Ok pour tous ceux qui veulent connaitre la suite des aventures du narrateur en terre P Funk ( fin aout 2008)un lien KLA, ok ? Et maintenant, une exclu lulu comme dirait Thierry Ardisson, interview d'un des membres de SOUTH CENTRAL CARTEL...Are you ready ?

1) What is Murder Squad thing? Does people like BG Knocc out belong to the posse ?

The M-Squad is a spin offgroup from the SCC it started as a compillation and grew into it's own movement. So yea BG Knocc Out,Dresta,Big Mike,Spice 1, Treach,Eiht etc. Are all down with the M-Squad Posse

2)On the East Coast we got Havoc & Prodigy ( Mobb Deep) and on the West Coast there are Havoc and Prodeje, is there a coincidence? Who came first (with the names) ?

Well we were Havikk,Havoc and Prodeje years before there was a Mobb Deep homie. I made a solo cd when i was a teenager and i was Prodeje even then. Im not saying they stole our names but we 4 sho did'nt steal there's I guess it's just a coincedence.

3)Is South Central Cartel a band, or a collective ( I mean posse or crew)
, as for me a crew is made of several artists with a consistent solo career ( for example NWA, Juice Crew, Westside Connection, Hieroglyphics, even PE or Geto Boys or Digital Underground, and of course WU TANG CLAN) and a band exists by itself ( few solo projects, like 3rd Bass or Eric B & Rakim ...hope you understand what i mean)?

We're a crew homie everybody does their own things on the side always have.

4) Could you relate SCC story (and how came the side projects)?

We all had our own thang from the start. I decided to start a group to help everybody get in the position to do their own thing on a bigger level. Me and Havikk had a finished CD before we even formed the SCC. I just decided we should bring everybody along with us and that's why the SCC was formed.

5)Could SCC have been signed on Ruthless records or Deathrow?

We could have been with any label we chose but we were always our own men. We never really had anyone take us up under their wing or help us blow up. We new Eazy E personally so 4 sho we could have made that happen.

6)How would you define gangsta rap and G Funk for newcomers?

Gangsta Rap is a lifestyle G-Funk is a Movement both are apart of how we live real raw and un-cut. I call it TRUE LIFE MUSIC.

7)there's a quite popular dance style called Crip walk, according to you, who's entitled to use that style, are there "codes of honor" or anybody can do anything with it?

The way i came up homie C-Walkin was for CRIPS everybody that knows what's really up knows what im talking about. If you did the C-Walk in the wrong hood you were stomped out or worst.You see how WC gets down throwing up the Westside. That's how it's done in the HOOD but you throw up your Gang or Hood..
8)Did you witness the West Coast electro funk era ( Arabian Prince, Egyptian Lover, Bobby Jimmy, Timex Social Club, Uncle Jam's Army...) ?

Yea i remember listening to all those cats on KDAY lol. When i was a tiny tot.

9)What about popping and locking dance styles?

Seen it all i used to be out there trying to do all that crazy shit hahaha..

10)what's the difference between a player, a gangster and a hustler ( common words in the rap realm nowadays)?

A Player is a ladies man. A hustler is a money maker and a gangster is a gangbanger or someone that'll fucc you up with no hesitation. Lol. Im a GANGSTA!!!

11)how do you create SCC songs, sampling, playing real instruments, freestyling or waiting inspiration to write some lyrics?

We do whatever works homie if i find a tight aas sample i'll do that a lot of the time we have everything played live what ever it takes to make it hottt.Once we have the beat the rest just flows from there.

11bis)There's a MTV broadcast called "Gentlemen's Club" with Fonzworth Bentley when former criminals are supposed to become classy honorable citizens, what do you think about that?

It's all gay ass bullshit to me homie FUCC That corny ass shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12) On "All day Everyday" & "Gz are on the move" videos we can see policemen "working", how do you explain the fact that it's nowadays seldom showed, people rather put lowriding, dime pieces ( i mean video playmates) and rivers of alcohol flowing in videos?

Once again Bullshit there's very few real cats left in the mainstream music biz. If you want what's good you gotta come to the hood. Look for www. hoodgoodmusic. com real soon Only hood music you can't get anywhere else.

13) What is the message behind (the song) "Gz are on the move" ( which is my fave)?

It's basically explaining a day in the life of a G. The hustlin,bangin,slangin trying to maintain as well as the backstabbing that happens in a g's life and the pain hood life brings at times. But through it all we keeps it moving.

14) Could you talk about your Def Jam period ( there was also Jayo Felony and Warren G signed by the record label)? Good memories?

Yea at times it was good but i don't think Def Jam really understood Gangsta Rap at that time. It was money to them they had no love or respect for the music to me. At least not all the folks that worked there at that time. But i appreciate the opportunity they gave us. Russell and Lyor were some cool MF's

15) What happened for SCC after "Westsurrection"?

We just been doing our own things Havikk has a few projects in the works. I have a few as well Young Prodeje has the Caliboys and LV is working on his new CD as well.Everything is G right now.

16) Plans for the future ? feel free to say anything missed or left aside...

Well you can expect to see me a lot in 2009 i have a new group G.N.T-GANGSTANATION TRUES our first cd will hit the streets in March. The first single should be hiting the streets real soon as well. Peep my myspace pages to hear new music soon.And i just wanna give love to my tried and true SCC fans we love yall for riding with us through the years and we got at least one more cd for yall in 09!!!!!!!!!!!Thanks for the interview Saul appreciate it homie...

ONE CAPITAL UNDER A GROOVE ! Gréements De Fortune & P FUNK ALL STARS, Baaclan, 27 aout 2008

Après une première tentative, on retente le sujet...double censure? Alors comme je disais certains font le pélerinage à la Bay Area, d'autres à Compton ( comme Aelpeacha) moi je commence par Paname ( pour les US j'attends que Cynthia Mc Kinney soit élue, pour Assata ça risque d'être un peu long, tu ne crois pas ?! ) et le Bataclan pour l'adoubement par la P Funk Army ( pas comme dans le clip de FFF mais presque) English version? yes because I can, it would be more difficult to translate in German and Swedish or whatever because I cannot get in touch with AfroB neither Uschi Digart ...So my pilgrimage was Bataclan, August 27th for the P Funk ritual, trying to reach the originators, be Eddie Hazel, George Clinton, Billy Bass Nelson, Bootsy, Bernie, Maceo, Kidd Funkadelic... ( the followers being people like Spice 1, Above The Law, Digital Underground, South Central Cartel, Egyptian Lover, Arabian Prince, I mean G funk era and electro funk era, you see?) If you don't it's like this ain't it atomic ? or that no darkness allowed bref on arrive devant le Bataclan après qq péripéties, entrée sans prblème et sans être fouillé à fond ( tant mierux pour les photos, encore que...v le résultat...)et le set des GREEMENTS DE FORTUNE se termine..c'est quoi les GDF, c'est ça allez un petit bonus, j'aurais pu arriver comme cela devant le Bataclan, Gurujee aussi et il aurait eu moins d'ennuis :-)open sesame des vrais stars !

