ant_7000

I use to dance when I was younger, but now I just kinda chill in the background now. When im loose and relaxed I could hold it down.

XXL Magazine's Most Anticipated Albums of 2006 10. The Roots Album Title: Game Theory Label: Def Jam Beats: Artist, J Dilla Features: Mos Def, Saigon, Peedi Peedi, MF Doom, Danger Mouse, Jill Scott, Lunna E of Cirius, MFSB Orchestra, Truk North First Single: Don't Feel Right Sales Pitch: "We still put 100 percent of our effort into making what we feel is wuality hip-hop. I think if people really believe in quality and have patience, and then we're worth the purchase." I'll definitely get this because they always bring something to the table. I liked the last album which was their best effort since "things fall apart." 9 Ludacris Album Title: Release Therapy Label: DTP/Def Jam Beats: Timbaland, Shondrae, LT Moe, Organized Noize, Ice Drake Features: DTP Family First Single: TBD Sales Pitch: "You 're gonna get your money's worth and then some. Real music is all about emotion. Whether it make you laugh, reminisce, cry, get motivated to get a damn job, or tell people you love them; you're going to feel this mutha ****in' album." I'll like singles but won't buy the album, Luda has to show me that he's not a punchline bandit. 8 Busta Rhymes Album Title: The Big Bang Label: Aftermath/Interscope Beats: Timbaland, Dr.Dre, Neptunes, Scott Storch, Nottz, J Dilla, Swizz Beatz, Sha Money XL, Jelly Roll, Denaun Porter, Just Blaze, Rashad Smith, Hill Features: Stevie Wonder, Rick James, Raekwon, Nas, Dr.Dre, Eminem, Q-Tip, Notorious BIG, Flipmond Squad First Single: Touch It Sales Pitch: "Busta Rhymes has never not been the most consistent mutha fucka around. Busta Rhymes has always carried the torch for what's hot in the street. And even though the South has been making those records that make you wild out in the club, I'm here to give you that raw New York club banger." Busta has really fallen off to me, he was a more talented east coast verison of Ludacris 10 years ago. 7 Ghostface Album Title: Fishscale Label: Def Jam Beats: Pete Rock, Mf Doom, J Dilla, Madlib, Moss, Lewis Parker, Studio Beatz Features: Wu-Tang Clan, Theodore Unit, Ne-yo First Single: Back Like That Sales Pitch: "Fishscale is like dopest **** that's on the block right now. It's like I got the hypest dope. When *****s taste that ****, they gon' fiend for it" I like Ghost, but won't buy the album. 6 T.I. Album Title: The King Label: Grand Huslte/Atlantic Beats: Rich rubin, Neptunes, Just Blaze, Hi-Tek, Kwame, Fury, DJ Toomp. Don Cannon, Chad West, Khano, Keith Mack, Lil' C, Black Mob, Big Resse Features: Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, P$C, Lil' Wayne, B.G., Alicia Keys, Young Dro, Governor First Single: Ride Wit Me Sales Pitch: "Trap Muzik laid the foundation, but missed a couple mainstream recors. Urban Legend was great, but it missed the creativity people wanted from me. King is my most well-rounded project since I'm Serious." T.i. is kinda hit or miss for me, so I won't get his album needs to expand on subject matter, and Keep working with David Banner. 5 Outkast Album Title: Idlewild Label: Jive Beats: Artist, Organized Noize Features: Sleepy Brown, Janelle Monae, Scar First Single: Big Boi's "The Train and the duo's Idlewild Blues will be released simultaneously Sales Pitch: "With us you have to expect the unexpected," said Big. "This is the next thing you could do after doing a double CD where two group members were doing solo CDs. The fans expect nothing less than what we've been giving them for the past decade, and that's some funky-ass ****" I don't have to even bother listening to a Single, I'll be at the record store to buy this album. 4 Mobb Deep Album Title: Blood Money Label: G Unit/Interscope Beats: Havoc, Dr.Dre, Alchemist, Sha Money XL, J.R., Red Spyda Features: G Unit Family First Single: Put 'Em In Their Place Sales Pitch: "If there's one thing you can say about Mobb Deep it's that we're consistent," says Havoc. "We're gonna come with that music that you're gonna be able to play in your car for years. We wanna be a part of this because it's a part of history." Its going to be a "G-Unit Family" album which I'll pass on. Mobb Deep has lost so much creditibility, with Prodigy getting his ass whooped all the time its hard to take them seriously. 3 Cam'Ron Album Title: Killa Season Label: Asylum Beats: Ebonikz, Pro V, Black Key, Stay Gettin, Blackout, Versatile Productions, Wattz Features: Juelz Santana, J.R. Writter, Hell Rell, Jaheim, Webbie First Single: Do Your Thing Sales Pitch: "I got the passion back back because Hell Rell and J.R. are starting to get buzz they're getting. It's like process that Jim, Juelz and I went through starting over, getting on mixtapes. I'm hyped again." Lazy as fuck, only if he tries, he's decent. I liked "Come Home wit me" then he went Plantinum and then got seriously lazy and wack. Bring out some SAS albums. 2 Nas Album Title: TBD Label: TBD Beats: DJ Premier Features: All Mr. Jones offers is, "I'm almost done [working] on a Queens anthem with another big Queens dude." First Single: TBD Sales Pitch: "Cop it to see where dude's head is at and where I'm taking it this timearound. This will be the next step for me. I bridged the gap between generations on my last joint; this one is going further ahead creatively than what I did last time." I'll buy this because I liked his last 3 albums. 1 The Game Album Title: The Doctor's Advocate Label: Black Wall Street/Aftermath/Interscope Beats: Dr.Dre, Hi-Tek, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Nu Jerzey Devil, Timbaland Features: Nas, Damian Marley, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey First Single: TBD Sales Pitch: "I'm still there with Dre making the greatest album of all the time. My first album was a classic. This one is about upping the ante and making something better than a classic - on my own." Im still not sold on the Game completely but with that 300 bars song, I'll give him 2nd chance. Its make or break time for Game. He's got Dre's full attention this time, theres no reason that Game can't shine.

