Lox Interview (HipHopGame.Com)

HHG: You guys are on the road right?

Styles P: Yeah. Right now we're traveling from North Carolina to Va.

HHG: I was always curious about the road life. How do you guys prevent the road life from ever interfering with your family life at home?

SP: You can't ever stop the road from interfering with your family life. You have to find ways to work with it, and work around it. It's not like you could be three places at once. When you're on the road, you're on the road. When you're at home, you're at home. You gotta find a way to be on the road, and just make your presence felt at home. You have to make sure your responsibilities are handled before you get outta here {home}.

HHG: What's funny is on the last Vibe Magazine, I was reading how your take pride in being a family man, and caring solely about the essentials more then the glamour. Do you feel rappers today let the hype interfere with their family life.

SP: I mean I think Hip-Hop--well not Hip-Hop in general, but people get attracted to the fast life. When you have money coming in, a lot of people calling your name, and phones ringing all the time, I think people tend to forget what's going on at home. That's whether you're a rapper, ball player, or anybody.

HHG: So in terms of music, the LOX have been around since the mid 90's. Do you feel with the lack of talent in the industry that the word rap group has lost its appeal?

SP: I mean I think it does, and it doesn't. I think it does when you have people holding on to the past, but i mean today everything is so diffrerent. I mean yeah and no. You gotta remember .Hip-Hop is a culture. You have two different people in the culture. You have people who talk, breathe, eat, sleep, and shit it. Then you have people who'll do it for the swag, the parties, and to be up to date. So you know, it's a yes or no answer.

HHG: Since it has been a while since the group's last release, is that the reason you guys decided to drop the album, to remind fans of what a rap group essentially is?

SP: Yeah not only that but i think music is starting to have a void. I think even with the corporate rappers, they just kind of like to talk about what's hot instead of trying to be hot. So I think we're trying to bring that back to the table as far as L.O.X., with me, Sheek & Kiss. As far as D-Block, the next generation, we're trying to bring that fire to the table.

HHG: You know another rap group that's catching buzz in the game that has joined your label recently is Slaugherhouse, which features, Joel Ortiz, Joe Budden, Crooked I, & Royce Da 5'9. What do you think their impact will have on the game as a group?

SP: That shit should be good. They bring a lot lyricism to the table. I'ma cop.

HHG: With you guys still being at Koch, and watching a lot of artists from major labels make the transition to Independent, how do you feel about artists making those moves this late in the game, when you guys made that leap a while ago?

SP: I mean I think I could speak more on that on my behalf, but as far as what I think of artists trying to switch from then to now? I think they don't have the vision and understanding of what to do when to do it. Now is the time when artists who have been majors for so long that are fucked up. Sometimes you could be doing what me, and Sheek and did remain to be independent, or you could go back to a major because they know Sheek's success as an independent, and give him a nice check in advance. You know, I think it's all on how you play the game, trust the game, conserve the game, and figure out what's going on. There was a time where niggas who were on a major wasn't really popping, and shit was declining. When this shit was happening, we had the idea to go independent. It's gonna be tough for everybody to go independent since we're in a recession. Now is the time where where we're either gonna stay independent where we established ourselves for our core audience or go get a big check. We could tell the companies listen "You know we know what we're doing." If we put out an album with such and such artists, it's gonna sell such and such amount. From then, they're going to recoop off of us and recoop off us. It's a different pattern. That's when you have to have the wisdom to see the game through different eyes.

HHG: So with that said, do you think your next album personally should go digital since the internet is destroying sales?

SP: It depends on the time. Everything is timing. Everything is timing, and having strategic manuevers to do what you gotta do, and when you wanna do it.

When I spoke to Jada, he accredited his recent success off the Last Kiss to perfect timing.

SP: Yeah you gotta make sure you have your good time right. If you aren't in an era where sales aren't booming out of the window, then you got a problem. It all depends on the timing if you wanna get that commercial success. If you get that, then you might achieve a certain buzz to keep your name right. You dig? If you have a song out in Feburary that's a nice spring time song, then it's going to be irrelevant from that time to that time. So timing is everything. It's like if i haven't been out in a minute, when i come out, i'm going to attack the underground. Then, I'm going to step it up a level when i go to the mainstream level. I know once i work the underground level for a certain amount of time, I'll know the word spread. Then if you drop at the right time, you might not get a lot of sales, but you'll put yourself at the position to do a lot of shows. If you have the right song at the right time, especially with the way society is at that particular time, then you're good. Timing is important when you make a song man. That's going to determine whether you stick around, and have the ability to perform that shit.

HHG: Well before i get any deeper, to clear the confusion, I thought this album was supposedly titled Live, Suffer, and Celebrate?

SP: Nah that's gonna be just L.O.X. This one is just to show people the whole D-Block movement. This just to show how shits going to be the new L.O.X. order. They haven't seen a new L.O.X. order in a minute. So we're going to be putting this work in for this compilation, and wait till Kiss finishes his solo project. So right now, you could see we have a new L.O.X. order. You could see we have a new army. You could see how we're going to keep it moving, and keep it rolling. So L.O.X. should be out around January. My album should be out around February. With all the artists we got, we're just trying to keep this shit rolling. This a new L.O.X. order. We're just trying to get shit back to where shit needs to be.

