The Daily "Oh Snap" : What The Hell Hip-Hop?
What is the name of Christopher Wallace is going this week in hip-hop? First off:
Allegedly Def Jam has threatened to drop Nas, if Does not change the title of his next forth coming album "Nigger."
So those punk take a stand on the N word now! When the last Dem franchise boys album didn't have one song that didn't use that word at lest once. I'm not sure of Nas' reason for this particular album title but I'm sure its more up lifting than "Crank that..." Its funny how money change the situation def jam.
Next:
Amy Winehouse "The Crack Chronicles"
Allegedly Def Jam has threatened to drop Nas, if Does not change the title of his next forth coming album "Nigger."
So those punk take a stand on the N word now! When the last Dem franchise boys album didn't have one song that didn't use that word at lest once. I'm not sure of Nas' reason for this particular album title but I'm sure its more up lifting than "Crank that..." Its funny how money change the situation def jam.
Next:
Amy Winehouse "The Crack Chronicles"
Over the passed weekend singer Amy Winehouse was allegedly video taped by a friend smoking Crack-Cocaine in her London flat. Watch Below
Now...Who the hell in this day and age still does crack? Amy It's WACK!!!! In the last few seconds of the video the person video taping appears to ask "Crack?" I can't make out the words of her reply (Thanks to the London Sun for the choppy audio) But from her expression it's like "what the fuck do you think it is?" Then Amy appears to tell him to turn off the camera...
Thank God that her parent took her ass into rehab:
Image By TMZ.com to help her clean up before the Grammy's. Hopefully it's not a little too late. It would BE a shame to see such a great talent go down the drain...
Lastly:
"Little Duffle Bag Boi Bagged!!!"
Lil wayne ladies and gents, was busted in Arizona on tuesday... Drug sniffing dogs allegedly found: 105 grams of marijuana, about 29 grams of coke, 41 grams of ecstasy. A spokeswoman from the Arizona DEA stated that they also found several firearms and $22,000 in cash!
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I have one thing to say....DAMN!!!! I thought you learned from that last time. If you rapping please stop slinging!
Behind The Scenes @ The NYSD Winter Photoshoot 08"
Mr. Sykes Interview Triple "C" Of Boillin Pot Entertainment
I went out to harlem, and chilled with the crew from Boillin Pot Entertainment. Spoke with Chris Cruz AKA Triple "C", the spokes person for Boillin Pot so to speak. These dudes are like family, and it's apparent when you hear their body of work and see how they vibe with one another. This is a new wave of young urban entrepreneurs. Triple states, "I believe that we can own our own stuff. I don't believe that I have to work for 'This Guy.' I believe everybody coming from these countries and opening these little business up and we live here. You have to think about that..." Mr. Sykes: So let everybody know whats your name and where from?
Triple: I'm Chris, I'm from Harlem, NYC broadway borough, you know how it is.
Mr. Sykes: So what exactly do you do?
Triple: Right now I do a lot of promotions, plus I have the Boillin Pot situation going on. I'm the CEO of the label plus I have partners and do a lot of promotions that's exactly what I do.
Mr. Sykes: How did the company get started?
Triple: When one of my partners his name is El - Varius he's also a rapper, and one of my artist also. Me and him we was sitting in the studio and we were trying to figure out a name. We had a few names and stuff like that, and we came up with the Boillin Pot Situation. And we ran with that for only 2 1/2 years. But from 2 1/2 yeat we been making a lot of noise, you know what I'm saying...
Mr. Sykes: Who else is involved with the entertainment group?
Triple: El - Varius, HeyZeus, Ravi right here, there's a lot of us, Cramz who's coming right now. Who's also the producer of the label, see we all work as a team, know what I'm saying we're a family, we're a unit. Just like everybody else but we just like know how to work together. The thing I do is I'm the face, I'm the guy that goes out there and makes the hype and do what I gotta do.
Mr. Sykes: So how did you guys, get the name finally?
