Robbie from UnKut is my brother from another mother. His collection of classic Queens rap is second to no one else, including people that come from Queens. From Killa Sha to Hydra to anyone that has made great music coming from the Q-boro Robbie has been the person to document this sound for the internets.
A year ago I was conducting a Sneaker Fiends Unite! NYC tour and I happened to meet up with this young dude in the Jamaica Terminal strip who saluted the Polo bear scarf I was rocking. Son said that he had some lifestyle that he wanted to bump so I took his math and gave him my e-mail. Little did I know that very afternoon Robbie dropped a post about this very dude.
Meyhem Lauren is a G in my book because he walks the streets unafraid to politic with anyone who might be down for the lifestyle like he is. I realized later on that he was down with Timeless Truth and was one of the cats that called in to the radio show when I had been in the studio. As the dots further connected I found out that he was the protege of DJ J-Love who was one of the ‘Lo heads that opened up the eBay system for Polo collectors and hustlers alike.
I’ve been connected to these brothers before we ever even met in the physical. Credit goes to UnKut, Timeless Truth and Meyhem Lauren for connecting the dots. Their trajectory is pointed directly towards greatness. I acknowledge this. J-Love gave me a copy of a double CD project that he launced with Meyhem titled ‘Acknowledge Greatness’. This was put out on J-Love’s label and it is quite an achievement for an independent project. J-Love produced the entire project which has some features from some of Queens classic emcees like those I mentioned earlier plus others like Cormega and Large Professor.
J-Love/Meyhem Lauren featuring Large Pro – ‘Queens Representatives’
I had to include this next track in this drop because it was both smooth and undeniably raw.
J-Love/Meyhem Lauren – ‘Fallen’
J-Love and Meyhem put themselves on the line for this project and the mislaunch by the distribution company is why many folks didn’t get to enjoy this album in it’s entirety. J-Love is reloading the ‘Acknowledge Greatness’ album for a re-release in the 2010 summer so keep an ear open for more music and the movement. You should already know that J-Love and Meyhem Lauren are some of the cornerstones for the ‘Lo-End Theory event.
Don’t say I didn’t tell you…
Acknowledge greatness.