For all those who wondered about black people ( and others) in France (in the 80ies) reacting to "hostility", here is something you may like....
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2m34m_teaser-du-dvd-the-black-dragon-gang_videogames

Black Dragon

For G Funk fiends only, let's get a glance at what happened Tuesday evening, July 3rd at Glaz'Art (short version, the longer one will be featured at http://www.myspace.com/unknownsauldier ). So it was the G Funk day in Paris Hip Hop fest 2007, with DJ Obsek, DJ Gone, DJ Smurf ( couldn't recognise who was who :-) ), breakdancers ( Franqey & Stiga..and others) , in fact pop lockers, a small BBQ party, there also was a lowrider car outside, a small Crip Walk contest and a G funk gig at the end ( around midnight). Mostly people from Paris and suburbs were there, others came from Metz and Lyon ( some hot spots for French G Funk ?)to see 50/50 ( the band featuring JL Tismé and Aelpeacha (and also SOB playing keyboards and talkbox, if you don't know Zapp you won't understand). Very good show ( although there were some lads, I would say "useless" on stage, I mean there were from the audience, not rappers or musicians or even members of CSRD or TSN...) and an unexpected guest, Stomy Bugsy ( from Ministere Amer fame) who played 3 tracks, " Sarcelles", "Sois Hardcore" and " Sacrifice de Poulets" ( there was also Driver, Hamed Daye). Papillon, people from 2 Moines and Les Sales Blancs ( Le Foula merde, Tombokarnage especially, all in black clothes, and leather gloves for LeFouLM) also went onstage for some tracks, problem is (for me) you cannot trade "West Coast" or " G Funk" words for " bandana music"..Anyway ( no female dancers for 50/50 this time) here is the tracklist for the main act, or what I think is the tracklist, " Merci pour nos vies", "Tiens moi au chaud", "Assekavekunstyleobsen", also Aelpeacha solo spot for " 1x2x3x", "Le Soleil Brille" ( from the new album "Val de Marne Rider 2007") with Papillon and Topaz, "Ya pas que la chatte"( from CSRD dayz ?)with JLT and others, JL spot was for " J'suis F" and you also got ( from his album "Rap de Chambre")" Vieux Mais Bon (funky remix)". Of course all this in no particular order...

As would The Source say...now what?!? Just read below...

Beaucoup de jeunes qui avaient retrouvé confiance en la justice grâce aux non-condamnations de NTM, Sniper, Monsieur R et bien d'autres rappeurs, s'interrogent de nouveau sur la réalité de l'indépendance de la justice", s'insurge Dominique Tricaut, l'avocat d'Hamé, l'un des rappeurs de La Rumeur. La Cour de cassation vient en effet de casser, mercredi 11 juillet, la relaxe prononcée en faveur de Mohamed Bourokba, dit Hamé. Poursuivi par le ministère de l'intérieur depuis 2004 à cette époque Nicolas Sarkozy siége place Beauvau pour "diffamations publiques envers la police nationale", Hamé sera de nouveau jugé par la cour d'appel de Versailles. Quand ? "Dans un ou deux ans", s'exaspère l'avocat du rappeur.

Did I miss you? I doubt :-) OK for people who landed on Mars or the Moon and didn't come back, some news, first there was the first screening of "Afropunk" the James Spooner movie about the black punk (at large) scene in the USA, and more than this, the famous and "cult" documentary "Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered and Shafted" by David Walker (about blaxploitation realm)...you also could get a print of D.Walker interview(in a scrapbook still available if you ask) ...didn't attract many people but I ain't amazed any longer, at the same time you had World Cup 2006, maybe the worst WC I ever witnessed, with the end of Brazil team and a mostly European challenge at the end(so who cares, it's World Cup, not European "Weltmeister" at least I thought)...African teams went as usual as tourists, Ivory Coast bragging and doing strictly nothing, Ghana players playing style so full of shame, so lousy you wouldn't believe it (and which flag do some of them salute? damn.... no pride at all, good bye NKrumah) and the others are forgettable...of course you have the famous headstrike by Zinedine Zidane, a weird affair, with so many shadows( racist words uttered or not by the Italian player?) and weird FIFA decisions...and something people were waiting for after the press conference, Ka Tribe is now a bunch of outlaws, thanx to Internal Security (and not for his own marriage :-) ) Minister Nicolas Sarkozy strong suggestions to ghost president Jacques Chirac. Bondage up theirs ?!?

Well seems there are some problems on Radio Campus Tours blog in the morning...ok let's put it like this my friends, first a gig report, last night, after watching Dave Chappelle show (making fun of R Kelly dirty habits and videos, really great) I went straight to the Bateau Ivre for a "groove session", Permis de Jouer it's called (licence to perform or licence to be on stage, set by PIMANT organisation) 2 bands only and I thought I had missed one, no, got both! First it was COBBLESTONES, a mix of 70ies soul funk and blues rock, let's say, great rythm section (bass and drums)..and they had a very enthousiastic fan, Luigi(for people who know about borrowing, let's say renting movies), and then, there was..not NWA but RYTHMETIX, a mix of afrobeat, funk and "festif" spirit but in a good way, a great rythm section there either(horn section,bass, keyboards, drums and percussions are in the line up), beside one reggae tune (for the ladies, yes gael that's what he said) and a mbalax (or close to it) song for one of their friends, it was "Lagos vibe", playing according to the ghost of the Black President( which is FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI for those who don't know)...big evening really!
What else, some news from the front, the famous trial with Kemi Seba and Patrick Haram will take place April 25th, and interesting news about Bobby Hutton death(for beginners, he was shot April 6th, 1968 after a failed ambush ordered by Mr Eldridge Cleaver, he was the first member, besides Huey P Newton and Bobby Seale, of the Black Panther Party For Self Defense), a police officer testified that in fact, both Eldridge & Bobby were beaten , and someone shot him (for no reason it seems as they had no guns) point blank in the head, then other officers started shooting at the body, so a deliberate gunning down...any way, are you really amazed by this?

Sad sad news and good ones, first seems Poor Righteous Teachers discography is on the way for re-issues, if you can't wait check their "Rare and Unreleased" compilation, both PE albums are great ("New Whirl Odor" and Paris produced "Rebirth Of A Nation"), now some obituaries, first we salute Ms Coretta Scott King(even if I disagree with the method, they're Black Pride and fighting pioneers), Gordon Parks (photographer, writer, movie maker, remember "Shaft", "The Learning Tree"? it's his work), Wilson Pickett and now Professor X from X Clan and Blackwatch fame (remember that with BDP, Brand Nubian, PRT, PE, and some others they belong to that conscious/afrocentric wave of late 80ies rap), fortunately for us we still have some people (now more hailing from Dirty South or West Coast) like Dead Prez, The Coup, Paris, and people like Nas show they're not only bling bling(right Biggie S?). Some good readings, well start with "We Want Freedom" from Mumia Abu Jamal...some news from the BADAZZMOFO camp, David Walker's new movie, "Uncle Tom's Appartment" is ready featuring Diana Devoe, Ted Lange( "Love Boat" fame), A Wone amidst others...is it useful to talk about Artur Jorge's departure from ILICS ? For those who still don't understand...

busy times,anyway I have some websites for your mind, Afrostyly.com is one... what else, PE in full effect, a Paris gig report( the show in Paris, in November,2005) as soon as possible, and the new album "New Whirl Odor" seems great. Black people start moving here, some good news....

Interesting reflexions about studio gangsta rappers (The Game & 50 Cent) on Davey D website...what else PE's GFR album may drop August 9, "Rebirth Of A Nation"

Well I confused, this should have been put in "Old School Music" blog... sorry:-)

Some news from Limoges camp (Attentat Sonore related), well before just check the new Barricata issue( #13) & No Government #50...ok DIY Asso puts some gigs, for example Varukers and friends on April 13th read below...

