Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is undoubtedly one of the most influential and often imitated groups in hip-hop history. Even younger fans who don’t remember or even know who Bone is have been influenced by their music. Their influence is heard on radio and seen on music-television every day. They were the first to sing on a rap record; the first to mix harmony and flow; the first to spit their rhymes quicker than people could even understand what was being said. You can hear a bit of Bone in almost every modern act, from Flo’Rida to Ja Rule, The Dream, and Ludacris to name a few. They even impressed Jay-Z and Dame Dash so much that Jay-Z didn’t even compete against Bizzy Bone in a battle that Dame had arranged in New York. The story goes that when Bizzy finished rapping, Jay forfeited the battle and said “man I ain’t never heard no shit like that. Take the money”, and asked the most important question of the decade: “Who are you?”. They were BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY, and they were ready to take over the hip-hop world…and they did. E. 1999 Eternal, the group’s most popular album, was certified Diamond by the RIAA for going 10X platinum, and still, Bone is rarely mentioned amongst the greats, and barely known now. What happened?

For as great and historic as they are, Bone is probably one of the most dysfunctional music groups ever. As early as 1997 when The Art Of War was released, rumors began swirling of bad blood between Bizzy Bone and the rest of the group. Accused of being an alcoholic, missing promo spots, and not showing up to concerts, Bizzy Bone wasn’t exactly holding his weight with the group. On top of that, their fifth member Flesh-N-Bone wasn’t even signed by their label, and was limited to a few guest spots on their albums. By 2000, things seemed to have been worked out. Flesh signed with the group and appeared on their entire BTNHRessurection album, and Bizzy was back on good terms with the group. This didn’t last long, however. BTNHRessurection was their least successful album up to that point, Flesh caught a gun charge and was sentenced to a decade in prison, and Bizzy Bone was off again, on again with his antics. Bone also had issues with their label. The wife of Eazy-E, Tomika Wright, didn’t seem to have the business mind to keep Bone in the limelight. Most of their albums have been plagued by delays, and they’ve struggled to deliver true hit singles despite their overall great music.

Bone spent the next 7 years trying everything they could to stay relevant. They released another album, subsequently kicked Bizzy out of the group, cut ties with Ruthless Records, and signed to Interscope, released 2 more albums and an EP, and at the end of the day, managed only one hit single and one gold album throughout that entire span. Bone as a group has not been a national icon since the late 90’s, so its not hard to see now how they’ve been so easily forgotten.

One thing that kept Bone Thugs-N-Harmony in the game though was the impending release of Flesh-N-Bone from prison in the summer of 2008. Loyal Bone fans always believed that Flesh’s release would heal the wounds between Bizzy and the group, and that the 5 original thugs would eventually reunite for a major comeback. This is exactly where Bone is at right now. As the end of 2009 approaches, Bone is expected to release their highly anticipated reunion album, Uni5: The World’s Enemy via Warner Bros. Records and BTNH Worldwide. The album is expected to drop Dec. 22nd, and the group’s first single “See Me Shine” is already being called one of their best songs ever.

Most of the songs for their new album have already been leaked via a live online listening party last month. However, these low quality video clips merely provide a teaser to what may be one of the best Bone albums to date. A Warner Bros. representative was quoted as saying “this album is a major piece of art”, and the fact that Warner picked up Bone in the first place is a sign that some folks still believe in them.

Can Bone Thugs-N-Harmony make the comeback of the decade? Will the group survive long enough to take over the world again? Only time will tell. But as a Cleveland native and long time Bone fan, I cannot wait.

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Marlow “Bow Wow” Jones, (Not the little one) was sentenced to 12 years in the pen on November 24^th for his part in the robbery of Bone Thugs-N- Harmony member Bizzy Bone.  Marlow as well as 3 other men all pleaded guilty to beating and robbing the member of the well known rap group.

The beating took place in Universal City, California in a hotel early this year in January.  The group of burglars came into Bizzy’s hotel room where they admitted to beating and chocking him while stealing his jewelry.

Contradicting to his actions, when Jones was arrested he was actually employed in a city sponsored anti-gang program known as “Unity One.”  According to the L.A. Times,

“Jones, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, in addition to admitting that his actions were done to benefit a street gang.”

Jones’ crew was not let off the hook however and received lengthy sentences as well.  Ricky Pearson was sentenced to 19 years, Vanquan Knott was sentenced to 11 years, and Markiece Goss was sentenced to six years in prison.

