Grouchy Greg

Plug Pulled On DMX Concert

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsOctober 2, 2003

Authorities in the U.K. canceled a concert by DMX, claiming they were afraid the show could spark violence in the crowd. The event was scheduled to take place Monday, October 6th at the City Hall. Promoters had made plans to search patrons for guns, knives and drugs, but officials said that would not be enough to allow DMX to perform. Another U.K. act, Dizzee Rascal was slated to open for DMX. Earlier in this year, Dizzee was stabbed five times in Cyprus resort of Ayia Napa. Sources said that the stabbing was related to an ongoing feud with rival So Solid Crew. "Management at the City Hall made the joint decision along with the promoters that this concert should not go ahead," Jo Barnes, general manager of Sheffield City Hall told The Star. "Initial discussions with the promoters of this concert and South Yorkshire Police led us to feel that it would be prudent to put on extra security for this one evening. As this was not set in place, we felt that as a public venue the safety of our visitors must come first and that without the added safety of extra security the show must be canceled." Dizzee Rascal was awarded the Mercury music prize for his debut album Boy in Da Corner.

Why Vote? An Open Letter To Cali Hip Hop

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: UncategorizedOctober 2, 2003

The debate comes up time and time again. Why vote? Nothing seems to matter, and politics are corrupt. Besides, our voices don’t make a difference anyway, right? Wrong. Our voices absolutely make a difference, and they are needed more than ever right now. Aside from the fact that people died during the Civil Rights Era to allow us the ability to vote, the situation in politics is so grave right now that I believe our immediate objective should be to remove and/or keep the worst-case scenarios from office, rather than focus on putting the best folks in. Ordinarily I would hold out and vote for the candidate that best reflects my beliefs. But in this instance, desperate times call for desperate measures. Conservatives vote, often as a unified force, and rarely is their collective voice as splintered as that of progressives. This lack of focus serves to weaken significant opposition to the conservative agenda. I believe that in this instance, we, as those seeking change, must adjust accordingly. Sure there are people who exist who closely echo the sentiments of many of us. But can they really win this time, given their inadequate funding and relatively low profiles? And can we afford to waste votes in this climate where we’ve seen the results of a worst-case scenario (Bush)? Like it or not, voters who embrace a moderate platform are needed to ensure the success of both the progressive and conservative agendas, respectively. And like it or not, the truth is that there are differences–major differences–between the main political parties (i.e. Supreme Court Nominations). Am I beholden to democrats? Absolutely not. But I’ll take them over republicans any day, as long as things exist the way they do. Read on. The fact that the media has [http://www.guerrillafunk.com/thoughts/doc1067.html] decidedly conservative bias is what tilts most in the middle towards conservatism. It’s easier for the average, no-opinion-having, non-reading American to parrot the Newspeak on everychannel USA then it is for them to do independent research and analyze information on their own. But given the state of the [http://www.guerrillafunk.com/general_info/economy9_26.html] economy and the fact that global war is being waged on people of color for [http://www.guerrillafunk.com/thoughts/doc2846.html ] profit, it’s necessary for us to develop our own strategies. The effectiveness of the agenda of the conservative political base has been their success in generating confusion and spreading misinformation, thereby making many of us so disillusioned with the system that we refuse to participate in it. We’ve come to believe that things will never really change no matter what we do. This belief often allows the very small percentage of people who vote to shape policies, and thus control the destinies of the larger collective. It’s all really quite easy for them to accomplish through the propaganda they release on outlets they manipulate. In fact, let’s dissect an example of this propaganda. Yesterday, a story ran showing that CNN Gallop polls say [http://www.guerrillafunk.com/general_info/arnie.html] Things Look Good for Schwarzenegger." The story ran all over the media–so much so, in fact, that it seemed as though the media had it’s own agenda. He was on every television news program and on the cover of every daily. View this in contrast to the coverage of Bush’s recent [http://www.guerrillafunk.com/general_info/admission.html] admission that there exists no concrete link between Saddam and 9/11, an obviously much more newsworthy story in light of the fact we’re killing–and being killed–on a daily basis in Iraq. What admission, you say? The one that was all but swept under the rug. The one that flies in the face of the administration’s objectives and official story up to this point. The one that was too much truth for the public, I guess… But back to the poll. Did they ask you any questions? No? They didn’t? Well guess what, they didn’t poll me either, or anyone I know. And where did they poll these mystery folks, and how many did they poll? Most of the polls are between 500 and 1000 people. This is significant because, at least as far as this instance is concerned, there are 37,000,000 people in California. These polls are definitely not representative of the entire voice of the state. Understand that the media can craft the desired results of these polls by selectively choosing their polling demographic – if they even conduct the poll at all (who knows?). For example, if I go into Oakland or Hunter’s Point in the San Francisco Bay Area and ask 1000 residents what the number one problem in their community is that they’d like to see addressed, it’d be safe to assume that black-on-black crime would be at the top of the list. But pose that same question to residents in Simi Valley, California and the answer would be completely different – probably something along the lines of complaints about property taxes or excessive real estate expansion. The more the media clouds the issues, the easier it is for conservatives (people who actually band together and vote) to shape policy. But why complain? Does it really do any good? Well, more often than not, it doesn’t. But voting does, if enough people do it. The problem is that we’ve effectively been led to believe that we can’t make a difference on an individual level. Of course, the media doesn’t help. They tell us that the electoral process is corrupt, and they rarely provide adequate and equal coverage of all of the candidates and their respective positions. So that leaves it up to us. The fact is, if more of us became involved, minor snafus in the system wouldn’t matter as much. But they matter greatly when candidates run neck-and-neck and the margin of error is as slim as it’s been in recent elections. Add to this the element of celebrity and the dynamic of everything changes completely. Conservatives like to say that although Americans have the right of free speech, celebrities should "keep their pie-holes shut," since they not only aren’t knowledgeable enough to be in politics, but […]

