Month: July 2005

Only days after gossip spread that Eminem was retiring, the lyricist dismissed the reports during a recent concert in Washington.
A recent article in the Detroit Free Press stated that Em was set to retire following a concert in Dublin, Ireland on September 17th. Supposedly, last year’s Encore was scheduled to be Slim’s last release as he ready to focus on production rather than rap. However, Em addressed the retirement rumors during his Anger Management 3 set at Washington’s White River Amphitheatre.
“How many of you all read the tabloids? Cause there’s some shit goin’ around that I’m retiring,” Em told the crowd.
Slim then noted that the article next to the retirement story was a piece about the moon “to blow up today.” He then added, “I’m retiring? then I guess the moon just blew up” before mooning the crowd. Em added that if he ever retired and decided to come back his new stage name would be “RainMan.”
Meanwhile, his publicist, Dennis Dennehy, denied that the Eminem had any plans to call it quits.
“Basically MTV made an inference,” Dennehy told SOHH.com. “The statement is that ‘Encore’ is the close of the first chapter of Eminem’s career. Beyond that, no decisions have been made.”

Papa Graz: taste another flavor of Detroit rap
In Detroit lives an aspiring rapper you might not have heard of yet. His name? Jason aka Papa Graz.
How Papa Graz got into rap music
You might ask yourselves how Papa Graz got into rap. Listen to what he has to say:
« Back in 1982, it was the Summer, my mom for some unexplained reason, came home one day and handed me this new tape that she said she bought for me. Now, mind you, prior to this, I had never really listened to music. I barely even at 5 knew what music was, let alone to have a “favorite” musician. I mean, at 5, that’s when your musical preferences are starting to be shaped by the people around you. So, at that point, the only music I had heard was stuff that I didn’t even know who it was. Didn’t care to ask because honestly, I didn’t like most of it (later I found out it was acts such as Bobby Vinton, Frankie Avalon, Bing Crosby, and other random 2 or 3 hit wonders who were popular for a few years in the 70’s and 80’s and then went into obscurity.
Anyway, I put the tape in and it ended up being the Fat Boys. I loved it the second I heard it. Listening to “Jellyroll” 18,000 times a day on replay (lol, or as we knew it back then “rewind”). I grew up listening to them, MC Hammer, Young MC, Run DMC, Fresh Prince, and then I moved on to Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg… »
Tupac, a major influence in Papa Graz’ life
Tupac is one of Papa Graz major musical influences:
« Then, in 1995 my life changed when I bought a little album called “All Eyez On Me” by 2pac. I knew who Pac was, and I was familiar with some of his previous work (I Get Around, Trapped, Keep Ya Head Up) but I had never bought an album. I considered myself a “casual” Pac fan, listening to him when he was on, and I liked his stuff. But when I bought his album, and I listened to it…BOOM! My life was almost instantly changed. I ate up every thing I could get my hands or ears on that had Pac’s name on it. I would have to honestly say that 70% of the way that I look at life and react to it now, is molded by the LIFES LESSONS that Pac displays in his music. As a matter of fact, I am even in the middle of reading what were known as Pac’s two favorite books ever, “The Art Of War” by Sun Tzu and “The Prince” by Niccolo Machiavelli.»
Papa Graz, the lyricist
Papa Graz attaches a great importance to the quality of his lyrics. Judge by yourself.
It is a matter of fact, Eminem is also one of Jason’s major influences…and if you like Eminem, you will probably appreciate Papa Graz’s style.
If you are used to Eminem’s music, « Vices » will bring you back to the familiar « Drug Ballad » atmosphere while Political Rant will make you feel Jason’s political engagement against Bush’s policy. He says it in a « Mosh » style, but with his own words.
Papa Graz is opened to many subjects. He talks about music, love, drugs, politics and manages to express it in a style of his own.
Sometimes, beefs are also part of his musical expression.
Papa Graz’s music
Curious to know how his music sounds like?
Listen to his track called “Beefs”.
His style is funny and offensive, instrumentally rich…Violins added to rapid beats will make you feel the intensity of the beefs. Papa G sends his bullets out through his tracks. Enjoy the track that is aimed at his enemies. Believe it, he is for real.
