The Eminem Blog

hopefully coming soon: The Return Of The Dozen!!!
I’m in the process of downloading the mixtape (thanks to a Detroit homie), so please be patient! Stay tuned:)

Global rating of the product: 4 stars
Ice T incarnates gangsta rap. His voice is linked with bad guy thrillers. How many of us have enjoyed Ice T’s OG song?
The master’s raps have inspired the greatest. You can find a touch of Ice T in the Slim Shady LP’s I’m Shady song…
Tracy Marrow’s unique, dark vocals, his rhyming schemes will allow connoisseurs to enjoy the musical ride into “Iceberg’s” wicked musical world.
The Gangsta Rap song equals reality check. So many emcees are running their mouths, so many suburban guys are posing as ghetto acts. Ice T gently reminds all those people what the streets are all about: guntalks, homies getting wounded or killed, Word up to all of you rich suburban girls who are strangers to pain and who tend to romanticize rap music: this ain’t no game. You dreamers need to wake up!
The streets got Tupac and Biggie killed. The same streets left Obie Trice (luckily alive) with a bullet lodged in his brain, deprived us of Bugz and Proof, Soulja Slim and so many more…The streets are the harsh mirror of reality; dramas happen day after day. It is the theater to daily drug deals and prostitution. So, still wanna be “ghetto?”
Riding Low features Feddi Demarco. An astute piano-drum-trumpet composition allows the listener to enter the dirty-filthy drug deals world. Ice T plays with words like a gifted guitarist would play with his chords. You will enjoy the rhyming master with his unique style.
New Life is wonderfully handled-instrumentally and lyrically. The rapid cadence of the track will make you feel tense situations. Contemporary emcees, be ready to face some criticism from a rap godfather. Well done.
Dear God Can You Hear Me is a question many of us have probably raised in our lives. More strikinly, when you’re living a thug’s life and facing life-death situations, you probably feel the need to call for help from Above.
The streets are closer to hell than to heaven. When you’re feeling mentally and physically isolated, when your heart perfectly knows you can’t trust anyone, when you’re in a constant run, God seems to be your only ressource, the Only One who can save you.
Among Ice T’s must hear songs are Walking In The Rain and Code Of The Streets.
Walking In The Rain is based on soft female vocals. The light chorus contrasts with Ice T’s bare honesty in his love relationship. The song is rhythmic, it mixes up feelings of hope and sadness. Penetrate a gangsta’s heart who plays it hard in the street, but who nevertheless needs a female companion.
Code Of The Streets: with the powerful lyrical sword of the truth, Ice T will bash fakeness among emcees and reveal the laws that he abides in the streets. The rhythmic, fast piano background totally matches with the song’s spirit. Internet gangstas get ridiculed. Hear it from a true OG’s mouth who places loyality on a high scale.
Globally speaking, Ice T has some nice skills to offer to gangsta rap lovers. Although I am much more fond of his former tracks, Gangsta Rap 2006 still reflects Ice T’s inventive lyrical skills. The artist hasn’t lost his good flow delivery either. I recommend Gangsta Rap 2006 to all hip hop lovers.
Copyrightby Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Gangsta Rap 2006 CD review…hopefully coming soon! stay tuned, folks:)