Rev Run To Head Up Phat Farm Athletics

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsOctober 1, 2003

Joseph "Reverend Run" Simmons has been named President of Phat Farm Athletics after heading up Phat Farm Footwear, a division of Phat Farm. The division of the company, which is owned by his brother Russell, raked in more that $170 million in sales of athletic gear in nine months under Run’s guidance. "I go to the office everyday and I never thought that I was the office type," Run told AllHipHop.com. "When I got there, Russell had a sneaker company that had about 10 sneakers out that weren’t doing anything. When I arrived, Jesus put the sneakers on and the company is now worth a hundred million dollars in under 9 months." Simmons said that the success of the shoe was in part due to the extensive traveling that was done promoting "economic justice" at his brother’s various Hip-Hop Summits, which took place in Detroit, Philadelphia and Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to the Phat Classic The Replay and the Rev-1 sneaker lines that are available from the company, Simmons said that a new sneaker will be introduced shortly, the Run-Tek. "This is all really exciting when you think about it. I always tell Russell Jesus got his sneakers on." Simmons announced his retirement from Run-DMC after the murder of Jam Master Jay in October of 2002. "I used the wisdom of Jesus to help cope with the death of Jam Master Jay," Run continued. "I am truly saved and born again and I am very happy that I landed safely on my feet."

Memphis Bleek Prep’s Third Album

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsOctober 1, 2003

Memphis Bleek, the first artist signed to the Roc-A-Fella label, is preparing to release his third solo album, M.A.D.E. The album title stands for Money, Attitude, Direction and Education. The release sees the return of Bleek, who took a hiatus after a motorcycle accident almost took the life of his older brother in Miami. Roc-A-Fella’s head engineer, Young Guru, as well as Kanye West and Just Blaze, accommodated Bleek by moving down to Miami, where Bleek recorded the majority album as he tended to his brother. The album includes Nate Dogg, Jay-Z, Trick Daddy, Donell Jones, Beanie Sigel and others. M.A.D.E. hits stores December 16.

Chuck D., LL Cool J Differ On File Trading

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsOctober 1, 2003

Rapper’s Chuck D. and LL Cool J both testified before a panel of Senators yesterday on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. The two rapper’s comments highlight how divided the entire music industry has grown in relation to peer to peer file sharing, the genie that Shawn Fanning’s Napster let out of the bottle, in 1999. Cool J sided with the industry, saying "when you do something, you should be compensated. If a contractor builds a building, should people be allowed to move into it for free just because he’s successful?" Cool J said that he supported independent artists’ decision to distribute music over these far reaching networks, but said that the majority of the artists want to be compensated for their works. "America is a country where the entrepreneurial spirit is everywhere. The real question is should you be compensated for your work or not." Chuck D., who was one of the first artists to distribute a commercial release over the net with Public Enemy’s There’s A Poison Going On, called the peer to peer networks "new accessible radio." Chuck D., who split with Def Jam due to creative differences, said that he never felt that his copyrights were protected by the industry in the first place. "I trust the consumer more than I trust the people at the helm of these (recording) companies," Chuck D. said. "As far as rock ‘n’ roll, blues licks were taken from the Mississippi Delta without authorization, so people can spend $180 to check out the Rolling Stones do it all over again. So the record industry is hypocritical." But Mitch Bainwol, the Chairman and CEO of Recording Industry Association of America, insisted that consumer downloading on the Internet was the reason for the music industry’s tailspin. "The root cause for this drastic decline in record sales is the astronomical rate of music piracy on the Internet," Bainwol said. "Computer users illegally download more than 2.6 billion copyrighted files (mostly recordings) every month. At any given moment, well over five million users are online offering well over 1 billion files for copying through various peer-to-peer networks." Bainwol said that in the past three years, shipments of recorded music in the United States have fallen by 26 percent. Bainwol complained that the worldwide recording industry has fallen from a $40 billion dollar industry in 2000, to 32 billion in 2002. The RIAA announced yesterday that they would attempt to settle with consumers they find in violation of copyright laws relating to peer to peer file sharing, before filing lawsuits.

Peaches: Queen of Electro-Punk

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: AlternativesOctober 1, 2003

This is a trite bit personal. Peaches? She is simply fu**ing amazing. I was first introduced to her music from my co-worker at the office. I couldn’t believe my ears. She was saying all the stuff that my mouth wanted to say. Making songs that my ears always wanted to hear. Peaches is musical liberation at it’s best. She makes it ok to cuss at random, to talk about sex without, or to clutch your crouch and to shake it all night long. And no she’s not a rapper. She a white girl from Toronto, Canada and armed with her Roland MC-505 beat machine, monster plastic hands, and pink booty shorts she is Thee Queen of the Electro-Punk circuit. And, oddly enough, she was working with impressionable kids in a drama/music program that she helped to initiate. But she is not only a rock star. This one is also a Super 8 film junkie. A visit to her website, (www.peachesrocks.com), and you find an assortment of mini music videos that Peaches shot. She started making movies back in 1999 when she put together and erotic biker flick called “Chromezone XXX” for a Super 8 film festival in Toronto. The festival asked her to make the movie then perform live while the movie played. She then teamed with her friend Kara Blake took the films and picked songs from the “Teaches of Peaches” album and made them into videos. These Super 8 videos got heavy rotation on German MTV and other networks. Peaches got her musical start over in Europe touring with her buddy Gonzales. Peaches won over audiences with her raunchy lyrics and infectious slightly hip-hop based beats. Peaches soon landed in Berlin, and was picked up by the Kitty-Yo Record label and released an EP entitled “Lovertits” in 2000. Gaining popularity all over Europe, Peaches and the Kitty-Yo label released Teaches of Peaches album. Peaches produced and recorded every track on the album. The album took off like crazy and was heard at fashion shows and lesbian bars all over the world. Yes, Peaches is a lesbian icon to. Now it’s 2003 and Peaches is set to release her new album FatherF**ker. The album is twelve tracks of pure Electro-Punk genius. The album starts off with an updated version of Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation,” but Peaches pounds her own twist up in it. Most notable track is the duet “Kick It” with rock legend Iggy Pop. Iggy and Peaches together on a track is something that can’t be Described you just have to hear it. Another must hear track is “Shake Ya Dix,” which is certain to be a club anthem at all the punk bars and college raves. So are you mother fu**ers ready for the father fu**ers? Allhiphop.com Alternatives: How did you get the name Peaches? Peaches: I picked the name because of Nina Simone. She has this song called “Four Women.” I didn’t think I was the women in the song but she describes four women and after each women she says “and they call her” and she says the name. At the end of the song the last women she says, ” and what do they call her, they call her Peaches,” and the way she said was like so cool I wanted her to sing it to me. I was like Oh Nina Sing to me. So ever sense then I took on that name. Allhiphop.com: What do you like most about performing live? Peaches: Just that there’s crazy energy and anything can happen. Like maybe my album I’m giving a 100% but on stage I’m giving 300%. It’s like no stopping me. I’m on the crowd the whole time. AHHA: What’s one of the craziest events that have happened to you while performing? Peaches: Crazy events happen to me all the time performing. People show their bits and pieces all the time. I sing “Shake Ya Dix” and guys will pull down their pants and shake it at me. I’ve had nine girls get on stage and take their tops off and dance around me. AHHA: Do you have a big lesbian following? Peaches: Yea I have a huge lesbian problem. When I played in Olympia, Washington, that’s like lesbian central, they all crowded me there was no stage they just jumped up and down the whole time. AHHA: Are there any artists out there that you want to work with? Peaches: Yeah just two, Iggy Pop and Joan Jett and I worked with them on my new album. I’d like to work with Missy Elliot and but I don’t know anybody who wouldn’t so ill just get in line.

