About a year ago, I was at the Medusa Lounge with a lady friend when this guy approached me wearing one of those tuxedo t-shirts.  He looked like he meant business.  He told me he was an MC and that he was selling copies of his album The Call for $5.  He didn’t try to Percee P me into giving him the duckets, or spit an acapella, or push the fact that 9th Wonder did a beat for him (which he actually did).  He was humble, modest, and direct.  I gave him the $5, and that’s how I met Random.

A year later, Random (of RAHM Nation) is doing big things.  The former Philadelphian and current Arizonian school teacher just released his EP Patches & Glue to rave reviews, which is available at HipHopSite.com.   Last year, he released Mega Ran, an official Capcom-licensed release built on beats from Mega Man.  Right now, he’s gearing up to release The 8th Day on August 8, 2008 with features from undergroud stalwarts LMNO, Naledge of Kidz in the Hall and more.  He’s a bloggin’ ass dude like myself with a radio show to boot. 

In short, there’s nothing left to chance with Random.  It’s time to let him learn you something.

1.  At what point did you realize music is what you wanted to do?

I started rhyming in 1993..we used to record entire albums on tape in the crib on tape decks, then we moved up to a 4 track recorder. The first time I realized that this was something I COULD do was around the year 2003… when I started getting other folks telling me “man, you better do something with this gift,” that’s when I knew I should take it seriously. I was working at a studio in Philly, and everyone that came through sounded like “The Next Man.” so I started to lose faith that anyone would want to hear my “conscious” rhymes, so I recorded a demo there, just for fun. But I took a trip to upstate New York for a show with Immortal Technique, Hasan Salaam and a bunch of other emcees, and that bus trip showed me that there were people like me who were still being creative, still making good hearftfelt music. The whole ride, we played beats for eachother, freestyled and had a great time. Since then it’s been full throttle.

2.  How has Philly shaped your sound or molded you as an MC?

Philly has taught me so much. from the way I walk, talk and live, to the way I rhyme, it’s all Philly. No place has slang like Philly.. in Philly everyone has the “me against the world” outlook; from Rocky to A.I., that’s the Philly mentality. Coming up in the scene out there is rough, so if you can make it there, you really can make it anywhere. 
People all the way out here in Phoenix know there’s just a certain ‘thing’ about Philly cats. There’s no place like it in the world. In general, being out here with an “East Coast Hustle,” as one of my friends dubbed it, is a huge advantage. and I have Philly to thank for that. fans, other artists, promoters, everyone recognizes it. I was just out there a few weeks ago and I really didn’t want to leave. It’ll always be home.

3.  Who are the people you look up to and learn the most from?

At the risk of sounding cliche, I’d say my mom first and foremost. She’s taught me everything I know, and still manages to treat me like I’m 12…she still calls me and asks if I locked my front door. Just seeing her struggle with me, with no one else around, and never ask for a handout is a huge inspiration for me. Musically, I look at guys who constantly find new inspiration and stay creative, like Ohene…cats who have managed to stay humble despite success…like Reef the Lost Cauze, who works with any and everyone, is out at every show, is always approachable and friendly…cats like that keep me grounded. Also, in my profession (teaching), I can always look at other veteran teachers who have done it longer, and that shows me the true meaning of patience and perseverance.

4.  With everything you’ve learned thus far, what do you wish you could have told yourself at the beginning?  Would you have done anything differently?

That’s a good question. I’ve learned not to regret anything… but if I could’ve done anything differently, I would have told myself in 1997 the same thing I told myself in 2003…that I CAN succeed in music. If I had that faith then, I think I’d be a millionaire right now.

5.  What’s hard for you?  What do you struggle with?

My biggest hang up is that I try to do too much at one time. My mom says I spread myself too thin. that comes from another problem I have, that I’m too nice. I can’t say no.  also, the new Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos… I can’t put them down.

