Admittedly, I go through stages in regards to who my “favorite rapper” is at any given moment. Perhaps they are linked to my life mood. For a while it was Wiz Khalifa, alas, that was years ago, though I still have a personal attachment to that cat. After that I went through a Curren$y era and now it’s Pill. He’s like T.I., 11 years ago!
Watch out for next month, I plan on making Danny Brown my favorite rapper. #fairweatherfan
Fuck fuck fuck. Here’s what’s wrong about ditching gangsterism and the glorification of the street corner hustler. EVERYTHING. The corner hustler embodies everything that defines the hood, and don’t get it twisted, these kids with 700 dollar brakeless bikes and flashy sunglasses and jeans that would suffocate Kate Moss are from the mother fucking hood. And what kind of shit-filled sense is being applied to the notion that one must abandon the “worship” of gangster culture for the sake of embracing entrepreneurship and business smarts? Is that a sick and twisted joke? Or am I the one smoking the crack here? The neighborhood hustla, or G, or pimp, or however you want to stigmatize it, IS the very essence of urban business and entrepreneurship. Who do you think initiated the market that is urban fashion? Gangsters. The paper chase? Gangsters. Elevating oneself from the disheveled community while keeping one foot in? Gangsters.
Jerkin may be working for them. But I’m a motherfucking G, and you should be too. Relatively baggy pants? Stand up, trap’s gone ham.
Low budget video for Big Boi and Gucci Mane? Fuck Yeah!
This video was shot by some of the dudes at Snort This, a blog that claims to supersede the pleasure of actually snorting white girl. I wouldn’t go nearly that far, for the most part the blog consists of amateur photos of amateurs doing amateur things. But what I do like is their endorsement of Gucci Mane and Big Boi, a couple of ATL rappers that risk losing market share this year, on account of a slew fair weathered fans. If you supported Outkast and have left Big Boi in the dust, you failed son! Yes, Andre 3000 was your favorite rapper in the group (you also wear skinny jeans right?), but you should take note that Big Boi’s creative disposition has been taken to new heights, one that is Dre-free yet eclectic nevertheless. As for Gucci, I just appreciate a guy who can beat an assassination attempt and a subsequent murder rap in less than a year. That’s gangster, Gucci World baby.
Behind The Scenes
I’d like to thank everyone who took the time out to wish me a happy birthday this week and to those who even thought enough of me to send cards and letters. I really do appreciate all the love. Real talk!! Y’all just hold it down a little while longer and I’ll be back on that side doing what I do best…SHINING, STUNTIN’ and CELEBRATING SUCCESS WHILE LOOKIN’ DAMN GOOD DOING IT. You dig! But until then y’all just KEEP IT PIMPIN’ & BE EASY. – King (9/28/2009).
Back in the day the N.E. Patriots were the LA Clippers of the NFL, a laughing stock beyond laughter. However, Andre Tippet was a Patriot you could be proud of. Finishing his career with an aesthetically pleasing 100 sacks, the Hall of Fame was very much a no brainer for Tippet. Whether it be racking up quarterback sacks in Boston or chopping sacks of White Girl all over Atlanta, you can bet these hustlers got paid. T.I. a tad more than Tippet, but then again, Tippet never had to worry about butt plugs and picking up soap in showers.
Better never than late? Yesterday T.I. showed up late to report for his year long correctional obligation aka jail. No real news about showing up late, apparently no matter who you are there is a small window of discretion when it comes to the actual time you report to fed pens. T.I. is going to be spending the next 366 days in Forrest City Federal Correctional Facility. For the next year the ‘King of the South’ will be simply addressed as “Inmate 59458019“. Namelessness is the first step in the federal government’s path to rehabilitation; you ain’t nothing but a number, don’t forget it! That federal ID number is public information, and thus you can use it to find out more information about T.I.’s stint in the big house. For example, with the fed number you can use a tool called the inmate locator to check the status and history of any federal inmate since 1982. Using the online tool you can verify that T.I., aka Clifford Harris, is serving a stint at Forrest City Correctional Institute, specifically in the minimum level security section of the facility. Other random facts are also shared, such as the need for Physician’s Assistants at the facility, and that conjugal visits are not permitted (ouch, sorry Tip). The federal registration number is also useful when attempting to contact the imprisoned superstar. Mail can be sent to the following address :
INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER
FCI FORREST CITY LOW
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
P.O. BOX 9000
// FORREST CITY, AR 72336
After perusing some prison forums (hella depressing) I came across this little nugget. A mother of an imprisoned son detailing life in FCI Low where T.I. will be spending the next year, peep it:
“Hi sgp,
My son is currently in FCI Forrest City. The prison is low-level security. Derek says the food is pretty good and they have a salad bar; which he loves.
The prison also has a TV room and CD room. The inmates get to watch movies each week. In order to watch TV or listen to music, the inmate must use a headset purchased through the commissary. They also must wear tennis shoes into both rooms.
I’m not sure about the schooling options; Derek is currently enrolled in a spanish class.
The sleeping arrangements are set up like a dorm type environment; with bunk beds and cubicles.
Visitation:
Friday: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., then 4:25 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday and All Federal Holidays: 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., then 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
You may want to wear jeans; I tried three different pants before they would let me in.”
Dorm room environments? That sounds like it might get interesting for potential T.I. wannabes and/or haters. It should also be noted that this is the only federal facility in Arkansas, so no matter how low level this branch of the prison is, there are going to be some heads there that mean serious business. They can’t throw all the violent offenders in maximum, thus some violent offenders are deemed “low level” candidates and those guys will be bunking it up with your man T.I. . Sleep tight Clifford (no homo).
Willy Northpole should have been a G-Unit solider. Coming up in the “mean” streets of Phoenix, he linked up with Hot Rod right when he was getting down with Fitty. G-Unit being the Times Square of activity that it is, simply overlooked this MC who had literally been sleeping at Fitty’s place a few times when rolling with Hot Rod. Ludacris however did not overlook this young talent, and quickly swooped him with a deal from Disturbing Tha Peace Records. Now Willy’s jamming with ATL cats, like Bobby Ray..
Nothing mo pimp than cooking your girl some grub before heading to the big house. Keep ya head up King. Free T.I.
T.I. has recently gone out and got busy in the free agent market signing B.o.B (now called Bobby Ray) Yung LA, and Killer Mike. Perhaps that is why we find Jeezy using his Mont Blanc with due diligence. As was mentioned in a prior post the Corporate Thugz Entertainment has drastically expanded, well, maybe not drastically, but it ain’t just Jeezy and Slick Pulla anymore. Having signed upcoming artist B.A.MA. and Screww to deals, his latest addition, Boo Rossini, adds to what appears to be a stockpile of ATL talent. Boo has been affiliated with Jeezy since Trap or Die, and probably adds some comfort for Jeezy considering the unproven abilties of young gunna B.A.MA.
Atlanta Week on mtv.com just happened, and it was a good opportunity for both T.I. and Jeezy to showcase their products. Jeezy seems quite content with his current positioning in this MC Arms race in the ATL. At first glance it may seem that Jeezy’s posse has a lower ceiling than the likes of T.I.’s roster of: B.o.B, Young Dro, Yung LA, and Killer Mike. However, Jeezy is content with unproven assets because he isn’t going anywhere, no prison sentence, no community service, no house arrest. Jeezy will be in a position to groom and regulate the development of these artists. On the flip side, T.I. had to load up on proven talent, talent with immediate name recognition, that could carry the proverbial torch whilst he rots in a Fed Pen for 366 days. Different strategies for different rapper/CEO’s, but Jeezy and T.I. do share one common goal; to keep ATL off the bottom of the map, and to have a big part in doing so. In this case, once again the recession and logistical realities have conducified an enviornment beneficial to us consumers. A hungry artist lacks not motivation; teams of hungry artists facing off one another in the same city, well, thats pure bedlam, and that’s a good thing.
T.I. makes a suprise appeareance a few days ago to support his artist B.o.B. aka Bobby Ray who was performing with Wale.
“I’m going to be in this one video, it’s going to be on MTV!” These words are uttered by many, yet realized by few. In this city being offered a “role” in a music video is the sum of a very simple equation; one attractive woman plus one shady dude with weak game. So I was by no means taken aback when I heard a co-worker express her upcoming appearance in a “rap video”. I was also not surprised by my blunt but internalized reaction, something along the lines of “sure honey, you and every other aspiring model this side of Fairfax.” But stereotypes are meant to be broken, and exceptions are often exciting moments. So I was pleasantly surprised to hear from this certain lady that her appearance was going to be in B.o.B’s new video “Lonely People.” Never a sucker for unverified spoken word, I was granted a sneak peek (and somewhat exclusive) at the video. Here it is….
B.o.B. is a frustrating artist to describe at this point in his career. B.o.B. was recently featured on the cover of URB magazine along with Asher Roth, Wale, and Charles Hamilton as part of a 2009 dream team for the rap game. Though these artists have reignited the indie rap scene by keeping their ties to the street sound and certified, it’s my fear that in an effort to package a “class of ‘09” we may lose perspective. Perhaps we shall ignore the intrinsic egocentricities that make an artist unique, or maybe we won’t be as critical as we subconsciously justify bad decision making. For the record I think B.o.B. is the head of this class of 2009, and his connection to Grand Hustle and Atlantic certainly puts him in an environment conducive to grooming. B.o.B keeps it viral and litters his MySpace page with free mixtapes. Definitely grace your Ipod with the following Future of Hip Hop Mixtape . B.o.B. is straight out of Decatur aka Stankonia, and I’m pulling for this kid just like I’m pulling for the young model* that linked me with this video. Ironically my concern is applicable to both aspiring stars; true talent is often lost in a sea of mediocrity. Good luck to both of you.
*remains nameless for sake of privacy, but is the prettiest girl in the video, and the only one that maintains her integrity. Big Ups …
Peep a more finished version of the video at http://www.halfelement.com/bob/bob_lonely_people.mov