Matthew Hall Remembered

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: UncategorizedOctober 1, 2003

The death of Matthew Hall has been widely publicized lately by the media circuits here in New York and there have been numerous despicable assertions, which are trying tarnish his legacy. He was a good friend to me so please read this first if you will write a news article about him. If you are not planning to write one, I encourage you to because the media has been portraying Hiphop, the followers of Hiphop, and progressive elements (particularly the Zulu Nation) as negative influences to society in this incident. Matthew Hall is known as Optimus Rhyme in the underground Hiphop scene here in New York. As you may probably have heard, he was a member of the Zulu Nation founded by Afrika Bambaata. He was also a member of the amazing break dancing crew Motion Sickness. Although he performed poetry numerous times, he was more known in the New York open mic scene for his freestyles. As a matter of fact, he was 2nd runner-up on the freestyle competition at the first ever Hip-Hop Summit of Russell Simmons when it was held at Riverside Church, Manhattan. Recently, the NYPD has been implicating his Zulu brethrens as his shooter. The Zulu Nation is a movement that promotes peace, equality, spirituality and justice and in no way did advocate violence or racism which the media has been implying. I have talked with his Zulu brothers and they have informed me about the disgusting strategies the NYPD has been imposing on them such as coercing them to give false testimonies. His Zulu brothers are greatly devastated and are mentally and emotionally tortured because aside from Matt’s departure, they have now become suspects (because they would not oblige to the demands of NYPD like lying). Although I am not a Zulu, I can personally attest that it was not a Zulu who was behind Matt’s death—Matt was even wearing an “I LOVE ZULU” shirt when he was shot. The NY Post particularly has been spreading atrocious lies suggesting that Matt provoked a physical altercation that led to the shooting. But anybody and I mean ANYBODY THAT KNEW MATT knows that he would not instigate such incident. In my years of knowing him, I have never even seen him close to getting mad even during the time when he was harassed by security personnel at Hunter College when he organized a free show. Matt was also politically active. He was involved with the political organizations Refuse and Resist (www.refuseandresist.org) and Not in Our Name (www.notinourname.net). He was a strong advocate for the liberation of Palestine and the elimination of the oppressive social system. Matt played critical roles on the October 6, 2002 rally in Central Park (which was attended by 30,000 people), November 20, 2002 student walk out converging at Union Square and the February 15, 2003 rally in New York City where conservative estimates was at 500,000 but perhaps had 2 million people. He lived what he preached. In my recent visit to his building after he passed away, a worker in his building showed me a book by Gore Vidal Matt gave him to clarify the worker’s disillusioned thoughts on American politics. Events have been organized to commemorate his legacy. On Tuesday, September 30, students of Hunter College are having a memorial (6pm @ Room 105 Thomas Hunter Bldg.). October 7, Guerilla Words (a monthly open mic which Optimus used to help promote, 213 2nd Ave corner 13th St.-8pm) will dedicate the October open mic to Optimus Rhyme. Cajo Communications is organizing a October 29th show with numerous artists (Immortal Technique, C-Rayz Walz, L.I.F.E. Long, Oktober and possibly dead prez to name a few) at Lion’s Den (214 Sullivan St.) for him. Act Your Rage, a defunct monthly open mic Optimus hosted twice (he hosted the last one), will be revived to be held outdoors but specific information are not yet available. 99.5 Pacifica Radio and End of the Weak’s radio show gave tribute to Optimus. Once again, the NYPD has shown incompetence and impatience to the point that they are ruining the lives of Matthew’s friends. Once again, corporate media’s thirst for profit (by writing burlesque articles to draw readers and viewers) is damaging an innocent man’s name. To describe Matt is beyond adjectives so I guess when people ask me to describe him; I always have a hard time to. To name a few descriptions fitting to him, he was definitely smart (reflected by his GPA) he was definitely caring (proven by his works) and he was definitely responsible (balancing his studies and school activities, work, healthy social life and political involvement). I am not just saying this because he passed away; I am saying this because it is the truth. On behalf of the mourners of Matt who wish the truth to be known, thank you for reading this letter.

