The Night G-UNit stole Christmas.....
It was the night after christmas and no traffic in site....
I got Nassau Coliseum on time and ev'thing was all right...
got frisked and metal detectors cause security was tight...
Had a good seat and refreshments so nothing could eff up my night....
WRONG!!!!
Hot 97 presented Nassau Coliseum and it was the worst show I have gone to in all my concert going history. 7 years I have gone to almost every show to hit NY/NJ. Security was so heavy, no suprise. it 50 cent!!! The show was supposed to start at 8. Security still didn't let any one in the building until that time. Shout out to Sosa from Xtra Clips DVD for getting me inside quick. It was supposed to have Keyshia Cole, Bobby valentino, Juelz Santana and G-Unit. At first I was not interested in going. 50 cent-mania has wore off since the last time he stepped in to Nassau Coliseum (That was a great show!!) But I was curious to see how Hot 97 would pull off Dipset and G-Unit in the same building with the apparent beef with "Rev" Mase and Dipset. (I use the term Rev. real loosely.)

The official show started at 11:15 PM. Between that time we listened to new acts that will never see the light of day. Paula Berry (excuse me if I misspelled) from the early Master Ace's Inc. crew (way before Irv and Ja removed Murder) Showed up with all of Bed-Stuy to do a show that was not interesting at all.
NOTICE to all you artists: Find REAL talent!! Your homeboy from childhood may excuse me... will not never be the next Jay-Z or Nas. Face the facts.

Almost three hours and it feel like was at Amatuer Night at the Apollo or Club Speed. Out of 13 amateurs/no name acts, two that was somewhat decent like Lil Mama and some other Kid redoing a Biggie track. But We won't remember ANY of you tomorrow. Red Cafe came out and had a lackluster response. (He has real talent but not a hit yet.) Ne-Yo was not impressing the dudes there but the ladies loved it. Keyshia Cole did her thing but she reminds me of Mary J Blige in her early years... Needs a lot of work!! Finally G-Unit showed up at 12:30 AM I guess. Rev. Ma$e, M.O.P., Spider loc, Mobb Deep, Olivia, Banks and Yayo showed up except for Young Buck (guess he is serving some kind of sentence for forking the dude at the Vibe awards.) They did their hits but I expected more. The dreadlockless Busta Rhymes showed up and did his new single "Touch It" but there were so many no-shows that it took away from the vibe of the evening. The promotor and 50 had some choice words for Juelz and Bobby Valentino for not performing. 50 didn't do "Piggy Bank" or take shots at as many folks as he usually did but Game and Kim got some stabs. They went threw money and Minks out the crowd. (darn right for making us wait.) The show ended at 2 AM.

I am not sure how long it will take I but I predict 50's reign to take a turn. His antics is getting tired and the lyrics are proof. I want the dude that Spit Power of a Dollar or Get Rich.. Not this pop-artist-fake-Jay-Z-trying-to-do-club-songs. Yeah, he got a lot going on but only because the top artist are retired or missing in action. the other artists are just wack making him sound as wack as the competition. Lyrically 50 can't hang with lyricist like Common, Jay, Nas or even your protege Llyod Banks. 50 Step your Game up. (no pun intended.)

Top five dead or alive.
I was influenced by a great emcee Jin the Emcee, on his latest project to give my list. I said Big was my all-time favorite but I this best describes who was the best during there time. I would explain but I will open the floor to debate. Maybe I will change my mind.

My top five is split up by decades.
80's
1.) Rakim Allah
2.) Big Daddy Kane
3.) KRS-ONE
4.) Slick Rick
5.) Grand Puba
Honorable mentionKool G Rap/LL Cool J
90's
1.) BIG
2.) Jay-Z
3.) Nas
4.) Scarface
5.) Ms. HillHonrable Mention to UGK, Black Thought, Redman, Ice Cube,Kurupt, Rah Digga, Big Pun
2000's
1.) Jadakiss
2.) Eminem
3.) Common
4.) Ludacris
5.) Freeway
Honorable mention: Canibus, Cassidy, Skillz, Llyod Banks, FabolousThese dudes will pass the torch for the next decade.

There are a lot of people I think should be up there but Its MY top FIVE. This is based on delivery, skill (including lyrics, timing, creativity) and popularity. Let me hear your picks.

Where Brooklyn at??

Today the Biggie Duets CD dropped. It got me thinking about who is my top five greatest emcess. ( read my other post to see my top five) You can argue with me to your face turns blue Biggie aka Notorious BIG was, is and always will be the all time greatest hiphop icon, period. No if ands or buts. You can name anyone you want I won't budge. I know he had only two official albums but it still won't convince me. The secret weapon is one of the greatest mixtapes EVER Mr. Cee's Best of Biggie mixtape (Yup I said tape the CD was not even available. I will set another blog about greatest mixtapes next week.). Best of Biggie was a best seller in the hood and it dropped before the album Ready to Die hit the streets. Pound for pound his lyrics were the best in the business and that is not a small order from the 300 something pound guy from bed stuy.
BIG had hunger, passion, the pain and humilty and put it in every line. Now I may be bias cause the kid was born in BK "where the playas stay all day every day." But at the time where NY emcess was not moving units the way a Snoop or NWA could BIG was king (hence Frank White, King of New York). He snatched the crown (well deserved) that was ever so vacant. He soley made Bad Boy the label it was by dropping 16 for every artists there, virtually carrying the label on his back. Think about this: would Total, 112, Ma$e, Faith, the Lox and Diddy have the fame they had if not for this man. I am missing so many others like D.Dot, the HitMen, Jermaine Durpi, Cease, Jr. Mafia, Lil Kim, Charlie Baltimore, Volleta Wallace, Lance "Un" Rivera, Cam'ron and yes I said it Jay-Z. He has made many people rich in spite of his death. (For the record, Jay is my second.) BIG also memorized and never wrote any lyrics on paper. He won the favor of backpackers by traveling through Lyricist Lounge and "ghost wrote" for many artists. He showed no predjudice in the genisis of his career by recording with everyone from Heavy D, da Brat, Method Man (despite beef with other Wu-tang members), Crustified Dibbs, Tracey Lee and names you may never hear from again.

I always say the sign of success is when some samples your voice on a song, you have made it. I heard BIG on a posse cut with Heavy D on the great album Blue Funk on a track called a Bunch of Ni**s. I knew that dude was going to make it. I heard Party and Bull***t. I was open. When I heard Little Shawn sample his voice for Don Perignon, I said he made it.

I am not a ryder but a fan helping to immortalize his generosity and skill. Go buy the Duets the Final Chapter. If not go buy Ready to Die

For those in the spirit of the giving. Happy Holidays!!!
All you haters, "Bah humbug" but still Happy Holidays!!!

Holla!! Holla!!! .....It's Murrrddddeeerrrr!!

Well the judgement is finally out Irv Gotti and his brother Chris is are finally free of money laundry. Only in America, the land of the free. I am happy that they were acquitted but its bittersweet. The battle is won but Hip-Hop will have to continue to defend itself from war wage against it. Society never favors street dudes becoming millionaires. In due time there will be another charge considering there are some employees still imprisoned for charges similar. My guess either tax evasion or something ridiculous. For some folks you are guilty until proven innocent.

Irv Gotti is a talented dude. I hope that he can get his company back on its feet considering the 3 year hiatus. Ja Rule's career is dman near over regardless of the sucesss of "New York". 50 Cent, Curtis "interscope" Jackson, has pretty much put the nail in the coffin for the entire label. Ashanti needs to dig deep to ressurect the label on its new home on Atlantic provide it happens. Irv found DMX, Jay-Z, Ja Rule for Def Jam if he can do it again he will be considered the next Dr. Dre of the east coast (bringin back a label that was under the radar back to the top.)