(Words/Open Letter) This is the "letter" that the Delaware radio station (@Kiss1017) sent to @Tyrese.......

At least this is the letter that was sent to anyone subscribed to their website...To their listeners. So one has to assume that if they put it up on their site, it is official. Don't we? The letter IS ON THEIR WEBSITE BUT LETS FACE IT..Not many people outside of Northern New Castle County/PA and the folks over the Delaware Memorial Bridge are going to GO ON THAT SITE AND SEE THAT. Maybe a blogger like me will but I am talking REGULAR FOLKS. And we know Mr. Gibson isn't going to CHECK THEIR SITE to see what they are saying about him. So...... UPDATE: I see it has gone national AGAIN... Good. It needed to. That's all I wanted. Was for folks to hear the response. .

This is Mr. Gibson's new song btw...
The Making Of: Tyrese - "Stay" feat. Taraji P. Henson from ICED MEDIA on Vimeo.






Clearly there are three sides to every story...Here is Tony Q's side... I will probably write about it in depth later on this week. Minus both parties words..AKA in my own words. I just thought in the name of fairness, I should put up his response and make sure Tyrese had an IMMEDIATE outlet to see other than his record label's email.




The following is a letter that was sent to Tyresses Record Company on the facts! I thought you should know! Tony Q

Tyress I have heard enough of your lies. I am the Owner & General Manager of the station that "kicked" you off the air. Now you know full well what the reason was. In case you forgot I will remind you.

When you came into the station I was informed by my staff that you were not in a good mood. You went on the air and said that you wanted to stop and get a Pepsi and a candy bar. I am surprised that you couldn't tell the difference between a convenience store and a liquor store. You preceded to lecture to the audience that they had to do something about this. That liquor stores should not be near schools. This I do not disagree with but in case you don't know, liquor stores as well as schools are controlled by the state. This is part that upset me. It was they way you spoke on the air. You stereotyped your own culture by calling them Homies ect. Almost blaming Delawareans for allowing liquor stores to be there. The DJ on the air said to you that this is not the only station that has this problem, your reply was I don't care I am here now in Delaware.

As far as I know there are no liquor stores located across the street from a school. I have it all on tape, if you need to be refreshed. What got me real upset was that this was a way for you to promoted your event at the University Of Delaware. You were having a book signing and you were also going to perform. You know Mr.Tyress being a black radio station, its hard enough getting people to advertise on this format and yet when a performer comes to a radio station as a guest and then use the airwaves for personal gain is wrong. Why didn't the college, your record company or your management work out some kind of promotion to invite the people you were lecturing on the air to come to your event. What you did was made your on air time an info commercial. Now I do not expect that from a Black performer to use us. Imagine how I felt that Tyress is going to be performing in our backyard and we didn't even know about it. Nor did our listeners. Maybe you found out that day that it wasn't promoted and you decided to use us rather then support the station that supported you. That's right we were the 1st station in the north east to support you new song.

Also you have the order of what happened on the air wrong. You came on lecturing our listeners, you then asked the DJ if we had any listeners. What kind of question was that if we had any listeners. Then you went right into promoting your big night at the University of Delaware. You received the full air time you deserved. We did not cut off your mike, we did not let the audiences know that the interview was over but you did. You couldn't wait to tweet your words all over and let people believe that you were kicked off because you were talking about a liquor store, that was not the reason. You got away with taking advantage of the only remaining independent station in the North East.

Its situations like this that are killing the Black Division of Record Companies. Do you think for one second if a Pop group was appearing somewhere and that Pop station didn't know about it, what would have happened. That's right, the record of that group would have been pulled. In this case how you acted with your lies you got your own record pulled from the station. You came to the radio station hot and you left hot. Oh by the way I understand that you made a big deal at the Double Tree Hotel behind the station. Something about a room, your mouth got in the way again and they threw you out of there too! You need to check yourself. It could be you.

Now you have taken enough of my energy I wish you well on getting your records played on the major station chains.

Tony Q
Owner and General Manager
WJKS-FM & WFAI-AM

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Dear N_______s: A must read...(This one I didn't write but I thought I should share..)

I'm not mad. ( I actually think there was something similar done like this in the past...Nothing was done by anyone...) At all. For a lot of reasons...I bet money that once he reveals who he is NOTHING HAPPENS TO HIM. When I say nothing I mean as in 'we' won't do anything to him. However, we WILL shoot each other...for MUCH MUCH MUCH LESS.