J.Period And Big Daddy Kane: Nuff Respect Due

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: FeaturesOctober 1, 2003

Most mixtape DJ’s these days are overly concerned with the future: breaking new songs, new artists, new beefs. Occasionally, a posthumous blessing from a late MC may make the mix. Otherwise, expect nothing from yesterday. A Brooklyn DJ with the capability to be a mega-bomb dropper, opted to do otherwise. In June, DJ J Period released a mixtape chronicling the immense career of hip-hop’s most stylish innovator, Big Daddy Kane. The mix not only features Kane’s well known hits, but also the better efforts of his later work mixed and remixed to sound so sweet. If that weren’t enough, J Period added an exclusive unreleased Nas collaboration, as well as rare freestyles and Juice Crew cyphers. You’d need to rob a milk truck alone to hold the records that J Period used to capture the man, the icon. This mix was so tight that we at AllHipHop had to shine some light on it. We chopped it up with J Period on the elements of a quality mix, the reason behind his efforts, and much much more. If that wasn’t enough, Big Daddy Kane came through to drop some knowledge of his own, and speak up about J’s efforts. Does AllHipHop represent for the DJ’s? Bet your Vestax. In terms of the art itself and not the image, Big Daddy Kane is arguably the most influential figure in the way MC’s recite their lines today. According to J Period, thorough Brooklyn resident, "Kane influenced Biggie, he influenced Jay-Z, just in terms of their lyrical styles. But he doesn’t get the notoriety the others do. I haven’t been able to figure out why that is." True when spouting off your favorite rapper, do you really mention the Kane? You need to. J Period knew that, and it was part of his inspiration in making the mix: "Kane was one of my favorites growing up. I memorized every word and just knew him backwards and forwards. [Then] he kinda went off the radar for a while. I did this [mix], because I wanted cats to be like, ‘Oh s###, I forgot about Kane.’" But what exactly is it about Kane that caused such impact? We all have our own opinions. The man behind the mix, J Period provides his: "Kane is the combination of all the elements of hip-hop in one MC. He can do it hardcore and raw. He can [also] do a smooth, pimped out style [too.]" It can also be the fact that the mix equally portrays Kane’s dedication to providing the audience with a distinct message. At times, Kane breathed words of encouragement to the Black community. Other times, it was peace and positivity. But don’t get too coy rudeboy, ‘cuz Kane was more than capable of rhyming out a blueprint to just he thoroughly he could get up in that ass. All of these messages and styles are organized and demonstrated on J’s mix. The motivation for the mix came in two parts. While J Period would’ve likely done this anyway, he was approached by Lyricist Lounge to make the mix for the Big Daddy Kane tour. While many "Best of" mix CD’s seem to benefit the DJ and not the artist, Big Daddy Kane himself says otherwise of this mix: "I truly believe that it does benefit me. There’s a younger generation out there buying mixtapes. I made a whole lot of songs. This [mix] is giving cats not familiar with my work a chance to hear it. Stuff you not gonna hear on radio stations." Kane’s right, and this mix is hitting the hands of a whole new demographic. If the word of mouth benefit weren’t enough, J Period went a step further: "Out of respect to Kane, I sent him a couple hundred CD’s to do with what he pleases. So he can make a couple G’s. I don’t know if other mixtape DJ’s do that, and honestly, I don’t care." Actions like these are living proof to the lost belief that there is generosity and compensation left in hip-hop. Are other DJ’s really keeping it fair? If they were, why would this sound so unique. Still, in classic Kane style, when asked what he thought of the action, and if he was pushing the CD’s, Kane smoothly stated as he chuckled: "The CD’s still sitting in the crib." Clearly, you ain’t gonna catch King Asiatic on Canal Street. So that leaves the mix itself to question: what makes it good? First of all, by ‘Best Of’, this is not simply a greatest hits collection. Instead, J Period cataloged the entire Kane career, including things us lightweights overlooked. With some help from Q-Unique of the Rocksteady Crew, almost every Kane drop was accounted for. From the solo records, to the guest spots, to Juice Crew cutouts, and one moment in particular that touched Kane: "He put the whole version of the Madison Square Garden with Biggie and ‘Pac on there. Other people have used it and only used other n##### parts, and that’s my show! That was real love." See, even Funkmaster Flex and Big Kap need to re-look the Kane. And speaking of that freestyle, J remixed it with some Neptunes jams that will leave you handicapped. Another highlight of the mix that cannot be ignored is the Nas feature. While many say that G Rap was the most obvious influence on Nas, J Period left us with questions. On the classic, "Young Gifted and Black" you’ll hear Nasty Nas rip it on time, and with good reason. "I heard this [rare] Nas freestyle that just fit. He was rhyming over [Kane’s beat] and into a Biz beat. I felt whatever the vibe Nas was on when he [spit] that freestyle, it fit." The collaboration comes so smooth that you’ll swear it was intended that way. These two tracks are just faces in a crowd of flavorful cuts. J Period updated a lot of the sounds, and this mix serves as a moment […]

Pigeon John is Dating Your Sister

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / MusicOctober 1, 2003

Artist: Pigeon JohnTitle: Pigeon John is Dating Your SisterRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jason Newman Judging by the album title and cover photo-former L.A. Symphony member Pigeon John opening a white picket fence with flowers in his hand-one would expect to hear a rapper spit lighthearted, goofy rhymes over fun, circus-esque beats. Deep thought and seriousness are better left to other rappers, right? Wrong. On Pigeon John is Dating Your Sister, his second solo album, the West coast underground MC skillfully balances the lighthearted part of his personality with his desire to talk about real issues affecting him and his peers. What sets PJ apart from other deep rappers is his ability to sound profound without coming off as preachy or whiny, as on Identity Crisis when he rhymes, Dancing and acting a fool and stuff/But in the back of their mind, is it all a bluff?/Am I doin all of this just to cover it up?/All of my insecurities is hovering up. Somewhat paradoxically, his confidence in his lack of confidence is displayed without sounding cocky, a rare feat in the current hip-hop world. Most of the beats were produced by PJ himself (with the notable exception of the DJ Rhettmatic-produced Originalz), who relies heavily on dark synth melodies that owe more to 80s British gloom-rockers Joy Division than any modern beatmaker. PJ the producer is not afraid to showcase his non-rap influences and those songs are the standouts on the album. Songs like the wistful, laid-back Emily, which samples Scottish underground rockers Mogwai and the psychedelic epic What is Love? are proof that you dont need expensive equipment to be creative. The latter, with its multi-part, anthemic quality, is what the experimental side of Lennon/McCartney might write if they were hip-hop heads. What is Love? is also the best example of an oft-overlooked part of rap: the sung chorus. Of course, no one can take away what Premier did for the genre with his heavily-imitated style of scratching up vocal samples, but PJ focuses on the more musical side of the chorus and his genuinely mellifluous voice is one of the reasons the hip-hop community should take note. Some may criticize, justifiably, PJs basic AABB flow on most songs. But what he may lose in a lack of complex rhyme scheme, he makes up for on lyrics, original beats and an understanding that hip-hop can encompass many different genres. Pigeon John will be performing as part of the Cali Comm 2003 with Grouch & Eligh, Lyrics Born, Ugly Duckling and Abstract Rude kicking off Oct. 17th at the Colonial Theatre in Sacramento, CA.

