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ALLHIPHOP.COM BIG DADDY KANE VS RAKIM 1988

THIS POST IS FROM ALLHIPHOP.COM
I found this article to be the type of shit that really interests me..2 of the best mc's to do it of all time! Read what other legends had to say..

Allhiphop.com
By Martin A. Berrios

You can't know where you are going if you don't know where you have been. Overused cliché or not; this statement holds insurmountable weight in regards to Rap music. Think not? Think again. You have the batch of your new school artists that swear they are bringing something new to the table but it's all been said and done before.

The being heavily draped in chains a la Mr. T game, talk to Slick Rick. Selling millions on your debut album as a teenager is peace but LL Cool J did that when the money wasn't even there like that. Your record is number one on the video countdown show? Try being number one when the networks weren’t even featuring any people of color.

Look no further than the throwback gear everyone is wearing now. We say all of that to say this: the past will always dictate Hip-Hop’s future. And there is no better time than to pay tribute to the old school than on this twentieth anniversary of 1988.

1988 was an incredible time for Hip-Hop. As fans, we were spoiled with classic after classic. In the last eleven months, AllHipHop.com revisited these seminal albums with our Class Of ’88 series. We took a track by track look at It Takes A Nation Of Millions, Paid In Full, Strictly Business, Tougher Than Leather, Power, Lyte As A Rock, In Control Volume 1, took it to the R&B side with Guy and had KRS-ONE speak on those times socially.

But with those impeccable LPs came impeccable MC’s. At the top you had Big Daddy Kane and Rakim. The Brooklyn Knight of rappers had the flair and overlapping rhyme schemes that begot Jay-Z. Representing The Nation Of The Gods And The Earths, Rakim singlehandedly changed way Hip-Hop rapped and gave birth to Nas.

To say who the better rapper through their entire careers was would be futile, as both artists had too many triumphs to count. But as a closer to the Class Of ’88 series, we asked all those involved with the aforementioned classic albums who was iller during 1988, Kane or Rakim. We could have asked any jamoke but those that were asked were rocking alongside both of them, so who better to give an on site analysis? Yeah we know; you don’t have thank us.

Chuck D.: Rakim and KRS-ONE changed the game of rhyme, with their phrasing. They introduced a style of rhyme that changed Rap forever. Ra’ is truly the God rapper and KRS-ONE is the most feared rapper of all time. The most skilled rapper of all time, I think is Big Daddy Kane. That’s only because Big Daddy Kane could deliver on speeds. Its one thing to rap fast but it’s another thing is to rap on something fast and Kane can do it fast, slow, powerful and dance. Sh*t, he can do it all [laughs].

With choosing Rakim or Big Daddy Kane, there is a difference between being evolutionary and being revolutionary. Rakim is revolutionary; he invented something that wasn’t there before, same thing with KRS-ONE. Kane took what was there and did it better, same thing with Jay-Z. Big Daddy Kane and Jay-Z are evolutionary. Rakim, Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel, KRS-ONE; they are revolutionary. They did something that wasn’t done before.

Ice T.: I’m going to say this because I’m really split. Kane and I became really close friends out the gate and I never really heard anyone rap like Kane as fast as he did. But when I made my first record all I heard in Harlem was Rakim. Every car was playing Rakim and I looked at these n****s like who the f*** is Eric B.? So damn, s**t, I think actually Rakim.

I think Rakim to me but at the same I think Kane’s power came later. I think Rakim was earlier. I think they have an equal amount of power, I just think to me coming from L.A. and walking through Harlem making an album, and hearing his record blasting I was hearing “I came in the door” out of every single car, it blew my mind. Like okay, I can dig it.

DMC: Big Daddy Kane; the reason why I say Big Daddy Kane was Rakim had good records. But everything that Kane said was dope. He was a more of a reflection of everyone while Rakim was the God. Rakim was the great know it all that you climb the mountain you go speak to get specific knowledge. Kane was sexy. Kane was street. Kane was funny. Kane was Rap. Rakim was the epitome.

Rakim was The Bible but Daddy Kane was the word; the gospel. Rakim was specific, while Daddy Kane was everything. Lyrically Kane was better. Rakim wasn’t funny. I got to give it to Daddy Kane man. But you know who’s better than both of them? Chuck D., he had the voice and the flows!

MC Lyte: It’s all according to how you look at it in terms lyrical content they were both monsters. However in ‘88 a new regime had come in and Kane was part of that new regime. If you are talking about that year it would be Kane. If you are talking about overall, I don’t think a decision can made between the two.

Both are grand at what they do however I remember being moved in the crowd, and clapping to this with Rakim much earlier. If you are going to talk about that moment in time, Kane was killing it. He was more real to me than anything else.

Erick Sermon: I’m biased on that. Throughout all my interviews I’ve always said the reason why I rap is because of Rakim. I can’t answer that question even though Kane immaculately dope on the microphone but Rakim is why I rap.

Parrish Smith: That’s impossible to choose [laughs]. I’m not one of these artists to yell out any name on the phone. I’m looking at “Make Them Clap To This,” and then I go to Kane with “Raw;” that’s hard! That’s not an easy one.

We always went on before Big Daddy Kane, we was in Joe Louis Arena it was sold out. We thought one night we could get him and we can have Kane perform us. We asked Kane what he thought and he said “Ya’ll think ya’ll ready, okay go ahead.” So Kane went on before us.

He came out in a hot tub bubble bath and Scoob and Scrap was on their game not missing a step. He made it very hard for us to get down. So we went after Kane and after the show and we were like we are going back to performing before you. That’s the type of presence Kane had on the stage.

But with Rakim song wise, it was a different ball game. So performance wise you got to bring KRS in. Stage wise KRS gets the trophy. With the lyrics between Kane and Rakim it’s a dead heat. With the stage performance KRS ONE no questions asked.

Marley Marl: Those are my two favorite rappers for that point. I think back then Kane had the edge. Rakim was dope but since I worked with both of them I could tell that Kane had a little edge on him; content wise and everything. Rakim was sick representing for the Gods, with his lyrical content was deep; a little deeper than the average rapper.

