Beastie Boys Rap Pioneer, Adam Yauch - 'MCA' dies at age 47

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The hip hop community and fans worldwide are shocked and saddened; a rap pioneer - Adam Yauch

(better known as MCA of the legendary group -- Beastie Boys), has died at age 47. But although MCA's 'physical' is no longer perceivable, hip hop celebrates the spirit of those, like Adam, who've helped blaze its revolutionary trail through popular culture.

 

 

As [a] founding member of the Beastie Boys rap group, MCA rocked the mic with fellow group MC's - Mike D and Ad-Rock, and Mix Master Mike spinning the tables to their funky, funky hits. 

Before the group decided to express their combined art through rap music, they first chose hardcore punk as the genre of choice. In 1983, the 'B-Boys' started flirting with hip hop and expressed their new-found love like most MC's do...they released a 12 inch single:  'Cooky Puss'.

A year later, in 1984, the Beastie Boys and hip hop were married to the rap game, and their first offspring [album] was Licensed to Ill, released in 1986.

"It was the first hip hop LP to top the Billboard 200  chart. It was also Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut record to date and sold over 9 million copies." And judging from the group's worldwide impact and fanbase following, being married to hip hop has been mighty good for one of hip hop's illest group of MC's.

They were pioneers, no doubt!

"They are one of the longest lived hip hop acts worldwide and continue to enjoy commercial and critical success in 2011, more than 25 years after the release of their debut album. The group has been selected as part of the 2012 induction class into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, after being eligible since 2007."  [Source:  Wikipedia]

Adam Yauch was a true representation of what

hip hop culture was, is, and should [forever] be  --  a unifying force of loyal expression of self, for the benefit of humanity. 

In spite of his battle with a cancerous parotid salivary gland, which is the likely cause of [his] death, in his personal life, Yauch practiced and became a voice for Buddhism, and the struggle for independence of the Tibetan people, specifically. 

He was so devoted to his spiritual practice and beliefs that, in the spirit of hip hop, he put his money, and his heart, where his mouth was. "He created the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization devoted to Tibetan independence, and organized several benefit concerts to support the cause." 

RIPMCA
04.05.1964 - 05.04.2K12

                           Way to spit the ill, 

raspy rhymes!  

     "If you can feel what I'm feeling then it's a musical masterpiece. If you can hear what I'm dealing with then that's cool at least. What's running through my mind comes through in my walk. True feelings are shown from the way that I talk"  
-MCA, [Pass the Mic - 1992]

Ice Cube - 'The Don Mega' talks '21 Jump Street' and other movie biz projects

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Hip Hop MC, Rapper, Gangsta, Mack, Hustler, Baller, Street Scholar, Writer, Producer, Director, Actor, Dad...um, what else? To some he's O'Shea Jackson, and to others he's Ice Cube (or Cube); he's so large he is 'The West Coast Warlord -- The Don Mega'! 

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Lately, the homie - Ice Cube has been busy 'handlin biz' and talking about his new [movie] production projects:  '21 Jump Street', 'N.W.A.' and 'Last Friday'.

Putting rumors to rest, Cube keeps it real during an interview on BlackTree.TV about directors, cast of characters, and playing a cop. "I'll play one if they give me millions of dollars. Who wouldn't?", said Cube during the interview.

For all those "true hip hop heads" who love to dis rappers for 'crossing over' and stepping into the pop-culture limelight..."don't hate the playa, hate the game!" 

If you were offered millions of dollars to play an imaginary role, one that would provide financial security for you and your family or loved ones, your hip-hop-head-ass would be with the business like 100! Like any other 'real' dude in the game, Cube continues to put it down with major swagg sauce. 

Besides '21 Jump Street', Cube speaks on N.W.A.:

"I'm trying to get the N.W.A movie made. I want to get a good script together and find a director. The movie is gonna cover how we got together, how we broke up and what happened after that", said Cube. 

But the question that's on everybody's mind is; Will Chris Tucker make an appearance in 'Last Friday'? 

 

An added bonus, no doubt, would be seeing comedic stars Mike Epps and Kat Williams get-it-in for the grand [Friday] finale. It would also be nice to see 'Deebo' get his punk-bully-ass knocked out again, too.

STAY TUNED! 

Ice Cube 

The Don Mega 

West Coast Warlord

with

'Pyroclastic' Flow

"Gangsta to us didn't have anything to do with Al Capone and stuff like that. It's just about living your life the way you want to live it. And you're not going to let nothing stop you."  - Ice Cube

Catch '21 Jump Street' Friday, March 16, 2K12

Nicki Minaj: All 'Game' or Insane at 2012 Grammy Awards?

What was expected to be an emotional night of celebration for outstanding achievement(s) in music, and remembrance in tribute to legendary music and entertainment industry icon - Whitney Houston (the queen of pop), this year's 2012 Grammy Awards show was, as many described, "distastefully stained" by [the] controversial and shocking performance of 'Roman Holiday', by female rap star - Nicki Minaj (aka: Barbie, Martha, and Roman).

Well known for her 'out-of-the-box', ultra-bizarre, flamboyant, highly provocative, and unorthodox style of [rap and entertainment] flow, many fans, award show attendees, and especially religious followers, were straight-up offended by the rappers untimely and perplexing display of "art". 

No doubt, if Nicki's "Madonna-esque" premeditated 'game' was to piss-off the Catholic Church or garner more fame, fortune, attention and hyped-up buzz for her "brand", she definitely did that...and some! 

So what did or will Nicki Minaj (or any of her alter-ego's) gain by taking a page out of Madonna's book of controversial performances? Obviously, she captured, although negatively, the attention and horror of thousands, if not millions, of viewers. 

But will this sort of publicity increase [her] record sales and fan-base or turn people off? 

We've witnessed many instances where controversy sells, but do consumer's, in the long run, support this sort of perceived "demonic" approach to free speech and artistic expression? 

Although controversy, as well as sex, sells products - satanic controversy may not be the best approach to retaining and, moreover, increasing a fan-base. 
Unless Nicki is suddenly interested in attracting those in society who delve in the dark side of spirituality, in exchange for those [fans] who are opposed to it, she might consider explaining the situation with her own words -- if that will help any. 

She did, in fact, explain her performance and related issues to 102.7 KIIS FM radio show host - Ryan Seacrest the day following her Grammy performance (click here to listen to full radio interview).

Outraged critics described the rappers performance as "terribly shocking", "hideous", "grotesque", "disrespectful", "insulting", "offensive", "highly satanic", "like Frankenstein", "hellish", "untimely", "sad", "inappropriate", and so on. While many upset viewers and critics question the appropriateness of her "train wreck" performance, especially considering the shocking news of Whitney Houston's sudden death the night before the Grammy's, religious practitioners, among others, wasted no time dissing Nicki and those responsible for scheduling her performance. 

"None of this was by accident, and all of it was approved by The Recording Academy, which puts on the Grammy's. Whether Minaj is possessed is surely an open question, but what is not in doubt is the irresponsibility of The Recording Academy. Never would they allow an artist to insult Judaism or Islam."

While many have taken offense to Minaj's performance, the controversial rapper suggests that her loyal fans, and those who follow the evolution of her alter egos, get where she's coming from and therefore understood the, arguably tasteless, metaphoric message demonstrated in her 'Exorcism of Roman' performance. 

Call it 'game', demonic possession, or just plain insane, Nicki Minaj and Grammy Award show shot-callers may have succeeded, intentionally or not, in casting a dark shadow over a musical moment in history (that should have highlighted the beautiful tribute to Whitney Houston by R&B vocalist - Jennifer Hudson), but the love and admiration for Miss Whitney Houston will shine far beyond this gross misstep of unfortunate, untimely and distasteful circumstances. 

As for Miss Nicki Minaj (the female Weezee) - don't let smooth taste and alter egos fool you. Although she may rub some people the wrong way, she's gettin' her [self] pimpin' on. And as long as she continues to find and create ways to widen her sphere of influence and popularity, by promoting her movement, brand and style of 'hustle & flow', she remains the baddest bitch in the [rap] game...

 

 

...like, love, hate her or not -- she may not be darling, but she is Nicki Minaj!

Rapper O.G., Ice-T directs 'Art of Rap' documentary about Rhyming - to release Jan. 21, 2K12

Say what you want, say what you will, but never say O.G. rapper/actor, and [new] director, Ice-T, doesn't have swagg. From the time Ice dropped his first debut album, Rhyme Pays, in 1987 - to his current day credits - the name of the game has always been "self-pimpin". 

By his own admission, Ice never claimed to be the best or tightest rapper, or "King" of this or that. But one thing the legendary West Coast 'G' has been able to do his entire career, in part due to character influences the likes of Iceberg Slim, Schoolly D, Mac (pimp from Hawaii) and the Sugar Hill Gang, and that is:  game, hustle and grind his way to pop-cult dominance! With an established resume in both rapping and acting, Ice has added directing, as mentioned earlier, to his list of conquests.

For those who love to hate 'The Game', and the players, how many of you would trade positions with Ice-T, right now? Stop lyin', homie! Just to get next to one of his dimes (past and present), Mr. Rap Hater wouldn't hesitate to be "Ice-T", or at least his mini-me. 

Inspired by a void he recognized over the years, Ice asked 15 questions of 54 rappers regarding how 'rap' is done. He acknowledges that as many times as he's been asked various questions about rap, never once was he asked, "How do you rhyme?" 

Something from Nothing:  The Art of Rap - directed by Ice-T, is a documentary highlighting the varied distinctions and styles of rhyming, and how individual rap stars actually contemplate, plot and execute them. 

This project makes a lot of sense for Ice, rap/hip-hop music and fans; after suckin'-up game as an actor - he's been getting practically free directing lessons on the job (or on the set). Most of what the world knows about rap are its personalities and symbols of success - finally, a fresh look at how the art is crafted. 

Good lookin' out, Ice! Not everyone can spit-it, but we can all learn to appreciate the art and style of lyrical flow.

"This ain't a movie for rap haters."

"Directed by Ice-T and featuring Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, Kanye West and more comes a feature length performance documentary about Rap music. Ice-T takes us on a deeply personal journey to uncover how this music of the street has grown to dominate the world."