6.  Here’s a scenario:  tomorrow you become the CEO of a major record label.  What are the first 3 things you do as boss?

wow… first I’d put the music back into the hands of the people. By that, I mean, I’d get some real folks in the office, who are HUNGRY, not multi-millionaires, and get them out on the streets, to find out what’s good, and what’s not… I’d sign producers before rappers, because as we’re seeing right now, producers are still innovating while rappers are looking to the producers for inspiration… and I’d make sure all my signees go to business school before they record anything.

7.  What are some of your favorite albums?

of all time? let’s see…PE- Nation of Millions, Marvin Gaye- What’s Going On, Nas - Illmatic, Tribe- Midnight Marauders, Eric B and Rakim - Paid In Full, Ice Cube - Death Certificate, Raekwon- Cuban Linx, Live- Throwing Copper, Stevie Wonder- Innervisions, Outkast - Aquemini, Jay- Z - Reasonable Doubt, OC- Word…Life, all the Roots albums, and Gangstarr- Moment of Truth.

8.  What is inspiring your work right now?

The radio. The lack of creativity in music. the desire to get where I need to be, musically. I feel like I’m still growing, and in order to get to the level that I know I can get to, I know I need to keep working

9.  What advice would you offer to someone getting into the business at this time?

Well, I’m not even where I want to be, but I’d tell anyone that NOBODY OWES YOU ANYTHING. Your talent is meaningless. Get out there and talk to people. Keep working, because someone behind you is working 10x harder than you.

10.  Any words to live by?

“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” -Albert Einstein.  Stay busy, stay motivated and stay grounded.

……..

I want to thank Random for a great interview and for staying connected to the Philly hip hop scene all the while living for dirt cheap in the desert (my envy is growing by the minute). 

Be sure to check out his extensive MySpace page here with info on all of his musings, rumblings, and recorings.

And here’s some treats from the man himself:

“One” featuring Tiana
Produced by CJ

From the album The 8th Day

You can watch Random on YouTube HERE

I’m very proud to have contributed to the latest installment of Beat Drop over at Metal Lungies, one of the best hip hop blogs you should be up on.  After featuring the works of giants such as DJ Premier, Large Professor, Dr. Dre and more, this segment features the best of the Neptunes.  The premise was simple:  pick your 5 favorite Neptunes productions and write some jibber-jabber.  Honorable mentions go to Luda’s “Southern Hospitality,” Busta’s “As I Come Back” and Slim Thug’s “I Ain’t Heard of That” but overall, my list is pretty formiddable:

The Clipse “Ride Around Shining”

Baby f/ The Clipse “What Happened To That Boy”

Justin Timberlake “Like I Love You”

Noreaga “Full Mode”

Neptunes f/ Re-Up Gang “Hot Damn”

Shoutouts to AaronM, Buhizzle, DJ01, and Rostam for bringing me in off the bench for this one.  Hopefully I can continue my role as the best damn pinch runner/defensive replacement in the blogging business (word up Michael Bourn!). 

Check The Neptunes Beat Drop HERE (you can download MP3s for each song)

The Dark Knight is perfect.

Go see it immediately.

I could write a 10,000 word blog on this film but I want to see it again before I do so.

4/4 Stallone Claps

Creepy, right?

Nico is wrapping up our Feed the Beast promotion strong–to make up for missed time, Nico dropped 2 more tracks this week for Feed the Beast Week 9.  This time, he bodies Ashanti’s “Only You.”  After we recorded this song, I wondered why the hell Ashanti gets better beats per release than most rappers.  Asides from that bullshit “One More Chance” song, her beats are usually pretty ill, even for a woman with sideburns (to paraphrase Lloyd Banks).  If Nas had Ashanti’s beats, he’d be Steve McQueen and people wouldn’t be ready to plant a pipebomb under Jeff’s car.

Check out Nico’s version of “Only You” at 33jones.

******

In a totally unreletad requiem, Michael Ian Black, one of the contributors to my personality and love of crown molding, has an excellent interview over at The AV Club.  I’m heading to the shore next weekend and will bludgeon myself if I don’t pick up his new book My Custom Van…and 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays That Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face for the trip to Cape May.

