JumpinJack AJ

Skee-Lo Wished He Was a Little Bit Taller. Then He Promptly Retired By Jeff Weiss Wed., Jan. 18 2012 at 3:30 AM ​[Editor's note: Weekly scribe Jeff Weiss's column, "Bizarre Ride," appears on West Coast Sound every Wednesday. His archives are available here.] The directions haven't changed. If you want to find Skee-Lo, take the 110 to the 105 and get off on Crenshaw. It's everything else that's been altered since "I Wish" transformed the Snapple-size South L.A. rapper from obscurity into an evanescent national phenomenon in the summer of 1995. The gold-certified smash yielded Grammy nominations, stints as an MTV VJ and a spot on the television adaptation of Dangerous Minds. Then he disappeared. "I retired five months after it was released," Skee-Lo says, drinking coffee at the Denny's on Crenshaw and 37th, a few blocks from the home he shares with his wife and two children. "Not only did my label [sunshine] take credit for producing 'I Wish,' they took all the profits. So I refused to shoot any more videos, promote or record music. I'm not their slave. I wasn't working for free." You expect to hear rappers indict the improprieties of a corrupt industry. But you don't expect to hear Skee-Lo inveigh against its sheer "wickedness." It's like hearing the Easter Bunny go off on Big Chocolate. For those foreign to the charms of "I Wish," the rapper born Antoine Roundtree plays an endlessly endearing ne'er-do-well. "I wish I was a little bit taller," he posits, adding that he's saddled to a Hatchback with an 8-track, where "Everywhere I go, I gets laughed at." The indelible underdog anthem reached No. 13 on the singles chart but branded him a one-hit wonder. "The one-hit-wonder thing used to really irritate me. But no one knew the true story," says Skee-Lo, the spitting image of his '95 self, plus a few pounds. He graduated from high school in Moreno Valley, and while attending El Camino College performed every week at the Good Life in Leimert Park, the Left Bank of early-'90s underground hip-hop. That's where he unveiled "I Wish," one week after writing it during a study session gone wrong. "I wanted to do anything but school. So I started listing wishes and wrote the whole record without music," Skee-Lo says. "Two days later, I'm cleaning my room and in the middle of an ugly old record. I heard a beautiful horn section that made me feel like I was at a casino, on a beach or a boat. I threw my broom down, got on my MPC-60 and made the beat." The hook floated into his mind that Thursday night at the Good Life, following a successful preshow freestyle in the parking lot. When Sunshine Records (the parent company of Scotti) heard it, he received a $150,000 advance. The song's success created a familiar paradox: His music was omnipresent but he never made a penny. Nor did he get with Leoshi (though she did appear in the video). After a half-decade of legal battles, Skee-Lo wrangled back his publishing rights. He proudly notes that he receives every cent when the song is purchased and played today. But even though he kept busy doing shows during his "retirement," his recording hiatus left him adrift and depressed, even after the royalty money kicked in. "It got to the point where I told my wife and children that I didn't want to live anymore," Skee-Lo says of his low ebb five years ago. "Then a voice spoke to me clearly and said, 'At what point in your life were you truly happy?'" The religious vision caused Skee-Lo to rededicate himself to the Nation of Islam, which he had joined at 16. His raised spirits and reaffirmed spirituality inspired him to form his own indie label, Skee-Lo Musik, whose flagship release will be April's Fresh Ideas, Skee-Lo's first real record since "I Wish." But no matter the outcome, he's achieved the crucial goals of his lone smash: People still remember his name, and he'll be played on classic rap radio until the day everyone is 6 foot 9. "I've had people from prison tell me how much that record helped them through the years they were locked down," he says. "People treat me well wherever I go. How can you hate on Skee-Lo?"

Amen.

I gotta admit, I really wanted 2 like K'Naan when he first dropped but I just couldn't. I peeped the album multiple times and just couldn't get into it. I just don't like his voice. I listened to this new song and it's not bad. The beat is interesting. It's not bad but I don't love it either. I think I like K'Naan better on this than on his past stuff. I'm still not crazy about his voice and I don't feel like he keeps up with the beat completely. I think Nas sounds dope on it tho.'

Are there tho'? There's so much mind numbing dance pop out there it's disgusting. Most of the songs are interchangeable and have no identity to them.

What.Was.That?

It really would. I could do without Raekwon but it really would be dope to hear a collab like this.

Anthony Hamilton (who's new album is AMAZING!!) posted a pic on his Facebook. It's him with FP, Common Sense, and Raekwon! Check it... https://www.facebook...6&type=1&ref=nf p.s. Does FP normally not wear his wedding ring?

I'm sorry to hear that, man. I pray things turn around. You never know....last week one of my friends got the news that his cancer was back (after being free from it for 10 years!). He went in for surgery and was told all they can do is treat him with radiation. If that didn't fix it, nothing would. Well, 2 days ago he awoke from surgery and found out that it was just scar tissue from the surgery he had years ago. The last year of his life has been awful so this news feels like the start of things turning around for him.

This guy probably put different names on this picture and visited a ton of different message boards, confusing hundreds of people.

Funny! Outtakes are the best thing that come from any project. We haven't worked on the web series in awhile due to location issues, but every time we get together, we HAVE to watch the outtakes. I told my friend I wouldn't do the project unless I got as many takes as I wanted...lol. I even tell the other actors to try other things on other people without warning. The faces you made in that video are awesome...the "choreography"...lol.

And kinda stupid

I looks great. I love the colors and layout.

He ALWAYS gets love from Nickelodeon. This should be good.

I agree...it's never too early since the trailer is out.

First they did it with Mecca + The Soul Brother....Now they're doing it with The Main Ingredient!! Unfortunately, there aren't really any b-sides on it and only one remix. But when music is the dope and iconic, I'll still be happy with 12" versions, instrumentals, and acapellas. It drops January 24th!! Amazon.com Marley Marl disciple Pete Rock is rightly hailed as one of the greatest producers around. Jazzy and soulful, his productions are some of the smoothest, funkiest, most innovative, and listenable on record. Though he's produced a crate-full of hits, it's his work with front man C.L. Smooth that's most fondly remembered, and The Main Ingredient--the duo's second album, after Mecca and the Soul Brother--lives up to the hype. Smooth's proficiency on the mic doesn't match his partner's studio wizardry, but not many do, and Smooth's easygoing, free-flowing delivery complements the grooves to good effect (and more importantly, keeps Rock from taking on too many vocal duties). Great for parties or a lazy weekend afternoon, The Main Ingredient is fondly remembered for all the right reasons. --Randy Silver Here's the track listing... Disc: 1 1. In The House 2. Carmel City 3. I Get Physical 4. Sun Won t Come Out 5. I Got A Love 6. Escape 7. The Main Ingredient 8. Worldwide 9. All The Places 10. Tell Me 11. Take You There 12. Searching 13. Check It Out 14. In The Flesh 15. It s On You 16. Get On The Mic Disc: 2 1. I Got A Love (Orig. 12 Remix) 2. Take You There (Orig. 12 Remix) 3. Get On The Mic (Orig. 12 Remix) 4. Searching (Orig. 12 Remix) 5. We Specialize (Orig. 12 Version) 6. I Got A Love (Orig. 12 Instr.) 7. The Main Ingredient (Orig. 12 Instr.) 8. I Got A Love (Orig. 12 Remix Instr. 9. Take You There (Orig. 12 Instr.) 10. Get On The Mic (Orig. 12 Instr.) 11. Searching (Orig. 12 Instr.) 12. Searching (Orig. 12 Remix Instr.) 13. Take You There (Orig. 12 A Capella) 14. We Specialize (Orig. 12 A Cappella)