But if you weren’t into that; you would get lost. If you weren’t a 5 Percenter – I know what he was talking about because I grew up with 5 Percenters, I already knew the lingo he was using; he was preaching Islam. But if you weren’t into it, you could miss it. He had the ill flow. But Kane changed Rap, Rakim didn’t.

“Raw” changed Rap. Before “Raw” there were no records going that fast. That’s what made Rakim want to rhyme fast! I know I pulled the switch on the golden era to make Rap change. I know what song caused the change.

“Raw” was that song, after that Rap changed. Everybody wanted to go fast, started rhyming fast, started putting noises in their records. It’s just that Juice Crew had it hard; Juice Crew had too many haters because they were so great. So they not going to give the Juice Crew their full props like they supposed to. For sure Kane changed Rap.

Eric B.: Rakim is my business partner and Kane is like my brother. What I’m saying is at the end of the day, Kane had a different style than Rakim. It’s like saying who you prefer, Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson. Both are dangerous at what they do. I never compared them because it was two different avenues that they were going down.

Kane would come with an aggressive strong then smooth operator style. Rakim was strong and aggressive but coming with a street vibe and teaching of Islam, even though Kane threw stuff in there too but it went over people’s heads. It was two different styles.

Until people started talking about it, I never thought about it. We were never in direct competition until people started talking. Then they were saying Kane made a record, then they were saying Rakim made a record. I’m like what record was that? I’m still trying to figure out where I was at? A lot of people say that Kane and Rakim had a beef but the truth is my father used to be at Kane’s house and hang out with his father. I would go to Queens and pass by Kane’s house. My brother was a road manager for Kane too.

If they had battled or been in a cipher together I think people would have still been split in that decision. People that like Kane like Kane. People that like Rakim like Rakim and they not going to change.

It would have been a stalemate. Both of them are dangerous at any time. It’s not like I’m trying to avoid the question, but what I feel from being around both of these dudes are dangerous at any time with a microphone in their hand. I’ve seen Kane rap off the top of the head and keep going and Rakim just has rhymes he forgot about. The original “My Melody” was dam near an hour long. We had to cut it down because it so long.

Big Daddy Kane: Um well what would be the best way to put it? It would be like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson in his prime. I think it would be the type where you are dealing with that one professional that is great at one thing he does versus a technician who knows many different styles and has a whole lot of different skills.

Craig G.: I would only say Kane because Kane touched different areas. As far as straight spitting, I got to give it to Rakim because “Lyrics Of Fury.” But Kane was smart enough to know that rapping wasn’t the only thing as far as being an MC.

As far as charisma and swagger and what have you so I have to give it to Kane in that regard. But me being the type of rapper I am, I would say Rakim for the pure force of spitting. But Kane had that too, but Kane can take you somewhere else as far as different moods. That’s a well rounded MC to me.

Teddy Riley: Rakim is the most skillful rapper of all time. I think that back then he was the best. It was Rakim.

Ice Cube: Dam back in 1988, I would have to put my money on Kane. I feel Rakim was the God MC, but I felt Kane was at that time was more like a battleship as far as an MC. Man that’s a hard one, but I’m going to have to give it to Kane. Kane’s metaphors to me were very clever. Rakim’s metaphors were very visual. Rakim’s rhymes made you feel like you going across the universe. Like you were riding a camel across the desert, and you see a prism in the middle of the desert. It had this wide scope.

Big Daddy Kane was more like you didn’t want to battle him. Both of them are great emcees but it’s hard to compare. It’s like comparing Joe Louis to Muhammad Ali; both of them were great for what they were there for. Big Daddy Kane’s stuff felt like jumping out of a Cadillac, his thing had a more pimp flair to it. I have to give it to Kane.

D-Nice: Dam. I’m so biased with it because Kane is my man. I don’t know man. I’m rolling with Kane. I’m a Rakim fan but Ra’ made you think but Kane made you feel like oh sh*t did he just say that? Paid In Full was crazy, but how many songs did Ra’ rhyme on with that album [laughs]?

Kane was the entire package. I’m sure a lot of people went with Ra’ but I just looked at it differently because in 1988 I sang along with Kane. I was with Kane when he wrote the lyrics to “Ain’t No Half Stepping” on the train to Brooklyn; his stage presence too. I’m going by everything; Kane on the stage was a beast! He wasn’t afraid to dance and it was still hard Hip-Hop. I’m rolling with Kane.

KRS-ONE: Kane because Rakim has laid down some of the greatest lyrics of our day but Kane is an MC’s MC. You’re not going to get Rakim dropping the mic and picking it up and tipping his hat to audience. You’re not going to get Scoob and Scrap. That’s the one thing with Kane is where I do that Reggae sh*t, Kane will do that dancing sh*t. So when I think of an MC, I think of The Furious Five. I don’t think just of your rhymes, I think of your whole showmanship. Your outfit, what you put on, how you delivered your show, how you interact with your DJ.

Real skill and real talent as an MC, there has to be historical moments where you had to show your skill and there have to be witnesses to your skill. Now I have witnessed Kane’s skill. Now Rakim is my n**** from day one, I’ll take a bullet for that n**** no doubt, that’s my dude. But Kane I’ve watched rip sh*t, I’ve watched Rakim rip sh*t too; I’ve even joined him in ripping of sh*t but I watched Kane. Like here’s a good example, Rakim is a humble man. Kane is humble like KRS is humble [laughing].

Like if told Kane yo, your sh*t sucked last night and we have a show tonight, Kane is going to try to take me out! That’s what I respect that sh*t, warrior to warrior. He don’t give a f***. Like with Rakim, I don’t see him in that category. I don’t see him trying to upstage a n****. Rakim is more about f*** this rhyme sh*t, I’m going to put a bullet in you.