Damm shame too...

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So THIS is the scam we are running now? Word?

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They are so big they probably don't need this but go peep Allhihop.com's Open Letter From Chuck D...

It is worth it...Here is a small piece...I will bet dollars to doughnuts that people will pick out the ONE rapper's name and say Chuck dissed him...(Which he didn't...) smh..Can't say I agree with EVERYTHING Chuck is saying but I can dig it and understand why he is saying it...For the most part I do agree. In particular WITH THAT DO BAD AND GET IN THE NEWS thing..I will leave that for you to read there....

Here is a piece....


"So many of your favorite people suck up to the NBA and NFL, because it has order and when you make the game look bad David Stern or Robert Goddell is kicking their asses out . They are the indisputable HWIC, and negroes are in line and silenced. But here in Hip-Hop the dysfunctionality reward makes the money that puts food on many tables."
http://www.allhiphop.com/stories/editorial/archive/2011/01/03/22542191.aspx

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James Harrison speaks on the fines, NFL's view on safety and more.....

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=177181618974973&set=a.176925502333918.49325.176653309027804&comments

I’m going to rant one good time and get it over with. So the NFL says they are extremely worried about player safety, right? But the League wants to add two more games and make it an 18 game season even though they are fully aware of the physical toll playing the game takes on every player and they know the physical condition players are in at the end of the season? Plus....more games = more chances for players to get concussions and other injuries. And starting in March, players will no longer have health insurance provided by the League because of the potential lockout, but they are so concerned about player safety, right?
So the League is so concerned for player safety. So they fine $25k for an out and out boxing match on the field in the middle of a game, but they fine me a total of $125k for doing my job. With that being said, I am doing my job the same exact way I did my job in 2008 when the League honored me with the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
And another thing... the League fined Denver’s coach $50k and the team $50k for outright cheating by filming another team’s practice. That makes me think that maybe the League doesn’t consider cheating, which compromises the integrity of the entire game, quite as important as what THEY recently decided to consider illegal hits (when most players, coaches, fans and anybody with an ounce of football common sense can see they are clean, legal hits).
While we are talking about cheating, what ever happened with the New England Patriot’s cheating scandal a few years back? They were caught cheating for what turned out to be years and ended up with total fines of $500,000 for the coach and $250,000 for the team. But that whole thing was swept under the rug, you barely hear a thing about it now, but I’m being burned at the proverbial stake and fined a total of $125,000 in two months for doing my job well.
Speaking of fines.....where does all this fine money go? Exactly where does it end up? Everyone knows it goes to a charitable organization. But which charitable organization? Who are the board members, directors and interested parties in the organizations that benefit from what amounts to MILLIONS of dollars a year? I wonder if any of them are NFL executives.
The fined players can’t pick where the money goes, but I think it’s reasonable to expect to at least see where it ends up...what do you think? I wonder if the League takes off an administrative fee from the total before the donation is given....just a thought. If anyone has any details or a report, please email it to me or something.
There is one good thing that has resulted from this whole situation. I started The James Harrison Family Foundation so I can help kids that need it. At least I’ll know where that money’s going.
But hey...what do I know? I may have given, strike that, I mean taken one too many hits to the head...

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Rather than 'talk' about @ChrisetteM alleged letter. I will @ her and ask did she write it..

Letter in response to another 'alleged' incident that said @rickyrozay (nee Rick Ross) storm off after not winning a Soul Train Music Award (losing to Eminem) Don't know if either is true and I don't want to really speak on it until I can confirm she wrote it. It came to me third hand so if I didn't get the true 'source'. Sorry.


I actually like the letter so I am not dissing it. I just don't know if she wrote it....'Cause you know that will be next. She didn't write it....

UPDATE: She wrote it...Found it finally..No one wanted to give the source. Here it is....http://chrisettemichele.tumblr.com/post/1543598818/award-show I was wondering if they were set to perform their hit 'Aston Martin Music'....that's why she spoke out. They were....

