Free the Locks!!!Let the Locks Go!!

First off, Happy turkey day for those of you out there. No, this is not a rant for the former Bad Boys and now reppin D-Block. This is about the "World Greatest Hip-Hop Entertainer" including actor, Mr. Busta Rhymes . I was recently informed that Busta cut his infamous dreadlocks. Man that's like Whoa!!

Why do I care?? Well if you were there in the early days of Hip-Hop, the hairdo was an intergral form of expression. To simply not cut your hair was the ultimate expression of rebellion. Mild versions where the colors found on Afrika Bambataa, Kane or Kid from Kid-n-Play and their high Flat-top fades(I had mine), De la Soul's crazy parts and cuts (remember the staircase haircut), Bobby Brown's Gumby style cut, Treach's braids, Flavor Flav's wild hair. Ice Cube's jherri curls. These people set the trends of the hair-style of the time. If you saw someone in the Hip-Hop world with that style it had to be done to your hair too. Don't believe me think?!? Well Puff brought the Hawky (mohawk) when he ran the NYC marathon. Look at all the fools out their with the same hair style.

Besides, conversations about who was best emcee or the hottest show at which club were discussed in the Barbershop. No accident that Ice Cube did a film about it. It was also the place you can strut your verbal skill. Matter fact, many of these stars began their enterprise at the shop. Busta, De la Soul, Scoop Lova had history as barbers.

It is sad to see those that tried to hold on to tradition finally cave in to maturity. That include's Black Thought, Erykah Badu, Dead Prez, etc. If Jay-Z can switch his street gear to fashionable suits. It was bound to happen to Busta after 17 years of growth. I mean he is creepin on 40 years old. Hopefully it won't zap his skill.

My man Rush predicted it a long time ago. He always said that Busta's hairline was receeding.

Still No Money, No Power, No Respect

Part 2 of the issues between the LOX and Diddy. I have been real lazy the last couple of days to so pardon my tardiness. Diddy came on Hot 97 the following day to defend himself. He made his point clear that The LOX did not examine the contract thoroughly because he owns only 20% of their publishing. Diddy added that the LOX didn’t take the necessary steps to renegotiate the contract either.

Mr. Combs is shrewd businessman which makes you want to hate him but still have respect. He really wanted the world to know that the contract given to the LOX was the typical contract given to any artist old or new. He said that their approach was wrong because they could not have pulled a stunt like that to a major label as say: Warner, Universal or Sony. (very true. You can easily get dropped and blackballed.) He also made sure the listeners were aware that he did not was not the sole owner of Notorious BIG’s publishing by accepting BIG’s mom, Volletta Wallace, call on air to speak on the matter. Although she didn’t divulge actual figures however she made it clear that all those that had questions, especially Lil’ Cease, “Mind your business.”

I am still riding for LOX. To have a ten-year career in this industry is amazing. Some folks are done by their second album. I can list a few: Tone-Loc, Young MC, Skee-Lo, Black Sheep. Everyone goes through financial issues. Mariah, MJ, TLC, Hammer it takes smart decision making to make it through the storm. Bottom line "Its all about the Benjamins , baby."

No money, No Power, No Respect!!!

On my way home from work and I turn on to Hot 97 to listen to my dude, DJ Enuff kill it like he does every “Rush Hour”. Suddenly Angie (Martinez) interrupts to allow the hip-hop group, L.O.X. (Jadakiss, Styles P and Sheek Louch), to express their grievances. They all have agreed to stop recording indefinitely to address issues with the label and publishing. The label isn’t marketing both Jada and Styles as they would 50 Cent. (Understandable he makes the label more money). On the other hand, Diddy (the Notorious Paper Gangster) “tricked” the group into signing a deal to pay him 50% of publishing of all material recorded for the rest of their career in exchange releasing from contractual obligations on Bad Boy Records to sign with Ruff Ryders. Puff had an exchange of words with them over the radio. (Check out Allhiphop.com for details.) Even Jermaine Dupri called perplexed at the type of deal the LOX are stuck in. I was truly surprised to hear even the female fans rallying a petition to help them regain their publishing.

I have a lot of respect for Puff as a businessman. He managed and produced for many artists all over the world. He launched his own imprint Bad Boy records. (Please recognize there is a huge difference from a label and an imprint.) He has a number of clothing lines (Sean John, Bad Boy and Sean for ladies), footwear with a store in Madison Ave in NYC. He has an active acting career including Monster’s Ball, Carlito’ Way Rise to Power. He started his Bad Boy’s of Comedy and executive Producer for Making the Band and Run’s House. I can go on but I won’t.