Triple: We finally came up with the name Cuz like I said. My nigga right here came up with the Boillin Pot thing, you know we Boillin! So we were like yo! Originally we were spelling it the regular way, "Boiling Pot" but then my lawyer switched it to the way we got it now, the same way.... Sounds the same.
Mr. Sykes: How many artist do you guys work with?
Triple: I have three artist and producers, Cramz, L- Precise, MS Beat Proz, these are my main producers. And Cramz is the in house producer you know what I mean and MS Beat Proz.
Mr. Sykes: So what do you love about Hip-Hop?
Triple: I love Hip-Hop cuz I love music, and I love what it brings. I always from a long time ago loved the music. So Hip-Hop to me is ( Ravi: A way of life.) Yeah it's away of life. it's the way we are.
Mr. Sykes: What do contributions do you feel Hip-Hop has made to society. Young inner city urban people, Black people, Latino people? What has it done for you? I know it's hard to talk about what it's done for everybody else so what has it done for you?
Triple: ... Well really nothing right now, I being real I'm doing for myself you know. I want to create a mark for us from now. That's why I feel like, it's done a lot but for me it hasn't done anything the way it is right now. The times we're living in right now!
Mr. Sykes: So why is it important that you make a mark in the industry?
Triple: The thing is I have to make it. It's one of those question I'm raw with ( He cracks a smile) I'm gonna make the mark this is what I do! I gotta make the mark cuz I'm bringing something different, I mean everybody says they're bringing something different to the table. But I just feel like if I can make the mark I can really set out the trend in my area. That could bring ... If I get the mark I can open doors. You know what I'm saying , cuz I know how it's from the way we struggling right now trying to get in. But the thing is I'm humble to this, so I'd open doors for anybody, If I get a deal or something like that.... If you got some hot music or something like that I'll listen. I mean on a lot of people say all this.
Mr. Sykes: So if you weren't doing all this you'd be?
Triple: I'd be working doing something trying to make a lot of money!
Mr. Sykes: What did you wanna be when you grew up...
Triple: I wanted to be a fireman...but you know you grow up....
Mr. Sykes: So what else do you do?
Triple: I do a little bit of recording, a little bit of engineering, a little bit of real estate. I've been going to a lot of seminars about real estate. I've been trying to learn about that.
Mr. Sykes: So what your favorite drink, like when you go out to the club or something?
Triple: Long Island Ice Tea...but only at the club.
Mr. Sykes: What do you think is happening with Hip-Hop on the streets right now?
Triple: I think the computer messed it up for the Hip-Hop world. I'll tell you why, because you can't make sales anymore. You don't think so?
I think it's changing I don't know if that's a negative or a positive thing at the moment. But it's changing.
...
Mr. Sykes: So where do you see the state of Hip-Hop in ten years?
Triple: In ten years kid, in ten years you'll be able to spit anything you want. I mean do you think the Hip-Hop world will be buzzing in ten years?
I think that it is changing, I think it's changing for the better in someways and negative in others. Now it's more about marketability and less about talent so...
...
Ravi: You gotta understand that Hip-Hop also going toward that "Booty Music" Like you said thats the market. Let's target sexuality, let's put these girls with poom, poom shorts and whatever. What happened to Common, and Nas, putting common music out there, knowledgeable music. That's what I see is dropping down.
Mr. Sykes: So what are you guys doing to change the game?
Triple: What are we doing to change the game? Is we're gonna put out hot music and we're gonna hit every state, and country with it. (Ravi: and we're doing it with a heart and soul and a passion.) and none of our stuff is gimmicks... We're coming to this straight up, that's the thing you put me in I'm staying in. That's basically what it is and I'ma change the game by giving you hot music all the time. That's how I see. Everybody says the same old shit. But when Boillin Pot get in we gon' stay in that what I'm trying to say, which we're about to get in soon.
Ravi: The beauty about Hip-Hop is that, Hip-Hop doesn't have a no color, no sex, no race. And being in Boillin Pot being from different races, cultures, different countries that's what makes Hip-Hop to Boillin Pot different. The different ideas that everyone has...
