Obie Trice : a talented rapper signed to Shady Records

Obie Trice is one of the coolest guys I have ever met . We met on June the 19th at Paris Bercy (Anger Management Tour 2003) (at the busses area). He’s got a great sense of humor and this encounter will always remain a great memory.

Obie Trice was born on November the 14th 1978.
He attented High School at Cooley High in Detroit, Michigan.
Obie was one of the best pupils at High school and he wanted to go on studying, but he changed his mind when his daughter Kobie was born on October the 5th 1998.

Obie started rapping since he was 11.
He’s been influenced by artists such as Rakim and Redman.
Thanks to underground tracks like « The Well Known Asshole » he has gained some recognition and respect. He has made a guest appearance on the D12 album « Devil’s Night ».

Obie’s first album « Cheers » has been released on September the 23 rd 2003 and includes the collaboration of many talented rappers (Dr Dre, D12, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks from G Unit, Nate Dogg…)
An album that is definitly worth listening.

Have you ever watched Obie’s video « Don’t Come Down »?

Parents, moms in particular will get Obie’s touching message towards Eleanor Trice. When I saw Obie’s video, it immediately made me think about my 14 years old son and the many conflicts that have opposed us as he entered his adolescence. You might be the coolest mom in the world and even have a liberal point of view on education, share the same musical tastes, have a lot in common with your progeny , there will always be conflicts.

The words that come out of Obie’s mouths are the words of a matured man who fully understands his former mistakes. The song is an open apology towards his mom, who obviously suffered from his foolish teenage years behavior:
“I could write a book on Obie. Obie was a mess. Yes, he was.” (Eleanor Trice)

Picture Obie in front of his house in Northwest Detroit in the middle of the winter. The whole lanscape is surrounded with snow.

Obie is very conscious that he didn’t take his mom’s advice seriously when he was younger. Typical teenage behavior. Teenagers always think they know better. Now that he’s a grown man, he is perfectly conscious of it:
« As a child i was fowl
(uh) Ma, I couldn't understand them things that came out ya mouth (daddy’s ain't shit)
You would cuss, fuss till your blood pressure went up, then give up and slouch on the couch and drink ya liquor (fuck you dog)
A hard headed nigga I was quick temper short attention span not attending class (no) what a dummy
I would run over you honey
You confront me and say Obie you no longer have a mommy
Don't use my phone don't even eat my food
Matter a fact, Dont speak
It was just me and you in that house with that mouse and them traps and they gat, waitin on the day when you gon pull the
trigger back »

When our children don’t act the right way, we often reject them out of anger. That’s exactly what happens in this song. Picture Obie and Eleanor’s arguments…

Eleanor knew that her son was involved in some drug deals and it literally broke her heart:

« You tryin to kill me boy (no)
Is that what you wanna do, kill me? You wanna kill me (kill me)
Your not feelin me the beepers not that drastic
Its the B blasted, bastard
Your lyin (your lyin)
You took plastic freezer bags with dope inside of em
She knew, damn but she hated that it was true »



Sometimes as a responsible parent, you have to be your own son’s enemy in order to protect him from himself:

« I done raised two boys I can do away with you
The locks changed and the nights got colder
Im slinging bolders lookin like the bolda tolka
Fuck it im the osta
Im down for mounds ride by my corner
Like Im not gone cry (no)
Not reek the pain of watchin my youngest man (no no no)
On the corners slangin cane
Im callin the cops… »

Picture Obie being caught by the cops, probably mad at his mom.

But after all those years, after so many misunderstanding, so many hurtful situations, a son’s love for his mom will remain for ever. And that’s the wonderful part of Obie’s song and video.

Take some time to watch this moving video that is also an ode to Eleanor Trice, Obie’s one and only mom:
http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/interscope/obietrice/cheers/video/dontcomedown/00_dontcomedown.asx

Never Enough clearly targets the media. It is a clever Eminem- Nate Dogg-50 Cent collaboration.

Because Eminem is always speaking his mind, he often gets so much negative feedback from the press. How many times has he been misinterpreted, misunderstood, misquoted?

