Month: October 2007

Before this theme starts some controversy, I’d like to remind my readers that I am like the painter who draws the picture of the landscape in front of his eyes. This article is in NO WAY an encouragement for people to drink. I don’t condone drinking.I’d like to point out that I am and have always been sober!
Hailing from California, the spicy Tha Alkaholics group will allow you to explore a forbidden universe made beer sipping, weed smoking and bad partying.
The Flute Song starts with some monotonous flute notes combined with some oriental sounding soft female vocals. Rhythmic drum beats and a festive crew of emcees will invite you into their world. Your ear should be seduced by the rich musical background and the good sense of rhythm Tha Alkaholics have to offer to their listeners. Ain t nobody who can party like them, word!
Let’s delve into the partying atmosphere with no remorse. Tha Alkaholics’ spirit is contagious. Party Ya Ass Off is reach of a good flow delivery combined with a good cadenced musical background. Tha Alkaholics do carry a narcotized state of mind that is truly enhanced by a creative spirit.
Drink Wit Us is built on a harsh keyboards background that involves some collective addiction to beers. Ready to pour a 40 out? Go ahead…The Alkaholics are here to encourage you.
Bullyfoot features Busta Rhymes. The song purposely carries a scurrilous spirit. Enter a world of madness and addiction.
Thirsty about more ? Listen to Tha Alkaholics here.
Copyright2007 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

It is entitled Rare Earth B-Boy Funk…I gave it a short listen recently…if you like good quality hip hop, I highly recommend it to you.
Also, you can visit J-Ro’s my space!

Global rating: 4 stars
The lyrical bomber of the D12 crew is back on a very rhythmic, dark hammering piano background. His loud musical background draws the listener a dark environment of hatred in which his lyrical power will counterpunch anybody who would dare to attack him.
A combination of his lyrical astute construction, a sharp voice and an offensive spirit, purposely eardrum perforating violins combined with a mad rhythm will allow the listener to walk into a wicked D12 ambiance in which music and rhyme matter as much as the killer spirit that carries the music.
Swifty Mc Vay cultivates his ill tempered and offensive disposition with the same enthusiasm and gansgta spirit Ice T did years ago, with the terrific I’m a nightmare walking, psychopath talking line.
The menace of the hood is here, juggling with words with his typical verbal dexterity, bringing drama into the scene.
Often underestimated regarding his solo talent, Swifty Mc Vay deserves more recognition for his lyrical brilliance.
If you enjoyed Swifty’s Dozen song, you will probably be thirsty for more.
Listen to his Forest Fyres mixtape here.
You can also read my personal review of Forest Fyres here.
Swifty Mc Vay is a gifted emcee who has fully proven that he has some obvious individual qualities as an emcee out of D12. Give him a listen, you won’t be disappointed!
You are also invited to discover whole Fyre Department, a valuable 7 Milers crew Swifty is currently working with.
Copyright2007 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Check out the original interview transcription and the audio part here.
Be on the lookout for Bizarre’s brand new album, Blue Cheese N’ Coney Island…on October the 23rd!!!
DJ Booth: What’s goin’ on ya’ll? It’s your boy “Z,” doin’ it real big, and joining me inside the DJ Booth is a member of the Dirty Dozen that wants to make sure there is no discrimination when it comes to the creation of dance moves for overweight fellas. Please welcome Bizarre of D12 – how you doin’, my friend?
Bizarre: I’m all right, man, I’m doin’ great.
DJ Booth: The lead single off the new album is, “Fat Boy.” In the chorus, King Gordy sings, “’cause he’s a fat boy, but he’s movin’ like Beyonce.” Have you ever attempted a dance move in the club that you felt you had no business doing and it inadvertently may have hurt yourself?
Bizarre: Not in the club. Probably at home, practicing in the mirror, in front of some friends, maybe. I ain’t crazy enough to go out in the club and do it.
DJ Booth: You’ve been rockin’ the shower cap as a fashion statement for years, but it’s never really caught on as a trendy look. Out of nowhere, Soulja Boy comes along with his name written on his sunglasses in White-Out, and it’s a national craze. Bizarre, what is our world coming to?
Bizarre: Oh, man, it’s what it is, baby, it’s hip hop, and as hip hop changes every year – I think it’s a good thing. Never runnin’ out of originality. Trends and fads start, one person just starts it, and they’re not afraid to start it– next thing you know, the whole world’s doin’ it.
DJ Booth: New album is “Blue Cheese & Coney Island.” For those confused about the title selection, explain its connection to a certain Detroit delicacy.