Read the original article here.
‘If you’re not taking chances, putting your career on the line, it ain’t fun no more,’ MC says of edgy clip.
By Shaheem Reid
NEW YORK — Nas was a walking pull quote Thursday night as he stood in front of journalists and bloggers at the Tribeca Grand Hotel.
“I ain’t Farrakhan or Chuck D,” he said about the message on his new album. “I’m just a Queensbridge n—a that got rich. … I love pissing people off and stirring up stupid mutha—-as.”
Nas invited the media and others to see the world premiere of his video for “Be a Nigger Too.” The clip was directed by Rik Cordero, who’s earned a name for himself helming clips for Ghostface Killah, Beanie Sigel, Styles P and other MCs on shoestring budgets.
“Nas offends no one by offending everyone,” Cordero said, addressing the crowd in the small auditorium. He revealed that much of the imagery in the video — such as Nas talking to himself and rapping in front of a mirror — was inspired by Spike Lee’s film “25th Hour.” The clip shows how the racist behaviors of yesteryear correlate to modern-day prejudices. The video concludes with a slave getting lynched.
Actors Andre Royo and Gbenga Akinnagbe from HBO’s “The Wire,” John Cho from “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle,” and the outspoken Danny Hoch all make cameos. “They heard the song and were supportive of what we do,” the director said.
Nas is satisfied with the video just being a part of his viral campaign, but he’s optimistic that MTV will play an edited version. He said the video could hit airwaves “if MTV is open-minded and understands this is music. … They had pretty wild stuff through their history. I think they know how to edit that.”
Nas recently had to drop the planned album name of Nigger for his July 1 opus due to political pressure. Instead, it will be untitled. He said that when Al Sharpton released a statement in the wake of the name drop and claimed partial responsibility for it, it was a false victory.
“This record is about how the older generation looks down on us. … There’s a crew of older black people, [they’re] on their way out and we’re on our way up,” Nas said. “It looks like hip-hop n—as is about to make that Oprah money, and that’s scary to them.”
The Queensbridge General also railed about some black leaders extorting the record companies through political pressure. “Them n—as is old. The only way they make money is off our sh–.” He said that he was told by many people that naming his album Nigger was “career suicide” — and he liked that.
“I take a lot of chances with the music,” he explained with a grin. “At this point, if you’re not taking chances, putting your career on the line, it ain’t fun no more.”
He also alluded to the statement his album’s artwork makes. “The cover speaks for itself,” he declared. “It says ‘nigger’ real loud.” The album cover, which was leaked to the Net, shows Nas’ back severely scarred by what seem to be whip lashings, with the horrific scars forming the letter N.
Earlier this month, while talking to MTV News, Nas said the Dr. Pepper-jingle feel of “Be a Nigger Too” was inspired by an interlude on N.W.A’s Efil4zaggin LP. He also said he doesn’t think the lyrics, which are filled with racial slurs, will bring the same type of backlash that befell Michael Jackson almost two decades ago when the King of Pop dropped “They Don’t Care About Us.”
“I think that, fortunately for hip-hop artists, we don’t stand under the microscope like Michael Jackson, the pop star,” he analyzed. “Rappers, hip-hop artists are known to be edgy, crazy, real blunt with it. I think people expect for hip-hop to be crazy like that. With Michael Jackson, no one expected for him to come out with something where he was just giving you a piece of himself, no matter how nobody took it. The same way he wasn’t trying to be mean to anybody is the same way I’m not trying to be mean to anybody. I think he caught the worst end of the stick. … This is hip-hop music, and Jews rock with Nas. Asians rock with Nas. Italians rock with Nas. I’m here to speak my mind. If you can’t respect that, you’re part of the problem

Dear readers,
A few years ago, I expressed about a young black man named Eugene Tucker, who is facing a death sentence at Death Row in Arizona. Eugene is accused of triple murder, but has always claimed his innocence.
I know that affair raised a lot of controversy. After writing this article, I received some (negative) feedback from the victims’ family.
I fully understand their pain and I am in no way trying to minimize what those people went through…however, I have fought for truth and justice my whole life.
I have been Eugene’s pal for four years. A lawyer from Auckland recently decided to focus on the Eugene Tucker affair. She will give you full details on her personal blog.
Feel free to comment on her blog .
Too many people have been wounded in this affair, there are many dark zones left as well…and if Eugene is innocent, he deserves to be free!
Isabelle

