JumpinJack AJ

Premier has handled this whole thing with class. It's not like I know for sure that Solar wrote it, but it's obvious that it looks that way and that Solar is a total idiot. He's just ugly in my eyes. I watched the Mass Appeal:The Best of Gang Starr DVD the other night was was remembering the good times.

I think there was an MTV Unplugged VHS back in the day that featured this performance. I intended on getting it but never did. Your post reminded me of it. I'm sure one day I'll have it and I'll be able to upload it when I get a new computer in a couple months.

The new Eminem album is slated for late June. It's called Recovery. I thought Relapse was a step in the right direction. I'm hoping "recovery" means he's making a further growth to better music. I'm hoping that the smaller level of success of Relapse doesn't have him going back to the 2001-2008ish Eminem. His rap on that B.O.B. track is the weakest part of the song...the annoying rapping voice was in tact.

I could never see Ja-Rule getting past average status even with him striving for greatness. Don't get me wrong, I'll give anything an honest listen. It's just that he'll never be on LL Cool J's level. He'll never be on Chuck D's level. He's made some decent songs and he's made alot of awful songs.

Ted, u totally got me in the mood for Total. TOTAL - Kissing You (1996) This was probably my favorite song by them.

Ted, u though Total was sexy? I thought the one that never got to sing lead was cute. I thought the other's looked like dudes....lol. They made some good music tho.' GURU / JAZZMATAZZ - Watch What You Say (C.J. Mix) What's What You Say (UK Import CD Single) (1995)

I read this on AOL. I like that they decided 2 keep him in the movie. Definitely a great accomplishment for a DJ.

TLC - Creep CrAzySeXyCOol (1994)

No shouting news here but maybe some of you would appreciate this. AOL News did an article on classic movies that were originally slated to feature other actors and created doctored promotional posters for them. Here's the link... http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/2010/04/20/movie-posters-with-stars-originally-cast/?icid=main|main|dl2|link3|http%3A%2F%2Finsidemovies.moviefone.com%2F2010%2F04%2F20%2Fmovie-posters-with-stars-originally-cast%2F

I'm putting this post up now so I remind myself to talk about her interview on the show. I don't have time to talk about it now. I think BET reruns this throughout the day so those of you who have BET might wanna look it up. I only caught the second part of the interview but I'll be posting about it later.

I like the lyrics and the energy in his flow. I just think the production is a bit tired on the original version AND the remix. The MIB2 Remix is my favorite version. The production doesn't sound processed like the other 2 versions.

In my opinion, maybe. I need to hear the album. Eminem's next album is really gonna show a lot of fans where he's at as an artist. Jay-Z...I like his 2005 stuff better than his 1998-2005 stuff. He's hit or miss with me.

MICHAEL JACKSON + LL COOL J "Serious Effect" unreleased (1991) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0HPg9IslLw&feature=related

Yeah, I'm definitely interested in this guy. "Nothin' On You" is the song that grabbed my attention. He definitely has an appriciation for music which is something most rappers these days don't. The other song reminds me of an Andre 3000 song that has strayed a bit less from it's Hip-Hop foundation. I'll be following this guy. He is better than every other rapper getting attention right now...hands down.

"Rap is a young man's game" is a totally ignorant statement. I would expect that kind of thinking from your typical top 40 radio listener...but not a true fan of Hip-Hop. The difference between the old school and the new school is that people like Public Enemy, Arrested Development, Kurtis Blow, etc are STILL touring and making thousands/millions of dollars each year STILL (as I've read from interviews) and people like Young Joc, Young Dro, Lil' Scrappy, J-Kwon, Khia...people who were popular just 3-5 years ago probably can't say the same thing RIGHT NOW. If they can, they certainly won't be able to in 5 years...just thinking 10 and 20 years later like most of the legends still doing their thing but on a different level these days. It's about quality music when it comes to longevity and proper marketing (usually) when it comes to success.

B.O.B + EMINEM - Airplanes II The Adventures of Bobby Ray (2010) Dope song, tho' Eminem kinda took a step back in his voice/flow. By the way, did any one hear is scrapped Relapse 2 for a new album called Recovery slated to drop in late June?

