Wednesday Morning Starting Five: The Mos Def Challenges Jay-Z to a Rap Battle Edition
In my first interview with Chuck D on Michaeltillery.com (only a shell is still up on the server…won’t be there long.), Chuck said he thought Hov was the GOAT. I was surprised by the admission but understood his explanation. It touched off a huge debate across the web on various Hip Hop message boards that still goes on today. Well, Mos Def read an article somewhere and questioned whether or not Hov is in fact the best of all time. He issued his initial challenge here (tongue and cheek, but it is real). I can’t wait for this to go down. I will be front and center. Trust.
Back at it.
The Rooney Rule has been expanded to include NFL high level vacancies. Really interested in your thoughts on this. (PFW)
Thoughts on Sammy Sosa reportedly testing positive for PED’s in 2003? (Chicago Tribune)
Verbum Dei: Black Institution or Done? Andre Miller’s high school makes historical coaching hire which has split its administrative and alumni base. (The LA Sentinel)
The Mighty Mos issues a rap battle challenge to Jay and Kanye. Damn right. We’ve all been waiting for something like this for a long time. (MTV)
An open letter to the class of 2009. Congratulations (Real Talk Express)
Surviving the summer. (Final Call)
The remix of one of my all time Hip Hop tracks:
Real talk: Mos is a tremendous talent who hasn’t fed the masses with what he’s capable of producing. But a big part of that is that he’s not the MC Jay-Z is.
You’d think that after 10-plus albums Big Homey would be producing some watered-down, flavorless “soda pop” for us. But yeah, the majority of the albums are thorough.
And Mos is …………. entrenching himself as a notable actor. Great MC and I love his work, but he’s not the best. Not by a long shot. If this battle goes down though, it will be interesting to see what comes of it.
I agree with Chuck about the total scope of Jay’s career, but I’m way more of a Mos fan because his message is entrenched in the street science of Hip Hop IMO. Advancing thought from within, not the other way around. The Native Tongues just do it like no any other force in the game in that regard. It’s that chill ass neo soul street but diverse cold rock stuff I bang at ever turn.
Respiration affected me just as much as Dead Presidents in the same ways 1-9-9-9 and All I Need still do. Both Rawkus’ productions feed the game’s innovation in not so palatable ways for the masses but are still just as important.
Jay has obviously broader appeal as is able to navigate in any arena but Mos to me is that Vinnie Johnson cat who can blaze off the bench and pop in 40 on everyone in a moments notice.
Even though Mos hasn’t delivered the catalogue of classic albums I think his talent merits, I wouldn’t be surprised if he murdered Jay on a track. Hov is great and everything, but I just can’t help but feel that Jay-Z, at this stage, seems a little out of shape, as it were.
Instead of battling on the mic, they need to be collaborating to run the whole bizzznis. Distribution, new tech, etc. Fuck a battle — it’s 2009.
What up Mizzo and Tariq.
Yes I see Mizzo you are one of my favorite subjects…..rap music.
I see Mos Def is challenging Jay-Z. Now the question is………will this be a true free style battle or written versus.
As you’ll all know Jay-Z has never been a free style rapper. Though he doesn’t write his lyrics down when he develops his rhymes he isn’t a free style rapper.
Mos Def has the ability to free style as well as write his lyrics.
When judging both, Jay-Z isn’t a very good battle rapper (case in point Nas and Jay-z battle). Nas pretty much destroyed Jay-Z.
However I am not sure of Mos Def rap battling ability.
Sadly if it is a true battle it will be judge by the media and popularity, not by true lyrics and content.
In saying all that I have never been a fan of Jay-Z and looked at his music as bubble gum rap. Ever since he dropped Dead Presidents album all of his albums ahve been sub par (IMO).
Now understand that I am not a fan of most mainstream rap. I look at Jay-Z, Nas (all though his last 2 CDs have been closer to his original style on illmatic) and many others jumped in the mid 90′s on the biggie and Puffy style in the mid to late 90s. After releasing great debut CDs.
