowledge in the world is going to stop you from looking like an ASSHOLE and yes i said it. I try to respect all ppls culture and races but the simple fact that you assuming that i was white really really pisses me off so since you seem well rounded and knowledgeable let me drop some facts you probably know.
yes im from from brazil BUT IM AFRO BRAZILIAN MEANING I'M BLACK. and since i assume that u african american. then its really not much difference in between us 2 only thing is your ancestors was dropped off in virginia. and sold off and my ancestors was dropped off in the port city of salvador an auctioned off.
key facts
BRAZIL HAS THE 2ND LARGEST BLK POPULATION AFTER AFRICA.
and quite frankly that hold post you made reminded exactly of how judgemental and arrogant the rich ppl in rio are cause that's where i'm from. and thats the same type of mentality i try to not escape from and cultivate. instead of asking whether i was blk white or pardo which is another word for mixed in brazil u just up and automatically assume that i was some white kid from a foreign country.
NEWS FLASH
you don't know what i'm about or what i been through all you know is my blog name. all i asked was a simple a question cause i know very little about american culture and it took me a while to master the english language. but i guess you think your so high and mighty that answering it would be beneath.

SMH just like my grandparents always say back home in the favela know matter where you go it's going to always be people who think they above you.

@React

Hood support is practically non existent in anything but lip service.

The hood buys bootleg. That doesn't translate to sales. If only the hood is checking for you your album will flop. Show me any artist and this applies to even someone as obscure as MC Hammer who did big #'s and best believe mainstream is responsible. Artists like Nas are the best the hood can claim from a sales standpoint. He NEVER crossed over and he never went past 2x plat either... Not for lack of trying though. I don't recall illmatic going platinum at first. KRS never hit platinum and the same goes for a host of artists people think are so great because the hood says so. LOL!

Here's how the game works. Blacks are the creative source in the middle. At the top are white execs who figure how best to make black creativity palatable for white youth BECAUSE they have the most disposable income. For them it's an economic decision but the underlying reasons whites are more affluent than blacks generally speaking has everything to do with systemic racism.

The only explanation for 50's enormous crossover out the gate is Em. Ray Charles can see that. Why else did his FIRST album go diamond? Wanksta? You don't believe that do you?

Hahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaa....

Ay, Afro-Brazilian!!!... Here's a Kleenex for ya (LOL)... actually, I'll use that for me because I'm crying with laughter! Alright, I'll behave! I apologize for insinuating that you weren't Black... you forgive, mayne? C'mon, yo! Let's hug it out! Give me a pound, my "Brother." Feel better now? Here, put on this Africa medallion around your neck. And why don't you put on this here Kinta cloth from the motherland.

(LOL) I'm sorry... I'm f#ckin with you again. I've gotta stop this and be a gentleman. [cough, cough] Alright... I've got it out my system.

BUT WAIT... I DIDN'T say (or think) that you weren't Black. Maybe I should've been more specific and written "Black-American urban culture." I forget that people from all over the world hop on this blog, not just cats from the States.

Yet, there goes my point again! This is an international magnetism towards the image of the Black-AMERICAN urban male. Yes, you are Black and I'm not arguing that (even though you went on some teary-eyed tirade on it). Look how easily you have attached yourself to certain superfluous details of the image of the Black-AMERICAN man without actually knowing the factors that lend to the discussion of his portrayal in Hip-Hop.

It's enough to call yourself "Nigga" and get down with the vibe while your clueless to the issue - in particular, the angle that I was addressing Nimrod.

So... in this discussion, does it really matter whether or not you're Afro-Brazilian or a Suburban Wigger??? as long as you buy cd's???

That wasn't a diss or nuffin' (Rhetorical? Yes, but not a diss.)

AY, NIM!

See what happens when you leave me hangin' and leave a good exchange half-cooked??? Got me offending Afro-Brazilians n sh*t.

But that's my dude right there... "One love, brother!" Don't stay mad at me, fam! (LOL)

I've got a roadtrip in the early morning so I'll read up but may not get a chance to post my typical novels.

Nuff respek.

Aaaarrggghhhh!!! I want to go in on this but I'm afraid my time's up. But this some good sh*t though. Let's see if I can make this short.

Concur with your explanation of the system (you're preaching to the choir on that one). Just a few points to make:

1) Add Jay-Z, Big, and Pac to "hardcore/street/gangsta" Black artists that were successful in the streets and on Billboard 100.

2) Didn't all of these guys make it (as in bag White fans) without having to be visibly attached to a White artists, i.e. Eminem or an equivalent?

3) WHY did they make it? Weren't the White fans magnetized by the tested-and-proven image of the ultra Black-American urban male?

4) If so, couldn't 50 Cent have had the same effect on them? He was a Wigger's wet dream! Gun-talking muscle-bound hero that came with sneakers and a clothing line. Only thing missing was the 50 Cent action figure (wait - he's got the video games!).

My whole objection to your point of view is that Eminem is so much the reason for 50's success that his absence is the major cause to 50's decline.

I've got my thoughts on that... but like I said, no time to delve into it right now.

Peace!

@ REACT
NO HARM DONE JUST HATE WHEN PPL TRY TO FIGURE ME OUT BEFORE THEY GET TO KNOW ME. BUT REGARDING YOUR STATEMENT WITH THE FASCINATION OF THE BLACK AMERICAN MALE I WOULD SAY THATS HALF TRUE.ME PERSONALLY IM PROUD TO BE CARIOCA THATS WHAT THEY CALL PEOPLE FROM RIO DE JANEIRO FROM ME LIVING IN A 2 ROOM SHACK IN MY OLD FAVELA TO OUR WORLDWIDE RECOGNIZE CARNIVALS TO OUR BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WHICH YA'LL CHASE LOL TO OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHES WITH BARS RIGHT ON THE BEACH. BUT WHAT PPL FAIL TO REALIZE IS THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE THE BEST RESOURCES IN THE WORLD AS REGARDS TO BEING A MINORITY. I MEAN YA'LL GOT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION . SURE BRAZIL HAS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION BUT AT A PRICE YA'LL CAN COMPLAIN AND CONFRONT WHATS GOING ON WITH YOUR GOVERNMENT AND LISTEN TO MUSIC THAT CONTAIN VIOLENT OR EXPLICIT LYRICS.IN RIO THATS A CRIME ANY SONG WITH LYRICS INCITING VIOLENCE IS CALL PROBABIDO CD'S AND U CAN GET LOCKED UP CAUSE THE MAYOR SAYS OUR CITY DON'T NEED VIOLENT SONGS GETTING PLAYED ON THE RADIO. WHICH IS KINDA BACKWARDS SINCE WE AVERAGE 4 TO 5 THOUSAND MURDERS PER YR. AND WHEN POLICE BRUTALITY HAPPENS YA'LL CAN RIOT AND GET THE JUSTICE THE PERSON DESERVES OR AT LEAST GET THE OFFICER ON TRIAL. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN PERIOD IN RIO CHECK THE CANDELARIA MASSACRE IM SURE U HEARD OF IT WHEN A GROUP OF OFFICERS SHOT UP A CHURCH AND KILLED 8 CHILDREN AND ONLY 2 OFFICERS GOT CONVICTED OUT OF 50 OFFICERS WHO WHERE ACCUSED OF THE CRIME AND IS A RECALL THEY LATER GOT THERE CONVICTION OVERTURNED. AS REGARDS TO THE CULTURE YA'LL GOT HIP HOP WE GOT SAMBA LOL AND FUNK CARIOCA WHICH IS THE SISTER 2 MIAMI BASS . CAUSE FUNK CARIOCA STARTED HERE IN THE 80S JUST LIKE MIAMI BASS WAS GETTING STARTED ONLY DIFFERENCE IS YA'LL CAN PUSH YOUR MUSIC NATIONALLY WE CAN'T GOVERNMENT WON''T ALLOW IT SO ITS MOSTLY GOING TO BE HEARD IN THE FAVELA. SO THATS BASICALLY IT WE AFRO BRAZILIANS LOL IS FASICINATED WITH YOUR RESOURCES CAUSE WE WANT TO GET KNOWN MUSICALLY WISE 2 LOL. O AND LAST POINT AS REGARDS TO ME ADDING NIGGA ONTO MY NAME HELL I MOVED TO AMERICA NOT 2 LONG AGO IM NOT GOING TO COME INTO A WHOLE OTHER COUNTRY AND JUST BRAG AND THROW UP MY OLD COUNTRY IN PEOPLE'S FACES HERE THATS DISRESPECTFUL YES IM STILL PROUD TO BE A BRAZILIAN BUT AS SOME OF MY FRIENDS SAY AROUND HERE I GOTTA GET IN WHERE I FIT IN LOL.