Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!

Young Buck Gets Free Milk

I thought what these guys did with Ice T was garbage but this one is funny, even though the real life Buck situation isn’t funny at all! I’m ridin’ with Buck on this one… 

This shit rightchea tho??? Oh man. This one had me rollin’…

Press play…

To Tha East, My Brotha…

Brotha J is still fierce! Some of y’all need a history lesson, or better yet, a FUNKIN’ LESSON! Sissssyyyyyyyyy!

… And speaking of Ras Kass…

One of the most critically acclaimed West Coast emcees of all time, Ras Kass is renowned for his complex lyricism, sharp battle rhymes and witty punchlines.

1996’s debut “Soul On Ice” established Ras as one of the front-runners of the post West Coast gangsta rap movement pioneered by seminal acts such as N.W.A. and nationally popularized by modern day icons Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg & more.

Marrying a hardcore street sensibility with his signature witty wordplay, Ras built a loyal underground core with subsequent albums including 1998’s “Rasassination,” featuring guest appearances by Dr. Dre, Xzibit, Twista & RZA (of Wu-Tang) as well as multiple mixtape
releases.

Currently serving time, Ras Kass’ ambition in the face of adversity is on full display with the August 5th bow of “Institutionalized Vol. II.” 

Sure to satisfy Ras’ loyal constituency and beyond, “Institutionalized Vol. 2” is a testament to both Ras’ resilience and the raw skill that underlies his longevity within the ever-changing hip-hop landscape.

For more information and to sample some tracks, please visit:

www.crackspace.com/raskass
www.babygrande.com

Ras Kass
“Institutionalized Vol. 2”
In stores August 5th!

(Flo says: COSIGN!!!!)

"50 Back At It Again" Words by YaBoyJavi

Last week YaBoy reported on G-Unit‘s song “You So Tough” off their upcoming album Terminate On Site in which the gang’s ringleader, 50 Cent, takes shots at T.I. On the song, Southside Jamaica‘s son insinuates that the Atlanta rapper is a federal informant after only being hit with a 12-month sentence for possession of three machine guns and two silencers. I smell fish, but maybe T.I.P. will ride up to Fiddy‘s Conneticut mansion and start some shit ala Lil’ Flip. We’ll have to wait and see, but for the time being listen up.

The BCD Music Group sets the records straight on Atlantic Records lawsuit

Yo, in a bit of insider news, I got this written statement from the peoples over at the BCD Music Group, Inc concerning their side of the story on the lawsuit that the Atlantic Recording Corporation or you might refer to as Atlantic Records, filed against them and Mixtrap.com (see here) for the release of 2 mixtapes featuring Gucci Mane & Plies. I think this is an interesting read because this is a reputable organization. For all you copy cat, so-called mixtape-only DJs that sell or post unsanctioned tracks beware! The BCD Music group writes:

BCD Disputes Atlantic’s Claims
BCD is a reputable Texas-based independent music and video distributor engaged in the distribution of finished master sound recordings. BCD has an excellent reputation in the independent marketplace and is well-respected in the world of independent retail. BCD has over 500 titles in its catalog ranging from urban, to rock and alternative, to classical, to country, to comedy, and to children’s titles.

BCD legitimately believes that it had proper authorization from the respective artists’ representatives as well as employees of Atlantic’s marketing department to distribute the Plies “Real Definitions” mixtape and the Gucci Manes “No Pad No Pencil” mixtape. However, promptly after receiving notice from Atlantic’s legal department (and prior to the legal action being commenced) BCD stopped selling both mixtapes – and BCD advised Atlantic that it would cooperate to resolve the dispute without the need for litigation. Even so, Atlantic maliciously filed suit against BCD in Federal Court in the Southern District of New York alleging copyright infringement.

Although BCD cooperated in removing the mixtapes from the distribution chain, BCD vigorously disputes Atlantic’s position in the case. BCD believes that the marketing people at Atlantic condone the sale of mixtapes to build awareness of a particular artist’s forthcoming studio album but, in a classic case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing, the Atlantic legal department then comes to court with “unclean hands” and tries to punish BCD for doing precisely what Atlantic authorized it to do.

BCD fully expects to prevail in the event that Atlantic pursues the case any further.

How the Record Business Marketplace Works
Four “major” record company distributors, Universal Music Group, EMI/Capitol, SONY/BMG and Warner Music (of which plaintiff, Atlantic Records, is a subsidiary) generally control the marketplace for recorded music in a near monopolistic fashion.

Despite the ongoing efforts of these major record labels to control the marketplace and eliminate the smaller independent competitors, there is still a small, niche market in which independent distributors, such as BCD, thrive and survive.

How the Mixtape Marketplace Works
BCD sometimes distributes what are commonly known in the record industry as “mixtapes” which are usually sold in small quantities prior to the formal release by a major record company of a hip-hop recording artist’s studio-made album.

The mixtape format has become increasingly popular as a way of generating awareness and publicity for urban hip-hop artists. An unsigned artist might release several mixtapes to generate a grassroots groundswell of interest (or what is know in the industry as a “buzz”), leading to interest in that artist from the major record labels. An artist already signed to a major record label might release a mixtape album with full knowledge and support of the major label to promote a future studio album, relying on word of mouth about that mixtape to increase the artist’s credibility (or “street cred”) with the artist’s fans. The personnel in the marketing and promotion departments of the major record labels often encourage this behavior while the label executives and legal department look the other way since it benefits the artist’s public profile and leads to increased awareness and, therefore, increased sales of the forthcoming studio album and increased revenues for the major record companies. That is precisely what happened in this case.