In the late 90s tons of rappers were jumping into that mainstream pond (Outkast once said).
Thats at the same time underground started to blow up to fill that void in rap.
Rawkus was a super power label in the late 90′s. Sadly the young man running the company didn’t realize that he had a gold mine in Mos Def, Company Flow, Pharoahe Moch and etc.
Instead of filling the void left by mainstream rap trying to be more mainstream. He decided to take the label and move it even to more mainstream. Thus turning his back on the label and artist supporters and destroying the label in one full blow.
Know on Jay-z and Eminem being considered the best lyricist around, I have never understood that. Actually its a shame that many underground rappers don’t get their due.
As far as Jay-z being the best…….I have to disagree with brotha chuck.
If we are basing this on lyrics, sales and popularity (only counting rappers who are currently alive). I guess you could say Jay-Z or Eminem.
But on pure lyrics and lyrical content (IMO) they can’t touch a mainsteam rapper like Gza.
Underground kats like El-P, C-Rayz Walz, MF Doom, Aesop Rock, Vast Aire, Brother Ali, Ras Kass and etc.
Anyway I have to agree with you Mizzo Mos spits that type of rap that I like. (deap lyrics) That just the type of dude I am man……if the lyrics aren’t deep or complex I can’t get into it (most of the time).
Oh and someone please explain to me how you gonna have a rap battle and not invite Supernatural……dude is freaking unreal.
I’m only kidding about the battle. I’d sign up for that if for no other reason that it would nice to see Apex Competitors test their skills. On the real though, I’d like to see them leverage their formidable talents on the business side of hip hop. These 2 have more talent in their pinkies than most cats do in an entire crew.
HAHA true Temple.
Yo the story goes that Master P had tried to purchase a manufacturing plant in (to print and distribute CDs) back in Louisiana in the late 90′s.
However the record labels blocked the purchase. Now whether this story is true or not we will never know.
But keep in mind that Master P’s No Limit Records was the first and only black label to ever get a 80%-30% distribution deal from a major Label.
After that the labels made sure no label was gonna get a deal that sweet again.
Bud Selig should be held culpable for the strategic release of names to the media and I am waiting for one of the players to sue Selig and MLB for allowing those supposedly private tests to be slowly leaked.
And there has to be a leak investigation and all the law firms who handled these tests should be brought into court and threatened with jail time…
Let’s start with the lawyers who have been handling the Barry Bonds’ case.. with the threat of disbarment and jail time..
…..”Major League Baseball believe a lawyer with the U.S. Attorney’s office — past or present — ignored a court seal to whisper Sosa’s name to Michael S. Schmidt, the New York Times reporter who broke the story. They see the leaks as unethical and unlawful….”
One more thing Temple as far as manufacturing and distribution.
At one time Immortal Technique and Paris were the only rapper s to sell over 100K units who were manufacturing and distributing their own CDs.
They were making deals with best buy and other stores as being direct distributors of their products.
Not sure how Immortal Technique was doing this. But Paris was doing this due to the fact he had many business connections and was a self made millionaire. He was a stock broker during the early and late 90s. So the brotha made a killing during the telecom boom.
“But keep in mind that Master P’s No Limit Records was the first and only black label to ever get a 80%-30% distribution deal from a major Label.”
Sorry that should read 80%-20%.
As Temple always says speed kills.
Sup O. In the linked conversation and the most recent in the interview section you will see that Chuck meant Jay’s mastering the total game.
I agree Temple on locking up the biz. Collabos abound but only on an entry level. ROC has done some damage though.
Huge point Patrick. You always bring the boom.
Newspapers have always been complicit with MLB and other sports for that matter, so true pause for the cause will not be known unfortunately until cats are kicking up dirt and someone still alive becomes the canary.
Patrick:
I agree 100%. The leakers should be sent to Guantanamo with the writers who fuel their illegal acts.
Origin:
Thanks for the info. Fact-filled as usual.