So I would say Kane, but I think the list is biased. One thing I was pitching to B.E.T. the other day was that they should have an unlistible list. There should be a list of people that could never be on a list. This gives some air to the whole idea to who was the best in a certain era. In ’88 KRS-ONE was clearly the best MC, straight up and down I’m not f***ing with it, that’s it. But if you leave me out, I would be on the unlistable list in 88, why do I say that because in ’88 I was battling and nobody else in that category was battling.

I was battling six, seven MC’s at the same time, and ripping shows and putting my albums out and had the Stop The Violence movement rocking at the same time. So I don’t put myself in that category. So when I enter that equation, the standards go up because you can’t call yourself an MC and have a wack show. You might be a dope MC, or a dope rapper on a certain level but when you put people like KRS in the equation, Kane in the equation, you put Busta in the equation, you know even people like DMC in to be honest with you over RUN; when you put them in the equation the sh*t changes dramatically!

You heard from the greats. Now Give us your opinion

EARLY MORNING INSPIRATION

Happy Holidays to you and yours first off..
As I'm trying to wind down after a real crazy month...I've been doing some light touches on some new tracks as the 2008 catalog gets professionally mixed. The film I was involved in Jack & Jules will showcase January 23, 2009 in New York City. I will be flying back to attend the screening as well as most probably performing. We are working on that right now. If that all goes down, I will debut brand new exclusive tracks off my upcoming album never heard live before.

Tuesday AM: As I whipped thru the early morning L.A. mist in the caddy, I bypassed my usual solo catalog to listen to some alternative lyrically stimulating hip-hop. I don't have time now a days to search out and find new talent that's making the cut, so I relied on past reputation and came up with GZA's "Protools". I let the CD bang out the system, windows up, leather goose zipped, cold like a New York winter morning, until the track "Paper Plate" came on. Up to this point the tracks have been consistently solid with good beats and lyrics so ahead of it's time you usually have to listen to them twice just to catch what The Genius is saying.

Now.."Paper Plate" has a very simple basic beat, which I believe GZA purposely chose for this diss song to 50 Cent..Because there are no real distractions..your forced to listen closely the rhymes and the seasoned delivery. So many mainstream rappers with their half ass diss records have no idea as to properly orchestrate an effective diss. He dissects 50's career down to a science..breaking down song titles, career moves, and so on..one of my favorite lines went something like "That Ye-yo your slanging, the fiends have bought it, too many cuts on it, coke heads they don't snort it" Obviously a shot to Tony Yayo of G-Unit.

I'm not like most underground mc's who hail 50 and them as a reason for hip-hop's disgrace..I feel that there are other reasons for the downfall for which I won't get into right now...I think 50 and his crew has done well in doing good hip-hop with that gangsta style as well as doing commercial joints making millions of dollars. I ain't mad at that. I'm just saying..GZA really laid down the law on this track and although a couple months old..I still think deserves proper recognition. A hip-hop diss record properly done straight up and down. I tip my yankee fitted to GZA for doing shit correctly...say word.

CLASSIC JOINT VERBAL THREAT FEAT. KOOL G RAP

A little history lesson in the world of hip-hop. Behind the scenes working on Reckless Eye-Ballin

As Reppond and I were working on The Golden Era classic album (yet to be released)..I executive produced the album talent wise. As we began to bring our vision to life..I decided the perfect fit on a collabo would be Queens legend Kool G Rap. My whole upbringing in hip-hop music centered around G-Rap as I was coming up in Queens. "Road to The Riches" and "Wanted Dead Or Alive" made a gigantic impact on me. And not surprisingly, the Kool in Kool Sphere came directly from his influence. I first used it in front of my tag name when writing graffiti then later incorporated it as my identity in the rap game.

At that point in time I was pollying with producer Bronze Nazareth from Wu-Tang right after he worked on RZA'a album. I envisioned a dark NYC styled griddy street track that would compliment the styles Kool G Rap and Verbal Threat at the same time. Once Bronze hit me with the masterpiece he was working on, I knew we had a timeless classic.

Once Reckless Eye-Ballin got mixed and mastered we arrived back from NYC working with Dj Premier on Reality Check. We knew he had a dope side A single with the beat from Preme, but were undecided on the b-side.

We kept going back and forth as to what track was going to make the cut. We were down to either Reckless Eye-Ballin with G-Rap, or Weight Watchers produced by Wu-Tang's Mathematics. (On a side note, although Reckless Eye-Ballin made the final cut, that Weight Watchers joint is seriously head bangin!)
So we ran with the Reality Check/Reckless Eye-Ballin single..Fat Beats did the distribution and we got crazy responses especially from overseas. Shortly after that we returned back to NYC to shoot the video for Reality Check and the rest was history....

Verbal Threat Featuring Kool G Rap "Reckless Eye-Ballin"

DECEMBER IS HERE 2008 COMING TO A CLOSE

What a year..nothing really monumental to recall off hand. A lot of hype, and some big disappointments but what else is new. As I look ahead at 2009, what do we have to really look forward to in hip-hop music? I would love to see respect come back to the game and a code of ethics enforced. Am I crazy?? The answer is yes I guess.

In my opinion you look at shows like TRL and RapCity all going off the air..it's a result of garbage music being forced out, and the majority of real listeners are fed up. It's apparent more than ever that corporate America is behind the scenes controlling hip-hop and not giving balance to the game as a whole. I remember tuning into Yo MTV Raps or Video Juke Box and getting the opportunity to see real hip-hop music in effect, from the real deal, underground, to commercial styles all mixed up giving balance. But now..money is being pumped into the projects like T-Pain, Lil Wayne type styles etc, leaving no room for more legitimate styles of hip-hop to get any airtime.

So what does that leave for 2009? Is there really going to be room for legit hip-hop to have a space in the game. Don't get me wrong..I know real shit is going down and getting released..I'm just talking about seeing and hearing real hip-hop on a large scale. I'd like to see a Gangstarr re-union to crack off 09 for starts..and see real producers like Dj Premier, Alchemist, Pete Rock, Large Pro, etc etc..getting some real shine and working with real mc's putting out quality work and getting some heavy airtime. We need the real cats to finally speak their minds and talk about what's really going down.