I've heard "Swagger Jacker" from Cam. But that "im a biter not a Writer" Dj mix been out a couple months, before Cam added commentary and other lyrics (which is still funny) but that concept was already been taken. Cam is still fumming because Jay or somebody in his camp stabbed Cam's manager Un Rivera, and Jay Veto'd Cam from VP of the ROC. Jay Shouldn't even respond to this, just run Def Jam label which is still hit and miss since he's ran it.

I threw up at a club/bar twice but it was in the bathroom, didn't get any on the floor. Actually, I end up staying and drinking some more and was fine. Mostly likely if you throw up in front of security, thats a automatic thrown out, and if you refused to leave, you get arrested. Chicks are mostly likely to pass out than guys, and they usually get carried out by the boyfriend.

I think Suge had something to do with both murders. Rappers don't shot at each other. Just the some people that they keep around do sometimes. Obie incident was some "road rage" shit. Cam'ron in the 90's was better than Obie, but now Cam got successful and lazy I say obie's is a better lyricist.

GTA any series would do good. Samauri Showdown Contra

http://www.bet.com/News/tookie_malv...77E4249C5FB7%7D By Julianne Malveaux Posted Dec. 12, 2005 – You won’t find my name on any petition to save the life of Stanley “Tookie” Williams. Nor will I be among those standing in a vigil outside the prison, or spouting fiery rhetoric at a microphone in Williams’ defense. While I have opposed the death penalty as long as I have been aware of it, the media attention generated by the Tookie Williams case has left me with more ambivalence than outrage, raising issues for me about the death penalty, the so-called criminal justice system, gang violence, and the peculiar manner by which Black leaders set priorities. Advertisement On the Death Penalty Stanley Tookie Williams is just one of the 3,415 people on death row in the United States, just one of nearly 650 on death row in California. More than 40 percent of those awaiting execution are African American, even though we are less than 13 percent of the nation’s population. The death penalty isn’t fair – too many death row inmates have been unrepresented or inadequately represented. Too many have been convicted on faulty circumstantial or eyewitness evidence. Too many mistakes have been uncovered after conviction, so many that the state of Illinois has suspended executions indefinitely. We should simply eliminate the death penalty, especially as there is no evidence to suggest that it deters commission of crime, and since it is so unevenly applied. Those who are convicted of killing White people are far more likely to get the death penalty than those convicted of killing people of color. If public agitation could prevent use of the death penalty, then I’d like to see folks rally to 38 state capitols to put a stop to death penalty executions. I chafe at celebrity clemencies, that some death row inmates attract celebrity protestors while others die without notice. The Legacy of the Crips It would be refreshing if the Tookie celebrity coalition would take a moment to talk about the bloody legacy of the Crips gang, a legacy that cannot be washed away by uplifting children’s books. Infants were killed in drive-by shootings. Children were executed, sometimes by “mistake”. Potential witnesses against brutal murderers died or disappeared. The fabric of community in South Central Los Angeles, and in other parts of the country, was shredded in the face of the brutal gang warfare between Crips and Bloods that claimed thousands of innocent victims. Police brutality escalated during the gang wars, and far too many homes of decent law-abiding people were raided and destroyed in the police frenzy to find gang members. To some, the “boys in blue” were no better than the Crips and Bloods. They hid behind their badges and also claimed innocent lives. The natural antipathy between Black folks and so-called law enforcement officers increased during the gang wars, and that antipathy remains. Tookie and Redemption We serve a God of second chances in a