So Cam’Ron sold his homey Juelz Santana’s contract to Def Jam for two million bucks. That reminds me of when there was no free agency in baseball. Owners regularly sold the contracts of their best players when they were strapped for cash. I wonder if Cam’Ron couldn’t have raised more money for himself by just having an auction. All the interested labels could have begun a bidding war for Santana’s services. Two millies doesn't seem like a lot of scrilla to me for one of the highest touted rappers in the youngish sort of generation. There's a whole grouping of rappers that are in their thirties and late twenties who still rhyme for the high school set. Fab, Wayne, Bow Wow, Juelz, you know the names. You would figure that Juelz would have at least three more solo projects in him. Couldn't Cam have scraped together three million dollars for the paperwork?
How much is Manny Ramirez getting this season? I know the game is totally different but he is a dude that is in his late thirties which means he is close to retiring. Once a rapper reaches thirty I'm sure that most of you da-dunt da-dunns would argue that is when they become irrelevant. Maybe that is why Cam'Ron could only fetch 2 millies for the Juelz paperwork. Juelz is approaching his thirtieth birthday and Def Jam won't pay that O.J. Mayo money to someone who has Baron Davis' knees. Record industry money is more like NFL paperwork in that nothing is ever guaranteed. Even the signing bonus has to be recouped in most cases.
Some of you are asking why the fuck am I speculating on shit that I don't know the particulars of? Sheeeeeit, speculatiing on niggas futures is one of the top elements of Hip-Hop right after writing on walls with a spray can and fingerbanging your best friends' sister. Both of which I have done, but then again, I am sooooo Hip-Hop. One thing I will say is that Juelz keeps his new movement on an old school vibe by buying promotional t-shirts for all of his weedcarriers. I wonder who is giving the skull [ll]?
So when do you think Def Jam will release the new Santana album? Certainly not until 2009, if ever. First, Juelz will have to put out a mixtape and try to re-create the former buzz he held from five years ago. Second, Juelz will have to negotiate the politricks of a label that moves around now like a rudderless ship. If Juelz Santana rhymes like Lil' Wayne he still has a chance. The truth is there are too many rappers at Def Jam right now. Someone's gonna have to retire.
Editor’s note: Terrence Elenteny is an up and coming filmmaker and a large part of the success of the iNTERNETS CELEBRITIES and DP dot com film projects. During my desperation to get into the ‘Rock The Bells’ concert I put out an all points bulletin to everyone I thought would be in attendance. Terrence didn’t have an extra ticket for me, but he blesses us with the best recap of the show I have read so far…
Yo D!
Whatsup man,
Sorry I didn’t get back to you this weekend – I was involved in the tail-end of a week long bender on Long Island culminating in one of the greatest fucking shows I have been to in quite some time. I did not have an extra ticket unfortunately – If I did, you would have gotten the call, believe me. Man, if we could’ve gotten access to work at that Rock the Bells shit – we would have KILLED it. But I was damn happy to relax and be a fan.
Have you been to shows at Jones Beach? Totally different experience than a Randalls Island or typical festival. Call me an old man but I was damn happy to sit in the upper deck of the amphitheatre in my seat all day, smoking blunt after blunt with a picturesque view of the water, boats, and stage, not having to walk around at all. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful show. I’m sure you’ve heard all about it from other people already but the performances were off the hook in my opinion. I wish De La had a longer, and later set. Seems crazy to me that they aren’t headlining their own shows like this but I guess that goes to show you what a Long Island loving De La Soul stan I am.
Pharcyde was sick. Never got too deep into them but their performance and energy will def make me go back and check out their classic joints. Rae and Ghost did their thing, you know Wu always shows up with about 60 people on stage to show a presence and have their backs. Ghost might be my favorite rapper still putting out consistent albums in my opinion so I almost wish they would let him go in on more of his new stuff, but hearing all the Cuban Link and classic Wu joints is always special.
As the sun starts setting at Jones Beach, you start to feel that something special is happening and just as the light started changing we get a Mos Def set. Mos Def might be the most entertaining person I have ever seen in my life. Not sure what it is about that dude that just gets me wrapped up – but I will always buy, watch, love anything he creates or appears in. And as far as entertainment value–the man puts on an original, never stale/rehearsed show and feels spontaneous and reactive to the crowd’s energy. He has the DJ playing sick Jamaican/island tunes and his set weaves from solo classics to Black Jack fire to him singing at the top of his lungs. That dude is gifted like no other . And then out comes Talib to kill some Black Star shit — my high was in full effect at this point and I was bumping that album to the death when I was in high school so I was transplanted instantly in space and time. They fucking killed it. To the last minute—the production crew came out and told Mos to start wrapping it up and he owned that dude – “Nah man– Im bigger than that” and he finished up his set. I love Mos – definitely.