What is the biggest misconception about Papa Graz?
“That I’m just a wannabe. That because I’m white, or because I grew up in the burbs, just because my parents were middle-class or I didn’t grow up in the “ghetto”, I can’t rap. That’s such bullshit and I’m gonna prove it wrong. I think I’m better than a lot of rappers out today including people like The Game, 50 Cent, The Eastside Boyz, Ying Yang Twinz, Nelly, and some other cats. That’s no disrespect to them, but I just think I have better subject matter and better flow. Actually, I KNOW I have better subject matter and better flow. All I ask is that someone with some clout give me ONE CHANCE. Give me the same budget and backing as rappers like Eminem, 50 Cent, Nas, Jay Z, Kanye West or any other cat that’s at the top of the game. Give me the backing and budget that they have and everything that goes along with it, and I’ll blow up on these motherfuckers.”

Dear readers,
Listen to Alisha’s moving story. Maybe it will help you to understand how many kids in this world go through living hell and also how much Eminem’s music can be a consolation for persons who have experienced sick behaviors and abuse from their parents. The same song- Cleaning Out My Closet- that has done so much good to me for different reasons, has also been Alisha’s therapy. This true story has been published with Alisha’s permission.
Alisha is only 16 years old. However, she’s been through a lot and her life could be described as a living nightmare. Alisha even thought about suicide:
« I’ve been through heaps of shit in my life and alot of the time i’ve gone to the only option I thought, witch was to kill myself because of how my life was going. »
Coming from a dysfunctional family, she had to endure her dad’s and grandfather’s sick behavior:
« It seemed like the older i got, the more fucked up my life was getting. When i was very young, my mum used to get beaten and abused by my asshole father, and he used to also beat up my younger brother and sister and i. also when i was three yrs old i was sexually assulted by my dads dad. »
With the pervert attitude of her grandfather and the increasingly violent attitude of her dad, the situation didn’t change at all. It only went worse. Alisha was put in a foster home…until her mom eventually had the courage to leave her abusive husband- which is far from being easy and I’m talking by experience. I have been the victim of an abusive boyfriend several years ago:
« Nothing has been done about it to this day, and my 2 little sisters,they still live with him and the same fucked up thing could be happening to them. my dad is such an asshole that he won’t even let any of us see them. well anyway, when i was about four or 5 yrs old i got made ward of the sate by department of community services, i don’t if u know about that where u live but yeh i live in new south wales australia and yeh they are the people that put you into foster homes and everything. when we were put into foster homes, my mother was still with my dad, getting bashed the fuck out of, but after 10 on and off long years of taking my dads shit my mother finally had the courage to leave him. »As a consequence of Alisha’s mom’s courageous decision, the Australian government decided that she was fit to raise her daughter at this time. When she was around 10, Alisha returned to her mom’s home:
Things seemed to be quite ok for a few months until her mom met another man:
« Because my mother left my abusive father, the government saw that she was reliable enough to be put back with my mother. this was when i was about 10 years old. when we moved back into my mums house for a few months it was good, but then my mother met another man… »
Sometimes reality can be worst than an horror film. When Alisha’s mom’s new boyfriend moved into her house, the horror trip began. Confronted to her mom’s drug addiction, depression and memory loss, places in so many foster homes since she was 12, sexually abused, Alisha went to consider suicide as an option:
« The man decided to move into our home and that’s when things got worse again. See he didn’t treat my mother bad but he had no respect for us kids, and at that time i felt, most of the time a lot of resentment towards my mother because she never ever stuck up for us, that was the same when she was still with dad. but I didn’t realize that my mum was beginning to get very sick, emotionally, I mean she would deliberately make herself slip in the bathroom or fall of chars or anything just to hurt herself. she has even threatened to kill herself in front of us. and I also found out another disturbing thing, that mums new man was secretly drugging her! sometimes it would be so scary because she would wake up and not even remember her kids, I remember one night she came in my room and asked me what my name was. I told her, and she replied that’s a pretty name , who called you that. when the fact was that she named me. my