As Eminem expresses it so well, he sometimes has so much to say that the words just flow out of his mouth rapidly. He sometimes even needs people like Dr Dre to slow him down:

« There's not much you could do or say to phase me
People think I'm a little bit crazy
I get it from all angles, even occasionally Doc Dre-zie'll
Have to step in every once in a while to save me
To make me stop and think about it 'fore I just say things… »

It is also a matter of fact that Eminem’s lyrics need a further examination if you want to get his many and subtle rhymes:

« Sometimes the average listener rewinds and plays me twenty times
cuz I say so many rhymes, it may seem like I'm goin too fast cuz my mind is racing … »

Even some fans don’t always get Eminem. To get each inch of him, you need to spend time focusing on his words and music. I admit that even the few songs of Eminem’s Encore that I didn’t like in the beginning are growing on me: sometimes, you missed a line or a word combination or simply the artist’s intention…sometimes, you also need to be in a specific mood to get one of Eminem’s songs. That’s exactly what happened to me yesterday with the song Puke. I was in the mood of full disgust. Not for the same reasons as Eminem, but it helped me to understand the song better and my mood alteration made me feel close to Eminem’s feelings. « Feeling bad…total disgust of everything and everybody…just wanna puke ». Then I took time to listen to the song a second time and it enlightened me on the beauty of some rhymes I hadn’t even noticed in the beginning.

Eminem has so much to tell and he often gets so much criticized for his sincerity. People shouldn’t forget that he is also the product of his environment and the fertility of his rhymes can be explained by his many and often rough experiences of the past while he was living across 8 Mile.

All those difficult experiences that he went through made him become the person he is:

« I'm thankful for the talent in which God gave me
And I'm thankful for the environment that he placed me
Believe it or not, I thank my mom for how she raised me
In the neighborhood daily, they jumped and chased me
It only made me what I am today, see.. »


Love him or loathe him, let Eminem be who he is. Let him say what he has to say.

Eminem a has a message for many cowards who keep hating him:

« Regardless of what anybody believes who hates me
You ain't gonna make or break me
Tryna strip me of my credibility and make me look fake, G
You're only gonna be in for a rude awakening
Cuz sooner or later you haters are all gonna face me
And when you face me with all the shit you've been saving to say to me
You had all this time to think about it
Now don't pussy out and try to wimp out, face me
Cuz I've been patiently waiting for the day
That we finally meet in the same place to see… »


In fact many people prompt to judge him without even knowing his story nor the whole context in which he grew up. I myself have read so many negative critics from people who -obviously- did not even know very much about hip hop nor about Eminem himself.

Eminem is like a soldier who never stops battling against emcees, against magazines that won’t leave him alone:

« No matter how many battles I been in and won
No matter how many magazines on my nuts
No matter how many emcees I end up
Ooh ooh, it's never enough… »



50 Cent goes on with an offensive verse. Like a winner, he takes his enemies over with his « untouchable flow »:

« My flow's untouchable now you gotta face it
Uh oh, it gets worse when I go back to the basics
You go say the wrong shit and get your face split
The smell of victory, love it so much I can taste it
The spot my talk, it blaze a direct hit
Graze it, your peace talk, save it… »

Haters, stop hating, you’ve already lost the battle. Our hot emcees will get you busted:


"You shit sounds dated, you're overrated
I'm obligated to study your moves then crush you mutherfuckers
If I'm the best and the worst, then God's gift is a curse
Soldier trained to destroy, you payin' attention boy?
I spit shit, slick shit, so quick you miss it
To be specific I go ballistic as hieroglyphic
My music is a drug, press play, you ain't gotta sniff it
Chew it or pop it, roll a bag of the chocolate
Get your high over and over, but you gotta cop it
When it's hot, it's hot
Your hatin' is undeniable, stop it ..."


Never Enough is a real hot song on Encore. Unfortunately, it is a little bit short. I was looking for a little bit more of those hot rhymes. Don’t miss track 3 on the album, it is really worth your attention.

People who went to the Anger Management Tour 2003 had the great opportunity to appreciate rap superstars from the well known group from South Gate, California.
Cypress Hill’s unique style will make you appreciate its Latino flavor. Who are the Cypress Hill?
B Real aka Louis Freese, Sen Dog aka Senen Reyes, Dj Muggs aka Lawrence Muggerud and since 1994 Eric Bobo (whom I had the great chance to meet in 2003).
The Cypress Hill are not only famous for their great music, but also for their marijuana legalization campaign. Cypress Hill’s personal convictions about marijuana even caused them a ban from Saturday Night Live.