country where yesterday’s White felons become tomorrow’s civic leaders. Why deny a brother the same opportunity to repent, be forgiven, and move on? After all, no one is suggesting that Tookie be let out of jail, just that he be spared to write more peace-promoting books, to save more gang-busting lives. Still, those who ask for clemency for Tookie must ask if he has really repented and apologized for his crimes. Yes, he exhorts young people to avoid his mistakes, but perhaps his legal culpability keeps his statements vague, since word on the street in South Central L.A. is that Tookie Williams may have killed more than the four people he is charged with killing. Indeed, it is a peculiar feature of America’s racism that Tookie Williams is being held accountable for the deaths of Whites and Asians, but not of the African Americans whose lives he and his Crip colleagues turned into a living hell. I wonder how Tookie Williams would fare if the people of South Central Los Angles had input into Arnold Schwarzenegger’s clemency decision. The rumors that some have threatened violence if Williams is executed ought to make folks wonder whether Tookie’s message of anti-gang violence is actually being heard. Setting African-American Priorities The people who have gathered to support Tookie Williams are a truly impressive group of actors, leaders, and activists. Do they really think this Tookie case is the most pressing issue for African Americans? Will they use the same energy and force they are spending on Tookie to tackle a series of far more pressing issues. This Tookie Williams case should galvanize us to oppose the death penalty, and also to look at the root causes of inner-city violence. Where are our decent schools? Educational opportunities for young Black men? Rehabilitative opportunities for those who have lived outside the law? Jobs and housing in our inner cities? Our civil rights organizations would make a great contribution if they would tackle these issues. Tens of thousands of Katrina survivors still need help. Thousands still have not found permanent housing; only six schools have opened in New Orleans. FEMA says it will stop paying hotel bills on Jan. 3. Will the Tookie coalition speak up for them? Is Tookie more worthy of mercy because he has written children’s books and been nominated for a Nobel Prize? Many other death row inmates are unable to write. Some are so mentally impaired they have no idea what they have done, or to what they have confessed. These cases aren’t riveting enough to get people excited. Despite my ambivalence, I think Tookie Williams should be spared, not because he has written children’s books or taken a belated stand for peace. He should be spared because he is a human being whose life is sacred. He does more good to us in life than he does as a martyr, reminding those who would emulate him as a gang leader that brutality has consequences. But other death row inmates should also be spared. And if Black leaders and celebrities are now in the habit of lifting their voices, they ought to lift them to combat some of the other ills that plague Black America. Well, its obvious that she against death penalty and effecting opinon on the subject. Good read thou.

Im on the fence, because he's done some good with trying end gang violence, then again he did killed 4 people, and won't "snitch" out entirely on what went down. I guess I would be ok if the Govenator gave him clemency, because he's a type person that would be able to reach a troubled youth because he could relate to that person.

Nothing will top Eazy-E going to that GOP fundraiser... "I never had dinner with the President!!" LOL that was a classic diss line from Cube.

I saw "Tip Drill" Uncensored video at a club, I thought I was watching a softcore flick. "Justify My Love" by Madonna was pretty hot. 2 Live Crew was the GOAT of raunchy stripper videos.

Minstrel Show- Little Brother or "BE" by Common.

Game needs to keep it moving and stop fueding with 50, and make me a believer in him. He's like Joe Budden the West Coast version to me, has some talent but not enough to make me buy his album.

