Month: April 2006

Who is Black Hand?
Black Hand is a label composed of the following artists: Chaz, G Real, Graph, Black Hand Chain (group) and Block Staff (group) and DJ Skrilla.
The tracks exposed on my space expose the streets of NYC in their nudity. If you like it gangsta, you will probably taste Black Hand’s sounds with delight. The artists keep it real in their words and music.
Rhythmic drum sounds, electric guitars, gun shootings in the background and lyrical bullets coming from their mouth. Gun Talk makes you travel through the hoods of New York, LA, DC, Virginia. Feel the gangsta mobsters unity. Gun talks take place everywhere: Ak’s, Mac Eleven’s…weapons are ready to shoot. Enjoy the rhythmic hood anthem and nod your head to the track.
Not Like Rick is written on a dark instrumental background mixed up with softer nostalgic sounds. Black Hand is in the game. Bullets, quick money are part of a gangster’s game. Enter into Black Hand’s world and discover a hustler’s life.
Tryna Rep introduces you into Black Hand’s lyrical passion. Monotonous on purpose, claps in the background, the track will probably please people whose passion is made of hip hop and gangsta tales.
Make It Hot is instrumentally very well handled. Beautifully cadenced by drums and vocals, the song is an invitation to swing. Square dance with them emcees of the Black Hand Gang.
Globally, the Black Hand label that proudly represents NYC, has a lot of original sounds to offer to his listeners. Check them out here.

You can look at Eminem and Kim’s divorce papers here. (PDF)

Your mind is confused and you don’t know what to do? A few days earlier, everything seemed so clear into your mind like clear water and now dark clouds seem to be hanging over you. Your feelings are mixed up, and you’re not feeling well in your mind. You probably keep asking yourself what to do in such kind of troubled situations.
First of all don’t let this stress situation invade you completely and make you feel trapped. Stop all unnecessary activities. Sit back in your chair or sofa, put some music you really like into your headphones and breathe a little while trying to relax.
When you will feel better and ways more relaxed, try to think about what caused this confusion into your mind. Try to analyze the situation.
If the problem you are facing depends on you, you must find out which of your actions will help you to minimize the problem or to get totally rid of it. Once you found a concrete solution, do not only put it into words. You must be concrete and apply to it.
In case the problem doesn’t depend on you, close the door behind you and try to isolate yourself from the external world for a few minutes. Try to clear your brain from thoughts of any kind. Just breathe deeply and meditate for a few minutes. While staying silent, try to reach your inner sanctum and ask God for the answers you need.
As strange as it might sound to non believers, God always answers our requests, regardless of what we requested. Of course, God doesn’t always answer us the way we expected him to answer. He might answer through a metaphor or through persons he puts on our roads. Sometimes, God remains silent, despite our numerous calls. Don’t feel desperate about it. Always remember that even silence is a response. Maybe not exactly what you expected, but this kind of response has a meaning too.
Don’t let emotions and confusion overwhelm your mind and affect your spirits. Many problems could be solved if we were willing to make a break and to analyze what caused so much trouble into our minds.

Black Hand from Jamaica, New York…stay tuned, folks:)

Rapper Eminem has rubbished constant rumors he is about to retire, claiming comments he made last year were misinterpreted.
The Oscar and Grammy Award-winner announced he was taking time out of his career after he was forced to pull out of his world tour to undergo treatment for sleeping pill dependency.
But he insists he is planning to concentrate on recording and producing again after announcing the end of his short-lived second marriage to Kimberley Ann Scott earlier this week.
He says, “People get it twisted when I said I’m taking a break. I never said I’m going to stop doing music. What I meant was that I’m taking a break from being the frontman and the centre of attention.”
“I want to fall back for a minute, but I never stop recording. I keep busy.”

Coming straight outta Compton, California, a young man named Curtis Young aka Hood Surgeon, notorious Dr Dre’s son is determined to keep the legacy alive.
Not only does Curtis look like a spitting image of his dad, the young man also inherited his talent. Curtis Young has a strong voice and spits with confidence on dope ass beats, representing the West Coast with pride.
Paradise starts on a beautiful Johann Sebastian Bach background. The mixture of a classical background combined with a soft chorus and Curtis’ comes up with a raw voice and a Compton hood spirit. The whole track is lead by the hand of a master. It looks like Dr Dre sings in the second hook. Well done.
The CD baby website will also allow you to get some more insight about Curtis Young’s The Autopsy mixtape.
Hood Surgeon steps into the rap game with confidence. The young man has some obvious lyrical skills that he intelligently combines with some dope ass beats. Listen to the young hip hop soldier open up your chest with an incisive scalpel. Let him introduce you into the Compton hood atmosphere. Beautifully handled, definitely West Coast dedicated, The Autopsy mixtape is really worth your interest. The CD is mixed up with some Dre and NWA samples. Instrumentally, the album is very much interesting too.
I recommend you Murder and Dead Body. Cold As Ice is also worth your interest. Catchy beats, dark bass lines and an incredibly skilled young man who shows some real talent.
The same passion that animates Andre Young is running through his son’s veins. Check out Curtis Young aka the Hood Surgeon, he will probably amaze you.