So now its nighttime – Red and Meth – who I had seen before years ago on their How High tour – and and Ive seen Wu a few times as well. Knew this shit was going to be high energy. The perfect act to have up now that the light is gone and a full stage production with lights and stage monitors can be truly effective. These dudes really do put on a show their energy can’t be contained. Not to mention they are some funny motherfuckers who can make my side split simply by doing that walk frrom Da Rockwilder video. These cats own an audience. Not sure if Method Man killed a bunch of dudes and swallowed their souls or something – but every time I see him perform I’m floored by his boundless energy. Honestly, I think if this dude was a nobody and you put him up on stage in front of a crowd without a microphone — just let him run around, dance and yell at the crowd — after 5 minutes he’d have everyone singing M-E-T-H-O-D mannn. He demands crowd participation like no other. And you gotta respect these dudes for just being the same motherfuckers as always — this is Jones Beach we are talking about on Long Island–there’s underage teenage girls with their moms waiting to pick them up in the parking lots after the show at every turn. And to hear Redman encouraging the ladies in the crowd to make noise if they’ve got that “good pussy” – there’ s just something great about that and I don’t even know why. So all this in itself makes for a great set. Add to that these motherfuckers brought out DJ KOOL (Let me clear my throat, and big up Wale, then leave), Slick Rick (I think he came out with them, but maybe with Rae and Ghost– I was higghhh) and EPMD!!! Let me tell you something man– I have been caught sleeping because I have not made progress on this Long Island Hip Hop documentary that I have had in my head for years, seeing EPMD and De La rip shit up at a classic show in Long Island mind you, I have been woken up and I need to get going on that shit, we should talk about it.
Anyway, EPMD is on stage – I have officially lost my mind. How sick is Eric Sermon’s voice – is it a lisp, some sort of speech impediment? — I dont fuckin know but it just sounds like he’s the one dude who should have probably not tried his hand and public speaking – and ends up being a rap star like no other. I just remembered — someone brought out Biz Markie at one point – Long Island representative yet again. And De La brought Dres out from Black Sheep who is always a fan favorite. So we’ll say thats it for the Red and Meth set -although Im probably forgetting something crazy. Long break in between sets for the crew to set up and assemble the full band that will accompany Nas. Assholes in the crowd were growing impatient and booing the long break but I was cooling out and getting to know my high.
Nas came out hard – the live back worked with him well- often the DJ would throw on a classic joint on wax- the band would start playing along, reinterpreting the samples from the original track as the record faded out and now Nas is rocking his verse with the newly created backing track. It was pretty dope. He performed at least half of Illmatic– not sure if he gets tired or forgetful but it isn’t uncommon for him to miss chunks of his verses at a time. It didn’t even bother me though. Nas is a passionate dude and that shit comes through no matter what. Not sure how you feel about Nas lately- but I’m feeling his maturity and attempts to be more socially relevant.
He came hard telling the crowd that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were out – as are the rest of the old leaders. He sounds like a man who wants to run for office – or at least be a representative of the people. He aligns himself with the young generation and asks the people to believe in him because they are one in the same. Nas is a genuine, real artist in my book and I was happy to see him put all of himself into a performance. I won’t say that I knew Jay-Z was coming but I knew that motherfucker was coming. I heard just the smell of that Breathe beat and was out of my seat yelling “Here come Hov motherfuckers” It took a minute for the rest of the crowd to join me but next thing you know, there he is. Jay-Z has created really a new level of rap icon. Seeing him step on stage unannounced, whether you love the dude or not, is the equivalent of Elvis stepping on the stage, or whoever it is that rock n’ roll people shit their pants about these days. This reminds me of another larger point that I have been missing as well–it’s no surprise obviously – but it’s just good to see all these guys give these amazing performances and rep so strong for NYC. It’s Hov’s civic duty as reigning hip-hop impresario to show up at this classic show and do his bit. Him and Nas killed that Black Republican joint and Hov officially left the bulding.
Nas wrapped up his set with One Mic– performing most of the song on bended knee–the two huge stage monitors in tight on his face as he performs his poetry with a look in his eye that makes me think that this dude was actually pretty good in Belly. Last set: Q-Tip gets top billing over tribe– or at least gets a quick solo set before they all come out together. I’m not mad at that I guess– think he has a solo project coming out and I’m just happy to see Tip. He came out with DJ Scratch who got some a minute or two to show off some serious DJ skills–something rap shows could use wayyy more of in my opinion. Tip did some solo stuff, including his new single,- the song that uses the same sample as a track off Madlib’s Music for Movies album–I wonder if he produced the track or if Tip just heard the sample or whatever. Either way, I like the song– but I really wished he hadn’t performed Vivrant Thing – I always hated that shit. Mos Def was out there chilling for the whole Q-Tip solo set and I was just waiting for them to start announcing the Neo-Native Tongues movement, album, tour, and world dominance.
It didn’t happen exactly like that but when the lights went down and a familiar voice rang out declaring, “A Tribe Called Quest consists of four members….” over an eerie soundscape, I realized what I had somehow forgotten for the day. I was about to see A Tribe Called Quest perform together live in New York for the first time in 10 years. Was I excited to see Q-Tip? Absolutely –always loved that dude. But it paled in comparison to the excitement that had been building inside me to see Phife. I was nervous about how the Tribe performance would be. I know Phife has serious health issues and hoped he would be in classic form. He was. Love his voice, love his delivery, attitude, underdog confidence—he was rocking a Jamal Crawford jersey and white towel strapped by a headband the whole show–had you asked me what I thought he might be wearing before the show, I would have told you exactly that. Seriously, I knew it before even he put it on yesterday morning. They did a bunch of classics–also accompanied with live instrumentation — breaking into bass solos and performances of the original songs that they had sampled – they sang, Mos and Tip do some dancing that the kids will enjoy. They just put on a SHOW. The shit is continuous, it is a performance, it is entertaining. It’s not someone pressing the play button while the rappers talk over their instrumentals. It’s inspired, it’s planned, it’s original – it’s MUSIC. Consequence was out on stage. And then of course–Busta. We were there at the VH1 tribute to Tribe when Busta came out and killed Scenario. That shit was amazing and I think everyone left happy and saying, well the only thing that could have made it better was if he was performing it with Tribe. That’s what we got last night and it was of course unbelievable.
Where’s Dinco D?
Where’s Charlie Brown?
Questions left unanswered I suppose, but the shit was off the hook regardless. I was definitely worn out by the end of the show – it was without question one of the best hip-hop shows I’ve ever attended. Strong Island won.
I have been telling y’all for years that the way someone smells determines what their relationship with you can become. The wrong smell could mean disaster. My classic story goes like this…
I had this fine little shorty in my Corona apartment a few years ago. I was about to give her the business something good too. I had been waiting to cut this chick for a minute and since I knew her ex-beau I kept my hands off her in public but she knew she had that official beatbox.
Boom. So fine and dandy shorty comes over the crib to spend the night and let me get mine. I prA’li even prepared my special bachelor beatbox dinner special – a BirdsEye stir fry meal kit with fresh shrimps added. Wouldn’t you know this chick was a seventh day adventist and she wouldn’t eat shellfish. My Hebro vows be damned I love me some scrimps. I should’a knownt right there though that homegirl was off.
We made out a little bit on my crappy futon. Homegirl had one of the baddest bodies in the game. Five foot three with the cola bottle shaped body. Perfect B+ breasts in the fanciest little bra and panties set I could remember. I couldn’t wait to notch lil’ mama’s name on my bedpost. I was about to win.
Inside my bedroom we climbed under the sheets and I began to kiss her upon her neck. That is when I smelt something. I tweaked my head up like when a forest animal hears a twig snapping underfoot a stranger. But this smell was no stranger to me. This was the smell of the ass kicking I used to get when my dad tried to comb my hair with that metal rake pick. This was the smell of that Posner’s blue-colored hair pomade that he would put on my hair before pulling out that pick. Homegirl’s scalp smelled like that grease.
“Awwww hell nahh!”
I jumped up with stark terror on my face. It was like I was seven yrs old all over again and my dad was about to de-napp my afro. My dad used to be able to keep a lit cigarette on the edge of his lip while he cussed at my unkempt hair. It was like that shit lasted for hours. By the time my dad was done my scalp was sore and throbbed like I had been clubbed with an aluminum little league bat.
This chick had to go. Not now, but right now. I told her to get dressed and I called her a taxi. I never got another chance to smash that bad little shorty, and truth to tell you, I didn’t even give a fuck. That is the power that your nose knows.
I’m going to have a MANNY RAMIREZ post on a weekly basis here at DP dot com until the season ends. Let’s see which teams really took advantage of the trading deadline and became better ballclubs.
In only his second game in L.A., RAMIREZ ignited the Dodgers to a 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks by hitting a two run blast and scoring a run off a JEFF KENT single.
