bigted

Here's the second part to the interview: Cassidy: Jail, Lessons & The State of Affairs Part 2 By Jigsaw W AllHipHop.com: Not to get all philosophical, but Proof of D-12 was killed today and it seems like rap music and Hip-Hop is going through this over and over. What’s your opinion of the state of Hip-Hop on the level and specifically the state of the Black man in America. Cassidy: It’s definitely going down real crazy on the streets and the Hip-Hop community - and as you said, not just the Hip-Hop community, as far as the minorities. As far as entertainers, I’m sure somebody else [that wasn’t famous] died yesterday too. That’s stuff we ain’t hearing about. Violence is at an all-time high. There are so many reasons why it is, that we’ll be here for months talking about it. Its like, you know, there are a lotta reasons that dude’s are responding the way they are responding. Dues ain’t eating, they hungry out there. That’s one of the main reasons. They don’t have access to the paper [money] that’s out here in the world. That’s one of the reasons violence is at an all-time high. It’s a lot of ways to be successful and a lot of ways to make paper, but the dudes in the hood, the minorities don’t know about it. So, they feel all they can do is be a drug dealer, rapper, or a sports player. They feel if they ain’t one of those three things, they are left out so they gotta take what they want. That’s not true. There are a lot of other ways to be successful and probably generate more money than a celebrity or a sports player. But they don’t know those things. Knowing those things is not in the hood. The people doing those things is not in the hood. The only think that I see in the hood is the dude moving these birds [drugs], so Im’a try to be like him and not this doctor. I don’t see this doctor [in the hood]. A lot of these successful [people that got] good careers, they need to step it up and be positive role models for the people that’s stepping up. So, they I wanna be like him instead of Scarface [Cuban druglord played by Al Pacino] or Nino Brown [drug dealing character in 1991’ New Jack City. If you don’t see it, a lot of dudes ain’t gonna go in a book and read and kids ain’t gonna try to do they own research. They need people with status to promote other things besides clothing lines, besides sneakers. Show these dudes another way and how to generate money, how to love each other and how to build a foundation over time. It took a long time for it to get this way. It ain’t just happen over night. Its gonna take time for to get better. AllHipHop.com: Do you feel the older generation has let down the Hip-Hop generation, or at least neglected them? Cassidy: [Pauses] The older dudes, it might not have necessarily been their fault. [The 70’s and 80’s], that’s when the drugs hit major, that’s when crack hit, so a lot of the dudes that’s older than us, teaching us the right way to go, they were lost themselves. Either they were lost up in hustling, or lost in using the drugs or caught up in pimping or being pimps. They wasn’t able to be the positive role models that they could have been. I don’t necessarily point the finger at them, because everybody is responsible for their own decisions. But they did play a role in why the generation after them went so crazy. To make a difference, the dudes that’s young like me, Juelz, T.I., Fab, step it up and show a difference. Then the younger kids that’s five, six, 11 years old, they might take a different direction, gradually change. And then the generation under them, might gradual change and you might see improvement. AllHipHop.com: What would you say your career stands at right now, musically? Cassidy: I’m in the best shape of my life, man. I feel as though when I drop this next album, my third album, This Time Around, I’m gonna reach the most success I ever had. I’m gonna reach the level that I always dreamed about bein’ at – then continue to rise. AllHipHop.com: Okay, I want to move forward with your music. You are one of the illest battle MC’s and definitely have good songs too. Are you working on anything right now? Cassidy: When I was in jail, I wasn’t writing a lot of songs, because I didn’t have music, but I stayed on my job lyrically. That’s what I do so it’s like a habit for me. I stayed on my P’s & Q’s, because I am so competitive. I always wanna be the best, and I always wanna sound better than I did the last time. AllHipHop.com: You got any mixtapes or anything like that coming out? Cassidy: I’m looking forward to it. Every DJ is looking for a freestyle from me so, I’m looking forward to putting out a bunch of mixtapes. And, also coming out with my third album soon. So I got a lot on my plate right now. AllHipHop.com: No release date yet? Cassidy: Nah, I didn’t even go to work yet. Its probably gonna take me two months to get everything finished. So, I should have a single out this summer and probably looking to release the album fourth quarter.

Like the allhiphop.com review says this is for the mature fans only, those who want to hear about murder, drugs, and pimpin' in 90% of their songs will avoid this album, LL is talking grown man stuff here...

The majority of fans that complain about how the state of hip-hop is trashy are the same ones who sleep on supporting mcs like DMC and actually support some of that stuff that they complain about, in order for a change fans need to be more conscious in what they choose to spend their money on, I'm damn sure that there's at least a million fans out there that don't like the way the rap game is going and could get his album to go platinum no doubt, everybody here has to get DMC's album, that's probably one of the most creative albums of the year so far, it's like people question whether an LL album is worth buying but come on now he's one of the realest mcs ever, support real hip-hop, people avoid Rev. Run's album 'cause it's too short but they run out to buy 90% of the crap out today and expect a change, come on now, lol, like I was saying that other thread too I'd rather even buy Nick Cannon's album than most commercial rap albums 'cause even though he ain't the most skilled at least he's putting out something positive, Kanye West gets on my nerves sometimes and could be at times corny like Nick Cannon but it's the same way with him too, I'd rather see them sell 5 million than Ying Yang Twins, if you're gonna complain do something about it, if you're buying into everything out there that's trashy I think you have no right to complain, some of these so called rap fans sound hypocritical, I think fans should focus on the positive side of rap instead of just complaining about the negative side of it, these popular rappers won't change their image if it's selling, if it hits their wallets though they'll be forced to put more content and be more creative with the messages in the music that they make or else they won't have any fans....