mum was soon diagnosed with depression and also multiple personality syndrome. we got taken back of her and put into foster care, but this time we were separated, my brother and sister were taken somewhere else and I was left to face the world alone , too soon at only 12 years old. I got permanently placed in foster care until I was 18, but they started physically and mentally abusing me and then when I was 13 the man foster person took my on a camping trip, just me and him… and u can guess what happened, he sexually assaulted me, so on the Monday, the next day at school, I ran away from them and docs just kept placing me into other foster homes and until I was about 14 i got thrown in so many different homes, I think in about a year I was in about 10 or 11 different placements. »
Hopeless, Alisha wanted to kill herself when she suddenly discovered Eminem‘s song « Cleaning Out My Closet »:
« But then I heard the song that stopped me in my tracks, Cleaning Out My closet, by Eminem… it was the first song that i ever heard and from that day on, I was just in love Eminem! »
From now on, Alisha looked up to Eminem as an inspiration, somebody who could help her to go forward and to face up life with courage:
« I looked up to him first as an inspiration, and then there more i got to know him and the more I got to know his songs I felt truly in my heart that he actually knew me and was always standing by my side, maybe nit physically but somehow spiritually. it’s like whenever I’m at home, because I’ve got Shady’s picture and posters all over my walls, it’s like when i look at him its like he knows exactly how I feel! lets just put it this way, before I knew Eminem, I never felt safe, I would let everybody treat me like shit and wouldn’t retaliate, and I was never brave enough to speak my mind or even be myself. now that I know Eminem, I think of him like the father that i never had because i am so touched by his love for his daughter Hailie, and I feel that she is ever so lucky to be able to a father like him… »
Alisha feels like many teenagers live in unstable homes and Eminem’s music is like the greatest support she could get:
« Let me tell you from experience, alot of teenagers and in my generation today don’t have very caring mothers, let only very loving and devoted dads. »
Alisha is a very supportive fan. She knows that we Eminem fans often get judged and misunderstood for loving his music, and she is ready to stick up for Marshall as much as needed, as the true Shady soldier she actually is.
« So yeh that’s my story, now, with Eminem in my life I feel so much safer and stronger, I don’t give a fuck what people think about me and i speak my mind! I don’t give a fuck if people if i get alot of shit for loving Marshall the way that i do, and believe me u do get hated on for liking him, and like Eminem says himself sticking up 4 him is a 24/7 job, but shady is and always will be worth whatever we must do to be his loyal and true fans »
Alisha, who went across my Eminem dedicated website then gave me the greatest compliment I could get from a reader:
« I must say that i believe and respect everything you said about Eminem on your website, you also are a great inspiration to me because I would like to be writer as well. »
Thanks a lot for sharing your story Alisha. I sincerely hope that it will help more people to realize that many people can relate to Eminem’s songs and look up to him as a model. Many people (including me) have been through experiences Eminem tells us about in his song and his songs are a strong support and his voice a friendly presence in our every day life.

Old school rappers Public Enemy are merely the symbol of a political engagement against the government and a corporate America.
Public Enemy’s revolutionary and explosive lyrics have opened people’s eyes about racial discrimination and injustice in America.
Determined to fight racism and offering their audiences some powerful videos, nobody else in the black community has been more determined to fight the power.
Public Enemy: an impressing career
Public Enemy was founded in 1982 in Long Island, New York.
Chuck D’s freestyle impressed producer Rick Rubin, who is one of the founders of the Def Jam label along with Russell Simmons. That’s how Chuck D got signed on Def Jam.
Public Enemy’s debut album Yo! Bum Rush The Show was released in 1987.
Their second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, came out in 1988, followed by Fear Of A Black Planet in 1990, which was a major success.
The singles « 911 Is A Joke » and « Fight The Power » got deep into the subject of racial discrimination for people to realize the difference of treament between the black and white community in America.
In 1991, Public Enemy released another offensive and powerful CD: « Apocalypse ‘91. The Enemy Strikes Back ». It was ranked in Spin Magazine’s 20 best albums and the Rolling Stone magazine gave it four stars.