I know this is a board dominated by Hip-Hop fans...but I also know there's a handful of Jason Mraz fans here which is why I'm making this post. I was fortunate to see him perform (again) this Summer and his set mixed a lot of hold stuff with a little bit of new stuff. This song (now the 1st single off his next album coming out in May) was my favorite new song he played. For those who care, here it is...followed by an article... Jason Mraz's 'I Won't Give Up' Storms Hot 100's Top 10 by Keith Caulfield & Gary Trust | January 11, 2012 12:05 EST On the Hot 100, the track's launch is the highest for a male pop/rock singer-songwriter since David Cook burst in at No. 3 with "The Time of My Life" the week of June 7, 2008, after he was crowned "American Idol" champion. On Digital Songs, "Won't" marks the first No. 1 debut since Lil Wayne's "She Will," featuring Drake, bowed at the summit the week of Sept. 3, 2011, with 254,000 downloads sold. Mraz premiered "Won't" live during his 2011 concert tour, well before an official version was released. The buzz was so great on the track that it quickly caught viral fire and, in the past couple weeks, garnered cover versions by YouTube luminaries Christina Grimmie and Tyler Ward. "Won't" is the lead single from Mraz's as-yet-untitled fourth studio album, due May 8. The set follows 2008's "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.," which debuted and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and has sold 1.7 million copies in the U.S., according to SoundScan. Jason Mraz Fine-Tunes 4th Album for 2012 Release Dane Venable, Atlantic Records senior VP/marketing, saw Mraz perform "Won't" at Carnegie Hall in New York in late November and recalls it as "absolutely breathtaking. It got a standing ovation." Even though the song had already been laid down in the studio with a full band, Atlantic then encouraged Mraz to re-record it acoustically. Venable says that Atlantic "knew the emotional impact of the song" and thought it would be a "great gift for the fans (for us) to release it at the top of the year, to just kick off 2012 with this gift of hope." "I won't give up on us, even if the skies get rough," Mraz sings in the song's chorus. "I'm giving you all my love. I'm still looking up." As the tracklist for Mraz's forthcoming album is still being finalized, Atlantic says that it's too early to confirm if both the acoustic and full-band versions of "Won't" will appear on the set. Last month, Mraz told Billboard.com that his new set will feature "less horns, more piano and guitar textures (and) more vocal landscapes. That, to me, has always been my favorite part of making music; the singing and what voices can do and voices singing in harmony." While the official lyric video for "Won't" has racked 2.5 million views since its upload to Mraz's YouTube channel Jan. 2, a proper video is on the way. Atlantic says that Mraz is currently reviewing treatments and hopes to film the clip before the end of the month. The label aims to release the short by the second or third week of February. Also due next month: "Won't" will get its first TV performance Feb. 16 when Mraz sings it on NBC's "Today." The gig is scheduled two days after "Won't" earns a rare physical CD single release Feb. 14 - not so coincidentally, Valentine's Day. The single's tracklist isn't yet final but may include both the acoustic and full-band versions of "Won't." Following the song's viral buzz and impressive sales start, Atlantic will begin promoting "Won't" to radio, working the song to Mraz's home bases of adult pop and adult alternative Feb. 23. The label is likely to follow with a push to pop radio shortly thereafter. "Won't" marks Mraz's second Hot 100 top 10, following his No. 6-peaking 2008 smash "I'm Yours." The latter song set the record for most weeks (76) that a single has spent on the Hot 100 in the chart's 53-year history. At 5.9 million in digital sales to-date, "Yours" is the eighth-best-selling download in SoundScan history and the highest by a male pop/rock singer-songwriter. http://www.billboard...005841552.story

Definitely. I'll settle for a download any time I can't find something old or if the only copy I can find is crazy expensive since it's rare.

Congratz 2 the Boyz! Even Mike is there. Maybe they can start repairing their friendship.

I haven't even clicked that link...lol. Should I even bother. I know Common Sense is one of the best emcees ever and Drake is wack...do I even waste the time? lol

I've seen this before but it's been ages...thanks! I wish she would have followed through with the albums she was working on in the past. She's such a great musical talent. I love this song but it doesn't even scratch the surface of what she can do as a singer.

Yeah, I like that. I saw him perform live a few years ago. GYM CLASS HEROES - Back Home Papercut Chronicles (2011)

I can't tell if this person is serious. How long will we keep this random thing up, posted by a one-timer?

LOL! That was silly....but I hope he isn't pursuing a rapping career. I love the Carlton character at the end.

Boy, you must be on dog food.

Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith Divorce: Laura Wasser Reportedly Retained By Jada First Posted: 1/4/12 02:17 PM ET Updated: 1/4/12 02:25 PM ET Despite denying divorce rumors back in August, it appears that Will and Jada Pinkett Smith may be finally going their separate ways -- at least according to In Touch Weekly. The magazine is reporting that Jada Smith recently met with celebrity divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, who has represented the likes of Britney Spears, Maria Shriver, and Kim Kardashian. A source tells In Touch that Smith has "finally begun to take steps to dissolve their marriage," even reportedly turning down a role in Keanu Reeves directorial debut to spend time with her kids during this "difficult time." The magazine first reported that Will and Jada had separated in August after 13 years of marriage. The pair issued a statement in response to the allegations: "Although we are reluctant to respond to these types of press reports, the rumors circulating about our relationship are completely false. We are still together, and our marriage is intact." The star couple have two kids, Jaden and Willow -- whose careers were reportedly at the root of the Smiths' marital problems -- and Will Smith has one son from a previous marriage. If Jada has indeed met with Wasser, she'll be in good hands http://www.huffingto...ref=mostpopular ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I hope this is all just garbage and that this news goes away SOON.