Bizarre: Everybody in Detroit knows that Coney Island is our biggest restaurant, as far 24-hour joints, where you can go get your Coney dog at night. That just represents Detroit, and then blue cheese is the big thing in Atlanta, so basically Atlanta and Detroit is what the album is sayin’.
DJ Booth: Everyone has a special condiment they add to a favorite meal that others might find disgusting. Personally, I love ranch dressing on my pizza. What is your secret combination?
Bizarre: I like heavy mayo on all my sandwiches.
DJ Booth: You put mayo on your dogs?
Bizarre: Nah, not hot dogs, that’s one thing I don’t. [laughter]
DJ Booth: Now I know a Coney Island dog has a lot of chili on it – what about ketchup? In Chicago, where I’m from, ketchup on a hot dog is an absolute no-no.
Bizarre: In Detroit you got ketchup and mustard and onions is a must.
DJ Booth: Let’s shift gears from food to music once again. D12 has a third album on the horizon. Almost everyone I’ve spoken to, though, seems to be pretty mum on the project’s details. Can you give my audience something more than the typical, “It’s coming?”
Bizarre: It’s coming, man! [laughter]
DJ Booth: Come on, you gotta give me something better.
Bizarre: That’s all I can say, is its coming. We worked on it, we’re halfway done, we just gotta get in the studio with Marshall, put the finishing touches on it, and it should be comin’ to y’all early next year.
DJ Booth: Okay. Is there a tentative title already picked out?
Bizarre: No, not yet.
DJ Booth: Okay, is there a tentative title that you picked out that you just don’t wanna tell me?
Bizarre: No, no, we haven’t picked the title out yet.
DJ Booth: The biggest difference on the upcoming project will obviously be the absence of founding member and close friend, DeShaun “Proof” Holton, who was sadly killed two years ago. I actually had the good fortune of interviewing Proof exactly three weeks before his untimely death, and I know firsthand how special he was. Bizarre, explain what Proof brought to D12 that without him will be lost?
Bizarre: Well, Proof was a general man, a leader, the life of the party. He was a whole bunch of stuff rolled up in one, man. He was our leader, basically, and a great guy, a great father, a great friend. All of the above. Proof had a lot of knowledge and advice for everything.
DJ Booth: On the new album you have a song entitled, “So Hard (Letter to Proof).” Describe the emotions that you experienced while writing that song.
Bizarre: Oh man, it was a lot of emotions. There’s emotions with Proof, my life, things I’ve been through – it’s a very emotional song. Sometimes I can’t even listen to it.
DJ Booth: Do you think that when your listeners hear “So Hard,” it might be different from what their typically used to from you as an artist with your outrageous lyrics and your personality.
Bizarre: Yeah, they might think it’s different, but it’s real though, and what’s real is real, and you can’t do that. I got a lot of outrageous lyrics and I still do, but something happened tragically in somebody’s life, [I] want to express yourself in a song, you can’t do nothing but respect that.
DJ Booth: If you don’t want to talk about it, I completely understand. Take us back to April 11th, 2006 – who actually placed the phone call to you to let you know about the unfortunate news?
Bizarre: I think my bodyguard was the first person to call me.
DJ Booth: A lot of people say that when they hear about a death, they don’t want to believe it’s true until the funeral or the wake. When did it really hit home for you that Proof was unfortunately gone?
Bizarre: At the funeral. I was in Atlanta when it happened. I got up there, ‘cause the rest of the group had been dealing with this at the hospital, but I didn’t really get a chance to really see death until the funeral.
DJ Booth: Walk us through the last conversation you remember having with Proof. What were you talkin’ about?
Bizarre: I don’t remember the last conversation, it had been a minute.
DJ Booth: Let’s shift gears again. Back when you released your first solo album, “Hannicap Circus,” the first single was entitled “Rock Star.” Since then, every rapper and their mother has released a rock-influenced or themed song. Are you receiving royalty checks or at least thank you cards?
Bizarre: [laughter] No, man, it’s all good. People do their thing – rock stars started way before me, man. Rock stars have been around a long time, it’s all good. Maybe my song was just a little bit ahead of its time.
DJ Booth: Ten years from now, what will Bizarre be doing on a Wednesday morning in October. Prophesize for me.
Bizarre: Ah, I don’t know, man. Probably still workin’. I’ll have a label, in a place of relaxation on a boat, lookin’ at CNN tryin’ to get the Lions score, see if they won on Sunday.
DJ Booth: So you remembered I said I was from Chicago. You had to bring up the fact that the Lions beat the Bears, why’d you have to do that?
Bizarre: Yeah, they beat ‘em, and they’re gonna beat ‘em again at Soldier Field.
