Grouchy Greg

‘Hip-Hop Files’ Author Martha Cooper Takes Exhibit To The UK

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 24, 2004

Martha Cooper, who has photographed the beginnings of the New York graffiti scene, will return to London to host a free seven-day exhibit showing off hundreds of photos’s of Graffiti art. Cooper will also be promoting her new book, “Hip Hop Files.” The book includes the work of graffiti artists and B-Boys, including contributions from members of the legendary Rocksteady Crew and others. Cooper was known for following various performers and artists around the city and captured countless amounts of unique moments. She established herself by collaborating with Henry Chalfont and released “Subway Diaries” in 1984. Ten years later, Cooper published “RIP: Memorial Wall Art.” “Hip Hop Files” includes images dated between 1979 –1984. The exhibition features over 240 color and black and white photographs collected, in addition to other photographers own images. The introduction to the book is written by the legendary by ZEPHYR and includes essays by Charlie Ahearn, Patti Astor, Pop Master Fabel and other participants of the early New York Hip-Hop scene. Insightful quotes and statements by over 70 Hip Hop icons accompany the shots in the book including Lee, Fab 5 Freddy, Dez aka DJ Kay Slay, Grandmaster Caz, Bobbito, Dondi, Duro, Blade, See, Lady Pink, Futura 2000 and others. “Martha is so awesome to have documented our movement and our culture,” Futura 2000 said of Cooper’s work. “Her contribution to the expansion and influence of the urban art form becoming a global phenomenon cannot be understated. Martha Cooper was an (embedded) photographer with the troops on the frontlines.” The exhibition will be held at Kingly Court, Oxford Circus, London between noon and 5pm, all this week. “Hip Hop Files” goes on sale in September in three different languages: English, German and French. “Like a New York City subway ride back to the early 1980’s,” Fab 5 Freddy said. “This is Hip Hop culture at its all time best. A monumental photographic achievement for the world.”

AHH Stray News: Lyte, Latifah, Lauryn And Yo Yo

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 24, 2004

Boyz II Men have tapped MC Lyte to bring character to their latest single, a remake of Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do For Love.” “Working with them was great,” Lyte told AllHipHop.com. “It was pretty simple. I just went into the studio out here in Los Angeles and I talked with [Boyz II Men group member] Nate and he told me what it was he wanted me to do. He was great in explaining and I executed to the best of my ability.” The single is the first release from the group’s newly formed record label, MSM Music Group. Queen Latifah is in negotiations to star in the next Muppets film, titled “The Muppets’ Wizard of OZ.” Reports stated that the movie will air on US television and will be directed by Kirk. R. Thatcher, who directed “Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie.” Singer Ashanti and director Quentin Tarantino are already signed on to the project. Latifah will drop a new album, The Dana Owens Album, in September. Lauryn Hill will hit the road in a series of concerts slated for the fall. Hill has put together a band for the Kool Nu Jazz Festival. The event will hit four cities: Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit and Philadelphia. Other performers include The Roots, Big Boi, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Ruben Studdard and George Clinton. The sponsor of the tour is Kool cigarettes, whose parent company, Brown & Williamson is currently under fire for marketing the Kool brand of cigarettes to under aged African-American and Hispanic youth. On August 18th, Yo-Yo took the stage at The Sunset Room in Hollywood to promote her new album Feel Me which will drop shortly. Yo-Yo returns to the rap scene after making such memorable songs such as "The Bonnie & Clyde Theme", "You Can’t Play With My Yo Yo", and "It’s A Man’s World" with Ice Cube. Kurupt shared the stage with her and others in attendance included Dru Down, Keita Rock, Gail Gotti and longtime West Coast dance master Mr. Animation.

CL Smooth: Broken Atoms

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: FeaturesAugust 24, 2004

The music industry is notorious for breaking up relationships. Friendships and family ties have went down in the ball of flames due to the inner strife that the industry is sickened with. The dynamic duo of Pete Rock & CL Smooth is no different. Pete Rock, one of Hip-Hop’s most celebrated underground producers, recently went on a riotous rampage against his partner in rhyme, unveiling to the world that the relationship fans figured to be rock solid was cracked at the seams. As fans will find out shortly, CL Smooth is not the type of man to keep quiet when rivalry approaches. While on the comeback trail after years of hiatus, CL has returned to set the record straight about his strained partnership with his former producer. In one of Allhiphop.com’s most angry and curse-laden conversations ever, CL Smooth steps forth to send a message to Pete Rock that is sure to cause some controversy. Fasten your seatbelts! Allhiphop.com: You recently did a performance at the Peace & Unity Fest in Toronto. Speak on that experience and exactly what happened there. CL Smooth: It was a good weekend, man. I performed for 25,000 people at the Splashfest, and it was just incredible. It was a good look. I really loved the experience and I hope to do it again next year. Allhiphop.com: What songs did you get on stage and perform for those 25,000 people in attendance? CL Smooth: I performed my new single that I’m trying to promote, called “Love Thing.” The B-side is called “Appreciate,” and I’m trying to promote that. Those are the two current singles that I can perform on my own. Of course, I performed the essentials, so in all, there was about 13 or 14 records that I did. Allhiphop.com: In your opinion, has your lyrical flow changed at all over the years? Cats that are in the game for over ten years tend to grow and mature with their sound. CL Smooth: Lyrically, I have evolved because of the maturity and the growth process. You don’t normally stay artistically at one phase. Normally, if you elevate your game and you’re serious about your game, it’ll grow. I just nurtured it with the time I spent off. I nurtured my craft, kept it sharp, and kept it attentive so that I’m able to step in, be productive, and perform the way I need to perform. Allhiphop.com: Who do you feel as the sickest flows in Hip-Hop right now? It does not matter if they wrote the rhymes themselves or if they have a ghostwriter. CL Smooth: Right now, you have to look at the 50’s of the world, on down to the Talib Kweli’s, you have Fabolous on down to Black Thought. I’m very conscious of the music and what brands are out there. I recognize and see it because of how Rap has grown. It’s not only in New York or LA; it’s a whole movement going on outside. You have Outkast giving you an opportunity to see Lil’ Jon and all types of Rap start to emerge and hold court. I learn to recognize the different genres and different flows, and that’s what makes Rap competitive. Allhiphop.com: In Jadakiss’s new song, “Why,” he made the statement that the Rap game is designed to keep artists broke. From your different experiences in this business, do you think that there is some truth to that? CL Smooth: Well, I feel it’s like any job. You get a check, but it’s what you do with that check. Everybody gets paid, man. At the end of the day, there has to be somebody on your side that makes you understand that you need to put something away for a rainy f***ing day! Allhiphop.com: Rappers seem to want to floss Maybachs and $500,000 necklaces more than they think about the future. CL Smooth: That whole jewelry is another saga to the Rap game. That s**t is un-added pressure. N***as ain’t relating to your inside, they are relating to your exterior. What make me a man are the choices I make. I’m going to make the choice to [show that] the diamonds I wear are on the inside. You can’t blame or fault them, though. When these dudes go from nothing into one million, it’s like “Go freak off, daddy!” I did it, too. I spent $500 everyday for two years straight. But, at some point and time, you got to put the brakes on. You have to say to yourself, “F*** Jordan and Jacob, what about my enterprise?” Allhiphop.com: Do you wish to comment on some of things that Pete Rock has been saying lately? CL Smooth: If you’re not here to help, f*** you! Don’t act like I’m a cancer or a parasite. I’m not jealous of you! I would never be jealous of nobody with one car and one garage. I’m trying to get four cars and four garages! What is the matter with you? Come back home. I’m building houses where I sold crack at. So, don’t tell me that I haven’t changed into a better man. I’m not going to allow the negative s**t to display and take the forefront because it’s too hard to come back in the game after ten years and talk s**t to a n***a like me. I don’t even let them street n***as talk to me like that. The biggest record on Pete Rock’s album is from CL Smooth. I don’t have to make it up…ask my hood! I’m not the toughest n***a; I’m just more serious than the average man. It shows in my music, my discipline, and my enthusiasm. All of my enthusiasm is catered toward what I’m trying to build and what these n***as remember about CL and Pete Rock. I’m keeping that legacy alive. How are you going to do thirty shows with me and then tell me you don’t need me? Come on, you never had packed shows until you were with CL! […]