Can't Stop Me- Little Brother

Part 2: of the interview: AllHipHop.com: One of the big issues surrounding The Minstrel Show has been magazine’s album ratings. What are your opinions on the reviews? 9th Wonder: Regardless of what people feel, those magazine ratings definitely help record sales. Credible or not, they help. Big Pooh: When you go into a bookstore, you may not even buy the magazine. You pick it up, and what’s the first thing you do? You flip to the back, and you find out who got what rating. No matter how you feel about ratings, that’s the first thing you do when you see a new magazine issue has dropped. 9th Wonder: It’s talk for weeks. If you get a 2.5 or a 2, they’ll be talking about you for a long time! AllHipHop.com: Sounds like you’ve seen the 2.5 rating that Rolling Stone gave The Minstrel Show. Why do you think they reviewed the album so low? 9th Wonder: They just don’t get it! Phonte: To me, they don’t get it, and I don’t even think they listened to the album. The review read like they didn’t even hear the album, just as their review for The Listening read. So, that magazine just doesn’t seem to get Hip-Hop. AllHipHop.com: In the magazines that specialize in Hip-Hop, the album has received nothing but critical acclaim. The word “classic” has even been used, but how do you feel about albums being hailed as “classics” before being given time to age? It seems like 2005 has had a series of “classic” albums. 9th Wonder: I think it’s because the music today is so bad, that people really want something that they can latch on to and call a “classic” real quick. Phonte: This generation never had an Illmatic. So, they’re really looking hard for one. 9th Wonder: A lot of the kids who are calling albums “classics” are the ones on the Internet. That’s because a lot of these kids are born in 1988, 1987. They weren’t around to experience the day that Illmatic came out. They are really trying to re-live that, badly, but they’ll never be able to have that feeling. They were like four years old when that came out. Big Pooh: You can’t really call something a classic until after awhile. After you see if it stands the test of time. If you can listen to it the same way years later that you did when you first bought it, then that’s a classic. Like me personally, I give albums awhile, and then I’ll go back and see if I can still bump it the same. I can do that with Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt. That’s a damn classic. 9th Wonder: A lot of albums that people call “instant classics” just don’t age well. It happens all of the time. AllHipHop.com: One album that came out to “instant classic” talk was Common’s Be, but a lot of people admitted to hailing it prematurely as time has gone on. 9th Wonder: People are just happy to hear Common rapping again, without all of the extra stuff. I don’t think the “classic” talk for his album has anything to do with the actual music. No offense to any of these artists, but Common, The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli…for these new Hip-Hoppers on the net, those are their heroes. They don’t want to see them go down. They want something to believe in, whether their new music is good or not. On the same page, some of them have a hard time believing that three dudes who used to be on these Internet sites chatting with them are on a major label now. For some of them, it’s a hard pill to swallow. AllHipHop.com: In what ways do these people address you? 9th Wonder: Everybody got opinions, and some people know how to express their opinions in the proper way. But if you say, “I don’t like Little Brother ‘cause they’re wack,” or if you say, “I don’t like their music because of the following reasons,” don’t do no nitpicking, man! You can tell when somebody is being an a**hole. Somebody had made a post the other day, a friend of mine, saying, “Y’all just mad because it isn’t you. You didn’t have the idea that they had, and you’re just mad about it.” After that, nobody replied. Usually, somebody will copy and paste the quote, and then comment negatively. The following posts were like, “Real talk,” and “True.” Phonte: In this culture now, there are very few “just fans” left. The age of the Internet has changed that. I remember going to see A Tribe Called Quest in 1996, when Beats, Rhymes, & Life came out. Tribe, Outkast, Busta Rhymes, and The Fugees. Even then, I knew I wanted to MC, but I was still just a fan of the music. I wasn’t going to the concert and saying, “Ahh, Tip f**ked up that verse.” “Lauryn was off for that note.” I just went to enjoy the show, and when I got home, I couldn’t log on to a website and be like, “That show sucked!” I couldn’t type, [email protected] [and say,] “Lauryn Hill, you f**king suck! I hate your guts, and that was the worst show I’ve ever seen. P.S. Check my beats at That Producer So-N-So on myspace.com.” [laughs] AllHipHop.com: So do you think the Internet is indirectly hurting Hip-Hop? 9th Wonder: Really, man, the Internet is a place where everyone can be somebody. Outside of the computer, they’re nobody, so the net is their chance to stand up on that podium and be somebody. Phonte: It’s definitely not a bad thing, because it helps a lot of music to be heard. But I think, with the Internet now, that fans have lost that knee-jerk reaction to the music, like simply saying, “That’s hot!” People now log on to message boards and write thesis statements about the music. If you like it, you like it. If not, cool. Let it be what it is. It’s just Hip-Hop.