"If this is the way hip hop is then I denounce it.
This is not about ego. This is about what I can bring to the world. My life is for the people. I live to give.
It’s my desire to bring life and freedom light and love everywhere I go. Upward mobility in the brown skinned community.
Who stands off at an award show because they don’t win? An award is winning at being as “stuck in a category” as possible. Congratulations to all the trophy holders who won at being the most like every one else.
I could have sworn hip hop was on the come up. But apparently rapping is about venting, bashing, chauvinistic pigging, and EGO. Not cool. Don’t LET me start rapping.
They say…I’m ecclectic. I’m underrated. I’m different. Well If I win an award it’s because I paved a way. Every award I’ve won was new in it’s category. You know why? Because I’m amazing at being my damn self.
Grammy – best alternative R&B song Centric award – Soul Approved Etc.
Have u even heard of those categories? Nope. But guess what? You ain’t never seen another me. And u never will. No ego here. Why? Because it’s none needed. My award is waking up every morning and CAKING off of what I believe in by the grace of God.
Maybe I’ll call my 4th album “winners : just like every body else” maybe not.
I pray with every song I sing Im singing from the bottom of my heart. If all we want is an award for telling our truths, then we really have no true reason. This isn’t a competition. This is a stage for self expression and I’m grateful for the opportunity to live on it. I’d sing even if nobody sang along.
-from the bottom of my disappointed heart. Hip Hop… Man up. I wanted to be supportive but I can’t understand you. I believed in you… But apparently you’re so high you can’t even see what the world needs.
Is all hip hop like that? Absolutely not! But some of it certainly is. Let me spit a few bars. I’m not that kinda hip hop. I rep hip hop too. But not that kinda ego trippin foolery.

Chrisette Michele – the girl on that Aston Martin Music record…
Spread love.

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Tim Wise....spitting that fire...on that Dylan Dylan Dylan type time to the White Right Wing...

You know me...I love the way IT STARTS OUT. This is my type of 'hype' (not actual hype) right here....


*NOTE: PLEASE RE-READ THE TITLE OF THIS ESSAY BEFORE GOING FURTHER. NOTICE, IT IS AIMED AT THE WHITE RIGHT. NOT ALL WHITE PEOPLE. ANYONE WHO THINKS THIS ESSAY IS “ANTI-WHITE PEOPLE,” AS OPPOSED TO THAT SEGMENT OF THE WHITE COMMUNITY THAT IS RIGHT WING, CANNOT READ PLAIN ENGLISH. PLEASE TRY AGAIN.*
_____

For all y’all rich folks, enjoy that champagne, or whatever fancy ass Scotch you drink.

And for y’all a bit lower on the economic scale, enjoy your Pabst Blue Ribbon, or whatever shitty ass beer you favor.

Whatever the case, and whatever your economic station, know this…

You need to drink up.

And quickly.

And heavily.

Because your time is limited.

Real damned limited.

So party while you can, but mind the increasingly loud clock ticking away in the corners of your consciousness.

The clock that reminds you how little time you and yours have left.

Not much more now.

Tick, tock.

Tick, tock.

Tick.

Tock.

I know, you think you’ve taken “your country back” with this election — and of course you have always thought it was yours for the taking, cuz that’s what we white folks are bred to believe, that it’s ours, and how dare anyone else say otherwise — but you are wrong.

You have won a small battle in a larger war the meaning of which you do not remotely understand.

‘Cuz there is nothing even slightly original about you.

There have always been those who wanted to take the country back.

There were those who, in past years, wanted to take the country back to a time of enslavement and indentured servitude.

But they lost.

There were those who wanted to take us back to a time when children could be made to work in mines and factories, when workers had no legal rights to speak of, when the skies in every major city were heavy with industrial soot that would gather on sidewalks and windowsills like volcanic ash.

But they lost.

There were those who wanted to take us back to a time when women could not vote, or attend any but a few colleges, or get loans in their own names, or start their own businesses.

But they lost.

There were those who wanted to take us back to a time when blacks “had no rights that the white man was bound to respect,” – this being the official opinion of the Supreme Court before those awful days of judicial activism, now decried by the likes of you – and when people of color could legally be kept from voting solely because of race, or holding certain jobs, or living in certain neighborhoods, or run out of other towns altogether when the sun would go down, or be strung up from trees.

But they lost.

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I guess it is a nice gesture...Ilgauskas's 'Thank You Letter' to the Cleveland fans...

I am guessing this is how 'it' should have been done..lol

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An open letter to all the other open letters (A Defense of Stayve Jerome Thomas) -Thalamus Rasoolala in collaboration with The Warehouse

You can find Merc80 here on his site or here


A very very very good open letter in regards to Slim Thug's comments which is why I decided to lend him some space here on my blog. He touches on some things that many seem to be overlooking in light of some of what Slim Thug said. Some of the 'truths' of the statements if you will. (Yes, I said it too.) I made the original post and left it up in the air a bit about what I thought so that opinions could be given unbiased. I will let it be known what I think about his comments now. Yes, his delivery could have been better but I READ THE WHOLE INTERVIEW, not just the piece that is floating around the Internet that everyone wants to attack. In CONTEXT, what he said wasn't some horrible piece about 'tearing black women down'. Sorry. It wasn't. He said no more than the average cat on the street says and usually when they say it, NOTHING IS SAID. On top of that, most of you wouldn't fool with this cat anyway so I REALLY don't see what the fuss is about. You say he has done 'nothing'? Read further. He as. Is he the most eloquent cat in the World? No. He also is far from the most stupid and at LEAST HE HAD THE NUTS TO FOLLOW HIS DREAMS AND NOT ASK ANYONE FOR SHIT. He pulled it from the muscle. @ his success. Now I, like Merc80, don't agree with ALL of his assessments but to act like he is the scum of the Earth over this little bit of commentary is absurd. At least to me...Enjoy the read. Yeah, I know some of you want it to go away. I was busy yesterday so I didn't get a chance to tackle it but I DID GET A CHANCE TO READ ALL OF YOU CHIP IN YOUR THOUGHTS. So bare with the kid....It is my turn to speak on it.

Enjoy and PLEASE DO COMMENT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. We would appreciate it.



An open letter to all the other open letters (A Defense of Stayve Jerome Thomas)

When it comes to Black male and female relationships, I've been trying to hold my tongue from speaking on it for a while. Quite frankly, the subject is old, and I get frustrated at the unwillingness of both parties to really listen to each other and to actually act out the solutions being offered and suggested. Often times the statements and conclusions become predictable.

Before I continue I'm going to lay out a few things...
I'm a Black male in my late 20s. My mother raised me and my older sister. I have lived around women basically all of my life. Most of my understanding of "how to be a man" came from the trials and learning that me and other male friends (most of whom were raised by their mothers) tried to discover through life and bouncing our expereinces off one another. Wisdom through peers. Many times I would try to gain understanding of how to be a man by asking other women's opinions, other times through older males. When it comes to male and female interactions, I almost always lean in favor for women because of the horrible things I have seen men do to women. Whether it be domestic violence, infidelity, mind games, any of that, I've seen it, heard about it, and know women who have experienced it. My mother was an activist. Very proud and strong willed. You ain't seen a strong Black woman with an education til you met my mother. Trust me.

I have a BA from an acclaimed private college, and went to UCLA for my MA. Since graduating 4 years ago I have been laid off 3 times, and have been struggling to get back on my feet. I am not the largest dude, never played sports. I am an artist at heart. Overall, I think I can confidently say that I am what most Black women say they want minus the financial success and being over 6 feet tall. There's only one girl I ever dated that was of another race. Otherwise, I much prefer darker skinned Black women (you can thank my mom for that).

I have some of Slim Thug's music. A few mixtapes and his album Already Platinum. I also listen to Miles Davis, Bjork, and all kinds of other stuff. There's no way you can pigeon-hole me. As soon as I read his Vibe article I knew what was coming, one of them being a Black academic breakdown of what he said/implied.

Many "successful" Black folks have a problem relating to other Blacks that didn't go to college or finish high school. If they aren't using big enough words, citing statistics, or saying it in a way that we like for our public image, we go into teacher mode. We throw some bell hooks in the mix to exercise our knowledge.
Many times Black women in college would debate what I would say when it came to relationships and seemingly dismantle me in a discussion about "capitalist patriarchy", sexism, and the like. No man is without his fault of his sexism, but guess what? There are a lot of women who support the cycle of sexism. So before you critique a man about his "sexism" understand that what they are patterning themselves after are often times things that other women say that they want.
Such as-
"I want a man who can lead."
"I want a man who can keep me in check sometimes."
"I need a man who can protect me."
These are the 3 most used sentences I have heard from various Black women throughout my life. And every time I hear it, it seems odd to me. The same things women say they want contradict the ideas of feminism in the way I understand it. How can I lead, protect, and check you without already holding a position of superiority? That has yet to be explained in a way that doesn't contradict itself. And lets say I am able to do all of those things. What's the woman's role in the relationship?

I spoke to a Black female professor at my college that many of the women at my school studied under, revered and loved.
I said "All of these Black women look up to you. They quote you all the time. They love you. And these same systems you are teaching to help us grow, to fight oppression, are getting used against other Black men like me. So the same people I want to fight alongside are fighting against me. What am I supposed to do?"
All she could say was: "Listen...I'm not giving solutions, these are only theories."
I was upset by that answer. It was as if all these things we were taught were just excersises in "What if...?". A theory is not an answer.
But it also made me realize that there is no one answer to everything to solve Black issues.

I say all that to say this- All of us so called "educated" black people need to be quiet. Cause in the end, we don't always know what we're talking about. One of the biggest gripes I have right now is this elitist attitude people are having in discrediting Slim's intelligence, as if he has no idea of how to interact with other humans. Somehow, he has no idea what he's talking about because he didn't articulate it "intellectually".

Stayve Jerome Thomas aka Slim Thug is a rapper from Houston. As far as I know he doesn't have any degrees. He worked his way to become a local celebrity, distributed his own mixtapes, started an independent label, and has had a major label debut. He even appeared alongside many women's idol, Beyonce. The video for Hip Hop Saved My Life by Lupe Fiasco was inspired by Slim Thug's rise, as Lupe himself stated. Despite the perception of Slim Thug, he's an entrepreneur, and has done more before his 30s than many people. So lets not discount his intelligence. Through it all, people (especially women) are upset by what his feelings and opinions are on Black women in relationships. He didn't say he never dated, will never date, or does not like Black women. He said what his friends do and have said with regard to White women giving them less of a hard time. And I have heard the same from other Black men. He stated his opinion, it was printed. This is about the interaction in a relationship. Not about domestic violence, stats, and so forth. So it seems most people want to discredit everything he said. This debate isn't new. What he said isn't new, nor are the reactions. Now what?

"Well I'm not an angry black woman. I won't just cook and clean for you. You just want a white girl cause she'll let you walk all over her and do anything, I ain't' gonna bow down to you!"

There's a difference between being a doormat, and being loyal. It doesn't mean you do everything a man says.
I'm going to break some news to you: White women are usually more loyal and less argumentative.

From what I've seen overall, most men period rather a woman who is less argumentative. Why? Because if you are asking me to lead and be responsible, I don't want to constantly argue about my decision. If you are trusting me to lead or to display my leadership, then someone is going to follow. If we keep running into debates or you are going to try to hold superiority over me, then it's not going to work. It doesn't mean you don't stand up for what you feel is right, but if we are going to continually have a tug of war, debate, or argue over something, then it's not healthy. There's a difference between being a "strong" black woman and being an "unwilling" black woman. You can put up a debate and have a strong will. That's great. But at some point a decision has to be made. If two people keep coming to impasses where neither is willing to compromise, it's not going to work. This is about the interaction in a relationship, not how well someone can show out. You can take that how you want, but this is how a lot of men operate. If you care about getting and keeping a man, maybe that will help.

Believe it or not, there are women who are gold diggers like Slim Thug described.
There are women who will not "lower" or "compromise" their standards. And yes, standards can be too high. You may not think yours are, but they might be. And sometimes it's not so much the standards, but the unwillingness to try anything different.

I have no shame in admitting that I need a woman to complete my vision of happiness. And yes, I want it to be a Black woman.
It seems like most women don't want to believe what Slim Thug said MIGHT be true.
And then throughout today we have open letters, rants, and debates.
Sorry Black women, but the more you keep throwing stones at him the more he can say "See. I told you."

And as much as women say they dislike his mentality, it's the same mentality that many women still go for, even if they dont admit it. He never said he's better than a woman, but clearly he feels there is a lead position he must take. Is that surprising? Trust me I've heard worse. I know lots of Black men who have openly stated "I'M the catch. I'M the one that most women want. I'm a Black man and I'm successful. Shit, they should prove to ME why they're worth MY time."

