Month: March 2007

That’s what’s up in the D! Watch Sound The Alarm, a Black Milk featuring Guilty Simpson video…Detroit is in the house!

-apologies to my readers, I said a DJ Butter mixtape…this is not DJ Butter it is another underground artist who goes by the name Butter Butter and his partner in crime, G-Life

-a NYC artist E-Dro mixtape review
stay tuned:)

If you haven’t done it yet, it is really worth it.
You might wonder why I am talking about MC Hammer, being the huge Eminem fan I actually am. In fact, I have always had (and still have) great love and respect for Mc Hammer s music.
I discovered rap music in the early 90’s thanks to Mc Hammer s U Can t Touch This.
I don’t care if MC Hammer dissed Eminem in Full Blast. It won’t change the respect I have for this artist.
Back to my first thought, I would like to encourage my readers to check Mc Hammer s blog. Why?
Because of his wonderful spiritual vision of life. Check the post regarding his banana plants in particular. There is a spiritual wisdom contained in it and it will encourage you to go further, no matter how hard the circumstances of your life might look at the moment.
You go, Mc Hammer. Keep doing your thing:)
Check Mc Hammer s blog here.
Copyright2007 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Fresh To Death is a very swinging Puerto Rican flavored song. Built on harpsichord notes combined with keyboard sounds and subtle violin notes in the background, the song is enhanced with Smoke Don’s nice flow delivery. Have a look at the nicely done club song.
Aiming At Your Face immediately introduces you into an unsafe gun talk atmosphere. The instrumentals will reinforce the scurrilous background of the song. Offensive soldier, Smoke Don keeps marching on, representing his city and his crew with pride.
So Predictable is rich of various sounds: piano, keyboards, soft vocals and scratches work together in order to draw the picture of a so predictable attitude of a rival. Smoke Don already anticipated on all his moves. The best way to know one s enemies and to prevent their attacks is a good sense of observation.
Forever Real is beautifully constructed on hammering sounds that strongly suggest an army of thugs marching on. Smoke Don stabs snitches intentionally on his tracks.
The game is all about being real: Smoke Don carries it with him through his music.
Check him out here.
Copyright 2007 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

After nearly three years since their last group effort, D12 is finally ready to release their third and possibly final studio album, “Natural Born Killers”. After being delayed for nearly a year due to the tragic loss of their friend Proof, and other factors, the album is slated for a release date of June 19, 2007.
Mr. Porter, of D12, will be executive producing the album this time around, and fans can expect guest appearances from Obie Trice, Nate Dogg, 50 Cent, Dina Rae, Three 6 Mafia, Fat Killahz, and Big Herk. There will also be production from Eminem, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Kanye West, Hi-Tek, Swizz Beatz, and J.R. Rotem. The first single, which pokes fun at fans who have been unhappy with Eminem and D12’s more recent work, is set to hit the streets in April.
Fans can also expect Eminem’s yet-to-be-titled fifth solo effort in November of this year.

A Happy St Patrick’s Day…to Gavin Sheridan in particular…thanks for believing in me:)
I hope you all enjoy March the 17th lol