Mos is my guy so I gotta go w/ my man origin on this one.
And, I disagree w/ Chuck regarding ‘Hov’ being the ‘GOAT.’
Nas pretty much dismantled him on “Ether”.
If I owned a record label, the last thing I’d want to see is my lead artist lose a battle in a very public and humiliating way. It would crush their record sales and make it prohibitively difficult to market them.
If I owned a label, I’d have no problem at all with sponsoring a contest between unknown rappers for the opportunity to get signed.
The economics of investing in artists (what little bit is done these days) still don’t support battles — do they?
I think it works at the elite level where legacies can’t really be destroyed (LL survived Kool Moe Dee; JZ survived Nas); and at the bottom level where legacies have yet to be built. It’s those cats in the middle who have the most to lose. Thoughts??
Crazy but I was just bangin’ Patriotism by Flow. Soundbombing 2 is the shit. Crosstown Beef? 1-9-9-9? Next Universe? 7XL? Diamond D’s track When it Pours it Rains? I rock Big L and Ms Fat Booty 2 on Lyricist Lounge 2 as well daily.
Oh no question Temple. The talented lyricists Origin mentions would fit that criteria. Although, I’m sure the risks would be worth it for the collective.
You are right O, Supernatural is like hot death on the mic. Amazing.
Yeah Mizzo Supernat once freestyled for like 9 hours straight.
Yeah thsat soundbombing 2 was the joint. I will say in my 20 + years of listening to rap. I have never ever ever seen a label have as much talent as Rawkus, during that run in the late 90s.
Sad to say but they were straight ripping dudes off. All those CDs sold by Company Flow and those kats weren’t even getting paid. Same with other artist.
El-P (of Company Flow) rapped a verse……..”Sign to Rawkus I rather be mouth ***&^ by Nazis unconscious” in one of his songs after leaving Rawkus.
So yeah there was some bad blood with the label and artists.
Rawkus Records — financed by Rupert Murdoch.
Rawkus took it back to all those sick Primo joints and others of the early nineties when cats were rapping in college.
The Coolie High and Luchini joints from Camp Lo…Supastar and Next level. Even Black Moon with the track I bang for cats like WHITLOCK How Many MC’s and I Know I Got Cha Opin and Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka
I wish I owned stock in Swisher Sweets back then. Damn, I used to free fall into it with eyes closed, head noddin’ and an open mind.
Are you serious Temple? I never ever knew that. Damn shame.
WTF…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rawkus_Records
The OWNERSHIP question of Black Cultural Production is one that we have yet to address in a meaningful. The same restrictions that should govern music and theatre and dance and film should govern sports — in that ownership should be non-negotiable point #1 for artists. Of course biology doesn’t dictate ethics, but it does usually dictate development.
In other words, a non-Black owner may not be more ethical or less ethical than a Black owner; but the odds of a non-Black owner re-investing in a Black community or in Black people are somewhere between slim and none.
Moreover, non-Black owners tend to hire their co-religionists, co-racialists or fellow nationals in all of the vertically integrated businesses used to support Black Cultural Production.
We have enough talent to feed ourselves — we don’t have enough restraint; we don’t have enough people willing to forego TODAY’s PAYDAY from capitalized non-blacks in order to BUILD TOMORROW’s INSTITUTION with under-capitalized Blacks. Why is that?
Because it’s human nature. A bird in the hand beats two in the bush — and ya know Black folk ain’t tryin to be in no bushes. Economic liberation is in the bushes.
origin -
Didn’t know that you were an underground hip hop head!
Rawkus could have been the force in the new millennium if they hadn’t decided to go commercial. Yep Mizzo, Rawkus was financed by none other than Rupert Murdoch. IIRC, his son was the figure head president of the company.