The Highlite Zone

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / MusicOctober 1, 2003

Artist: The High & MightyTitle: The Highlite ZoneRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine The High & Mighty is one of hip-hops most well-respected crews. While they keep it defiantly underground, Mr. Eon and Mighty Mi have harbored an undying love for the hip-hop of yesterday thats reflected greatly in their music. Few realize that their 1999 full length debut, Home Field Advantage, was instrumental in making Rawkus a meaningful label. After MCA sugar-daddied Rawkus, High & Mighty returned to Philly to throttle Eastern Conference Records into a great indie. The label houses both new and veteran artists while being one of the most promotional-giving labels still in hip-hop. Its hard to believe E and Mi found time to drop their second full length LP. The Highlite Zone builds where the duo left off: lots of sports and old school hip-hop references mixed with cut and chop production. Right from the start, a much-needed, and very original track rests in Take it Off. Not about strippers, this track attacks the throw-back, or the imitators. After all, these two have been wearing old school jerseys as long as anybody. Another conversation-worthy track is How to Rob an Actor, which features Michael Rappaport lyrically attacking his peers. Adrien Brody was hurt, and he should be. Most of the tracks are true to Mr. Eons classic format of bragging, and throwing very original similes, punchlines and, of course, a lot of sexual content. Mighty Mi is one of hip-hops best producers. His efforts pay homage to the way hip-hop has always been made, while still adding appropriating innovations. While others have tried, Mighty Mi put Roots beat boxer Rahzels efforts to their best use in Rock the House. This track is energetic, fun, and tremendously old school. Also, like all the great DJ/producers, there is also provided a DJ cut with, Mighty Mi is Clickums. Unlike many, the production behind High & Mighty has always been created to sound really good in the box and remains one of their best attributes. While this album may lack the budget of the last, this record still suffices. Guest spots from Copywrite and Vast Aire work as well as most outside drops. High & Mighty have cultivated a unique and unchanging sound. If you liked it then, youll love it now.

Wooden Leather

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / MusicOctober 1, 2003

Artist: Nappy RootsTitle: Wooden LeatherRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Erin Jackson Nappy Roots 2002 debut, Watermelon, Chicken and Gritz, earned them critical acclaim, and with their sophomore release, Wooden Leather, they seem destined to follow in its successful footsteps. In todays hip hop game, where its often difficult to differentiate artists from their posses of nondescript homies, a successful multi-member group in which each emcee has his own distinct identity is quite rare. Wu Tang and ATLs Goodie Mob managed to do it effectively, but many others have fallen by the wayside (Best of luck to Bad Boy Records Da Band). Nappy Roots, however, have seemingly found the recipe for success. While their radio friendly first single gathers much airplay, its on Nappy Roots Day that the Grammy Award-nominated sextet lyrically explains their make up: One of ems fat and loud/Second ones black and proud/Third ones drunk and wild/Fourth ones slim and sly/One of ems just shy/Last ones young and wise/Home grown, battle tested/You gon love these guys. The rock-inspired War and Peace and the darker, more introspective These Walls, produced by Kanye West, show the groups diversity. On These Walls the group laments: Gettin it aint got a damn thing to do with keepin s###/ Working damn hard to get it/ Plans of not parting with it/ These walls are closing in/ How long am I supposed to grin/ Ive lost my will to win/ Forgive my sins. The Raphael Saadiq-produced tracks Leave This Morning and Work in Progress are also solid but not so impressive are Lac Dogs and Hogs and Twang. What Cha Gonna Do (The Anthem), produced by Lil Jon, shows promise at the beginning, but ultimately disappoints as it evolves into a facsimile of all of his other music. While repetitive, uncreative hooks may be the fad in popular southern hip-hop, they are beneath the Nappy Roots and out of place on this CD. Where the self-proclaimed Country Boys really shine is on the albums mellow cuts. Their Kentucky-fried lyrics over bass-heavy tracks, peppered with a few sick harmonica riffs and a mean acoustic guitar, make for some sure-fire radio hits. Sick and Tired, Push On and Light and Dark all featuring the rich, ol skool vocals of So So Defs Anthony Hamilton (who appeared on WMGs Grammy-nominated Po Folks) all show promise. They should talk to JD about adding that brotha to the group. The Nappy Roots have delivered another well-rounded album worthy of purchasing. Definitely on par, if not slightly better than its predecessor, Wooden Leather solidifies Nappy Roots place on the hip-hop scene.