This is like the point made in Public Enemy's "Swindler's Lust", if you don't own the master the master owns you, artists getting cheated by record labels for what they deserve to receive: A Dollar A Rhyme But We Barely Get A Dime If You Don’t Own The Master Then The Master Own You Who Do You Trust From Swindler’s Lust From The Back Of The Bus Neither One Of Us Control The Fate Of Our Soul And Swindler’s Lust Hickory Dickory Dock Hand In My Pocket Robbed Me For My Chocolate Mo Dollars Mo Cents For The Big Six Another Million Led To Bled Claimin They Innocence Is It Any Wonder Why Black Folks Goin Under Cause Niggas Be Sold In Bundles No Pressure Tell Me Why They Don’t Care Rap And R & B Pavin The Streets Of Belair From The Sales Of Singers No Longer Here The Bigger Killer Gets The Bigger Share Now The Ones I Attack The Negros Got Their Back And Know 80-20 Is A Whack Contract Forever Lack The Voice Of Real Black Stole Rock And Roll And Ain’t Gave It Back Started Off My Defense Now They’re The Ones I Defend Against Who Fell Up Into The Tricks **** The Fight The Power **** Get That Chuck D Nigga Fixed And Keep Him Up Outta The Mix Well Hell Tell Em Chuck Don’t Suck No Dick Be An Ass And The Ass Get Kicked Hand In My Pocket Robbed Me For My Chocolate Watch Em Swindle Yo Ass And Turn A Profit If You Don’t Own The Master Then The Master Own You Who Do You Trust From Swindler’s Lust From The Back Of The Bus Neither One Of Us Control The Fate Of Our Soul And Swindler’s Lust They Don’t Care About Me They Don’t Care About You They Don’t Care About You And Ya Crew Ya Family Neighborhood And Plus They Don’t Give A Damn About Us Profit Off The Soul Of Black Folk Turn Em Into Bitchez And Niggas And Stupid Ass Jokes Laugh Wit Us Or Laughin At Us That Is What I’m Guessin We Interrupt This Program Wit That Question Laughin All The Way To The Bank Remember Dem Own The Banks And Dem G-Damn Tanks Now What Company Do I Thank Ain’t This A Bitch Heard They Owned Slaves And A Ship That Sank If You Don’t Own The Master Then The Master Own You Who Do You Trust From Swindler’s Lust From The Back Of The Bus Neither One Of Us Control The Fate Of Our Soul And Swindler’s Lust This Is For The Blues People In The Delta This Is For Everybody In The 50’s That Didn’t Get Their Money Little Richard Gettin Half A Penny A Penny All The Super Soul Singers Of The 60’s All The Bands Of The 70’s On The Outside Lookin In All The People That Didn’t Make A Dime Off Their Session Playin And Even The Rappers In The 80’s And The 90’s Still Tryin To Get Paid For What They Put In If You Don’t Own The Master Then The Master Own You Who Do You Trust From Swindler’s Lust From The Back Of The Bus Neither One Of Us Control The Fate Of Our Soul And Swindler’s Lust

DMC On Violence In Hip-Hop: 'Something Has To Give' 04.13.2006 6:34 PM EDT After deaths of Proof, Jam Master Jay, veteran rapper wishes lyrics were more relevant, less violent. Darryl "DMC" McDaniels Photo: Andrew H. Walker/ Getty Images NEW YORK — D12 rapper Proof's death is a tragedy. But why this violence keeps occurring is another tragedy altogether, according to hip-hop pioneer Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, who lamented that rappers getting in violent altercations has "If you're going to rap about a gun, rap about not using a gun." — DMC become so commonplace that it's expected. "There's a lot of that going around lately," he said when MTV News caught up with him Tuesday at a Saturn auto show/ charity bash for the bone marrow donation center DKMS, for which he's a spokesperson. "It's not a good thing. Something has to give." McDaniels, who lost Run-DMC's DJ Jam Master Jay in 2002 (see "Jam Master Jay, Run-DMC DJ, Killed In Shooting"), said that while the music doesn't cause crime, it's not helping matters either. Imitating a thug life, even just for image's sake, helps keep the cycle of art-imitating-life-imitating-art on repeat. "Everything that these rappers try to get away from is everything that kills them," he said. Plus, when it's not about projecting a tough image, it's about bling, which doesn't address or solve any problems either, he said. "We know what they're doing, what they're wearing, what they're driving, who did what last night in a club, who're they dating. You get a lot of rappers saying, 'Yo, we got money now, everyone's eating, everything is good, you know what I'm saying?' Well obviously everything isn't good, and I don't know what you're saying, because a lot of rappers aren't saying nothing on records right now." What DMC would like to see is a little more balance and substance, he said. If hip-hop is the black CNN, as Chuck D once suggested, then make it more well-rounded, more objective, and use the power of communication for more than boasting and posing, which can only cause more problems when rappers start believing their own bluster. "If you're going to rap about a gun, rap about not using a gun," McDaniels said. "If you're going to rap about a bitch and a ho, let them know there's aunts, grandmothers, good people in the world too. We rap about the kid selling drugs on the corner, but what about the kid flipping burgers at McDonald's so that he can not sell drugs? We laugh at that kid, but that just might be more gangsta than being out on the corner hustling." Citing Public Enemy, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and N.W.A, DMC said hip-hop used to be "all relevant and universal" and that a lesson could be learned from the old school: "You've got to say more than one thing. You've got to have more than one image and concept in your music. You're missing the universal concepts that keep another person from shooting another person. "The only reason I'm saying what I'm saying is that I have experience on my side," he added. "I'm not in jail, I didn't OD, I didn't get shot." Just in case anyone thinks he's just nostalgic and wants a return to the way hip-hop was back in the day, DMC has a retort ready — he doesn't want it mired in the past, he's more concerned about its future, "so that the younger generation can understand that it's not all about what you see and hear on the records now." — Jennifer Vineyard