Company Flow’s beef with Rawkus was also due to a lack of promotion. Which was mostly due to Co Flow getting a 50% cut of all of the profits because Rawkus needed some way to make a splash. Co Flow had released Funcrusher, and it was an underground hit. Rawkus signed them, and then Funcrusher was re-released as Funcrusher Plus. Rawkus stopped promoting Co Flow after Funcrusher became a hit. Even on their best of album released a couple of years ago, no Co Flow.
Speaking of rap battles, Co Flow has one of my all time favorite dis records, Linda Tripp! El-P dissing Sole from Anticon. Classic! Taping Sole sounding like a little b!tch calling El-P up and saying he didn’t mean to disrespect El!
Hell no…forget them bushes bruh…
It’s funny but Jerold and I were just having this conversation regarding ad space on the site. I’ve tossed all kinds of advertisers because their product didn’t fit what this site is all about. It’s not a racist statement in saying that Playboy or even Crown Royal undermines the past, present and future of TSF.
If you are reading…come with something Black owned and I’m down. This is the Negro Leagues and Willie Mays stays here.
I’m not saying all your advertisers need to be Black. I’m simply suggesting that we all look at where the greatest value in what we do is derived — and whether or not the folks who generate the most value also derive the most value.
It may very well be that high-value non-Black advertisers can and will support your mission without impinging on your larger aims. No need to turn them away.
I was definitely surprised to hear that Donte Stallworth received thirty days for his DUI case that resulted in the death of a pedestrian…
30 days? And he doesn’t have to even serve the whole thirty…he could be out before July 4th…
If this was a black QB, I guess this would be a MUCH BIGGER STORY… and it didn’t involve allegations of dogfighting…just a human being..
Stallworth’s contrition and no previous arrests were viewed by the judge as a reason to give Stallworth the benefit of the doubt….Wait a minute? Vick was contrite and had no previous run-ins with the law? What gives?
Associated Press’ depiction:
…. “Stallworth had faced 15 years in prison for his DUI manslaughter conviction. After his release from jail, he must serve two years of house arrest and spend eight years on probation. The house arrest provisions will allow him to resume his football career, his attorney said.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is reviewing the matter for possible disciplinary action. Stallworth could face suspension without pay for some games this year…..”
….”Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle echoed Lyons in citing Stallworth’s lack of previous criminal record, cooperation and willingness to accept responsibility as factors in the plea deal. Rundle also said the Reyes family — particularly the victim’s 15-year-old daughter — wanted the case resolved to avoid any more pain….”
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/200407-donte-stallworth-vs-mike-vick-its-better-to-kill-people-than-dogs
Stallworth is a multi-million dollar WR and is well-known, but it seems that Roger Goddell has no problem taking black QBs off the field even before he pleads guilty.
In just this offseason:
1. Santonio Holmes was charged with marijuana possession on October 23rd, yet Goddell allowed him to play through the season and caught the winning pass in the Super Bowl. I am happy to see Holmes get his legal situation straightened out, but the inconsistency in punishment is very glaring. And Holmes had been in trouble before! Why didn’t Goddell PRE-EMPTIVELY take Holmes ‘off the field’ immediately–like Goodell did Vick?
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_629071.html
2. Matt Jones
3. Plaxico Burress
4. Brandon Marshall
5. Dontae Stallworth
6. Marvin Harrison… I like Marvin as a player, but what happened to his case? Why isn’t he subject to the NFL conduct policy that Goodell liberally applies? Should have Marvin been taken off the field prior to the 2008 season?
I promised something to Chuck that I would not devalue the integrity of my voice. When I say Black owned I mean what you allude to earlier. Someone who has the best interests of the Black community in mind. If not, then something genuine. No behind the scenes bs. I can’t deal.
Patrick:
Just as a point of information, Santonio Holmes was suspended by the Steelers for the game against the New York Giants. That’s why he wasn’t suspended by Goodell.
Perhaps the real distinction in the Vick case is the federal aspect.
No one else on this list is really looking at serving a day in a federal institution. Maybe that’s the dividing line in this instance. I doubt that the issue is Git Them Nigra QBs Off tha Field. I could go into more detail, but time does not permit.