Salut !Voici une petite info pour le prochain concert organisé par DO IT YOURSELF.Et on en profite pour vous envoyer des nouvelles des prochains concerts à Limoges !Il y a beaucoup de soirées en ce moment... si le public ne se bouge pas, ce serait étonnant que ça dure ! A très bientôt donc !Raf / DIY
CONCERT PUNK AU BAR DES ARENES A LIMOGES
PEPER KOEK (Ska / Punk, Limoges)AvecThe VARUKERS (Punk '82, U.K.)
Mercredi 13 Avril21 H - Gratos !!!Formés en 1979, les VARUKERS se sont fait connaître peu après par des 45t sur le label Inferno, avant d’être signés par le label anglais mythique RIOT CITY...Ils écument l’Angleterre et l’Europe aux côtés de groupes comme CRASS, CHAOS UK, G.B.H. ou encore the EXPLOITED. Autrement dit, ils comptent parmi les précurseurs du Punk / Hardcore. Du Punk anglais à la fois revendicateur et entraînant, rageur et efficace ! Au fil des ans, la rage ne s'est d'ailleurs pas éteinte, et après des tournées aux U.S.A., au Japon, au Brésil, les VARUKERS déboulent à Limoges ! A la guitare, Biff, cheville ouvrière du groupe depuis 1994 et de son autre groupe SICK ON THE BUS. Au chant, Rat, toujours fidèle au poste, qui a d'ailleurs depuis quelque temps remplacé le chanteur de DISCHARGE au sein de cet autre groupe mythique, sans délaisser le sien !
Le public attend impatiemment la sortie d’un nouvel album, après l’excellent « How do you sleep ? » paru en 2001 sur le label américain Go Kart Records. Une compilation des premiers enregistrements vient de paraître ces jours-ci, en format CD, sur le label Step-1 Music. Intitulée « The Riot City Years », elle semble parfaite pour réviser les classiques du groupe : « All systems fail », « Protest & Survive », ou « Another religion, another war ». La situation mondiale actuelle ne semble pas leur donner tort !
En première partie, les limougeauds de PEPER KOEK vont envoyer la sauce, version Ska / Punk sans temps mort ! Ils rappellent l’énergie d’un groupe comme les KARGOL’S…Nul doute que ce sera une découverte de plus pour cette année 2005 déjà fastueuse !
Plus d'infos :
The VARUKERS : http://www.varukers.co.uk/MP3, flyers et photo sur le site http://www.LimogesPunx.com***

Some news for music interested people, just check FISHBONE 2001 dvd with Spacey T as axeman( Rocky George wasn't there back then), check also NAS "Street Disciple" , THE PHARCYDE "Humboldt Beginning",TALIB KWELI "The Beautiful Struggle" albums. Also take a cyber ride to Waxexpress website (www.waxexpress.com) and Eastern Conference records page(High & Mighty, Chief Kamachi, Cage...). And some Wessyde godfathers are back at least on the Net, Above The Law official website resurrected, good news...Dresta also has a webpage and I salute Mr BG Knocc Out (there's a tape for you soon) Here are some links www.abvdlaw.com for Above The Law, www.dresta.com for Gangsta Dresta( BG Knocc Out brother and both did "Real Brothers" album and the infamous "Real Muthaphukkin G's" with EAZY E) www.worldwideconnected.com for news and interesting interviews with Big Hutch, Dresta and others

Some news from the front (and also we don't forget Johnnie Cochran, who saved the life of Mr Snoop after all, and most important helped one of our leaders in war Geronimo Pratt aka Ji Jaga), just read now what's happening in my hometown Tours( French version)...

Rappel de la situation par Céline Sonnet (pour ceux qui ne sont pas deTours)depuis maintenant plus de deux semaines, 10 familles de demandeurs d'asileont été expulsées des foyers SONACOTRA et des hôtels (18 enfants), le « planhiver » prenant fin.Les instances publiques Tourangelles (préfecture, conseil général et mairie)ne se sentant aucunement concernées par le sort de ces familles, lecollectif de soutien aux demandeurs d'asiles et des étudiants ont pris ladécision d'héberger ces familles à l'université François Rabelais de Tours,Site Tanneurs: non seulement aucune solution n'est trouvée pour eux, maisdes dizaines de familles de demandeurs d'asile continuent d'être jetées à larue à Tours.Alors qu'un petit nombre de familles du village Perron commence à êtrerelogé, ce sont des dizaines de familles qui sont expulsées des foyers etdes hôtels par les pouvoirs publics Tourangeaux.Par ailleurs, une famille (une mère et ses quatre enfants, dont deux sontscolarisés à la maternelle de Paul Bert) résidant jusque là au villagePerron de Sainte Radegonde reste sans nouvelle de leur dossier de demanded'asile. Originaire du Kossovo, cette famille a du fuir son pays déchiré parla guerre. Cachés dans des caves durant des mois, cette traque s'estterminée par la mort du plus jeune enfant, une petite fille. Arrivée enFrance depuis six ans, cette famille a connu d'abord les alentours deMontpellier, puis de Tours toujours dans des conditions de précaritéinadmissibles.En solidarité avec toutes ces familles, le collectif de soutien auxdemandeurs d'asile et aux sans papiers de Tours propose le partage d'unrepas, le samedi 16 AVRIL 2005 au Parc de Sainte Radegonde, à coté de l'airede jeux pour enfants à partir de Midi.

Well in a few days it will be 10 years Eazy E died, the godfather of Gangsta Rap, one of the masterminds behind NWA...when we see what's happening with rap beefs( 2Pac vs Biggie, 50Cent vs Ja Rule, shootings in front of radio station buildings, rap task forces, rappers convicted (Lil' Kim, C Murder...) and so on) could we say as some people do, that Eric Wright opened a Pandora's box when he pushed this "gangsta talk"? And would Mr Wright also be responsible for that "pimp talk", gang related murders, radio station payola, X rated DVD invasion and so on? Too "Eazy" to conclude, isn't it? Before NWA it was blaxploitation as scapegoat, or slavery/racism, Uncle Tomism and so on...Should be time to move on, don't you think? And remember Malcolm X started as hustler, not to say hadn't been a certain Huey P Newton a gangbuster, I mean a guy among several data in juvenile delinquancy, I doubt he would have been courageous enough to confront( successfully) reigning rogue cops in Southern California as he did. H Rap Brown said "Violence is as American as cherry pie", he forgot "capitalism", "complaining/talking loud and doing nothing"...and come on, if this guy was so dangerous, how come people like 2pac & Biggie who are his spiritual heirs in a way, how come they are so celebrated and Eazy's just a ghost? Is death real only when you take bullets? For more reflection, go visit Davey D's page http://www.daveyd.com And there's also a Eazy website( amidst others) and we salute the return of Above The Law official website , here 's the link http://www.abvdlaw.com/... Something else, Lyn Collins passed away, "The Female Preacher" one of the female lead singers of the JBs, a funk legend of course...something to advert, the "Funky Saturdays" parties set by some Black Music addicts in Nantes, one for Saturday, March 26th, and the other Saturday April, 30th, where, Nantes (Club Bar "le Rive Droite", 5 rue Santeuil) from 10 pm to 4 am, 6 euros for attendance, with DJs Marrrtin, Phoenix and Pharoah( March, 26th) DJs Fresh Dope Crew, Bassline & Pharoah( April, 30th) and a special guest...that's all folks

Well it seems that 50 Cent and The Game ended their beef, is it because they read articles published on Guerillafunk.com or DaveyD.com about the way white owned black radio stations, rap press are on the starting blocks to exploit this dispute and maybe a possible fight and mutual shoot and murder of these two gangsta rap stars? We dunno...anyway, another target of racism, another balck entertainer is looking for some money, I talk about Dieudonne who wants to do a movie about the famous "Black Code" ("Code Noir" which set the rules about dealing with slaves, torturing, harassing them and so on back in the days)