It was followed by Greatest Misses in 1992. Public Enemy’s next album, Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age, came out in 1994.
Four years later, Public Enemy released « He Got Game » which was followed by an online released album, Bring The Noise 2000 in 1999.
At this time, the group decided to leave the Def Jam label.
The same year, There’s a Poison Goin On was released.
In 2002, Public Enemy came up with the Revolverlution album.
There’s a Poison Goin On was re-released recently in 2004.
Public Enemy are currently working on a new album, Rebirth Of A Nation, that is due to release for August 2005
Group members
Chuck D
Carlton Ridenhour aka Chuck D is Public Enemy’s group leader. He is known for his lyrical skills. Chuck D graduated from Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School and then attended Adelphi University in New York.
Chuck D has changed people’s vision of rap music. He managed to make them envision it as a political power. He fought for black consciousness. Politically engaged, he co-hosts the radio show « Unfiltered » on Air America Radio.
Chuck D is also the co author of an essay Fight the Power: Rap, Race, and Reality, along with Yusuf Jah and film director Spike Lee.
Flavor Flav
William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. aka Flavor Flav was born on March the 16th, 1959 in Long Island, NYC. He was a classically trained pianist.
Attending the Adelphi University, rapping under the nickname of DJ Flavor, he met a graphic design student who was nobody else but his future partner, Chuck D.
Flavor Flav is known as the vocalist and the second rapper of Public Enemy.
Professor Griff
Professor Griff aka Richard Griffin was born on August the 1st, 1960.
He is the third member, drummer and producer of the group and also the head of S1W .
S1W, Security Of the First World, is a security organization based in Roosevelt, New York, also known as Unity Force. It is supposed to provide security at hip hop parties.
The appellation « First World » rejects the idea of black people being part of the Third World, because they were the first inhabitants of planet Earth.
Professor Griff is known for his radical Afro centric views. He has also fought European oppression against black people.
Terminator X
Terminator X aka Norman Rogers was born on August the 25th,1966.
He is the DJ in Public Enemy.
He owes his nickname to Chuck D:
“I gave him the name Terminator X, which meant that he was terminating all the nonsense, and the X symbolized the unknown, a mystery. He’s terminating all the things we think we believe, that we really don’t know about.” Chuck D
About the name « Public Enemy »
You might be curious to know why this explosive group was called Public Enemy.
Chuck D used to work at a local new York radio, WBAU. At this time, Chuck D wanted to beat one of his rival rappers who had called him out for a battle.
He decided to entitle his tape Public Enemy #1, in collaboration with Flavor Flav before the group was founded.
Innovators
Chuck D and his fellow members have been innovative in many ways.
They were the first artists to put some mp3 albums on their website, allowing people to access to their art on the internet.
Terminator X came up with new scratching techniques. Not have Public Enemy offered their public an original style, combined with good quality lyrics, they have also opened some doors for more social consciousness in America.
Controversy
Not everybody in America did appreciate Public Enemy’s engagement in the S1W movement. Because of their offensiveness, many people considered Public Enemy as a concrete menace.
Around 1990, Professor Griff was accused of anti – Semitism, because of the lyrics of Rap Attack 2. Some people implied that he held the Jews « responsible for the majority of the wickedness in the world » .
He denied what people reproached him calling those attacks against him « crazy, crazy, crazy ». In fact, he was very misunderstood in his point of view. Professor Griff was against Zionism, not against the whole Jewish community.
The FBI, who did not exactly like Public Enemy listed the group on a report called « Rap Music and Its Effects on National Security”, being convinced that they represented a real danger.
The single «Swindler’s Lust » and Professor Griff’s statements were not really in the Jewish community’s taste, so the group was condemned by the Anti Defamation League.
Rap music is the CNN of black people
Nobody expresses black rage against White America as well as the Public Enemy group. Tired of seeing Blacks treated like second zone citizens, Chuck D managed to awake black consciousness in many people’s minds. He made people realize the importance of rap music as a strong form of protest against the injustice and the inequality of treatment within the black community. Thanks to Chuck D’s strong engagement in the media, black folks would realize that it was possible to fight the power of a white corporate America.