Let's all bombard Jazzy's Myspace and Facebook with MIB song requests...lol. Even tho' "Black Suits Comin' " was on the level of "Men In Black," it would almost be taboo for FP not 2 do a song. If he's gonna come back after nearly 5 years, Jazzy really should be involved. "Wild Wild West" was the last great soundtrack song he did and while Jeff didn't produced it, he scratched on it. I'd love a non-MIB song too. This will be the start of a new and good chapter in FP's career.

Puffy produced MJB but she was never on Bad Boy. Mary J. Blige was on the legendary Uptown Records...then moved to MCA when Heavy D took over Uptown from Andre Harrell.

Dare I say it...this will lead to new music one way or another.

One more article ...DJ Premier's take... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gang Starr's DJ Premier Comments On Guru's Death Premier does not comment on harsh statements directed at him in 'farewell' letter reportedly written by MC. by MTV News staff In the statement announcing the death of Gang Starr's Guru on Monday, a letter was included that found the MC directing some harsh words at his longtime partner in the group, DJ Premier. Some have questioned the validity of the letter — claims that Guru's recent partner, Solar, has refuted. "I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name, likeness, events, tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this," the letter reads. "I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ." In a statement issued Wednesday (April 21) on a DJ Premier fan blog that his manager had earlier told MTV News is legitimate, the Gang Starr DJ chose not to address the comments in the letter and instead remember his longtime collaborator. "It was a sad day for me to get confirmation on the death of a man who I will continue to call my brother, Keith Elam, better known as Guru of the legendary Gang Starr," the statement reads. "From 1988-2004, we experienced so much success together that we were able to expand our businesses independently and give each other what Guru called 'creative space,' before planning to reunite for our seventh LP when the time was right. Tragically, we will never reach that day. "I've been asked to comment on a letter speaking ill of me which was supposedly written by Guru in his dying days. All I will say about it is that our time together was beautiful, we built a hip-hop legacy together, and no one can re-write history or take away my love for him. One thing I would never do is play around with the truth about his life. "I will celebrate Guru's life ... I will honor his memory ... I will grieve with the Elam family over his untimely death ... I will remember the Gang Starr foundation and all of the original members of Gang Starr who came before me — we all know each other ... mostly, I will cherish everything we created together as Gang Starr, forever. I'm gonna miss hearing his signature monotone voice when he walks in the room, but the songs will always bring it back to me ... His rhyme flows were insane, and I will never remove him from my heart and soul. Rest in peace to the man who felt 'satisfaction from the street crowd reaction.' I love you Goo ... DJ Premier." Share your memories of Guru and Gang Starr in the comments below. This report is from MTV News.