Fishbone came saw and conquered February 24th at l'Astrolabe, Orleans, starting the set with "Unyielding Conditioning" great great ska tune, also featured were "Ma's & Pa's", "Freddie's dead", "Jackass Brigade", "Subliminal Fascism","Everyday Sunshine"...Angelo Moore did 2 stage dives and helped people climb on stage, this is a true band, nothing to say, they rule, unfortunately I couldn't watch the whole set

Just check a new website, www.poetsonwax.com where you can find some other adventures of the Crazy Man and other "friends in asylum"

Well well well...something to advertise for, a lecture about Ancient Egypt and Black Civilisation, also dealing with Cheikh Anta Diop works, it's Saturday December 11th, salle SAMIRA, 2 bvd De Gaulle( between Place Thiers and Eglise Saint Paul), in Tours, at 6.30 pm, presented by Ebene Association, Mateta, featuring Koffi "Ousir" Adjavoin as main lecturer, everybody's welcomed

NWA sang "One less Bitch to worry"? you guess what could come next if you change some words... ok here's a link with some knowledge http://www.daveyd.com and there read what Paris has to say. In hardcore realm some talked about "Boston crew"( SSD, The Freeze, Jerry's Kids, Gang Green, Negative FX, DYS....) well I would say Senator John Kerry doesn't belong to the Boston crew and I wonder which kids did have their say? Spoiled brats in battalions?

"If you really like this funky beat, let's everybody say "hell Yeaaaaahhhh"!" so I put a link for my homie Smooth Operator who's got a radio broadcast called "Smoothshit" dealing with West side/ Dirty South http://www.rfpp.net and I also say hello to Metal Force crews (they know what it's all about)

A public announcement for a kind of "VIP" party, presented by CLOCHARD INTERNATIONAL (no kidding?! only French readers could understand) with FATBEATS records amidst the sponsors, it's about LEE QUINONES limited edition vintage collection(records between 1974 and 1984), in New York, on November 4th. Dress code please , guesting this are D-Stroy (former Arsonist) MCing, Grand Master Flash, Tony Touch, Eleven DJing. Where does it happen exactly? Pressure, 110 University Place (between East 12/13th streets) from 9pm to midnight. For more info email at this address events@clochard-international.com

Some news about "Le Monde Panafricain" & Afrique Promo Culture at Nantes, they organise a meeting/ lecture about the late Mongo Beti (Cameroonese writer, his books are strongly advised for people who want to understand what's happening in Cameroon and Africa in general, "after the independences"),when, Saturday, the 23rd of October, 2 pm, where, Nantes, Manufacture des Tabacs, for more info call 02.51.72.06.70. What else, 37 years ago Huey and Bobby founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, and we should remember the fallen, Ernesto Che Guevara (October 9th, 1967) & Thomas Sankara (October 15th, 1987)

Salutations to Idriss Kameni who stopped a penalty shot by Ronaldo, congratulations to Sammy who plays with FC Barcelona, and big F*** YOU to Winfried Schaeffer & friends, what else Rick James passed away, the creator of "Superfreak" & "Give It To Me", the punk funk icon (I would better say glam funk rocker) and I also heard Russ Meyer died but it's another story hahahaha!

There will be a festival in the Bahama Islands featuring Confunkshun, Rene (of Rene & Angela), SOS Band, Midnight Star, Lakeside and Robert Downey (comedian),from August 5th to 9th. Prices are high ($250 for the 4 days) but you can ply golf and spend time as you want there

Well sad news as Ray Charles died, and fortunately this bastard of Ronald Reagan also went to another world maybe he rejoices with Ian Stuart of Skrewdriver and other KKK/ nazi cronies, the real meaning of "dead pres"

Some stuff from the FMSILIC, an organisation born to support and help Cameroonese soccer team well seems I cannot "cut & paste" so I sum up, FMSILIC is of course against FIFA decision about the famous Cameroon Puma wear (UniQit). For more about this I suggest you to go to their website below...

FMSILIC

Some news from the Eazy E camp, Lil E his son and one of the women Mr Eric Wright Sr used to live with started a foundation

This is something from Davey D's website, just read:

Gangstaz, Gunz and Half Naked Girlz

Min. Paul Scott


Baby Got back, but Baby needs backbone/Get off the
video screen and put some clothes on…
Brother Khamisi (Revolutionary Son)


Back in tha day, a radio program director told me
that heavy metal was marketed to 16 year old white
boys who were mad because they couldn’t get a
girlfriend.
Fifteen years later, we must ask what is the marketing
scheme behind Sex Guns and Hip Hop.

I ’m not saying that some Brotha with a bad rap is
somewhere sitting alone in his bedroom pumpin’ G-Unit
while throwing darts at a picture of his ex
girlfriend screamin’ ‘Take that you
slut…Westside!!!!!’ But we do have to look at the way
sista’s are portrayed in videos today through the eyes
of marketing executives who spend millions of dollars
psychoanalyzing Brotha’s in order to pinpoint our
weaknesses and find ways to exploit us.

Now be honest, Brothers, if you had to choose between
looking at a centerfold of the sista from the Outkast
video and reading this article, which one would you
choose? (That’s what I thought) So they are experts at
appealing to our attraction to our Nubian Queens.
Instead of denying our attraction to beautiful black
women we must learn to discipline our natural urges.
In other words we can’t let the size of the booty
blind us to the beauty of Afrikan Brothers and Sisters
working together to ensure the future of little Black
children.

Also, we can never look at any issue concerning Black
folks without putting the discussion in the context of
the battle of Afrikan people against the agents of
white supremacy. Since the Hip Hop Nation has all but
called a truce with the white power structure, this
issue will not be raised from those who view reality
from a purely 'hip hop-centric' point of view.

Many of the videos today feature a beautiful black
woman prancing around while 20 Brotha’s are rapping,
‘Get off my block before I shoot, you , fool !‘ Those
of us who are not sleeping while standing up must pose
the question’ what in the world does a half naked
sista have to do with drug dealin’ and Brotha’s
blastin’ Brotha’s?’ This is an obvious attempt to kill
two birds with one stone; a case of cross promotion of
negative stereotypes.

Historically , it has always been a goal of white
America to portray the sons and daughters of Africa as
animals lacking souls, culture and moral character.
So Black women have been portrayed as disparate over
sexed, Ho’s and Black men have been portrayed as blood
thirsty rapists and sexual predators.

So when a diabolical tool of oppression meets with a
billion dollar marketing scheme the result is what you
get gyrating across your favorite music video channel
24 hours a day.

Back in the day when the 2 Live Crew had Sista’s
'movin’ sometin’' to the sound of 'Me So Horny' the
excuse was 'Well. What about them white girls that be
all up in tha videos, HUH?' But in 2004, the white
video vixen is more or less, a thing of the pass.
While Heather White has long since traded in her
G-string for a government job, Shorty Doo Wop is still
holding down her 9 (PM) to 5 at tha strip joint.

The reason being that the entertainment industry has
found their niche market and will exploit it until the
well runs dry, until there is no such thing as a
normal relationship between a Black man and a Black
woman.

