88HIPHOP.COM 2.0

Notorious B.I.G. aka Biggie Smalls Tribute 2010

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March marks the month we lost one of the greatest artists in the Hip-Hop community, Notorious BIG. So this week my chart will be dedicated to Biggie. The hardest part was tryin to find videos that were clean (without curses), so these are the top five CLEAN videos, all still dope.

Artist: Biggie Smalls
Title: Juicy

This song is classic. There is no other song out there that compares to this one, so it had to be first. The video is also really old school. you see him chilin on the block with his people. just doing their everyday thing then you see him "make it”. Does the story follow the song or does the song follow the story? Either way it makes you wish you were there.

Artist: Biggie Smalls
Title: Big Poppa

Another classic, this is just a chill song that makes you wanna bounce. you hear this and you wanna be in a club chilin, sippin on a drink. Its a smooth song that also makes me laugh cus people do quote this song when tryin to kick it to chicks. I know my friends have definitely tried to use lines from this song to get numbers and it has actually worked. so listen closely you might get a line that will work for you...

Artist: Biggie Smalls
Title: Sky's The Limit

This video is adorable and is different from your average Biggie video. You see these kids that really look like who they're supposed to portray. They act like adults but they've got to be no older than 12. It looks like the kids playing Biggie and Puff are probably having the time of their life. Its just really creative to use only children in the video instead of adults.

Artist: Biggie Smalls
Title: One More Chance

This video shows how Biggie parties. He's got the big booty chicks and then he's got a bunch of celebrities as well. They are all having fun at a house party. its something that everyone does and it makes you feel like you're just one of the crew. When you see the video,you wanna be there just havin fun with them too. Who needs to be at a club when all you need is your crew to have a good time.

Artist: Biggie Smalls
Title: Hypnotize

Hypnotize seems more like an action movie than a music video. Its hilarious to see Biggie and Puff running around in fast cars and speed boats like they're in Miami Vice or something. Its pretty much your cliché video but since it was one of the first ones made, its done pretty well. You cant recreate what these guys did without looking foolish.

Biggie Smalls continues to have a strong influence on today's Hip-Hop!

To buy Biggie Smalls music, check out Fatbeats.com

Get your videos played on the 88HIPHOP Syndication Network.

Germany's Beat Street

I smell a battle brewin'!

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In this first German graffiti movie from 2006, the Grimme-Award winning German director, graffiti artist and music producer Florian Gaag addresses the rivalry between two German graffiti crews: KSB (Keep Steel Burning) and ATL (Above The Law). Competing for fame in their city, both crews try to exceed one another by creating styles that require more dangerous undertakings such as entering a yard in which trains still operate.

The movie portrays the graffiti scene in a very authentic and mostly realistic manner and I enjoyed the fact that it somewhat brought me eight years back to the days in Germany when I was involved with a graffiti writer myself. ‘Wholetrain’ reminded me of the times when we were waiting at the station looking for trains to pass to get a glimpse of what happened a night or even just a few hours before. The way Gaag handled camera works and how he captured the scenes so closely made it look even more lively and real.

Gaag was very strategic in allowing the audience to view the counter perspective of the graffiti scene. He addressed the realities of the world of ‘tag artists’ and the illegal, dangerous endeavors that are a part of their everyday lives. By doing so he made the movie even more realistic and enjoyable. Nevertheless a few scenes throughout the movie seem somewhat unrealistic. For example the scene in which Tino, a KSB crew member, wants to bomb a piece on an abutment with his son is strapped on his back in a carrier. This scene was rather superfluous and over the top. Also, for those who can distinguish the differences between trains it seems implausible to watch a German movie in which polish trains roll through a German city with the crew’s pieces on them. Yet Gaag was very persistent in bringing a sense of authenticity to this movie. Before the film began shooting the German Railway Company would not allow Gaag to use their trains and he was then forced to look outside of Germany. Finally the city of Warsaw, Poland allowed him to use their machinery for shooting ‘Wholetrain’.

