Double M's Thursday Music News Report 10.08.09
Posted by Michael Melchor on 10.08.2009
The aftermath of the “Fame Kills” tour, Method Man, Jay-Z, Eminem and Public Enemy are all discussed in a one-off—well, more like a two-off return.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those solely of the author and may not necessarily reflect those of the rest of the human race.
See, the names have all changed since I been around, but the game ain't the same since I left out. Man, it's been a while since I've been in this spot. Almost four and a half years, to be exact – and even that was a fill-in! Of course, this used to be known as, simply, "Double M", but I no longer make editorial decisions. Then again, that's when this appeared on a regular basis on a Monday...
Anyway, thanks for checking in, particularly since you're probably expecting Patrick Robinson's Hip-Hop Herald. However, Patrick's on a much-deserved vacation the next week or two, so playing the part of Patrick Robinson for the next week or three will be Michael Melchor: former Music Zone Editor/News Report columnist, now part-time CD Reviewer, News Poster (none of the ones involving tits – AJ Grey has that on lockdown), resident once-in-a-blue-moon fill-in guy and the "Jim Cornette" of 411. Oh, and former Wrestling Zone Raw/Smackdown/MLW/FCW Recapper and News Report columnist. And enough "retirements" to make Terry Funk jealous. All that in a little over six years.
Anyway, this is how this is gonna work: if you're used to Patrick's format, I'll apologize now because you won't be seeing that here. See, I know it's a sign of respect to stick to the regular columnist's format (or content at the very least) and I have nothing but the absolute utmost respect for Patrick. You know, something about all this seems very familiar. However, I have a Haitian boatload of stuff going on at any given moment – a rather large family, another writing gig that I'm putting quite a bit of energy into, a full-time management job, finishing my degree (FINALLY)...yeah. I don't have as much time as I would like because they haven't extended full days to 32 hours yet. Therefore, we stick to the format I used to use when I did this on a regular basis.
Now, am I gonna completely piss on the people showing up here looking for Hip-Hop news? Not at all. I'll gladly cover that, just to stick to what you're probably used to. I'm not completely lazy, yeh know. Just don't expect me to cover it nearly as well as Patrick, that's all I ask. I do know a lot about this sort of thing, but I'm not sure my knowledge of the new mainstream stuff is as extensive as his. However, I'm working on that - I have 2 interviews with 2 rappers coming up within 4 days of each other. By the time you read this next week, I'll have talked to both Lyrics Born and Apathy (new album, Wanna Snuggle? out NOW!).
Now then, with all THAT out of the way...
Okay, This Is Boring – What Else Is There To Read?
Well, it seems the Art of Pimping (columns) has died a painful death since I did this last. However, this is a perfect place to pimp the whole damn site...
Okay, another disclaimer before we go on: when I used to do this regularly, I'd cover the week in-between columns. With that in mind, I'm starting back from last Thursday night...
...When it was announced that the "Fame Kills" tour, starring Lady GaGa and Kanye West, was cancelled. Live Nation pulled the plug, with no reason given. Yeah, I know – you've heard about this by now. But, since this partly concerns one of my pet subjects, I'm running with it now.
And run I would have. See, I had a nice, several-paragraphs-long tirade about how Hollywood and the rest of planet Earth SERIOUSLY OVERREACTED to West interrupting ickle pwetty Taylor Swift – a pop starlet that no one's gonna remember in five years' time – giving a speech. You people really had absolutely nothing better to do than to comment on what an ass he was and act all outraged – thereby taking PC bullshit to a whole new level.
I mean, come on – Did he rape Swift on stage? Did he shoot anybody? Did he fly a plane into a building? Was anyone injured or killed? Then, don't you think all this is a little harsh? He interrupted someone's speech. That's IT. Rude? Certainly, but not worth all this attention by a damn sight. What he did wasn't so controversial or shocking, but it sure feels like it simply because the media ran with it as the latest "outrage" and the fine PC folk of this country bought it, hook, line, and sucker.
Yeah, that was part of it. I had a LOT more, too...until Lady Gaga had to go and ruin the whole damn story. By being sensible! How dare she!
Receiving the "Rising Star" award from Billboard last Friday, GaGa stated that the tour was killed because Kanye's taking some time off and she's going on a smaller tour of her own. Her choreographer, Lori Ann Gibson, said on her Twitter page today that the tour was canceled due to "creative differences" between the Gaga and West.
To me, that translates into: Kanye had gotten so much heat that it might affect her box-office as well, so she decided to back out using the reason that West was maybe even talking him in to taking a little time off because he was getting "burned out". And, if she did...good for her. Now, to me, music isn't all about making money and being famous...but the industry IS. Those factors have to be balanced for any musician to have anything resembling a long, healthy career.
Live Nation had a viable, business reason to pull the plug. And poor Lady GaGa, caught in the middle of all this mess, decided that playing smaller venues would be the better way to go and likely backed out herself. She didn't start and couldn't help all this. She has a career to worry about, too.