Instead of mc's speaking their minds..it seems like they're happy just to be able to have a album coming out. It's sad but true...I heard a incredible new Jada banger I'll put below that is off the meters. I personally think he should have done it solo but you gotta do what you gotta do nowadays to get the rest of the game to open their freakin ears nah mean? Well either way..peace out to 08 and raise your glass for hopefully a more substantial 09.

On a side note: Kool Sphere's "Dream's Don't Die" album is being mixed right now, and I will be meeting up with my man DJ LD from Technicali to be laying the final cuts and scratches down to make things official. Once everything is back, mixed and in place, I will decide on how I will present out previews and shit. Below is a example from the upcoming album...
Kool Sphere "All City" featuring M.C. Reppond


Have a happy Holiday if I don't get back on here and we'll see what time it is.

NYC GRAFFITI EVENT "COME IN PIECE

Come in piece and represent for a good cause. a lot of dope canvases will be up for auction including a Kool Sphere joint pictured in a previous blog down below.
As for a update on the solo project...we are in the final stages now with me recording 2 joints tomorrow in the studio in preparation of a final mix going down on the catalog. Some real classic joints laid down on some real shit.

QUICK PHOTO VIDEO CLIP

KOOL SPHERE IN JACK & JULES MOVIE TRAILER

The new trailer for Jack & Jules I appeared in. This gem will be coming out soon. I should be working with the same director on some more films in 2009. I'm in the final stages of the new solo album. I have about one more track to record this week. Then will be working with this vocalist on one of my singles to hit the hook up proper. I will be collabing with Dj LD to workin on some cuts to spice of some joints as well. I have a couple ideas for the album title that I will unvail as well..I will put up some voting options for some feedback. (you might wanna pause the music player below to hear the video)

DONATED CANVAS FOR GRAFF BENEFIT

Pieace piece..I mean peace. I've been steading puttin in work in the studio so I need a break for some down time. Fam hit me up about this X-Men crew graff benefit goin down in Bklyn...and was asked to donate something in for the cause. It'd been a minute since I got busy so I put a little something together. Spray paint and some paint markers...

Aside from the daily stresses of life..(I actually had a urge for a cigarette) I haven't smoked in a loooong time. And proud to be a non smoker. It's just crazy how that shit sneaks up on you. I grew up in a time and a place where cats relaxed by buying a quart and a pack of Newports from the corner bodega. You can't beat a iced cold quart on a hot summer NYC day boyeee. I'm reminiscing too much now. On my way out I'll hit chal with a gem from the archives.

-kool sphere "lo-profiled"

SOLO PROJECT

About to spend a full day in the studio re-recording previous joints laid out in the pre-studio. Officially got 19+ bangers that I'm narrowing down to around 10 joints to get out to industry. 2009 will be a new beginning. I may leak a snippet soon on something...we'll see. Came across some old footage of one of my idols in the game. Do the knowledge.........

BEST RAPPER ALIVE ?

Why even bother at this point in the game. Every reputable figure involved with hip-hop can agree that this has been the worst music ever coming out in hip-hop. It's a complete joke that people are even considering "best rapper alive"..has Rakim died? Kool G Rap died? Wise Intelligent?, Krs1? Nas, AZ, Ghostface, Raekwon, GZA ?? I wasn't aware all those hip-hop legends passed??. let's get a moment of silence then. Get the fuck outta here! Every year I get closer and closer to walking away from hip-hop due to the reckless management of the genre as a whole. I will have to put up a poll for the real people to vote.

BKLYN'S CHINO BYI DEBUTING BLACKBOOK GRAFFITI SHOW IN L.A.

Swing thru to support real writer's getting some shine with this classic book.

LL COOL J EXIT 13 JUST DROPPED

You know I'm going to have to co-sign my man who put Queens up on the map. It's hard to believe LL came on to the scene around 1985 and never looked back. I mean..he never lost touch and kept banging out single after single..year after year..now it's 2008 and he's still doing it. Below is a little sample for all the haters that don't think L can still bring it..LL Cool J Exit 13 in stores now!

NELLY DISSES ICE-T? ? ?

There's a little buzz going on right now about a debate I had on here in regards to the whole Ice-T / soulja Boy crap..and now it seems Nelly is weighing in on his opinion. Now yall take a watch and give your opinion on this..Like I said earlier..as I mature in this game as a artist my opinions may change..and they may not. I finally agreed that hip-hop must progress and not stand still, so we can't have that golden era music back. But at the same time..I'm completely NOT down with dissin pioneers in the game to make a point. Now to some degree I can agree with Nelly saying that it is a new day and hip-hop is constantly moving and changing with the times..I won't deny that. It is more evident than ever that this genre is geared more towards the kids who want a gimmick, a dance, a catchy hook to put on their ring tone..and there obvious reason??....they are the ones going out and buying the cd's, the mp3 downloads, the ring tones etc etc..But on some real shit..How can Nelly go at Ice like "Look in the mirror..Ice-T is old type of talk. I'll say it again and again..Ice is from a era where you had to earn your respect to get in this game. You had to come correct every time and deal with a very critical audience. And although money has a dated opinion..he's sticking up for what he believes in. And this is Integrity and Respect in hip-hop music. Which I firmly believe in as well..I also have to take into consideration the 2008 mind state of what's going on...it's a thin line..

You peep the clip and tell me what you think. All I'm sayin at this point is I'd like to make a official call out to Ice-T on what to do at this point.


Ice-T is a don, a gangsta, a certified pimp, and old school legend..now he's pimping the TV industry with a solid role on Law & Order making crazy dollars. Ice, what you need to do is follow suit with the game right now and take it to your advantage. Hip-hop is run by dudes with paper behind them. You can be the flyest rhymer on sight , but with no paper........good luck.