How did the group start?

The three original members started a group called Dvx in 1986 with Sen Dog’s brother Mellow man ice aka Ulpiani Sergio.
When Mellow man ace decided to leave the group, it was renamed Cypress Hill after a street of their neighborhood.
Cypress Hill’s first target audience were, of course, the Latino audiences, but they soon reached universal audiences.

Discography

In 1991, the group was signed to Philadelphia’s Ruffhouse label. Their first album, named « Cypress Hill » after the group, was released in 1991. It sold 2 million copies. « Cypress Hill » was followed by « black sunday » which became indeed a great success. »
« temples of boom », their third album, was released in 1995, followed by a 9 track Ep « Unreleased And Revamped » in 1996.
The fourth volume « 4 » of Cypress Hill’s work came out in 1998. In 1999, the group decided to work on tracks entirely in Spanish « los grandes exitos en Espanol ».

« skulls and bones » and « Live At Fillmore » both came out in 2000.
The « stoned raiders » album was released in 2001.

Cypress Hill’s most recent album, that came out in March 2004, has the significant title « till death do us apart ».

Solo careers

In 1997, Cypress Hill’s members decided to focus on their individual work.
DJ Muggs released « Muggs presents…the soul assassins » which features collaborations with the greatest artists such as Wu tang clan, Dr Dre, Krs-One and many others.

B Real worked on a solo album « The Psycho Realm » and Sen Dog released the « Get Wood Sampler ».

Eminem on Cypress Hill’s wish list?

Among the Cypress Hill- Eminem collaborations, you have probably heard « rap superstar » featuring Eminem. But one of the most amazing songs is « american psycho 2 » from D12 World where B Real’s participations adds to the particularly « crazy insane » dimension of the song.

The Cypress Hill have a lot of work in a very near future. Preparing their seventh « Smoke Out Festival », B Real expressed the wish to have Eminem on the group’s wish list:

« "We've been wanting to get Eminem…" (B Real)

A combination of Cypress Hill and Eminem’s talents promises to be great. Let’s hope that Eminem will participate to the Smoke Out Festival.


What makes their style unique among so many gangsta rappers?


If you ask me, I’d say B. Real’s particular voice and, of course, the instrumentals, combined with clever and wicked rhymes. Eric Bobo is an amazing percussionist who happens to be the son of the famous salsa musician Willie Bobo. He is also a former Beastie Boys member.

Here are some personal facts Eric Bobo himself will reveal to us:

« I was born August 27, 1968 in Hollis, New York. My parents were also born there but in the area called Spanish Harlem. My father, William Correa, was also known as Willie Bobo, which some of you might know as one of the innovators of latin-jazz. We are all of Puerto-Rican decent. I also have an older brother named William Gill.
My family moved out to California when I was just a year old. latin-jazz music was really starting to become more popular here than in New York, which was more of a Salsa-oriented scene, and my dad was more interested in blending Latin music with Jazz then just playing salsa. Being around all of this music naturally made me interested in being a musician. My parents could tell that I had some sort of talent just hearing me bang on the pots and pans. My very first gig was performing with my dad when I was 5 years old at a club in North Hollywood called Donte's, which no longer exists. I remember being petrified of all the people watching, but the minute the music started, all of those feelings went away. Since my brother wasn't musically inclined, I'm sure my dad was happy that there was another musician in the family. I spent the next 10 years playing with him at various Jazz clubs around Los Angeles and learning from him, as well as meeting some of the greatest musicians in the world. My dad, who didn't read or write music, trained my ear to be able to play and improvise with any type of music, which to me was his greatest gift. I eventually learned how to read and write music.
When my dad passed away in 1983, I had just turned 15 years old. The only way that I knew I could deal with such a tragedy was to take what he taught me and go on. I took over his band and continued to play and represent his music for a year, which wasn't an easy task. Many people didn't think that I would last with such big shoes to fill, but it was important to me to not let his legacy just go away. During this time, I was fortunate to be asked to perform with such artists as Blues legend Johnny Otis and "El Rey" Tito Puente. My father had joined Tito's band when he was 20 years old and with Mongo Santamaria, was by far the best percussion rhythm section ever. Tito had taken me under his wing and I was blessed to have the person who taught my father so much, be able to teach me. After I had disbanded my father's group to embark on my own, I kept playing and sitting in with many Latin and Jazz artists such as Poncho Sanchez, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter, just to name a few. Being accepted at such a young age by these artists kept my drive to be a musician alive.
I eventually went to college and majored in Jazz Studies and attended both Cal State University of Los Angeles and the University of Southern California. This gave me the technical parts of music that I was missing. During this time, I made my own Latin-Jazz band with players that I was going to school with. We played in some of the same Jazz clubs that my father had played and also played some Jazz festivals. My band even opened up for Santana, who were great admirers of my dad, after my band had won the John Coltrane Scholarship competition. Even though playing was still a passion to me, I was getting bothered with the fact that latin-jazz and jazz in general wasn't being appreciated as I remembered it being and that a lot of the jazz venues were closing down. Places like Europe and Japan, jazz music was alive and kicking and I started to realize why a lot of the Jazz greats were spending the majority of their careers there and not in the States.
I enjoyed all types of music, and I realized that I had to make a musical change to develop my own identity. I put together a band that encompassed all the genres of music that I loved and grew up with like funk, Latin-Jazz, soul, etc. I guess I was like my dad in respect to me not wanting to just stay with just one style of music. I left u.s.c. to start to develop this band. Needless to say, my mom wasn't too happy with this decision and told me that if I didn't make it happen within a year, I had to go back to school. As 1992 was flying by, I got a call that would forever change my life. A friend of mine by the name of Matt Robinson (brother of Holly Robinson) told me that Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) of the Beastie Boys was getting married and wanted me to play for his wedding to actress Ione Skye, who is the daughter of 60's singer Donovan. I thought he was joking with me and I didn't believe him. I was a huge fan of the Beastie Boys and wouldn't have guessed that they were fans of my dad. Within minutes, I got the call from Ad-Rock confirming him wanting to meet me to discuss me playing for his wedding. I had never played a wedding before in my life, much less play the actual Wedding March, but I would've been a fool to pass this up. I got a trio together and rehearsed for the gig. I was in awe! Afterwards, Adam told me that he wanted to get together with me to jam after the Beasties came back from their Japan tour. I said cool and agreed to keep in touch. Two months later, I got a call from Mike D. who asked me if I wanted to join them for the last leg of their "Check Your Head" tour. I completely tripped out! I, of course, said yes and he told me to come down to their studio to audition. I've never been a fan of auditions because they are more nerve wracking then being on stage, but I made sure that I knew every Beastie song. When I got there, Adam wasn't there but Mike D., M.C.A., and Mario Caldato were there. I went in there with the confidence that I was going to make it. They started playing the songs from the CD and I played along and within 15 minutes, I had the itinerary of the tour in my hands. This was going to be my first tour ever besides going to Japan with the U.S.C. Jazz Ensemble, which to me didn't count. The tour was for a month and the first two weeks of the tour was with Henry Rollins and the Lynch Mob with Ice Cube. The last two weeks, the Lynch Mob was replaced with Cypress Hill, which was another of my favorite Hip-Hop groups. I spent a lot of time hanging around Cypress during the tour and couldn't believe how they were killing the shows. I became friends first with Sen-Dog and we continued that friendship after the tour. Sen, B-Real, and myself always talked about me jamming with them sometime. After the tour, the Beasties took a break and a couple of gigs with Cypress came about. The vibe was so good, they asked me if I wanted to go on the 1993 "Soul Assassins" tour with them. On that tour was House of Pain, Funkdoobiest, and the Whooligans.
I couldn't believe the position that I was in. Before you knew it, the Beasties were ready to record a new record and sent me to New York for over a month to record with them. That album was "Ill Communication". My life couldn't be better. I was splitting my time touring with two of the most influential Hip-Hop groups ever. From doing Lollapalooza '94 with the Beasties, to Woodstock '94 with Cypress, and traveling around the world with both groups was the dream that I always wanted to become reality. Within that time, I got a chance to perform and record with such groups as The Black Crowes, Rage Against The Machine, Smashing Pumpkins, George Clinton (My Hero) and Parliament/Funkadelic, Tha Liks, Soulfly, and many more. I have spent the last 11 years of my life living my dream of making music, performing and meeting people all over the world. Now, I'm ready to release my own music and return to my Latin-Jazz roots with a bit of twist. After the release of my father's album of unreleased songs that I've been working on with Mario Caldato, my album will finally see the light of day.
I must give thanks to God, all the musicians and bands that I've met and shared the stage with along the way, the Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill, the late Tito Puente, Poncho Sanchez, the late Buck Clarke, my Godfather Bill Cosby and especially to my father and family for without you, I wouldn't be where I am today. Also, my thanks to the fans that I've met and performed for throughout the years. It's been a pleasure and it ain't over yet!! » (Eric Bobo talking about himself- credit to www.ericbobo.com )