It looks like "Fame Kills" will have to wait a while – before it literally does. So be it.
(Pics? Sure. Gratuitous T&A? Once again, I Ain't Tha 1.)
Never ceases to amaze me...and not necessarily in a good way...
Elsewhere, it was Meth vs. Chef The Law as Wu-Tang's most charismatic – though no longer most successful – MC was arrested on Staten Island on charges of failing to pay four years worth of income taxes. He owes the government $32,799, not including fees and penalties. Meth could face up to four years in prison if convicted. Owitch.
I hate it for the man, really. Been a Clan fan since we all first Entered the 36 Chambers. Meth looked like the break-out at first, but then Ghost simply caught up to and overtook his ass. Hopefully he can get past this and get back in the race with Ghost (and hope he doesn't fall in third, now, with Rae putting out Cuban Linx II and even whuppin' the almighty Jay-Z for a couple days on iTunes. Of course, they could care less about racing amongst each other – they'd rather all hop in the same car and run our asses over. Yeah, sign me up for that one – assuming Meth doesn't go to the clink.
Pic courtesy of Buddyhead.com. The headline that came with this read, "OMG THAT STINGS". Couldn't have said it any better myself...
That could be interesting, for certain. I'd have made this point myself, but Jay beat me to it:
When I teamed up with Linkin Park nobody expected that to work but we made a massive success of it. The same could happen with Liam.
I...I really can't argue with that. When Collision Course first came out, I was nearly appalled by the idea (partly because I really wasn't into Jay-Z at the time, but that's since changed). Then I heard it and realized that, while it's not a record that set the music world on fire, it's damn good ear candy. I can live with that.
Jay could certainly accomplish the same with Oasis. Hell, give a good listen to The Grey Album; if you believe that Oasis is a low-rent Beatles, then that should convince you that this could sound halfway decent. (The Grey Album was one of the convincing factors that made me come around to Jay-Z and his style, so maybe I'm a little biased.)
Hell, that cover alone is worth it...
Eminem, aside from settling his issue with Apple (Lord knows what may come of that, although I think it'll be a minute or two before anything does), has also revealed a little about Relapse 2. One of the bits is that he and 50 Cent are set to do a "face-off" being billed as similar to "Guilty Conscience" on his first LP.
I don't know if I'm all that excited about this. "Guilty Conscience" is one of my favorite Eminem tracks, and I still think that Fiddy is a decent rapper that sounds much better with the right producer. It's kinda like up-and-coming working with Chris Benoit "The Thing That Should Not Be" back in the day – maybe being with someone who can rap will make 50 sound a lot better. Enough to make this sound plausible, anyway.
Speaking of skillz, Eminem's not just relying on Dre for Relapse 2, as Denaun and Just Blaze, among others, have contributed tracks to the album as well. See, I don't think Em is a rapper that needs to rely on a specific producer to sound good (unlike his just-discussed counterpart). Em is one of the most talented rappers alive; I don't think that comes from having the right beat.
No, this isn't a "help a brother out because we're poor" tactic or anything like that. PE has signed on with The rap group has signed a deal with "fan funding engine" SellaBand, to raise $250,000 in increments of $25 in order to record and release an as-yet-untitled album. Now, if you're one of the ones that throws in $25 (or more, I'm sure), you not only get a new PE record, but a share in the revenue of the album and a numbered copy of it.
The way Chuck D explains it, "SellaBand's financial engine model goes about restructuring the music business in reverse. It starts with fans first, then the artists create from there. The music business is built on searching for fans and this is a brand new way for acts to create a new album
with fans first, already on board."
Now, I have to say I like the thinking behind this. It kinda works the "piracy" angle, only in reverse – you have to pay for the album first! BUT, when you do, you get a guaranteed, limited copy of it AND a share of the profits from what it makes. Not too shabby at ALL, if you ask me.
That having been said...I really don't think this is going to work. I can't think of enough people by now that aren't used to just downloading an album (often times, for Scott free) once it's already out. How many people, despite the inherent rewards offered, are going to pony up the $25 and then wait for it to come out? Not many (aside from me, really), I'm afraid. We'll have to see how this experiment (and frankly, that's what I'd call it) plays out...
Mean while, Flavor Flav's shopping another VH1 reality series where he goes back to school for his diploma. No, seriously.
On The Road Again
The tour dates for "Fame Kills", starring Kanye West and Lady Gaga, are as follo—oh, wait. Never mind.
Happy Trails
And that'll wrap it up for me here. Hope you enjoyed this little detour, especially since I'll be back here next week. For me, it was a nice little bit of nostalgia. I miss doing this regularly, but who has the time? You know, something about all this seems very familiar, too. Of course, if you thought it sucked, take heart in the fact that Patrick will be back to do this right in 2 weeks with his brand of brilliance.