So Ice..I'm calling on you to do the following...........
1. Get your money together which won't be difficult..
2. Call up Dr. Dre and cop a couple tracks
3. Maybe even join forces with 50 Cent..(he's on that so called gangsta shit)
4. Get a fly video shot with Dr. Dre on production
5. Enlist some west coast dudes selling units (Dre, Snoop, The Game, Ice Cube)
And put out a record. I guarantee with that formula you'll be back in the game correctly forcing people to fall back. (and don't forget to keep Dj Evil E on the cuts!)
I'm willing to only take 15% of all sales...haha..but on some real shit that formula is possible and would do the game some good. Ice-T "Power" a real hip-hop classic.

NEW PERSPECTIVE

So after a looong well deserved weekend in Las Vegas with the fam..I'm back in effect, fresh in the flesh with a new perspective. I consider myself a hip-hop connoisseur..with old school traditions right..I was never a djay, but I followed hip-hop from the 80's to the present, always paying attention to what was going on with the groups and artists I followed.
I became the anti-rap activist playa hating commercial rappers since the mid 90's to...let's say...last week lol. And I think I finally realized that, things aren't going to change. You must adapt to what's going on and realize that you can't go back into time. I remember a interview with Nas a couple years back..saying he won't do another "Illmatic" because he's not the same person he was back then..and life is a progression..you proceed forward not in reverse...he also rapped a verse about it on his new CD "They pray please God let him spit that Uzi in the army linen
That shorty doo-wop rolling oo-wop in the park reclining" (for those that don't get it he's saying that fans from the old school are praying that he takes it back to illmatic days with lines like that off his classic CD)..but those days are gone now. It is a reality that was very difficult for me to swallow but I think I have finally come to terms with it.
Now just to clarify..
I'm not saying that real hip-hop is dead..I'm saying that the music that I loved coming up as a youth hearing it on mainstream radio will never happen again on mainstream radio. Case in point..I was driving with my girl today who is 10 years younger than me..I had Sirius satellite radio on and all of a sudden Public Enemy's NIGHT OF THE LIVING BASEHEADS comes thru and my face lit up..getting goose bumps..remembering the feeling I got hearing Kool Dj Red Alert on 98.7 Kiss FM debuting those joints! or freakin Dj Chuck Chillout on WBL kickin S rockin those live ass joints. So my girl is looking at me like I'm crazy. Like how could they play this on mainstream radio back in the days and have a audience? (trust me she knows the deal with hip-hop..just from a newer perspective)And she's right..how could they have gotten away with this? Because it was new..rebellious music. Djays on the air eager to break new records with new artists coming out from all over the place. A time where you had to step your game up lyrically..had to have a dope beat to even be considered...now today..all of those old school traditions are deader than disco.
Now any dude with a computer is a rapper/producer..watching mtv,bet,vh1 as a influence as to what hip-hop is..not realizing that what is being played is the furthest from the truth. And the cats old school and new that have the format down as to doing hip-hop correctly are completely shunned because the big video shows and FM radio don't want any part of them.
So when you hear people say things like Soulja boy ,Lil Wayne etc are killing hip-hop..they essentially are..not like they're doing this on purpose, its because they are successful at hip-POP and sell millions of records. So as a result..if you make music in hip-hop that doesn't sound like that..your assed out homey straight up and down. that was my scattered rant for today that went all over the place but I think you will get the gist of it.
Final case in point..new records that have recently dropped or about to drop..
AZ "Undeniable" and GZA "Protools"
are new CD releases that are real hip-hop real talk straight talk..instead of following the same ol' wack trends..be a trend setter and check these dudes out!@

Ksph side note: AZ proves you can do marketable music correctly flippin ill vocab keeping street cred fully intact!

KRS-1 AND SOULJA BOY DISCUSS GENERATION GAP IN HIP-HOP

Now I must say..once again KRS-1 proves that he is arguably the best rapper in hip-hop. Now when I say the best rapper in hip-hop..I'm not only referencing his classic records, classic videos, trend setting abilities, live show experties, career ending tactics, the preservation of hip-hop,..(I can go on and on) he then takes a intelligent stance towards addressing the whole Soulja Boy issue and dropping knowledge to him at the same time giving him respect as a youngster coming up. I myself feel schooled in this being that I was very negative about this type of new rap killing the game..this cat needs to be mentored on things and KRS took that stance..enjoy the clip.

NEW PIECE IN BROOKLYN AND INTERNATIONAL MIXTAPE FEATURE

kool sphere "never knew"

SHOTS FROM JACK & JULES FILM NYC

AUG 2008:
After some time off outside the booth recording..just finished working on this film in NYC called Jack & Jules. I rocked a couple joins for the soundtrack as well as playing a supporting role. It was mos def a dope experience and looking forward to be getting in more indie films as time goes on. Was able to hook up with my old school boy Snatch Cwk and KC Oner Tbc to get down on some piecing. We ended up doing a nice little collabo in Greenpoint Bklyn. I'll post up some shots when I get time. Now back to bidness..Been banging out tracks for the solo album..up to about 14 tracks pre-recorded already..I just finished another collabo with a legend on the mic for I looked up to money in the early 90's as a real mc representin the Bklyn hardcore. I'll let out more info once I'm about to release the single. So play like Daily Operation's last song and ....."Stay Tuned"....

ICE-T VS SOULJA PART 2

INFO COURTESY OF SOHH.COM

Veteran gangsta rapper Ice-T has released another video aimed at Soulja Boy in response to the Southern rapper's YouTube clip, making no apologies for starting the beef with the 17 year-old hip-hopper.

In his latest video, Ice-T explains that his original comments were made only after being asked his feelings on the state of hip-hop and on Soulja Boy.



Ice-T admits that as a rap legend he shouldn't have talked down to the teen but says he still believes Soulja Boy's music is garbage.

"Hip-Hop has to last forever and it ain't gonna last with you doing that superman bullsh*t man," Ice-T said. "That sh*t is whack, trust me." [Watch Below]

He goes on to say Soulja Boy never should've responded.

"When I dissed you, there's no ramifications you know," he said. "You can't hurt my career cause I'm caked out, there's nothing you can do to hurt me."

The beef began after Ice-T blamed Soulja Boy for being responsible for the death of hip-hop.

Soulja Boy then made his own video response questioning Ice-T's career choices.

"This n*gga Ice-T old as f*ck!" Soulja Boy said as he laughed into his web cam. "This n*gga old enough to be my great grandfather. I Wikipedia'ed this n*gga, he was born in 1958. [He] claims he's from the West Coast, n*gga you were born in New Jersey, dawg. Who is Ice-T, dawg? How you gonna make a song called ["Cop Killer"] and 35 years later your ass playing the police on TV, 'Law and Order'. This ain't no beef."

Despite the criticism from Ice-T, hip-hop megastar Kanye West spoke out on his blog in support of Soulja Boy.

"Soulja boy is fresh ass hell and is actually the true meaning of what hip hop is supposed to be," he wrote. "He came from the hood, made his own beats, made up a new saying, new sound and a new dance with one song. He had all of America rapping this summer. If that ain't hip-hop then what is? N*ggas always talk about the golden age but for a 13 year-old kid, this is the golden age!!! Keep this sh*t fresh and original.... ain't no f*ckin' rules to this sh*t and that's what real hip hop is to me."
____________________________________________________________________________________
NOW I CAN SEE SOUJA'S POSITION BEING YOUNG, BROKE, COMING UP TRYING TO GET PAID AND SUDDENLY GETTING SUCCESS..AND HATS OFF TO HIM. BUT I ALSO SEE ICE'S SIDE AS WELL WITH MORE MEANING. I DON'T THINK IT'S A ICE-T VS SOULJA BOY BEEF. IT'S A REAL HIP-HOP VS COMMERICAL POP BEEF. AND THE SAD THING IS SOUJA BOY IS CONSIDERED HIP-HOP BY THE NEWS MEDIA. I THINK THAT'S WHERE TO FRUSTRATION BEGINS. EVERYONE IN HIP-HOP MUSIC IS SCARED TO UNITE IN REGARDS TO BRINGING ACTUAL TALENT BACK TO THE GAME. ITS EITHER ONE OR TWO CATS THAT SPEAK THEIR MIND..THEN THE ISSUE QUICKLY DISAPPEARS. THEY SAY THINGS MOVE IN CYCLES..WELL I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THE LEGIT HIP-HOP CYCLE TO COME AROUND FOR A DECADE NOW! I MEAN GZA VOICED HIS OPINION LIVE ON STAGE REGARDING SOUJA BOY AND 50 CENT. BOTH 50 AND SOUJA FIRED BACK. THEN............? NOTHING. WHERE'S WU @? NOBODY HAS EACH OTHERS BACK ANYMORE. NOW WE HAVE SOUJA LAUGHING IT OFF WITH A VIDEO RESPONSE TO ICE CALLING HIM OLD AND OUTDATED ETC. WE NEED UNITY IN HIP-HOP! EVERYBODY IS TOO SCARED TO SAY SOMETHING FEARING RECORD SALES WILL BE EFFECTED. I'M SEEING TIME AND TIME AGAIN OLD SCHOOL LEGENDS GETTING DISSED BY THE YOUNGER GENERATION AND EVERYBODY'S TOO SHOOK TO SAY SOMETHING! AND NOW WE GOT KANYE CO-SIGNING SOULJA AND A INTERNET BUZZ QUESTIONING ICE-T BEING A LEGEND. ARE YOU FUCKEN KIDDING ME!??? HERE'S A LITTLE HIP-HOP 101..ICE-T IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A HIP-HOP LEGEND! TREND-SETTIN RHYME FLOWS, GANGSTA RAP STYLES,,AND THE CROSSOVER FROM RAPPING TO ACTING. GET IT TOGETHER YALL! SHIT..THIS SHIT CONTINUES I MAY HAVE TO GET UP IN THE BOOTH AND START REPRESENTIN FOR THE VETS WHO KEEP GETTIN SLEPT ON! TO BE CONTINUED!

REAL HIP-HOP -vs- HIP-POP COMMERCIAL RAP

NOW I'M SURE YALL HAVE HEARD ONE OF THE LATEST BEEFS THAT IS GETTING MEDIA COVERAGE..IT'S THE STATEMENTS MADE BY HIP-HOP VETERAN/LEGEND ICE-T AGAINST COMMERCIAL RAPPER SOULJA BOY. ICE RECENTLY WAS QUOTED IN THE MEDIA AS SAYING "FUCK SOULJA BOY EAT A DICK" WITH SOULJA RESPONDING CALLING ICE OLD AND OUTDATED. I ALSO REMEMBER THE SAME TYPE OF WORDS BEING SAID BETWEEN WU-TANG'S GZA AND SOULJA BOY EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
IN MY OPINION..SOUJA IS THE "POSTER BOY" FOR WHY HIP-HOP/RAP IS IN THE TOILET. NOW I CAN'T SPEAK ON IT TOO MUCH BEING THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY OF SOULJA'S MUSIC. BUT IN THIS DAY IN AGE WITH HIT SONGS LIKE "EY BABY EY BABY" & CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP" RUNNING THE RADIO AND VIDEO CHANNELS..YOU CAN'T HELP BUT SYMPATHIZE WITH THESE DUDES VIEWS.

MY PERSONAL OPINION IS...I FEEL HIP-HOP HAS BEEN IN NEED OF HELP IN MASS MEDIA FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. FOR SOME ODD REASON THE MORE YOU ARE TRUE TO HIP-HOP CULTURE, THE MORE MASS MEDIA WILL IGNORE YOU. NOW IN 2008, HIP-HOP IS BEING RUN BY TEENAGERS WHO DON'T WANT TO HEAR A MESSAGE OR IN DEPTH LYRICS WITH BANGIN BEATS. THEY WANT TO DANCE AND SING LYRICS WITH A GIMMICK. IT'S A DIFFERENT TIME NOW AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. WHAT I'VE BEEN HOPING FOR YEARS..IS THAT SINCE HIP-HOP MUSIC (YOU KNOW WHAT I'M NOT GOING TO USE THE TERM "HIP-HOP" BECAUSE FOR THE MOST PART HIP-HOP IS DEAD SO I'LL CALL IT RAP) SINCE "RAP MUSIC" HAS BEEN SO HORRIBLE FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, THAT THE FANS WOULD FINALLY GET SICK OF THE CRAP RAP GOING DOWN AND DEMAND THAT REAL HIP-HOP TAKE BACK OVER THE GAME. WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET..BUT WE'RE SLOWLY GETTING CLOSE.