HHG Ok. So as for the album No Security, the first single Get My Paper has a real old school vibe behind it. Was that intentional to let the fans know that's ok to go old school in 2009?

SP: Yeah that's where we were going. You could be cool. You could be chilled out. You know everything now is just jumping around, bugging out, and shit. Sometimes you just need to cool it out, and have a little fun man. You could have fun with cooling out. You could be laid back. Nah mean?

HHG: With a lot of people being accustomed to the hard and gritty records from you guys, do you feel worried about the potential backlash you may get from fans about the record?

SP: Nah not really cuz we cooled out, just trying to have fun. That was the whole point of it--to have fun. I mean who the hell could be rowdy, crazy, and be on some killer shit all the time? I mean sometimes you gotta have fun. That's not the first time we did that. I have the "Can't Believe It" with Akon. Sheek got the "Good Love". Jada got the "Knock Yourself Out". We had all these shit our entire careers. Shit we did songs with J-Lo, and Mariah. For us, it's we do what we do. We don't have to follow the norm. They could follow us.

HHG: So as for No Security, who can the fans expect in terms of features?

SP: Features we got Beanie Sigel, OJ The Juiceman, DJ Webstar. As for production we got Pete Rock, Poobs.


Styles Passes Phone To Sheek

HHG: How you feel about the album coming out June 9th

SK: I feel great man. I feel blessed man to have these young boys out here with us like that nah mean? We gonna get to showcase all this shit we got coming man. We got that smooth joint we got up there. You know trying to get that paper. The video I'm loving it. The video is hot to def. That's what it is man. Nah mean? Wait till you hear some of the songs on there man. We went off. We got mad shit. We got shit from everywhere. We got shit from the south.

HHG: I see that with you guys having O.J. The Juiceman on the album.

SK: Yeah Yeah. That's a good look. We in the Carolinas right now. We've been making hot records, and they're loving it. We actually did a show last night.

HHG: So while you guys are touring, do you guys have time to get in the booth and record?

SK: Yeah. Hell yeah. Always. I mean not now, while we've been on the road.

HHG: You know I just asked Styles about this, the first single Get My Paper has a real old school vibe behind it. Was that intentional to let the fans know that's ok to go old school in 2009?

SP: Yeah. Hell Yeah. My man overseas from Germany can sing man, had sent the joint. It had a hot sound to it. We had our boy S.I., our artist, just come through and lace it. It's cool man, because we just talking that fly shit, and just bugging out. My man Ed Hard had came up with the idea of like lets get that whole Bad Boy "One More Chance" video vibe. I mean especially with the weather getting nice, that's a nice thing to do.

HHG: You think the fans will be cool with you guys having a more mellow approach instead of the grittiness they all came to love.

SK: I think it's cool. I think we had the chance to do that. I don't talk all that killer shit, because we passed that. We did that drug talk in our sleep. I mean we did that already. It' ain't like we got something to prove. Like we've been talking to women, having fun on our records, but they know our whole style.

HHG: It's crazy because it's been 11 years since you guys came out with Money, Power, Respect. How can you describe your growth from then to now with No Security.

Well I can't really compare the two because this is us being surrounded with new talent, new thoughts, young minds. It's like a showcase LP movement that we got. We're just doing this to showcase them. The Money, Power, Respect is a whole different movement.

HHG: So are you guys in a sense trying to be rolemodels.

I mean not necessarily rolemodels, but we're trying to show our edicate, and swag. We're just trying to show our mannerisms, like the way we do shit. It's all about just paving the way, and showing them what's what. We try to show them in the studio how hard to go, how much work you gotta put in.

HHG: So is the mindset for you guys different in contrast to 10 years ago for when you guys head into the booth?

I don't know. I mean it's still kind of the same with us because we could mash everything, and anything we get on. Whenever I get on a record now, I'm trying to kill it. I'm trying to destroy it. Back then, it was more about music. You had to be lyrical. You had to sit down and write out those lyrics. Right now it's different. You just need a hot hook, a beat, a keyboard on your voice--whatever they call that shit, and you're good to go. Nah mean?

HHG: I know Jada's not here, but I had the chance to speak to him a while back. I wanted your take on this, do you feel people in the age group of 16-20 are deprived in a sense of music, compared to back when you were coming up?

SK: (sighs). Yeah. I don't even fuck with mixtapes right now. Mixtapes are not what it was back then. Right now, you have so much garbage out right now. People have one or two hot songs on a mixtape and the rest is trash. When we were coming up, the mixtape was like a street album. A mixtape was like a street bible with the Ron G's and the Doo-ops. Those are real mixtapes to get at. The artists really gave you a whole body of music. You had all the shit. You had the hood shit, the club shit, the girl shit. I can't blame the kids. I gotta blame some of the record labels man. These niggas just want that one ringtone hit. They don't care about the rest of your music. A lot of labels are fortunate that us artists have those ringtone records. They be like "I don't care about the rest of your album. The rest of your album is trash, but so what. We got this song, lets make sales off that." It's not a body of music no more. When sales are low, and trust, i know the economy is low, but when sales are low, people get mad at you. You're not giving people nothing hot, or worth while to buy. Motherfuckers aren't gonna spend $10 on that shit man. Niggas is hearing that your all around shit is wack. Yeah they have that one song on the radio everyday but, where's all that fire at on their album?