This is not the only reason Bizzy has appeared in court lately, Bizzy was recently sentenced to court ordered drug rehab, which will prevent him from promoting a lot of Bone Thugs’ new album Uni 5:  The World’s Enemy, dropping December 22nd. 

I guess they told Bizzy they didn’t want to “See Him Shine.”

“Ruthless” by Mike Orduna

An homage to the late Eazy-E who pioneered the gangster rap movement as a member of NWA and fouder of Ruthless Records.

“Three Kings” by Mitch Wells

This triptych celebrates the work of electronic instrument designers: Tadao Kikumoto, Robert Moog, and Roger Linn.

Via: Cosmic Rock & The New Confusion

Med sin «gangsta-kitch» ønsker Oral Bee å bidra til mer selvironi og humor i norsk hiphop. Det har ført til drapstrusler og «Putter det ned»-trilogien, som nå fullføres med albumet Putter det ned as usual. Han er norsk raps svar på Odd Nerdrum, bitch!

(Dette er mitt første intervju med Oral Bee, i anledning albumdebuten Sånn vi putter det ned, opprinnelig publisert i Dagsavisen i 2001. Mer om Oral Bee og Da Playboy Foundation her , her og her.)
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På albumdebuten Sånn vi putter det ned framstår Oral Bee som en beinhard gangsta med pistol, dollartegngullkjede og hyppige «west coast»-signaler med fingrene – selv om han kommer fra østsiden av Nesodden. Hans «partner in rhyme» Mr. Pimp-Lotion er også østkantgutt – fra Oppsal i Oslo – men opptrer i hallikstil à la Too $hort med spaserstokk, pels, bredbremmet hatt og damer på slep.

Drapstrusler
Oral Bee har et eget ord for talentløse mc’s; som de kaller «dasspølser» og slenger linjer som «du forpester meg med all din kredibilitet / Jeg rocker mic’en på trikken-rim er det verste jeg vet». «Dasspølse» og «east coast» brukes kort sagt om alt som er døvt, mens «west coast» og «gangsta» er de ypperste hedersbetegnelsene.

Men å nevne navn, det vil ikke Oral Bee lenger.

- Første gang jeg var med på «Topp 20» på NRK hadde jeg på meg en «Fuck Tungtvann»-skjorte bare på spøk. Jeg synes Tungtvann er blant de dyktigste til å rappe på norsk, og synes det er morsomt med «dissing». Men når dette førte til drapstrusler fra Tungtvann-fans var det ikke så morsomt lenger. Jeg hadde faktisk politibeskyttelse på en konsert like etter. Dissing er en del av hiphop, men i Norge tar man dette så alvorlig at det ender i fysisk bråk. Slike «kriger» bør helst begrenses til platerillene.

Dessverre glemte duoen «parental advisory»-klistremerket i farta, men ellers er omslaget på plata en hyllest til gangsta-omslag som Master P og hans No Limit-kumpaner C-Murder, Snoop Dogg, Mystikal og Silkk The Shocker perfeksjonerte på tampen av 90-tallet.

Hyllest og parodi
Oral og Pimp balanserer med andre ord mellom en hyllest og parodi av gangstarap, men noen tror dette er alvor.

- Veldig mange forstår ikke det vi holder på med. Vi traff en gjeng 18-åringer som overhodet ikke så ironien i tekstene. Det er godt gjort når dette er såpass overdrevet, synes Oral Bee.

Tekstene til duoen renner over av gangstas, bitches, våpen og andre usunnheter, men to tekstlinjer beskriver konseptet bedre enn noe annet: «Man, jeg minner deg på at jeg gjør gangsta-kitch / Jeg er norsk raps svar på Odd Nerdrum, bitch» i «Playboy$» og «Du kan tro en prosent av hva jeg sier, jeg er kontroversi-izell som Lars von Trier» i «Det første kuttet».

- Det går jo ikke an å lage ordentlig gangsta-rap i Norge. Vi digger Eazy E, Dr. Dre, Too $hort, Devin the Dude, Geto Boys og No Limit, men vi ler jo litt av de glorete og overdrevne effektene de bruker også.

- Vi synes det er gøy å leke gangstere, og vi er her først og fremst for å ha det gøy, proklamerer Mr. Pimp-Lotion.