DJ Booth: Oh, those are fightin’ words right there!
Bizarre: [laughter]
DJ Booth: Last question for you – last week in the newspaper Roy Williams, your star wide receiver, was quoted as saying he doesn’t believe in tipping the pizza man. Do you feel the same or do you tip your pizza man?
Bizarre: Yeah, I’ll tip a pizza man – I don’t think it’s as serious as goin’ to a restaurant, but I think if your order is seventeen dollars, and you give the pizza man twenty, you should just let him have that three dollars.
DJ Booth: Okay, that seems fair. I agree completely. Give everybody a website or a Myspace address so they can find out more about you and your upcoming release, “Blue Cheese & Coney Island.”
Bizarre: If you wanna find out more about Bizarre and the release, go to bizarresworld.com, or hit me up on myspace.com/bizarre.
DJ Booth: I wish you nothing but the best of luck with this release and your upcoming D12 album.
Bizarre: All right, cool!

a link to a yet unpublished biography Debbie Mathers wrote about her son.
I am not willing to make any comment nor to take sides about this tell all book. I am just letting you know about it, period.

Today I am very pleased to introduce you to a man who has had a major role at Iron Fist Records. Most of you probably know him as Rude of IF. He actually is the man who allowed me to interview RIP Big Proof a few months before he passed away for Detroit digital hip hop magazine, ILL Magazine, in 2006. When we first started talking to each other, in 2005, Rude aka Darcey was working at Iron Fist Records as the label’s promotions director.
Rude reveals us a lot of details about himself, the brilliant emcee RIP Proof, the prevailing tensions at Iron Fist Records, and much more! I promise you a very interesting read!
Isabelle
1.Most people know you as Rude of Iron Fist Records. What is the story behind your nickname?
Well I got my name from the WWF star ravishing Rick Rude. Over time, I just shortened it to Rude and stuck with that since then. But I have a few others like Darcey is the most known.
2.How did you meet RIP Big Proof?
I first met Proof late 01 when they were still holding battles at St Andrews. He was one of the judges. He was telling me about his label he was starting up called Iron Fist . So from then I kept seeing him out and he was like I want you to work with us. I was geeked like hell yeah I’m with it.
3. What motivated you to get involved in the music industry?
I wanted to get in the music biz after watching the Rocafella movie backstage. My cuz Famous was always telling me that I had the Damn Dash mental mind frame. I been around music for the better part of 12 years dating back to 95 in Milwaukee. With my boys Wonder and Insight, we started doing lil mixtapes an from there started working on getting our weight up. From there I moved back to the D and been doing it since.
I worked with a few guys before linking up with Proof. All of it was training for what was to come in the future.
4.According to you, is it an advantage to come from Detroit when you belong to the hip hop community? If so, why?
-Naaah I wouldn’t say that good music is good music that’s universal.What I see as the problem with the Detroit scene is there isn’t any unity, PERIOD. Everyone wants something for nothing. I mean yeah its a few cats that are trying 2 hold it down such as Ya Young Mase, DJDDT, Eclass, Young Rj, but ya still have the crab in a bucket syndrome where as noone wants to see you doing better than them. If you rapping an been doing it for a min an still haven’t seen anything come from then maybe you should rethink that an see if its the right choice. Pride is a muthaphucka .
5.When did you meet Purple Gang, Woof Pac and Supa Emcee?
-Well I been knowing Flame and Famous going on close to 10 years we were all at this flea market on Denquinder I was selling boot… uhhhhhh cds… yeah cds lol I started out. It was a booth in the spot where I was at so I started giving Flame an Famous extra time in the booth before and after the place was open doing production for them an from there we been down.. I met the rest of the guys who would later become the Purple Gang like a year or so later. I had heard of Supa threw the battle scene it wasn’t until he an Woof Pac came to Iron Fist that I got to know them on a personal level.
6. Not only did Proof s tragic death affect family, friends and fans. His death is actually a huge loss for the hip hop community. What is your personal view on the tragic event?
Well my personal view on the whole thing pretty much is just like this. Proof was a staple in Detroit hip hop he brought a lot of people together who normally wouldn’t do on they own. When P was killed it just seemed that people forgot about that an all bets were off. Ya really started to see people real intentions. Greed an egos came out an it started 2 get funny…
7. As a promotions director at IF Records, what major difficulties did you deal with?
Mainly just knowing how to relay ya point an be open minded at all times ( sometimes I didn’t ).You have to be able to think quick prepare for anything cuz at any moment things could change an you have to adjust to it.
8. From what I understand you left the label. Could you tell us about within a few words? What exactly happened?
I consider myself a loyal dude an I tried to hold on with the label as long as I could. At first it was just lil stuff people getting in peoples ear starting stuff. Then it just got to the point where is was just not a label anymore. The office was turning into a playpen an no work was being done more and more groupie chicks started getting in peoples head blowing they heads up to the point to where they turning their back on what Proof left. He always said before every meeting yawl are my kid s future, I’m investing in yawl for my kids. The final straw was when disrespectful (1st born) jerks started coming at Proofs wife an not giving her her respect. Niggas( Killa Kaunn) started trying to sue her over money that was never theirs- just whack shit. Just got 2 the point where I was like I can rep Proof without the bullshit yawl doing, so dipped.
9. What are currently the problems/ tensions the label is facing?
Well as it stands right now from what I know them boys are down. As I said before pride is a muthaphucka part of being a good leader is being a great follower. I know for a fact that the Shady Camp isn’t messing with them then ya got the Shady diss track that came out last year. People have the wrong idea about myself as well as anyone who left the label and because we’ve been silent about this whole issue they just run with what they hear. I mean like for real within this last year its been hella stressful for the kids but we warriors got trained by the best. I see the tention and so on when we come somewhere an at any given time it can really go down. Niggas tried jumping us for doing us an not helping them hell like 3weeks ago shit popped off where it coulda went bad. ( good looking Hex, Violet). I look at it like this whatever go happen go happen. Nigg@s just wanna try an silence us up cuz we know the truth. We don’t come to the club for drama so why ya got ya mean face on all the time.
I smile and at the same time I’m still cool wit some peeps like Drummer B, Supa I speak to him styles, I holla. I just seen Moe Dirt the other day. Its just the kind of people I have a problem with, to them I say suck ballz an have a great time trying to get on lol
10. A few words about RIP Proof s legacy. According to you, who is the most qualified at IF to represent and to carry on the brilliant emcee s legacy?
Honestly I don’t see anyone that’s there now as capable 2 carry it on…True, you got some skilled emcees, but that’s just 1% of it . There’s more to it than that. P wasn’t just a artist he wore many hats an could know what he’s doing. Take what ya learned an move on. As far as the leadership I don’t see them trying 2 make anything happen except use P name. Not one buck has been sent 2 his family from Iron Fist not 1 slug ever came from any cds sales, tshirt sales, shows in Proofs honor that’s the bullshit.
Now the BIGPROOF4EVER shirts they show that love that goes straight to her. Wanna be real do the right shit oh yeah while we at it how about you turn them gliffs an hard drives over to his wife its just a lotta stupid shit people don’t know
11. Can you enlighten us a little bit about the status of the label right now?
Naaaah I think I said enough on that an I’m sure its gonna get taken whichever way they wanna take it. I’ll tell ya this we got the warpaint on right now. T Flame and Famous The Inheritance is cooking souls right now an Back 2 Business is done. The Idash Listen project is doing well and getting great responses threw out the city as well as elsewhere along
with solo projects coming from Zoe, Hash, Reag set to drop soon. Got my homie Murphy from down under who’s putting the final touches on his mixtape called Training Day. Mike Lova is getting sick on the beats outta the Eastcoast, Nferno working on his project so look out for that one, my Take No Shorts team Fresh 2 Def got something cookin and yola(freestyle king of the milw). I got a mixtape dropping soon called Boss Up Or Man Down ( I’m not rappin) a internet show that’s in the works that’s gonna spotlight what we doing an some fried stuff just giving the people what they want. Just grinding an its gonna show in our work.
Copyright2007 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

An exclusive interview from Rude aka Darcey of Iron Fist Records…stay tuned.
It thought my interview was ready, but I had to re edit some details, so I am asking my readers for a little bit patience. Thank you.

This article purposely combines both highly speculated titles for Eminem’s upcoming album. An album that Marshall Mathers recently announced on NYC radio Hot’97.
After a few years break , Slim Shady’s return seems to be imminent, which constitutes an event in itself.
After the rumors of his early retirement that go back to 2005, despite a strong denial from the artist himself, many listeners, fans and maybe even close friends kept asking themselves if Eminem had decided to work more in the field of producing or if he simply buried his evil character for good.
But maybe Eminem’s return will not be musically written in the same terms as expected. Maybe Eminem intends to come up with a brand new style. If he doesn’t, he might resurrect Slim Shady from his grave, who knows?
At the time I am writing those lines, those are only empty suppositions. All we can do is wait and see.
Eminem is truly a phenomenon in rap history. His detractors pretend that he used his skin color to reach the top more easily.