HHG: I mean so since you guys are veterans, do you guys ever get tired of rappers saying "hey where trying to bring New York back?"

SK: It's funny you say that, because to me, one group or one person can't do that. One person cannot bring New York back. It's just at time where it's not shining. It's like the earth. It turns, and it's shining one place while it's raining in Central Park. That's how it works. It's raining but then it's gonna come back to common grounds. It's gonna come back to the X (DMX), the 50's (Cent), and the nitty gritty. It's going keep doing it.

HHG: I always ask this to the veterans of the game, so I'm going to pose this question to you and Styles: Would you do an album in Autotune, or would you just rock skinny jeans?

SK: (Laughs) Autotune all day baby!

HHG: I asked Jada that, and said he would just go to Jail.

SK: (Laughs). I didn't know that was one of my options.

HHG: I mean he ended up picking the autotune. What would Styles do?

SK: Lemme ask him. "Yo Styles would you wear skinny jeans, or do a whole album in autotune. Kiss said he'd go to jail." (laughs). Styles said autotune. (laughs) But son listen, the music is the music. Skinny jeans is your manhood. You could rock skinny jeans when the cameras on to put on an act. But when the cameras off, and the guy yells cut, it's over. That's real life. (laughs)

HHG: With you guys being parents as well, do you ever get worried about how the trends might affect your kids? What do you tell your kids if they wanna wear a pair of skinny jeans?

SK: They can't do it. They can't do it. You know what, that's a blessing that I got. they're so thorough that they don't want no skinny jeans. As for as the dancing, I can't stop them. The music, I let them listen to whatever they want as far the Soulja Boys or whatever. I could let that rock. As far as me raising them as men, that's not happening.

HHG: Before I let you guys go, I'm curious as to whether you guys seen what's been going on with the Vibe tournament as far as the Best Rapper Ever is concerned. Do you feel these critics, and magazines deserve the right to rank particular rappers?

SK: Nah i really don't. It's cool with them making the concepts up, but as far as the decisions go no. What gives these guys the credibility to say whose the hottest and whose not? Like what are they going by, the sales or the skills. Some of these people be asking me like "How do they get the right to decide?" That shit is going to be written in stone. That's bible cuz this person said that these are the hottest rappers. Nah man, that's according to the people. Half of these motherfuckers that make these decisions, you never seen them in the hood. You never seen them nowhere. None of the clubs. None of that shit. They're just chilling behind their cubicle. They're strictly behind their cubicle. I'm not saying stuff like, "You gotta come outside", and people gotta be shooting at you. These niggas ain't never do any backspins, pop locks, or break dances. They ain't do none of that shit. I guess they're going off record sales.

HHG: I can't lie. I was pretty shocked about how high they ranked Will Smith. He was pretty high up there. They had Will Smith Vs. MC Hammer.

SK: Yeah but with MC Hammer, it was all about his dancing and all that. That's just according to these guys man. Is it about how many records you sold, or are you the hottest MC? They could be going off strictly that. Will Smith is amazing man. At the time, Parents Just Don't Understand man. Was it hood music? It probably wasn't, but he didn't claim to be a mass murderer either. It all depends what these people are judging the shit off of.

HHG: Real quick though. Lakers or Magic. Who you have taking it?

SK: You know what man? I would love to see Howard get it. See some young new blood. Kobe is definitely working mad hard. I like dudes who be in the grind going mad hard. Kobe has mad rings but overall i would have to go with Kobe.

HHG: About Styles?

SK: Styles said he doesn't give a fuck. (laughs) I used to fuck with Phoenix, but Shaq fucked my team up. Listen though, right now, I'm David Stern. I ain't got no team. I'm just David Stern. I got everybody.

HHG: Any last words man?

SK: Just really June 9th, please go support it. These guys worked really hard on it. It's good music nah mean. Please go hold that down. Good questions homie.

Poem: Wedding

You're at the alter with your written vows...not concerned whether your soul mate will disavow...the love that will be carried onto the future...because this is now..you're aplomb, confident with the circumstances...confident in her inner beauty..so there's no need for searching answers...personality is eclectic...seamless mind, body, and soul, so there's no reason to dissect it...but there's a reason to protect it...To Be Continued..

Poem: No Words

She Providing Me With Beautiful Stares...Her Radiant Smile Reflecting Off The Water Makes An Unusual Glare...Her Style Plus My Demeanor Makes For An Unusual Pair...That's Why We Stay Going In Circles, This Love Is Like Musical Chairs...Musical Chairs, Until The Music Collapse...Just Silence, No Music, So You Learn To Adapt...U Learn To Observe...U Learn To Read Between The Lines...Even When You're Not Uttering Words...Because It's Easier To Abase A Person's Actions By Speaking...But Through Teaching By Actions, You Diffuse The Tension By Seeking...The Responses Necessary...Even Without Critiquing...

Jadakiss Interview (HipHopGame.Com)

http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=jadakiss2


HHG: Congrats on going the Last Kiss selling over 130,000 first week. How are you feeling about that?

JK: Oh I'm feeling pretty good. It's pretty good. I'm blessed. A rap album doing 100,000 or more nowadays is a good thing.