This "letter" has me really annoyed. As a HUGE Guru and Gang Starr fan, I just can't take it. I popped in "Guru letter" on Yahoo and came across these 3 articles. One of them had a link to a Solar radio interview. It was from right after he went into the coma. Solar is talking about how Guru was recovering but wouldn't say that he was fully awake. He also talked about people Guru separated himself from and denied that people and family were having problems visiting him in the hospital. The radio DJ called him out for having the same Twitter status as Guru while Guru was supposed to be in a coma. Solar just kept nervously rambling so that he couldn't even talk to the radio DJ. I think it's clear that Solar has some kind of crazy motive but that he's simply too stupid to pull something like this off. He's been planning this since the coma. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Did Producer Fake Rapper Guru’s Deathbed Letter? Post by EZ Street in National on Apr 20, 2010 at 12:54 pm When news spread of Gang Starr’s Guru dying of Cancer the shock of his passing was only surpassed by the skepticism towards his final statement. Do you think he wrote it? The letter published on Allhiphop.com began respecfully enough: I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options. The letter goes on to inform us of his non-profit foundation for abused children, and that he was filled with tears of joy for the wonderful life that he lived. Then the note takes an ugly turn. Rather than focusing on his legacy and reflecting on the life he’s lived it becomes a commercial for producer Solar and his disdain for his longtime Gang Starr partner DJ Premier: My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself… I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. Upon reading those lines most friends and fans were taken aback and have gone so far as to speculate that Guru did not write those words, rather that it was Solar. As stinging as the words are there is SOME foundation for it being from Guru. In an interview with Allhiphop.com in June 2009 entitled “Never Going Back” Guru repeatedly referred to DJ Premier as his “ex-DJ.” “People ask me about my ex-DJ (DJ Premier) and all that. We were never all that close. We hooked up in the studio and did great music, but we were never hanging and all that cool. Solar and I, we got tight before we even started doing music.” This still runs contrary to the conversation I had personally with Guru back in 1998 when he described how he and DJ Premier were roommates (read here) and that he would “never perform without him.” So what happened between then and now? Only Guru and Premier know for certain and neither speaks on the break-up at length. Regardless, it still doesn’t make sense for a man to throw darts on his deathbed. Especially a recovering alcoholic who went out of his way to make peace with people while he was getting healthy years ago. Here are some reactions from peers and friends on Twitter: DJ Scratch "I don't believe Guru wrote that letter. Guru was a poet. Anything he wrote with DJ Premier's name in it was classic." Guru didn't write that letter. He's been in a coma for over 2 months." ?uestlove "not trying to bring negativity into the situation. but i do NOT believe he wrote that letter. 1) he was in a coma. 2) HE WAS IN A COMA! Freddie Foxx "The More You Read It The More Insulting it is. WOW." "Guru was a teacher. Check The Grammar. A Real Teacher. "How Can Guru Say 'I have succumd2 this disease' So He Past Thn Wrote it? Or He Wrote It In Feb. Just B# he WentN2 A Coma & never Cameout? NOT" "With ALl That Guru Was Dealing With, The Main Premise Of His Letter Is To Respect Solars Wishes? FOH!!! Statik Selektah "Lets not make this about the evil person we know is behind the statements, and instead celebrate Gurus life and work. R.I.P. to a LEGEND As expected, Solar came to his own defense on Twitter: Solar_7Grand "Guru made this statement from his own mouth and anybody saying different is insane with Hate! Quite frankly, there has been a suspicious tone to many of the recent statements issued by Solar on behalf of Guru but this one takes the cake. What do you think? Is this how Guru would choose to use his last words? Check out this interview the Solar conducted with with Hot 97’s morning show when the news of Guru’s illness first broke: Who’s gonna take the weight? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Solar Releases "Final" Statement From Guru As Many Speculate Its Origin » by tffhthewriter April 20, 2010, 17:17pm Hours after the legendary Gangstarr artist Guru succumbed to cancer, the internet is blazing with speculation over the letter that was released to fans by friend and producer Solar. The letter (see an excerpt below) explains the legendary rapper's bout with cancer and even details how the assets and his son's should be taken care of listing Solar as primary beneficiary and caregiver. The fact that this is Guru's "final letter" ,which reads more like a will, and Solar being placed to handle all of his estates' issues and finances including the care of his son has many questioning the legitimacy of the letter. “My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody's feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to [accept] on his own.” The real blow came to his partner in rhyme DJ Premier, who according to the letter can no longer use anything affiliated with Guru's name or likeness. Premier who co-founded the legendary Hip-Hop group Gangstarr with Guru is now prohibited from performing a concert to benefit or in memoriam of his former friend. “I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events, tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz.” Solar has decided to respond back to allegations that the letter was not written by Guru, by releasing a statement via Twitter letting fans know that he did not write the letter: “Guru made this statement from his own mouth and anybody saying different is insane with hate!” The artist, born Keith Elam, died on Monday April 19. He was 43 years old. Solar, Guru's partner, expressed sadness over the loss in a statement. "The world has lost one of the best MCs and Hip-Hop icons of all-time -- my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru. Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it, but tragically, this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius.” This sounds more like a will than his last words but at this point in time only Solar can truthfully answer that. Despite the drama, [sMH], DJ Premier offers his condolences to Guru's family and offers fans a way to leave their most memorable moments of the legendary MC on his blogsite: http://www.djpremierblog.com/guru/ Drama aside, the Hip-Hop world will never be the same, as we have truly lost a legend. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solar Responds To Skepticism About Guru's 'Farewell' Letter 'We knew there was going to have to be a statement,' Gang Starr MC's associate says. by Shaheem Reid > Guru and Solar (Photo: 4sightmedia ) On a tremendously tough day for Gang Starr fans, the death of the duo's MC, Guru (real name: Keith Elam), from cancer was announced by his associate Solar early Tuesday (April 20), and included a long "farewell" letter that Solar said was written by Guru in the weeks before his death. The tone of the letter was harsh toward DJ Premier, Guru's former partner in Gang Starr. "I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name, likeness, events, tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this," the letter reads in part. "I had nothing to do with him in life for over seven years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. ... "The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small-mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life." In the wake of the letter, fans, journalists and even some of Guru's peers took to the Internet to question its authenticity. People close to Guru said it just didn't sound like him, and many questioned how he could write a letter in such a weakened medical condition. Rapper Bumpy Knuckles (also known as Freddie Foxx), who worked extensively with Gang Starr, fumed on his Twitter page: "It's an insult that websites would post a letter from a man who has been in a coma since Feb. R U serious? Do ur homework, journalist! Please," he wrote in part. "Guru& DJ Premier made real hip-hop 2gether. No1 will ever be able to cloud that with fake letters and phony statements. Sites shld know better." The Roots' ?uestlove took to Twitter as well, referencing French MC Solaar, who worked with Guru on the Jazzmatazz project. "Only Solaar I wanna hear w/Guru is the remix Primo did from France's MC Solaar back in 92 when he KILT (flipped) Miles' 'So What.' ... Not trying to bring negativity into the situation. But I do NOT believe he wrote that letter. 1) he was in a coma. 2) HE WAS IN A COMA!" "Just confused," radio personality Miss Info wrote on Tuesday. "If Solar wrote this letter in Guru's name to push agenda, it does Guru's legacy a disservice (and their friendship too). All that Solar did in life for Guru, he undid in his passing if the words 'I, Guru, am writing this letter' are untrue..." Reader Rob sounded off on MTVNews.com on Tuesday: "The Guru 'farewell' letter reeks of fakeness." On Tuesday afternoon, Solar spoke with MTV News about the controversy, saying that he and Guru had prepared the statement quite some time ago. "In some ways, I've been prepared for this," Solar said about Guru's death. "We got the news that it was terminal at the beginning of the year, that the cancer wasn't turning around. So we knew. "He died yesterday. We both had hoped he would beat it," Solar added. "It was a very inspirational, inspiring fight we fought." He vehemently denied that the letter was not written by Guru. "I mean, it's ridiculous," he said. "Guru knew this time would come. The great artist he is, us being intelligent people, we knew there was going to have to be a statement relating to this. Unfortunately, there are those who have the wicked agenda, and just can't accept that Guru and I have handled this thing as men and not children, and this is how men of honor handle their business. He arranged his press release. I'm the repository of Guru's life story. I recorded his life story for book and for movies. We're not foolish. He was diagnosed with cancer well over a year ago. It's been operations and so forth. It would be ridiculous for him to not be prepared." At press time, representatives for DJ Premier and Guru's family had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment.