Here a Little Brother Interview: “Dope beats, dope rhymes/ What more do y’all want?” --Phonte, on Little Brother’s “Not Enough” This straightforward question seems rather telltale for Little Brother’s current mood. In some ways, the North Carolina-based trio [MC’s Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh, and producer 9th Wonder] have reluctantly been cast as Hip-Hop’s “saviors.” Amidst an industry abundant in cash-out pressures, the underground darlings have made the transition to mainstream machine Atlantic Records without musical compromise. Their critically acclaimed, yet controversy-attracting, concept album The Minstrel Show, combines the everyman prose of Big Pooh and Phonte, sample-heavy 9th Wonder creations, and sharp humor to lambaste Hip-Hop’s present state-of-affairs. However, making such a bold statement has been anything but drama-free. From inspiring staff alterations at The Source magazine to receiving airplay denial from BET, these rap lovers from N.C. have endured quite a rollercoaster ride of a record release. ‘Te, Pooh, and 9th aren’t phased, though. Firm believers in putting the music above all else priority-wise, the members of Little Brother are sticking to their genuine script. As AllHipHop.com toted the album with an ultra-rare five star review, we deemed it fit to show off our two-part feature with the other LB Fam… AllHipHop.com: The past month or so leading up to The Minstrel Show’s release date has been a rollercoaster for the group, between The Source fiasco and the BET video situation. Were you prepared for any of this? Phonte: I made it up in my mind, as soon as we finished recording the album and decided to name it The Minstrel Show that we’d have to be willing to accept what comes with those decisions. You can’t expect to come out at a time when Hip-Hop is in the state it’s in, name your album The Minstrel Show, and not feel any repercussions. I was ready for whatever. Whether it led to us getting blackballed, or stations not playing us, or n***as beefing, or whatever the f**k it could lead to. This is the stance we’re taking. I know it’s not a popular stance, so I’m willing to live and die by the things that I say. As far as everything that has happened, I’m not surprised by anything. Our situation is somewhat of an anomaly to a lot of people. To just be some unknown n***as who came out of nowhere, under nobody’s wing, and we come out talking about what’s wrong with this industry, it’s like, “What? Who the hell is Little Brother? F**k them!” Big Pooh: I don’t know what’s in store for us after all this controversy, but hopefully it can result in a lot of people following us. It can hopefully bring some change and balance back to the music. 9th Wonder: My thing about this album is that I really want to let people know that we can say what we want and do what we want on record, as long as the music is hot. Don’t be scared to tell the truth and be yourself. Hip-Hop artists need to be leaders, not followers. AllHipHop.com: Songs like the fatherhood reflection, “All For You” find you guys really opening up. Why do you think it’s so rare to hear songs like that on a wider scale, rather than just as album cuts? Big Pooh: Songs like that are easy for people to relate to. A lot of people grew up without their daddies, so I don’t know why it isn’t addressed openly that much. Phonte: A lot of times, these artists that are out now just aren’t that talented. That’s not to say that Pooh and I are super lyricists, but I think it has to do with A: A lot of these n***as just aren’t that talented, and B: Their scopes are so limited. They just want to rap about A and B. “Sometimes, I’ll rap about B, and then A. I might even get crazy and go B, A, B. C? Whoa, that’s too much! Let’s stick to A and B.” Big Pooh: Also, you have to be willing to reveal that part of yourself. A lot of people only want you to know what’s popping for them. “I got money! I got cars! I’m good.” Nah motherf**ker, your life really ain’t that good! You got problems just like the next man does, and a lot of people aren’t willing to reveal that side, but Phonte and I are. You can see our good and our bad. 9th Wonder: Hip-Hop used to be an art form to speak for the people who couldn’t normally speak for themselves, from the hood or whatever. It told the troubles of the hood. Just ‘cause you may have made it and now have all this wealth, that doesn’t mean that people in your hood have made it, or will ever make it. A lot of people in your hood are having hard times with life and struggling. They want their story told to. What’s wrong with that? AllHipHop.com: What makes the album so effective at speaking for the everyday Hip-Hop fan is its humor. One great example of that is the faux R&B song, “Cheatin’.” What was the thought process while making that track? 