WC & Felli Fel: West Up

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: FeaturesAugust 24, 2004

If one were to peruse Billboard’s hip-hop singles charts, they’d probably think West Coast hip-hop was extinct. The fact that the Left has only a handful of consistent chart-toppers that keep the West alive might have some under the impression that West coast mc’s have nothing to offer but regurgitated gangstaism. Those who listen to radio in any region other than where the sun sets, could easily succumb to these misconceptions thanks to radio programmers whose “California Love died” with Tupac (RIP). Although major artists like Dre, Snoop, Warren G, and Nate Dogg keep worldwide fans Westside connected, mix tapes keep the streets connected to the hottest rhyme slayers from city to city. In the streets of Los Angeles, the familiar sound of sirens blaring is usually the result of a high-speed car chase, or Power 106 air personality, Felli Fel, hitting the airwaves with another official premier. His infectious energy and impeccable mixes, has over 1.6 million listeners tuning in daily and producing some of the most sought after mix tapes in the West. He produced Tupac and the Outlaws’ “Worldwide” and recently even Jessica Simpson tapped him to remix of her remake “Take My Breath Away.” Now, he and Ghetto Heisman homeboy WC collaborate to offer “WC The Westside Heavy Hitter.” The mix tape is in the streets and has WC, dubbed The Shadiest One, bing bing bangin his usual venomous reality bites. AllHipHop.com got some real talk from some real players. AllHipHop.com: I often hear people complain about hearing the same music and artists on the radio, do you like what you hear on the air? Felli Fel: Radio is just like any other business. It’s about relationships. If a record label has a good relationship with the station then I think radio is going to be a little more prone to want to play those records. Part of building relationships is taking care of the radio station by making sure they have exclusive artist interviews first and things of that nature. Speaking for myself if a label can take care of me in regards of respect you know I’m gonna look out as much as I can. As far as do I like what I hear on the radio, it’s kinda like if you worked at Foot Action and you might get tired of seeing the same damn shoes on the shelf everyday but they’re still hot shoes, it’s the same thing here, sometimes I might get tired of hearing the same music, although it’s a hot song. WC: A radio station has the power to program or de-program whatever they want. You ever hear a record you didn’t really like but when you listen to the radio and hear the song one million and one times your like damn that s### is bangin? You gotta realize the label is a vehicle; they got the power to drive a record where they want to drive a record. AllHipHop.com: How has commercialism affected the authenticity of hip-hop and why are mix-tapes such a successful vehicle nowadays? Felli Fel: I think it’s helped it because there’s a lot of people that would’ve never known hip-hop if it hadn’t crossed over commercially. You got your MTV’s, BET’s and Allhiphop.com’s that show another side to the music. It also made it possible for people like me to get jobs doing jingles for companies like Starburst using hip-hop, so I’m glad about it. WC: There’s a lot of cats that’s not on, that wanna get on but you never really get a chance to hear from them unless somebody who’s already established puts them down. But mix tapes showcase a lot of artists that you might have never heard and too it gives the artists that are already out there a chance to hear these cats on a whole other level as well, other than records we hear on the radio. Me and Felli just wanted to get together and do something different that hasn’t really been done out here, that’s an established artist doing a full mix tape. I try to keep feeding my fans when I can. AllHipHop.com: How do you stay so connected to the streets spending all of your time at the station or in the studio so much: Felli Fel: I eat live and breath music, even though I’m here at the studio a lot, it’s not hard to be here all the time because I love the people I work with. I love doing radio and interacting with the callers, and I love getting behind the turntables and in a nutshell that’s what my show is. Actually when I get on the air at 7 it’s almost like the first time of the day I have to relax. WC: I hit the block, I’m one of the few artists who you can catch bailing through the swap meet with no security. The contributions I give to the kids is I give them me, anybody who runs across WC on the street already knows you can just walk up to me and it’s gonna be nothing but just real convo back and forth; and if they choose to take it to another level and everything they know WC is there on that level as well, but for the most part it’s always open arms because I keep it real and never disrespect I don’t disrespect nobody’s set, nationality nothing like that, I just do me and for me that’s as gangsta as it gets. AllHipHop.com: What are some things you see messing up the game right now? WC: There’s A LOT of disrespect in hip-hop. If I disrespected you right now then what’s gonna make you want to continue talking to me or even continue to support WC? If you disrespect me why would I want to support you? That disrespect is something you really gotta take into consideration when your dealing with people. No matter how cocky you are or whatever ego you may have, […]