I know some of y'all don't like his music much, I personally ain't really his fan either but he seems to sound like a real dude, check this interview: Cassidy: Jail, Lessons & The State of Affairs Part 1 By Jigsaw On June 8, 2005, it appeared that all remnants of 23-year-old Cassidy’s life - the recording artist and a free man - was a decrepit thing of the past. A warrant was issued for the Philadelphia rapper due to his involvement in the murder of a 22-year-old man during an April 15, 2005 shooting in his hometown. The case, which was wrought with twists, turns and contradiction, played out like an episode of Law & Order. But this murder case was real life for Cassidy, a father of one named Barry Reese. At the time of his arrest, he had the streets ablaze with his song “I'm A Hustla,” but the album of the same name languished during his months-long in the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. The rapper dodged a grave murder charge, but was convicted on possession of an instrument of crime, involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault. Unlike the other man, Barry Reese’s life didn’t end in any form. And the rapper is back, having after serving his time. The Philly native spoke eloquently about the changes he’s undergone since jail, the tragic loss of life, the state of Hip-Hop and how urban America can get it together. AllHipHop.com: Was the jail-time a hindrance to the last album? Cassidy: Without a question. It dropped when I was already in jail. I didn’t get a chance to perform none of the songs, do a promotional tour, none of that. I didn’t get a chance to shoot anymore videos, it really hindered it. At the same time, it benefited me as a person, so I’m happy I went through it. AllHipHop.com: How did it benefit you as a person? Cassidy: I’m more patient, humble. I’ve got a better relationship with God and my family. I know my real friends. I just learned so much from it. I was able to clear my mind up – not drink and smoke and party and not deal with the business every day. I was able to think – get my priorities together. I came to the conclusion of where I wanna go and the type of artist I wanna be. AllHipHop.com: A lot of people considered you to be a Pop rapper. The last album cleared that up a little bit. Are you going to talk about this jail situation? Cassidy: I’ve never been a Pop artist. I started my career doing mixtapes, bitin’ n***as heads off battlin’ in the streets. I never was a Pop artist. But when I came out and signed to J Records, they wanted me to do Top 40 records. It was they decision to bring out “Hotel” and “Get No Better,” which was when the world first met me – my first big look. That’s why they think I was a Poppy-type artist. So the second time around, they wanted to set it straight. That’s why they dropped two hard singles like “I’m A Hustla” and “B-Boy Stance,” so we went all the way left. The first album was all the way right. The second album was all the way left. The third time, we learned so much from them two albums, we gonna land right in the middle – the way we should of did it the first time. AllHipHop.com: How did you do, SoundScan, when you had a major hit and all the publicity with the trial and everything? Cassidy: I’m not even sure. Personally, I ain’t even ask how I did, ‘cause I just swept that album out from under the rug. I ain’t even try to check up on the album, to be honest with you. I’m just glad to look ahead to this third album. The people that heard it know the type of music that I bring to the table – quality music. AllHipHop.com: What are your priorities now? Cassidy: Continuing to build my relationship with the Lord. Staying close with my family. I’m spending more time with them than I ever did before, because I’m realizing that my family is there. I wasn’t able to spend time with them when I was locked up. Not just my blood family, but my street family. I’m looking other ways of generating money and success, besides just music. AllHipHop.com: They’re using your mugshot on the cover of the “Cassidy Anthem” what’s that about? Cassidy: That’s a song I had did a long time ago. They just put that out to keep my name out in the streets and with the DJ’s – to let people know that I still do music. But that’s not the new single. AllHipHop.com: Who made the decision to use your mug shot on “Anthem,” the last single from your previous album? Somebody could say you are promoting or exploiting your jail time. Cassidy: That’s definitely not what we set out to do. I not trying to use the situation to try to benefit my career, because I don’t need to. If I was a gimmick artist that really couldn’t spit, in the industry, I might try to use that to my advantage. A lot of other artists get into a situation and try to use it to their advantage, but not me. I know I can make quality music. I was still locked up when they made that decision to use that. But, that was a picture that was floating around at the time and I think they used it as it was a [mock] newspaper article. So, that was a smart idea since I was going through was I was going through. I was still locked up. It kinda caught your eye and you thinkin’ there is something about the case and it’s just something to promote the single. AllHipHop.com: How were you treated in jail? There were rumors that you were raped in jail, assaulted and all sorts of things. Cassidy: It’s always people that show love and there’s always haters. The same thing [happened] when ‘Pac was locked up, saying he got raped. It’s always gonna be a rumor about somebody that’s a celebrity. Ask people that’s really in my city, that was really in the jail. I was in general population every day, going to church every day, reading my books, exercising, getting outside food from C.O.’s [correctional officers] that were showing love. I did me. It was a situation that I was forced to go through and I went through it. And I’ma go through it the same way I go through my life in the streets. I’m out here in general population and on the streets by myself, you know, with wild jewelry on so, of course, I’m just gonna be in jail with my blues on. I never even got into an altercation in jail. I passed a couple words to a couple dudes, but any situation that happens like that, and somebody tries to touch me or disrespect me, I would have had another charge, fighting another case. AllHipHop.com: The guy that was murdered, did you consider him a friend? Cassidy: Friend is something that’s a touchy word. Yeah, I considered him a friend. Yeah, that was my man at one point. AllHipHop.com: Even if it’s a former friend, how does it feel having a role in that whole matter in hindsight? Cassidy: Well, now that it’s all over with and you look back on the situation, I wish things could have went differently, but in the heat of the moment, things go the way they go. It was God…you can’t go against God’s will. It was meant to happen. I don’t feel no type of way about it. It is what it is – it already happened, it’s already done. You can’t go back in time and change it. But if I could, if that was possible, I probably would do certain things differently. Because, whether it was my friend or not or I didn’t know him from a can of paint, still somebody lost their life and a couple other people got shot. That’s never a good thing. I don’t wish that on nobody. But, at all times, I’m going to protect myself and make sure that I come out all right too. Would you rather it be you that died? If you change the situation, and do something differently and you [could] die or you got shot. I don’t know. I wish the best for his family and pray that God blesses his soul. AllHipHop.com: Is there a lesson to be learned here? Cassidy: Man. Like, the lesson is to see how the judicial system tries to target entertainers without the proper evidence, with out the proper investigation. Back in the day, there were [TV investigators like] Columbo and Matlock that go out there and and find out what’s really going on. Now, people can just make a statement with no hardcore evidence and take time out of your life, don’t give you a bail. And you still innocent until proven guilty, or they say you are, but you really guilty until proven innocent. No matter how much paper you got or what never you on, you not exempt. They can do the same thing to you if you get yourself in a situation – even if you around a situation. AllHipHop.com: We never heard about anybody else being charged. Was anybody else charged with a crime? Cassidy: I don’t know about that. I ain’t have no rappies [co-defendants] in my case. I was fighting my case by myself. Like I said in the previous question, they tried to target the big name, the person they feel they gonna get some light off…