Banner i kirka
Begge synes norsk hiphop hemmes av for mange uskrevne regler, og mener det er grenser for hvor mange som synes det er spennende å høre folk rappe om hvor mye graffiti de lager. «Jeg lager hitmusikk for massene», rapper Oral Bee.

- Jeg håper å nå de som ikke er så voldsomt opptatt av hiphop, men som hører på mange andre typer musikk. Norsk hiphop er alt for opptatt av å følge en lang rekke uskrevne regler om hva man skal rappe om og hvordan musikken skal være.

- Vi får ikke respekt fordi vi bruker humor og ironi; det er det samme som å banne i kirka, supplerer Pimp.

Uansett står Oral Bee i fare for å overta Multicydes trone når det kommer til navngitte dissinger fra andre rappere, og han venter seg også kritikerslakt. «Fullstendig smakløs musikk» mente Dagsavisens anmelder.

- Jo mer folk er mot oss, jo morsommere er det, mener Pimp, mens Oral Bee mener kritikerne ikke tar det musikalske alvorlig.

- Tekstmessig har jeg ikke så mye spennende filosofisk eller politisk å komme med, men jeg står for at musikken vår er original og lettere å like for flere enn det meste av norsk hiphop.

I just got home from playing Coco Deville….  It was an event for some t-mobile shit…..  So what was in the giftbag????? Not a phone…….it was a mug. WTF?!?!? Awesome.  The crowd was ghetto for Coco……Lots of Eazy-E, Snoop Dogg, Fly Boys, and lets not forget a lil’ Ginuwine…..Pony got those girls gettin’ low…….Some chick puked in the back and at the end of the night the manager was walking around with a lost bra…….how does that happen.  People were stoked, singing along n’ shit.  My girl and I came up on some crucial iphone accessories…..

I just joined the Next Music Group Dj pool and they gave me a stack of cd’s to go through….. Looking forward to hearing new tunes and tell u whats what.

Getting ready for a big mansion party saturday night!!!!!

Goodnight Peeps!

Part 1

Part 2

Visiting Angela Yee on Shade 45, the boys from Cleveland speculate that their mentor Eazy-E didn’t die from AIDS, but from something even iller.

Source “RapRadar”

“It’s both, it’s a place where you can rehabilitate but it’s also a warehouse. Because mind you, that place is there for a reason. You got real live monsters that deserve to be there that committed crimes that are absolutely heinous. They are never gonna see the light of day and they are there forever and for a reason.”

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is gearing to release their long awaited unified front, Uni5:  The World’s Enemy, which will be dropping on December 22^nd.  Speaking with Hip-Hop Wired, Krayzie spoke on the conception of their latest album saying,

“Flesh was locked up for ten years, he just came home.  As everybody knows Bizzy Bone was away from us for a while. Flesh came home and we just felt the need…it was going to happen regardless. We felt the need to come back together and give the world that Bone magic that we brought to the world years earlier. It was like a must. The whole concept of the album, Uni5:  The World’s Enemy… the unifying came from us being back unified and the world enemy concept came from we always felt like we was always outcasts.  Being apart from whatever was going on in the world or what everybody else was doing. It also has a spiritual meaning, being no part of the world. It’s a lot of different meanings of it.”

Flesh-N-Bone also spoke about his prison stint and how the process was getting back into the mix with his brothers.

“It was something that while I was away I was avail to the resources that we had in there. I was never out of the loop with respect to my artistry, being creative. I was able to do music, write music, write the beats and be active for the most part and develop my craft. I had a lot of time to sit and develop me, work on, what I consider…what I’m on this earth to do. I was able to concentrate a whole lot on that so the transition from the pen to out here was fairly simple, because my cell was my booth, literally.

I had my own cell hooked up like a studio. And it was like that for the whole time I was down so when I came home and got in the studio it was like I never left. No problem whatsoever. It wasn’t about trying to find nothing, it was already there.  The only thing that I had to develop was me and the guys being back together collaborating and getting used to each other’s energies and our vibes again.”

Flesh also spoke about what his time in jail, after serving close to ten years for assault with a deadly weapon, will bring to his music and subject matter as well.