Why We Shouldn’t Vote For Kerry

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: UncategorizedAugust 24, 2004

When I say to hip-hop kids that perhaps we shouldn’t vote for John Kerry, the universal first response is raised eyebrows. Then come a flurry of questions, mostly critical and heartfelt ones. These are reactions I’ve come to be expect, especially from a left leaning emerging voting bloc. This election year, the emerging hip-hop voting bloc-the potential group of young voters regardless of race, age, sex and class who routinely make hip-hop artist go platinum almost overnight-has reared it’s head like no other. Many hip-hop voters even those well over 18 are coming to participate in the electoral process for the first time. We’ve mostly remained out of the process but are now eager to flex within it. The hip-hop voting bloc may be America’s only hope of saving our democracy from what it’s become, a playground for the wealthy and corporate elites. But if we aren’t careful, we’ll be eaten alive by a fine-tuned machine that welcomes us in the door, gracefully escorts us to a seat, entertains us to the max, secures our vote and leaves us scratching our head after November 4th, asking, what just happened? Better still, what was our role in making it happen? Which brings us back to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Senator Kerry seems like a nice guy. A decorated Vietnam War veteran, something he wears on his sleeve, sometimes annoyingly so, but understandable in an election year when the sitting president took the easy way out. A Yale graduate; in the Senate for two decades; the father of two daughters. You gotta love him. On the personal political record tip, he now says he’s for affirmative action, although in 1992, in a lecture he gave at Yale he described it as “reverse racism” and “divisive.” On his voting record in Congress, his Republican critics hit the nail right on the head: Kerry tends to talk out of both sides of his neck. More troubling than his doublespeak is Kerry’s insider elite background. Of the 40 millionaires in the Senate, he’s the richest, worth over $160 million. This doesn’t include his wife’s family net worth, which is estimated at nearly $1 billion. Wealth aside, Kerry’s wife Teresa Heinz Kerry, feminist advocate that she is, defected from the Republican Party to become a Democratic just last year. This and more regarding Kerry, is the stuff that makes you go, hmmm. But when it comes to the hard decisions that will come after the election-from administration appointments and to advancing policy changes, it is no longer simply the Kerry show. As such, the Democratic party’s track record and it’s corporate elite associations are a better indication of what Kerry will do to help or hurt us rather than Kerry himself. So don’t get caught up in how good Kerry (or his daughters) looks or what he says he’s going to do from jobs to affirmative action. Just as any other president if elected he’ll be beholden to a ton of agendas. Somewhere in the process is a way of getting our issues on the table. But we aren’t there yet. More important it’s what we do between now and November as much as on November 4th that could determine if we as a voting bloc will ever arrive. In this election, just as it’s been for the last several decades Democrats are not offering the hip-hop generation anything to get excited about. Even when the Democratic Party is speaking out on issues that matter to hip-hop voting bloc, when it comes to outlining solutions, they aren’t willing to go far enough. As brilliant as Barack Obama was during the recent Democratic National Convention, and as inclusive as John Edwards tried to be, both did what they were supposed to do. They were given a national platform to rouse our emotions, but charged with the pretty transparent task of not departing too far from the script. In June the first ever National Hip-Hop Political Convention convened in Newark, New Jersey. Delegates from around the country worked diligently to create a national agenda of issues that matter to the hip-hop voting bloc. In short, the agenda calls for universal healthcare, living wage jobs, reparations, education reform, and an end to mandatory minimum sentencing, among other critical human rights concerns. Attempts to present the agenda at last month’s Democratic National Convention were at best lightly entertained, but ultimately ignored. National Hip-Hop Political Agenda aside, not two minutes, not one minute of Democratic National Convention airtime was given to the hip-hop voting bloc’ s issues. Contrast this to stem cell research, a debate hardly in need of a public hearing. This isn’t to say that the Democratic Party doesn’t pay lip service to issues like higher paying jobs and education reform-both issues that matter to hip-hop voters. However, not any of their proposals go the distance that most hip-hop voters require to see substantive change in our lives that we can measure on a daily basis. For example Democrats propose raising the minimum wage to $7/hour. They also call for a tax credit of $1000 to offset college tuition costs. Any hip-hop generationer can attest to the fact that $7/ hour is hardly a living wage and that a $1000 tax credit won’t put a dent in the college costs. Our generation came of age victims of a deteriorating public education system, working class jobs without benefits, rising college tuition costs and ever increasing limits on financial aid. We also saw far too many of our friends and relatives head off to prison after casting their lot with the drug game, even as they knew the odds were stacked against them: their motto was live a little rather than not at all. Repairing at least some of the damage done to youth in the 80s and 90s is part of the critical distance that Democrats should go for our vote. And the name of the game is politics, not the-Republicans-are-too-evil so-we-can’t-really play-the-game. Taking the position that the Republican […]

Nervous Records Returns To Hip-Hop

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 23, 2004

Nervous Records, the seminal label that brought Hip-Hop the first releases from Black Moon as well as hits from Mad Lion, Smif-N-Wessun and others, is re-entering the Hip-Hop game.Founded in 1991, the company achieved massive success with the Nervous label as well as several other imprints, including Wreck and Weeded. The ground work they laid helped spawn other similar labels, like the influential Rawkus Records.“Obviously, we had a lot of success back in the 1990’s,” Nervous President Michael Weiss told AllHipHop.com. “One thing our label always focused on was local talent, trying to blow it up. There’s been a real lull of local talent in the past couple of years. If you go to the stores, there are a lot of white labels on the wall, but it doesn’t seem like anyone is doing the marketing and promotion that needs to get done. I just feel like there’s a void right now.”To help fill that space, Nervous will release new material from EPMD, Shyheim, Poison Pen and Funkmaster Flex.“The bigger companies are obviously consolidating and there are a lot of tiny artist driven labels,” Weiss continued. “But, I don’t see any labels doing it like real labels, like with the whole set-up and the back-up. I feel we can fit that niche. We’re going to kind of do it the same way that we did Nervous in the past. We’re going to get the 12”s out to the DJs.”In addition to the artists’ new releases, Nervous will drop two compilations, Nervous Reanimated and a PMD/Hit Squad compilation. A tour that will feature all of the Hip-Hop acts on the label will follow.“It’s strictly ground level, hitting all the stores from Boston to the Carolinas, doing all the local clubs, and really trying to do it grassroots,” Weiss said. “Hopefully, we will get the same kind of success.”Weiss said that with mergers and the current climate of Hip-Hop music, the time was right for Nervous to reintroduce themselves to a new generation of Hip-Hop enthusiasts.“When we blew up in the past, it was MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, and strictly the West Coast,” Weiss noted. “The East Coast was dead. With Crunk blowing up, it’s kind of the same way now. Where are the Brooklyn and the Bronx groups that had taken it national? They need the back-up; you need the label to help do it and that’s what we’re going to try to.”The first three releases from the label are singles. Shyheim’s “21st Century Crisis/There She Goes” hits stores tomorrow. Poison Pen’s “I’m F*cking You Up b/w Inner City Hoodlum” drops September 14, 2004, while EPMD/PMD’s Danger Zone/The Truth hits stores on September 28, 2004.

AllHipHop Week 2004

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: FeaturesAugust 23, 2004

Chuck ‘Jigsaw’ Creekmur and “Grouchy” Greg Watkins, co-CEO’s of AllHipHop.com formally announces its First Annual AllHipHop Week, which will include voter registration, Breeding Ground Live, The Social Lounge, the 2nd Annual BBQ and others special events. Jigsaw and Grouchy said the week wasn’t even supposed to be. “We never intended to have a week, but we happened to have all these great events lined up and so we just decided to package it together,” said Jigsaw of the week’s affairs. “I think this is going to be a memorable week that people are going to want to enjoy yearly.” The week offers a number of highlights with the brightest spots being the quarterly AllHipHop Social Lounge, The Breeding Ground Live at SOB’s and the 2nd Annual AHH BBQ. On Tuesday, August 24th at 6pm – ALLHIPHOP’S SOCIAL LOUNGE returns to SOB’s nightclub in New York City at 204 Varick Street at West Houston Street. The Social Lounge is hosted by Erick Parker (Vibe Magazine) and Amanda Diva of MTV 2. Furthermore, the FREE program features an esteemed panel that will discuss a number of pressing topics that face the Hip-Hop community. With DJ Lazy K spinning, panelist include Def Jam rapper Joe Budden, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, CEO of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, M-1 from dead prez and Ms. Info, a personality from Hot 97’s famed morning show. The Social Lounge will be capped off by a performance by Freeway and Ice City. Grouchy Greg says, “This is by far one of the best and diverse group of individuals that we’ve pulled together. We really expect to home in on the dilemmas that we face daily, but also offer realistic solutions that people can take with them.” This is the second such community gathering at SOB’s. The day after the Social Lounge, SOB’s will also host the first BREEDING GROUND LIVE, where AllHipHop’s greatest unsigned artists get on stage to display what was once limited to the internet. The Breeding Ground is the online entity where AllHipHop allows talented lyricists to spit fire for the millions that visit the site. AllHipHop President Steve Julien, who oversees the Breeding Ground says, “We have Stimuli from Brooklyn, Blyss from D.C., Mims from Washington Heights NYC, Uno Dos and others coming to tear it down. On top of that, rap vet Lord Finese is the host so we have it all locked down.” On Friday, August 27th at 6 PM at The Star Club on 246 Columbus St., AllHipHop continues its week with a Hip-Hop Film Screening. By partnering up with H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] International Film Festival, AllHipHop plans to show a films with a Hip-Hop perspective. The primary film screened will be the hugely popular documentray Hip Hop Immortals We Got Your Kids. There will also be an EXCLUSIVE screening of AllHipHop’s trailer for our upcoming Documentary, Allhiphop Presents: Live at SOBs. On Saturday Aug. 28, the week ends with the Annual BBQ in Flushing Meadows Corona Park where peaceful hip-hoppers can convene to network, chill, eat and meet other like-minded individuals. With AHH DJ Aqua Boogie spinning, it doesn’t cost anything to attend, revelers get free giveaways and can expect an assortment of surprises. ALL AGES WELCOME. In addition, we have representatives from Art, Rhymes & Life, AIDS/HIV awareness group, who will educate and promote awareness. They will have two small tents with information. Finally, the BBQ will host a car show that will have the hottest vehicles in New York! CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE LISTINGS AND UPDATES – https://staging.allhiphop.com/allhiphop/clickthrupage.html Below is the full listing for ALLHIPHOP WEEK 2004: ..:: ALLHIPHOP WEEK 2004::.. MONDAY AUGUST 23 AllHipHop.com and Midi Mafia Rap Contest TUESDAY AUGUST 24 AllHipHop.com’s Social Lounge at SOB’s AllHipHop.com Presents The Afterparty: "UP IN HARLEM SOUNDTRACK RELEASE PARTY” WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25 AllHipHop.com’s Breeding Ground Showcase Hosted by Lord Finesse THURSDAY AUGUST 26 Online Fall Fashion Spread Starring The Roc’s Dame Dash, Gloria Velez, Joe Budden & D-Block’s J-Hood FRIDAY AUGUST 27 Hip-Hop Film Festival – At The Star Club, 2116 Columbus St. 6 PM. SATURDAY AUGUST 28 The 2nd Annual AllHipHop.com BBQ at Flushing Meadows Corona Park

The Heatmakerz: Flame On!