Black militants have helped for many Blacks to regain pride and self confidence and to become active in fighting racism and social discrimination.
Never afraid to speak their mind, Chuck D and Public Enemy’s work is the work of mature men who were never afraid to tell the truth:
“I wasn’t a child when I made this record. I was 27, 28. I was ready. Whenever you push the envelope, you get disgruntled looks.” (Chuck D about his second CD)
Public Enemy’s videos are great work and also the expression of black identity and nationalism. By The Time I Get To Arizona, shows the group’s determination to fight racism by any means. Fight The Power and Shut Em Down are also worth a look
Chuck D has some sincere criticism to offer towards a government that is lead by phony leaders:
« I think governments are the cancer of civilization. »
Here you go, Chuck D!
As long as governments won’t work towards more racial equality and more justice for the underprivileged, we will have to unite and fight the power.
Download « Bring the Noise 2000 » and other tracks by Public Enemy here.
Public Enemy are the example of black men who are determined to fight for their rights. Never afraid to raise their voice nor to invade the media when needed.
Check them soldiers out here.

Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 5:49 am
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Bizarre: When The Drugs Kick In
Monday – July 11, 2005
Talithia Kelly
Bizarre: strikingly out of the ordinary as odd, extravagant, and eccentric in style or mood as defined by Webster’s dictionary.
Bizarre as defined by HHDX: crazy, deranged, lunatic or in other words just damn strange, but clever.
After years of being in the shadow of D12 and being sheltered to say the least by lead group member, Marshall Mathers a.k.a. Slim Shady a.k.a. Eminem, Bizarre has decided to take control of his own reigns. His solo debut Hannicap Circus which dropped on June 28th via Sanctuary Records showcases all sides of this strange artist and will prove he’s not just one dimensional.
What made u step out and do your own thang?
I always been a solo artist so I basically waited for a right time. I wanted to wait until the 2nd album got control.
How do your group members feel about you doing your solo thang?
They’re very supportive. They’re doing their own thang too. We all just chillin’ and doing our thang. I got Kon Artis he contributed three tracks and Marshall did a couple so their very supportive.
So is it like a group effort to help you with your solo album?
It wasn’t a group effort, but you know we stay in constant contact with each other.
Marshall and Kon Artis did some tracks who else did some tracks?
Eric Sermon did two, Mic Check did three, KMG did two and Marshall did the single and that’s about it. There are a couple of other cats up there.
I know D12 was a different sound. How would you describe the sound of your album?
It’s definitely different. A lot of story telling. It ain’t what people think. It’s story telling, heart felt songs. I don’t want people think it’s another crazy Bizarre album. I think people are going to be surprised on this album.
Do you think your album is calmer than what D12 fans are accustomed to?
It’s wild, but its me telling my story a little more. By being in a group with five guys it’s hard sometimes to express the way you want to express.
I’ve heard some of your lyrics, where do your concepts come from?
My concepts come from smoking. (laughs). My music. Whatever the music tells me.
So whatever flows is what you go with. Whatever comes out comes out.
Yea. Cause I don’t write outside the studio. I only write in the studio.
Okay, so how often is that?
I don’t know. Sometimes once a week and sometimes once a month.
So, if you don’t write outside the studio what do you do when you’re not in the studio?
Oh, I don’t write. (laughs)
What do you do?
What you mean as far as rapping?
Yea. Do you, music wise, do anything with your tracks or are you just chilling.
Oh, I’m just chilling.
Okay. Pretty much you only work in the studio.
Yeah. I only work in the studio. I’m a transformer. I ain’t no super rapper. I don’t write raps. I may have a little idea I may jot down on paper once in a while, but you know I don’t really write before I get to the studio.
So, I’m assuming that when you get to the studio that you’re in there for a while.
Uh, not really. Once the drugs kick in the rest is history.
As far as the Anger Management tour goes is it going to be you as D12 or you as Bizarre?
Both.
So you will be performing material from your album as well as D12?
Right, right. I’m going to be going on tour with Omarion too.
You’re going on tour with Omarion? When is that set for?
It starts in an hour.
Okay.
I’m just playing with you.
I was about to say. You, going on tour with Omarion that would be different. So how do you feel about your solo album?
I’m very satisfied with it. It gives people a chance to see me in a different light like they’ve never seen. I expect this album to be a word of mouth album. Once people start hearing it and listening to it they gonna go straight to somebody else. I got a crazy album. I’m trying to give people a different vibe. I really can rap.
You already have your D12 fan base are you trying to grab a broader audience?
Yea, I’m definitely got something up there for the D12 fans I don’t wanna disappoint them. I’m still myself, but I don’t want people to think I’m just one dimensional. I played that one part in the group like everybody played their position like a basketball team, but I’m doing my own thang now and I’m playing all the positions. They’re going to get a little more of me than they expected. I have a lot of guest appearances on the album Devon the Dude, Big Word Of Mouth Kas, Obie Trice, Raphael Sadiq, D12, that shit is going to be crazy. I got a rapper coming out and a rock band on my label Red Hair.
Any reason you didn’t come out on Shady records?
Well, at the time Sanctuary Records offered me my own label deal coming out with Red Hair. Instead of going to somebody else label like Shady or Jive and waiting for a long time I wanted to just knock this out while I had time. Cause you know I’m still doing the D12 thing too.
Can we expect for Bizarre to be around for a while and stand the test of time?
Yea. I’ll be here. I’m original. Ain’t nobody like me and ain’t nobody trying to be like me. I’m too vindictive to be like me cause they gonna say you biting automatically. Another fat rapper can’t come out and take his shirt off and act crazy or they gonna say he acting like Bizarre.
Is that why you chose the name Bizarre because you’re different?
Yeah, definitely. It’s 101 MCs out there. What makes me different?
Did you always want to me a rapper?
Everyday since 10th grade. I had no other dreams and goals other than being a rapper.
Apparently Bizarre has achieved his dream…he’s known as the guy with the belly and shower cap in D-12…but, now he’s out to be the ringmaster of his own Hannicap Circus.

According to a recent Detroit Free Press article, Eminem will probably quit the rap game.
It seems like the Anger Management Tour 3 will be Eminem’s last tour
Fellow fans, please take a deep breath and relax: nothing has been confirmed officially yet…
If Marshall’s decision is to quit the rap game now, he has probably very good reasons to do it.
Of course, it makes me a little bit sad and I will miss him very much, because he is really amazing on stage.
To me, Eminem is the most brilliant and amazing artist I have ever seen. He is one of the biggest influences in hip hop history.
I admire his intelligence and the way he handles his business. Thanks to him, I have become the cool and balanced person I am now.
However, the decision to quit is up to Marshall and to him alone.
As a very supportive fan of his, I am conscious that I have no right to be selfish and that I will have to accept Marshall’s decision whatever it might be.
We have to consider the fact that Marshall’s life has been rather hectic ever since the beginning of his career. He wasn’t really prepared for such a rapid ascencion to the top at the time Dr Dre signed him to his label. He has been caught in the middle of controversies and family dramas. Marshall Mathers is no Hollywood celebrity, he has earned his fame and wealth the hard way and he deserves a lot of respect for that.
Right now, Em feels like he has reached a high level of fame and he is also scared of becoming mediocre (I don’t believe he will ever be mediocre, but I understand his fear).
Regardless of the aspect mentioned above, Marshall feels like he needs a break. He needs to spend some time with Hailie and Alaina who have often been deprived of him because of us fans.
Fellow fans, I am asking you to respect Marshall’s decision, whatever it might be, because it is HIS life and he should be the only one to decide about his life, musical career and privacy.
Anyway, Eminem will still be active in producing and will keep his great passion for rap music.
Marshall, no matter what your decision will be, I will strongly support you. And if you decide to close the curtain to the Eminem Show, your music will always be present in my daily life.
Thank you for creating the words and the melodies that enchant each of my days.

Go to Jusslisten: You will be able to read my articles about Marcus Garvey, Tupac and my review of Bizarre’s album there! I am happy for that…Please share my joy:)