9th Wonder: It’s crazy, actually, because people think “Cheatin’” is a real serious song. [laughs] Phonte: [laughs] Pretty much, when I did that song, I was thinking about all of the minstrelsy that appears in R&B, too. Doing that record, I was thinking, “What is the worst R&B song I can write?” It kind of put me in the mind frame of the Masta Ace Slaughtahouse approach, with that, “Murder, murder! Kill, kill!” I remember in interviews, Ace was saying that when he did that record, he played it in Germany and n***as thought that was a real song. It was so far gone that the joke went over peoples’ heads. They didn’t even realize that it was a joke, because that’s how bad the music was at the time. “Cheatin’” is along those same lines. I wanted to write the worst f**king song, but one that, if I didn’t tell people it was a joke, could be a hit. You would be surprised, though. I’m in record companies trying to tell these people, “Your audience isn’t as dumb as y’all think they are.” But, then people take “Cheatin’” serious, and I’m thinking, “Hmmm, maybe people are stupid.” [laughs] AllHipHop.com: Something that seems really stupid is this whole BET situation with your video. Can you explain what exactly happened? 9th Wonder: BET is doing a great job! Phonte: [laughs] Pretty much, the whole thing about BET saying the video is “too intelligent” got started on the Internet. To this day, we truly don’t know where that came from. We can’t say that BET did say that. Truthfully, we really don’t know. The fact of the matter is, up until this point, the video hasn’t been played on that station, but we got Atlantic working on that now. Hopefully, BET will come around and start playing the video. If they don’t, we still have the support of FUSE TV, big support from MTV and VH1. We’re just going to keep doing our thing regardless. Whatever happens with BET is whatever. AllHipHop.com: The video for “Lovin’ It” is basic, just showing what a real club atmosphere looks like, not the typical extravagance that most videos include but Hip-Hop listeners rarely experience. Why do you think such a simple video isn’t getting airplay? Phonte: Funny thing is, our original idea for that video would have made more sense, as far as not being played for controversial reasons. The original concept was crazy, but budgets were not allowing it. We were going to be playing off The Minstrel Show theme, and it was us on a sitcom. Like a fake Cosby Show set, and we were going to take all the old fonts from that show. We were going to play up the Minstrel Show characters. 9th was going to be a backpack dude named John Jansport. Big Pooh: I was going to be the iced-out rapper, named Ice Stout. [laughs] 9th Wonder: I was John Jansport, the backpack dude. [laughs] And Joe Scudda was Murder Rob Stab, the gangsta who just kills people before he even raps. Phonte: I was Brother Earth Seed, the conscious brother. That was our original plan, but once we found out what our budget was, it was like, “Damn. Okay, so the club scene, huh.” AllHipHop.com: A song like “Slow It Down” definitely has hit-single potential, but with no video exposure, that most likely could never happen. Do you agree? Phonte: Definitely, you’re right. It’s sad, but that’s the world we live in. Bottom line, it’s all about numbers and delivering labels a demographic. AllHipHop.com: Right, but why do think that’s the case? Why is it so difficult for good hip-hop to be seen and heard? Big Pooh: That’s because the kids run this business. They may not be in the offices making moves, but they run things. 9th Wonder: The industry isn’t giving kids what they think they need to hear. They letting kids dictate what the industry plays, and that’s messed up. That’s really backwards. Phonte: An example of what’s going on is when dinnertime comes at the crib. Your momma brings you out a plate of vegetables, and is like, “It’s time to eat dinner.” “Nah, I don’t want that broccoli. I want a Kit Kat!” “F**k you, n***a! Eat these Goddamn vegetables! You aren’t getting no Kit Kat.” So, you either have one or two choices. Like, I know this is the only meal that I can have. Ain’t no meals coming from nowhere else. Either, I got to eat this healthy food or starve. More than likely, you’ll eat the healthy food, and you’ll learn to love it, but still have a Kit Kat here and there. You need that balance. With a lot of these labels and radio stations, they let kids dictate this market. It’s on some tail wagging the dog stuff. We’re grown-ups. We’re supposed to set the trends. I know teenagers are the biggest market, but I’m sure part of the reason for that is that adults who spend money don’t feel like there is anything out there worth spending money on. If you got 35 year-olds singing to 12 year-olds, then what gives? The average 30 year-old fan of Hip-Hop is like, “I still like Hip-Hop, but give me something that I can at least relate to!” It’s really our society’s fixation on the youth.