Although I am still a huge graffiti fan I personally feel that I have outgrown the scene in which crews compete with each other for fame and recognition. Nowadays I like to look at the works of graffiti writers more as an expression of artistic skills rather than a youth movement in which writers battle for fame and rebel against the authorities. Throughout the past years I've experienced great development from the inspiration of graffiti and I am still inspired by the creativity and courage it takes writers to convert from street writers into recognizable artists.

I believe that young graffiti artists can relate to and identify themselves much easier with this movie as opposed to seeing a movie that only shows the thrilling side of the life as a graffiti writer. I recommend this exciting and gripping movie for everyone who is interested in the graffiti scene and who likes to explore the insights of this fascinating, fast moving and brisk culture.

If you come across any dope German Hip-Hop music or other media, let me know. I'm always interested in checking out new artists & videos. Send me an email.

LIS

To buy the Whole Train DVD, check out Fatbeats.com

Get your videos played on the 88HIPHOP Syndication Network.

J Dilla Tribute 2010

One of the greatest music producers!

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J Dilla's music lives on!

We Miss You J Dilla!

To buy J Dilla music, check out Fatbeats.com

Get your videos played on the 88HIPHOP Syndication Network.

5 TOP Asian Hip-Hop Videos

Asian Hip-Hop Represent!

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(02/23/10) NEW RELEASES
Artist: Oddissee
Album: Traveling Man (2X vinyl)

Artist: DJ Spinna
Album: Thirst (ft. Homeboy Sandman) b/w Summer Madness (ft. Daniel Joseph and Fresh Daily) (7" vinyl)

Artist: Grieves
Album: 88 Keys and Counting (CD)

Artist: James Pants
Album: I live inside an Egg (7" vinyl)

Artist: Strong Arm Steady
Album: Best of Times (12" vinyl)

Artist: Sadat X
EP: Wild Cowboys II

Artist: OC & AG
Album: Oasis (2X vinyl)

Artist: Last Electro Acoustic
Album: Miles Away (2X vinyl)

Artist: General Steele
Album: Amerikkka's Nightmare PT.2

This week I've decided to go to my Asian heritage and do all Asian artists. Most of them do come from Japan but still Asian nonetheless. I feel like we need to see what other Hip-Hop is out there. Hip-Hop spans throughout the word and influences everyone, so why not expand to the Asian world this week. There aren’t many out there, so I wanna give them their respect. Most of the artists that I did pick are living legends in their country, so let me know if you think the same way.

If you come across any dope videos or music, let me know. I'm always interested in comments and checking out new artists & videos. Hit me up!

MIKA

Drunken Tiger “8:45"
Album: MV Heaven 7th

This video is beautifully shot. It has Tiger JK just in a black room and he’s just feeling the music. I love when you could see the person in that zone where you could feel their emotion through their music, even though you might not speak their language. If you don’t know the group Drunken Tiger they are one of the pioneers of the Korean Hip-Hop community. Definitely check them out.

DJ Honda Ft. Mos Def “Travellin Man”
Album: HII

I love the way they shot this video. They had split screens and it just shows different angles and shots. They had it look like a postcard because of the whole “Travelling” theme (awesome!). It’s a unique video and its from DJ Honda (Japan) who is more known in America than most other Asian American DJs, with his store in NY and also who he has worked with in his past.

DJ Krush “Kemuri”
Album: Kemuri

Another well known Japanese DJ. Its amazing because most DJs don’t have videos of them just Djing. Usually they have features and they’re in the background but this video is just him Djing and its an amazing song. You get to see him and what he does as a DJ which is rare since the DJ is always in the background. So this video I think is really dope because he’s the main attraction. If you don’t know DJ Krush, he has worked with a ton of indie Hip-Hop artists and he has a very soulful and jazzy sound.

Dabo “Diamond”
Diamond Album

Dabo is also from Japan. This video is more commercial than the other ones that I picked. The video has him sitting around in different areas rapping. Of course I have no idea what the song is about so I don’t know how relevant the video is to the song. But I do like the songs beat and his flow. Dabo is known for his “tough Japanese street culture”. So this video shows him in that light. I think that this video has some dope graphics for example towards the end of the video there is a dope part where they are in a car and you could see the outside in the window, but it looks like a picture moving. Its like a scene out of a movie. Haha.

Hime “In the Rain”
Album: Hitogoyomi

This is one of DJ Honda’s artists so you know she’s from Japan. I thought it would be nice to have a female artists on this chart that’s holding it down for all the Asian hip hop women. She’s beautiful and is known for her themes of female empowerment and also her use of Japanese poetry. This video is very artistically done with it being in black and white with the shots looking like a picture. Its definitely like watching an indie film. Very beautifully done.

If you like what you hear and see, check out Fatbeats.com to buy and support these artists.

Get your videos played on the 88HIPHOP Syndication Network.

5 TOP HIP-HOP Love Videos

Happy Valentine's Day!

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(02/16/10) NEW RELEASES
Artist: James Pants (7” vinyl)
Album: I live Inside an Egg

Artist: Strong Arm Steady (12” vinyl)
Album: Best of Times b/w Follow Me Now (exclusive track)

Artist: Sadat X
EP: Wild Cowboys II

Artist: OC & AG
Album: Oasis (2X vinyl)

Artist: Last Electro Acoustic (prod. By Madlib)
Album: Miles Away (2X vinyl)

Artist: General Steele (of Smif n’ Wessun)
Album: Amerikka’s Nightmare (Children of War) (CD)

Artist: Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins
Album: Someothaship (CD)

Artist: DJ Babu
Album: The Beat Tape (CD)

Artist: Planet Asia & GCM
Album: Chain of Command (CD)

Artist: Guilty Simpson
Single: Coroners Music (12” vinyl)

Artist: Raekwon
Album: Only built for Cuban links (2X vinyl)

Artist: Savath & Savalas
Album: La Llamas (2X vinyl)

In lieu of Valentines Day I decided to do a chart this week about Love songs. Not all your traditional love, but love in general. There are a ton of songs that I would love to put on this chart because, I myself am a hopeless romantic, but since I didn’t want to kill you with crazy R&B music I hit you with some dope Hip-Hop songs.

If you come across any dope videos or music, let me know. I'm always interested in comments and checking out new artists & videos. Hit me up!

MIKA

Jean Grae “Love Thirst”
Album: Jeanus

Yay a real female MC!! I’m all about promoting female mc’s not only because I'm a female but because they never really get the spotlight and they always get pooped on. Jean Grae is talented. This song has been one of my favorites of hers and I'm glad she had a video to go along with it. The concept of them taking the classic movie, Taxi with Robert Dinero in it and putting her in the backseat was jeanius… (sorry for the corniness). The video kinda reminds me of taxi cab confessions. Where she’s telling the cabbie about how she feels about this guy, except she’s sober. HAHA.. but it’s a great video and she looks amazing and sounds amazing in it.

Eternia “Love”
Album: Its called life

Not your typical love song but love no matter. It’s peeking into the life of Eternia. It makes you feel for her and it shows what she’s been through and what she’s learned from what she knows. The video is a story that you want to know about. It’s a strong song but also shows her vulnerability at the same time. You also realize how much love she has for the people in her life.

Foreign Exchange “Sincere”
Album: Connected

This group is awesome, not full Hip-Hop but none the less a great video to have up for Valentine’s Day. This song talks about how much they love each other and how they are truly in love with that person. The video shows them fighting but still talking about how much they love each other. Its so heartwarmingly sick its cute. As I said I'm cheesy and this video is the cheese..

Slum Village “Climax”
Album: Fantastic Vol. 2

The opening is classic.. This song not exactly your typical love song either talking about loving the way the love in bed on the low. HAHA.. it’s a classic though. You can’t hate on men being men and they’re so smooth with their rhymes it would make a girl want to get with them. But hey that might be your definition of Valentines day. I cant hate.

Pharcyde “Passin me By”
Album: Bizzare Ride II

This video is also a classic. The love that just isn’t. This song is adorable, the love a guy has for a chic that just isn’t in his life. Its about how they wish they could have that girl, but its not really gonna happen because of different factors. The video also was pretty creative where they were the ones upside down and everything is passing them by right side up. It’s a great video and an amazing song. I guess deep down inside girls want to know that they are the girl that they’re speaking about.

If you like what you hear and see, check out Fatbeats.com to buy and support these artists.

Get your videos played on the 88HIPHOP Syndication Network.

Big L Tribute 2010

One of the greatest rappers to ever hit the Hip-Hop scene.

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Big L continues to have a strong influence on today's Hip-Hop!

We Miss You Big L!

To buy Big L music, check out Fatbeats.com

Get your videos played on the 88HIPHOP Syndication Network.

Is Piracy Good/Bad?

Is Piracy Good/Yes or Bad/No?
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Jesse Alexander, the executive producer of the popular TV-shows ‘Heroes’ and ‘Lost’, Matt Mason, author of ‘The Pirate’s Dilemma’, Mark Kotlinski (88HIPHOP), and John Carluccio are working on a new TV-show about piracy. The show will be based on Matt’s book, and will show how important pirates are for today’s society.

The upcoming show aims to educate people about the history of piracy, and how it shapes our future. Pirates are innovators, they signal market problems and lead the way to new business models. Nevertheless, they are often tagged as thieves. In many cases, piracy is helping old businesses to innovate, and it helps to create new legitimate market spaces.

BLOG - The Pirates Dilemma

DOWNLOAD - The Pirates Dilemma Book

Questions Hip-Hop Heads Have

5 TOP Indie Hip-Hop Videos

Check out what I'm watching this week!

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(02/09/10) NEW RELEASES
Artist: Jake One and Freeway
Album: Stimulus Package

Artist: DJ Center
Album: Everything in Time

Artist: Strong Arm Steady
Album: In Search of Stoney Jackson

Artist: 3 Titans
Album: C-O-L-L-E-G-E b/w Life Of A Scholar

Artist: Nneka
Album: Concrete Jungle

Artist: Karriem Riggins
Album: Music Kaeidoscope

Artist: Wu Tang
Album: Return of the Wu & Friends

Artist: Slum Village
Album: Fantastic 2.10

Artist: Georgia Anne Muldrow
Album: Kings Ballad

Here is a little intro to who I am…. People are probably wondering who is Mika and why does her opinion matter? Well lets just say I’ve been into Hip-Hop for as long as I can remember. I grew up listening to marvin gaye and bob marley. I grew up during the golden era of Hip-Hop the 90’s.. what more can I say? From that point on I realized the importance of music in my life. I realized that there was more music out there that I needed to be part of. I went from listening to Hip-Hop, grunge, goth, jungle, hardcore, emo, indie rock, hippie music, to classic rock, and I realized they all have their ups and downs. As time went on I started to focus a little more on Hip-Hop because that’s where my heart really is. Saying all that, I think I have a pretty good idea of what good music is. Some people may disagree. For now I have my top 5 videos that I want people to check out and give me their opinions on. I'm open for discussion...

If you come across any dope videos or music, let me know. I'm always interested in comments and checking out new artists & videos. Hit me up!

MIKA

Brown Bag Allstars "Undeniable" Remix
This video is the first from this Fat Beats formed group. So it makes sense that the video would take place at the store. This song is amazing and the video was so well put together. You get to see each member of the group and they each have their own little story. The video flows well and is put together really well. If you’ve never heard of the BBAS this is a great video to introduce them.

Fashawn "Life as a Shorty"
Aww… the boy in it is so cute. Not the reason why I love the video but it does help. This video tells a story and you feel for the boy in the video. When you could relate to a character you start liking the video more. But most people could relate to being bullied. That is what makes the video stand out from others.

Invincible "Sledgehammer"
This is a more serious video. It shows you the slums of Detroit where Invincible is from and it’s a real look. People don’t really get to see the real dirty Detroit in videos. She’s such an underrated artist and one of the best Female MC’s out there. So I’m giving her props on this real video and song.

Tanya Morgan "So Damn Down"
How friggin creative!! Its not a video you would usually see. They do have the girls running around and dancing but its not bad. What makes it so different is the mouth pieces that they are all wearing with the cartoon mouths. Without that the video wouldn’t really be as creative. So whoever decided to bring that element into the video is the one I am praising. I think that it’s a cute video and it shows what this group is like, fun.

Marco Polo & Torae "Party Crashers"
They look like they would be party crashers, kinda made me want them to crash one of my parties. The video was shot really well. The whole idea of them crashing all different parties from a nice lounge party to a geek party to a office party to even a kids party was hilarious. It made me laugh the whole way through. This is a feel good type of video and sometimes you need that to take away from all the other videos that are so serious. Sometimes you just need to have fun.

If you like what you hear and see, check out Fatbeats.com to buy and support these artists.

Get your videos played on the 88HIPHOP Syndication Network.

Big Pun Tribute 2010

One of the greatest rappers to ever hit the Hip-Hop scene.

Check out SuB's BIG PUN TRIBUTE!
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Big Pun continues to have a strong influence on today's Hip-Hop!

SuB Point Dot Period Tribute

88HIPHOP PSA - BIG PUN

We Miss You Big Pun!

To buy Big Pun music, check out Fatbeats.com

Get your videos played on the 88HIPHOP Syndication Network.

INDIE HIP-HOP 1996-2000

Were you a part of the NYC Underground Hip-Hop scene?
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88HIPHOP is currently in production on a documentary about the underground Hip-Hop scene in New York from 1996-2000. We are seeking archival photographs, film, video, flyers of that era, specifically any 88HIPHOP, Fat Beats, Tramp’s, SOB’s, Lyricist Lounge, and any other NYC Hip-Hop events, etc..... We’re looking for it all.

If you'd like to participate in helping bring this scene to the world and you have any pictures, footage, stories, questions, tips or all of the above, please contact ARCHIVES (at) 88HIPHOP.COM

Thank you all in advance.

BREAKERS REVENGE

Check out my first PSA and Let's Set The Standard!
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What's goodie fellow Hip-Hop nerds???, my Peoples in NYC and everywhere else?! (special shout-out to Randy, Mark, and Lada for those bomb-ass smoothies).

Aight, enough of that, it's Metaphysic. If you live in the US and have internet access, you've probably heard of me or my beats already. From DeadPrez's RBG album and mixtapes, to Immortal technique albums, maybe even spinnin' at events around the NYC area. If you haven't, then run down to Fatbeats NYC or LA and copp some of that real ishhhh.

Starting now, you can get me sending out a PSA. "PSA" will be where we keep each other up on what's really good in Hip-Hop video - worldwide. Meaning you can see the best videos I've found on the web from performances, movie & game trailers to instructional how-to make-a-beat videos. We'll be cuttin' through all the video garbage and settin' the standard!

Category: Trailer

Inside The Circle

Category: Trailer

Planet B-Boy

Hands down... these films may contain the best film footage of bboy dancing ever assembled for film/doc use (prove me wrong). It would have been nice to have seen these films get major distribution, so that mass media could of helped to spread the real word about bboy culture. Many people thought it was an extinct novelty that u can occasionally catch a glimpse on your teeny-bopper's favorite high school musical.

In other news, I just completed some beats for Chen-Lo, InI (MLD) of "Fakin Jax" fame and Immortal Technique. It's basically my goal to get out a few singles to ya'll before i drop the instrumental album later this year. Let me know what you think.

IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE - "Reverse Pimpology" Prod. by METAPHYSIC mixed by Green Lantern

CHEN-LO: Check out his video that was voted on to BET. Chen is in the lab with me as we speak.

InI (MLD) "Ghetto Livin ft. M1 " Prod. by METAPHYSIC

Also, look out for FBS. Don't know what that is yet??? You will soon.

That's it for now. Hope you had a chance to check out some live shows or catch some good videos. If you've come across any dope videos or music, let me know. I'm always down to expose lesser known artists and progressive art, for the love of Hip-Hop. Get at me!

METAPHYSIC
metaphyisc@88hiphop.com

Get your videos played on the 88HIPHOP Syndication Network.

STREET LEGENDS

Read an excerpt of the best selling novel by the talented author and journalist Seth Ferranti..... Supreme is a towering street legend immortalized in both hip-hop and hood lore. An infamous drug lord with ties to both major players in the rap industry and a notoriously profitable and ruthless drug crew, The Supreme Team, that ruled the same Queens streets that later produced platinum selling artists like Ja Rule and 50 Cent. ]]>
Part 8- The Struggle

Preme was coming up, striving to make it, but it was a struggle. He was trying to go straight in the music and movie business but when money was tight he still turned to what he knew best- hustling. Behind the scenes he was reviving his violent drug dealing career, authorities alleged. The Black Gangster album was a success selling over 150,000 copies but there was no interest from Hollywood for the movie so Preme decided to do another Goines title, Crime Partners and instead of Black Hand, he enlisted Murder Inc. as a partner. Irv Gotti went to Universal Music Group and told them, “Here’s a guy getting out of a life of crime, can you help?” And Preme landed his Crime Partners soundtrack distribution deal for $1 million, $500,000 of which was paid upfront. Preme brought in his sister, Wayne Davis and John “Love” Ragin to be his partners to produce the film through Picture Perfect Entertainment. With Irv’s help he got Snoop Dog and Ice-T to star in the movie. “It took 16 years,” Wayne Davis said. “But he kept the same passion and the same commitment about his thing up until the year 2001 and when we got back together in the world we made it happen.” It all looked good. Maybe too good. “Shit was good. He was going legit.” Bing says of Preme’s hookup with Murder Inc. “I was glad to see that. He was with a legitimate organization that was making millions of dollars. That was like hitting the lotto. Especially, how they looked up to him like they did.” Supreme was flying high like a Trans Atlantic concord, but he was about to experience some turbulence.

In 1999, in an argument in Queens, Supreme’s man Black Just was shot. Guns were pulled and allegedly Supreme’s gun jammed and Black Just was shot by a wanna-be rapper that went by E-Money Bags. Preme rushed Black Just to the hospital in an SUV registered to his partner in the Crime Partner venture, Love’s Tuxedo Rentals. Of the event it came out later in court that Supreme said, “I pulled a gun. It jammed. I ditched it at the scene and drove Blacky to the hospital.” But it was too late. Black Just died at the Southeast Queens Hospital. Preme hoped to get through this situation but the streets were talking. When a street legend is involved in an altercation the buzz just reverberates. At around the same time Preme started working on the Crime Partners movie. So it was a trying experience. But Preme trudged on. There was no point in looking back. He bought the rights to four more Goines titles- Black Girl Lost, Death List, Kenyatta’s Revenge and Kenyatta’s Last Hit- with the money from the Def Jam deal. He envisioned a series of movies based on the Goines books and he was ready to see his vision through. But with the streets talking about Black Just’s death and Supreme’s name ringing the feds got involved.

“The first thing the feds say is that it’s drug money,” DJ, a friend of Preme says. “Everything he did when he came back to the streets was legal but still the feds say its drug money.” And Supreme’s lawyer had a similar defense. He said his client worked hard to make a legitimate life for himself in the entertainment world when he left prison and was unfairly targeted by investigators hell-bent to find criminal activity in the rap world. “Success would of been assured without interference from the feds,” T says, but it wasn’t to be. Even Preme said how “every rap related crime, they bring my name up.” To make matters worse his partner Love got caught up in illegal activities involving his tuxedo rental service and other business fronts, for his credit card fraud and ecstasy-dealing ring. So whatever Preme was doing, legal or illegal, the spotlight was on him because of his associations. Due to his past, he was under a microscope.