GURU - So What It Do Now Jazzmatazz: Back To The Future Mixtape (2008)

It's almost child-like the way it was written. I don't know much about Solar but I was thinking he wrote it from the 1st time I read it. I never saw him as very important to Guru's career. Assuming he did write this letter leaves me with zero respect for him.

Apparently I'm not the only one who feels that way. This was on AOL's Boombox... ---------------------------------------------------------- Say What! -- Freddie Foxx, ?uestlove Question Guru's 'Last Words' Freddie Foxx weighed in on Guru's last words, which many suspect may not have actually been penned by the Gangstarr legend. "It's an insult that websites would post a letter from a man who has been in a coma since Feb. R U serious? Do ur homework, journalist! Please," Foxx tweeted. "Guru& DJ Premier made real hip-hop 2gether. No1 will ever be able to cloud that with fake letters and phony statements. Sites shld know better...With All That Guru Was Dealing With, The Main Premise Of His Letter Is To Respect Solars Wishes? FOH!! " [bumpyKnuckles] ?uestlove of The Roots also tweeted about the statement, saying "Only Solaar I wanna hear w/Guru is the remix Primo did from France's MC Solaar back in 92 when he KILT (flipped) Miles' 'So What.' ... Not trying to bring negativity into the situation. But I do NOT believe he wrote that letter. 1) he was in a coma. 2) HE WAS IN A COMA!" Really though. [?uestlove]

CYPRESS HILL (PRODUCED BY PETE ROCK) - Light It Up Rise Up (2010) This sounds nothing like a Pete Rock beat...totally a Cypress Hill sound...but it's dope. If you like the Hill, you'll like this new one.