I have been saying this for years think of every artist in the late 90’s that was on his roster, their career would be nothing without the influence of the late great Notorious BIG. Biggie put money in a lot of people’s pockets even today. The person that benefits the most is Sean “Diddy” Combs a.k.a. Puff Daddy. Before BIG was taken a way from us he sold his publishing to Puff. Puff gets a check for every time Jay-Z or any other artists repeats or uses BIG’s voice for even a sample. Not Faith Evans (BIG’s wife), not Voletta Wallace (BIG’s mom), not even BIG’s children. Puff then has the obligation to donate as he wishes to any of the parties. Even in the opening of his Bad Boy’s of Comedy he had to mention his “friend” to get the approval of the audience. With all that money that he makes he could afford to lose a little by releasing the publishing to rightful owners. I am not saying BIG’s cause he would lose everything if he lost that. You are messing with peoples families. I was happy to see Puff and LOX together at the "I Declare War" concert featuring Jay-Z. Diddy it is your responsibility to save NY Hip-Hop

Puff, in you own adlibs, “Come on”, “Let’s Go!”, “Let’s Work it!!!”

Oh well here I am again joining the picket lines to say “Let the LOX Go!! Again!!!”
Q-tip said it perfect “Record company people are shady!!!”

IPod, UPod, WePod together!!!

I hate Apple. No, I am not talking about Gwyneth Paltrow's baby girl. The makers of the mosted wanted item for Christmas three years in a row.

It all started when Twin brought the first of its kind four years ago. I looked at like "What the hell is that?!" He told me what it was. I thought it was cool but it only exclusive to Apple PCs. I'm a PC person so I was not ready for that transition. I waited a while when they made it PC compatible.

I bought a 30G at the time that was a lot. My peeps always notice it with the crazy white head phones or those that passed my cube at work. It became an epidemic. No a plague!!! All my homies got one: Paige, Young, Grind, even my Fifi wanted one. Hers was better than mine the new 40G. When people saw hers it encougaged her buddies to get one. I loaded every song I had in my collection into that thing. During the blackout, I used it to light my way around the house.

It was getting so serious that when my battery died after the warranty expired I took Fifi's. She was REALLY unhappy about that move cause she used it on ALL DAY at work. I stepped up to the plate and got a 60G with color and photo. My addiction to it was crazy. I reached a point where I lost my 60G. (I almost cried.) I went weeks without it but low and behold Best Buy had a used one for cheap. I had to get it. Three weeks later, I found it in my room. I had to give it to Fifi. She gave hers to her cousin and now she is hooked. Her father is getting one. Dang!! In our immediate circle about 30 people have gotten one. They almost had me when the Nano came out. Lucky Fifi held me down. Whew!!

The last straw came when my boy Escobarz showed me his IPod with video. Now I am fiending to get an all black. My advise: Stay away!!!! You gonna get hooked.

P.S. by the time you read this I will be rocking my new all black Ipod. Happy shopping. :-)

Wu-Tang is still for the children!!!

I was listening to Hot 97 this afternoon and I heard one my favorite DJ's Mr. Cee say it was ODB's birthday. Unfortunately Unique Ason, a.k.a. Big Baby Jesus, a.k.a. Dirt McGirt a.k.a. Osirus a.k.a. Old Dirty Bastard is gone but not forgotten. A lot of thoughts came up and I figured I'd write about it. You got to give props to this man. He and the rest of the crew Wu-Tang Clan are pivotal members in the evolvement of Hip-Hop. (Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothing to #$% with!!). They started as a group on Loud Records with solo deals for each member on different labels. That’s gangsta. They have sold many many, many millions collectively and in solo ventures. Check the discography

Each had their own personality but none like Ol' Dirty. Who else can take MTV with him to collect his food stamps? Who else can escape from rehab to go to perform at the Hammerstein Ballroom? Who else can interrupt the Grammy’s to explain, "Puffy is good but Wu-Tang is for the children"? Who else can re-invent himself so many times and the crowd just loved him each time? He was known for a lot of things, including the father of over eleven children. But many will remember him as an artist with heart. Whether he was saving a child from a car accident of just putting that same passion in a verse.