“It informed, it fueled, it gave me insight because I was really able to study Hip-Hop, study music appreciation. I was able to advance and broaden my own awareness to the craft. We pretty much, bring to it the whole essence of the artistry. It’s about the art and when you dealing with art and society you got a vast stream of conditions that have to be addressed and talked about. From having fun to partying to the drugs to drug addiction… Overcoming a drug addiction, incarceration.  Human development on so many plateaus that gives us the longevity that we have. Really implementing what it means to be an artist. It’s a huge responsibility and yes being in the penal system kind of gave me experiences to add to the melting pot.”

Keeping it all the way real, Flesh put a different light on the holding pen that many MCs glorify and made it clear that it’s no place he wants to return to.  When asked if he thinks that the penal system rehabilitates or if it’s just a warehouse for people that have made certain choices in their lives, he responded,

“It’s both, it’s a place where you can rehabilitate but it’s also a warehouse. Because mind you, that place is there for a reason. You got real live monsters that deserve to be there that committed crimes that are absolutely heinous. They are never gonna see the light of day and they are there forever and for a reason. That’s why they got that place and unfortunately I had to mingle amongst these monsters and survive amongst these monsters. The main thing they covet the most is having a release date and only 40% of the people in there got a release date.

The other 60%, that’s their home. They also created programs to where even those people that are there, the people that have a release date, if they choose to, the only way you’re going to rehabilitate is if you put the foot forward and you get it yourself. Other than that they’re just there to waste their time and do their time and just get on so it goes both ways, yes and no.”

Wish Bone also summed up the album declaring that Uni5 will inspire those that will listen.  He added,

“We don’t rap about cars, broads and chains. Our music is a message. We look at ourselves as messengers for the Lord. We always speak on what’s going on in the world and what’s happening right now instead of just the glimmer and the shine.  Since we a voice of power, we have to send out that message to let people know what’s really going on.  If you’re blessed with a gift to be heard, you definitely have a responsibility to give truth and spread light on real life situations through the music.”

In related Bone Thugs-N-Harmony news, the trendsetters who put Cleveland, Ohio on the Hip-Hop map also spoke on their mentor Eazy-E about his alleged death of AIDS with Angela Yee on Sirius’s Shade 45 radio program.  Sparing no words on, Layzie stated,

“It might be allegedly the way he picked the sh*t (AIDS) up.  I got my own theories.  It was crazy because we were here in New York in December (1994) and E bought us coats.  We went out that night and n*ggas got a little sick with the weather change.  Went back to hot L.A.  He went in (to the Dr.) for the common cold, pneumonia, or whatever it was which was in January…he had the common cold and then diagnosed with pneumonia.  In February, diagnosed H.I.V.  positive and March full blown AIDS… Dead.

So it happened kind of fast so I’m kind of thinking who the f*ck’s doctor did he go to.  I think it was Jerry Heller’s doctor (Eazy’s former business partner) that he went to and he had just got fired so I’m like this looks…Conspiracy”

Krayzie also chimed in, saying,

“We all done seen people with full blown AIDS and when they’re about to die and how they look.   Dude had full blown AIDs and still had his weight, still cocky and still looking like a regular dude and it just came about all of a sudden.”

Layzie also pointed out,

“He was wrestling with Big Wish… so the dude was strong, cocky and built like a lil’ tank so it’s just theories.  After we learned about the whole AIDS thing and learned that it could be possible (looking healthy with H.I.V.) but…”

“It still gotta be a downhill process and it just happened too fast to me,” Wish added.

Stay tuned to Hip-Hop Wired for our upcoming featuring with Hip-Hop’s Fab 5. Check out their latest single below “See Me Shine” as well as the video of the speaking on Eazy-E.

“See Me Shine”
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony feat. Jay Rush – See Me Shine(2)

Also click here as Bone speaks on Flesh’s incarceration and their new album Uni5: The World’s Enemy.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It’s a scary thing when getting up to do 5 miles is not big thing.  The weather has remained cool this week and running has been much easier.  Since the 9 mile run on Sunday, I have really taken a different attitude toward these shorter runs.  I now look at them as good warmup, and am worrying less about speed and more about trying to get “into the moment.”

The 9 miles really kicked off for me when I was able to just zone out and put one foot in front of the other.  So I am trying for that on the shorter runs.  The problem is that this doesn’t really happen until a little farther into the runs.

I did fairly well today, picking up my pace from Tuesday’s run and grabbing the 5 mile run that should have been yesterday.  I will not get to do 3 miles tomorrow before heading to the airport at 4:30am, so I will try to pick it up with a run on San Diego Beach!