Triple: It's a recipe you got producers, you got DJ's, directors all in this one boiling pot. And that's what we're gonna try to establish, Ourselves to become real big.
Check out the crew from Boillin Pot @: http://myspace.com/stuiritup
Mr. Sykes Interview's Tauros
So I sat down with R&B singer Tauros on in his visit to New York. A man working in the industry since he was 18 years old working with artist like, Tyrese and Monica, Tauros had a lot of valuable information to share. There was a warm atmosphere in the room and he spoke like a seasoned veteran of the business. Soft spoken, but friendly and warm this is what he had to share...
Mr. Sykes: So just tell us what's your name and where your from?
Tauros: Well they call me Tauros that is my name I'm from, Detroit Michigan. I've been kind of traveling the world so I've been in LA for at lest a good eight years. Now I'm in New York doing music so That's basically it.
Now I assumed that Tauros was a stage name, turns out it's the bothers real name (who knew)
Mr. Sykes: So that's your actual name it's not just what you go by?
Tauros: Naw... My mom she's really in to astrological stuff and she used to read my horoscope to me. She would say "Tauros" while I was in the belly but when I came out she was just like "Tauros." It's spelled differently though it's with an "O" instead of a "U"...
Mr. Sykes: So how long have you been singing for?
Tauros: Wow, mmm probley since I was in the womb maybe... Along time
Mr. Sykes: How does the New York Hip-Hop and R&B scene differ from the one in Detroit?
Tauros: Well basically, I spent like the last eight years in LA so when I went back, Detroit, it kind of mimics New York's underground scene. It's based a lot upon free styling and stuff like that. But it's not too different.
Mr. Sykes: So what about LA?
Tauros: A little bit more flamboyant you get a lot of people that rap and sing at the same time. it's really more... how can I say? It's more mmm out there!
Being able to experience Hip-Hop bi-coastally is probely what gives Tauros music such a different sound. It sort of has the fast plusing beats of the west cost along with soulful vocals from Detroit.
Mr. Sykes: So how did you get the opportunity to work with Monica?
Tauros: The funny thing is the industry in LA is different, like it's all about who you know. So you meet one person and you get to meet this person and meet that person, and meet that person and it just keeps going in circles. So as I started to sing for Tyrese, I met people in his circle and I met another person through him. That got me to the Monica Thing.
Mr. Sykes: So if you weren't a singer you'd be?
Tauros: I don't know, I like to help people so some charity work or something like that. Like one of thos kind of people that hand out turkeys or something.
Mr. Sykes: Married/Single???
Tauros: I;m single, I'm looking though, I know you got my myspace.... (Laughs)
Hear that ladies, single black man with a job...
Mr. Sykes: How long was your longest relationship?
Tauros: mmm Longest relationship four years...
Mr. Sykes: Ever been heartbroken?
Tauros: Yes I wrote a song a beat it on myspace it's called" heartbeat."
Mr. Sykes: So what inspired this new project?
Tauros: Basically I've been doing a lot of different kinds of music I got into soul, neo-soul, folk, R&B, everything. Hip-Hop and R&B fused together has been a real passion for me and I've just been real interested in it lately. You just see what I do with it, but I've been getting a good response so far.
Mr. Sykes: So is this your first project?
Tauros: No actually I have, I've done some stuff with a group well we weren't really a group we where like a duo. And I done some other things in the past. That I don't perticularly wanna... It's about me now! (He says Laughing)
Hey we've all done things we're not proud of...
Mr. Sykes: Sierra mist or Sprite?
Tauros: Sprite
Mr. Sykes: Dominos or Pizza Hut?
Tauros: Pizza Hut
Mr. Sykes: Popped Collar or Regular?
Tauros: Popped
Mr. Sykes: Why?
Tauros: It just looks cooler...
Mr. Sykes: N*sync or Backstreet boys?
Tauros: Both
Mr. Sykes: 50 or Tupac?