*****

And FINALLY good reader, I need your assistance.  This Saturday, I’ve been invited to a birthday party where people are required to dress like musicians, alive or dead.  Since this party will be infested with early 20 somethings from South Jersey, dressing up as Leonard Cohen probably won’t do wonders for me.

With that in mind, I need YOUR help–who should I dress as?  I don’t want to spend more than $20 on getting an outfit together.  The best entry will get a free shipment of Beat Garden goodies (read: my junk mail) shipped directly to your home.  And I’ll make sure a picture is posted.  The last time I did this, the results were award-winning.  Here’s me as Rob Base in October 2005:

Can you top that?

Right now, my knuckles are scuffed and covered in dirt and grease. 

My palms are sore and cracked.  My shirt is caked in sweat. 

My back is barking like a Doberman in Fishtown.

In other words, I had to change a flat tire on my car during my lunch break.  And surprise surprise, someone *cough Pep Boys cough* switched out the lugnuts the last time I had a flat, so the current lugnuts were stripped.  I could only get one lugnut off in the 30+ minutes I spent trying to unleash my inner Hulk. 

The best I can do to alleviate the annoyance of having to put the lugnut back on, call a towtruck, spend $60 to have my car towed approximately 3 blocks to the nearest Goodyear, and then have them tell me the tires I need are sold out and won’t be in until the morning…is to play this mean ass shit:

“State of Grace Freestyle” (produced by RZA supposedly off of Cuban Linx 2)
rapped over by Zilla Rocca for the mixtape Bring Me the Head of Zilla Rocca

I’ve been contemplating on whether I should link you to the Passion so you download the latest from my coming mixtape Bring Me the Head of Zilla Rocca….or kidnap Brett Favre.

*thinking*

….

*still thinking*

…..

*price checking rope and grappling hooks on Overstock.com*

….

*price checking gloves and ski masks at Sears.com*

….

*contemplating the next few years in prison versus the next few summers minus constant updates on the most selfish player in NFL history*

….

*still thinking*

Dammit, it’s more free music!

“Get That Gun” featuring Reef the Lost Cauze & Nico the Beast
Produced by Zilla Rocca
Grab it here

******

On a sidenote, read this excellent LA Times article on Q-Tip and his new album The Renaissance supposedely dropping this September.  According to the piece, the album is a return to Midnight Marauders-era Tip in terms of beats and rhymes.  AND he’s reaching out to Nigel Godrich to work on his next album!!!  That news alone has me returning that camouflage outfit back to Wallmart’s online store and me auctioning off my plane ticket to Wisconsin…

Crazy crazy weekend…

Shout outs to everyone who came through at the Knitting Factory last Thursday to see Nico the Beast’s NYC debut.  A BIG thank you to Thor Takeover for having us, my man Griff from RhymeCity for playing me some bangers on his cellphone, and Memo aka El Wray aka Bull Sullivan , the best soud engineer in Queens, for buying me some overpriced Lager!

I also want to give props to Just One, Emynd and Bo Bliz for their first Year 2000 party at Johnny Brenda’s this past Friday night.  The premise was simple: throw a dance party playing only songs that dropped between ‘99-’01.  Highlights included the floor almost collapsing during “Ante Up” (never saw so many white girls throw their middle fingers up) and a twin killing of Ghostface’s “Nutmeg” and “Mighty Healthy” which closed out the show (fuck a “Give it to Me”).  If and when they throw another one, you can bet your Milwaukee hind parts I’ll be in the building!

Alright, let’s get down to business…

First up, we have Feed the Beast Week 8.  Nico gets busy over my pick, dead prez’s “Hip Hop” (which was also played on Friday night to the chagrin of dem crackers up in they city hall).    He then absolutely MERKS Fat Joe and DJ Premier’s latest collabo “Thank God For That White” without selling one ki of coke.  This does not bode well with Hot 97.  As always, you can download both tracks at 33jones.  And make sure you hit up Nico’s page to vote for your favorite!

Finally, my collaborator on the 5 O’Clock Shadowboxer project Douglas “Fresh Cherries Written on the Kitten” Martin has leaked our 2 latest songs.  The first is me rapping over Coldplay’s “Lost!” which is actually a great song in its own right–I might have to finally forgive them for the cold turd that was X&Y and check out the new album.  Some people want me to spit a second verse, but right now you sumbitches are only getting a sixteen.

The second leaked track from the Shadowboxers is “Sharpen Their Teeth” which Douglas put up on the MySpace page.  It’s about steak dinners and grade school classmates and stolen Harleys and garbage men named Lester in a totally hetero way.  Check it out on the MySpace page.

More free music coming all week.  Don’t tell the RIAA.

WE GOT HIM!

A part of me thinks Elton Brand is kind of a jerk by telling the Clippers, “Hey, I’m opting out of my contract so you can restructure my deal in order to get me help, maybe….my good friend Baron Davis?” 

The Clippers say, “Elton, baby, we love you!  We’re getting the Bearded Blazer right now, baby!” 

The Clippers actually sign Baron Davis, who blogs and dyes his beard and talks about forming a championship team with Brand and Cat Mobley and Kaman and Eric Gordon….

And then Elton Brand signs with the 76ers!!!!

I’m overjoyed that this team FINALLY has a low post player who play with his back to the basket, who can rebound, block shots and who wants to play East Coast style basketball.  But a part of me thought, “Man, Elton Brand totally screwed the Clippers over.”

And then I realized that since Barkely left in ‘93, I’ve had to watch Armen Gilliam, Clarence Weatherspoon, Sharone Wright, Tim Perry, Tony Massenburg, Ed Pinkney, Derrick Coleman, Derrick Alston, LaSalle Thompson, Mark Hendrickson, Tyrone Hill, Kenny Thomas, Corie Blount, Keith Van Horn, Brian Skinner, Monty Williams, Zendon Hamilton, Lee Nailon, and Alan Henderson attempt to play the 4 position.

Sorry Clippers, but clearly we’ve been tortured in that regard.  Elton Brand will do!  Here’s Phil Jasner’s piece in the The Daily News.

******

I saw this on Mikey McFly’s blog and didn’t really pay attention at first because Q-Tip comes out every year with a song or two from an album that will never see the light of day.  But goddamn, THIS TRACK IS OUTSTANDING!!!  “Getting Up” is the song I’ve been waiting to hear from the Abstract since The Love Movement.  It’s got a summery Steve Wonder-like piano, a nimble bassline, and those 1-2 drums Dilla made his signature.  The strings are a nice touch on the hook.  This is the type of song Common keeps trying to make and fails admirably.  Tip’s one of the few non-lyrical rappers who I can listen to all day: he isn’t swaggeriffic or shallow or flow-heavy.  He doesn’t stress wack punchlines.  He goes just to the edge of being overly righteous/scientific/loverman cliche and just pulls back.  He’s a master songwriter who happens to rap.  And I’ve blatantly ripped him off many times on my upcoming projects, the mixtape Bring Me the Head of Zilla Rocca!!! and the LP Fall Back Friday.

*******

TO ALL MY NYC HEADS…….

Beat Garden will be in the building tomorrow night, Thurs. July 10th, 2008 @ the Knitting Factory.  Nico The Beast will be making his solo debut in the Big Apple.  Show starts at 9pm, all ages, $5.  Nico will be going on around 11pm.  I’ll be handing out Nico sampler CDs and we’ll be selling copies of No Beast so Fierce as well.

This is our first show in NYC since last December at Don Pedro’s in Brooklyn and we rocked a crowd straight after they watched a guy do some “ukelale hip hop” (for real), so imagine what’s gonna happen tomorrow!

Here’s some free Nico MP3’s just ’cause:

“Wanna Rap, Wanna Rhyme”
produced by Alex Wood
from the album No Beast So Fierce
http://www.zshare.net/audio/14954493a691d7ef/

“Philly Codes” f/ Zilla Rocca and 2ew Gunn Ciz
produced by Alex Wood
from the album No Beast so Fierce
http://www.zshare.net/audio/14954607226ad837/

“Dey Know Freestyle”
from Feed the Beast Week 2
http://www.zshare.net/audio/14954633c925d991/

For the second installment of I Used to Rock Dem Tapes, I’m turning the clock back 10 years, when pagers were still acceptable means of getting at a shorty, Wu-Tang ruled the world, and Lil’ Wayne was only 25 years old.

This was the first installment of a yearly nerd tradition I created for myself–a collection of the best Wu-Tang related songs of the past 365.

Titled From the Slums of Shaolin: Best of Wu-Tang ‘98, this tape got crazy burn halfway through my junior year of high school in my trusty Walkman (which ended up getting stolen on the Broad Street Line).  What I notice most about this tape is that the B-Side kicks major ass.  Maybe I frontloaded the first half with Wu B-Teamers like Killarmy, Sunz of Man, and La the Darkman was to reward myself with ice cream after getting through the brussel sprouts that was Islord and Prodigal Sunn.   I’d give myself a C+ for Side A and an A- effort for Side B.

Unfortunately, since this tape was made, I sold the second Killarmy album, Sunz of Man’s first album, La the Darkman’s album, and Cappadonna’s first album when I moved out in ‘05 to help pay for furniture, food, and newer CD’s.  I regret selling The Pillage and wouldn’t mind having a small playlist on my iPod with the bright spots from Sunz of Man’s The Last Shall Be First.  A few years later, the RZA must’ve read my mind with those Wu Chronicles releases that essentially did the same job as my mixtape series.  But I still kept going.  And yes, I did actually have a girlfriend when I made these.

**********

From the Slums of Shaolin: Best of Wu-Tang ‘98
Maxel UR
90 Minutes

Side A

1.  “The Worst”  Onyx f/ Wu-Tang
2.  “The Shootout”  Killarmy
3.  “Polluted Wisdom”  La the Darkman
4.  “5 Stages of Consciousness”  Killarmy
5.  “Tru Master”  Pete Rock f/ Inspectah Deck, Kurupt
6.  “S.O.S”  Inspectah Deck f/ Street Life
7.  “Dangerous Grounds”  Method Man f/ Street Life
8.  “Mantis”  RZA (Bobby Digital) f/ Masta Killa. Tekietha
9.  “Heist of the Century”  La the Darkman f/ Killa Sin
10.  “NYC Everything”  RZA (Bobby Digital) f/ Method Man
11.  “And Justice For All”  RZA f/ Method Man, Killarmy
12.  “Put Your Hammer Down” Funkmaster Flex f/ Wu-Tang Clan
13.  “Illusions”  Sunz of Man f/ Masta Killa

Side B

1.  “The Game”  Pete Rock f/ Raekwon, Ghostface, Prodigy
2.  “Play IV Keeps”  Method Man f/ Mobb Deep, Street Life, Inspectah Deck
3.  “Supa Ninjas”  Cappadonna f/ Method Man, U-God
4.  “Windpipe”  RZA f/ Ghostface, ODB
5.  “Black Trump” Cocoa Brovaz f/ Raekwon
6.  “John Blaze”  Fat Joe f/ Nas, Big Pun, Jadakiss, Raekwon
7.  “Big Dogs”  Method Man f/ Redman
8.  “Gunz N Onez”  Heltah Skeltah f/ Method Man
9.   ”Element of Surprise”  La the Darkman f/ U-God
10.  “Intellectuals”  Sunz of Man f/ U-God, Raekwon
11.  “Handwriting on the Wall” RZA f/ Ras Kass
12.  “The End”  Ras Kass f/ RZA
13.  “Strange Fruit” Pete Rock f/ Sticky Fingaz, Tragedy Khadafi, Cappadonna

Since I am a white male and this is a blog, I must follow Internet Law no. 291238 article IV pargraph 8 and  write at least 1 entry about Lil’ Wayne exclusively.  Over at Not a Blogger, I challenged Trey Stone/Tray (I’m terrible with names–forgive me) in the comments section to show me 5 great lyrical performances from Weezy that are on par with Shawn Carter. 