Here's a Benzino interview thats on allhiphop.com right now, speaks on numerous things: Ray Benzino might be setting up his personal Tet Offensive, a series of aggressive moves in his long running war again "the machine." And like the famous strategy in a war torn 1960's Vietnam, Benzino hopes to topple his adversaries in a spectacular fashion and drive them out of Hip-Hop for the good of the culture. If this offensive is to work, Boston native must contend with a number of obstacles from his cumbersome work as The Source's Co-Owner/ Chief Brand Manager to and his plethora of enemies and his other affairs. Rumors have swirled of The Source's financial woes, sale, and eviction. If that weren't enough, Benzino and the magazine have not only criticized G-Unit for [being agents of the corporate machine?], but also accuse radio heavyweights like Funkmaster Flex of accepting pay for play. Although his foes deny the charges, 'Zino is pursuing them using every weapon in his arsenal. Read the war report from Zino's uniquely abrasive perspective. AllHipHop.com: Let's touch on the issue of The Source and bankruptcy, what is really going on? Benzino: We are definitely not filing bankruptcy, that's a lie. Dave has been handling the finances since day one. What happened is he took out a loan to get in on the Internet stuff; the next thing you know we are indebted to this bank because of the high interest rate. It's funny that in Hip-Hop, everyone has money except for the artists. There is a big corporate machine that basically exploits our music and our artists, and this is exactly like one of those situations where corporate America thought they could get over. AllHipHop.com: Besides the issue of bankruptcy, there is also speculation that financial troubles is leading to an eviction of The Source at your 23rd street office in New York. Benzino: We are not being evicted. We are just looking for a smaller space because we aren't using it. There is no reason to continue paying for a space that we aren't using, so we are in the process of shopping around. AllHipHop.com: Speaking of businesses - many are still wondering why you are still beefing with artists at Aftermath? Benzino: You know what we have explained the issue with Eminem and Jimmy Iovine repeatedly. I really can't understand how he can be rated one of the top rated MC’s when he is exploiting our music. I mean, it's crazy because we have beef with Interscope, who basically has everything locked down. People won't advertise with us. So we decided to go through a restructure just like any other business. But everyone wants to talk about The Source, but everyone wants a business like The Source, I hate the fact that we get criticized for promoting ourselves. If you look at it, we aren't doing anything different than Russell Simmons or Damon Dash. Honestly, if you wear two hats, of course you’re going to cross-promote between the two. AllHipHop.com: Recently there has been a lot of friction between you and Funkmaster Flex, what's the issue and how did that start? Benzino: First off, I would like to say there is no beef. He talks a lot of trash [on air at Hot 97] and when he leaves, he has a group of security guards, but one day he is going to slip and when we do collide you are going to hear about it. AllHipHop.com: Touching on another subject dealing with the payola scandals, what is the deal behind this lawsuit you are filing against the industry? Benzino: We are filing a lawsuit against the major forces in the industry for the middle-man, because it's the middle man who doesn't get their artists played in a major market like New York - because they aren't paying. We are linking up with all the artists and managers, anyone who has tried honestly to get they stuff heard and couldn't because they wasn't paying. In all honesty, Flex thought he was going to be gone a long time ago because of the payola. I ain't going to lie, I used to pay Flex back in the day, but now because he down with G-Unit he want to trip, b*tch please. That's why I am telling you, if we ever met up, it's a wrap. AllHipHop.com: A lot if people have been coming down on The Source not because of the “G-U-Not” issue, but because the attack seems to have been going on for a long time now. Benzino: We basically are taking a stand, but while everyone points out the fact we are standing up, no one is saying anything about XXL being bought out to put them on the cover every month. AllHipHop.com: Steve Stoute has been on Hot 97 talking about he loaned Dave Mays money for The Source and he’s made reference to the fact that he is in the process of looking into buying The Source. Benzino: Steve has always been on Dave’s d**k. He's on Hot 97 lying. Notice how he's saying, "He was going to buy The Source,” he wasn't going to do nothing. We bought his house back in the day when he was in trouble, and turned it into the Made Men headquarters, I mean this is the same guy that was chased by Foxy Brown and smacked across the head by Diddy; so he has always been a peon. The best description I have for Steve Stoute is a crab who jumps on everybody's d**k. Dave borrowed $500,000 from him and gave it back to him, then he tried to ask for $100,000 in interest. Put it like this: anyone who mentions my name will get the business. Chubby Chubb got it, DJ Enuff apologized, so it's over. But next time I see Flex and Tony Yay,o it's on. I want everyone to know that Flex and Tony Yayo aren't allowed in Boston. AllHipHop.com: Speaking on Tony Yayo, what happened with him being on the cover of The Source? Benzino: Tony Yayo saw me in South Beach, ran across the street and started talking that trash about how 50 best not be on the cover. AllHipHop.com: What happened to The Source Awards and is it going to be held again? Benzino: UPN had it for a year, but UPN was really scared of the Hip-Hop audience. Too many people say they support the craft, but then they turn their back on it. I mean now they do the Vibe awards, which is some cookie cutter bulls**t; some stuff for Steve Stoute and Russell Simmons. They are too busy trying to reach a suburban audience, that they aren't paying attention to the 'hood. But we are in the process of taking The Source Awards to another network, so we are looking at hosting it in January of 2006. AllHipHop.com: So what happened at BET? Benzino: The same thing that happened to Free and AJ, the same people that had problems with them is who we have issues with. I mean there is so much stuff going on with them up there that it' crazy. You got Scott Mills who has a family, dating some guy in the legal department and he was the main one with issues about Dave and I showing up at our own awards show. So you best believe that is one case that we will win in court, because the contract we had with BET was straight black and white and it was for three years, so I am waiting for that day in court. AllHipHop.com: Is there anyone else you want to air out that has been putting you on blast? Benzino: I mean everyone over at Hot 97, Angie Martinez she talks all that s**t. You know what, here is a contest: I got $97.00 for anyone who can guess who the father of her baby is. AllHipHop.com: Other than issues with side talking, what's next for Benzino? Benzino: Right now the next issue of The Source is taking an in-depth look at Hip-Hop behind bars, we are in the process of releasing a Source sponsored Hip-Hop hits album with Warner Music. We have launched three additions to The Source Magazine family which is The Source Latino, The Source France, and The Source Japan and last but least we have The Source ringtones. So we are definitely doing it big and not going for broke.

Buck went plat? I forgot about Game. I don't think any of them will do well the 2nd time around.

Jay-Z isn't as popular as 50 Cent, he hasn't had any albums sell as much as 50's last two have, and he's never had a Billboard #1 single while 50's already had 3 (and probably another one soon with "Window Shopper") Jay-Z as president of Def Jam is more of just a figurehead than anything, L.A. Reid still runs the label. Jay-Z only makes money off of the sales of Roc-A-Fella artists and the only Roc artist worth a shit is Kanye West. The rappers he's tried to develop on his own have failed miserably (Memphis Bleek, Young Gunz) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> So, let me get this right... Jay-Z is actually president of a label...but that doesnt count because you say hes a 'figurehead'. 50 Cent isnt actually in charge of anything....but he is on mtv ALOT with screaming children, so he clearly runs the rap game. Hope he doesnt put those preteens he runs into a 'chokehold' By these credentials, R Kelly is the Lord of the rap game. Hes got the kiddies wherever he wants em...50 cent hasnt even pissed on a child yet! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> He's in charge of G-Unit Records, and hes already put out 6 platinum albums on the label since starting it. He also probably has the most pull of any artist at Interscope right now aside from Dr. Dre. If you want to know about how much power he has, read the latest issue of The Source, which basically details just how much leverage G-Unit has with the media and how much Interscope as a whole has with MTV and radio. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> When did 50/G-Unit put out 6 platinum albums? outside of Llyod Banks, 50 is the only G-Unit member that has went platinum. Interscope has leverage with XXL, and Source magazine are anti-Interscope. Ok, back to the topic. I find 50's comments to Kanye funny, if calling out the President of the US on live nationwide tv isn't confrontional, I don't know what it is.

I'm certain if you don't like rap, just stay the fuck out of topics concerning it <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Too much rap discussion lately. We need some jazz threads or something to get bumped. If I wanted to read about bullshit gimmicks and feuds at illegitimate award ceremonies, I'd be in the WWE folder. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Make some jazz threads then. Like i've said neither one of the parties involved are not credible rap sources anymore. Rap City has turn into Video Soul, The Sauce has turn into "Fuck Interscope records" magazine.

My favorite Diss tracks of all time: -No Vasline: Classic Ice Cube shit right there. -2nd Round KO: LL won't comment on Canibus again -Real Muthafuckin G's: Eazy cameback hard after "Dre Day" diss -Dre Day-Video made it for me, where Eazy bowing down to the jew was hilarous. -Takeover: Jay to Nas -Ether: Nas to Jay -The Bitch in yoo: Common to Ice Cube -Take Money: 2Pac -Against all odds: 2Pac

Eventhough Benzino had some valid points on the Interscope Crew, but he used the magazine fuel his beefs and whore out his bullshit albums. Dave Mays needs to grow a sack and cut off ties with Benzino but he was scared. XXL isn't too much better since a Interscope artist is always on the cover every month.

Dre wants to make money period. He'll stay neutral between Game and 50 until someone calls him out. (50 most likely) I don't understand why Dre pawn Game off to 50 in the first place. This shows why Dre is fucking lazy sometimes.

It was classic how it went down how 95 Source awards went down. Suge: If you don't want your CEO dancing in your videos, then come to Death Row. Snoop: What the East Coast don't love Tha Row (It was swipe at the Source) The Sauce or BET hasn't been respectable for years now, straight garbage from both parties.

Cam was a decent rapper back in the day, but now he doesn't even try anymore. Too bad he got shot, usually Freaky Zeakey is always getting robbed and getting shot out of the crew. Diplomats/Dip Set movement starting to grow into a Wu Tang-type level which sucks, except those SAS dudes from England.

Its funny how the NBA don't like the so called "Hip Hop" image but still use rap songs for their Promo Ads, blasting thru the arena loudspeakers during games.