In regards to the expansion of the Rooney rule to general mangers and senior personnel, I think its overdue…
However, there are still owners who will find a way around the Rooney rule. One example is Detroit a few years back with the hiring of one of the all-time failures as a general manager, Matt Millen… The Lions finally fired him and hired a black man to take over…
Some critics try to minimize the Rooney rule and say it is racist, but its not about quotas or denying qualified/unqualified whites but increasing the diversity of the pool of candidates. Mr. Rooney, owner of the Steelers has been a strong proponent and his persistence has paid off when he hired Mike Tomlin, an unknown, but qualified coach to take over the Steelers and won a championship in only his second year. And two of the last three coaches have won Super Bowls (i.e. Tomlin, Dungy)…
“mos def’s alright but whats up with his leather suits? I seen him on stage singing and doing rock covers …”
Blackfolk’ll jump in the bush if there’s some pussy behind it… (or maybe that’s just me!)
Maybe Chuck was looking to re-sign with Def Jam when he made the ridiculous and irresponsible statement that Jay Z is the GOAT. Chuck be inching toward Flava of Love status saying foolishness like that. “Total game” my ass. There’s no way to qualify such a statement. Too much talent and authenticity and true hip hop artistry out in these streets, none of which is in Jay-Z’s possession.
And I hear what ya saying T3, we need Black-interested people deveoping, promoting, and distributing the music. But in my view they can’t be the same Black-interested people producing the music. Mos Def is an artist. Someone like Russell Simmons or Sean Combs is a businessman. It’s a completely different set of skills tou need to be successful in either genre.
LOL LP!!
ROTFLMBAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patrick:
Just to amplify your point about the Rooney Rule’s expansion, if Tomlin had actually LOST, two of the past two Super Bowl GM’s would be Black (NY Giants and Arizona).
I wonder if Martin Mayhew just walked into Elgin Baylor’s Version of Hell. He has the job and he has a new QB, but is he going to have the latitude to build a winner? The Lions have been as averse to winning as can be imagined.
LP:
Totally agree about the Separation of Labor. Gotta have specialists do their thing with the help and guidance of generalists who see the big picture.
Hip Hop also needs to follow the structure of sports to regain it’s relevance in the community.
MT: Speaking of Jay-Z, he made an appearance on Monday Night football last season. That’s something that was unheard of in Hip Hop. Speak about the mainstream power of Hip Hop–translating to franchise minority ownership–through the likes of Usher, Nelly and of course Jay-Z.
Chuck D: I think anything that Jay-Z does widens the roads of availability for anyone who is smart to say wow, I can do this. Jay-Z is actually a pioneer. He realizes he can’t have everything for himself, but he makes inroads so even I can drive my vehicle down the path he’s blazed. I’m proud of what he’s accomplished–touring and other avenues–to get to that level.
I think he’s the greatest MC of all time.
MT: Wow! Big statement–especially coming from someone like you. Really?
Chuck D: He is the greatest of all time because he recognized the embodiment of everything involved–legends before him–and put his game on an entirely different level of anyone past or present. Jay-Z is the embodiment of Kool Mo Dee, Rakim, KRS1, Pac, Biggie and anyone else that has ever been on the mic. Similar to Jordan, he was the right dude at the right time. He just didn’t sit on his talent. He sought other aspects of business to conquer. It’s not just about how much fame on top of fame you can get. He’s special. From the outside looking in, people might say he’s stuffing himself. No, he’s widening the road for other cats to follow. Now if cats get on the road and crash their vehicles, that’s their problem. He’s added a business structure to the game that hasn’t been seen, taking Hip Hop to the board room, Madison Avenue and giving it a legitimate voice. My respect for Jay-Z went to a higher level when he did the Hard Knock Life Tour in 1999–performing after DMX! Making records and having skill is cool, but when you can take it to the stage and give the fans a great show, I’m tipping my hat to you. When I saw him doing that every night–going on after DMX is very difficult–I knew he was the one. I’m not saying at all that he was beating out DMX, but he held the fort down.