The murder of Black Just and Love’s credit card schemes cast a cloud of suspicion over the Crime Partners production but the worst was still to come. At the same time this was all happening a kid named Curtis Jackson from Queens took the moniker 50 Cent from a dead stick-up kid out of Brooklyn and started releasing a series of underground mixtapes including 2000’s Guess Who’s Back, which featured Ghetto Qu’ran and the following lyrics- When you hear talk of the southside/you hear talk of the team/see niggas feared Prince and respected Preme/for all you slow muthafuckers I’m gonna break it down iller/see Preme was the businessman and Prince was the killer. This wasn’t the first time the team had been celebrated in songs but the lyrics about Preme in his bulletproof BMW that reeled out a roll call of Supreme Team members like Black Just was the last thing Preme needed as he tried to pull it all together and go legit. And with 50 Cent’s ode, authorities had reason to believe Preme was back underground up to his old tricks with his life imitating his art.

“It was good that he paid homage to us for who we were and what we did,” Bing says of the verses. “But I felt different about it when I first heard that shit. It is what it is.” Preme’s legacy was now aired to the world and right at the most inappropriate time. The storied street dude was getting out of the life but the lines between hustling and hip-hop had blurred casting suspicion on his ventures. But 50 wasn’t the first to rap about Preme. In Nas’s Memory Lane on 1994’s Illmatic he rhymes- Some fiends scream about Supreme Team/a Jamaica Queens’s thing. And it wouldn’t be the last as Murder Inc.’s Ja Rule joined the fray with his intro on the Survival of the Illest CD- Funds unlimited/backed by Preme team crime representatives. That was something that the feds would eventually pick up on. It seemed the rap lyrics struck a cord with law enforcement officials. While many of the figures heralded in hip-hop lyrics were either dead or in prison, Supreme was in the streets-a real live gangster. He was both a figure in raps lyrical lore and an upcoming hip-hop movie-maker. “Preme is a legend. He’s proven and he's not a rat,” Tuck says. “That fact alone in this day and time says a lot. Stand up men are no longer the rule they are the exception to the rule.” The rappers 50 and Ja Rule’s status was less clear, as they started beefing about a world that Supreme had known far better than either of them. “The Ja Rule/50 Cent beef was partly because Supreme spoke up for Ja Rule and 50 Cent took this as a rejection of him,” T says. “Supreme thinks 50 cent is an angry young man that been venting, and his venting could be construed as ungangsta, because real men don’t put stuff out in the public that could bring about an investigation.” Adds T, “Supreme looks at 50 like he’s confused. If half the things that are said about 50 and Preme are true than 50 needs to send half his loot to Supreme.”

In the streets, it was also rumored that Supreme had something to do with 50 Cent’s mother’s death. Sabrina Jackson allegedly was a Supreme Team member who got strung out on crack and fucked up some of Preme’s money. She was found dead in her apartment. Somebody had put something in her drink and turned the gas on. Her body wasn’t found until four days later. In the streets it was seen as a message- Don’t fuck with Supreme’s money or product. “That’s some bullshit.” T says. “That’s just something that got picked up on. Supreme couldn’t even tell you what she looked like. She didn’t have anything to do with the Supreme Team.” But as rumors swirled and 50 Cent caught wind of them after he’d grown up he went on the offensive escalating the beef with Ja Rule and Murder Inc. He must have figured fuck Supreme, if he’s not with me, he’s against me. And that’s how it played out. “I try not to entertain what spills out of his mouth,” Preme said referring to 50. “Because I don’t wish to engage in a war of words. I’m not at war with him nor did I ever have a beef with him. I never knew his mother. I knew of her and from what I know she was cool people.”

A couple of physical confrontations that turned violent ensued. One at an Atlanta club that resulted in Ja Rule’s chain being snatched and another at a Manhattan recording studio where Murder Inc. cronies assaulted 50. These confrontations fueled the beef and it was suggested by police that the Ghetto Qu’ran rap caused bad blood between 50 Cent and Supreme. “Men that have been in the life you just don’t put their business on wax.” T says. “Preme showing love to Murder Inc. ostracized him from their counterparts.” But in reality T relates that, “Supreme never gave 50 Cent any thought because barking dogs don’t bite and 50 never been in the life. He’s a perpetrator to the death of the game.”

50 Cent built his career on the feud though. He called Murder Inc. out for what they were, making references to their menacing acquaintances in magazine articles and in verse. His pre-superstar hit Wanksta was a thinly veiled attack calling Ja Rule a fake gangsta wannabe, perpetrating a tough guy image. And in a battle rap 50 gave his take on Irv Gotti- Don’t nobody respect you nigga/you Preme’s son nigga/muthafucker been getting extorted since day one. The feds took this to mean that Murder Inc. was bankrolled by Supreme. They listened to 50’s lyrics like they would a wiretap. 50 Cent said the song Ghetto Qu’ran was a memorial to the street legends he grew up idolizing but The Source magazine took an anti-50 Cent stance and labeled him a snitch. Supreme even said as much, “When we was coming up there was a code of conduct. You didn’t speak about dudes who may still be in the streets.”

And the truth of the whole matter was that Supreme was trying to squash the beef between 50 and Murder Inc. “I sat down with 50 and said, ‘Listen man, this is nonsense.’ But 50 loves to keep things going. He would say ‘Yeah, all right Supreme, I respect you man’ and then turn around and go totally contrary to what we talked about.” And about Preme and the beef T says, “He’s a very diplomatic individual who feels that violence is an option that can’t be afforded. I think he feels if a situation can get to the point of physical violence and he knows both parties he would feel obligated to find a peaceful situation.” And Supreme did just that as 50 cent pointed out, talking about the Murder Inc. beef, “I had a conversation with an older god body that was holding them down. He was like yo, leave this little nigga alone. You know they pussy but this is my food. I was like okay.” And the god body 50 Cent was referring to was Supreme. “I was intervening to squash the issue because I thought it was meatball. I think he said Ja Rule didn’t say hi or something. Plus security can’t stop a real beef.” Supreme said of the situation. But it all came to a head.

On May 24, 2000, as 50 and a friend sat in a car outside his grandmother’s house on 161st Street in South Jamaica a gunman rolled up in a vehicle on his left side and pumped nine shots into his body, hitting him in the hand, hip, calf, chest and face. 50 Cent survived and went on to become a superstar but the shooting has always been connected to Supreme. After he recovered, 50 put out a song, Fuck You, that said- 50, who shot ya? You think it was Preme, Freeze or Tata? And Jon “Love” Ragin said later that he met with Preme the day of the 50 shooting and Preme said, “I got him.” Supreme, “Explained to me that they caught him coming out of his grandmother’s house and he got into a car and that’s when he got shot. There was a lot of blood.” Love recalled Preme telling him. The New York Post ran the headline, Slay Plot vs. Fitty, indicting Supreme of the crime. But even in court the shooting was never pinned on Supreme.

The subject of 50 being a snitch has been hotly debated also. “This dude sensationalizes everything. All his statements are incendiary. The government believes every lyric- and then he says, ‘Read my lyrics.’ Where I come from that’s dry snitching.” Supreme said and on the whole beef with 50 he said, “Kid you’ve never been through nothing. I walked around wolves, man. I walked among giants.” And he’s right. Maybe 50 is a snitch, maybe not. “The chump 50 Cent wouldn’t even be a factor in the rap game today if his lyrics weren’t snitch oriented,” T says. “He owe his success to the media and his beef with Murder Inc. 50 ain’t never been nowhere but to boot camp. A place guys like Supreme wouldn’t even go to. With dudes yelling in your face telling you to do 50 pushups. How gangsta is that?”

Seth Ferranti's the Gorilla Convict Writer. In 1993, after spending two years as a top-15 fugitive on the US Marshal's most wanted list, he was captured and sentenced to 304 months under the federal sentencing guidelines for an LSD kingpin conviction and committed to the custody of the Attorney General. A first-time, non-violent offender, Seth has served 15 years of his 25 year mandatory minimum sentence. His case was widely covered by The Washington Post and Washington Times, and his story was profiled in the pages of Rolling Stone and Don Diva magazines. His current release date is October 2015. v Purchase Street Legends online at Gorillaconvict.com or Amazon.com

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