June 2005 Archives

This week’s "Throwback Thursday" selection is a DOUBLE throwback of sorts. In 1998, suburban rap-rock group Wolpac decided to pay homage to the 1990 Digital Underground classic “Humpty Dance.” [watch it now] Do not adjust your set. Four Limp Bizkit look-alikes have decided to do the hump!

Cover songs are always a huge risk, especially when you are not yet established into the maintstream. Having done a cover is far less worthwhile when 7 years later you still live in your parents’ basement and Ron Mexico gets a hold of the video you never took down from the Blastro archives.

So that's where Coolio has been… locked up, huh? I thought he was on “The Surreal Life” or something.

For hump day, I trust my heart. Coolio rears his ugly head once again with a new video for his single “I Don’t Wanna Die.” [watch it now] Featuring Krayzie Bone, this record is the cornerstone of the “Bad Trip” soundtrack. (Has anyone seen this movie?)

Before we proceed today, I have to ask… Has it really gotten that bad for Krayzie Bone that he has to collab with Coolio? Wasn’t he just on a big Lil’ Jon & The Eastside Boyz single? As I watch Coolio (a former heavyweight in the rap game) degrade himself for a dollar, I can’t help but think: “The nigga has come a long way from Gangsta’s Paradise.”

“The Adventures of Grafh” Vol 1., Issue #1! Definitely a collector’s edition.

To what do we owe the pleasure of this moving comic book? Queens native Grafh apparently decided that there should be a video for his already year-old mixtape cover of M.O.P. and Jay-Z’s “Put It In The Air.” [watch it now]

This is how a low-budget video should be done.

If all you have is a camcorder and you really need to make a Smack DVD-esque music video for your mixtape song… At least give your viewers some credit as intellectual beings. Besides Mighty Casey, G-R is the only rapper I’ve ever observed walking this balance successfully.

THIS is why we shouldn’t allow just any old motherfucker to make a video! This is why The Negro Channel is dangerous!

Remember this face, everyone!... and the lightning.

I had to put a couple of requests on hold because there is no way I could let this one get past you. I laughed without respite from the opening credits, to the Korean store shot, to the random dude going down the stairs on the ATV. Today's victim is a charming young man named CHG with a video and single called "Tha Game Will Freeze." [watch it now] Oh yes... It's Monday! Grind with me, people!

This week’s headlines on Ronnie’s Mailbag: “Young Jeezy’s Defense Team Delivers Opening Statement,” “Puffy: One Foot in the Grave?” “B.G. is Trying,” and “Pretty Ricky: The Saga Continues…”

Without further delay, let’s get into this week’s top stories!

To send you guys into this weekend, I’m gonna give you something you’ve been asking for since we started the column.

We know Puffy’s been scrambling to save Bad Boy for some time, but did it really have to be this way? Bad Boy South’s inaugural coalition Boyz N Da Hood hopes to usher in a new era of Puffy-dom below the Mason-Dixon line with “Dem Boyz.” [watch it now] Did he hold a contest for this group too?

In honor of this monumental occasion, "Dem Boyz" are the first contestants on our new gameshow “U AIN’T GANGSTA!” (following the Extreme Hoin' Challenge at 8)

We have another vest-violator!

Somebody needs to get a DeLorean and tell rappers back in 2000 that them vests only make a nigga look like a corny-ass R&B singer.

Anyway... Today’s "Throwback Thursday" selection comes from the very bowels of Blastro-dom. But I really wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’m A Rida” [watch it now] by Preny Mo is one of those songs we all missed. Luckily you have someone like me to put you on to the ridiculous shit you've passed over. Tsk tsk.

I selected this one because while it’s from 2000, it truly looks like a late-80s throwback. B5 must have made it 80s week or something.

I thought he told you that he won't stop!

Following the footsteps of Jermaine Dupri, Master P and other mid-90s moguls preying on children for commercial success, Puffy brings us another group of young boys from the south whose dance stylings outweigh their singing abilities. Today’s video is “You Got Me” [watch it now] and it comes from none other than B5, Puff Daddy’s attempt at reincarnating DeBarge.

In light of the ongoing Pretty Ricky saga… one might ask: “Ron, why would you do another boy band video?”

To which my response might be: “I dunno… umm… Because it’s Wednesday and I don’t give a fuck?”

What it do? It's Paul Wall. He the people's champ!

Paul Wall is white?! (Just kidding, y’all)

The self-proclaimed “undisputed kang of the parkin’ lot” is ready to make the world lean to his lyrics. Swisha House all-star Paul Wall bounces onto the mainstream scene with his single “Sittin’ Sideways” [watch it now] featuring fellow ghetto grindin’ legend Big Pokey. (Yes, that's his rap name!)

Okay, let me cut the shit. I heard he was dancing in the video, so I wanted to check it out and make sure he wasn't doin' the Carlton! (haha... that was another white joke.)

You may remember B.G. from such pen-and-pixel covers in the the back of the Source as these.

But B.G. is here to serve a greater purpose than being the dude with the extra blingy album covers that you skip past in rap magazines.

Remember them “Say No To Drugs” ads back in the 80s and 90s? Of course you do!

B.G. aka B. Gizzle is a walking one of those.

Today’s selection, requested by readers like you, is B.G.’s newest video offering “Where Dey At?” [watch it now] Geezy (not to be confused with Jeezy da Snowman), one of my favorite MCs, takes us on a magical ride through what an average night of clubbin’ and stuntin’ in New Orelans is like… at least for him anyway.

This and every weekend, I'll be scrounging the review comments and digging in my email to share the haps with you ladies and chaps. This one's really long since it backtracks to the beginning of June (when the Pretty Ricky debacle began), but it had to be done!