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: FeaturesAugust 23, 2004

There are certain songs that have longevity in the clubs. These are called 2 o-clock records, because at 2 AM, when the party is just hitting its peak, these are the songs that get thrown on. “Dipset Anthem” was one of those songs. The Heatmakerz, a Bronx-bred production team who’ve been behind much of the music released under the Diplomats banner, were responsible for that record. Besides packing dance floors coast to coast and earning the Diplomats a gold plaque, it opened new doors for the Heatmakerz. With a compilation album slated to drop in the next few months and upcoming singles for Lil’ Flip and I-20 of Disturbing the Peace already recorded, plus a certified nod from the RZA, the Heatmakerz have a full plate in front of them. But according to them, that’s all they really want right now. AllHipHop.com: How long have you been making beats? Rsonist: Since ‘99 really. AllHipHop.com: What got you into it? Rsonist: My man was making beats. He lived on the same block as me. I was [at Howard], DJ’ing. I came home, he had an MPC. I was f***in with it. I ain’t have s**t else to do. I left college, I wasn’t doing s**t so I was just home on the block. So I bought an MP later on and just started f***ing with it. AllHipHop.com: So the Heatmakerz are you and who else? Rsonist: It’s me, my man Pop, and my man Thriller. But me and Thriller are the only two that make tracks, only two of us make beats. AllHipHop.com: What does Pop do? Rsonist: He handles like a lot of the business s**t as far as like setting up meetings and making sure that our money’s right and s**t like that. AllHipHop.com: How do you go about getting at an artist, do you have a label connect or are you making the phone calls yourself? Rsonist: Naw, on some real s**t, a lot of the artists are looking for us. When we started f***ing with Cam, we were so deep in the whole Diplomats s**t, we didn’t f*** with no other artists. And after the Diplomats s**t got done, I started getting random calls from different artists just out the blue like they would get my number from n*ggas at Def Jam. They would be like, “Yo, I been looking for you for a minute and yada yada yada, come thru.” Like, now we got some s**t we about to pop off with Lil Flip, his next single. We did some s**t with I-20 and Ludacris, it’s I-20’s next single, we did some s**t with Killer Mike that’s about to come out, plus the Diplomats and all the other s**t. AllHipHop.com: How did your relationship with the Dip Set come about? Rsonist: Through this dude name Rene Maclean. He was f***ing with Cam, and we was f***in with him trying to get him this record so he could shop this record for us. We just told him we had a beat CD. He said he f***ed with Cam, gave him the beat CD. Cam got it. Cam called us like two days later, said he wanted like four beats from the CD. We met up with Cam. He was like “Ya’ll n*ggas got some s**t, as soon as my Diplomats s**t pop off, I’ma f*** with ya’ll.” S**t popped off like a month later, and he just started f***ing with us. AllHipHop.com: Do you guys have any legal problems now because of your sample-usage? Rsonist: Any samples that we ever used, we cleared. Or if we couldn’t clear it, we never used it. We probably threw it out on the street level, but that’s it. Matter of fact, dudes came at us, dudes that owned samples came at us and gave us some s**t to sample because they liked the way that we flipped some of the s**t. AllHipHop.com: You mentioned throwing songs to the street, how do you feel about joints being used on mixtapes, do you feel like it hurts the integrity of certain records? Like, maybe you got a hot record with someone and it gets thrown out in the streets, now the artist doesn’t wanna put it on the album because it was hot on mixtapes already. Rsonist: That’s f***ed up. That s**t happened to me with this record we did for Cam called “The Bigger Picture.” A dude took it and put it on an instrumental CD, not even the song. Cam called me like, “Yo, how they got the instrumental?” Everybody work in the studio, they could throw s**t out if they want. As long as they got hands in it, they got access to it. He ain’t wanna f*** with it, that f***ed us up. It was a crazy record. Once cats got a hold of that instrumental, Cam ain’t wanna use it. AllHipHop.com: How do you feel about Kanye West and Just Blaze, and just a lot of people in general, using the soul samples and getting credit for popping it off? Rsonist: I ain’t mad. But give credit where credit is due. To me, dudes like Rza and No I.D., they started the whole soul sampling s**t. Dudes like that is who I give the credit to. Just and Kanye, they do their thing with it, just like we do our thing with it. But if you’re gonna say that Just and Kanye started it, you might as well throw our name in the pack. AllHipHop.com: What was your reaction when you heard that the record went Gold? Rsonist: I didn’t even know the record went Gold to be honest with you. I’m hearing it now that you’re telling me. It’s a good thing. We damn near did the whole album, so it’s a good feeling. That just means 500,000 people f***ed with it. AllHipHop.com: You guys have an album that’s dropping. Rsonist: It’s called the Crack Album. AllHipHop.com: And this is an album that you guys are […]

Buju Banton Banned From The U.S., Opposition Mounts Worldwide

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 23, 2004

As growing controversy mounts worldwide around the lyrics of dancehall artist Buju Banton and an incident where he allegedly took part in assaulting a group of gay men, reps for Banton said he was recently banned from the United States. “Buju Banton has been unjustly banned from the United States because of an absurd conviction in April for possession and cultivation of marijuana,” a spokesperson told AllHipHop.com in a statement. According to reps, on December 3, 2003, police raided Banton’s Kingston, Jamaica recording studio and claimed to have found a marijuana plant that belonged to Banton. Banton denied the plant was his and said that he had been home for just two days, after an 18 month stretch on the road. He was found guilty on March 29th and on April 5th he was fined $9,000 or 60 days of imprisonment. “Only when Buju tried to return to the States in April did he learn he was forbidden entry. He was detained for 18 hours in Miami and subsequently deported back to Jamaica,” representatives said. Last week, Amnesty International said they confirmed reports that Banton was involved in a homophobic attack in Kingston two moths ago. “We can confirm that Amnesty International has received information from reputable national and international human rights organizations concerning reports that Buju Banton was involved in a homophobic attack,” the organization said. “These reports take the form of statements that allege that on June 24 2004, six men were driven from their home and beaten by a group of armed men, and that the alleged assailants included Buju Banton.” The report said that the attack was motivated by hatred of gay men. The victims said the assailants called them “battymen,” a derogatory term for a homosexual. Banton said the charges were “completely untrue and wholly unfounded.” Banton’s song “Boom Bye Bye” is well known for the violence it calls for against homosexuals. Banton has said he recorded the song in 1992 and has not made another song in that vein since. “Buju Banton has never repudiated the sentiments of the song ‘Boom Bye Bye’,” the organization countered. “Furthermore, it is reported that Buju Banton continues to perform the song.” Opposition against the singer is mounting. In Germany, Banton’s September appearance at the Reggae Jam Festival in Saarbruecken was cancelled. Appearances in Hamburg and Darmstadt have also been dropped. Festival organizers said they were so disgusted with Banton’s lyrics that they immediately cancelled his shows, even if it meant losing money. A report last week said that an arrest warrant was issued for Banton in Jamaica so police could question him about the attacks. In addition to being banned and his concerts being nixed, gay rights groups put pressure on German sportswear company Puma, who agreed to cancel sponsorship deals with Banton and other artists if they violate the company’s non-discrimination policy. Banton just released a new single, "Magic City," from his forthcoming album Rasta Got Soul.