LL Cool J is like the James Brown of the rap game, mind, body, soul, and longevity, with his desire he'll probably still be performing many years from now still, btw, it seems like we're turning back the clock this year with all the ol' school rap artists droppin' albums, it's gonna be 1990 again, they're gonna show the new artists how it's done, if everything goes right we'll be getting albums from, they should all do an ol' school tour together: Public Enemy already came out LL Cool J just came out Rakim Busta Rhymes Ice Cube Slick Rick MC Hammer Dr. Dre??!!! and of course the return of the magnificent Jazzy Jeff maybe with a Fresh Prince cameo??!!

Poor MC Hammer, damn near his whole catalog is out of print, he lost his publishing a couple months ago I think, most of Big Daddy Kane's albums are out of print too, I really wanted to get some of his albums too, it's sad to see that the ol' school rappers are gonna be going broke since their albums are going out of circulation... :paperbag:

Yeah I don't think Nick Cannon'll be a legend or anything like that close to Fresh Prince but I'm just acknowledging that at least he ain't trying to be a studio gangsta...

I don't think Nick Cannon's quite on Will's level but I think more people hate on him 'cause he ain't a hardcore rapper just like they do for Will so there is a similarity there, the kid got some skills, his show "Wildin' Out" is funny as hell, I think his new song "Dimepiece" is a banger, that's cool that he sampled BBD's classic "Poison" for it, I might check for his album when it drops too, I respect him more than most rappers out now...

RIP to Proof and everybody that died today, whether they're famous or not, and just 'cause he's a hardcore rapper don't mean anything, you can't forget that even JMJ was murdered and he didn't have a hardcore image, I don't think we have to like Proof'smusic just 'cause he passed away either but we could give our condolences no doubt, and of course since he's famous though hopefully this'll show the rap fans and the public in general not to take life for granted...

Allhiphop.com didn't say it was terrible, they gave it 3 1/2 stars and wrote a respectable review, there needs to be no question about whether an LL album is dope, he's the most consistant mc of all time, some commercial rap heads might hate though 'cause he raps about more important issues in life than guns and drugs in his songs, I rather here a million songs about love and passion than a million songs about how much of a thug you are, LL's the realest mc next to Fresh Prince, I hope this album goes double platinum and wins a Grammy instead of the 98% of the wack rappers on the radio: Todd Smith Artist: LL Cool J Title: Todd Smith Rating: 3 1/2 stars Reviewed by: The Closer What more can be said about the career of the original Hip-Hop Icon? LL Cool J has been an enduring presence in Hip-Hop for the duration of it’s mainstream history. Before the Tupac’s, the B.I.G.s and the Jiggas ,and even before the Snoops, there was the Uncle. The Future of the funk. The very definition of trailblazing legend, LL has dropped many styles and flows over his years as the prince of rap from adolescence to grown man. Here on his 12th go round, you can see his growth and progress. Todd Smith (Island Def Jam), the new joint, features an LL focused on staying in his lane. The album opens up with the driving "It's LL and Santana" a pairing with one of the upcoming lions in the game, labelmate Juelz Santana. The point of the song is two-fold; to connect LL with today's generation of Hip-Hoppers and to introduce Juelz to a wider audience. The song features a driving beat but lacks the chemistry and strength of Cool J's earlier collaborations like "Rampage" with EPMD or 4,3,2,1 with Method Man, Redman, DMX and, ahem, Canibus . Much of the album is produced by the famous Trakmasters duo. Unfortunately that's where the problem arises. A significant portion of the album feels dated. "Favorite Flavor" featuring Mary J. Blige feels mired in 1994. While that was a great year for Hip-Hop, it's 12 years behind in evolution. Been there, done that. Also dragging the album down is the melancholy "Freeze", which pairs Cool J with promising newcomer Lyfe Jennings. Jennings is underwhelming and the Uncle's flow is formulaic for the too-slow beat. It doesn’t take advantage of LL's energy and charisma at all. Thumbs down on that one. All is not lost however. The album begins to pick up with the energetic "What You Want" featuring dynamic chemistry and an old school feel with Cool J spitting back-and-forth heat with Freeway with an old school rapid delivery. The album begins to change direction and gains steam with the dramatic and powerful "I've Changed" which features a "Song Cry"-esque story of love lost and it's-not-overism. New Comer Ryan Toby delivers an eerie performance reminiscent of a young Curtis Mayfield. This is easily the highlight of the album and LL at his storytelling finest with a sense of desperation and passion. Other highlights feature the Latin-tinged "#1 Fan", the spiritually inspiring "We're Gonna Make It", featuring Mary Mary, and the "Planet Rock" inspired and Jermaine Dupri-produced lead single "Control Myself". The cherry on top is the "Human Nature" powered "So-Sick Remix", which sounds like an early 90's Ron G mixtape blend. All in all, LL manages to stay in the lane he's carved out. The muscle bound man is no longer getting his face in the sand, and the Mama inspired knockout artist is married with children and happily making that cheddar. Nothing wrong with that. Todd Smith is a solid disk and a welcome dose of love and upliftment in the present misogynist Hip-Hop environment. Just don't call it a comeback. Mature listeners only.