A lot of people don’t agree with me, but I’ve been there, so I know what kind of effort you have to give across the board. He’s phenomenal. When cats were calling Biggie the greatest of all time, I had problems with that. He came in and put out 1 1/2 records and people were judging him unfairly. There was no way he was the best.
The most feared rapper of all time was KRS1. No one wanted to rap around the dude.
Jay-Z is Jordan. KRS1 is Bill Russell–swatting everything in his path. LL Cool J is Abdul-Jabbar for longevity. Kool Moe Dee and I play this game of comparing athletes to rappers. His list would definitely be different than mine.
MT: Who would be Doc?
Chuck D: Kool Moe Dee. Like Doc, Mo Dee came out the box already on a high level. He instituted the highlight reel dunk into the rap game.
I love the sports analogies in this one.
KRS-ONE always seems to get lost in the sauce in these discussions. You know Chuck is right because if ever there was a question of stylistic versatility + content + freestyle, KRS was/is/shall ever be on another level. I don’t get out much, but I have yet to hear his equal or his better.
I can hear Tariq right now — hollering at me about rappers and water being wet. (LOL — and dayyum!!)
I agree with Chuck with respect to the business side (from what little I know and how I am inclined to accept his positions).
Nice touch Mizzo.
I’m sayin’…I can only put something out there for you but if cats don’t read the words in the context given, you really can’t relate or even offer a logical opinion on statements as they are presented.
That’s what I’m trying to do here. There are few sites like this who give you an inside view outside of bs production.
I can offer all kinds of stats and whatever, but that’s not my job. This shit here is different. Just like I have to do my research, so shall you.
LP about that bush…
Where you at Texas? Where you at girl?
Ha ha Temple!
Yeah, I ‘ll take your word for it: I assume KRS-One’s water is wet, although I’m kinda ignorant of 80s hip-hop. I was introduced to the genre by Death Row, but to this day, I can find nothing that equates to the Wu-Tang Clan. And I know Ghostface and Rae and Meth get all the love, but the proof is in the pudding: There is no one as technically precise as GZA in my opinion.
And give a little love to Elzhi. Dude can spit.
Tariq, I’m dead on with you when it comes to the Wu. GZA is the Larry Holmes of MC’s, very underappreciated.
“Paper Plates” ended Fitty’s career as a diss rapper.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXGlHT5NSno]
Off the top of my head, Talib Kweli may be the closest we come to hearing KRS-ONE’s equal.
We may never hear better.
LOL@LP…..good stuff bruh. I concur. Chuck musta been smoking that ‘ish’ w/ Flav when he made those statements, right?
@TBR
“Off the top of my head, Talib Kweli may be the closest we come to hearing KRS-ONE’s equal.”
It would be hard to argue against that. Talib is definitely the son of KRS.
I forgot about Jay Electronica. Jay Electronica would cut Jay-Z up into little pieces and make a nice little Jay-Z potpourri for all of us to enjoy.
TBR -
I’d say J-Live is closer to KRS. Listen to his first album, “The Best Part”. It’s a classic. All kinds of styles on there.
With all due respect brothas, that shit ain’t cool.
Who has done more for the conscious of Black men in Hip Hop besides he and KRS? How many of us have been influenced by his ways, lyrics and actions? Is it his fault Hip Hop is on life support right now? Hell no. He and PE gave us a bunch of classics and arguably the best Hip Hop album of all time in Nation of Millions, so they did their part right?
I can’t let him be disrespected like that.
Nah, he ain’t a god and no one is above criticism, but take that crack smoke somewhere else when you mention Chuck.
I can care less how many radio shows I’ve been on of his or how many phone calls I get out of the blue just asking how I am doing but it can’t go down like that on TSF.
I love the both of you as my brothers but check that shit or bounce. Straight up.