HHG: With the record, I noticed you decided to do a lot of tracks with R&B artists. What possessed you to go a little smoother, and take a lighter approach in terms of the album not being as gutter as the previous two?

JK: I tried to make a good listening album for everybody to listen to. In order to capture the listener, and capture everybody, I tried to make some songs that would do that. The internet, mixtapes, and albums--either young people, or old people are going to buy albums. So you got to try to capture the listeners. You'd be surprised, but a lot of people called this my best album. It goes off the ears. The ears of people change. I mean to catch that is a beautiful thing.

HHG: The "What If" featuring Nas has been receiving a lot of comparisons to "Why". Do you feel that record could spark as much controversy as "Why"?

JK: Nah cuz it ain't nah mean it's different. It's different than "Why" It's similar but it's different. I mean it's more for the hood. It's more of a hood version than political I would say, except for Nas, when he said "What If Saddam hung Bush?" But, yeah I mean, I wasn't really trying to go to political on it on "What If".

HHG: So you're not worried about Bill O' Reilly knocking at you door?

JK: Nah I hope he do man. That gon' keep the momentum where I need it to be. Bill O' Reilly gets on you that means you're doing something good, and he ain't have nothing else better to do.

HHG: Switching gears, not too long ago, You & The Lox reunited with Diddy on 106 & Park. Is there a bidding war between him and Def Jam about the Lox?

JK: Nah I mean some talks came up. That's just how things come into place. Talks sparked up a convo.

HHG: Well you know, as for the Lox, a lot of fans have been expecting productions from Swizz Beats, and DJ Premier. Will the fans be able to see that possibility become a reality?

JK: Yeah. Definitely.

HHG: So in that case, how far are you and the Lox on the album Live, Suffer, & Celebrate?

JK: We probably got six songs. We got six-eight strong ones.

HHG: Any idea of a release date?

JK: I wanted to come in during the summer, but I think they're talking about Christmas now.
.
HHG:As for tours, There was the rumored Jay-Z & Lil' Wayne tour. Are you going to be featured in that line-up?

JK: Yeah yeah, nah nah. I just heard they were going out, but I mean yeah me being there's a big possibility. I mean with tours, there's always a lot of paperwork.There's always a lot of other stuff like insurance, and a lot of other shit they have to get straightened. But I mean yeah I would be down.

HHG: I also heard you were planning to go on tour with Cam'ron.

JK: Yeah, yeah. Me & Killa gon' go out. After that Apollo show man, that was a good look.

HHG: Well I'm curious about your opinion og the phenomenon known as Twitter. Before it was Myspace, then Facebook, now Twitter. How do you use Twitter as an artist?

JK: A lot of my friends are on twitter. A lot artists, and a lot of athletes are on it. Myspace is for a lot of younger people now. I mean Shaq is on twitter. You also got SP {Styles P}, Raekwon, Ghost, N.O.R.E.

HHG: You have the time for that?

JK: I mean you got to have the camera, and the laptop aside at all time. If you involve in today's world, and plugged into the world at all times, you gotta have your laptop, and camera always up and running.

HHG: So you have the twitter, what about the Ipod. What's on your Ipod?

JK: Besides my album(laughs). Man all I listen to is old shit. Half A Mill, Purple Piff. I mean old Biggie, Old Nore.

HHG: Damn nothing new man.

JK: I mean I listen to some new songs, but no new albums.

HHG: I mean are there any new school cats you're feeling at all?

JK: I like all the new school cats! I like all of them! I don't even dislike no new artist. Please don't say that. I like all of them. I'm actually about to do a "Can't Stop Me" Remix with all of them. That's gon' have Red, Maino, Cudi, Asher. All of them.

HHG: That's love. A veteran reaching out to the young bucks.

JK: Nah, nah. I completely understand where the music is going. I understand the artists, and the music, but at same time I'm balancing out the texture, and the fabric. It's like when I see all of them, they all pay homage. They all real humble, and respectful when they see me nah mean? So understand man, it's a beautiful thing. For me to do that, it might give them some motivation to go harder. and they could help me in my career. That's one of the things that helped me go was when I was with Big. When I met Big, he embraced us like that. That helped us go where we needed to go in the industry. That got us like "Yeah we could really do this shit."

HHG: Definitely. You know I was listening to your "A-Yo" freestyle, and one of the bars that struck me was "I did a lot of listening//but the new era is missing it." What do you feel that the new school is lacking today?

JK: Well Carl, I mean I'm just saying when I was coming up in the game it was more about lyrics than a catchy beat, or a a catchy hook. People used to listen to the lyrics first, and then they would listen to the beat, and the hook. I probably think artists now might take the different approach, and they should. Like they dumb down now. When you start spitting all crazy, it starts to go over the people's heads. It goes over the listeners heads like I said before. I mean it's really easier to get in now. You know what I mean? When I came in, there was no room for that.

HHG: You know what's funny Jada. I'm 19. Do you feel like people my age, especially ranged from 16-20 are being deprived with the type of music that's been coming out?

JK: Yeah I feel that in a sense. That's why I came out right now. For some of the people your age, that missed all that good music when I was coming up. I just try to give you some of that with that Last Kiss. You know what I'm saying? With the 90's, I could tell you that the best music was in the early 90's. If you 19 now, you were junior high, or probably leaving elementary or something. The 90's, early 90's, that's what I told you was in my Ipod. If you didn't get none of that, I feel then you got deprived. That's a big reason why this Last Kiss album came right now. I definitely feel that. That was a good question.