Miller Brewing Apologizes To African-Americans, Announces Concert With Wyclef & Others

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 22, 2004

Miller Brewing Company announced a two-day concert highlighting the contributions of African-Americans in Rock & Roll music, amidst criticism of a commemorative can series honoring 50 years of rock & roll music that only featured white artists. Wyclef Jean, Bo Diddley, James Brown, Lenny Kravitz and others will participate in an end of the summer concert, the culmination of the promotion. “Miller Brewing Company sincerely apologizes to the African-American community, to music fans and to our valued consumers for this occurrence,” the company said in a statement. “African Americans obviously have played a formative role in the development of rock ‘n roll, and despite our efforts, we did not manage this component of the promotion appropriately. The eight-can series is collaboration with Rolling Stone magazine. The beer cans feature cover images from the weekly publication. The promotion started in May with images of Elvis Presley, Rick Nelson, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Alice Cooper and Blondie on the beer cans. The other two images are guitars. Marketing executives for Miller and Rolling Stone both agreed that business and not race played a factor in the glaring omissions. "On the marketing side, anything we do with these covers, we need the artist’s permission,” Gary Armstrong, chief marketing officer for Wenner Media, which publishes Rolling Stone, told MTV. “Jimi Hendrix’s estate declined participation. Some artists wanted fees, and we weren’t paying people to participate. Some had rehab issues, and they didn’t want to align with an alcohol product." Miller said that cans are just one part of a multi-pronged campaign and that other events pay proper tribute to African-American artists. “We took a hard look at the situation and realize where we fell short,” Virgis Colbert, Miller’s executive vice president of worldwide operations said. “You can count on Miller to step up."

Hip-Hop Summit Honors MD. Republican Governors, Says St. Louis Summit Biggest Ever

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 21, 2004

Russell Simmons’ Hip-Hop Summit Action Network announced that the St. Louis, Missouri Hip-Hop Summit was the most successful ever, registering over 100,000 new voters. Nelly, Jadakiss, Rev Run, D12, Lazy Bone, Remy Martin and others spoke to more than 5,000 people who showed up for the summit. Organizers said they registered 114,000 new voters. In addition to the registrations, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network honored Maryland’s Republican Governor Robert Ehrlich and Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, also a Republican, for their work on the drug laws in Maryland and their efforts to improve businesses in the African-American community. “In addition to registering a record number of voters, we honored them for changing the harsh laws in Maryland and for installing programs that uplift black businesses in the state,” Simmons told AllHipHop.com. Earlier in the day before accepting HSAN’s honor, Steele, who is African-American, addressed other African-American Missouri Republicans. "For most of the 20th century, civil rights was the singular focus," Steele told the Associated Press. "That struggle is over … It’s now about economic and political empowerment. My parents were FDR Democrats. We had the [John F.] Kennedy portrait on the wall. But Ronald Reagan spoke to me. I found [the GOP] just fit once I matured politically." In April, Gov. Ehrlich and Lt. Gov. Steele passed landmark legislation that will dedicate ten percent of Maryland’s contracting dollars for small and minority businesses. Last month, Ehrlich established the Maryland State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, by executive order. Maryland will now coordinate efforts to prevent, evaluate and treat drug and alcohol abuses in the state as an alternative to incarceration. The honors also come on the heels of Simmons’ victory in Albany, New York Supreme Court, where he and Hip-Hop Summit Action network CEO Dr. Benjamin Chavis were locked in a battle with the lobbying commission over a protest of the laws last year. The State Lobbying Commission was investigating Simmons and Chavis for failing to disclose the costs of their anti-Rockefeller Drug Law really in June of 2003, in front of City Hall in Manhattan. Under Executive Director David Grandeau, the State Lobbying Commission frequently targeted groups, looking for violations of state lobbying laws. The Supreme Court ruled that the lobbying laws are unconstitutional and that Simmons is guaranteed a right to protest, protected by the First Amendment in the Constitution of the United States. On August 30, Simmons and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network will hold another anti-Rockefeller Drug Law rally, the same day as the Republican National Convention. Simmons said it would be “the biggest Hip-Hop gathering ever.””The Democrats do not own Hip-Hop,” Simmons said. “They rarely discuss poverty in a meaningful way. I found John Kerry’s speech at the Democratic National Convention offensive to millions of poor black, white and brown Americans who are struggling in this country.”

Alkaholiks Retiring After Upcoming Album

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 20, 2004

The Alkaholiks, which comprise of group members E-Swift, Tash and J-Ro, have announced that their upcoming album Firewater will be the last in a prolific career. "It’s the right time to go out with a bang," E-Swift said. "Knowing it’s our last album has made us much more focused, knowing we have to sum it all up right here, right now and the feeling is great. We owe it to the fans to put everything into one last album and blow it up." Firewater will be the group’s fifth album. Group member Tash said that many things had changed since the group was founded in 1992. "We’ve been doing this music together as a group for a long time,” Tash added. “And times are changing, the world is changing, our lives are changing. We have been party animals for over a decade. [It’s] always a good thing to bow out gracefully and exit on top." In addition to the Firewater album slated for release in early 2005, the group will release a best of CD music and video collection titled Mixed Drinks in 2005. A farewell party tour is in the works as well. "We all have different goals and things we want to do as individuals. So it only makes sense for us to move forward and find new challenges" said J-Ro. "I want to travel the world a little bit, find some new things to sign, new things to produce as well as do my solo album, but with a new world of influences. It’s an exciting time for all three of us." While the group is in retirement, Waxploitation CEO Jeff Antebi said that fans can expect each member to produce music in the future. "It’s the end of an era in some ways. But it’s important to close one door before they can open another one", explained Waxploitation CEO Jeff Antebi. "E-Swift is going to do a joint E-Swift & Madlib album for 2005 as well as finally produce the debut Likwit Crew album. Tash is preparing the follow up to his Rap Life CD and J Ro is putting together his solo album. This is the right move for them creatively and it’s very good news for Hip-Hop because it means more music." Firewater will drop in early 2005 on Waxploitation Records/Koch.

Bloodline Records Taps UK Talent

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 20, 2004

DMX’s label Bloodline Records is increasing their international efforts and is aiming to recruit talented rappers from England. The label recently held an open mic contest at the West End’s Mean Fiddler. The sessions were filmed and executives from the label will come back to the United States to judge the rappers and pick a winner. Ten rappers will be selected to appear on an upcoming Bloodline mixtape, while one lucky winner will be flown to New York to record for an upcoming Bloodline compilation, which is will be released later this year. Representatives also said DMX would make a guest appearance at the Notting Hill Carnival at Kentish Town Forum, which takes place August 29th and August 30th. In related news, DMX will headline a concert at the Brown County Veterans Memorial on September 24th. Chicago’s Do or Die, Petey Pablo and Devante will also perform.

Texas DJ Arrested In Lil’ Jon Scam

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 20, 2004

Police have arrested a suspect they believed pulled off a scam that duped hundreds of people out of a Lil’ Jon concert in Fargo, North Dakota. Scott Elkins, 31, was arrested on felony theft charges on Wednesday. Police said Elkins is a former radio DJ from Texas known as Hollywood Haze. Police tracked Elkins’ credit card to a Nebraska hotel and found him with $500 in cash and evidence that indicated he planned the scam in other cities. Lil’ Jon said that he had no knowledge of the scam, but assured fans that when an offical show was booked on his behalf, he always shows up. "I just want to tell our fans we love them," Lil’ Jon told AllHipHop.com. "If we say we are going to do something, we gonna do it." Officials believe that Elkins impersonated a representative for Lil’ Jon using the alias “Peter Schwartz” and scammed fans out of $12,000 in ticket sales. Police said Elkins insisted that Lil’ Jon was coming to Fargo, claiming that he could call the mysterious “Peter Schwartz” and have the whole issue put to rest. Employees at stores where tickets were sold picked Elkins out of a police lineup and identified him as the man who pulled up in a white limousine to collect the tickets proceeds. Officials stated they would prosecute Elkins to the legal limits of the law.

Lord Have Mercy: It Was Written

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: FeaturesAugust 19, 2004

Don’t make me angry. You won’t like me when I’m angry. Bruce Banner was famous for uttering this preemptive catch phrase before he morphed from a harmless nondescript white dude into the raging beast known as the Incredible Hulk. Four years removed from his stint with the Flip Mode Squad, stripped of an Elektra Records recording contract, and with an unheard “The Ungodly Hour” LP sitting on a shelf in a label office somewhere, Lord Have Mercy has a lot to be angry about. And so Lord Have preps the baking New York City summer streets for his new street album, Runaway Slave- released through his self-distributed Sword and Shield Records- with all intensive purposes of addressing the whispers, and unleashing the inner beast that has been raging inside him after years of paying dues. Allhiphop caught up with Lord Have Mercy on the eve of Runaway Slave’s release to talk to him about his feelings towards the industry, the new street album, and why he left the Flip Mode Squad. The hip hop Incredible Hulk is in the building! Allhiphop: So tell me about what you’ve been up to since you’ve been away? LHM: Really since the date of my release, January 15, 2000, I’ve been building my own. I ran around with this “platinum” rapper and that “platinum” rap crew. Everybody I dealt with was always the premier, the elite of the time, so I learned my lessons by watching them make the mistakes that they made. I was ultimately building the right vehicle for what I do in particular. I’m a certain type of dude, I always knew artistically what I wanted to do, I just needed to be in an environment that was going to move toward that goal, so four years later we have Sword and Shield Records. Allhiphop: For the people who don’t know, explain how your situation went down as far as leaving Flipmode? LHM: Well at the end of the day, I’m not a professional homeboy. I don’t share the lead and they knew who I was because my name and what I do speaks for itself. Everyone knows who Lord Have is, what he has, and what he’s built. What I’m doing is not equipped to fit anybody else, but me. I’m the hamburger, they’re the French fries. The way I’m building it is either you’re at my level or you’re above my level. Ice-pirate is my executive producer, he’s my Dr. Dre. He’s produced major records for me, and is to a certain degree above my level because I can’t produce like him. The Flip Mode situation, by now the world sees what Flip Mode is, and it is what it is. In a nutshell, I’m my own person, I do what I do like I want to do it. As I said I’m not a cheerleader, I’m not a homeboy. I’m Lord Have Mercy, that’s what I do. It’s time for me to go ahead, be the man, and do what I do, it was always like that anyway. I mean, you know me to a degree so you know I’m a humble guy, but from day one, every MC I’ve been around has been afraid of me. Point blank. A lot of times people come up to me saying “You don’t realize how many fans you’ve got.” I’m not really even focusing on that, and still I’ve got people that have more than me and they’re afraid of me, that just wasn’t for me. Allhiphop: I just want to backtrack a little, because you talked about being on tour and not really being with Flipmode, so how did you get down with them in the first place? LHM: Well Busta is from around my way and we had a few people we both knew. The producer Backspin, well, Leaders of the New School was his group and he was working with Rampage. Then one of the people that I knew from around my way, him and Busta were in elementary school together so they went back. They would always talk about me because I’m very elusive if you don’t know what I look like and you don’t know me you’re not going to be able to talk to me because I don’t move like that. I’m not an industry person. I was messing with another group that’s washed up now, but was very hot at the time. My man called me over…. Allhiphop: So how close a friendship did you and Busta have? LHM: Umm, friendship is a very strange word because nobody in this s### is friends. If you meet someone in this music business he’s not your friend. I take that word real serious because I know people that died over thinking someone was their friend. He and I are cool and on paper we’re almost the same s###, he’s like a year and ten days older than me. We have a lot in common. A lot of similarities and me and him are cool, but he’s not like me. I can’t push someone to be something he’s not, and vice versa. If you ain’t MOP, Sword and Shield, and we ain’t doing no music together, you could be on fire and I wouldn’t p### on you. I’d go across the street and sell marshmallows. Allhiphop: So why have you been away so long? Lord Have Mercy: A lot of different reasons, I had to take off for personal time because I’ve been doing this since 92. I had 7 years, no vacation. I had people die in my family and I wouldn’t go to the funerals. I would just say ok give me two more songs and I’ll send money. I did a lot of things to make sure I did this the way it’s supposed to get done and subsequently my personal life suffered. Also Sword and Shield Records is the last place for me and whatever happens, happens. I’m not signing anywhere else, […]

AHH Stray News: Too Phat, Mos Def, American Eagle, HSAN

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 19, 2004

Russell Simmons and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) won a victory yesterday (August 18th), when a judge ruled that part of New York’s lobbying law was unconstitutional. Simmons and Dr. Ben Chavis, were being investigated over money spent during a 2003 rally against the Rockefeller Drug Laws. The commission claimed HSAN was acting as a lobby group, while HSAN argued they were exercising their rights to free speech. The state expects to appeal the decision. Malaysian Hip-Hop Artist Joe Flizzow will make his United States debut at the 3rd Annual Dragon’s Roar Music and Arts Showcase Festival on Friday September 17. The event is taking place at one of Hollywood’s well known venues, “The Sunset Room” “Too Phat offers a very refreshing genre of music which is gradually accepted by fans. Coupled with their success in Malaysia, we think there is a good potential for the band here,” Said Valerie Lim, Managing Director, EMI Music Singapore Mos Def will perform a unique show next week as part of a concert series being promoted by popular New York nightspot, Joe’s Pub. Mos Def’s Big Band will play on August 27th at the Delacorte Theatre in New York’s Central Park. Reports said Mos Def will showcase material from Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Gil-Scott Heron and his own original compositions. Living Colour’s drummer Will Calhoun will serve as musical director. American Eagle Outfitters has hooked up with cutting edge acts from a variety of genre to support their latest marketing campaign, “AE Jeans Will Rock You.” The company is auctioning one-of-a-kind Gibson guitars that have been customized by such artists as D12, N.E.R.D., Danger Mouse, The Black Eyed Peas, Ima Robot and others. The bidding starts August 24th and ends September 2nd. All proceeds from the auction benefit VH1’s Save the Music Foundation.

Jay-Z Hits The Road For ‘Best of Both Worlds’ Tour With R.Kelly

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 19, 2004

Jay-Z and R. Kelly will revive their collaboration effort and will kick off the nationwide “Best of Both World’s” tour together on September 30. The tour kicks off in Chicago and will hit 40 cities in the United States before winding down in Phoenix, Arizona on November 28th. The “Best of Both Worlds” tour is Jay-Z’s first major outing since his “retirement” concert at Madison Square Garden in 2003. The combination of the two powerhouses in their respective genres is obvious – combined the pair have sold over 55 million records. The tour will also support R. Kelly’s 8th album, Happy People/U Saved Me, which hits stores on August 24. In April of 2002, Def Jam canceled all promotions surrounding the collaboration album, due to allegations that Kelly had sex with a minor. After having $100,000 press day at New York’s Waldorf Astoria that attracted Russell Simmons, Johnnie Cochran and Puff Daddy to name a few, the plug was been pulled to avoid any negativity being placed on one of Def Jam’s top artists. Jay-Z did not do any press with Kelly and had his picture removed from the Vibe magazine which featured R. Kelly on the cover. A complete itinerary of the tour was not available at press time.

Fans Of Lil Jon Duped In North Dakota

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 18, 2004

Fans of Lil’ Jon in Fargo, North Dakota, were duped out of a concert and money after a man falsely represented the rapper and promoted a phony concert. Fargo police are investigating a man they believe is responsible for the hustle, who called himself “Peter Schwartz” and billed himself as Lil’ Jon’s promoter. Police said fans purchased worthless tickets for $20 and $25 in advance, for a show at a local nightclub named Playmakers. Officials estimated that the man got away with over $12,000 in cash. Others who helped sell the tickets said that the scam artist was a seasoned veteran, who even arrived in a white limousine to collect the ticket revenue. After receiving the ticket proceeds, the man phoned the club and told them Lil’ Jon and the Eastside Boyz were stuck in an Omaha, Nebraska airport because the rapper didn’t have a picture ID. The rapper was in Omaha that night performing at the Qwest Center, but the next day he traveled to a concert in Denver, Colorado. When contacted, Lil’ Jon said the situation happens all the time.

Twip Hopes To Stir Up Controversy With New Video

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 18, 2004

Durham, North Carolina rapper Twip hopes to strengthen his buzz with the release of a single & video, “Back Drop.” The explicit video, in the same vein as Nelly’s Tip Drill & Ludacris’ “P-Poppin,” premieres tonight on BET’s “Uncut” video show. “If they aren’t talking about me already they will after they see this,” Twip told AllHipHop.com. The song on Twip, currently the focus of a bidding war between various labels, is preparing to release his album Louder Than Words. “Back Drop” is the toned down version, while “A** Drop” is the actual title of the song. The album features production by Megahertz, Midi Mafia and guest appearances by Lil’ Jon and fellow North Carolina rapper Petey Pablo.

Another Death For Ice-T’s Group Body Count

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 18, 2004

Body Count guitarist Dennis “D-Roc” Miles passed away yesterday morning (August 17) after a battle with a disease that attacked his lymph nodes and skin. Miles, a member of the group fronted by veteran rapper Ice-T, was suffering with mycosis fungoides, a disease that has no known cure. He passed away at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte California. According to Ice-T, death has been visiting the group often and is what has stopped Body Count from producing albums. “Body Count stopped because of death,” Ice-T told AllHipHop.com in December of 2003. “Beatmaster V, the drummer died of leukemia and Mooseman the bass player got killed in the hood just standing on the corner. He was in his neighborhood and n*ggas just rode up and blasted because he lives in a gang area and was at just wrong place wrong time. Having lost the two members we couldn’t get that chemistry with new players, so it just took a while and then also the world got kind of complacent. The war kind of brought back that energy we needed for Body Count to exist. It’s an aggressive band and I’m singing about sh*t . When everybody happy and bling blinging and spinning their rims we sound a little angry.” The band has replaced Miles with Bendrix Williams, who has worked with such acts as Macy Gray and Pitch Black. Body Count is working on Murder for Hire, their first album in seven years, titled Murder for Hire.