WE HAVE RAPPERS LIKE ICE-T, GZA, AND DON'T FORGET MONIE LOVE (TAKING A STAND AGAINST YUNG JEEZY A WHILE BACK SAYING HIP-HOP IS DEAD FOR THE MOST PART) STANDING UP FOR REAL HIP-HOP MUSIC REFUSING TO TAKE THIS SHIT ANYMORE. WE NEED MORE OF THIS TO HAPPEN! GETTING THE VETERANS BACK IN THE MEDIA, AND TAKING OVER HIP-HOP AGAIN IS ESSENTIAL!

TAKE A LOOK AT THE CD COVER OF ICE-T.."POWER"! SUCH A CLASSIC. I REMEMBER WHEN IT FIRST DROPPED..ME AND MY MAN COSE WE'RE ROCKING PIECES IN BLACKBOOKS BACK THEN LISTENING TO POWER OVER AND OVER AGAIN..GETTING US AMPED UP AND RECITING THE LYRICS AS WE WERE WRITING GRAFFITI. SUCH FOND MEMORIES OF THAT CD. I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME OUT TO L.A...ME AND REPPOND(VERBAL THREAT)ROCKED A SHOW AT THE VIPER ROOM AND MET DJ EVIL E ICE-T'S DJAY (WHO IS ON THE COVER) MONEY GAVE US MAD LOVE FOR KEEPIN IT REAL AND STILL TO THIS DAY STAY IN CONTACT. THAT'S A FRIENDSHIP BUILT ON MUTUAL RESPECT FOR REAL HIP-HOP..REAL DUDES DOING REAL MUSIC.

IN CLOSING..PEACE TO THE MC'S AND DJAYS THAT REPRESENT REAL HIP-HOP STANDING UP FOR OUR CULTURE AND SPEAKING OUT!@ OBVIOUSLY NO ONE ELSE IS GOING TO DO IT SO IT MIGHT AS WELL BE THE PIONEERS. NUFF RESPECT TO ICE-T,DJ EVIL E, RHYME SYNDICATE, GZA, MONIE LOVE, AND OF COURSE THE PRESIDENT OF HIP-HOP KRS-ONE! LET'S TAKE THE GAME BACK!
-KOOL SPHERE-

NEW INTERVIEW

Interview on leaksource:
How'd you get into the game?
I got into hip-hop initially as a graffiti writer/breaker in Queens NYC. As time went by I got more into mc-ing listening to Kool DJ Red Alert on the radio buggin out on the music he rocked. Run Dmc, Kool G Rap & Polo, BDP, Big Daddy Kane had me wide open!

How'd you hook up with Reppond?
I had fam out in California...so when things would get hectic in NYC, I would fly out to Cali to get away and get my mind right. In that whole process I went to school out there and met Reppond. We actually met in the lunch room..he was walking by my table rapping out loud a Grand Puba verse and I finished the rhyme as he sat down..we both bugged out that we were both up on Brand Nubian. From then on we both started Verbal Threat and tried to get as much studio time as possible.

(kool sphere krs-1 mc reppond backstage on tour)

You still working on a Verbal Threat release?
After completing "The Golden Era" project..things didn't go as we wanted in regards to getting the album out correctly so things are on hold for the time being.

Any idea when we'll be seeing a VT release?
Not sure as of right now. In the meantime my emphasis is on my solo project and putting things together

How'd you hook up with DJ Premo and Kool G?
We did a show back in like 2003 with Pharrell from The Neptunes in Hollywood at The Viper Room and Preme was in attendance. We didn't know he was there at the time and we did a live remix of a Group Home track..after we brought the house down Premier came up and propped us on our performance. Ever since then we would run into each other from Cali and NYC and different events. Finally in between 05-06 we matched schedules up and got into the studio. The rest is Reality Check history and making a timeless classic. Working with G was a collab I wanted to have go down since the start of the album. I myself was responsible for all the collabs on The Golden Era, so with my connects I approached G-Rap on getting on the album and he was with it. I also brought Bronze Nazareth from Wu-Tang into the mix and things worked out sick.

So I heard you've been working hard on your upcoming solo album, any chance we'd be seeing more from Premo, Kool G, Wu, and others?
Yeah..right now I'm in the early stages but progressing nicely. I just finished wrapping up working on this indie film in NYC and took out time with Premier's people working out a deal for my debut solo single. I'm looking to lock that down by mid summer so all's looking good so far. I'm taking my time with putting this solo album together being the executive producer and all that so I think it's a safe assumption that I will have Bronze back in the mix and Kool G. I may have some surprise collabs as well keeping it under wraps for the time being.


As for your solo, any idea when that'll drop?
Time will tell. I'd like to get it out by the end of the year but I'm taking my time with everything without rushing..making sure that all deals go smooth staying calm, kool, and collected. The record industry is suffering right now with sales at a all time low so I'm more concentrating on the creative aspects and worrying about the business side after I get a good feel that the Cd is almost complete.

Finally, thanks a lot for your time, have you got anything to say to the fans? and shoutouts?
Thanks for all the support and dedication to what we're doing. Hip-Hop as a whole has been in a steady decline for almost a decade now with real artists getting the shaft and no talent fly by night cats getting rich off of catchy nursery rhyme jingles. It's extremely frustrating trying to stay motivated when real legitimate hip-hop is not getting the attention it deserves. Support the dudes that are really doing things correctly before this whole genre gets pimped out completely and left for dead!