HHG:.Well I noticed with this album that you were able to maintain your sense of lyricism, and still manage to do well within the first week of sales. Do you feel the veterans are at fault because they're not making quality music?

JK: Nah, I mean that's the only--You know, New York took a hit when everybody started getting money. You know what I mean? Everybody was doing alright in record sales. Everybody had some success, but then the ego started playing a part. From then, nobody wanted to do songs with each other. Niggaz were on some "I'm not fucking with that nigga. I'm not doing that" That hurt everybody in a whole, and everybody stopped dropping albums. Then wherever, the South, the West came, linked up, and collected that money for certain amount of years. I just feel like this is going to give everybody some sense of inspiration to come. You got Fab coming. You got more north artists that's gon' come back. You know Red is doing his thing. Maino is doing his thing. This gon' give everybody the motivation to put music out, so then, nobody has to sit down and complain. The only way they stop the problem is to be part of the solution! Put out some good shit!

HHG: I know you and 50 are cool now, but honestly, do feel with Get Rich or Die Tryin' in terms of sales contributed with everybody focusing their attention on the numbers?

JK: Nah because, he had both quality and the numbers. With this, in order for you to hit those big numbers like that, there's gotta be a story involved. It's gotta be the right timing. This game is off timing. Off timing. Timing is everything in this game. They say they're surprised for me to have a good week, and be a veteran. I think it was good timing. No music came out right now. No good albums really. Well you know, it's all timing. I know a lot of good albums that ain't sell shit. It's all with timing.

HHG: Well I know you're not crazy with the new school in terms of the fads, but I'm curious. If you had to choose one. Would we see Jada wearing the skinny jeans? Or, we would see Jada do Autotune first?

JK: (Silence) I would have to go with jail on both of them. I can't do the skinny jeans, and I can't do the Autotune. (laughs)

HHG: If you had to pick one?

JK: If I had to pick one, then it would be the autotune over the skinnys.

HHG: Well before we go. I wanted to know what's the possibility of us seeing you and Allen Iverson do another track or commercial together?

JK: Oh I mean I don't know. He trying to get everything good right now. I gotta make sure he gets on a good team next year, then we could start working on some music. But, nah mean, it don't look like he gon' be on Detroit. So I gotta make sure he gets on a right team, and get things back into perspective next season.

HHG: Yeah because I know he was talking retirement?

JK: Nah nah. We wouldn't want him to do that.

How Is Hip-Hop Dead When The New Draft Class Is Killing It?(Ballerstatus.Com)

I sense a heartbeat. Maybe it's Ron Browz' heavy bass escaping through the speakers. Maybe it's Slaughterhouse's affable comradery, which appears reminiscent of The Firm. No, wait. Maybe it's Kanye returning to his roots, which consisted of a dark Caesar, and bantering lyrics that drew smiles from even the harshest critics. Call me cynical. Call me naive. But, maybe the demise of hip-hop has escaped death a la 50, and is on the verge of returning from its banal state, and into something "Brand New."


We heard the complaints. From the inept lyricism, to the eye-gauging dances that had people running to the bathroom as if their stomachs were soaked with laxatives. We've seen the complaints displayed on numerous magazines, and blogs. Yet, only a few outlets have applauded the positives that have been utterly apparent. XXL, known for deliberating as to who should grace the Freshmen 10, may have hit the nail this year. Wale, Charles Hamilton, Blu, Curren$y, Mickey Factz, Kid Cudi, Cory Gunz, Asher Roth, B.o.B, and Ace Hood are currently walking with targets on their backs, as if they're Obama at the podium. This class has the makings of possibly resembling the 2003 NBA draft class. The skills are there. Their potential is simply waiting to be tapped. Others have referred to this list as a pseudo of the draft class. Some critics even believe that these artists will vanish sooner than Chandra Levy.

The funny thing was, when people were asked to label their flaws, the question remained unanswered. All you heard was pure hate. Who cares if Charles' spare time consists of having his fingers glued to a Sega controller? So what, if Asher Roth rather play beer pong than floss some gaudy jewelry. Is that a bad thing? Then people want to throw shots at Ace Hood by questioning his mic skills. The same dudes that were blowing the whistle on his wordplay were baffled when he stood side-by-side with Jada, Fab, and Juelz, during the cipher at the BET Hip-Hop Awards, where he mutilated his freestyle.

Just like the 03' class, the love for one another is there. In a conversation I had with Curren$y, he openly told me how happy he was seeing Charles and B.o.B's video being played on MTV. No hate. Just love. The same love that listeners once showed when Big L breathed air into the track like CPR. The same love that listeners once showed when Meth & Red joined forces on a track. What people need to understand is that '94 came, and went. If you can't embrace the new school cats, then fine. That's why you have the option of having an iPod, where you can remember the times like Michael Jack.

If people are really claiming that lyricism has been gone for a minute, and is indeed on the verge of falloff, then let me introduce you to hip-hop's new four-headed monster named Slaughterhouse. Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Crooked I, and Royce Da 5'9 have decided to join forces and form hip-hop's new super group, equipped with jaw-dropping punchlines. From songs like "Move On", to "Wack MCs", this group is proving why their faces should be plastered onto Mount Rushmore. Individually, these rappers are fully capable of wowing the listeners. Now when they assemble, the possibility of a person's ear drum being popped has risen to a high rate.

Now for people who prefer that club and party music, complaints should be minimal here. Last time I checked, people have been "Poppin' Champagne" as if it was aspirin, and were quickly placing the blame on Jamie rather than the alcohol for their discretions. Yes, Ron Browz isn't the best rapper, but that's why I listed those artists above for those who want lyricism. Stop complaining about not having any music that tickles your fancy, nor move you feet, when you're the same person walking to 7/11 claiming you have "Arab Money."

For people who want a hint of everything, here comes the new man on the block, Drake. It's sad because everyone just discovered him, when in the contrary, he released his first mixtape back in '06. This man's buzz has been off the Richter as of late, especially with his latest mixtape So Far Gone. If you're in need of a ringer, which reminds you of wifey, Drake can croon his way into your heart with "Brand New". If you're in need of some punchlines, and well-crafted lyricism, then he could hit you with "Ignorant Sh**". The man is like Baskin Robbins, he has every flavor you oh so need, and maybe even more.

What more do you want? I'm tired of people crying, and complaining about the demise of hip-hop. Hip-hop never died people. She simply went into the surgery, and is awaiting a makeover. If she looks anything like Kim Kardashian, than I see no complaints. If you think she's on her way to looking like Star Jones, then feel free to take shots on the comment box below.

http://www.ballerstatus.com/2009/04/04/how-is-hip-hop-dead-when-the-new-draft-class-is-killing-it/

Asher Roth Interview (HipHopGame.Com)

HHG: In a recession, where everything is spiked up, where can you find pizza for a dollar a slice?

AR:(Laughs). There's a spot I know in Westchester. It's only plain slices though. That's the only drawback. You can't get any toppings, but it's in the middle of Westchester University.

HHG: Wait you were really serious about that?

AR: for sure. It's ridiculous man. We were in there the other day. It's good pizza too. That's the crazy thing.

HHG: “I Love College” you said you're the Allen Iverson of beer pong. You know Allen Iverson is on the fall off. Are you telling me your beer pong game is damn near on the decline too?

AR: (Laughs) Nah I mean shoot, Allen Iverson is going to be a Hall of Famer man. So I mean the Allen Iverson, Hakeem Olajuwon--I'm still balling, but I'm a veteran presence. I'm not one of those 18 year-old kids that are coming to play beer pong or 16 for that matter. I still have a couple of years on the table. I might not be as young and agile as I used to be, but I'm still going to hit cups if I need to.

HHG: Do you feel with hip-hop becoming more accepting of White rappers in contrast to the past, that this will make you entry to the game even smoother?

AR: Yeah I think so man. I think we're at a point where white rappers are common place. In the same sense, there's a few that have broken the mold, and have shown we can relate on human instincts, and music on an emotional level. I think now moving on with my project, and looking forward, hip-hop is going to be understood that it's not only in New York anymore. That it's a global thing. It's in global places like Morrisville, Pennsylvania, and it's going to be a more universal thing. That's what's going to bring Hip-Hop back to life.

HHG: Being that rapping is your full-time job, how did you feel when shows like The White Rapper Show portray white rappers in such a despicable light?

AR: Yeah man it definitely makes a mockery of it in a sense of the music side, when they turn it into a competition and shit like that. I don't really have any opinions on that, and it's just in a sense of like it's definitely not helpful by any chance. It's definitely regressive for something like being a white rapper, and coining that term.

HHG: A couple days ago, I was listening to the 20 minute freestyle you did on Tim Westwood. How did you honestly feel when he was playing the Eminem instrumentals for you to freestyle over?

AR: I mean dude, it was definitely like he was kind of pushing the topic, and pushing the subject. You know like with the Vanilla Ice, The Fresh Prince, and stuff like that. He was just being Tim Westwood. That's who he is. At first, it was what it was. Then it came to the point where it was just beats. So I'm just going to let it rock, and I understand what he's trying to do. I'm a freaking white kid in rap music, and there's only a few that have done it before. They're trying to play me, but in a sense, I need people to understand who I am. I'm a totally different. I'm Asher Roth man. I'm a totally different person. We're coming around when this album drops on 4/20. I think everyone will really start to understand that this is it. It's music now yo.

HHG: Since you are considered one of the freshman 10 from XXL, do you feel all these comparisons with Eminem is hip-hop's form of hazing in terms you trying to break through?

AR: I don't know man. I don't know. I mean, like I said, there's a lot of characteristics about human beings when it comes to watching other people succeed, and doing what--you know what I mean, especially when you're in the public eye. It sucks to be a celebrity in the mainstream thing. That's when it starts to become when money is being tossed into the equation. You know what I mean? It all gets a little weird. You know, people are going to say what they will, and make up whatever they wanna make up. I understand that there aren't room many white rappers. There are not really any reference points to talk to me about. What this all comes down to is that it's a new generation. It's new music. People are gonna have to understand that hip-hop is moving forward like everything does. It's going to be interesting on how everything plays out.

HHG: With Em being aggressive with a hint of violent lyrics, and you having a humorous but yet passionate flow, the difference is there.

AR: I mean that's what I mean. You said it. That's really what it is. You're not making anything up. I know that's your opinion, but that's like the truth. I'm who I am, and he's who he is. We just both happen to be white. That's just my makeup. Once people begin to understand that these are two different human beings, and you can't really rub them together, then that's when I think we'll really begin to move forward.

HHG: I recall you said your influences were Biggie, Outkast, Mos Def, and The Roots. With you guys apparently having different styles and upbringings, where does the correlation come in?

AR: That's interesting dude. Do I relate to the lifestyle of Biggie or anything like that? No, that's like--why is it that white kids, get drawn into this behavior that they don't know nothing about. Remember that Office Space movie, when that dude is rapping in the beginning. Then, the black guy walks by, and he turns it down. Why is that we get drawn into this stuff that we know nothing about, but we rap it like we're proud? It's very interesting. To me it was really the music man. Why I got drawn into Biggie is because when he said it, he meant it. He has emotion. He has the passion. He wasn't confusing anybody with his freaking lyrics; he was just straight to the point Brooklyn. So that was just a beautiful thing to watch and see. I mean just to watch somebody be so passionate, and raw. Then you know people like Quest, and Black Thought were rappers that were really spreading some type of a message. They had content, and substance, but were still killing it lyrically. So that's maybe why I was really drawn into them, and kind of the edginess. I was more of a rhythm person. I wasn't more into melodies, and all that. I was really attracted to the drums. So that was what brought me into hip-hop. So that, I could only speak for myself. It's crazy though man. Why is it that so many ethnic white kids from the burbs, that live, breathe, die hip-hop, and are knowledgeable about their shit? I don't know everything. I know a couple people that know their shit. It's kind of ridiculous. Hip-Hop is so young. There's 45 year-olds that can tell you where it begun. It's really interesting to me now, kids my age, are kind of the middle ground with these blogs, and their perspectives. To just see all those perspectives blend in with people who are 45, and still in touch; to the kids who are 18, to even me, understand this culture, and this way of life. You know I'm just saying, this is a culture, and a way of life. This is music. You have to respect it. You have to treat it appropriately. Then, you have all the politics. It's crazy man. It's a mind game. It really is a mind game. That's why with me, when I hear the comparisons to Em, things about race, and politics, all these things for me, is just who I am. There's no facade. This is what's really going on. We still gotta have fun man. It's all about having fun. Who wants to be all bummed out, and depressed? Who wants to hate life, and kill people? No one wants that man. If we're going to do this through music-- If we're going to do this through hip-hop, then we all have to come together. Like me, I'm here to have a good time, and make sure the people after me live a good life.

HHG: You just answered my next question in regards to whether you feel people try to test your limits because of your race, and birthplace.

AR: I just hope people get it, and don't think for me that this is some fucking get rich quick scheme. I didn't come here to get paid. This shit is hard man. Put yourself on a chopping block, and sacrifice sleep, meals, your life. You put your life out there. You put your life into the public eye. You're on the chopping block where everyone says everything about you. I just came here to chill, have a blunt or two, maybe have a couple girlfriends, and make some dope music for people to listen to. Now all of a sudden, people want you dead. It's just really interesting man. It's really interesting to see people's behavior. For me man, I think that we're really going to be able to do it. There's a bunch of dope emcees coming out. Hip-Hop is so influential and so important. I think we can lead them with this new school shit. I think that it's gonna be dope.

HHG: That’s like with Cudi when he was thinking about retiring. Does the negativity ever become too much to handle?

AR: That's when family, and the support of the friends that you can count on in one hand becomes very important. When you get into the point where you're mentioned in the same sentences with influential rappers, and are in the same breath as them, that's when everybody has an opinion about you. That's when you have to realize what's real, and what's not. It's get really really really silly when everyone wants to know what's going on. You gotta really know who you are. That's why with the whole college thing, we can all relate to going to school. We can all relate to going through the struggles of just living life. My motherfucking shoulder, and back are killing me. You wanna know why, because I'm a fucking side sleeper, and I sleep on my fucking side habitually. These are just the pains of living life. So I think it's going to be fun man. We have some videos. We have music. We've got good people. We got good food. We're having fun at these live shows. It's going to be a positive, positive thing that we're doing. Anybody that wants to be negative can just go over there, you know? I mean there's nothing negative about this project or this movement. It's really about everybody.

HHG: At what point in time did you decide that it was ok to rap about being from the suburbs, and not rap about drugs, and guns?

AR: Oh it's crazy dude. Don't even get it twisted. When I was 16 years-old, I thought that was how you rapped. Then, at some point when I got here, I realized that people pay attention to what you're saying. This was like when I was 20 years old. I realized I wasn't a kid anymore. I was turning into this young adult. When you're 13, 14, 15, 16 years old, you think you know everything. But me, remember those kids that were in college, and you were like "yeah he's in college. He's sooo old." Remember that? You were like "that motherfucker is sooo old. He's in college. I can't believe it." Now, I just left college, and I'm still a kid. I don't know anything like those undergrads. I'm as ignorant as they come. At 16, I'm thinking I have the world figured out. So when I reached 21, 22, I was like I have to be who I am.