I'm going to sound like a broken record this week... but no more! People say talk a lot about "hatin" on this column. Little do they realize that they are haters themselves for throwing salt on a young man's job as a comedic reviewer. Some strange creatures exist one the internet, homies! Me nah care! Let's get into it!

In honor of Michael Jackson’s acquittal, in addition to "Throwback Thursday" we’re gonna have “Fondler Friday!” (I’m just playin’. Michael ain’t molest them damn kids!) Today’s selection, also by request, is “Remember the Time” [watch it now] which features Mike and yet another all-star cast including King Eddie Murphy, Queen Iman and newly-diagnosed man-servant Magic Johnson.

See! I told y'all these one-hit wonders go on to knock over liquor stores and shit!

Today’s “Throwback Thursday” doesn’t come from Michael Jackson as planned (I’ll explain later), but from anonther somewhat effeminate character that is equally repulsive and otherwise unappealing. The “Thug Mizzes” Khia, burst on to the scene with “My Neck My Back,” [watch it now] and much to the delight of most, quickly faded back to the obscurity of the free clinic.

Question of the Day: What kind of gangsta rapper would name himself after the Punch-Out character that your 6-year-old autistic cousin could knock out handily?

In a video that could make Gucci Mane feel better about himself, I present to you… Glass Joe with what’s sure to become an overnight UnCut classic, “Big Wheels.” [watch it now] This one is full of what we love to see here on The Ron Mexico Show… Stuntin’, posin’, corny lyrics, contradictions, stereotypes, ugly skrippers and equally ugly rappers all greasily shot with camcorders!

DIP… SET… DIP… SET… DIP… SET… DIP… OWWWWWW!

I guess Santana’s back to business. I love when rappers tell us what we should assess for ourselves, don’t you? Today’s selection finds Harlem mainstay Juelz Santana of the Dip Set [Robin?] Byrd Eagle Chickenhawk Gang teaching his contemporaries a thing or two about the “Mic Check” [watch it now] in what looks like Mighty Casey’s “Black Rapping School.”

Welcome to Jamaica!

The dread cap comes off to me breddrin “Jr. Gong!” Not only has Damian Marley finally gotten some mainstream airplay in the U.S., but he’s done so with what is currently my favorite song. His new dub plate and video “Welcome to Jamrock” [watch it now] powerfully portray Jamaica for what the cities actually look like. None of that “One Love,” “Jamaica Me Happy,” “Let me give you blond cornrows” shit over here.

With so much talk about UnCut videos lately, I want to take this weekend to give a little shine to an original UnCut legend. That man is none other than Boston-bred, Columbia University-educated Mighty Casey!

Known for his Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five parody classic “White Girls,” Mighty Casey returns to the video scene with “Black Rapping School,” [watch it now] a hilarious, low-budget satire denouncing the ills of rap labels and their revolving door of signees programmed to say whatever will help propagate the negativity that drives the industry. (whew… that was a lot.)

In other words: You wanna be a rapper? He’ll show you how to do this, sonnnn!

Oh shit! Have y’all ever seen this?!

If so… How come nobody’s said anything to me? You people aren’t on your job! You’re supposed to let me know when niggas do shit like this! (sigh) Needless to say, my late-night Blastro-find, Fredro Starr looking for the “Perfect Chick” [watch it now]... is this week’s selection for “Throwback Thursday.”

Disclaimer: These dudes say paper waaaaaaaay too many times in this song! It’s literally every other word. If you have a consonant intolerance, you might want to skip this one.

This is probably entirely unintentionally, but dem ‘Natti boys done gave us a hilarious video!

With their Capitol Records breakout single and video “Hercules,” [watch it now] Midwestern up-and-comers Czar-Nok do something here that’s always worthy of respect. Grindin’ independent long enough to lock down a major deal, and then actually coming out are great accomplishments, especially for rappers. However, please don’t try to tell us your money longer than a giraffe dick! We’re can't go for that here on the Ron Mexico show!

Keyshia Cole may not just have a future as an R&B singer, she may be a mindreader.

How did she know “I Just Want It To Be Over” [watch it now] would be exactly what I was thinking while watching this video? I got a prediction for you too, girl! I see you on The Negro Channel at 3:30am in a few years! You'll either be talking with your psychic friends or shakin' it like a dog!

Naw, I'm just playing...

After watching this new video to promote his latest album “Ghetto Bill Gates,” I’m left wondering if Master P’s money is getting a little short these days.

Today’s selection is brought to you by the man who had a gold tank in his videos a few years ago. I guess the solid gold ceilings, color changing impalas and C-Murder’s defense fund is finally catching up to him. Master P’s newest video “Get The Party Crackin’” [watch it now] features Silkk The Shocker, and his newest flunkies Halleluyah (almost like what your grandma say in chuuuch) and Rugar (oh boy).

Strange fact of the day: Yesterday’s video from Biggie was a throwback. Today’s 2Pac video is a recent release.

2Pac’s newest video “Ghetto Gospel” [watch it now] comes from his posthumous collection of albums greater in number than those released while he was alive. While his career and memory have never gone anywhere, this is yet another song from his extensive archive that has been effectively resurrected.

This week's installment of "Throwback Thursday" takes us back to 1997, before many of you were born.

If your parents did a good job raising you, then you should be familiar with the tragic loss of the highly talented MC known as The Notorious B.I.G. Today's selection s The Limit,” [watch it now] which features a group of young Atlanta crooners named 112, is from his first posthumous release "Life After Death."

Disclaimer: I can’t believe you motherfuckers made me watch this shit.

Once again, this week's #1 request comes in a complete and utter landslide. I am appalled by the number of emails I’ve gotten from grown-ass men to review the new video by Pretty Ricky, “Grind With Me.” [watch it now]

Okay, here goes…