A BIG shout out to DJ PREMIER who keeps it real even at his legendary status staying humble and bringing real hip-hop to the radio on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 40 Friday nights! Peace to my man M.C. Reppond and everybody that has supported Verbal Threat in our pursuit to bringing real talent back to the game!

TOOK A BREAK TO GO ROCK A PIECE

IT WAS TIME TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE STUDIO AND GET BACK TO THE FOUNDATION...MET UP WITH MY MAN DUEL RIS AND ROCKED A LIL PRODUCTION AT THIS GRAFF EVENT FOR CAP MPC...HOSTED BY ZC HOT CREW. HOPEFULLY WILL BE ROCKIN SOME MORE JOINTS THIS SUMMER.

FRESH OUT THE VT ARCHIVES

A MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND GIFT OUT THE VERBAL THREAT TREASURE CHEST....
verbal threat - b-side (un-released)

KOOL SPHERE GRAFFITI CANVAS "FRESH" FOR SALE!

THIS 18X24 INCH CANVAS HAS BEEN IN SPHERE'S PERSONAL COLLECTION SINCE IT WAS CREATED JULY 2000. (DONE WITH AIRBRUSH AND PAINT MARKER) IT IS NOW AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE ONLINE FOR $200. FREE SHIPPING SERIOUS BIDDERS CONTACT - NYSEGUYEDDIE@HOTMAIL.COM

KOOL SPHERE DEBUTS IN UPCOMING INDIE FILM!

Starring: Ruben Bansie, Sara Lauren Adler, Donald Rizzo, Tere Martinez, Vanessa Hidary, Zach McGowan, Yael Silverman, Kool Sphere, Alex Lozano
Screenplay By: David Tianga
Directed By: David Tianga
Produced By: Stefanie Walmsley and Joey Perron-Kozar
Plot Outline: "Jack & Jules" is the first installment of the 6 part short film series that follows Julian's spiritual journey around the globe. His adventures take him to Ecuador, Spain, the Philippines, and India, and like many great stories... it all begins in New York.

"Jack & Jules" follows NYC high school senior Julian Martinez as he must decide to either fulfill his immigrant mother's dream of sending him to college or follow the teachings of his hero Jack Kerouac and go ON THE ROAD to discover life for himself. With the help of his artist girlfriend Jackie, who is herself dealing with personal obstacles that she must learn to embrace, Julian hopes to find the inner strength to set out in search of his identity.

Julian Martinez is the new face of America, a first generation South American whose culture and home life directly conflict with his desire for identity in a modern American subculture. Will he venture out to forge a new road in his soul or will he quell his burning and succumb to his family's expectations along the path to college? This poignant short film explores and exposes the universality of the American Dream in all its inherent beauty-- as well as its shortcomings.
"Jack & Jules" is the first installment of the 6 part short film series that follows Julian's spiritual journey around the globe. His adventures take him to Ecuador, Spain, the Philippines, and India, and like many great stories... it all begins in New York.

"Jack & Jules" follows NYC high school senior Julian Martinez as he must decide to either fulfill his immigrant mother's dream of sending him to college or follow the teachings of his hero Jack Kerouac and go ON THE ROAD to discover life...

KOOL SPHERE CWK GRAFFITI VIDEO CLIP

KOOL SPHERE CWK DUEL STANE AND ZONE GETTIN BIZMARK OLD SCHOOL STYLE

BLOWIN THE DUST OFF SOME RELICS

HERE'S SOME MORE JOINTS OUT THE LAB THAT NEEDED TO GET DUSTED OFF

COLD CHILLIN' WITH BIG DADDY KANE

AFTER A WEEKEND OF COLD CHILLIN..KSPH IS RE-FOCUSED AND FORMULATING THE NEXT PLAN OF ATTACK IN THE STUDIO. UPDATES COMING SOON....

KOOL SPHERE / VERBAL THREAT VIDEO PROD. DJ PREMIER

QUICKLY APPROACHING 300,000 VIEWS ON YOUTUBE! IT'S FUNNY HOW REAL HIP-HOP CAN GENERATE SUM BUZZ WITH ABSOLUTELY NO PAID PROMOTION.

AINT' NO 1/2 STEPPIN

NOTHING BUT CLASSICS HAVE BEEN GETTIN BANGED OUT THE BOOTH!

RIGHT NOW KOOL SPHERE HAS BEEN WORKING LATE NIGHT SESSIONS IN THE STUDIO LAYING DOWN PRELIMINARY JOINTS.

"I PLAN ON RECORDING LIKE 30+ SONGS AND NARROWING EM DOWN BY THE TIME IT'S READY TO PUT THE ALBUM OUT."

THERE'S SOME SURPRISE PRODUCERS ALREADY GETTING INVOLVED..BUT THATS GOING TO STAY ON THE LOW FOR THE TIME BEING..BUT BEST BELIEVE - WE'RE COMIN WITH THAT REAL! -

UPDATED NEWS: "I JUST GOT BACK FROM WORKING ON A INDIE FILM TAKING PLACE IN QUEENS NYC..NEXT I SHOWED UP AND RIPPED THIS "VIOLATORS" EVENT IN MANHATTAN,..NOW I'M 100% AMPED AND BACK IN THE STUDIO JUST CONCENTRATING ON MAKING CLASSICS. I'M PUTTING IN MAD WORK RIGHT NOW..STRAIGHT UP."
kool sphere - reputation

KOOL SPHERE BEGINS NEW SOLO PROJECT

BACK IN EFFECT KOOL SPHERE
REPRESENTIN' QUEENS...
KOOL SPHERE STEPS IN THE ARENA TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME. BRINGING BACK THAT EARLY 90'S FLOW..IT'S THAT REALISM THE GAME HAS BEEN LACKING FOR SO LONG.
THIS PAGE WILL FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF THE SOLO CD IN IT'S BEGINNING STAGES....
kool sphere - pocket knives