HHG: Switching gears, as for the album cover, were you really lying on bread?

AR: Absolutely man. That's me. I'm skinny so I was able to fit in one of those aisles. I was just laying right in that bread aisle in Atlanta Georgia.

HHG: I know you left smelling like bread.

AR: (laughs) exactly. We'll see man. I also wanted to leave that open for interpretation, and see how people interpret that.

HHG: What was the concept behind the album?

AR: Well with me, it was really just about how like I was saying, there's all this craziness, and all this bullshit. For me, It's just about being who I am. That's exactly what I was just talking about with concept behind this album. With all the craziness, and how people talk about how money comes into the picture, I'm just going to be who I am. You know head all over the place. Like if I don't wanna shave, or shower today. It's just about being who you are.

HHG: Normally people like taking huge chances on their debut with star-studded producers, what made you decide to give the bulk to Oren Yoel, a newcomer?

AR: Oren and I are just pals man. He's just my guy. I mean he's my friend. To me, that's making music. I didn't want to buy an album. I wanted to make an album. I wanted to create an album. I wanted to make music with somebody I could make music with, not with somebody of the right price. So that's what happened with Oren, and even like Cannon. Those are my guys. I was like lets make some music you know?

HHG: As for features who can we expect from the album?

AR: You know we got Cee-lo. We got Keri Hilson. You know with this album, it's going to be really dope. I got something for everybody man. Everyone is going to have a different favorite song. I don't want people to be stuck in the mind frame of that they want one type of album. That's not how people listen to music anymore. We are kids with this I-Pod shuffle shit. Nobody has an IPod with just hip-hop. We got all types of stuff. That's why with this album, I'm trying to get a real cohesive sound. On this album, there's always purpose for every record. Even though “Aisle On My Go Kart” was just a stream of consciousness, and a bunch of different ideas, it served a purpose to let you guys know who I am. I'm light-hearted. I'm chilling. I'm funny. I enjoy my time on this earth. I like to have a good time, mess around with some women, and still showcase that wordplay. I don't waste my listeners’ time.

HHG: How are you able to remain so positive man?

AR: Hate is so fake dog. I just don't pay attention to it. I ignore it. Like my baseball coach, when I was 13 years old, he always used to pick on me. My pops was like, "Yo. Why you always picking on Asher, and yelling at him?" He was like, "Cuz things just roll of his back." I come back the next day the same way how I approach this man.

Those people man. They don't know anything about me fam. Those people that are talking about me are speaking out of complete ignorance. It's out of envy, jealousy, and every bad emotion. I surround myself with good people. I think if your thoughts are so important to how you approach life, and your thoughts become your actions, then this is nothing dude. I think people just need to think differently. I don't pay attention to people. I don't have nothing to prove. If somebody tells me "Oh you're a punk p****, f****** wanna be Eminem," I don't have nothing to prove to him, because I know who I am. I know what I'm doing. I just gotta roll with that. I have good beautiful people that I could count on. I come from two supporting parents, and two loving sisters. That's all I need man. At the end of the day, I don't need all this other stuff. I'm just making music for me.

I'm going to talk about shit that people don't wanna talk about. I'm gonna talk about shit that I'm feeling right, like these are my thoughts at the moment. You know it's going to be fun. It's going to be popping. I might get bummed out at some point, but you guys are going to be able to roll with it and be like "Yeah I relate to that shit."

HHG: I noticed with the freshmen that you guys are more concerned with the good of Hip-Hop rather than album sales. Does that apply to you too?

AR: I could care less about album sales man. Honestly I don't give a shit. I'm going out to have a live show. I'm going to do a show, and hope people come out. Album sales man what does that prove? What do album sales prove?

It really has no meaning. If you're inside the circuit, and people respect what you're doing, and you could put on a dope live show, kill it, have people talk about it, then you're doing it. That's what it's all about. It's not about record sales. It never will be. It's all a fucking facade dude. It's all a facade. It's made up. It's like the fucking economy dude. Those plastic cards. Those credits cards. It's nothing. It's just an idea. It's time to talk about what's really important.

I'm telling you man it's coming back. You have artists like myself, Charles, Wale, B.o.B, Kid Cudi, and Blu. We're not afraid to talk about this stuff. We're coming from a generation where like history is cyclical. Watch man. Just watch.

Mavado: Mr Brooks...A Better Tomorrow Album Review(BlackCollegeView.Com)

If CNN were to clash with the streets of Jamaica, the end result would come in the shape of Mavado.

With the mentality of a soul-survivor and the grit of a neighborhood hustler, Mavado's storytelling abilities on A Better Tomorrow does more than scratch the surface on life--it dents it. Mavado's cry for help comes in the form of a rugged melodic voice, backed up by dreary beats. Tracks like "Jailhouse"and "Life Of A G" are ruminative testimonies that find a man's soul entrapped in his own faults. Still, Mavado doesn't shy away from being brash. His pompous record "So Special" makes Remy Martin's "I'm Conceited" look anything but pretentious. With a sly hook, it's only right to give Mavado the green light on being so cocky.But, Mavado's "Don't Worry" helps showcase his innate ability to be the vocal leader for the streets.

Though Mavado exposes the harsh realities through his lyrics, his candor enables him to address the issues at hand a la Obama.