Eminem Files For Divorce; Kim Responds On Mojo In The Morning
Marshall Mathers has filed for divorce from his wife Kim just 82 days after remarrying her. In December, Eminem used Mojo In The Morning to announce to the world that the high school sweethearts planned to have an encore wedding. The reconciliation included a private wedding at Rochester’s Meadow Brook Hall. But on Wednesday morning, Marshall filed papers with the Macomb County Courthouse asking for a divorce and now Mojo In The Morning is in the center of the controversy yet again.
Kimberly Mathers called our show this morning to tell us that the divorce filing was a surprise to her: “I was hoping we could go to counseling and work things out but he sent an attorney to my house with papers and said that [Marshall] filed for divorce.” Kim also alluded to Eminem’s past drug addictions coming back to haunt him. She said that he moved out of their mansion six weeks ago and is now living in their Oakland County home. Kim confessed, “I see him doing a lot of the same things I did when I had my problem. I see exactly the same pattern that I was falling in. I was there so I’ve tried to reach out but unfortunately right now, if that’s not what he wants then there’s nothing anybody can do.”
Kim shared details of her children, saying that she agrees that Marshall should have joint custody of their daughter Hailie Jade. The divorce filing mentioned no special arrangements for Laney (Marshall’s neice) or Whitney (Kim’s daughter from a previous relationship) who lived with the couple. Marshall had legally adopted Laney and rapped about her in his recent song “When I’m Gone.” Kim said that Hailie learned about the divorce by listening to the radio station. When Mojo asked if it would be possible to get family life to get back to normal, Kim replied “I hope it doesn’t take losing everything, but right now we don’t even speak. I haven’t talked to him in over a month.” Spike reminded Kim that Eminem is a frequent listener and she could use the airwaves to reach out to him. Kim addressed Marshall directly: “I love you and I’m here for you. If you need anybody… I’m really sorry that things happened this way.”
Sara asked Kim if the marriage might have worked this time if Marshall wasn’t facing the drug abuse that she claims he is currently going through. She said, “I believe in my heart that it would have.” Mojo ended the conversation by asking Kim if she would remarry Eminem years down the road if he was clean and sober. She replied, “I never wanted to be separated. It’s not my choice, but it didn’t work out that way, I got an attorney at the door instead.”
Eminem’s response sent via e-mail: The details surrounding both my marriage and subsequent filing for divorce are private and I had hoped to keep them that way for the sake of my family. However, a few of Kim’s statements in the interview this morning need to be addressed. First, her allegations regarding my status post-rehab are both untrue and unfortunate. Second, she was aware that I was filing for divorce. We both tried to give our marriage another chance and quickly realized that a wedding doesn’t fix the underlying problems.
Mojo In The Morning respects Marshall’s privacy and we hope the situation resolves itself in a fashion that is best for his family. We also offer Marshall our airwaves should he ever wish to address unfounded rumors or set the record straight with his fans here in Detroit.

Eminem’s dysfunctional relationship with wife Kim has hit another low – he filed divorce papers Wednesday, less than three months after remarrying her.
The filing on behalf of Marshall Bruce Mathers III, Eminem’s real name, was confirmed by Eminem’s publicist, Dennis Dennehy, and two employees of the Macomb County clerk’s office. They didn’t provide their names, citing an office policy.
Dennehy had no other comment Wednesday.
The Grammy- and Oscar-winning rapper and Mathers remarried Jan. 14, a month after the couple announced they were getting back together.
Their first marriage ended after two-plus years in October 2001 in an ugly legal fight that included a custody battle over their daughter, Hailie.
Though the marital issues of most rappers wouldn’t make headlines, Eminem has used his tormented relationship with Kim, his high school sweetheart, as a source of his most popular and demented rhymes. He’s killed her off in song and assailed her with his lyrics – but that was before they got back together.
Eminem, 33, and Mathers, 30, reconciled in late 2004, and he announced in December 2005 that they would get back together.
The pair grew up in the suburbs along Eight Mile Road, Detroit’s northern border.
Last August, it was announced that Eminem had entered a hospital to undergo treatment for sleep medication dependency. A month earlier, he denied reports that he was preparing to retire from recording.
Eminem rose to pop stardom by delivering a number of best-selling CDs, deeply personal lyrics and a starring role in the 2002 film “8 Mile.”
He has won nine Grammys, including best rap album for “The Slim Shady LP,” “The Marshall Mathers LP” and “The Eminem Show.” He won an Oscar for the song “Lose Yourself” from “8 Mile.”

Many thanks to Uncle ILL for the info he accepted to share with me.

Jermaine Harbin aka Uncle ILL was born on April the 5th, 1976, in Detroit. Uncle ILL grew up in Detroit. Not only was he the witness of the early stages of Detroit hip hop, he participated largely to its first steps. Rich of 16 years of rapping experience, Uncle ILL has earned a lot of respect on the local scene. However, Jermaine Harbin deserves more recognition on a nationwide and international scale for his numerous collaborations and very original and diverse work.
Largely influenced by Ice T’ movie Breakin’, Uncle ILL started rapping at the age of 12.
How does he sound?
In fact, it is quite difficult to define Uncle ILL’s music. Very open minded about the music, Uncle ILL found his inspiration in many different artists such as Ice T, George Clinton, NWA, Eminem, Kraftwerk, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more. With his typical grave voice, Uncle ILL talks about diverse themes from domestic disputes, fake thugs, hood life to moving to the suburbs and nosey behaviors, just to name a few themes.
Uncle ILL uses various instruments and manages to create a very dynamic and energetic sound. You could barely sit down while listening to Uncle ILL: most of his tracks are an invitation to move your body and dance to his music.
Uncle ILL is not a hardcore rapper, he nevertheless deserves the listeners’ attention for his good work.
Back in the days of early Detroit hip hop
Uncle ILL has collaborated with many local emcees on the Detroit scene. In the early stages of his career, Jermaine Harbin needed some beats. A friend of his, Fred, introduced him to Manix of Bassmint Productions.
At this time Manix was producing beats for Champtown’s album, Crazy Home escapist & Check It, an album on which Uncle ILL is featured.
This is also how two young men known as Marshall Mathers aka Eminem and Dan Carlisle aka Mc Hush crossed his road.
Soon Uncle ILL and Mc Hush would unite their talents and their passion for hip hop and work together on their common Da Ruckus label.
Da Ruckus
After his collaborations with local rapper Champtown, the Detroit rapper that would actually play a major role in Uncle ILL’s collaborations is another veteran on the local scene: Dan Carlisle aka Mc Hush.
Both rappers decided to unite their talents and their passion for hip hop and created the legendary label known as Da Ruckus that is mentioned in Eminem’s Stan song.
In 1997, Da Ruckus released an album independently, Quiet As Kept.
Federation Records decided to invest in the Da Ruckus label and the following year, the label would release an EP Da Ruckus Episode 1.
150 Emcees is an example of the beautifully well handled songs from the Episode 1 EP. Da Ruckus Episode 1 is rich of many interesting Detroit collaborations including Eminem, Swifty of D12, Miz Korona, Mad Chemist.
Two singles, « We Shine » in collaboration with Eminem and « We Came Here To Party » in collaboration with Dale, would be released in 1998.
In his Metro Times review of Da Ruckus, Hobey Echlin says about Epidode 1: « Episode1 isn’t just tight, it’s a pretty accurate depiction of a day in the strife. »
You will be able to listen to snippets of Epidode 1 here.
One of Da Ruckus’ main goals was to struggle for more recognition on a national scale. Da Ruckus’ musical style is dark and close to a definitely Esham inspired horror core.
Solo career and collaboration with Mad Chemist
After a while, Hush and Uncle ILL decided to both concentrate on their solo careers.
Uncle ILL started collaborating with Mad Chemist on his solo album Ya’ll Know, that was released in 2001. Mad Chemist produced Y’all Know.
You will be able to listen to some tracks of Uncle ILL’s album here.
I particularly recommend you Cho, Who’s Ya Uncle, Stress and Sunday. Uncle ILL’s CD is full of interesting Detroit collaborations, including Mad Chemisy, Mc Hush and Miz Corona. I’d call it a Detroit underground classic that is definitely worth your interest.
A rich career that is far from ending
Besides his numerous collaborations with fellow emcees,the commercials he did for various companies like Wireless Toyz, Uncle ILL also created his own clothing line Uncle ILL Gear.
Moreover, the talented and dynamic Uncle ILL never gave up his passion for rap: he is still active in making his original music. On November the 15th, 2005, he released a brand new CD, Undisputed (1996-2006), which can be considered as an anthology of his work and collaborations.
Uncle ILL has made a video for his Keep On song that can be found on his my space account.
Uncle ILL is a skilled emcee of experience. Co founder of the Da Ruckus label, Detroiters already consider him as a local hip hop legend. Check out the talented artist who is definitely worth your attention.

-Some of you might not know it, but Detroit legend Uncle ILL asked me to be his publicist a few months ago, so I am trying to get him more exposure, also on the Eminem blog…I’d be happy if you all discovered more of the incredible artist he actually is…
-Jason Crane, the Canadian writer, whose book Nucleus Metropolis I have reviewed a while ago, sent me another novel of his…I will be working on a review soon…
-Curtis Young, Dr Dre’s son, is determined to keep the legacy alive and is currently working on a mixtape. I will try to review a few tracks for you…
So stay tuned, folks, there are lots of interesting themes to come:)