Often each individual song recorded (referred to individually as a “track”) on a promotional hip-hop mixtape will feature a particular artist and contain numerous collaborations, remixes, freestyles and voice-overs, often arranged in a specific flowing fashion by a particular remix DJ (who may also add verbal flourishes or “shout outs” between and during the various tracks naming the artist and maybe even its record label so the artist’s fans build awareness of the forthcoming studio album). Most hip-hop mixtapes are professionally packaged with a pressed CD and artwork, Hip-hop mixtapes are usually given out at the artist’s live shows, or sold on the street, through independent record dealers or by mail order. Many mixtapes are also sold or given away for free in Mp3 format over the internet.

In a recent documentary film entitled “Mixtape, Inc.” the filmmakers attempted to show the importance of the practice and how it relates to the growing popularity of this music genre. Hip-hop mixtapes have been instrumental in supplementing the marketing and promotional endeavors of the major record labels, and are generally utilized by major recording acts with the implicit support of their major record labels. In some cases there are even provisions in an artist’s recording contract that acknowledge and permit such activities.

For further information contact:
H@bcdmg.comdk@bcdmg.com

West Coast Funnies

This is brought to you by Spider LOC and 40 Glocc, two underrated… I can’t front. I don’t really like either one of ’em. Just my preference. SPI is stranded on the Unit and Glocc is cool in person but when’s his shit comin out either? Even Rakim recognized that he had a good thing going with Dr. Dre but his shit wasn’t coming out… But this shit is hilarious… They got Too $hort DOWN. And I love E-40… They take some shots at the usual suspects. Too much hate in the game. I tell you like Common told me, “If I don’t like, I don’t like it. It don’t mean that I’m hatin…”

Words to live by when people are dying over their words.

Peace,

FLO

Support THE WEST!! Detox coming… (I believe, Dre! I believe!!!!) Word to my big homie Bishop Lamont…

FREE RAS KASS!! WRITE RAS KASS!!

I know I’ve been caught up in some of this Ice T vs. Souljah Boy f*ckery but on a serious note, I wanted to share with my HHR fam something special to me. The big homie Ras Kass wrote me back from behind bars. I got the letter in the mail today and it made my day. I’m glad that he’s staying strong and that he’s holding up in the beast. 

CSATF/SP
R. Austin T. 99907
GIA 205L
900 Quebec 2V
PO BOX 7100
Corcoran, CA 93212

I wanted to share his mailing address with you. The other big homie, Illseed from allhiphop.com and I have been talking about this and he was first to break the address but I have the updated one for all those who want to keep a legend’s spirit up. Imagine if 2Pac were still alive and locked up. You’d write him. Research Ras Kass. This guy has the heart of Pac and the knowledge and intellect of 1000 professors.

His music is incredibly slept on and, of course, we only focus on the negative. I want you to write him and keep him going. He deserves that. Any one who’s been locked down can appreciate what I’m asking and anyone who is a fan of our music should take 5 minutes and write him a letter. That’s a good dude with talent that we are missing out on right now…

Support hip hop. Support Ras Kass. They are one and the same.

Peace,

FLO

Keep ya head up, Rasy. I got you til you come home. Next letter in the mail, homie…

“Soul on Ice”

“Back It Up”

And prolly one of my favorite songs EVER…

“H2O Proof”

Jay Smooth’s Take on Curtis vs. Buck

Personally, I’m riding with Buck regardless. I’ve said it time and time again that the best members of G-Unit are no longer with G-Unit. 50 himself said that the only member that can never be fired is him. I think 50 had his time and just like people have been shittin on the old guard for so long, he’s now becoming THAT dude.

As for Buck, let’s not pretend like Pac wasn’t an emotional cat too… Yo Game, holla at me when that Game/Buck joint drops. I can’t wait for that one… Bound to happen. Everybody gets their shine man. Time to let the new cats get it in.

As for the cat that responded to my Souljah Boy comments, I agree that there should be more focus on Sean Bell but that’s not the point here. That’s a separate thread baby. Not everything is related to Sean Bell. And that’s been happening throughout history. My point is that Souljah Boy is detrimental to hip hop. He’s not even a rapper. I mean, there is no substance. I listened to “Tootsie Roll” the other day and THAT shit had more substance… He’s 17, you’re right. He’s an adult. Act like one. No excuses for that dude. We’ll see what happens next year. Holla at me then when we’re all like, “Who???”

Word to the Golden Era,
FLO

(I stole this video from Eskay…)

Y’All Should All Get Lynched

No, I really think NYOil feels that way. I’m not a huge fan of his but I like this one… He took some shots at the big homie Nasir so I have some resentment about that but he goes in with this one. Souljah Bitch, take notes. I won’t tell you to eat a dick like Uncle Ice T did, but I will tell you to stay in your lane. Veer out of your lane you’re bound to get smashed the fuck up.

Check this shit out… And think about the bullshit you’re releasing.

FLO