Tauros: Tupac!
....
Mr. Sykes: Breast or Ass?
Tauros: As far as....(The opposite sex...) both.
Mr. Sykes: Rain or Thunder storms?
Tauros: Rain...
....Mr. Sykes: Hilary or Obama?
Tauros: Obama (Do you think He'll win?) yeah...
Mr. Sykes: If you had the chance to would you sign with a major label and why?
Tauros: I love that question... If I had the choice I would, based upon the agreement. But it would have to be something that's not a long term agreement. I think the worst thing about record deal.... In the past is the fact that you would sign something that would keep you locked in. It's almost like if you worked at Mcdonald's and you didn't have the opportunity to quit. But they made you do fries everyday.
Mr, Sykes: Do you feel like being independent is better for you at the moment?
Tauros: It's better for me as far as I'm able to make the decisions that I want. Kinds of pictures I wanna take, what kind of songs I wanna write, who I wanna work with. With record labels everything is controlled and everything is based upon time. I was talking to some people about Myspace: I can make a song tonight and put it up tomorrow and everybody can hear it. I think It's better to be independent. But with a major label you get backing. You get the money that you need to the extravagant videos...etc
....
Mr. Sykes: Okay...Big Urban Mixtape Question, What are you doing to change the game?
Tauros: Mmm pretty simple I think I have that Alicia Keys kinda thing where it's like the fusing of hip-hop with instruments. I wanna be one of those people that step out by playing instruments and incorporating the "hood" of hip-hop. So you know I think That's how I'm gonna change it.
You can check Tauros out @ http://myspace.com/taurosmusic
Mr. Sykes Interview's 3x's a Lady Crew!
Mr. Sykes of the Big Urban Mixtape sits down with the feminist, all female rap crew 3x's a Lady. The group consist of Shanya Israel A.K.A SITY (Should I Tell You) & Mendita Francois A.K.A Franchise and these girls are defiantly three times a lady. These women are smart, sexy and confidently opinionated. Seldom have we seen women collaborate in Hip-Hop but they are truly the perfect blend. Educated and sophisticated, with their musical repertoire of songs ranging in topics from, Racism, sexism, female identity, queer identity, and down right club bangers. This is what they had to say...
Press Play to listen to this portion of the interview
Mr. Sykes: So not to beat you over the head with the whole feminist ideology thing. But you use this term to describe yourselves and your group and what your about, but in a few of your songs you use the the word "bitch" what does that mean?
Franchise: Well I, I can speak for myself , I'm definitely all about re-appropriation of words. And taking the sting out of certain words and actually I have a verse where I speak directly to the word bitch. And it's like, "Mirror, mirror sitting on the wall tell me who be the most vicious bitches of them all." Then when the mirror ask me well what do you mean? And then I go off and I'm like, "Beautiful, Intelligent, Talented, Charismatic, and Sophisticated. Flow hell bent." and so on... Because what I've noticed is a trend where women have been taking the word bitch and re-appropriating it within themselves. If you look on Myspace you have all these layouts and graphics (Sity: 'The magazine bitch') Exactly, so I think it's about time that, that it's directly infused into popular culture . And that we make it known like okay, I can call myself a bitch but I mean something totally different by that.
SITY: Also for me again with 3rd way feminism everybody doesn't have to subscribe to the same ideology. I don't use the word bitch , I chose not to use it, I chose not use that in what I do. That's just my politics, I'm not comfortable with using that term.
Mr. Sykes: Okay so I have some myspace question for you guys
Mr. Sykes: Burger King or Mcdonald's?
SITY: None geez I'm vegaterian!
Franchise: Mcdonald's
Mr. Sykes: What animal best represents you and why?
SITY: A cat, they are honest they're also warm if they feel that same energy in the room. Very discerning, I am very discerning . Mmm and just sleek and slick with it. I feel like that expresses me.
Franchise: You know it's hard to say, I would say a dog but I don't know if they represent me the best. I just like dogs... Maybe a giraffe.