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / MusicOctober 1, 2003

Artist: OutKastTitle: Speakerboxxx/The Love BelowRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: aqua boogie On Outkasts new double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below they take the bipolar nature of their music to the extreme; creating two separate solo albums. OutKast has always consisted of two separate, though kindred, personalities. As theyve grown artistically and as men, Antwan Big Boi Patton has solidified his rep as the Southern hustler with the sharp tongue while his partner Andre 3000 Benjamin continues to be the eccentric yet misunderstood poet laureate of the mixture. But, with the blatant musical split, does that make it a true OutKast album? The Love Below From the opening of Mr. 3000s disc, The Love Below (Intro) a showtunes inspired ditty, Andre is testing his crooning abilities. His urge to sing-think Frank Sinatra in cornrows-shouldnt be a surprise; he has been publicizing his intent of making a different album for a while. Andre is a grown ass man so if rapping doesnt do it for him anymore so be it, as long as its up to par with the body of work he has created so far; and it is. The lead singles; the atmospheric groover She Lives in My Lap or the electrical barn funk of Hey Ya! arent close to being the albums best cuts. That would be the celebratory Happy Valentines Day, where spry drums and addictive guitar licks are married to Dres sing song, spoken word delivery. When he does rap (three times over the entire album), his wit and wordplay is as fresh as ever. Such is the case with the sexually charged Spread where he kicks: F### the rhythm, tuck the rhythm, under your bosom/Youre the prism, Shirley Chisolm/Was the first, lets rehearse making a baby/Put in your order, I want a baby daughter/Dance on the time of my tongue/Shake the clouds til theres no more wetness in them/Tell your homegirls that you will send them/A postcard from 3000HARD! While some songs have a traditional R&B feel like the bouncy Behold a Lady, the majority of the albums lyrics seem to have origins stemming from his most personal poetry. Prototype with its slow dragging bass manifests his search for love in song and vocal guest spots from Kelis on Draculas Wedding and Norah Jones on Take Off Your Cool, help round out an impressive album from our odd dressing friend. The Love Below is Dres opportunity to fully explore topics (i.e. his inner demons and feelings) more thoroughly than he was able to in a group scenario due to the compromise necessary to make it work. Hip-hop music may not inspire Dre anymore, but its obvious that good music, in all its forms, always does and he continues to create it. Speakerboxxx While Andre 3000 is off experimenting, Big Bois disc sticks to the script, if there ever was one, that Outkast has followed to their success, Southern branded hip-hop funk, plain and simple. Its not just crunk, its more refined. Shuffling drums and horns make Bowtie (Sleepy Brown & Jazzy Pha) a gangsta mack anthem and The Way You Move is another winner due to its soulful instrumentation and the crooning of Sleepy Brown on its hook. But the stand out on this disc is The Rooster where female drama becomes a sonic party due to the tracks erupting horns, plodding bass and commandeering hook to match, Throw your neck out! Throw your back out! Big Boi has never been one dimensional, balancing his tales of debauchery with political and spiritual ruminations. On the Andre 3000 produced Church he contemplates on why we are all here and on War he calls out President Bushs shenanigans in Iraq. With many guests (Jay-Z and Killer Mike murder Flip Flop Rock and other appearances include Ludacris, Lil Jon & The Eatside Boyz and members of Goodie Mob) to hold him up in case he were to stumble-he doesnt-Big Boi still manages to keep this album his own. Speakerboxxx is a continuation and fine-tuning of the melding of hip-hop with funk, rock and anything in between that OutKast has trademarked in their phenomenal, near ten-year career. It makes his line, We never relaxin, Outkast is everlastin, off of The Way You Move truth rather than aspiration. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below Speakerboxxx/The Love Below leaves you feeling cheated not because of the music (yes, Dre is singing, get over it, tt least he can carry a note.), with both albums containing some of the best music released this year. But theories about how good a unified creation from the Aquarius and Gemini could have been will abound. Big Boi does make an appearance on The Love Below with a scathing verse aimed at money sniffing women on Roses while Dre has more of a presence on Bigs disc by contributing his production to three tracks. Venturing to the left, particularly Mr. 3000, when everyone expects you to go right might ostracize you from your contemporaries and fair-weather fans, but in this case, that diversion has led to more great music, which is what really matters.

Ishmael Butler : Cherrywine

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: AlternativesOctober 1, 2003

In the early nineties a young insect by the name of Butterfly founded an insect collective called the Digable Planets. With Ladybug and Doodlebug by his side, Butterfly had all us earthlings expressing how cool we were with the infectiously jazzy Cool Like Dat. The Digable Planets dropped two hip hop gems in 1993s Reachin (A New Refutation of Time and Space) and 1994s Blowout Comb, but like many of hip hops definitive groups, the Digable Planets would not remain a collective. After the Grammy winning Digables disbandment, to many it seemed as if the members of Digable had become a part of hip hops history, never to be heard of again, as a group or as individuals. But nearly ten years after the release of Blowout Comb, Butterfly, the groups founder and leader, has emerge from yet another cocoon, this time not as Butterfly, but as Ishmael Butler, aka Cherrywine. After moving back to his former home of Seattle, Butler used the recordings of Prince and Sly Stone to learn how to play the guitar and keyboards. He linked with the Turner brothers and they formed Cherrywine, a funk out band more concerned with emotional sincerity, than political ranting. Also finding success as an actor since his Digable days, Butler feels he has matured and grown since his recording youth, maturation that can be heard on Bright Black, Cherrywines debut album. Before going on tour, Butler talked with Allhiphop about the dissolving of the Digable Planets, what hes learned since than, and why he is, despite what cats may think, still hip hop. AHH: So dude, its been about seven years? Ishmael Butler: Seven years, yeah, yeah. AHH: What you been up to? Ishmael Butler: Just basically doing music still in the interim, just none of it was released. So to the public its been seven years, but in actuality Ive been making music the whole time. AHH: Did you actually complete an album? Ishmael Butler: Yeah, I did an album in 1999 and 2000, but it never came out. AHH: Okay, newsflash, for cats that dont know, the Digable Planets broke up, are you willing to speak on that? Ishmael Butler: We just stopped wanting to be around each other. Everybody seems to want there to be some kind of conclusive event or something like that, but all you have to do is think about your own relationships in your life, things happen over the course of time that make you want to not be around somebody. And then maybe you get back with them at some certain time but its not no cataclysmic event and sh*t like that, its not that dramatic. There is drama, but its played out in real time, not in article time. AHH: Do you all still communicate? Ishmael Butler: Yeah AHH: And based on what you just said, there is the possibility that you cats could get back together? Ishmael Butler: Yeah, theres a chance. AHH: Youve composed music for some commercials? Ishmael Butler: Yeah, I did a Fila commercial a while back in 1998, and I did a Pepsi joint for radio. AHH: Youve been doing some acting too, how did you get bitten by the acting bug? Ishmael Butler: I studied film at NYU and I took an acting class and I liked it a lot. We shot films at school and just got into it like that. AHH: You were in dream hamptons movie short I am Ali, what was that about? Ishmael Butler: That was about a schizophrenic young man who thought that he was Muhammad Ali, and his girlfriend starts to figure out that his condition went beyond some kind of joke, that he was really not well in his head. AHH: And you played the lead character? Ishmael Butler: Yeah. AHH: Didnt you just get finished shooting something? Ishmael Butler: Yeah. AHH: Can you talk about it? Ishmael Butler: Yeah, its called Men Without Jobs, and its a comedy and a drama about these two brothers that live together and their getting older and they start to figure out that they just cant keep acting like kids, so its kind of like a coming of age story. AHH: Is it coming to theatres? Ishmael Butler: Im not sure, its an independent movie so who knows? AHH: Any future acting projects lined up? Ishmael Butler: Yeah, theres a film called We Deliver, which is gona go into production sometime before the year is out. AHH: Youve got some interesting feelings on the state of the hip hop underground and how a lot of time underground types will look at MTV types like there not as talented or whatever. You said that you stopped looking at things like that, what did you mean? Ishmael Butler: Theres just a tendency for groups of people who listen to music that isnt popular to feel like that music is somehow better than popular music generally. And they have a distain for success and that sort of lifestyle and amount of status and statureI stopped doing that cause I realized it wasnt really true. AHH: You said that you felt some of Digables music was rhetorical, what did you mean by that? Ishmael Butler: Well you can be rhetorical and be sincere, but by rhetorical I mean if you take a political stance, something like say political prisoners or indiscriminate amounts of blacks in prisons, and you mention it in a record and other people say hell yeah thats true, that isnt essentially an action to do anything about what it is that youre talking about. Whereas there are people out here who go to law school and they get law degrees and instead of joining a huge firm they work in the public defenders office or they try to get cases of people that have been wrongly accused and sentences turned over and sh*t like that. Basically what Im saying is that if you have a political agenda it has to […]