Read the original article here.
By Biba Adams
The film, The Dirty Dozen, released in 1967, is about 12 convicts who are asked to team up to complete a secret mission during World War II. Men from different walks of life, they coalesce and achieve their goal, no matter the cost. Not all of them make it out alive, in fact, most of them are killed, but the mission was accomplished.
This was the premise that Big Proof had in mind when he walked through the now legendary, Detroit Hip Hop Shop and whispered in the ears of the hottest MCs. He was going to form a rap crew of the best that the city had to offer and present it to the world; that was the mission. However, it soon proved difficult to get and keep 12 men together as a group.
Time and circumstance would eventually turn The Dirty Dozen into the D12 that we know today, six men each with two personalities: Proof/Derty Harry, Eminem/Slim Shady, Bizarre/Peter S. Bizarre, Kon Artis/ Mr. Porter, Kuniva/Rondell Beene, Swift/ Swifty McVay.
With time, Shady Records grew into a brand. Eminem was its founder and flagship artist, D12 was holding its own with successful albums and touring, despite their reputations as the labels resident Bad Boys. “D12 was like a testing ground for Shady Records,” says Kuniva. “They would bring an artist around us first to see how we got along, if they could hang with us, they would sign them.” Eventually Obie Trice would be introduced to the world with good results but not before the signing of 50 Cent to Shady/Aftermath would create a legend.
Through all the ups and downs, D-Twizzie would remain solid and successful until the early morning hours of April 11, 2006 when their group would fracture and their lives would change, forever. DeShaun Dewitt Holton, best known as Proof, died after an altercation with Keith Bender, a fellow Detroiter and an Army veteran who was celebrating his recovery from a heart problem. While the circumstances of the night remain unclear, the result was devastating. When the smoke cleared, Proof lay on the floor of CCC Nightclub, dead; and Keith Bender, who would die a week later from his injuries, had been shot in the face.
In the last two years, little has been heard from D12 or Eminem, who lost his best friend and hype man. They have done very few interviews, however, rumors abound about Em’s weight, his health, and his relationship with the crew that once joked that they were not his “band.” But, finally, The Dirty Dozen are ready to return to the world of Hip-Hop with new music, a new tour, and a new lease on life.
The Return of the Dozen features appearances by stellar Detroit MCs. Hosted by outstanding up comer DJ Young Mase, the mixtape also shows the growth of D12 as a group with the track, “Plead for Your Life” which features former friend, turned enemy, turned friend, again; Royce Da 5’9”. The project does have verses from Proof and Eminem, contrary to some reports. AllHipHop.com sat down with Kuniva, Swift, and Bizarre to discuss The Return of the Dozen mixtape and the future of D12.
AllHipHop.com: So, what’s up, guys?
Bizarre: Chilling. Finishing up the mixtape, staying focused. Getting ready to get back on the road.
AllHipHop.com: Are you going to be touring?
Swift: Yeah. We are going on the road to promote the mixtape, we leave at the end of May. We’re ready to get our names back out there, get back to work. Releasing that energy, being in front of our fans again, we need that. To pick ourselves back up and get back out there. This is like the stretch before the big workout.
AllHipHop.com: And what’s ‘the big workout’, your studio album?
Kuniva: Everybody knows that a D12 album follows an Eminem album. That’s the way it is. But, we felt that we needed to do something to get our names back out there. To reconnect with our fans, so we are releasing this mixtape.
Swift: It also gives us a chance to show our work ethic and that we can create opportunities for ourselves.
AllHipHop.com: With the changes in the industry are you a little nervous about getting back out there?
Swift: I wouldn’t say nervous, the style that we have is second nature. We never get deterred by what somebody else is doing.
Bizarre: We aren’t conforming to anything, our style is so us. We gotta pay attention to what people like but D12 is just a different type of grain.
AllHipHop.com: Do you think you guys are overly criticized for the style of rap that you have?
Kuniva: I mean, we aren’t the most hated on, but we hear it. Our mindset right now is to show and prove, a lot of people discount us because we are sometimes overshadowed by Em. We are always overshadowed by Em. S**t, it’s hard to keep up with Em on a track. Who hasn’t Em sh***ed on, on a record?
AllHipHop.com: Do you think you get a lot of criticism even from Detroit?
Bizarre: What I really hate is when somebody asks a Detroit rapper about D12 or Eminem, they act like what we do ain’t really Detroit; when we put this [city] on our backs. We have sacrificed a lot to represent Detroit and we deserve that respect.
Kuniva: We are all from Detroit. We are all from the same streets. We don’t rap about just guns and drugs. We rap about it, but we put it in a different light. I’m not gonna say, I sold this and I snorted that, because I didn’t. But, we are all still from Detroit. We all still been through the same drama, the same bulls**t.
AllHipHop.com: How has it been recovering for you guys since Proof was killed?
Swift: There is definitely a void there. We can be just chilling, playing with our kids, or hanging out kicking it with each other, and it will just hit us, that void, and it hurts. It might hurt for five minutes, it might last for a few hours or for a day, but we have to get back up and keep going.
Kuniva: It doesn’t hurt as bad as it did the first year, but it still hurts, you just have to recover from it, but we are still scarred. Everybody loses somebody close to them, but he was so many things to us; a leader, a brother. So, it’s hard just doing this rap thing when the main reason for us to do it was for us to do it all together.
Bizarre: I am just glad that he left us with some many memories. He basically fulfilled all of his dreams and he left a lot of good memories, and a legacy.
AllHipHop.com: How is Eminem?
Kuniva: He’s good, you know? Better. He’s recovering. It’s hard everyday and he was really sick when he got pneumonia, so you know, it was like a string of bad luck. But he is doing a lot better. I see him every other day. He’s working on his album. He’s right across the street, working. I know that sounds like a political answer, but he is. He’s not over there looking like Chris Farley. He is doing good and he is across the street working on his album. I could be more specific and say he’s scratching his balls, but I don’t know all that.
AllHipHop.com: [laughs] Anything else people should know about the Dozen?
Kuniva: No matter what we are always going to be The Dirty Dozen. I read a lot of real heartless s**t, on blogs and message boards, like, “It’s 2 of them n***as dead, they should be D8.” Real cold s**t. But, even if it’s just one of us left…that n***a will still be D12.