Mr. Sykes: Who is your ultimate celebrity crush?
Franchise: I'm defiantly feeling Kanye West, and I know he's married ( Mr Sykes: is he?) But I've always respected Kanye West as an artist and a political activist and he defiantly knows what he's talking about. And when he first came out people where at hin like, you're not a really a rapper, or your soft and you're this and your that. But he's never let anyone define who he is as an artist or an individual. I respect him for that I am defiantly feeling him...
SITY: Mary, I am feeling her.
Mr. Sykes: Who would you cast to play you in a movie?
3XL: We just talked about this!
Franchise: On screen, probley Gabrielle Union, she has a lot of attitude she's very good with facial expressions and she's feisty.
SITY: I guess I would have to say Jada Pinkett because I defiantly have a very powerful presence and I think we do look alike. She would need to gain a little weight to play me though.
Mr. Sykes: What is the greatest music video of all time?
SITY: Thriller! or the stop pressuring me video...
Franchise: Maybe rhythm nation...?
Mr. Sykes: Who are your greatest musical influences?
3XL: Queen Laitfah, Lil Kim, Lauryn Hill, Eve, Tupac, Nas (Sity: Beanie Seagal)
(Franchise:) Mary J., Made me wanna sing with real love with real love, and 411. Bob Marley, Tonya Stevens, Tupac, nas Weezy, Lauryn Hill, salt and Pepper... A Maraud of people but defiantly these.
Mr. Sykes: What do you think about the state of Hip-Hop as it reflects african american culture?
SITY: I don't think we can claim being a mirror for the black urban experience or the black experience. Or the black youth experience, yes we could but there needs to be diversity in what is presented. There's a lot of Hip-Hop, feminist Hip-Hop, Queer Hip-Hop, Political Hip-Hop, all these different kinds of rap out there and that doesn't get presented. And until we began to diversify what is played in the media then we can say what is the black experience, this is only a small fragment that is shown right now.
Franchise: I would agree I defiantly feel like there is diversity that's not really being cultivated. It's not being embraced and there is a level of corporate, and social responsibility. Mmm with the men upstairs and who really run things at the end of the day. The men with degrees, and I feel like once we can get past and when I say we I just don't mean black people. But once we as a society can get past our own racism's and the single dimensional view of what black popular culture should be. And once we can accept the Kanye West's, Talib Kwali's, the Common's. the Lauryn Hill's as well as the 50 Cent's, the Beanie Seagal's, the Tupac's then I think we will have made progress.
Mr. Sykes (To Sity): How do you Identify your sexual orientation?
SITY: I am a polyamorous, Woman loving queer. I say I am polyamoruous meaing that I think it's possible to fall in love, not to be with sexually but, fall in love with multiple peoples at the same time. I say woman loving queer because, I perfer women and I say queer because I am open to dating people of various genders. Trans-gender people, Queer people, men at times...
Mr. Sykes: What are you guys doing to change the game?
Franchise: I'm defiantly trying to bring to the talbe that it's ok to be smart! especially for young black girls, and young black men in the inner city. I feel like often time people who are rappers or are in the industry and have a degree or are educated don't try to put that to the forefront. Or they try to dumb it down a little. That's what I feel in Hip-Hop that's where we are right now. A lot of it is being dumb down and we are just settling, like that's okay. And I'm trying to strike a balance between the hardcore rap that's out there and the conscious rap that we are contributing to in so many different ways...
SITY: I also want people to know in telling my everyday story that you can dance to every day life... It can be hard, it can be soft, it can be whatever and you don't have to be afraid to say certain things. And I'm just presenting people to different ways to just be in rap. Cuz I feel like there are just very specific roles, men are supposed to look like hardcore thugs. Women are supposed to look like video hoe's and if they are Mc's they're supposed to look a particular way. And so we are just breaking that and showing you that there are more of us out there doing different things, looking different, saying different things. And we still consider ourselves part of the Hip-Hop generation.
Franchise: And the movement, Hip-Hop is a movement...