For all of you PRSA goers out there, let’s get a little PRSA San Diego run going!

Oh, and day 2 of operation eat right was a huge success, down to 236.5.  Five days in San Diego at a conference may challenge my eating, but I will do my best.

Until tomorrow! (when I may try to update from a plane!)

Vital Statistics:

Date: Thursday, November 5

Workout: 5 Miles

Time: 50:47

Pace: 10:05

Weight: 236.5

Playlist:

Riad N’ The Bedouins – Guns N Roses

The Unforgivien – Metallica

Ain’t My Bitch – Metallica

Epic – Faith No More

Around The World – Red Hot Chili Peppers

No Excuses – Alice In Chains

Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin

Shackler’s Revenge – Guns N Roses

Skin O My Teeth – Megadeth

Norweigan Wood (This Bird Has Flown) – The Beatles

Eazy Duz It – Eazy-E

Feelin’ Way Too Damn Good – Nickelback

Indestructible – Disturbed

In this second edition of West Coast Wednesday we go back to the late 80s to look at NWA’s ground breaking, “Straight Outta Compton” of the album with the same name.

Here is the video for “Straight Outta Compton”:

Busting out of Compton, California in the late 80s, NWA brought a whole new brand of hip hop to the world. The hard hitting and brash lyrics delivered stories to the world about the trails and tribulations on the West Coast. Although there had been artists in hip hop from the West, NWA permanently fixed attention on the left coast.

While the crew’s career only lasted three albums, the impact they left on music is everlasting.

Bonus Video.

Suprisingly, the AP didn’t have an image of the whole NWA crew, so I guess Dre will have to do.

Photo of Dr. Dre by Chris Carlson AP Images

Somehow, this relates to my Lil’ Wayne post. Somehow.

Seriously.

I need to understand why it is so drastically more difficult for me to run in the warm and humid air than it is in cooler, drier air.  Secondly, I need to know what I can do to correct it.

This morning was again what should have been an easy 4 mile run.  Before the end of the second mile, I had already had to stop to catch my breath.  I think that a significant part of the problem is that I had so much success with pace while I was in New York, that I am running at that same pace back home, without regard to how it is affecting my heart rate.

But I think another problem may be psychological.  When I ran the 7 miles on Sunday, I knew I was going to have to put in 100% effort, take it nice and slow, and really give it my all.  In the end, I did not stop, and had a great pace.

I think that when I go out for these shorter runs, I expect it to be easier, and I don’t give it the proper respect.  I am reminded of something I heard Jillian Michaels say on The Biggest Loser once.  She said, “Are you expecting it to get easier, it NEVER gets easier!”  I think that sometimes I forget that, and that plays into my psychological barriers.

Needless to say, my time sucked this morning, and I am very frustrated.  I was hoping to do some speed intervals this month to pick up my pace before the Outback Steakhouse Distance Classic on Thanksgiving Day.  Clearly that has to be put on the backburner, now, as I need to get back to just finishing runs.

One step forward, two steps back.  Ugh.  At least I dropped a couple of pounds again today.

Vital Statistics:

Date: Wednesday, October 28

Workout: 4 Miles

Time: 42:57

Pace: 10:45

Weight: 235.5

Playlist:

…And Justice For All – Metallica

I’d Rather F*(& You – Eazy-E

Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman) – Led Zeppelin

Ain’t My Bitch – Metallica

Wanderlust – Megadeth

Get in the Ring – Guns N Roses

Youth Gone Wild – Skid Row

Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Enter Sandman – Metallica

Side III (The Truth) – Extreme

So I guess this is called getting back in the saddle.

After missing several days posts while I was in New York City, I posted a summary of my workouts earlier today. But I am still not up to date, so in addition to that mega post, I’m also here with today’s regular update.

This morning was my first run in North Florida since returning from the Big Apple.  There are two major differences in running in The City and running at home.  The first is the heat.  New York was a pleasant 58 degrees every day.  I long ago discovered that I do much better in cooler weather than in hot weather.  that is fortunate for me because the Outback Steakhouse Distance Classic half-marathon I am running in takes place on Thanksgiving day.  I expect and hope that it will be nice and cool.

The second difference is the humidity.  This is what it looked like in New York.

And here is what it looks like on an average morning in North Florida:

So I believe that in many ways, my Sunday run was my best ever.  I maintained a sub-10 minute mile pace, while finishing 7 miles without stopping.  I felt very good about my progress.

