Loop Diggin’ Thursdays, News & Rants 03.03.06
Posted by Phil Watts, Jr on 03.02.2006
Busta's dilemma, and Dilated Peoples needs a serious eye examination. Plus: NEW & UPCOMING RELEASES!!
"I'm praying for (Busta) because he's in a bad spot...the laws of the street say if you talk to the cops you're a snitch. If you're a snitch, you're not cool. If you're not cool, you don't sell records. Artists aren't talking (to police) because they abide by these rules." (Fat Man Scoob's comments on Busta's current dilemma.)
Sigh...
So, this faggot mixtape DJ is more concerned about Busta's popularity and record sales than he is about the fact that A MAN WAS MURDERED! Sadly, this mirrors the attitude of most Hip-Hop fans these days...and yet, these same exact people that yap about "STOP SNITCHIN'" (and wearing those dumb-ass shirts) are the ones scratching their heads wondering why Biggie's and 2Pac's murders have remained UNSOLVED FOR NEARLY A DECADE! I know, I know, you can't trust the police worth a shit, so they want to keep the police out of it and handle it themselves. So, to all you 'down-for-whatever' street niggaz wearing the "STOP SNITCHING" shirts: Any luck finding Biggie's, Pac's, and Big L's murderers yet? Exactly. Plus, if the murders of three prominent rappers aren't enough to get you to speak, then what's the use of thinking about some BODYGUARD, right? You "Stop Snitchin'" muthafuckas make me sick. Fuck the fact that a killer is still on the loose--a killer that doesn't give a shit about YOU and would've easily killed YOU if you were in that spot. It's better to protect the murderer's identity so you can preserving your precious STREET CRED and you record sales. That's obviously far more important, right?
I hope and pray that Busta thinks long and hard about the decision he's about to make. He's about to be put into a 'damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't' situation, where he has to make the choice between calling out a killer (and being called a 'snitch' for it) or letting a killer walk free to kill someone else (and be an accomplice, so he can preserve his...uh...street cred.) I'm sorry if I'm NOT IMPRESSED with all this "Stop Snitching" bullshit, but it makes all these street thugs that the mainstream loves to worship look like BATTERED WIVES in disguise! Let's hope Busta makes the right decision. Whether he knows somebody who's involved or is involved it himself, he needs to let people know what's up. Same goes for Tony Yayo, or anyone else who's somehow connected or knows someone connected to this murder.
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A long time ago, I read this interview of Pharoahe Monch about what he plans to do with his career. Problem was, he never got into detail about his label situation...until NOW. He does have a new album coming out, entitled DESIRE. The surprising thing about this is the fact that this album will be released by an individual whose name I have not heard in YEARS...
...Steve Rifkind.
Does that name ring a bell to you?
This was the man that founded LOUD Records, the label that gave the WuTang Clan (ENTER THE 36 CHAMBERS; ONLY BUILT FOR CUBAN LINKS, etc.) and the Alkaholiks (21 AND OVER; COAST 2 COAST) a chance to shine. This was also the label that gave way for Pete Rock to make his triumphant comeback with the SOUL SURVIVOR album. Other artists include:
Big Pun (CAPITAL PUNISHMENT)
Xzibit (AT THE SPEED OF LIFE and 40 DAYS...)
Mobb Deep (THE INFAMOUS and HELL ON EARTH)
M.O.P. (WARRIORS)
This label had it going on. Unfortunately, Rifkind started making one bad decision too many, trying to get his artists to follow what everyone else was doing instead of leading the pack like he used to (The Liks trying to go to the Neptunes for a radio hit--and bombing, that horrible "Hey Love" song that was Mobb Deep's official JUMP THE SHARK moment, Big Pun's second album, etc.), resulting in the label going belly-up. (See also: Wild Pitch Records, Rawkus Records)
Will Steve Rifkind learn from these past mistakes and bring Pharoahe back to the spotlight? Will his upcoming label reach the prominence that Loud reached and break out as many new stars as hen did with LOUD? Who knows. What we do know is that Pharoahe is using the title track ("Desire", produced by The Alchemist) as his first single.
No release date yet.
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During a WuTang concert a few weeks back, Ghostface went off when the DJ started playing D4L's nigtastic hit, "Laffy Taffy". First, he started mocking like he's gettin' crunk to it, then went on another "real Hip-Hop" tirade: "THAT WASN'T OUR SHIT, G..." The DJ puts on come Rakim & BDP and Ghost says, "See...THIS is REAL HIP-HOP! Stop supporting that bullshit!" He also reminded the audience that the South wasn't the first to come out with GRILLS, as NY had gold fronts for decades.
In the latest issue of VIBE, Ghost uttered some shit about "southern radio stations don't play NY shit no more."
Yup, good ol' Ghostface. On one hand, I am not denying that the South had been shoving bullshit down our throats for years (check last weeks column for an example). But there are several problems here:
1) The South ain't the only ones putting out bullshit. Hell, the South has artists keeping 'real Hip-hop' alive, too (the Justus League!) Every place has its good shit and its wack shit.