"We're Gonna Make It" definately needs to be released as a single, probably LL's most powerful song since "Father" in my mind, it's the type of song that could impact the rap industry in a big way, that song "I've Changed" with Ryan Toby is another one of my favorites on there too, this is definately another solid album in Uncle L's catalog no doubt, btw here's a review from Allhiphop.com I just found on it, they're really showin' love to the real mcs, that's become one of my favorite sites, I might rate some of the tracks myself later: Todd Smith Artist: LL Cool J Title: Todd Smith Rating: 3 1/2 stars Reviewed by: The Closer What more can be said about the career of the original Hip-Hop Icon? LL Cool J has been an enduring presence in Hip-Hop for the duration of it’s mainstream history. Before the Tupac’s, the B.I.G.s and the Jiggas ,and even before the Snoops, there was the Uncle. The Future of the funk. The very definition of trailblazing legend, LL has dropped many styles and flows over his years as the prince of rap from adolescence to grown man. Here on his 12th go round, you can see his growth and progress. Todd Smith (Island Def Jam), the new joint, features an LL focused on staying in his lane. The album opens up with the driving “It’s LL and Santana”, a pairing with one of the upcoming lions in the game, labelmate Juelz Santana. The point of the song is two-fold; to connect LL with today’s generation of Hip-Hoppers and to introduce Juelz to a wider audience. The song features a driving beat but lacks the chemistry and strength of Cool J’s earlier collaborations like “Rampage” with EPMD or 4,3,2,1 with Method Man, Redman, DMX and, ahem, Canibus . Much of the album is produced by the famous Trakmasters duo. Unfortunately that’s where the problem arises. A significant portion of the album feels dated. “Favorite Flavor” featuring Mary J. Blige feels mired in 1994. While that was a great year for Hip-Hop, it’s 12 years behind in evolution. Been there, done that. Also dragging the album down is the melancholy “Freeze”, which pairs Cool J with promising newcomer Lyfe Jennings. Jennings is underwhelming and the Uncle’s flow is formulaic for the too-slow beat. It doesn’t take advantage of LL’s energy and charisma at all. Thumbs down on that one. All is not lost however. The album begins to pick up with the energetic “What You Want” featuring dynamic chemistry and an old school feel with Cool J spitting back-and-forth heat with Freeway with an old school rapid delivery. The album begins to change direction and gains steam with the dramatic and powerful “I’ve Changed” which features a “Song Cry”-esque story of love lost and it’s-not-overism. New Comer Ryan Toby delivers an eerie performance reminiscent of a young Curtis Mayfield. This is easily the highlight of the album and LL at his storytelling finest with a sense of desperation and passion. Other highlights feature the Latin-tinged “#1 Fan”, the spiritually inspiring “We’re Gonna Make It”, featuring Mary Mary, and the “Planet Rock” inspired and Jermaine Dupri-produced lead single “Control Myself”. The cherry on top is the “Human Nature” powered “So-Sick Remix”, which sounds like an early 90’s Ron G mixtape blend. All in all, LL manages to stay in the lane he’s carved out. The muscle bound man is no longer getting his face in the sand, and the Mama inspired knockout artist is married with children and happily making that cheddar. Nothing wrong with that. Todd Smith is a solid disk and a welcome dose of love and upliftment in the present misogynist Hip-Hop environment. Just don’t call it a comeback. Mature listeners only.

I bought the album yesterday, I think it's better than his last couple albums combined, it got a lot of heart and soul to it, I'm definately gonna be bumpin' this all summer :wiggle: btw, I was checking LL's message board and a girl posted about how she attended LL's "Life and Rhymes" special that was shown on MTV the other day, it shows you how LL keeps it real to his fans, lol: http://www6.defjam.com/site/deffam_messageboard.php LL, if you read this, please know that you have made your TRUE fans dream come true! I attended the taping of "Life And Rhymes" for MTV2 and you called me onstage to sign my copy of your autobiography. I have been in love with you since 1990 "Around The Way Girl." My friends remember when I wrote the lyrics to that song on my trapper keeper. I felt that song was written specifically about me!! I just wanted to share that since I read your autobiography, I have a deeper respect for you. I love the part when you talk about your kids going to Benihana's! Not many of your fans can say this, but I have a scar on my left inner knee from trying to "freak" the tv with one leg up when you came on some TV show I HAVE SCARS FOR YOU LL!!!! In any case, when you brought me onstage and signed my book for millions of people to see, it just solidified everything I ever imagined you to be and you have truly made me a fan for life. I was the biggest LL fan ever (since Krush Grove), but know, I'm totally obsessed!! I love you so much and wish God bless you and your family always. I WILL BE PICKING UP YOUR ALBUM TOMORROW, APRIL 11TH!!! champ3700@hotmail.com P.S. Whenever my husband has anything smart to say to me, I now reply to him by saying "LL would never talk to me that way, LL said he loved me!" I LOVE YOU LL COOL J!!!!!!!! YOU ARE THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME!!