Matter of fact: among all white rapping artists (pardon me, I really hate talking about an artist’s skin color, but this element is necessary, if I want to prove my point), Eminem is the only one with a worldwide mainstream appeal in the world of hip hop.
Actually, Eminem is one of the most talked about contemporary rap artists.
Many people tried to imitate his style, but all of them failed before they achieved anything consistent.
So, why did Eminem, also known to the public as Marshall Mathers, have such an impact in hip hop?
The first reason is undeniably Eminem’s brilliance. The more I got in depth in studying his music through the years, the more his intelligence in handling compound syllables, his subtle sense of humor, his ability to use his own weaknesses to his greatest advantage, his honesty in describing true life situations he went through, impressed me.
Some people always objected that Eminem owes everything to Dr Dre. If it is true that brilliance isn’t everything in the merciless world of the music industry, Eminem’s early work is the full expression of a musical genius.
A song like Biterphobia is a subtle musical composition, lyrically and instrumentally as well. It was released in 1994. One could barely object that the young Marshall Mathers had the means to pay a ghostwriter at time he was struggling to survive, which means the young man was a true (undiscovered) lyrical genius. Other songs from the Slim Shady EP do carry the same brilliance in the writing; one has to admit that the early Eminem excels in storytelling.
Second handedly, and whether his detractors like it or not, Eminem is credible as a white man in a black man’s world.
As he stated it in a former interview that goes back to 1999, Marshall Mathers used to live across the black side of 8 Mile, because his mom couldn‘t afford to pay the rent on the white side.
Totally immersed into hip hop culture since his uncle Ronnie introduced him into Ice T’s Breaking CD, Eminem also grew up into the harsh world of 8 Mile where had to fight for his dream to come true, despite the racial tension that was prevailing in the early 90’s.
Also and despite climate of hatred and suspicion between black and white communities, Marshall Mathers built some true friendships with his black fellows. D 12 isn’t a group that was born by professional interest like it often happens in the music industry , but it resulted from brothers (RIP Proof is the main founder of the group) who shared the same passion for the vibe.
Third, one should also recall that Eminem does not conform with the usual artistic stereotype.
His down to earth attitude, his self hatred, his honesty in exposing ugly facts and situations, his modest origins, his approachability in terms of sharing his life story details soon made a very likable person of Eminem in hip hop fans’ eyes.
Eminem soon became the example of somebody people could relate to. His acclaim is totally justified in that way, because he managed to break the distance between artist and listener, creating an unprecedented closeness and complicity with the fan.
Maybe Eminem is also the prototype of a walking contradiction: his generosity in exposing quantity of details from his life story soon became the boomerang that would hit him hard in terms of the liberty he was longing for. Stalkers of all kind would soon make his private life a living nightmare.
Since he was catapult to the top to now, Eminem has offered his listeners a prolific work with very various artistic collaborations.
His second album, the Marshall Mathers LP, probably tops any other of his albums, because it is a subtle combination of poetry, creativity, social commentary, shock value, an invaluable sense of humor-at least in my eyes. Moreover, Marshall Mathers is an artist who managed to create specific atmosphere thanks to his subtle mastery of the English language.
A song like Stan has the depth of Rimbaud’s poem Le Dormeur Du Val. Like the French poet, Eminem draws a picture that is getting more dramatic and darker as times goes by.
Further on, the 8 Mile Road song, for instance, is built on similar [i] sounds that imply a constant struggle. A similar structure can also be found in Yellow Brick Road, a subtle syllabic word construction that will remain an attentive ear of the monotonous sound of a train on the rails.
Very few songs surpass Drug Ballad, a beautiful instrumental and word combination that allows the listener to enter into the forbidden world of a drug addict, making him feel the sensation of drowning into the alcohol. The instrumentals truly make you feel the infernal spiral in which the addict is caught with no way to escape.
Encore is probably the worst of his albums. Despite a few well written songs like Mosh, it indicated some artistic fatigue and some of its themes need to be renewed. The commercial dimension of some songs in Encore really disappointed me.
By stating this a while, I raised some controversy. But I really don’t care.
I’m not here to praise Eminem in any case. As a music journalist, I am here to offer an honest and objective perception of the artist from a professional point of view. I owe my readers the truth.
Eminem’s force also lies in the fact that he manages to use the darkest life situations he went through in order to transform them into artistic creativity.
Since 2005, Eminem has been through very painful events. His best friend Proof’s death is probably one of the worst sorrows a human being can go through. I trust Eminem’s will to honor his friend s memory will allow him to dig out of his heart the most beautiful and creative lyrical treasures.
Then the world will be truly be his for the taking because the crowd of listeners will be touched and crown its king of the mic for a standing ovation.
Copyright 2007 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved