Check the latest single from Killah Priest’s new record Elizabeth (Introduction To The Psychic), The 7 Crowns of God, produced by DJ Woool:
Peep the new video from William Cooper off the new record Beware Of The Pale Horse… In stores now, go get it! Produced by BP:
MC talks about education, music at Wesley College
On Monday in Belize, Shyne made his first public appearance since being deported to his native country last week. The former Bad Boy rapper had been detained by immigration officials for nearly four weeks after serving close to nine years in prison for his involvement in 1999’s Club New York shooting, for which Diddy also stood trial but was acquitted.
The press conference was held at the high school Shyne attended briefly in 1993, Wesley College in Belize City, where he spoke to students as well as reporters, according to 7NewsBelize.com and footage of the appearance that has hit the Internet.
Shyne, who changed his name from Jamal Barrow to Moses Michael Leviy while in prison, said that he did not convert to Judaism, as has been reported, but was inspired by Biblical figures.
“In life, you are what you are and this is what I am,” he said. “I don’t want to be like Michael Jordan. I want to be like Moses or King David or King Solomon. Those are the guys I aspire to be like. I didn’t want to be like the kingpin on my block; I wanted to be like the guy who parted the sea, that’s why I chose that name.”
Shyne also said he’s returning to music and he will not allow his messages to be watered down.
“I make music about life,” he said. “One of the greatest musicians was Bob Marley. There was nothing misogynistic about him. But his music, he talked about some harsh realities some time. He was tough. I would like to make that type of contribution, that kind of Marvin Gaye contribution, you dig? But at the same time we curse, at the same time life is violent, life is troublesome sometimes — so don’t expect my music to be sanitized. I am just going to talk about what’s going on in the world.”
But Shyne also talked about the importance of education for young people, noting that it was advice he’d spurned from his father, Dean Barrow, the Prime Minister of Belize.
“I came up on the streets with guys that gangbanged and were into criminal activity, and those tools never worked,” he said. “Those tools, you either end up spending the rest of your life in prison or sleeping in a grave. But with the tools that you are getting here as far as education is concerned, that is the ultimate tool and with that tool you can transcend any situation because I am just like you, you dig. I grew up on Curassow Street. When I was coming up we didn’t even have toilets. But one of the things my Uncle Finnegan and my father, Prime Minister Barrow, implored upon me was education, education, education, education.
“What I do have to say is not, ‘Listen man, I am on a gangster roll,’ ” he continued. “No, listen: Look what gangster roll got me. Look where it led me. And I am not telling you what to do because I am not a preacher and I am not everybody’s father, but I am exhibit A of what’s going to happen if you don’t stay in Wesley College, you dig? If you don’t go to that sixth form, if you don’t try to go to the university you’re going to spend the rest of your life in the cooker or you’re going to be in the grave. That is what this is about.
Shyne says at first he didn’t take the advice to heart, but has since learned to appreciate the value of education.
“I didn’t really get that, I was like, ‘Yo, well, education, whatever,’ ” he continued. “But as I came up, my music, being Shyne and being able to go from Curassow Street [to the] United States and sell millions of records, the only way I was able to do that. I used to be at my Uncle Denys’ house and I used to be in the corner reading a dictionary. I was very into my English. I would fail my other classes but when it came to English, I would pay attention. And if it wasn’t for that, I would have never sold any records. I wouldn’t have been able to call Jay-Z on my iPhone and I wouldn’t be able to live the life that I live.”
Moses Leviy or Shyne as he is known celebrated his 31st birthday yesterday. Reports are that he did it with family and close friends in his penthouse at the Renaissance Towers. Two of those close friends were rap star Busta Rhymes and Hot-97 deejay from New York City Angie Martinez. They arrived on Saturday and flew straight to the La Perla Resort in North San Pedro. They returned to Belize City yesterday for what one family member described as a quiet and emotional dinner. Busta Rhymes and Angie Martinez made an appearance on Wave Radio last night. Before leaving this afternoon he told Wave Radio why he came to visit Shyne.
Busta Rhymes, Visiting Shyne
“I just came out here to support my man Shyne and you know, just show and see him after this long stretch. The last time we saw him, we know it was in New York, it was winter time, it was cold, it was ten years ago so I just wanted to come out here and show love to the brother and make sure the people understood that the support for him is extremely importantly, especially at this time.
He is an incredible, number one. Number two, I think he has a greater purpose than just music. It is obvious what he is doing, running around speaking to the kids, trying to bring a whole another life to the city. You can see he is bringing people like us to the city.
We coming back in a couple of weeks because I am coming back for several reasons. I am coming back to spend more time, I am coming back to again visit my brother Shyne, and I am also just coming back to just enjoy the country a little bit longer because the trip was brief, I want to come back and sponge some of the culture a little more.”
Cop the album Arts and Entertainment, available Now! Produced by M-Phazes:
I’ve been listening to a lot of Saukrates as of late. The last new track Ms. Yesterday I was not so so geeked out on. The video was pretty and shiny with some fine dimes, I’m not hating. On to the next… ‘I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman’ with K-os produced by Rich Kidd:
Here’s to hoping he gona be on the run for that rap career, still you know guy?
Peace to the Golden Era yo.. produced by Day:
I just came across a news bit online which took me back. The death of Tony D. (Anthony Depula), the producer behind Poor Righteous Teachers and YZ who also worked with King Sun, Pacewon, MC Serch, K. Love, Blvd. Mosse, DJ Muggs.. the list goes on. He died at the reported age of 42 (his birthdate is unknown) on April 5, 2009 from a car crash. There are too many that have passed this year. R.I.P. Tony D.
Tony D. interview with Music Selections:
Dj MP45:First of all, thanks for letting us have this interview. We should start from the beginning: what was your first exposure to hip-hop? I read that you started as a DJ, so which were the songs you were playing at that time?
Tony D: Grandmaster Flash and the Sugarhill stuff but Run DMC and the Def Jam early 12’s really were my favs.
Dj MP45: How did you switch from DJing to production and which equipment were you using when you started?
Tony D: the Mantronik album cover with roland 909 made me go buy one. So back then I had that and a 4 track cassette. ..
Dj MP45: Did you do a lot of crate digging in the past and do you still do it these days?
Tony D: Of course, but the record stores have dried up so it’s more of a challenge. I find myself digging in my own stash more than going out and breakhunting I have gathered so many old records that I still have fresh stock to go through…digger for life.
Dj MP45: Which are your top 5 non-hip hop records?
Tony D: I like the funky people James Brown lp’s, Monk Higgins, Andy Bey, Children of all ages: dope lp!
Dj MP45: Who are other producers that inspired your work and why?
Tony D: Marley Marl: he was the first to samples drums……
Pete Rock : trademark sound with horns and he pioneered the raw remix. .
But Paul C was the best on the SP1200 which I still use today. . . Plus he was ahead of time. . .
Dj MP45: Which songs do you wish you had produced yourself?
Tony D: Give The Drummer Some by Ultramagnetic Mc’s, T.R.O.Y. by Pete Rock and C.L Smooth and DWYCK by Gangstarr
Dj MP45: You produced a lot of politically-charged acts such as Poor Righteous Teachers: were you comfortable with their message or was it just music to you?
Tony D: Sometimes I felt a little odd hearing all the anti-devil stuff but I was pretty much accepted into the hip-hop urban community because I been down since day 1 . . .
Dj MP45: One of my favourite songs you produced is the Blvd Mosse “Move to something funky”: I tried to find more info on this group, but I couldn’t find any: how did you start working with them and do you have any interesting anecdotes about that time?
Tony D: Actually with the explosion of random hip hop, BLVD MOSSE unreleased is in demand as I have other material from them as well as other artists from Trenton that never came out.
I met them in North Trenton. They were from that area where I was already scouting acts.
Dj MP45: Let’s move to the present: what do you think about the state of hip hop at the moment and do you think there are producers who can still carry that flag?
Tony D: It goes up and down. Sometimes I think Hip-Hop’s dead then Kanye or Lupe Fiasco comes out with something dope.
But overall, crunk, bling and gangsta rap have put a dent in the culture of Hip-Hop
Dj MP45: Many thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, it is very much appreciated , I know readers of our blog will be happy to find out that a fellow Italian gave such a great contribution to hip hop.
Tony D: Thanks paisons…peace.