Their music has that little something that allows them to make a real difference in the world of hip hop. Powerful vocals and instrumentals are taking over with pride. You gotta love the rhythmic piano background that introduces you into the Keep Trying song. The energy that iradiates from Markus Aurelius’ voices totally reflect their strong and determined fighting spirit.
The lyrics are well worked on, too.
Do It Fast is built on cadenced drum beats and various instrumentals, including subtle, slight oboe notes combined with soft female vocals. The descriptive song will introduce the listener into a shady lover relationship in which betrayal is part of the game.
Politics utters the voice of the truth…what would people put first in their lives-politics or their own conscience? With a rebellious spirit, Markus Aurelius are ready to change the world.
The song is astutely built on dark instrumentals that totally match with their spirit.
Shatter-Proof is announced with loud trumpet and scratches sounds, an original musical introduction to a lyrically murderous song. Words fly like deadly bullets, destroying everything on their way. Well done.
Juice is ripping off the scene. Again, the lyrical effort of the emcees needs to be underlined while the crowd rejoices in the background, as some voices seem to testify it.
The group is composed of P-Nut a.k.a. Markus, Aurelius a.k.a. Lord Reemo and two other emcees I-N-I & Omega. Still unsigned, they deserve to be known better. Their dedication, their incredible flow delivery, the way they master instrumentals and rhythm, makes them stand out, as far as I am concerned.
Markus Aurelius will bring some positive vibes into your house. If you like good hip hop, I’d definitely recommend you to check their my space here.
Copyright ©by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

We live in a society that is afraid of its own demise. Most people won’t admit it, but they are afraid to get older, moreover to look older. A money driven, star struck society, that has given up any ethical values strongly encourages women over 30 to use Botox injections- in order to look dewrinkled and youthful.
Ok, nobody (even those who don’t admit it) likes to look old and wrinkled- in short- stunned. While I’d ridicule and dismiss the concept of “ageing gracefully” (no I don’t like all those wrinkled grandma faces with grey hair, telling us that their looks are sooo cool), I am also strongly against the whole Botox advertisement, whether in newspapers or on TV. Some depraved, crooked journalists will push women towards Botox injections and surgical operations, exploiting their fears and inferiority complexes.
Let me tell you: Botox injections and getting under the knife of some surgeons is far from being innocent. To tell you the truth, it might even put your life in serious danger, leave your disfigured and even unsatisfied with your “new looks”. Not only is it very expensive, it can also harm your body, leave your face swollen for weeks,..Botox does enter your brain, were you aware of that?
Honestly, I don’t want anything chemical to invade my cerebral tissues that way. I’d be pretty much afraid of it.
My personal opinion about Botox is that it doesn’t make people look better. Of course, it dewrinkles their faces, but the big paradox is that they still look old and unnatural after a Botox session.
I’ve seen JK Rowling and Madonna’s Botox effects and frankly, I’m not impressed IN THE LEAST. Actually, it doesn’t make them look beautiful as far as I am concerned. I’d prefer women of their age with a few more wrinkles, but natural looking faces. I’d also like to point out to anybody who might object that Madonna “looks like 25 at 50” that most of her pics are airbrushed and professionally shot. Have you ever seen photoshoots of Madonna and Christina Aguilera without any trace of make up on their faces? I have- and it scared me away. They looked worse than average people of the same age you’d cross in the street. Believe me, it is actually true.
I really hate it when people turn into chemical beauties.
It really looks like humanity has forgotten about nature’s powerful recipes!
If people stuck to a natural lifestyle, had more sleep, drank more water, praticed more sports, used more natural ressources, ate themselves young, they’d look younger at any age!
Believe me, ways to reverse the clock-in a very natural way- up to 12 years actually do exist…if you are ready to change some of your bad, unhealthy habits!
The funny thing is that women’s purses would do better too…because natural products and natural lifestyles cost less!
I already shared some of my beauty secrets with you. It is entirely up to you to change your lifestyle. Make the best choice!
Copyright by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Nappy Roots are far from being your average rap group. The lyrical group that masters its astute flow techniques is composed of Milledgeville, Fish Scales, Skinny DeVille, B. Stille, Ron Clutch, and Big V. Oakland. R. Prophet recently left the group in order to pursue a solo career.
No Static might make you feel ecstatic with its constant, repetitive invitation to brain and body gymnastics. Its dark musical background is cheerfully mixed up with some scratches sounds. The alternative rap group’s original style, its lyrical inventivity will probably conquer your heart. Strong vocal chords, a good dose of confidence totally match with the rhythmic track. I recommend it for a listen.
Powerful piano sounds will lead you into the Good Day song. The street anthem has that wonderful ability to provide some joy all around you. Kids singing in the background, a swinging musical background, a mastered flow delivery, a bunch of good rhyming ways. Start your day with Good Day and you’ll take things easy-for sure!
Slight keyboard sounds, heartbeat alike drum beats, a nostalgic refrain totally define Small Town. If you ever loved a precise place, if there are good memories you can relate to, this song will drive you to that place. Just sit back, relax and let the music guide you to the perfect place you are longing for.
Flex is a filthy Southern breather song. As loud instrumentals introduce the song, repetitive breathing sounds are mixed up with loads on filthy details, female vocals and one emcee’s strong voice. Nappy Roots will show you their know how, once again.
Discover more about Nappy Roots here.
Copyrightby Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved