September 2006 Archives

First off, big shouts to Big Rich aka Fillmore Rich from SF; dude’s about to big ass things with his debut album, Block Tested, Hood Approved. The video for “That’s The Business” debuted on MTV and BET this week, and hopefully it’ll stay in rotation. The album drops on Tuesday, Oct. 3. There’s a ton of slaps on it, especially “Go Crazy,” feat the big boss San Quinn. Be careful if you go to his MySpace page, though; shit’s super HTML’d out and takes hella days to load.

I never thought I’d say this, but apparently Twista has completely fucking lost it. What’s next, a collabo with Insane Clown Posse?

Beef seems to be just about the only thing to grab fans' (and Stans') attention these days, but one of the most classic battles in West Coast hip hop took place over ten years ago between two bay area crews who’ve nearly disappeared in the time since the battle went down. But it looks like a couple of them are looking to stage comebacks.

Starting November 2 and occurring monthly thereafter, DJ Muggs will be holding the unity festival with DJ Khalil (not to be confused with DJ Khaled) and Chace Infinite of Self Scientific will be hosting the Unity Festival. At a time when LA hip hop needs it most, the festival is looking to bring some peace and some positivity into a scene that is getting increasingly turbulent as years go by, and to a city that is experiencing an increasingly violent amount of animosity between Blacks and Hispanics.

Mistah Fab has pretty much become the frontrunner out of Mac Dre’s Thizz Entertainment camp, and is definitely one of the more recognizable face of Hyphy music. And with the release of his Recess mixtape with dj Dow Jones, he further cements his status as a force to be reckoned with -- not only in Bay Area rap, but in hip hop in general.

First: Apparently Tyrese is trying to rap now under the name Black Ty, which most of you probably already know by now. The sad thing is- and I'm sure I'll catch hella flack from all of you for this -dude isn't half bad. As much as I wanted to come on here and talk trash about how wack he is, he's actually better than a lot of rappers that are gettin' deals these days. For anyone who feels the urge to satisfy their morbid curiousity, you can download his second mixtape, Ghetto Royalty, for free from his website www.headquarterentertainment.com. It's mixed by DJ S&S, and guest spots include Erick Sermon, Memph Bleek (yawn), Cassidy (double yawn), Kurupt, Big Tigger, Bishop Lamont, Mane-O and Stevie Wonder (huh?).

So Snoop's first single off of his upcoming album The Blue Carpet Treatment just dropped, and it ain't half bad. Like most of his other singles (other than collaborations he did with 213 and DPG) from the last few years, Pharrell produces, and as usual, Skateboard P delivers the goods beat-wise.

As everybody and their cousin's brother's uncle's first grade teacher knows by now, Game and Ras Kass are beefin', and it might be the best shot at some publicity Ras has ever had. While his second most successful publicity stunt was dodging the law after a third DUI charge ( that's right, three of 'em. Even after his drunk ass caught a vehicular manslaughter case), the Waterproof MC is enjoying the spotlight and taking the chance to go after one of the West's biggest stars.

"Pimp My Ride" may have thrust Xzibit into the spotlight more than he had ever previously been (or was it the deodorant commercial?), but now "Mr. X to the Z" looks to be prepping himself for a little bit of the shine he was previously known for.

First off, big ups to Black Ice for his guest blogs on Tupac Shakur last week. A lot of you out there had something interesting and intelligent to say in response; and then a lot of you out there decided to completely disregard the topic of the day and turn the message boards into a platform for arguing about whether Pun or ‘Pac was the more talented emcee… All of you may have totally missed the point, but at least it got you talking....

HAIL MARY

Since my death
I've been mis-quoted,
Disrespected
And turning over in my grave.
Watching ya'll behave
As if
I should be proud or something
Yet
I hear ya'll speak my name
Like I had a divine shroud
Or something
But...
Religions are seldom followed
And
Hollow souls backslide easy
My likesness tarnished
So the whole sees me
As a menace
But replinish
Their hate for me
With my love for ya'll
I look from above for ya'll
But,
I can't find my soldiers
Who's holding the weight
Of the world
On their shoulders
Since I left?
Who caught that last breath
As I exhaled?
Derailed from the tracks
Who's riding to make sure
They don't destroy the artform?
If they can stop me,
They can stop thirty more lil' mc's
Before they're even born!!
So I sacrificed
The longevity of life
To make sure you got the message
The way that you needed it.
Existence turned into a lesson
To be taught and told
Confession to be heard
And heeded
It's kids walking these dirty roads
And it's your job to pave 'em.
Don't matter if you ain't kill nobody.
If you ain't do shit to save 'em...
You in the way nigga.
Either save the day
Or
Stop playing hero
I've been screaming from my grave
For ten years and
Ya'll still don't hear me though!!
Which one of ya'll is gonna step up
And say 'pac I got you...
Goddamn it,
Who shot you?

R.I.P. Tupac Shakur

Black Ice

Black Ice's "The Death of Willie Lynch" is in stores now!

Some say the easiest way to discredit a man, is to turn his sisters against him. According to his former girlfriends, ‘Pac worshipped black women. We know from the many songs he gave us about our sisters that yes, he like most young men let his lower self get the best of him at times. But he also gave us some of the most endearing songs about our mothers, sisters, and girlfriends. He wrote volumes of poetry to the women he loved. Unfortunately, in this country we are guilty until proven guilty.

In the movie “Resurrection,” at an outside concert in Long Beach, Tupac urged onlookers to get back to policing our neighborhoods instead of letting the cops impose their brand of protection on us. He spoke of us supporting our own businesses. He brought back to surface the idea of the old African tradition of “It takes a village to raise a child.” And demanded that WE re-instill the values back in our communities. ‘Pac recognized the trap that is laid for the poor, and relentlessly tried to open our eyes to it. He used himself as the example of the result of this trap most of the time. So why we (Black Americans) are still the number one consumers of this country, yet own the least? Why are we still the top stock for the prison business? Why do we still cry out about police harassment on our own streets?

In the ten years since Tupac Shakur was murdered, what has changed? What lessons if any, did we learn from his tragic demise? Those of us claiming  that we ride for the T.H.U.G. Life philosophy that he stood for and tried to inspire in us… What are we doing to keep that flame burning? Did we feel ‘Pac’s higher sense of self or, did we embrace only that which was the darkest side of his existence? Who has taken on the responsibility of being the next voice of the people? Again, what have we learned?!?!