Dear readers,
Most of us have a hidden gift. Sometimes it keeps being hidden for years since childhood years, because it just needs to get revealed.
No matter what you re good at, I would like to encourage each of you to always privilege the field in which you re best at doing your thing.
You also gotta consider that you will always find negative people and haters on your way when you will start doing your thing, but, honestly, you should care less.
If you know that you have the gift, what haters, losers, badmouthing people think of you should be the least of your worries-particularly when those haters are low key keyboard haters. Internet haters don’t impress me in the least right now. I used to care in the past, but now they really amuse me. Don’t let insignificant people steal your joy and your passion. Most of them are envious nobodies who are bitter about their own lives. Who are they to judge you anyway, moreover from the net? Let me give it a good and sincere laugh! They don’t even know you and prompt to spread their load of bullshit, so why should you care about them and their despicable comments?
Rather use your time developing your gift, because this gift will reveal your genuine value to the world. No matter how hard people might diss you, whatever they do to be a nuisance in your lives, none of them envious bitches can take your gift away.
This is some real talk for real persons: think about it!
Copyright by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Speaking of NWA, most people have Dr Dre, Ice Cube and Compton legend Eazy E in mind. Less spoken about, but nevertheless a capital element of the world’s most dangerous group, DJ Yella gave NWA its spicy reggae-rap flavor.
Né Antoine Carraby, DJ Yella was born on December the 11th, 1967 in Compton, California. Man of many hats, DJ Yella has worked as a DJ, a producer and as a film director. Largely influenced by funk music, DJ Yella became a drummer.
DJ Yella started Djing at LA clubs. When the notorious Dr Dre crossed his road, both men became friends and formed the World Class Wreckin’ Cru in the early 80 s.
The World Class Wreckin Cru was composed of 3 original members, DJ Yella, Dr Dre and producer Cli-N-Tell.
The founding of the NWA group dropped an explosive bomb on to the world. A revolutionary rap group of young black men with an attitude and sense of pride was born.
DJ Yella played an important role in co-producing Eazy E s Eazy Duz It album and the three NWA album. Success followed and the album sold million copies.
Using the nickname Tha Kidd, DJ Yella also did some pornographic films.
As most readers would probably know a beef opposing Dr Dre and Ice Cube to Eazy E in which all three members went at each other with hard disses lead to the total split of the group in 1991.
DJ Yella, though, refused to get involved in any beef with his fellow Eazy E and remained loyal to him.
“The reason behind the breakup was simple: Egos started getting in the way. NWA started making too much money, so everyone wanted more money. Eazy made more money ’cause he owned the label NWA was on (Ruthless Records) and had other groups under him making money. But everyone didn’t see it that way.”
(DJ Yella)
DJ Yella wonders how such a huge friendship that existed between the NWA members suddenly turned into bitterness and anger:
“Dre and I was like brothers. We was tight, real tight. “Them first few years we was all like family. Even when Cube left, the rest of us was like family … When he left, we all talked about him, even Dre. That’s when all those albums came out. Then Dre left and did an album with Cube.
“I remember when Dre told me he was leaving NWA and invited me to leave with him. I told him I’d get back with him. To this day I haven’t gotten back with him to tell him no or yes. Eazy hadn’t cheated me out of anything; I can’t get mad at Eric just ’cause Dre’s mad at him. I just stayed neutral. I was still with Eazy, but I never was in the videos where he dissed Dre either.”
(DJ Yella)
DJ Yella went on producing many artists belonging to the Ruthless Records label. When Eazy E died, in 1995, DJ Yella gathered Eazy E s different songs and collaborations in order to release Eric Wright’s last album.
In 1996, Antoine Carraby released his first solo album entitled One Mo Nigga Ta Go.
DJ Yella vanished from the scene for several years and then decided to give his career another turn: he came back as a porn movie producers.
However, the music kept playing an important role in his life and he associated again with his former accomplice in crime MC Ren to work on a song called Bangin.
Surprisingly, DJ Yella would not participate to the NWA reunion in 2000, nor was he featured in the well known Hello song. However, DJ Yella collaborated with his former fellows Dr Dre and Mc Ren on a mixtape under the nickname Tha Kidd 5000.
DJ Yella currently owns his own adult movie company, DJ Yella Entertainment.
I always liked DJ Yella’s raspy voice and particular style. DJ Yella certainly enhanced and spiced up the rap game with his presence.
The introduction of a reggae sound into the NWA added to the musical richness of the tracks.
Check the Compton legend here.
Copyright2007 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