Speaking of Eminem, if he wants to bounce back and get more respect for his music again he should start making postive songs in the memory of his friend Proof, if this don't change him for the better nothing will...

Hopefully this is a lesson to these rappers in the game now to stop glorifying violence in their songs and in real life, carrying a gun with you is not "keepin' it real", **** having street cred and even if people call them soft at least they'll live longer, I pray that these rappers like Eminem and 50 Cent learn from this and grow up....

Good thing I got LL's "14 Shots To The Dome" last summer, that's a dope album, I don't get why it gets hated on so much, that's far from his worst one, I think "10"'s probably his worst one....

I think that the VH1 list is very more on point than this MTV list, they actually do a better job covering hip-hop and of course there's some flaws with that list too no doubt though, you could move some way down the list like Nelly, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jay-Z, DMX, and Puffy, then move JJFP up to about the top 20 or top 15 at the very least, I have no problem with that if they list the other legends that deserve due, as long as they get a mention at least, I mean it should be mandatory to mention JJFP on every list just like it is to mention Pac on every list, there's no perfect top 10 list that's definitive but I'm just saying that there shouldn't be an all time hip-hop list that don't have JJFP on it for all they've done and continue to do for hip-hop, not many work harder and stronger than them, btw you could say MC Hammer's the opposite of Common/Talib Kweli, he's not that strong of a lyricist but he probably could outperform everybody on stage, today's mcs might have more complex lyrics than those 15-20 years ago but they can't perform like those 15-20 years ago did, it's hard to compare Run-Dmc to Dipset, different styles/ different eras, but JJFP have been complete artists and that seperates them from the others, Fresh Prince's lyrics have been strong in every era too with Jazzy backing him on the boards and their performances are the best, that's what makes them all-time greats 'cause they're basically the best in all times, but I think 'cause they don't have a hardcore image people tend to sleep on that but their peers respect them though, ol' school rappers never would say anything to put them down and their might be a few ignorant young rappers like Bow Wow that might consider them soft but there's also some contemporaries like Nelly and TI that respect them at the same time...

Don't front man if Fresh Prince had a hardcore image like Pac and released 9 albums in a span of 20 years with the top notch flows and lyrical schemes he has, it'd be a no brainer that'd he'd be ranked in everyone's top 10, people look at "street cred" more than skills and that's sad, Fresh Prince could rip the mic with the best of them for real...

Nah I copied and pasted from an allhiphop.com post in the IC :stickpoke:

I found this list posted over on Allhiphop.com, sad to see some classics on there going out of circulation like that: Above the Law - Time Will Reveal Above the Law - Uncle Sam's Curse Aceyalone - A Book of Human Language Afu Ra - Life Force Radio Akinyele - Vagina Diner Akrobatik - the EP All City - Metropolis Gold Allfrumtha i - Allfrumtha i America is Dying Slowly compilation Analog Brothers - Pimp to Eat Ant Banks - the Big Badass Ant Banks - Big Thangs Ant Banks - Do or Die Ant Banks - Sittin on Something Phat Apache - Gangsta Bitch Bad Azz - Executive Decision BB Jay - Universal Concusion da Beatminerz - Brace 4 Impak Benzino - the Benzino Project BG Knocc out & Dresta - Real Brothers Big Daddy Kane - Daddy's Home Big Daddy Kane - Looks Like a Job For Big Daddy Kane - Prince of Darkness Big Daddy Kane - Taste of Chocolate Big Daddy Kane - Veteranz Day Big Mike - Hard to Hit Big Noyd - Episodes of a Hustla Biz Markie - All Samples Cleared Biz Markie - the Biz Never Sleeps Blackalicious - Melodica Black Sheep - Non Fiction Blahzay Blahzay - Blah Blah Blah Boogiemonsters - Riders of the Storm:the Underwater Album Brand Nubian - Foundation Bulworth soundtrack Da Bush Babee's - Ambushed Bushwick Bill - Universal Small Souljah Busy Bee - Running Thangs Busy Bee - Thank God for Busy Bee Calhouns - Made in the Dirdy South Caught Up soundtrack Cella Dwellas - Realms & Reality Cha Cha - Dear Diary Channel Live - Armaghetto Channel Live - Station Identification Chi-Ali - the Fabulous Chi-Ali Childrin of da Ghetto - Children of da Ghetto Chill Rob G - Ride the Rhythym Chuck D - Autobiography of Mistachuck CJ Mac - Platinum Game C-Murder - Bossalinie C-Murder - Life or Death C-Murder - Trapped in Crime Compton's Most Wanted - It's a Compton Thang Comrads - Wake up & Ball Cool Breeze - East Points Greatest Hits Cormega - Hustler/rapper Convicts - Convicts Coolio - El Cool Magnifico Coolio - It Takes a Thief Coolio - My Soul Coup - Genocide & Juice Coup - Kill my Landlord Craig G - the Kingpin Craig G - Now thats more Like It Craig Mack - Project: Funk da World Cross Movement - House of Representatives Cross Movement - Human Emergency Dana Dane - Dana Dane With Fame Dana Dane - Rollin wit Dane Danja Mowf - Word of Mowf Defari - Focused Daily De La Soul - AOI: Bionix Demigodz - the Godz Must be Crazy Diamond D - Hatred, Passion & Infadelity Dice Raw - Reclaiming the Dead Digital Underground - Who Got the Gravy DITC - DITC D-Nice - Call me D-Nice D-Nice - to tha Rescue Doctor Dre & Ed Lover - Back Up Off Me Doggy's Angels - Pleezbalevit Donald D - Let the Horns Blow Donald D - Notorious Doug E Fresh - Play Edan - Primitive Plus Ed OG & the Bulldogs - Life of a Kid in the Ghetto Ed OG & the Bulldogs - Roxburry 02119 Eminem - Infinite EPMD - Business Never Personal Erick Sermon - No Pressure ESG - Ocean of Funk Extra Prolific - Like it Should Be Fat Boys - Fat Boys Fiend - Street life Fiend - There's One in Every Family 50 Cent - Power of the Dollar 50 Cent - Guess Who's Back 504 Boyz - Goodfellas Flatlinerz - Under Satan's Authority Flavor Unit - 100% Hater Proof Freddie Foxxx - Industry Shakedown Freddie Foxxx - Is Here Gang Starr - No More Mr Nice Guy Game Over compilation Game Over vol 2 compilation G-Dep - Child of the Ghetto Ghetto Comission - Wise Guys Ghetto Mafia - On da Grind Ghetto Mafia - Straight from the Dec Grand Daddy IU - Smooth Assassin Grandmasterflash & the Furious 5 - the Adventures of Grandmaster Flash... More of the Best Grand Puba - 2000 Gravediggaz - Nightmare in A Minor Guerilla Maab - In the Mist of Guerillasz Gza/Genuis - Words From the Genuis Hammer - the Funky Headhunter Hammer - Too Legit to Quit Heather B - Eternal Affairs Heather B - Takin Mine Heavy D - Blue Funk Heavy D - Heavy Heavy D - Living Large Heavy D - Nuttin but Love Heavy D - Peaceful Journey High School High soundtrack Ice T - Home Invasion Ice T - 7th Deadly Sin Ice T - VI:Return of the Real I Got the Hook Up soundtrack Ill Al Skratch - Creep Wit Me Ill Al Skratch - Keep it Movin Illegal - the Untold Truth I'm Bout It soundtrack Isis - Rebel Soul Jamal - Last Chance No Breaks Jayo Felony - Crip Hop Jaz - to Your Soul Jaz - a Word to the Jaz Jaz - Ya Don't Stop Jean Grae - Attack ot the Attacking Things Jemini the Gifted One - Scars and Pain Juggaknots - Re:release Jungle Brothers - J Beez With the Remedy Juice - 100% Juice Jungle Brothers - Raw Deluxe Jungle Brothers - VIP Just-Ice - Gun Talk JVC Force - Doin Damage Kam - Kamnesia Kam - Made in America Kam - Neva Again Kausion - South Central Los Angeles K-Dee - Ass Cash or Gas Keith Murray - Enigma Keith Murray - It's a Beautiful Thing Kid Capri - Soundtrack to the Streets Kid Sensation - Rollin with Number One Kid Sensation - Seatown Funk Kid Sensation - the Power of Rhyme King Sun - Righteous but Ruthless King Tee - Act a Fool King Tee - At your Own Risk King Tee - IV Life King Tee - tha Triflin Album KMD - Black Bastards KMD - Mr Hood Kool G Rap - Roots of Evil Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Live and Let Die Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Road to the Riches Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Wanted Dead or Alive Kool Keith - Matthew Kool Keith - Sex Style K-Otix - Universal K-Rino - No Mercy K-Rino - Pay Back Krumb Snatcha - Snatcha Season vol 1 Krumb Snatcha - Snatcha Season vol 2 K-Solo - Tell the World My Name K-Solo - Time's Up Kurious - a Constipated Monkey Kwame - A Day in the Life: A Pokadelic Adventure Kwame - Boy Genuis Kwame - Incognito Kwest the Madd Ladd - This is my First Album Lady of Rage - Necessary Roughness La the Darkman - Heist of the Century da Lench Mob - Planet of the Apes Lil Buddy - Major Lil Keke - Birds Fly South Lil Keke - It Was all a Dream Lil Keke - Platinum in da Ghetto LL Cool J - 14 Shots to the Dome Lord Finesse - the Awakening Lord Finesse - Funky Technician Lords of the Underground - Keepers of the Funk Louis Logic - Sin-a-Matic Low Profile - We're in this Thing Together Mac - Shell Shocked Mac - World War 3 Mad CJ Mac - True Game Made Men - Classic Limited Edition Mad Kap - Look ma Duke, No Hands Maestro - Black Tie Affair Maestro - Naah, Dis Kid Cant be From Canada !?! Maestro - Symphony in Effect Mad Skillz - From Where ??? Magic - Sky's the Limit Magic - Thuggin Main Source - **** What You Think Marley Marl - In Control Marley Marl - In Control vol 2 Masta Ace - Slaughta House Masters of Illusion - Masters of Illusion McGruff - Destined to Be MC Eiht - N My Neighborhood MC Hammer - Let's Get It Started MC Lyte - Act Like You Know MC Lyte - Aint no Other MC Lyte - Bad as I Wanna Be MC Ren - Shock of the Hour MC Ren - Villain in Black MC Serch - Return of the Product MC Shan - Born to be Wild MC Shan - Down by Law MC Shan - Play It Again Shan MF Doom - Mm Food? MF Doom - Operation Doomsday MF Doom & MF Grimm - MF Doom & MF Grimm Mia X - Good Girl Gone Bad Mia X - Mama Drama Mia X - Unlady Like Mic Geronimo - Long Road Back Mikah 9 - Tible Mil - Street Scriptures Missin' Linx - Exhibit A Motion Man - Clearing the Field Mr Mike - Rhapsody Mr Serv-On - Da Next Level Mr Serv-On - Life Insurance Mr Serv-On - Take a Sip Mr Serv-On - War is Me Ms Toi - That Girl Murs - F'Real Mykill Myers - It's Been a Long time Coming Mystic - Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom Mystik Journeymen - 4001: the Stolen Legacy Mystik Journeymen - Worldwide Underground Nate Dogg - G-Funk classics vol 1&2 Naughty by Nature - 19 Naughty Nine : Nature's Fury Naughty by Nature - 19 Naughty 3 Naughty by Nature - Poverty's Paradise Neek the Exotic - Exotic's Raw Nice & Smooth - Jewel of the Nile Nice & Smooth - Nice & Smooth Nine - Cloud Nine Nine - Nine Livez the Nonce - World Ultimate Nonchalant - Until the Day Nutty Professor II: the Klumps soundtrack OC - Bon Appetit Odd Squad - Fadanuf fa Erybody OGC - the M-Pire Strikez Back Organized Konfusion - Equinox Original Concept - Straight from the Basement of Kooley High Original Flavor - Beyond Flavor Original Flavor - This is How It Is the Others - Past Futuristic Penthouse Players Clique - Paid the Cost Pharoahe Monch - Internal Affairs Planet Asia - the Last Stand PMD - Business is Business Polyrhytym Addicts - Rhyme Related Poor Righteous Teachers - Black Business Poor Righteous Teachers - Holy Intellect Poor Righteous Teachers - New World Order Poor Righteous Teachers - Pure Poverty Pop da Brown Hornet - the Undaground Emperor Professor Griff - Pawns in the Game Public Enemy - Greatest Misses Pudgee the Phat Bastard - Give em the Finger Queen Latifah - All Hail the Queen Queen Latifah - Nature of a Sista Queen Latifah - Order in the Court Ras Kass - Soul on Ice Ras Kass - Rassassination Real Live - Turnaround : Long Awaited Drama Rhyme & Reason soundtrack Rhyme Syndicate - Rhyme Syndicate Coming Through the Roots - Organix Rumpletilskinz - What is a Rumpletilskinz ? Run DMC - Back From Hell Run DMC - Down With the King Saafir - Box Car Sessions Saafir - Trigonometry Salt n Pepa - Brand New Sauce Money - Middle Finger U Self - What About my Life 7L & Esoteric - Soul Purpose Showbiz & AG - Good Fellas Showbiz & AG - Runaway Slave Shyheim - Manchild Silkk the Shocker - Charge it 2 da Game Silkk the Shocker - Made Man Silkk the Shocker - The Shocker Sleepy's Theme - Vinyl Room Smoothe Da Hustler - Once Upon a Time in America Snypaz - My Life as a Snypa Sole - Skin Deep Soulja Slim - Give it 2 em Raw Special Ed - Best of Special Ed Special Ed - Legal Special Ed - Revelations Special Ed - Youngest in Charge Spice 1 - Black Bossalini Spice 1 - Spiceberg Slim Steady B - Let the Hustlers Play Stetsasonic - Blood, Sweat & No Tears Stetsasonic - On Fire Suga T - Gettin It Suga T - Paper Chasin Supafriendz - the 804 Compilation Terminator X - the Valley of the Jeep beats Tech N9ne - Calm Before the Storm Tech N9ne - the Worst Teflon - My Will Three Times Dope - Original Stylin Timbaland - Tim's Bio: Life from da Basement Timbaland & Magoo - Indecent Proposal Timbaland & Magoo - Welcome to Our World Tim Dog - Do or Die Tim Dog - Pencillin on Wax Tonedeff - Underscore Tone Loc - Cool Hand Loc Tracey Lee - Many Facez Tragedy Khadafi - Against All Odds Tragedy Khadafi - Intelligent Hoodlum Tragedy Khadafi - Still Reportin Tragedy Khadafi - Tragedy:Saga of a Hoodlum Trespass soundtrack Tru - da Crime Family Tru - Tru 2 da Game Tru - True Tru - Who's da Killer ? Twista - Runnin off at da Mouth Two Kings in a Cipher - From Pyramids to Projects II Tru - a New Breed of Female Ultramagnetic MC's - Four Horsemen Ultramagnetic MC's - Funk your head up UMC's - Fruits of Nature UMC's - Unleashed Vanilla Ice - Mind Blowin WC & the Maad Circle - Aint a Damn thing Changed Whodini - Six Willie D - Controversy Willie D - Goin out Like a Soldier Willie D - Play With ya Mama Willie D - Unbreakable Wu-Syndicate - Syndicate X-Clan - Xodus Yaggfu Front - Action Packed Adventure Yo Yo - Black Pearl Yo Yo - Ebony Yo Yo - You Better Ask Somebody Yvette Michele - My Dream YZ - Sons of the Father YZ - The Ghetto's Been Good to me Z-Ro - Look What You Did to Me

