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Permalink Reply by Yemane24 on May 25, 2008 at 6:09pm

They way I see the music industry today is ridiculous to say tha least. I mean we got this fake ass bubble gum ass rappers simply selling their souls to tha devil and for what just to get a check. Especially to those one hit wonder ass niggas just making every body in tha rap game minimums what they have accomplish through they're entire careers. Majority of rappers are simply in it just be seen and make some coin in tha process. We all know they're probabley gonna file for bankruptcy a few years down tha line more than likeily history doesn't lie. I believe they have a great media outlet to make a change and aweareness not only to tha inner city kids but, to every young person in general, cause you know kids are easily influenced lets not kidd ourselves. I havn't even mentioned to tha biggest pimps in tha game and that'll be tha CEOs and A&Rs... Just out there feedin' 'em all kinda b******* i'm sure just to sell a record. They claim that they're in it for they're best interest which is far fitched. We all know if they don't sell that they will get dropped like a bad habit and probabley end up on streets once again flipping that bird. And after it's all said and done they ain't got s*** to show for... Cause as we all know most of 'em don't realize that they've been pimped until it's to late.

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Permalink Reply by Flawless on May 25, 2008 at 10:37pm

Vote For (I Like The Way She Do It)-Link HERE

http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/106andpark/106_Vote_Poll.htm

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Permalink Reply by Rahiem on May 26, 2008 at 3:27am

I wanted to pen a thoughtful piece on my journey during the earlier days of hip-hop up until now. It wasn't until I started writing that I realize my roots run deep and I can trace it back not only from the early days of hip-hop but to it's founding father or as I often hear him referred to as "The GodFather of Hip-Hop", Afrika Bambatta himself.

My first experience with hip-hop was back in the late 70's when I was living in the ghetto enclaves of the Bronx. My legal guardian at the time owned a Record Store on East Tremont. He brought home King Tim the 3rd record by a group called "The Fatback", when vinyl albums and 45 was still in use. CD's were not heard of nor thought of. I remember it to this day; it had a green and white label.

My fascination with this new found sound called hip-hop began on that day with that one single record. Eventually, I moved to the West Farm section of the Bronx where hip-hop music played daily. Being too young to attend the nightly park jams I was relegated to being a listener and spectator from my windowpane. It was during these listening sessions that I started recording them on Cassette tape.

One day while playing with a group of friends 5 strange looking guys exited the elevator. One of them was my friend Andre's brother. And he was carrying a big boom box on his shoulder. They began to slap us all five and inspired us to rap for them. After we said our little nursery rhymes, they played their latest studio recording for our listening enjoyment. We were amazed. The 5 strange looking individuals were Rahiem, Melle Mel, Cowboy, Mr. Ness, Kid Creole and Grand Master Flash. The Original Furious Five MC'S.

It wasn't until the next day when I let Andre hold my cassette recorder that I learned they were the Furious Five MC's. From that day on I was a fan and I got all the newly released singles and album courtesy of Rahiem. He would fondly joke with me that I stole his name. I boldly tell him "that's my name I was born with it and your name is Guy Williams". He would laugh and say "keep that between us".

After several years, I moved to Theriot Avenue and attended P.S. 100 and I.S. 131 respectively. I lived directly across the street from P.S.100. This is where I first heard the sounds of "The Mighty Zulu Nation. My brother Shams became a member of the Tragic Force MC's and the youngest member to ever perform at the Zulu Nation. He was well known in the Bronx River, which lead him to becoming friends with Afrika Bambatta. Being that my brother was so young Bam had to get special permission from my parents so Shams could travel and perform. I remember the first day Bam, appeared at my door, it was on Thanksgiving. He left such a good impression on my parents he was invited over every year and it became a tradition for several years to follow.

I was really into the rapping aspect of hip-hop and wasn't too much concerned with the DJ until I went to a local DJ competition that my brother Jazzy Joe was a participant in. Days leading up to the battle he broke his arm. It was a wide spread rumor it was intentional so he could forfeit the battle. To everyone's surprise he showed up and won 1st place. He took everybody by surprise because he had a cast on but his skills and techniques did not falter but only got better as he took the spotlight.

Having one brother as the youngest MC to perform at the Zulu Nation Anniversary and another brother outdoing the DJ'ing competition in my neighborhood. I was looked upon as one who would follow in their path. So I begged my brother Shams to travel with him to his shows. I remember going with him to the Latin Quarter's and witnessing KRS-1, Rakim and X-Clan perform on stage. One day, my brother had to sneak me in "The World". I was upstairs in VIP with Melle Mel and Run DMC. I accompanied him to a few Zulu Nation Anniversaries and watched him perform on stage with Cold Crush, Jazzy Five MC's and Soul Sonic Force.

During the Reagan-Bush era, I became affiliated with the 5% Nation of Gods And Earths. It was at this time the Black Nationalist Movement was on the rise ushering in the wave for conscious rap. Black people felt disenfranchised and were looking for change. I rapped about knowledge of self along the lines of Rakim, Brand Nubian, and KRS-1. It was during this time that I was introduced to Ol' Dirty B****** by a mutual friend named Lord Sincere Allah. Being that we were all members of the 5% we hung out daily.

At this time I was part owner of a health food store across the street from Lincoln project in Harlem. There was never a day you could walk in there and I wasn't free styling or writing rhymes. Ol' Dirty would come by and kick it with me. During this time he was working on the "Protect Your Neck Single". I had a large Ad on Amino Acid pills that read, "First things first, protect your health". That one liner is the opening to the now classic "Protect your Neck" single.

"First things first man you f****** with the worse" then he went on to incorporate some of the 5% teachings into his rhyme about the doctors sticking pins in the babies heads. Since we would build on today's mathematics while drinking beer and smoking blunts all day it was only natural that our lyrics reflected our state of mind.

Back then all the members of the 5% who were affiliated with the industry stuck together and tried to put one another on. So a brother by the name of Lamel invited me to his show on WHCR 93.1 FM (City College Station) as a guest. He gave me the last 5 minutes to free-style and I went off the radar wit it. Calls were still coming in while exiting the studio. As we rode downtown I listen on the radio as people kept calling asking for more. It was then that I became a frequent guest that would free-style with the likes of The Four Winds; Percy-P; Black Moon, and Common. Lamel was instrumental in me appearing on Bobbito and Stretch Armstrong Show over at City College. It was there that I won an on the air free-style contest. I later appeared live on the show and free-styled with Cypress Hill when they made their first appearance in New York City.

I remember vividly the day I met Lord Fitness, we both appeared on a Public Access Channel show called "The Ron Alexander Show". I was there promoting my brother Shams independently released record and he was promoting his record on Wild Pitch. After the filming of the show we engaged in a conversation outside that lead to us free-styling. I remember him telling me he was going to sign a deal worth $125,000 with Giant/Warner Brother and that he was now managed by Ice-T under Rhyme Syndicate Management.

From that day forward I started taking rap more seriously and pursued it as a career. I was being managed by a sistah name Cindy Russell from Hartford, Connecticut during that time. While being signed to her management company I produced a 3-Song demo and was offered a deal with Wild Pitch Records. The deal was garbage and I was well advised by management, industry affiliates and several lawyers not to sign.

I continued to rhyme as I seen several of my childhood friends and associates reach stardom. The first was Greg Nice from "Nice and Smooth" who were signed to Sleeping Bag Records and then eventually Def Jam. We were classmates at C.S. 145 on Teller Avenue in the Bronx. Our affiliation started from being graffiti artists. I used the tag name PERA ONE and he was known as NINE. My friend Buck Wild whom I known from my graffiti days as well went on to produce songs for Gang Star, Lord Fitness, Biggie and Fat Joe. Shell Rumble made his debut by guest appearing on Lord Fitness' album. My brother Shams became a producer and produced Tim-Dog's album that was released by Roughhouse/Columbia.

Ol'Dirty signed a solo deal with Elektra and recorded several albums with Wu-Tang, before signing a deal with Roc-A-Fella Records. Unfortunately, ODB died last year in November, which brought shock to the entire hip-hop community. I remember going to a show with him and he got booed only to turn around before departing to tell the crowd "f*** it I still love yall anyway". . . He loved them then and he loves them now. Which is the reason Common stood boldly on stage and rapped "Why we had to lose ODB to the Lord, he was supposed to be on stage rockin' the Vibe Awards".

I then became introduced to Keith Murray while he was incarcerated. Throughout, his 3 years of trials and tribulation I became a close comrade having severed 6 years myself, I knew the on going struggle first hand. I began to educate him in the teachings of the 5%. He became known as King Magnetic. Keith Murray is home from prison and is now signed to Def Jam and his career is taking off as expected.

During the Clinton era things got a little bit better for Black folks and we began to floss. Also, keep in mind the drug era was at its highest level. Street corner hustlers to the middleman were making money. My lyrics changed to what is now coined "Bling-Bling" and the champagne lifestyle. By now I was living the life and well connected in the streets dealing drugs. I eventually, relocated my drug operation to Binghamton, New York. As expected, I got incarcerated and sentenced to a 4 to 8-year bid. Knowing, that my time to reach stardom in the rap came had expired once I was released I started writing about hip-hop culture.

Since writing, I traveled the world extensively and was welcomed into the inner sanctuary of the industry where I emerged myself into the world of journalism, where I covered a who's who in the entertainment industry. Lately, I have been busying myself with screenwriting. I just finished my first movie "The Sun Will Rise", a novel titled "Love On Lay-Away" and book on my life, where I reintroduces the readers to the early days of hip-hop and my early childhood leading up to becoming one of the industry's most sought after journalists. So this is my introduction into hip-hop culture.

Check out Rahiem Shabazzs Website
http://www.rashaentertainment.com

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Permalink Reply by GEEZNDAHOOD on May 26, 2008 at 8:43am

FOXY BROWN BREAKS HER SILENCE IN RESPONSE TO HER FIRING CHAZ WILLIAMS

http://thisis50.com/profiles/blog/show?id=784568%3ABlogPost%3A3767071

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Permalink Reply by G-Unit Girl on May 26, 2008 at 2:07pm

Xzibit's pre-mature born son Xavier Kingston Joiner passed away today

http://thisis50.com/profiles/blog/show?id=784568%3ABlogPost%3A3772601

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Permalink Reply by suck my d*** on May 26, 2008 at 3:45pm

G-Unit "Rider Pt.2" is on Access Granted May 28th, at 8:30pm

http://thisis50.com/profiles/blog/show?id=784568%3ABlogPost%3A3774885

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Permalink Reply by GEEZNDAHOOD on May 26, 2008 at 5:33pm

KERI HILSON GETS THA FELLAS HARD ON THIS PERFORMANCE @ POLOW THA DON'S PARTY!!

OFF HER NEW ALBUM- SLOW DANCE

http://thisis50.com/profiles/blog/show?id=784568%3ABlogPost%3A3777769

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Permalink Reply by LADYTiNFO on May 26, 2008 at 5:42pm

THIS IS A VIDEO BLOG NOT WRITTEN BUT SOMETHING EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEEE!!...

50 CENT DISSES N RESPONDS TO ROCSI, 106NPARK ((SPILLS NEW DIRT!!))
LADYT SPEAKS TO G-UNIT REP ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION!

WATCH IT HERE!

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Permalink Reply by Alma Diaz on May 26, 2008 at 7:34pm

this is the new single for ice cubes upcoming album this summer. the song is titled do your thang, from the album raw footage.

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Permalink Reply by K-Shoya on May 26, 2008 at 7:39pm

wat the hell is this crap yal have to post this

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Permalink Reply by g-unitbabyee on May 26, 2008 at 8:12pm

Hey all
i'm new, jus signed up here @ thisis50.com
I usually come here for updates on the unit but decided to sign up today
come cmmnt my page!

<3 G-unitbabyee <3

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Permalink Reply by bon3z on May 26, 2008 at 8:52pm

where the ladies at
add me!
chck my page out

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