DJ Muggs explains how Eric Bobo brings a particular note to the group:

« As Latinos we thought it would be a good idea to build in some of his Latin jazz flavor. »

Cypress Hill’s great force is also that the group is opened to many artistic collaborations:

« I'm really a big fan of music. I listen to a lot of music. I never took myself away from being a fan. I think it keeps me wanting to make music and wanting to try new challenges ... things I haven't tried before. I like to reach out. I could easily sit back and do hip-hop tracks all day and sell them to different rappers. I don't do that all day because that's kind of boring. I like making something from start to finish, the whole project. Being inventive and trying new things, experimenting.» (DJ Muggs)

Cypress Hill is also rich of many sounds: from jazz, to metal, reggae and rock , you will enjoy Cypress Hill’s many musical influences.

The four group members are working hard with a precise strategy, a lot of talent and a precise direction in the rap game, as B Real explains it. To be successful, you ought to know where you’re going to:


"Most young groups today don't have the proper knowledge of what it takes to be in this game. We've always considered this to be like sports. You can be a contender, a playoff team or a champion. To do that, you have to consistently work on your craft, your skill and your strategy. It's not easy if you don't have a direction because somebody will find one for you. Doing this record was the most fun I've had in a long time. I was like a kid with a new toy."




Cypress Hill are gifted and hard working rappers with years of experience. Their style and sound make them unique in the world of hip hop. Check them out: you won’t be disappointed.

guess I have always been a black music lover. I have discovered James Brown in the mid 80’s. They call him « The Godfather of Soul ». His music is entertaining and emotional at the same time, it is a rich mixture of several musical genres like soul, blues, jazz, gospel, funky and soul. James Brown is one of those men who communicates a lot of energy and enthusiasm through his music.
I can remember the first time I listened to « Sex Machine », « I Got You ». I was impressed with the hot and entertaining atmosphere James Brown managed to create through his music. I still appreciate his music and listen to it.


James Brown, the amazing musician, was born in 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina as the only child of his parents. He has black and asian roots through his mom.
When James Brown’s parents separated, the four year old boy grew up at his aunt’s home in Georgia. James Brown left school early, at the 7th grade.
As a young boy, he did all kind of jobs (washing dishes, picking cotton, washing cars…).
Being sentenced at the age of 16 for taking part in an armed robbery and being caught breaking into a car, James Brown spent a little time in jail and the served about three years in juvenile farms work.

He also tried to be a boxer and a base ball pitcher but he gave it up after having his leg injured. As the pitcher for jail team, he met pianist Bobby Byrd and he started to work with him at local clubs and bars during the night. His day job was located at Lawson Motor Company.
Later, Mr Brown became a member of Bobby Byrd’s gospel group.

James Brown has brought a revolution into popular music. He toured in Georgia with his gospel quartett Famous Flames. His release « Please, Please, Please » captured the attention of King Records in 1956.
In 1962, his performance at the Apollo made him a star.
James Brown’s energetic music also explains his nickname « Mr Dynamite ».
James Brown’s music is rich of so many musical genres (RnB, soul, funky, blues, etc..) and he is more than brilliant. The Godfather of soul music has brought black music out of the ghetto and made it popular.

You will learn more about this amazing artist here:

http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/brown_james/bio.jhtml

Check him out if you haven’t yet. He is really great.