So the question becomes what are you going to bring into the relationship? The first response is always "I won't cook and clean and be a maid or his mom." I hear more Black women saying what they won't do than what they will do. And when a women comes along and says that they will do what the other woman won't, she's gets wifed. And she gets the benefits of having the protective man that can lead. Yes people, it's a new day. Black women are now doing the mating call and showing that they are a prime catch. It's survival of the fittest to get a Black man.

Please spare me statistics, or re-eading this to find sentences you can dismantle (espeically out of context).
I actually think you should re-read Slim Thug's words for what they say, not what you think he said or is implying. Things in print aren't the same as a conversation.

Yes these are generalities. We all generalize. We all have opinions that someone out there disagrees with.

No, I do not agree with everything Slim Thug said, but I do understand his point. Implying racial superiority definitely is problematic; but, I can point out a lot of cultural differences I see between African Americans and others, and one of them is how we value relationships and family. It's not just falling apart because of outside forces but because of internal issues.

Yes, Black men have done a lot of things wrong, but that doesn't mean every Black woman is without blame.

Yes, Black women have carried many of the burdens that have weighed down on Black people through history; but, what does that have to do with the interaction of boyfriend & girlfriend, or husband and wife?

I've seen a lot of Black women dating white men as of late. It stirs a little anger in me, but what can I do about it?

I think more people are angry because what he said was more true than it was offensive.
But that could just be my opinion.
Life goes on, and I still love Black women.

"Black peoples’ mentality is real fucked up in general [and] it’s affecting everything." -Slim Thug

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THIS is why people question Solar.....

If you don't understand why this is a big deal look at the date. Go look at when Guru passed. How is tweeting this FROM HIS ACCOUNT,linking it back to YOUR ACCOUNT and acting like since it is coming from his account that makes the statement authentic a GOOD IDEA? Not understanding that logic.


Oh and to the people coming here to see if I am going to say Guru was gay? Come the hell on. I don't know NOR DO I CARE if he was. It was always about the music. That is it. I don't have any knowledge of his sexual status or any of that. I see the Google/search engine results. Miss me with that.

I don't think Solar killed him or anything silly like that. What I do think is that something is up. Somewhere, With whom I don't KNOW but activity like this makes me wonder. Things like this are what make people wonder as well.



http://twitter.com/GuruGangStarr/status/12530294661


Courtesy of MTV

Guru wrote his farewell letter while in the hospital, according to Solar. "I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world," it begins. "I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options.

"I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting.

"My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody's feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf [of] myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own."

Guru very pointedly distanced himself from Premier in the letter, saying he didn't want his former musical collaborator to be able to participate in any tributes or events surrounding his death.

"I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events, tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this," wrote Guru. "I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ.

"As the sole founder of Gang Starr, I am very proud of what Gang Starr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with Gang Starr or Jazzmatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now.

"The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small-mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life."


Guru made this statement from his own mouth and anybody saying different is insane with Hate! (via @solar_7grand)

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Lil Wayne's letter from jail..

I have no way of really confirming it or not....At least not yet...

During my prison stint, I want my fans to know I love you. I want all of you to know that I appreciate all the mail I get, and this is my way of saying thank you. The F is for Family, Friends, and Fans.



Love. Live. Life. Proceed. Progress. That’s who I am and who I’ll always be. You see, we’re all living on borrowed time, so I’m not worried about this situation. Life happens quick. The more time you spend contemplating what you should have done…you lose valuable time planning what you can and will do. Trying to tear down the past prohibits you from building up your future. So for my time here, my physical will be confined to the yard. My love and my spirit, however, know no boundaries.
I’m in good spirits man, for real. My kids race through my mind all day. They know they were created with love, so love is how their life will be defined. I just hope my love and adoration for them provides a temporary bandage on a wound I unknowingly inflicted on them.

Real soon, you can catch me blogging for ESPN again thank you espn for not letting my passion for sports perish. I work out a lot because it helps pass the time. I read the Bible everyday. Jail didn’t make me find God, He’s always been there. They can lock me up, but my spirit and my love can never be confined to prison walls.

But this isn’t all about me, you are the reason for this letter. It’s because of you Rebirth went gold when critics aborted it. It’s because of you Young Money is and will always be a movement. If the weight of the world is on your shoulders, I beg of you, place it on mine. That’s the least I could do for you, after all you have sacrificed for me. If I could, I’d write each one of you back. Because of this, my team and I have created a website where you can view my letters. Each week I’ll answer as many questions as I possibly can.

Mia Edwards (Southern California) – I wish you nothing but the best for you. Earning your Masters in Library and Information Science is beautiful. I’ll keep you in mind whenever I decide to do an autobiography on my life.

Kelly Holloman (Brooklyn) – I still remember your letter. You have a great spirit. Thank you for the words and being a real fan. I love you.

Nurris Terrero (New York) – Your letter was so thoughtful and sincere. The way you worded everything left me in awe. Please send suggestions on books I should read. I look forward to checking them out.

For real, this will be the best way we can communicate for the coming months. The same way yall miss me, I miss yall, only 100 times more. To those who hate. Hate is only a form love that hasn’t found a way to express itself logically. Keep sending the letters and I promise keep responding. Thank YOU, thank YOU, thank YOU. No matter what they do to erase me, my love for you will always be permanent. Remember that. Take care. God bless.

Give me the patience that I need
To keep my piece of mind,
And with life’s cares, I hope, Dear God,
Some happiness to find.
Give me the courage to face life`s trials
and not to from troubles run.
let me keep this thought in mind.
“Thy Will,” not “Mine,” be done.

- “Pray”

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Lou Pritchett- President Obama, you scare me....Open Letter to President Obama

Lou, you are scaring me if you have done everything that is on your resume' and can't find out some of the simple ass 'things" you claim you don't know about President Obama. Your ideals don't really scare me though. Your line of thinking is neither shocking or 'thought provoking' to me. No matter how much money you have made with Walmart. (Yes, I know who you are. I just don't give a fuck.)

Link


AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA FROM LOU PRITCHETT



Dear President Obama:

You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived and unlike any of the others, you truly scare me.

You scare me because after months of exposure, I know nothing about you.

You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your expensive Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with no visible signs of support.

You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of youth growing up in America and culturally you are not an American.

You scare me because you have never run a company or met a payroll.

You scare me because you have never had military experience, thus don't understand it at its core.

You scare me because you lack humility and 'class', always blaming others.

You scare me because for over half your life you have aligned yourself with radical extremists who hate and you refuse to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail.

You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the 'blame' crowd and deliver this message abroad.

You scare me because you want to change to a European style country where the government sector dominates instead of the private sector.

You scare me because you want to replace our health care system with a government controlled one.

You scare me because you prefer 'wind mills' to responsibly capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.

You scare me because you want to kill the American capitalist goose that lays the golden egg which provides the highest standard of living in the world.

You scare me because you have begun to use 'extortion' tactics against certain banks and corporations.

You scare me because your own political party shrinks from challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals.

You scare me because you will not openly listen to or even consider opposing points of view from intelligent people.

You scare me because you falsely believe that you are both omnipotent and omniscient.

You scare me because the media gives you a free pass on everything you do.

You scare me because you demonize and want to silence the Limbaughs, Hannitys, O'Relllys and Becks who offer opposing, conservative points of view.

You scare me because you prefer controlling over governing.

Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second term I will probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years.

Lou Pritchett

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Mz. Berry's open letter to Ray J.

Interesting. I know a lot of people will clown her for even having feelings about the man. Yeah, it is easy to see targets out of those glass houses, I know. Bombs away folks.

As a member (and a person's whose blog has been cited in see: Sanaa Lathan twitpics) Global Grind, I will backlink you to the original post...HERE.


Dear Ray,

I know that you and I are clear on where we are along this journey together, but I get a lot of questions about us…especially after that reunion show fiasco…and thought it wise to openly express my thoughts and feelings – for clarity’s sake, for honesty’s sake, for peace’s sake.

It is true that we are in different places on so many levels. Yet, there is so much acceptance, understanding, and compassion between us. We share an unshakeable respect for each other’s position along this path of life. For me, it’s because I’ve been where you are. For you, it’s because it’s a place you’re on your way to.

I came on the show for the experience, and left with a sense of freedom I’ve never felt before…the freedom to love with the innocence of a child – against all odds. It was like a crash course in love! The funny thing about reality tv is that the life you lead while on set becomes your “reality”, and once filming ends, reality sets in. For us, that reality is that you love me for what I represent now, and I love you for who you’re destined to be. The blessing for me, though, is that I left there reassured of what I want to create for my true reality!

It goes without saying that growth is a part of life. What is more rarely addressed is the difficulty and challenges that may accompany that growth. It seems to me that whenever you find yourself on the precipice of change, right there in the bottom of the ninth, you’re thrown a curve ball…and it’s usually the same ball we’ve played with for a while, the one we’re comfortable with, the one that feels familiar…and it is very hard to resist hitting it…even if we know its likely we’ll strike out. There’s not a lot in your life and current lifestyle that would push you to change and grow. I get that. But there is something in your spirit that’s calling out to and longing for change. I stand here as a symbol of what that change may look like…once you’re truly ready.

In the meantime, let’s continue to celebrate who we are to each other in this moment.

With….Love…Peace…and Positive Energy (LPPE)

Connie

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An open letter not written by me but one I like..Foreign Exchange

Again, I did not write this but I support this wholeheartedly. I also wanted you guys to see some of the struggles that even a 'Grammy nominated' artist has to go through. It is a shame. FuseTV isn't even that well known. I remember when Jay-Z was going to be on there I had to go through my channel log to see if I EVEN HAD THE DAMM CHANNEL. So they really need to come up off of that...You know? Read John's letter and you will see what type of time they are on. smh. Wake up FuseTV! These cats are talented. It shouldn't take your peers to have to play them for you to figure that shit out. Sorry. Are you followers or leaders? Which one?


Yes, you read right. Grammy nominated nominated FOREIGN EXCHANGE. For the album 'Leave It All Behind'. Some of the songs are featured in the media player up top if you are unfamiliar.

Link:

On Wednesday 2nd December 2009, @thisisjohnbook said:


reply

@Phontigallo @nicolaymusic @FEOfficial A second open letter to @FuseTV about Foreign Exchange. Dear FuseTV: This letter is a follow-up to an e-mail I sent directly to your cable network concerning the fact that your channel does not want to play the new music video by Foreign Exchange, a duo featuring producer Nicolay and MC/singer Phonte Coleman. If you do not remember my e-mail, it has been archived here for posterity.
https://twerbose.com/t18949
http://bit.ly/7pfJhJ

As your music research department knows by now, Foreign Exchange has been nominated for a Grammy Award. I go back to my initial e-mail, concerning your refusal to play their music video. The claim is that FuseTV only plays videos by "hit artists", even though there is a statement on your own website which indicates your network is about "celebrating the hit makers of today, familiar favorites and edgy newcomers." Foreign Exchange has made two albums, and one of their songs from their most recent album has been officially nominated for a Grammy award tonight:

Best Urban/Alternative Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Daykeeper
The Foreign Exchange
Track from: Leave It All Behind
[Hard Boiled Records]

If you need further proof, here is the URL:
http://www.grammy.com/grammy_awards/52nd_show/list.aspx

Not everyone has the honor of being nominated for a Grammy, and I feel this is significant enough for your network to put their music videos in rotation. There are many fans out there, and you know what? You may help to bring the group more fans. In turn, fans who have never heard of Fuse-TV before may now know your network as the one who, through fan support, gave Foreign Exchange a chance.

You know what I'd love, though? There's a band Fuse-TV supports, a great hard rock band called Valient Thorr (@ValientThorr). They claim they are from Burlatia, somewhere on planet Venus, and I believe them, but they call the state of North Carolina home. Did you know that one half of Foreign Exchange calls North Carolina home too? Nicolay, whose last name rhymes with my own, is from the Netherlands, and I am almost certain the vikings of Valient Thorr may have some Earthly connections there as well.

I partly joke, but the real reason behind this "open letter" to you, FuseTV, is to say please, re-consider playing a video by Foreign Exchange on your network. Or I should change that: reconsider playing a video by the Grammy-nominated Foreign Exchange on your network. If Nicolay comes to the U.S. for the ceremony, get Phonte together and create a 30- to 60-minute profile show. Play music videos, interview them, have them perform live. Fans? I'm sure if you put out a call, fans will show up. Or I will send an open letter to their fans.

@FuseTV, I thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
-John Book, journalist/artist/producer/music's biggest fan

thisisbooksmusic.com
twitter.com/thisisjohnbook
facebook.com/book1
myspace.com/crutmusic

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