That ended this morning.

I think this might have been my worst run in a month.  I was dead tired at the 1.5 mile turn, and had to stop twice on my way back in.  In fact, I walked a significant portion of the last half mile.  I don’t know if this is just the heat and humidity, or perhaps a recovery thing from the long Sunday run.  What I do know is that I feel like I am right back where I started.  Sunday, I knew I could do the 13.1 miles with no problem.  Today, I am not so sure.

Tomorrow is a four-mile run, so I need to pick it back up and be ready to go.  I’m hoping that the relatively short run today, plus the added incentive to get back on track will make this run no problem.

Until tomorrow, here are the vital statistics.

Vital Statistics:

Date: Tuesday, October 27

Workout: 3.12 Miles

Time: 33:40

Pace: 10:48

Weight: 237

Playlist:

Rusty Cage – Johnny Cash

Only If You Want It – Eazy-E

Bring the Noise – Anthrax/Public Enemy

Sad But True – Metallica

Empire – Queensryche

Symphony of Destruction – Megadeth

The Way You Make Me Feel – Michael Jackson

Demon Dayz – Gorillaz

Black Dog – Led Zeppelin

Dr. Feelgood – Motley Crue

“Cruisin’ down the street in my 6-fo’
Jockin’ the bitches, slappin’ the hoe’s”

As you can obviously tell, “Boys in the Hood” is stuck in my head. I have not been able to write an entry for a few weeks, and hopefully I can stay on track this time.

Let me fill you “gangstas” in on what I’ve been up to lately:

I was single for about four days, but I’m a sucker for gorgeous women so I took her back

School has been at the top of my stress list for quite some time now. I am at ASU for a majority of the day (four days a week) and a few hours on Fridays. FML. I’ve been volunteering at Banner Thunderbird Hospital and it has been entertaining to say the least. Obviously, I can’t say too much about what I do because it violates a sacred oath I took which permits severe consequences to all transgressors. Haha. Actually, I am in the Behavioral Health wing Tuesday and Thursday for two hours; Saturday and Sunday, over at the ER doing a bunch of gangster shit:)

Overall, volunteering is a great experience which allows me exposure to the medical field, I do however feel annoyed by the overly egotistical RN’s. Don’t get me wrong a lot of them are nice, but there are those who just think they are something of a divine nature. Well nurse-who-thinks-she-is-the-shiettt, I will make your life hell once I become a doctor. Muahaha. Muahaha. Muahaha. Enough of that.

Life has been good to me, and apparently the UofA football team seeing as how they are ranked 20 in the BCS standings woot! I am still a Wildcat at heart!

Wildcats ranked #20

Have you been noticing disturbing stuff as well?

On the news today,they announced that the FBI recovered 52 children from a prostitution ring and arrested 60 child pimps involved. The total number of children rescued from prostitution now stands at about 900, with hundreds more still on the streets. What the hell goes on in the minds of these sick children-traffickers?

Leave your thoughts on that and anything else in the comments section.

P.s. I’m back!

-Mo Said ツ

1 War – Slippin’ Into Darkness

Eazy E – Sippin on a 40

Mantronix – Join Me Please (Home Boys Make Some Noise)

Poor Righteous Teachers – Rock Dis Funky Joint

Poor Righteous Teachers – Self Styled Wisdom

2 Bob James – Blue Lick

Digable Planets – Jettin

DJ Honda – Team Players

3 Carla Bley – Song Sung Long

Mad Skillz – Extra Abstract Skillz

4 Muhlis Akarsu – Allah Allah Desem Gelsem

Nelly Furtando & Timbaland – Wait For You

5 Warda – Batwans Beek

Aaliyah – Don’t Know What To Tell Ya

]]> http://cloudindustry.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/back-in-the-day-2/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:52:26 +0000 cloudindustry http://cloudindustry.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/back-in-the-day-2/

I miss these days of my youth…

So, I have two entries drafted on Almost Famous and Sonic Youth’s cameo on last night’s Gossip Girl. Now, I could finish one of them and rush it to publication for you kind, attentive readers. But, I started watching season one of Friday Night Lights this weekend and some profound race relations stuff is going down and I intend to finish disc four tonight. If you’ve watched the show, you understand. If you haven’t, then I highly recommend starting, especially if you’re like me and grew up in a rural Texas suburb.

That said, two dude-friends pointed me in an interesting direction this morning and I thought I’d write a quick post on it. Peter reminded me of one artist I forgot about and David pointed out another act I didn’t know existed (but whose work I had heard sampled on Fergie’s “Fergalicious“). Thanks, guys. That these artists were obscure female rap artists who got support from members of rap group N.W.A. should not be overlooked, especially alongside the widely-held belief that N.W.A., and the subgenre of gangsta rap that they helped pioneer, were sexist and misogynistic (and also homophobic). And I don’t want to discredit those claims, as they have considerable merit. Barring examples from Ice-T, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E’s solo careers, and Dre’s assault on Dee Barnes while still in the group, I don’t think we have to look much further than “One Less Bitch” and “She Swallowed It” off Efil4zaggin). 

That said, I think this argument gets challenged by the presence Tairrie B, who was signed to Ruthless Records, who also housed N.W.A. for a time, and was mentored by Eazy-E. It gets further complicated by J.J. Fad, who originally used their initials to form the group’s name, whose debut album, Supersonic was produced by Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince’s production credits. Now, this isn’t to overlook the gendered dimensions of the mentor-protégée relationship (though it would behoove us to remember that N.W.A.’s records often contained samples of records by female artists like Lyn Collins and E.S.G.). It also isn’t to overlook Tairrie’s normative white, blonde good looks, or that her metal career further temper the waters.

Tairrie B fronting My Ruin; image courtesy of pauljorion.com

But it does emphasize the oft-overlooked presence women and girls of multiple racial and ethnic categories have always had in hip-hop and the support some men in positions of power in the game have given. It may not forgive a statement like “bitches ain’t shit but hoes and tricks” or level the playing field, but it sure as hell complicates standard conceptions of gender roles and racial norms in hip-hop’s industrial practices.

J.J. Fad, as of 2008; image courtesy of simplydopeculture.wordpress.com

I am all for the idea of having TV shows that help people escape their drug addictions. Intervention and Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew are some of the best programs ever to show us the harsh realities of drug abuse. It’s because of these shows (and that fact that I’m not from Missouri) that I’ve never been tempted to try crack or crystal meth. These programs have a positive effect on society that is immeasurable and will genuinely help a lot of people. However, there comes a point where we have to draw a line. Am I the only one that thinks that DJ AM’s new show in which he helps kids kick their drug habits is the epitome of hypocrisy?

DJ AM suffered through a depressing childhood and struggled with drug addiction through most of his life. He eventually lost this battle and died as a result. I repeat, HE LOST THIS BATTLE! Doesn’t this make him a terrible candidate to help battle teen drug addiction? I’m not saying that I don’t appreciate the effort. I think it’s fantastic that he had the desire to help others but the fact that he lost his own battle sends mixed messages. It’s like saying “Hey kid, you really shouldn’t take drugs. Now excuse me while I take Oxycontin to wind down, it’s been a loooong day.”

What are we going to see next? Is OJ Simpson going to release a show that helps couples struggling with domestic violence? Are we going to see unreleased footage of Kurt Cobain helping teenagers suffering from depression? Are we going to see the vintage PSA where Eazy-E explains that wearing a condom is awesome?

Is DJ AM’s show really that much different?

If you’re going to make a show dealing with this subject  you need to have a host that is centered, level headed and most importantly motivating. A Muppet would’ve honestly been a better choice.  This is where the show misses the mark. Although it may ultimately help and educate people, this is one that should have been left on the cutting room floor. It’s probably confusing the crap out of the kids that he tried to help because it sure as hell is confusing me.

Long before Jay-Z was putting his street money into Roc-A-Fella Records, a Kelly Park Compton Crip by the named of Eric “Eazy E” Wright had already blazed that trail by establishing Ruthless Records and founding gangster rap supergroup NWA. Shortly after the release of NWA’s classic “Straight Outta Compton” album, Eazy released his first solo album “Eazy-Duz-It” which had lyrics largely written by Ice Cube, unusual in hip hop where nearly all artists pen their own lyrics.

Eazy E had a high pitched vocal style and was very likeable despite the violent and misogynistic nature of his lyrics.  Eazy E died aged 31 in March 1995 following admission to hospital for what he thought was chronic asthma but after comprehensive testing was diagnosed as AIDS.

Eazy E – Eazy-er Said Than Dunn