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Friday - March 17, 2006

Ayy! It's your boy Mark My Words back at it, back at it again, thanking the high-and-mighty heavens that Flavor Flav picked Hoopz over New York. It's Friday March 17, 2006. I said it's Friiiiday y'all. Yeeeeeeeaaaaaa Booooooy! This is, this is, this is...The Friday Fire! Let's get it.

People always respected 50 Cent for never holding back on how he truly feels. He once told MTV's Sway, "I don't give a f--- about that n---- R. Kelly." Now, he's commenting on the overall state of hip-hop, especially in the South.

"A lot of the music that comes out of the South is kind of simplified and I think it's kinda 'cause they just wanna have a good time," 50 told MTV News. "They'll lower the grade of music."

I do feel 'Fif on that statement, but I think it needs clarification. In my humble opinion, there's solid Southern artists that make solid hip-hop, like of course UGK, T.I., Ludacris, Jeezy, Scarface, Slim Thug and Young Buck, to name a few. And then, there are those that sell hip-hop and we all know who they are too. The same can be said for NYC and West Coast artists too, but I think 50 pinpointed the South because let's face it...they're winning. I'm not hating at all...more power to the South, but I do think there is a lot of truth in Fif's statement. ...

50 also went on to share G-Unit's tentative release lineup: Mobb Deep's Blood Money on April 11 (may be pushed back to clear samples), with Lloyd Banks and Young Buck to follow. Can't front on them...G-Unit makes good music. The M-O-B-B should get the ball rolling aptly. ...

Busta Rhymes

I did peep Busta Rhymes' "Touch It Remix" video and the tribute he does in the beginning for his late bodyguard Israel Ramirez is poignant and really does sound sincere. However, I still feel as though if he could do that, he could speak to authorities as well. This isn't about Busta, the wild lyricist who has uniquely grabbed listeners' ears for years. No. This is about providing closure to the family and manning up to hopefully set a new wave of responsibility in hip-hop. It's as simple as that. There's a reason why murders in hip-hop don't ever get solved. No one says what they might have seen in fears of being called a rat or a snitch. What's so ironic was the video shoot was about New York unity. Having Busta with a rapping Mary J. Blige, Papoose, Lloyd Banks and DMX under one roof...yea, umm...I would call that unity and love. But, for it to end in bloodshed without any solid answers is horrible. ...

I'm still loving the fact that it was Three 6 Mafia who took home an Oscar and not a Kanye West. Say it was Kanye who won an Academy Award, with all due respect there wouldn't be anything groundbreaking about that at all. First of all, Kanye is a safe pick that makes songs with timeless titles like "Diamonds" and "Touch The Sky." In addition, most of White America embraces him, despite his comments made toward President Bush. Three 6 Mafia, on the other hand, won an Oscar for a song titled "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp" and their previous song titles include "Headbussaz" and "Sippin' On Some Syrup." Three 6 does them and there's a press room clip floating around the net, which shows just how shocked, not to mention speechless, the press was when they had to ask the Memphis-bred crew questions. I mean, really, how f---in' great is it that the press was expecting and ready to speak to Dolly Pardon and in walks Three 6 with bling and all!? Just great. ...

What do you get when you add Fabolous to D-Block: Jadakiss, Styles P, Sheek Louch and J-Hood? The Hitmen, that's what. Maan, we've all heard Fab on the "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" remix, but hearing him with the Y-O crew this time is just crazy. DJ Envy/Big Mike...that one is a monster. What I love about a cut like this is everyone goes in...and HARD. There's no weak links. That's the hip-hop we like. ...

How strong is Papoose's pimp hand right about now? As an unsigned MC, the dude has a better, more legitimate career than a lot of rappers with deals out right now. When Pap talks New York City listens and that's not an easy feat. I mean Nas is listening, we already know that by the song they did together. Not only that, but Pap is making some change too. More power to him. It's going to be a great day to write about Papoose signing with a record label. ...

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is immortalizing Tupac Shakur with a wax model. Long overdue, but a very respected move on their part. It debuts April 5. ...

I'm also digging Lupe Fiasco lyrically right now. I like that the dude stays himself. He's not trying to be one extreme or the other...he's just the Chi's own Lupe Fiasco, a cat that loves the whole skating, neat culture. I'm a fan with Kick. Push. ...

Welcome home to the kid Cassidy. We here at BS wish him the best of luck in his return to the lab. ...

So, Nick Cannon really cheated on Christina Milian!? That's funnier than any of the skits on "Wild 'N Out" could ever be. Damn, Nick. Ms. Milian, don't hesitate to say hello to your Friday full plate sometime (like after you or your people read this). Hey Nick, at least you didn't get married. If you did, this situation could have got ugly (See Below). ...

Babyface

Miss Jones from New York City's Hot 97 reported that Babyface must fork over $70 million in a divorce settlement to his ex-wife Tracey. One word, one syllable...and please join me in saying...DAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMN!!!

I understand that the former couple has two kids together, but $70 mil!? Are these kids sh--tin' out Godivas and caviar and wiping their asses with Egyptian silk!? What in the world is going on when one woman and two kids need that much money to survive? I'm sure Tracey is a lovely woman and as a matter of fact, I know. A few years ago, she along with Babyface and the fam walked in to a museum I was in. She's quite lovely and very easy on the eyes, but that's not worth $70 mil. Damn... Somewhere, though Latrell Sprewell still needs to feed the fam. ...

I have a funny story about Tami Chynn, the young beautiful R&B and reggae singer making noise right now with her song, "Hyperventilating." See Chynn is featured on Sean Paul's album, Trinity and when I interviewed him last year, I asked him about Tami, because I really loved her voice. Sean Paul echoed my sentiments and said she has a beautiful voice and also a nice fatty. HaHa. Among the many reasons why Sean Paul is the man in my book. ...

Nice interview with Marc Ecko we have here on BallerStatus.net (see "Marc Ecko: Expect The Unexpected"). Definitely peep that. Also giving props when and where it's due, I really enjoyed Allhiphop's interview with Mimi Valdes, Vibe Magazine's Editor-In-Chief. It was very insightful. I took a lot from it as a journalist myself. ...

I'd like to see a reconciliation between Cash Money's current cats, Lil' Wayne and Baby, and it's past Juvenile and B.G. I mean, Weezy -- easily the most talented from the crew -- doesn't need to reconcile as far as his career goes, but Juvenile is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 chart, so he still has power in the game. Get back together and bury the beef. ...

I repeat, Game's sophomore album will be crazy. He's a solid MC, with or without 50 Cent. ...

In closing, today is the 5-year anniversary of the date Shyne was imprisoned. We hope he's doing well. ...

As always, Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds. Peace.

— Mark Lelinwalla

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