After spending 10 minutes reading them, my brain feels like an omelette–sorry guys. 

If Wayne proclaimed himself “The best entertainer alive” then I’d be on board.  The guy is 2 years away from having his own VH1 reality show where he hands out styrofoam cups to white girls that tattoo their mispelled children’s names on their wrists.  Saying funny phrases and making your voice sound like a wood chipper dipped in molasses while flowing over “A Milli” is definitely a talent.  But a rapper who proclaims himself a “beast” that “eats other rappers” and sticks his New Orleans slim jim in their girlfriends should be able to, you know, spit hot shit perhaps?

I called Big O to recite some of Weezy’s lyrics to make sure I wasn’t just hating.  He confirmed it as well–he’s heard better rhymes picking his son up at grade school.   We started reminiscing over great lyricists of the past and how much better they are than Wayne and how their greatest lyrics would be Wayne-sidized for today’s fan.  

The only way to do this was to go all out and create a piece of science so precise, so brilliant, so low budgeted we’d take the rap world by storm.  I then dedicated literally hundreds of seconds to build such a dastardly device!

Ready?

Feast

Your

Eyes

On

The….

WAYNE-A-TRON8000!!

The Wayne-A-Tron8000 (patents pending) is half copy machine, half construction paper and scotch tape.  It’s inner workings are so detailed and meticulous, your puny, infantile brain couldn’t even begin to fathom it’s operating system.  So here’s an elementary breakdown of how it works:  feed it with great lyrics, hit the Start button, and within seconds a Weezy F. Baby enhanced version of those lyrics pop out!

Subject 001:

“Your reign on the top was short like leprechauns
As I crush so-called willies, thugs, and rapper dons
Get in that ass quick fast like Ramadan
It’s the rap phenomenon don dada, fuck poppa”

WAYNE-A-TRON8000, TABULATE RESPONSE!!!

*robot voice*

“WAYNE-A-TRON8000 response uploading now”

“Your reign on the top was short like leprechauns
I watched that movie, with braces on, you can call me Tootie
Oh! Get in that ass, call me Gay Porn Movie
Rap phenomenon, black car, call me Hasselhoff”

Subject 002:

“But what’s it all worth, can’t take it with you under this earth
Rich men died and tried but none of it worked
They just rob your grave, I’d rather be alive and paid
Before my number’s called, history’s made”

WAYNE-A-TRON8000, TABULATE RESPONSE NOW!!!

*robot voice*

“WAYNE-A-TRON8000 response uploading now”

“But what’s it all worth, I am panty liner, touch your girl’s skirt
Rich man, so fly like Baby Jesus, church
I’m the boss, OK?  I’m so alive, I’m paid
Weezy F. Baby, purple lemondade!”

SUBJECT 003:

“Aiyyo I shatter dreams like Jordan, assault and batter your team
Your squadron’ll be barred from rap like Adam & Eve from the garden
I’m carving my initials on your forehead
So every night before bed you see the “BP” shine off the board head”

WAYNE-A-TRON8000 TABULATE RESPONSE NOW!!!

*robot voice*

“WAYNE-A-TRON8000 response uploading now”

“Aiyyo I shatter dreams in Jordans, I bought em for 10 G’s
You are appleseed, I am open minded, Adam and Steve in the garden
Oh! I’m carving my intials on your girl’s legs
W.F., I am vampire, she gives me Underworld sex, yeah!”

*robot voice*

“WAYNE-A-TRON8000 ending transmission timedated 8:17:03.  You are low on toner and staples.  Young Money, bitch.”