C-Murder Convicted Of Murder, Mandatory Life Sentence

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsOctober 1, 2003

A jury convicted rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller of second degree murder today (September 30). Miller is accused of shooting 16-year-old Steven Thomas in the chest after an argument inside of the Platinum Club in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana in January 2002. Nine defense witnesses testified that Miller had nothing to do with the shooting or the beating, but gave conflicting testimony. The closing arguments were halted earlier today, after it was ruled that jurors should be told that they could convict Miller on lesser charges of manslaughter. Assistant District Attorney Roger Jordan urged jurors to convict on the more serious charge, alleging that Miller was Thomas’ murderer. The guilty verdict carries an automatic life sentence. Miller’s family says they will seek an appeal.

Closing Arguments In C-Murder Trial Halted

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsSeptember 30, 2003

Closing arguments in the murder trial of rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller were halted today, when the state 5th Circuit of Appeals in New Orleans ruled that a judge cannot keep prosecutors from telling jurors that Miller could be innocent of second degree murder. Prosecutors said that jurors should be informed that Miller could be guilty of manslaughter for the role he allegedly played in the beating of 16-year-old Steve Thomas in a Jefferson Parish nightclub. The second degree murder charges carry a mandatory life sentence, while the lesser charge of manslaughter could put Miller behind bars for up to 40 years. Two prosecution witnesses claim they saw Miller shoot Thomas after an argument between the two, while the defense presented several witnesses who gave conflicting testimony and claimed they saw Miller in different parts of the club. Miller’s defense attorney Ronald J. Rokosky said that Jefferson Parish police could only produce two witnesses who saw Miller shoot Thomas despite there being over 150 people in the club.

P.Diddy The Marathon Man

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsSeptember 30, 2003

Sean "P.Diddy" Combs will enter the 2003 New York City Marathon, hoping to raise millions of dollars for New York City children. "I’m not in it for the hype and publicity," Diddy said. "It’s a personal challenge for me, but most importantly, it’s to benefit the kids. The AIDS epidemic in our communities is real." Combs has already secured the backing of McDonald’s, Nike, Foot Locker, Pinnacle Vitamins, MTV and Yucaipa book publishing. The proceeds will go to various youth charities centered around heald and education, including The Children’s Hope Foundation (A.I.D.S./HIV) and Daddy’s House Social Programs. "My goal is to raise one million and I plan to see the results of my philanthropic contributions," Diddy continued. "The kids deserve basic things in their schools and better healthcare." The 26.2 mile marathon spans all five boroughs and five bridges throughout New York City and attracts about 30,000 people. Runners start the race at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island and cross the finish line in Central Park. "I’m doing my part, I’m committed and I’m a man of my word," Diddy said. In related Diddy news, his Bad Boy label released the highly anticipated debut album from Da Band, titled Too Hot For T.V., today.

LL, Chuck D. Take It To Capitol Hill

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsSeptember 30, 2003

LL Cool J and Chuck D. will speak along side music industry executives and technology experts will appear on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. to speak about downloading music and copyright issues. The panel, titled The Privacy & Piracy: The Paradox of Illegal File Sharing on Peer-to-Peer Networks and the Impact of Technology on the Entertainment Industry, will focus on the impact file sharing has had on the recording industry. Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Senator Barbara Boxer, Mitch Bainwol, the Chairman & CEO of the RIAA, representatives from Kazaa, Altnet, college professors and a woman who is being sued by the RIAA will all testify. Some professors are recommending more public service announcements explaining why downloading and file sharing is an issue and that lawsuits targeting consumers cannot stop the trend. Some are suggesting lowering the price of CD’s, increasing the quality of music and talent that is released, adding extra songs on releases and other incentives for consumers to start purchasing CD’s again.

Outstanding Arrest Warrant For Lil Kim In Teaneck, New Jersey

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsSeptember 29, 2003

Teaneck, New Jersey police have an outstanding arrest warrant for rapper Lil Kim, in connection with marijuana possession charges from July of 1996. Kim and crew were arrested when police raided the home of Notorious B.I.G. and found several handguns with missing serial numbers and a stash of marijuana in the house. B.I.G. was charged with handgun charges and marijuana charges as well, but never went to trial because he was gunned down eight months later in Los Angeles in March of 1997. Lil Kim missed several Municipal court dates to face the marijuana charges.

Little Brother Embarks On First National Tour

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsSeptember 29, 2003

The North Carolina trio of Phonte, Big Pooh, and producer 9th Wonder, collectively known as Little Brother, began their first national tour Tuesday (Sept. 23) in Solana Beach, California as a part of the Hieroglyphics Full Circle Tour. The first performance of the 40 plus-city tour was at the Belly Up Tavern, where Little Brother, whose namesake is derived as an ode to the group viewing themselves as the younger siblings of A Tribe Called Quest and the likes, offered selections from their critically acclaimed debut album, The Listening. Although the group has done promo shows before, this is the fist time they will tour extensively, a fact not lost upon Big Pooh. "This is our first tour so of course there is a little bit of anxiety that goes along with preparing to go out,” the rapper said in a statement. “But I know we are ready.” While the group has not disclosed any information regarding the follow up to their debut, 9th Wonder has kept occupied by putting out a remix album of God’s Son by Nas, and the producer is rumored to be laying a track for Jay-Z on his final solo project, The Black Album. Final Tour Dates are: September 29th – El Paso, TX – Club Escape September 30th - Austin, TX - Antone’s October 1st -New Orleans, LA – Twiropa October 2nd – Orlando, FL - The Social October 3rd - Charleston, SC - The Music Farm October 4th - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle October 5th - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel October 7th – Baltimore, MD - Ottobar October 8th - New York, NY - S.O.B.’s October 9th - Cambridge, MA - Middle East October 10th - Ottawa, QB - Babylon October 11th - Toronto, ON – The Phoenix October 12th - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground October 13th - Cleveland, OH - Grop Shop October 14th - Bloomington, IN - Bluebird Theater October 15th - Louisville, KY - Headliners October 16th - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave October 17th - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall October 18th - Chicago, IL - The Metro October 19th - Minneapolis, MN - The Quest/ Fineline October 20th - Lawrence, KS - Granada Theater October 21st - Colorado Springs, CO - 32 Bleu October 22nd - Boulder, CO - Fox Theater October 23rd – Fort Collins, CO - Aggie Theater October 24th - Park City, UT - Harry OÂ¹s October 25th - Portland, OR - Roseland October 26th - Vancouver, BC - Richards on Richards October 27th - Victoria, BC - Sugar Nightclub October 28th - Seattle, WA - Showbox October 29th - Eugene, OR - McDonald Theater October 30th - Arcata, CA - Humboldt State October 31st - Santa Cruz, CA - The Catalyst November 1st - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore November 2nd - Santa Barbara, CA - UCSB November 3rd - Reno, NV – The New Oasis November 4th - San Jose, CA – Zoe November 5th - Chico, CA – The Brick Works November 6th - Ashland, OR - Ashland Armory

Ice Cube: From Tha Hood To Hollywood

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: FeaturesSeptember 29, 2003

Ice Cube has been a fixture on the hip-hop scene for almost 20 years now. Many watched in awe as a group of N##### With Attitudes burst on to the hip-hop scene and changed the landscape of the game’s terrain. After a split from NWA due to money, a consciouss awakening through religion and politics, a film career that ranks among the most successful of hip-hoppers who have jumped to the silver screen, Cube’s back with Dre and things seemed to have come 360 for the man who helped usher in "Gangsta Rap." AllHipHop.com: Is the hood flick dead? Is that genre dead now? You know boys in the hood, Menace To Society, that gritty urban drama? Ice Cube: I don’t think so. I think it just has to be presented in a different way. There’s a million stories out there to be told. I think the over sensationalized version of those movies are done. But a real story that kind of sucks you into that world, there will always be room for that. I think in many ways, a movie like Barbershop, even though it’s not an urban drama, it’s like damn, I didn’t think that story would ever get told. AllHipHop.com: I really enjoyed that movie. At the end of the day everybody is skeptical, because a lot of time black movies are really…. I: They want to show the real, but they don’t really want to show the real deal, so it’s kind of glossed over. Like your grandma trying to sweep something under the rug. It aint done in a way we let it all hang out and say this is us. AllHipHop.com: That’s why I aint have a problem with the controversy of Cedric The Entertainer, because……. I: That’s how n*ggas talk in a barbershop! AllHipHop.com: Right! I: When it comes down to it, that’s the reason why the barbershop is the place to go for that, because aint nobody going to judge you on what you say about another motherf*cker. I was like we must of hit this right on the money! AllHipHop.com: Any plans for that NWA reunion or is that a wrap? I: I don’t think its a wrap. I don’t think we gonna talk about it. I just think by me being over there at Aftermath, just the opportunity for it to happen is gonna be more and more realistic. AllHipHop.com: How do you feel about working with Dre again? Clearly he is one of the best producers to ever hit rap. I: This is where I started and I haven’t been able to work with Dre 11 or 12 years on one project. We’ve done singles, one record here, one record there. We haven’t be able to marinate, we’ll see what we can conjure up. AllHipHop.com: To this day I play your albums, especially the first two. Those are my favorites and of course some NWA stuff. Being that your a veteran now, how do you feel about the rap game and the music out here that’s really getting major play when you guys really kicked the door in for that? I: It’s all good man. I always liken it to the NFL or something. The youngsters that come up in the game that’s fresh out, they gonna get all the love. That’s just the nature of the business. That’s how it was when I came out. Everybody’s gonna get their three, four years of sunshine. And then it’s all about, in those three, four years, have you developed a fan base that will be able to follow you when your the Emmett Smith of the world. Smith is still the baddest running back as far as legends go, but as far as physical play, there might be a couple guys out there that’s faster and stronger and bigger. They still can’t hold Emmett’s jock strap, even though this Sunday they might get more yards than him. That’s how the rap game goes. AllHipHop.com: Was acting a way for you to stay in the entertainment game even though the rap career might have not been doing as well as you wanted it to do? I: Well its kind of like one thing didn’t kick off the other. What happened was I got turned on by the movie business. I wanted to devote some energy to making sure it worked. Priority as a label was getting weaker and weaker, so it was a combination of thing. What I did was say I been in this game a long time and in rap years, this is forever. I do need to establish another career for myself because I couldn’t vision at the time any 40 year old rappers. I knew I could envision some 40 year old actors so. AllHipHop.com: What about Cubevision and what are your upcoming projects either rap or film? I: Well you know the rap project but we also trying to get this new Westside Connection album done. As far as the movie projects, it’s like we’ve done so much this year. We kind of want to take some time to clear our heads and then we’ll jump back in it. We haven’t really dug in with what we’re going to do next as a company! AllHipHop.com: As an actor you’ve done your share of comedy. Do you’ll do dramatic roles anymore? I: I want you to know it’s just kinda like only if the opportunity present itself in the right way. I’m not out to prove nothing to nobody. I’m not going to jump at a dramatic role just because I want to show people that I’m a good actor on that level. I just want to do good movies and if the script is good and I’m supposed to be dramatic in it and I can help the movie I’ll jump at it. AllHipHop.com: Do you think, is hip-hop getting to violent in terms of reality? It seems like there is a merger between the worst […]