Here are my favorites “Brooklyn Zoo”, “Shimmy Shimmy Yam”, “Fantasy (remix)” featuring Mariah, “Gimme my Money”, “Woo Ha (remix) featuring Busta Rhymes and not to forget “Protect your neck”, “Shame On A” “Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'” on the Wu-tang Clan albums. Last but not least a classic lost gem “Show and Prove” featuring ODB, Big Daddy Kane, Shyhiem, and Jay-Z. Sometimes his rhymes made no sense but he was funny, serious, spontaneous, live and wild. My fiance met him in Sony Studios sprawled on the floor writing rhymes like a child with his first coloring book.

I remember and interview from Pras of the Fugees, during the making of “Ghetto Superstar” ODB flew to Florida to enter the wrong studio on the wrong date to record for the upcoming then Wu-Tang Clan album. He jumped on the record and the rest was history. (Sidebar: that was Pras’ biggest record ever as a solo artist.)

I met Dirty at GreekFest in NY in the 90's. He was so out of control. We all stood there like WTF. But he had everyone's attention wheter intentionanl or unintentional.

He was a diamond in the rough. No wonder Dame signed him to Roc-a-fella Records. He was never squeaky clean but regardless Dirty, me and many countless others will miss you. If you have not already cop the Enter The Wu-Tang 36 Chambers and Return To The 36 Chambers. You NEED this in your life otherwise you fakin'.

RIP. Dirty.

I also want to say Big up (no Pun intended. Dang I did it again.) to Big Punisher protégé of Fat Joe and member of the Terror Squad. Last week was his birthday too. He was first Latino solo hip-hop artist to go platinum. I still think that Fat Joe must've found Pun’s rhyme book. He too was on the now defunct Loud Records. He died over two years ago due to complications related to his weight. His first album Capital Punishment is classic. You NEED that too!!

Collect Checks or Die Tryin'

Wednesday, I took the time to go see the new "Fiddy" cent Movie, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. It was real "Gangsta" as we say in the hood (translation: Decent.) It was better than I expected. He really had to show his #%% figuratively and literally. (Yup he's nude in a scene not to my enjoyment.) He had to dig "deep" to express love, fear and pain. Thugs cry. Considering 50 is playing himself somewhat (his character is called Marcus and not Curtis) that was not a real stretch for him as a first time actor. All in all, if you took away the fact that the story based on his life it was an interesting story to portray in film. "Fiddy" as his rich white folk friends love to call him stated on Jimmy Kimmel Live that 75% of the movie is based on this life.

The "snitch" aspect is the film troubles me into thinking that 50 can be the next Tupac. Not in the sense of greatness but a thug getting killed because of the people he associated himself with and possibly offended. I went to the hood to see it. Of course that theater has metal detectors all because of a death during the showing of Godfather in the early 90's. The reaction was real peaceful. Not an outburst. No G-g-g-g-U-not!!!! Nothing. The film had some negaitve references to Supreme, a Queens, NY drug kinpin and Ja Rule. The movie supports the rumor on the street that Supreme is responsible for the death of 50's mom as seen in the film.

In the course of three years 50 has been nominated GQ man of the Year, a musician with multi-platinum success, a label , G-Unit records, with artists with multi-platinum success (the Game, Young Buck, Tony Yayo, G-Unit along with the signing Mase, Mobb Deep, Spider Loc, Olivia and M.O.P.), a watch collection, a video game on the way Bulletproof, a Vitamin water with Glaceau, a sneaker deal with Reebok, a Clothing Line with Mark Echo, an autobiography From Piece to Weight, owns former-Heavy Weight Championship Mike Tyson's $4 million mansion and dated Nia Long and Vivica A. Fox. Dang. I am hating. Besides all of the money that falls into his lap, he still finds time to offend most hip-hop industry artists: The Game, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Benzino, Jadakiss and Nas.

I give the movie 7 out of 10. I found it as good as Paid in Full if not better.

First Day of School


I have now joined the ranks of my fellow thespians Reality, Mad Robot and Da Wifey. Why did I do it? I am follower. I mean to lead you have to be a good follower. A good listener. A good student.

"I got so much trouble on my mind, refuse to lose," said Chuck D. on Welcome to the Terrordome

What am I doing?

Answer is simple. Long time ago I had a site, a crew and a dream to show love to my passion, Hip-Hop music. It went well. I met a lot of people from Def Squad to Common but I pursued the mighty dollar. Had I stuck to it, we could have been as big as AllHipHop or Sohh . I don't regret my decision at all. I have exposed myself to a lot of change and get ready to take a walk with me.

I am back to my roots. Call me Infinite and this is Hip-Hop 101. I am the student. Class is in session.