1.What motivated you to become a rapper?
The death of my oldest brother Andrew, he was an upcoming producer in the south Miami area. My brother was a major influence to me and I knew how bad he wanted success; so when he passed I knew I had to finish what he started.
2. What is the biggest challenge you ever had to face during your career?
Moving from Miami to Connecticut, I had such a big buzz in Miami with the group I was in I didn’t want to leave that not to mention my friends and family.
3. Sometimes, your music reflects the harshness of the hood, but it also contains the dimension that allows the listener to fly away mentally. That s the impression I had with your song Geni In The Sky. What inspired you to write that powerful song?
Wow! (Humbly said with raised eye brows ) I appreciate that Thank You, that’s actually a 3 year old record. Some how that’s the one song people seem to love by me. When I produced the track I had a positive idea for it, each verse was based off of some thing going on in my life. A bunch of mixed emotions carefully thought out and written I never thought once while writing the song that would’ve received this reaction from listeners.
4. Which artists have you collaborated with already?
I’ve recorded with Rick Ross, Pit Bull, Co-D Fendents and my west coast hommie from Ruff Ryder’s Kartoon. I’ve produced tracks for Rick Ross, Kartoon, JT Money, Jackie-O of G-Unit, currently working on some stuff for Cherri Denis of Bad boy Ent, Lady Luck and JR Writer of Dipset.
5. What are your thoughts about the current state of hip hop?
I don’t feel hip-hop is dead that’s just an expression being used by some. I feel the culture is evolving there’s a mixture from different ethnic groups that are being brought into hip-hop. So the state of hip-hop to me is evolution we’re witnessing the future.
6. Who do you respect in the rap game and why?
I respect any and all artist who stayed true to who they were and succeeded doing it. You can’t come out rhyming about saving the world and your next album you selling crack. That’s so fake!! lol
7. Which artist do you envision a collaboration with in the future? Honestly I’ll do a record with any one who wants to make music, I love this shit.
8. Define your musical style within a few words? Real, Humble, Hard.
9. Who are your biggest musical influences?
Besides my brother, I would say Luther Vandross, Dr. Dre, Timberland Big Daddy Kane, 2 Live Crew, Nas, Queen yep I said Queen. Lol that’s just a few there’s way to many to name.
10. Besides hip hop, what kind of music do you listen to?
(smiling) You really gone make me answer that ain’t you? (Giggling softly.) Well I’m real big on 80’s soft rock I like damn near all of it just to name a few: Queen, Tears for fears, Ah Hah, Simple mind, Metallica and Aero Smith. I listen to a lot of movie sound tracks as well to widen my creative mind for production, I love reggae. I pretty much listen to anything I just love music.
I just wanted to take this time thank you for the opportunity to share some of my thoughts with you and your readers, hopefully I’ve turned some of them into potential fans. Lol
I want to shout out my crew (The Core Click) we clicked up!!!!
My management both up north and down south ( KG Missing Link Ent. & The Funk MGMT) What up Kev & COX. Oh & my dude big Ern what up my nig?
My Hommie Young Lord lock up I’m still riding for you, you’ll be home soon brotha.
And all the fans & supporter I love you continue to support the movement.
Listen to Lord Raven’s music here.
Copyright2007 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

I am back home and happy: I just acquired my brand new issue of the UK’s best known hip hop mag, The Hip Hop Connection, and started enjoying a few articles, plus two free CDS. That’s something. At least for hip hop lovers like me…however, I came across an article entitled Should old school rappers be forced to retire? that kinda shocked me, or more precisely, some ideas that the article mentioned above conveyed.
It looks like a specific category of persons in the hip hop industry do think that the rap game is only a young man s game.
Little did you know about hip hop if you really think so- that’s my point-and I will give you some valid arguments to feed your reflection on this theme.
If it is totally true that a few old school rappers are incapable of renewing their themes and don t seem to evolve with their time, one should consider that many old school masters are very much needed to perfect the game.
Yes, it is true, Jay-Z’s Kingdom Come is probably one of the most annoying and distasteful album I recently heard. But talking about Jay-Z s recent lack of imagination doesn t allow people to talk about old school rappers as a whole.
Don t misunderstand me: I am not against new talents. As the passionate music journalist I actually am, I am always in search of new talents. I like to discover young, talented emcees in the jungle of the undiscovered. However, I am convinced that, as much talented as emcees from the new generations might be, they need to learn a lot of techniques from their predecessors. As well as old school rappers learnt from The Godfather of Soul, James Brown and from George Clinton, for instance, new school rappers need to learn from the giants in the rap game.
A reader of XXL( shame on him) implied that Nas was a dinosaur and that he should live with it. It was meant: he can fuck off with his old themes and should stop saying that hip hop is dead, because he is not very open minded towards the current evolution of the rap game!
My point is: if you are incapable of valuating geniuses like Nas and respect their criticism of hip hop, I am not sure that you really have the maturity needed to fully get their point and to understand where those people come from. As a consequence, you will probably also lack a clear vision of the current rap game too.
Nas has been acclaimed for his great, researched lyricism. His first album, Illmatic, should be a model of inspiration for any emcee who wants to make some real hip hop. Nasir Jones deserves respect for his amazing skills and for always reminding African Americans of their African roots.
How can you stab an amazing lyricist like Nas when you are so far under his radar? First sit down, listen to his music and learn from him. Then you might be entitled to constructive criticism towards him.
I doubt that the game would be the same without Dr Dre. Are you going to tell Dr Dre that he is too old to rap or to produce any track? Just shut up!
Newcomers might bring loads of creativity and new themes in their music, but I doubt that any of them will ever make the same dope ass beats that are so typical to his music.
Yes, the rap game needs to renew itself with a new breed of inventive and skilled emcees, but it would be nothing without the giants that made the game.
If you don’t pay respect to people like Grandmaster Flash who initiated the very beginnings of hip hop, I am not really sure that you will be capable of appreciating the most contemporary forms of rap music to the fullest.
All those people made the game. They are the pioneers. Don t prompt to put their Cds in the trash, rather learn from their accumulated knowledge and wisdom over the years!
Copyright2007 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved