DJ Manny Fresh... emphasis on the DJ....

i've always liked Manny Fresh's style. as a person who came up on the notion of the competition of styles, (which is what hip hop is at its heart, whether its graffiti, rappin, dancin, or djing), i always had an appreciation of those who only do it like themselves. so when that "Huh" by Juvenile hit, i was all for it.

Manny Fresh is one of those dudes who always had they own style. and he perfected it. how could you not respect that? as he goes in on this interview, he becomes adamant about callin him a DJ. he doin some producin, aint really thinkin bout rappin, but he all about DJing. thats where he started. and it got me thinkin.

when i was listenin to him, it dawned on me what he tryin to do. he tryin to get back to educating people about the music thru the music. im finishin up the 1st BBoy Cult show/mixtape/podcast (i dont know how to package it yet) and the whole point of that shit is education. if you've ever read Dallas Penn, Tony Grands (Reading and Writing Is For Dumb People) or Combat Jack, you know that their perspectives always revolve around exposing the essence of the culture to those who may not know what it looks like. or more importantly, what it feels like. this is me n $yk all day. if you go thru our catalog (it's a lot of quality content there), you'll see a passion for the culture, but also the intent to share the experience that changed us all. it's like gettin a good piece of pussy... you just got to go tell somebody.

and thats when you can tell its true love. when a person would rather go back to what pays less to enjoy it more. id take hip hop at 22 a year. i'd take that paycut. i know i'd gain happiness by extreme margins.

and for the 3, almost 400 people that stop thru here everyday, i know yall feel the same. i appreciate yall taking the time out your day to check me out. i really do. i just wish yall'd comment more so that i can have the pleasure of meeting you. 

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Thirstin Howl The Third "Live On Forty Duece/Jail Flicks"

make no mistake, Lo- Life niggas is gettin it in! for a lot of you that may not know what that is, i'll put you up on it at a later date. let me just say this... we're the reason hip hop wears Polo. and North Face. and a whole lot of shit. what i want to say is, that this is one of the founders, Vic-Lo, known to most heads as Thirstin Howl. it's a take on the wolfpack days, where cats used to roll deep on 42nd St. in Times Square and have it their way, rushin in spots doin and takin whatever they wanted. *in Edith Bunker voice* those were the days....

this joint right here is crazy. this is a strait up piece of NY history. of course it's told thru sun's perspective, but it still outlines a very critical time that chronicled the transition of hip hop into the modern form. hip hop has always been about gettin money. Big Bank Hank rhymed about having a "Lincoln Continental and a brand new Cadillac". this era watched ghetto kids get fresh and started lookin at the possibilities of having things and not being in poverty all our lives. this is what Lo-Lifes was at it's core. it's what all real street dudes are at their core. all the realest street dudes i ever came across were doing what they were doing to get OUT of their situation. thats why i question all of these dudes that get millions, and THEN catch cases. that's ass backwards. it's disrespectful to everyone in the struggle.

regardless, sun got some fly shit. ill perspectives and a nice flavor about his shit. Lo-Lifes on a whole is starting to bubble on the surface, with guys like Meyhem Lauren (who was featured here previously) making major noise on the underground. don't worry, i'mma put you on... stay tuned...

RIP B-Bill... my nigga forever...

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Tabbi Bonney ft. Murs "Hip Hop & Love"

scrollin thru You Tube and cam across this joint. i like it. and the baw Murs look like whole different dude with the trim!  this was produce by Ski Beats, you know, the same due who did "Dead Presidents" for Jay Z. check it out...

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All Praise Is Due!

clap your hands to this! the rap music legends, Eric B. and Rakim have been nominated to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame! if they should make it, they will be the 3rd rap group to make it, behind Grand Master Flash and RunDMC. also being nominated this year from the rap category is The Beastie Boys. while i got to admit that the Beasties have put in the work to deserve a spot in the academy, i don't think they deserve it before the god, Rakim. they may have came out before him, but they, by far, have not made as much of a contribution to the culture. being the guys that they are, i'm sure they would agree with that statement. they were the first to show exactly how many units could be sold. and i guess they are significant to the white people who love hip hop, cause i guess they showed them that they belong here to. cause they do. what i'm saying is, outside of the business of it, the  Beasties have not added anything to actually change the fabric of hip hop. Rakim did, tho. without a shadow of a doubt.

let's not undermine Eric B's contribution to the group. it was Eric, as i'm told that really made everything happen, from actually getting Rakim into the studio, to finding production. he used to do work for WBLS in NY, and actually came across Rakim when he was taken to Long Island to actually go see Freddy Foxx. Foxx wasnt home so he was taken to see Rakim. he then was the one that took the record, "I Get Over Like A Fat Rat" by Fonda Rae (if u ever wondered what the bassline was in that song, but knew it sounded familiar, there you go) to Marley Marl, who actually put the song together. that song was "Eric B. for President". and music history was made. imagine if Freddy Foxx was home. sheesh.

im just hopeful that the voting body of the RRHF, which i guess is probably predominately white, looks at merit in this case instead of race, or even if that is interpreted as what The Beasties mean to them, instead of what they mean to the culture. 

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Turning Point: "Planet Rock" by The Soul Sonic Force

"Planet Rock" is more than just a song. it is a synthesizing point in the world of music. it's importance in the arena of music in general, and in hip hop in particular, cannot be understated. it's importance and details that contribute to that importance can only be overlooked.

when i 1st heard this blaring out of a neighbor's house, i remember it as the most amazing thing i had ever heard. i often explain to a lot of the new musicians that i can appreciate how the music that they hear now a days affects them.  by that i mean, it'll go on to be a part of the soundtrack of their lives forever. but i always tell them.... imagine hearing something for the 1st time, and before you heard it, IT DID NOT EXIST. that best describes what it felt like to hear this song for the 1st time.

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