Is anything sacred? If a cat who has been nothing but positive can be joked about in such an insidious fashion then what the fuck?
mizz,
With all due respect, it was just a joke, not an accusation. To put it in it’s proper perspective, it’s no different than the comment you made in another thread to Tariq about being “knocked in the head” regarding the Lakers beating a healthy Celtics squad. I think that you’re being a little too sensitive on this one.
It’s coo, but don’t compare the two. There’s simply no comparison. I can’t have that shit on here. It’s everywhere else. Sorry. Most of you were commenting without reading the interview link. How are you gonna diss a brotha who has been where none of us have in his field? We weren’t talking about some clown ass rapper with his pants hanging just over his dick. It’s that watered down now?
Mizz,
Since I respect your position of authority here (eventhough I disagree with your stance on the comparison), i’m humbly conceding to the issue. One love brotha.
Now, as for dissin’ Jay-Z….
I actually read the article when you first publicized it here on TSF.
“How are you gonna diss a brotha who has been where none of us have in his field? We weren’t talking about some clown ass rapper with his pants hanging just over his dick. It’s that watered down now?”
In one word…..”YES”
I think that if Jay-Z had come along during the “Rakim-Kane-KRS-G-Rap-Puba-Slick Rick” era, he’d be just another MC. I agree that he is fortunate to be in the right era at the right time. But just because he’s made nearly a billion dollars don’t make him the GOAT. It just means that he’s a smart-ass businessman.
Mizz
1. I never called Chuck D a crackhead, didn’t call Flava Flav one either. Perhaps you misread my comment, or perhaps your response wasn’t aimed at me. I don’t know.
2. I did, of course, read the original interview. I happen to disagree with Chuck on this one. Is that allowed? I did not express my disagreement in what you call a “logical” way, but that fact by itself does not render my argument irrelevant. Sometimes I argue with logic, sometimes I use humor or imagination. Everybody who comments here regularly knows that.
I guess you didn’t find it funny this time and I respect that. But that’s no reason to tell me to bounce, is it? Consider the source. I love Chuck as much as you do. He and KRS are as responsible of turning this boy into a Black man as anybody else was in the 80s. I’ve given Chuck love on this site and elsewhere (even told Chuck himself once when I had the pleasure of meeting him) many many times. Doesn’t mean I have to agree with everything he says, does it?
I ain’t mad at nobody. I do think the ultimatum you laid down, however, was unnecessary. But it’s your site, bro, not mine.
Peace
Poet, I hear what you are saying and I apologize for the ultimatum.
I was hot this morning when I read some of the comments. If you read my comment, I said this was not about Chuck being above criticism (that’s ridiculous), it’s just that he’s a personal friend of mine and I would defend him to the death like I would any of you. I didn’t like where the conversation was going and I had to put my foot down before it got out of hand. The anger actually helped during my interview with Boyd, so I guess stuff happens for a reason.
GN I totally agree about Jay-Z. Personally, I think he benefited from the deaths of Pac and BIG. That’s what Chuck actually said. He said he walked through the door at precisely the correct time and also said the same about Jordan.
The first interview with Chuck was on my other site before I created TSF.
Just to clarify I’m not saying anyone should not disagree with Chuck (again ridiculous) but his place in history is Nat Turner cemented.
When I asked is it that watered down now, what I meant was are we speaking of our greats like the mainstream now? What if kids read these words and say to themselves…”Chuck D smokes crack?” Of course, they should check the entire context before filing what was a joke, but I just don’t feel comfortable with something so absurd here even if it was a joke.
That’s all. My bad for taking it too far. I apologize.
LP:
You know that’s funny as all hell, right?
I’m on the floor!!
Mizz,
Sorry for the misunderstanding of your question. However, I think LP said it best as he and I probably didn’t express our disagreements in a logical way (i.e. humor, imagination, etc.). Chuck, KRS, Puba, Brother J, etc. are brothers I got mad love for and I would never intentionally disrespect them and the work they’ve done.
But I also understand your position, too. So I apologize as well.