2) It's pretty strange for the author of such socially conscious compositions such as "WILDFLOWER" ("YEAH-YEAH, I FUCKED YOUR FRIEND! Yeah, you stank ho!!") to go on a tirade about the ignorance in Southern crunk shit.
3)By the way, Ghost...Slick Rick wasn't trying to fuck no bad pussy, either ("Lodi Dodi").
I remember a few years back on BET's RAP CITY (back when it was GOOD) when Ghost went on a similar tirade about how ignorant Hip-Hop has become. However, this was around the time IRONMAN was released...the same album that featured the aforementioned "Wildflower" ("I FUCKED YOU WHILE YOU WAS BLEEDIN' AND HELD YOU DOWN IN MALLS!!!" Wow...that's deep, man.)
Don't worry, Ghost...you're still my man. It's just that whenever you go into tirades like this, you enter into POT/KETTLE/BLACK territory. So, just concentrate on putting your projects out, make sure Jigga promotes that shit so you can pay the rent, and to hell with what everyone else is doing.
Besides, the image of you PUSH-PUSH-PUSHing up in Missy's TUSH-TUSH-TUSH is enough to make me throw up.
By the way...FISHSCALE comes out March 28.
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A while back, I heard a few songs from Dilated Peoples ("Back Again", "Rapid Transit") off of the 20/20 album. I was so disappointed with their last album (NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH), and was hoping that they'd step their game up with the new album. Lo and behold, I bought the album...and I wish I left it on the shelf. Just like the last album, they play it way too safe. Aside from the help of Alchemist, Evidence and DJ Babu are actually damn good producers...but you wouldn't be able to tell it with this album, because their beats are so BLAND here. Hell, even the Alchemist's contyributions weren't all that, as he seems more comfortable working with Mobb Deep, IM3, and others of their ilk than he is with Dilated anymore. On top of that, there was once a time when Evidence and Rakaa were considered the illest ("Work the Angles", "Annihilated", "Triple Optics", etc.) Now they sound so bored it's pitiful...especially Evidence, who's just tossing around lame-ass punchlines to see what sticks ("You'd think we're from the Bay with the way we B-Legit!" Ugh.) Message to Dilated Peoples: WELCOME TO 2006!! Either take a shit or get the fuck out the bathroom! Step your game up, or give that spot to someone else! I wouldn't be surprised if Capitol Records drops them after this.
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Smiley Da Ghetto Child of the Gangstarr Foundation is set to release his first album, entitled THE ANTIDOTE. You may remember him from "The Realness" from Group Home's LIVIN' PROOF album, not to mention Premier gave him his own little spot on Gangstarr's last album, THE OWNERZ.
The guestlist includes WC (of The Madd Circle/Westside Connection fame) with a guest verse on "L.A.N.Y.", and the beats will be provided by Grouch (of the Living Legends), Sebb (who worked with Cage and Infamous Mobb), Showbiz, and of course, Premier. The album is set for April 18.
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Now with a new label backing them up (Fatbeats Records), and with the Meat Shake finally out of their system, Ugly Duckling is back with their upcoming album, BANG FOR THE BUCK. The first two singles ("Let It Out" and "Smack") have been released and if they serve as an indication, these guys are definitely back! The blaring horns of "Let It Out" are enough to make you forget that the last album ever existed. DJ Einstein is NOT to be slept on! His beats are a combination of Mr. Lawnge (the DJ 1/2 of Black Sheep) and Prince Paul.
These two singles signal a more aggressive sound to make up for the slip-up that was the TASTE THE SECRET album, which was littered with millions of corny-ass skits about a Meat Shake franchise. Yeah, the album had some gems, like "Turn It Up" and "Rio De Janeiro", but you're better off getting their respective 12"s (The "Rio De Janeiro" 12" also has a colab with GRAND PUBA of Brand Nubian called "Something‘s Goin‘ Down Tonight"!)
It would be redundant to call them the illest clean-cut rappers on the market right now...after all, who are we going to compare them to--THE BLACK EYED PEES?!
BANG FOR THE BUCK is slated for an late April release.
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Other albums to look out for this month:
Edgar Allen Floe, FLOE ALMIGHTY
Murs & 9th Wonder, MURRAY'S REVENGE
J-Zone & Celph Titled, a.k.a. The Bo$$ Hog Barbarians, EVERY HOG HAS ITS DAY
Dave Chappelle's BLOCK PARTY SOUNDTRACK (with appearances from Black Star, Common, The Roots, Big Daddy Kane, G. Rap, the Fugees, and many more)
Public Enemy & Paris, REBIRTH OF A NATION
The High & Mighty and Cage, a.k.a. The Smut Peddlers, PORN AGAIN (reissue)
...but while you're waiting on those, don't forget to check THESE albums, released just recently:
Blaq Poet (of the Screwballs) REWIND: DEJA SCREW
Boogie Down Productions THE BEST OF THE B-BOY SESSIONS (which includes the CRIMINAL MINDED album)
Chino XL, POISON PEN
El Da Sensei, THE UNUSUAL
...and don't forget, please cop J-Dilla's DONUTS album!! It makes NO GODDAMN SENSE for his final album to sell only 4500 copies!! It's bullshit, I tell you!