Street cred doesn't make you "real", you should be real by being yourself, Will's not a hardcore gangsta and he shouldn't have to act like one just for a certain crowd to feel him

Will could release 50 albums and sell 100 million in his career and still he won't be mentioned 'cause of his "soft" image, we have to deal with it, in a couple years they'll probably even say Bow Wow's a better rapper than him, you can't expect much from a channel that caters to 12 year old girls :shakehead: Seeing the way the media puts down Will as an mc, you can't really blame Will for doing movies more these days 'cause they respect him more there since you don't have to have street credability to be an acclaimed actor, they actually judge them actors off of talent unlike how the music industry just likes artists for a certain image, probably in his 20th year of acting they'll be putting him on the top 10 actors of all time lists...

How funny how things could change, people called MC Hammer a sell out when he would try other ways to make money other than rapping but now everybody gives props to Jay-Z, yeah I noticed Chuck D wasn't mentioned either, no top 10 is complete without Chuck D....

When I sent my message to MTV, I dropped a rhyme in it about Will, lol: "Sure you say he could rock the big screen with Jamie, Martin, and Denzel/But he's also a top mc like Jay-Z, Nas, and Uncle L", I really hope they post that one :wiggle: Btw, out of all the rappers that they listed in the top 10 you say LL, shouldn't be there?!! Come on now, lol