With thousands of Black men in jail , the future of
the Black family is in danger. Most black men live
everyday of their lives with the fear of winding up in
jail before night fall, whether guilty or innocent.
The music industry has capitalized off of this fear by
manufacturing the 'we don’t love them Ho’s mentality.'
For the Brotha who is looking at twenty years in the
slamma a Sista becomes nothing but a quick hit while
he is out on bail. Why market a video concept about
long lasting caring relationships when you have
created an environment where most of your market will
be spending 20 years of quality time with Big Bubba in
cell block D ?

Where the saying that made a Sista’s blood boil back
in tha day was ‘women are only good for two places;
the kitchen and the bedroom;' in Hip Hop, for the ride
or die chick, they are also good for hiding a crack
stash and working the strip club. (How many children
out there who have to visit their incarcerated mother
once a week because she caught a conspiracy charge for
being in the car with drug Dealin’ Darrell?)

What would happen if we turned this Mother’s Day into
Black Queen Restoration Day ? What if Afrikan
Brothers and Sisters across the country joined with
sisters like those of Spelman College or LaFonda Jones
(Operation ’hood Freedom, Durham NC) and demanded more
positive images in videos.

What if an army of Angela Davis/Assata Shakur, kente
cloth head wrap wearing Sisters rolled up on rappers
like Trina and 'made' them understand the damage done
to the self esteem of young Black girls through songs
such as 'Big Ole D@### ?'

As the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles
begins with one step. Isn’t it time that we started
steppin’ in the name of love for Black women?

Minister Paul Scott represents the Messianic Afrikan
Nation in Durham NC. To join the Messianic Afrikan
Nation contact (919) 949-4352 email
minpaulscott@ yahoo.com
Web site: members.blackplanet.com/THE-MYD

For the last "Maggot Brains" radio show as co host DJ Juan Velez Alvarez Pablo Don De La Vega is held hostage at the Celebrity Farm, we may be alone "as one" for an exclusive non interview with the "notorious Black President " of Just Justice association back from the States and a report about independant American rap featuring Vice Prez Remi, always into something with my trombipulated genetically unorganized twisted mind of yours. More seriously, Paris' Guerillafunk label is on a mission, "resurrecting" true conscious old school Golden Era rap, after Public Enemy, it will be up to the mighty MC Ren of NWA fame to get an album released. Damn, Paris, you also should work with my homie Spice 1, and Digital Underground, and...It also seems there's a new AWOL issue ready, remember AWOL is a rap pro zine dealing with militant music and related to MOVE organisation. Uncle Jam wants you for some action, and Aunt Assata gets a big salute. Remember also that for Mumia Abu Jamal it's not 17 but 22 years of Hell ( this line is for fans of the Partisans, related to their song "17 years of hell") and I must thank and greet DAL BASSO organisation

Well it seems it's not enough, Winfried Schaeffer, Rigobert Song and former Bidoung co workers must get out the way too, judging by the shameful defeat against Bulgaria. Something far more serious, I put a link about Iraqi situation Iraqi stories

BIG BIG BIG NEWS, the biggest corruptor of Cameroon team (soccer) is out, sacked, Mr Bidoung Mkpatt got ousted by President Biya, hopefully it will restart a declining team, and people like Rigobert Song must also leave the national team!

It seems another incident happened with Dead Prez (arrested again); here is a link for you about Cool Freddy Jay (where are the pictures with Julia Chanel? just joking) Cool Freddy Jay

The info came too late but DJ Vic & DJ PF Cuttin' (from rap act Blahzay Blahzay, yes those who stole a Drixxé(from Triptik) beat) were spinnin' on Fatbeats store yesterday, it's in Holland (Amsterdam) FATBEATS

Yesterday at evening there was an interesting lecture about the weird and "naughty" relations between France and Africa (no it's not about sex you pervert, hahahaha!), here is a link conclusions de la commission d'enquête citoyenne de l'association "Survie" this is about Rwanda genocide

Dead Prez news, just read below....

CONCERT & CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON THE PLIGHT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS

Boston, Massachusetts (April 2, 2004) -- A concert and conference on political prisoners called SET THE CAPTIVES’S FREE will take place on April 16 and 17 at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in the Lipke Auditorium, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester, Massachusetts.

A powerful concert, featuring Dead Prez, Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo, FTP, Blackout Boston, The Foundation, Curtis King, Simon & Wagner, Reflect & Strengthen, VCR, and PRESENTE!, will kick-off the UMass/Boston conference on Friday, April 16, 7-11P.M.

Focussing on political prisoners, prisoners of war, and racially profiled detainees in the United States, the conference will take place on Saturday, April 17, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and it will feature workshops and presentations by:

Pam Africa (MOVE)
Fred Hampton, Jr.
Linda Evans Russell Shoates, III,
Netdahe Williams
Rod Coronado
Rakhshanda Saleem
Rawan Barakat
New England Committee to Defend Palestine
Kamel Bell
Michelle Morales
Soffiyah Elijah
Nancy Murray (Patriot Act & Homeland Security)
Prof. Robert Hall
Nalda Vigezzi (The Cuban 5)
Jean Day (Leonard Peltier Defense)

The concert costs $15, the conference costs $10 or you can attend both days for $20. Those 15 & under can attend for FREE. For further information, call (617) 288-1433 or email: freedomnow20042000@yahoo.com The concert and conference are sponsored by The William Joiner Center/UMASS Boston, The Jericho Movement, Boston Political Prisoner Defense Committee, Mobarezeh Collective, Int’l Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu Jamal, American Friends Service Committee, and PRESENTE!

Some news from the GuerillaFunk camp, Conscious Daughters album as well as T-Kash's one and the PE stuff are about to get released this year, and the Hard Truth Soldiers comp' either. And Guerilla funk recs considers the release of a dvd featuring among other things Paris video clips

Some news in French and about France, especially Arabian people with too much hope in "french socialism", just read it...

La preuve par Mouloud : « Sois Beur et tais-toi ! »
> LES SOCIALISTES « INDIGÈNOCRATES » BARRENT LA ROUTE À MOULOUD AOUNIT AU
> CONSEIL RÉGIONAL
> par Vincent Geisser
> jeudi 1er avril 2004
>
> Ceux qui ne croient pas au « miracle républicain » en sont pour leurs frais.
> Au premier tour des élections régionales, Mouloud Aounit, secrétaire général
> du MRAP et tête de liste « Gauche populaire et citoyenne » (PCF et société
> civile) en Seine-Saint-Denis a réussi à rassembler 14,3 % des suffrages (50
> 000 voix) dans le département, faisant le meilleur score du Parti à
> l'échelon national et se payant même le luxe de devancer le candidat de
> l'UDF, « ô combien médiatique », André Santini (11,6 %). Pourtant, au-delà
> des apparences du « miracle électoral », c'est bien le travail de terrain
> qui a payé. Rompant avec la logique du « Beur exotique » et de l' « Arabe de
> service », héritée de l'indigénat, le succès de la liste conduite par
> Mouloud Aounit repose sur une véritable campagne de proximité auprès des
> électeurs de toutes origines sociales et culturelles. Car, précisément,
> Mouloud Aounit, refuse de s'enfermer dans une logique néo-coloniale de type
> « les Arabes parlent aux Arabes », préférant développer un message citoyen
> et social, loin de toute tentative d'instrumentalisation communautaire. On
> connaît, par ailleurs, les positions courageuses que M. Aounit a exprimé,
> ces derniers temps, sur des questions aussi diverses que la dénonciation de
> l'islamophobie ambiante, la critique de l'exclusion des jeunes filles
> voilées des établissements scolaires publics et la remise en cause des
> dérives sécuritaires à l'encontre des jeunes des cités. Et c'est
> probablement, cette démarche résolument universaliste et non clientéliste
> qui a mobilisé de nombreux électeurs de Seine-Saint-Denis en « rupture »
> avec le système politique traditionnel. Dans plusieurs communes populaires,
> caractérisées habituellement par une très forte abstention électorale, la
> liste de Mouloud Aounit a, en effet, crevé les plafonds : 24,7 % à Bagnolet,
> 28,8 % au Blanc-Mesnil, 34,3 % à Stains.., des scores rêvés que le PCF
> n'avait plus obtenu depuis très longtemps, pouvant faire croire à certains
> que les banlieues parisiennes sont redevenues « les banlieues rouges »
> d'antan. Des anciens OS des usines Renault aux diplômés victimes de
> discrimination à l'emploi, en passant par les cadres associatifs et les
> jeunes frappés par l'exclusion sociale, Mouloud Aounit a suscité un
> véritable phénomène d'identification positive : de nombreux électeurs fâchés
> depuis de longues années avec la « politique des partis » se sont reconnus
> en lui, créant ainsi une occasion unique pour la gauche d'Ile-de-France de
> se réconcilier définitivement avec les cités populaires.
> Mais c'est bien là que réside le problème majeur : une certaine gauche
> socialiste, nostalgique de la gestion coloniale, héritière du «
> national-molletisme » (l'affaire de Suez en 1956, la défense de l'Algérie
> française.), semble davantage soucieuse de « mater » les cités peuplées de
> « sauvageons » que de se réconcilier avec elles. Il est vrai, qu'un Malek
> Boutih (ancien président de SOS-Racisme) ou qu'une Fadela Amara (présidente
> de « Ni putes, ni soumises »), tenant le discours que veulent entendre leurs
> « maîtres politiques » apparaissent plus rassurants pour les états-majors
> partisans qu'un Mouloud Aounit, connu pour son franc-parler et sa critique
> du « politiquement correct ». Résultat des courses électorales : sous la
> pression de certains potentats du Parti socialiste, nostalgiques de
> l'indigénocratie, Mouloud Aounit a du renoncer à la tête de liste au
> deuxième tour des élections et, malgré son score exceptionnel, ne se verra
> probablement attribuer aucune responsabilité de poids au sein du Conseil
> régional.
> L'Arabe a voulu s'émanciper sans la caution d'un « parrain républicain » :
> il a été puni !
> Cédant aux exigences particularistes de certains « groupes » et « leaders »
> de son parti (le PS), Jean-Paul Huchon, président sortant du Conseil
> régional d'Ile-de-France, a clairement signifié à Mouloud Aounit, qu'en
> raison de ses positions trop dérangeantes (islamophobie, Palestine et
> foulard islamique), il ne se verrait confier aucune responsabilité dans la
> future assemblée régionale. A ce niveau, l'on peut légitimement se demander
> : qui dans notre « belle République laïque » fait du communautarisme ?
> La morale de cette histoire électorale : « Quand on est un Arabe et que l'on
> veut faire de la politique en France, l'on doit se comporter comme une
> créature exotique ou fermer sa gueule ! »
> Vincent Geisser
>
> Vincent Geisser est chercheur à l'Institut de recherches et d'études sur le
> monde arabe et musulman (CNRS) et enseigne à l'Institut d'études politiques
> D'Aix-en-Provence. Il est également l'auteur de :
>
> a.. La nouvelle islamophobie, Editions la Découverte, 2003
> b.. Ethnicité républicaine (Presse de Sciences-Po, 1997),
> c.. Diplômes maghrébins d'ici et d'ailleurs (CNRS Editions, 2000)
> d.. Le Syndrome autoritaire. Sociologie de la Tunisie de Bourguiba à Ben
> Ali (en collaboration , Presse de Sciences po, 2003)

For all you readers, first of all check the PE website "Bring The Noize" there are several radio shows, great stuff, then Dead Prez "Revolutionary But Gangsta" will be released at the end of March (30th) on Sony/ Columbia, then another thing, I've my own radio show in my hometown, it's called "Maggot Brains" of course I pay tribute to George Clinton & Funkadelic but also to Bad Brains this huge, marvelous (at least from 79 to 84) punk act. I played both, you guess, "Maggot Brain" & "Icka Prick" for Parliamentfunkadelic thang and 2 whole shows devoted to Bad Brains

To end it, there was a great reggae show Saturday night, featuring Strate 4 Ward as backing band and several D jays or Sing Jays (I mean ragamuffin style) like Brahim (remember "Dans Quel Monde On Vit" , and he prepares his second album) Asha B, Hamine, Jornick, Nassadjah(from Comores Islands) and Mighty Kila (before you had 2 hours of African Heritage sound system, performed by the owners of the shop African Heritage, it was mostly old school reggae, and I recognized the original version of a Daddy Nuttea hit single, which is of course way better than DN one. The Nuttea song is called "Elle Vit Sa Vie" for those who want to know

Ok, some news, maybe you know about Dieudonne Mbala Mbala and the way (far)right wing considers him, after all remember the second row of French presidential elections, having to choose between "Le bruit et l'odeur" (noise and smell, it refers to a racist quotation by candidate Jacques Chirac, sampled by Zebda) and "le détail" (detail, another quotation by Jean Marie Le Pen), we know where we're living! Dieudonne refers to Martin Luther King, I strongly disagree, now it's about Malcolm X and a Black Liberation Army, no more time to lose...

Malgré l'annulation de sa représentation,
> Le rassemblement se fera à partir de 19 H devant l'Olympia - 28, Bd
> des Capucines (M° Opéra).
>
> COMITÉ DE SOUTIEN
>
> A DIEUDONNÉ
>
> ---------
>
> EXPOSÉ DES MOTIFS
>
>
> Communiqué
>
> Le 1er décembre 2003, un animateur de France 3, Marc-Olivier Fogiel ,
> recevait le « bouffon » Dieudonné. A la suite d'une prestation du
> comédien sur le thème de la situation scandaleuse et barbare imposée
> par l'Etat d'Israël aux Palestiniens, une véritable machination a été
> montée, tendant à le faire passer pour un antisémite.
>
> Curieusement , il se trouve que des gens, et pas des moindres,
> soutiennent cette machination, orchestrée, vraisemblablement, par des
> organisations juives d'extrême droite.
>
> Une instruction a été ouverte contre Dieudonné par le Parquet de
> Paris, sans doute sous le fondement de l'appel à la haine raciale.
>
> Plus encore, M. Alex Moïse s'est déclaré sur Europe 1, comme
> représentant la fédération d'une organisation sioniste de France qui,
> elle-même, serait une émanation d'une organisation sioniste mondiale,
> regroupant tous les mouvements sionistes sur notre planète". Il a
> reconnu "?être intervenu auprès du casino et de la mairie de
> Deauville?" et avoir obtenu l'annulation du spectacle de Dieudonné en
> août 2003 déjà. "? je me vante du fait que ma démarche ait marché,
> bien entendu?" "< /I> je me vante que quelqu'un comme vous n'est pas
> pu faire son spectacle". "Dieudonné est un Le Pen noir". Et à la
> question précise de l'animateur de radio: "Est-ce que pour vous, Alex
> Moïse, il faut donner la parole à Dieudonné ? La réponse a été claire
> et nette: " Pas plus qu'à Le Pen" "?je pense qu'aujourd'hui il y a
des
> choses qui doivent être évacuées effectivement". Une menace ?
>
> Des questions se posent
>
> Comment, tolérer l'exorbitant pouvoir d'un tel groupe religieux, dans
> un pays qui, aujourd'hui réaffirme sa laïcité et ne cesse de clamer
> son attachement :
>
> - A la République ?
>
> - A l'indépendance de la justice ?
>
> - Au refus hypocrite du communautarisme ?
>
> Qui donc est derrière ce groupe qui a le pouvoir de décider de qui a
> le droit ou non d'exercer son métier dans ce pays ? Le pouvoir de
> faire plier nos autorités politiques et administratives sous prétexte
> de défendre une politique, mondialement contestée au demeurant, de
> pays étrangers, Israël et les USA en l'occurrence ? Quel est ce lobby
> qui bafoue nos lois ?
>
> Comment , nos autorités, avec l'appui de certains médias,
> peuvent-elles se sentir choquées par les propos de Dieudonné qui lui,
> courageusement, condamne les tueries du Moyen-Orient ?
>
> Comment , aucune d'entre elles n'ose clamer, n'ose crier son
> éc?urement devant les propos négrophobes, tenus dans les prétendus
SMS
> et effectivement diffusés dans une autre émission de ce même M.
Fogiel
> ? Rien n'est inventé, M. Fogiel a avoué ses manipulations.
>
> N'ayons pas la mémoire courte.
>
> On a parlé en France, à la télévision d'Etat de l'odeur des noirs
> comme on a parlé en leurs temps, des odeurs du quartier de la Goutte
> d'or dans le 18° Arrondissement de Paris, et les corps constitués ne
> s'émeuvent aucunement ? Sont-ils aussi sous influence ?
>
> Est-ce tolérable qu'en France aussi, ce pays des Droits de l'Homme,
> que maghrébins, musulmans, africains et descendants d'africains
> souffrent quotidiennement du racisme, de discriminations dans le
> travail, le logement, la culture, entre autres domaines économiques
et
> sociaux sans que cela n'émeuve de la même manière nos politiques
ainsi
> que certains médias et associations de la société civile française ?
>
> L'opinion publique s'interroge
>
> Il y a t-il donc deux poids et deux mesures selon la religion ou le
> groupe ethnique auquel on appartient ?
>
> Il y a t-il une religion élue ? Au-dessus de toutes les autres ?
>
> Dieudonné lui, a répondu clairement : " Le racisme doit être combattu
> au même titre que l'antisémitisme. Il n'y a pas de hiérarchie dans la
> souffrance." Des propos sans équivoque.
>
> Et ceux qui, lâchement, dans l'ombre, tirent les ficelles,
> ignorent-ils qu'il n'y a pas "les juifs en général" et qu'il y a
aussi
> des juifs victimes de cette société d'exclusion que nous dénonçons ?
> Qu'il y a aussi des juifs qui condamnent la politique palestinienne
de
> M. Sharon ? Veut-on nous faire prendre des vessies pour des lanternes
> ?
>
> Alors où est le problème ? Et qu'est-ce que c'est que cette polémique
?
>
> Nous avons déjà déjoué ce stratagème à la Conférence Mondiale Contre
> le Racisme de Durban en 2001, malgré la collusion de certains pays
> occidentaux dont la France et ce même axe U.S.A./Israël. Dans ce pays
> au lourd passé (et présent) colonial, les victimes doivent être
> respectées et de véritables mesures doivent être prises pour
combattre
> l'occultation.
>
> C'est le sens que va prendre l'action du Comité de Soutien à
> Dieudonné...
>
> Exigeons que :
>
> * La lumière soit faite sur cette machination
> * Soit dénoncé le lynchage médiatique et raciste dont est victime
> Dieudonné et à travers lui toute la communauté noire.
> * L'opinion publique soit informée des agressions physiques,
> morales, spirituelles et matérielles dont les noirs sont victimes
> chaque jour en France
> * Les plus hautes autorités de la France condamnent les
> responsables de ces agissements
> * Soit impulsée une politique d'égalité des devoirs, mais aussi
des
> droits pour les femmes et les hommes quels qu'ils soient.
>

Sadly, one of my idols is dead, Ron O'Neale aka Youngblood Priest in "Superfly" is no longer there. I reproduce an article taken in Davey D's website

Superfly's Ron O'Neal Dead at 66
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By now people are probably aware of the passing of actor Ron O'Neal who is best known for his role as a drug dealer named Priest in the landmark movie 'Superfly'. As this article below points out when the movie came out in the early 70s it was ahuge deal. O'Neal himself went on to obtain cult-like status in our community. His legacy lasted all the way through the 80s and 90s within Hip Hop.

'Pusherman' which was the signature song of Superfly was sampled more times or redone by more artists then I can count. O'Neal himself was featured in videos and more recently a song with the Bay Area's Rappin' 4Tay.

============================


As 'Superfly,' Ron O'Neal Played All Too Well

By Wil Haygood
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 17, 2004; Page C01

We rushed -- Flan, Olen, Bubbles, Tutu, Macaroni, my sisters, myself --
downtown to the Southern Theatre in Columbus, Ohio, in 1972 to see
"Superfly." Dressed in Sunday-ish outfits, we were excited about a movie
everyone was already talking about. It seemed, in a strange and sad and
curious way, to be a documentary about own lives and misguided dreams amid
the urban landscape on the east side of town. In our part of Columbus,
pimps and prostitutes and drug dealers and con men were not reviled but
nearly celebrated. A hustler could make 10 times the money of one of those
Negro men stumbling out of the Buckeye Steel plant.

The Southern Theatre showed black movies, and for "Superfly" the line
swept
down East Main Street. What did we care of the distance, even in cinema
lore, between hero and smooth-talking villain? We were hungry for movies
with black faces. Doris Day, Rock Hudson and Jerry Lewis were good enough,
at least at one time they were. But this was now, the lip of the '70s.
Giveus cool. Give us blaxploitation then. We were not academics making quick
judgments about cartoonish characters. We were young, and youth has its
own lens.

That year, that moment, "Superfly" became an event -- and a kind of
lifestyle if you were prone to such dramatics. The plot consisted of
Priest, a celebrated drug dealer, trying to leave the business, but not
before a final deal must be executed. The dilemma gave him the aura of a
man forced to fight a darker nemesis than himself. The movie drew fans
coast to coast, startling the studio that produced it.

In the role of Priest, Ron O'Neal -- who died Wednesday at age 66 of
cancer
-- was seen fashionably dashing across the silver screen. He was notable
for his long hair, his long coat, his devilish eyes, playing the drug
dealer with a pimp lifestyle (plenty of women) as hero. He became an
iconic
figure to me and many of my friends.

We even knew he had briefly attended Ohio State University in Columbus!
Family friends would regale me with tales of having seen him around town.
Not that I could ever verify such claims.

Those exploitation movies had "cartoonish" names, sure enough. But we had
such names in real life: Too Sweet, Stinky Lynch, Precious Herb; they hung
out with my brother Macaroni, and they all idolized Priest, who gave the
world those colorful coats, wide-brimmed hats, the pimpmobile. (Shortly
after the "Superfly" craze exploded, the window of Lee's department store,
on Mount Vernon Avenue, was crowded with "Superfly" fashions. I didn't
have
to spend a dime inside Lee's for such clothing. My sister, Diane,
hand-sewed my maxi coat.)

I was 17 at the time. Macaroni, not long released from prison, was a pimp,
a bona fide pimp, and a drug user. And how silly and tragic it seems now,
how silly and tragic it was then -- and would become -- especially so when
he wound up behind bars at San Quentin penitentiary. And yet, how
strangely
worshiped he was in the edgy glow of 1972, with Ron O'Neal as "Superfly."
"Aren't you Mac's brother?" I'd get asked all the time. Yes yes yes. Shame
on me: I glowed in his glow.

O'Neal would lament, in later years, when the roles dried up, that he had
been typecast. He would go on to appear in other movies, namely "The
Master
Gunfighter" (1975), "When a Stranger Calls" (1979), "A Force of One"
(1979). There would be plenty of TV guest appearances, on such shows as "A
Different World" and "Frank's Place." But, like William Powell and "The
Thin Man," Lon Chaney and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," it was forever
Ron
O'Neal and "Superfly."

Some of the story of "Superfly" -- considered a cult classic now -- and
O'Neal involves the climb of the black actor in the late '60s and early
'70s. Start with the Karamu House, a theatrical training ground in
Cleveland, where O'Neal studied, where Langston Hughes once wrote and
worked, where Emmy Award-winning actor Robert Guillaume honed his skills.
Fumbling around Columbus after college, looking every which way for a
steady job, I joined a community theater group. The founder was Carol Khan
White, a product of the Karamu House. On lazy evenings, in between
rehearsals, I and others would plead with her to tell us stories about
O'Neal, and she would, and we'd sit with something approaching awe in our
eyes. (My grandfather, with whom I lived, thought a boy with a college
degree thinking of acting was a fool, and a fool, and a fool. I would not
become another Ron O'Neal. )

Blacks were rarely seen on the screen in the 1960s, which kept them out of
consideration for big studio movies, even as the studio heads complained
that they had no "film" on them. The black exploitation films, wildly
uneven as they were, gave a bevy of actors -- O'Neal's "Superfly" co-star
Sheila Frazier, Bernie Casey, Lou Gossett, Pam Grier, Max Julien, Calvin
Lockhart -- film roles. O'Neal had languished in the theater before his
"Superfly" break.

It was, however, more than O'Neal's hypnotic performance that gave the
movie such staying power. The "Superfly" soundtrack, by Curtis Mayfield,
was flat-out haunting. Certain singles from that album qualify as mighty
essays on the futility of a criminal life: "Pusher Man," "Freddie's Dead,"
"Little Child Runnin' Wild," "No Thing on Me." Mayfield sang with a
falsetto voice, and would come to lament that many misunderstood the depth
of his album: It was an anthem against drugs and street life; he sang
about the futility of such living.

How fruitless to attach a movie to lives lived. To lifestyles chosen. The
"Superfly" lifestyle began to frighten me shortly after the movie came out
when it appeared as if certain members of my family had taken it directly
from the screen to the street. (Not that I was totally innocent. The one
lady I ever asked in my life if she knew of a way we might make some money
together slapped me, coldly, on my grandfather's porch. My eyes welled up
and I turned away lest she see the water in them.)

So what sang to my sisters and brothers from Ron O'Neal's celebrated movie
captured me, too, but only for a fleeting moment. I released myself from
that movie's grip to roll down other roads -- college, books, a steady
job. As well, I was long haunted by the memory of having been taken inside the

Franklin County jail at age 14 to visit my brother Macaroni.

Still, I listen to the wondrous "Superfly" soundtrack now and then and
become alternately jumpy and melancholy. Melancholy because it makes me
think of family: The sister, Geraldine, who died a year ago after decades
(starting in the '70s) of drug abuse. The sister, Wonder, in and out of
drug rehab, currently unemployed. I thought she had kicked it; she swore.
The brother, Harry, in and out of drug rehab. I thought he had kicked the
heroin; he swore. The brother, Macaroni, Superfly, in and out of jail
(just released yet again mere months ago). I thought, as did his wife Helen, he
had kicked it; he promised.

It was just a movie. And may Ron O'Neal be remembered for the way he
pleaded with anyone listening not to follow in the twisting unpredictable
road of his Superfly

I reproduce here (no bootlegging intended, it's from Davey D's website) an article made by Keith Murray (from EPMD posse if you remember, with Redman, K Solo and so on) about jails in USA...just read

Rapper Kieth Murray on the Prison system of America
By Keith Murray
members3.boardhost.com/pl.../4558.html


A person gets locked up, he has to pay money to his lawyers, while the lawyers break bread, so to speak, with the system. Jails have contracts with food companies, making those companies serious money. Prisoners work while incarcerated for below minimum wageÐas low as seven cents per hour and their productivity helps run the jail. The little money they do receive goes back into the system because they spend their meager earnings on the products that the jails are selling.
The court system is putting juveniles in jail for life, treating these young people literally like animals. The justice system failed me. I have no trust and confidence in the system as far as I can throw it. I think the government and the courts are cynical, democrats and republicans go back and forth fighting for the power while we (the citizens) are in the middle of the brawl, only to be misused, discriminated against and deprived of our basic civil rights.

The system locks up individuals and gives them hard time (depending on your skin tone), justifying it by claiming that incarceration is cleaning up the streets. Prison is a harsh realm of negative emotions, which gives the individual on lockdown social anxiety and a constant feeling of unpredictability. They prey on our ignorance, divide and sacrifice our overall growth and intellectual development in life, creating a domino effect. When a person is locked up, it is not only affecting him, it is also straining family members, their kids and friends. But as long as it stays a corporate money machine, the system does not care.

They say prison is for rehabilitation, but there are only bullsh!t programs that are not helping anyone; it is only stagnating people, retarding their growth, not helping them better themselves. Rehabilitation is a myth. I think the courts are meant to work against a certain type of person, namely the underprivileged people of society. The system has a conscious disguise behind their evil intentions. Like any other business, they have a quota to fill and they have to arrest a certain number of people to make ends meet.

I feel that prison was designed to create repeat offenders because I've experienced it firsthand. The system is like a revolving door, creating a pattern of recidivism where one person goes out, another comes in, and the person who left is programmed to fail, relapsing into a life of perpetual crime. I can't say for sure that I won't go back to prison; anything can happen, and I've watched it happen to other people. One thing is for certain, though the elevation of the mind is the only means of survival.

Paris and Guerilla Funk crew are really busy these times, check their website Guerilla Funk

Yesterday evening was great as a French-Senegalese writer, Fatou Diome presented her book "Le ventre de l'Atlantique" ("Atlantic Ocean's belly" to translate word for word), stories about African people deeds, hopes, woes, problems when they come in France or Europe, stories about false dreams about the life in Europe and the fake rich sending money to motherland, I mean the family who stays in Africa and thinks it all goes well for the people who lives in Europe (and in fact it's not, racism, unemployment and all these things...). And she's a militant, she managed to talk about "sex safaris" and pedophilia in Africa, islam fanatism/ dogmatism, scorn for women in Africa and a lot of other problems, she be praised for that!

Paris (the rapper, not the city) will be at the MIDEM (something like the New York Musical Seminar or something like that i.e. a place when people dealing with the music industry meet, talk, sell, negotiate (artists, record labels, press, venue owners and so on)) at Cannes, France. It usually takes place at the end of January.

Some exclusive stuff, La Rumeur itw 's first part done in May 2002, the rest in EKN (possible release date : middle of 2004)

Autopsie d’un premier tour dans la cite turone…La Rumeur

On ne présente pas la Rumeur, et si vous voulez une présentation, je vous envoie Joey Starr !!! Trêve de plaisanterie, cela se passe au Centre de Vie du Sanitas, fin mai 2002 dans le cadre du festival Aucard de Tours, section hip hop (La Rumeur est venue , ou plutôt les membres du groupe sont venus, comme cela pas de soucis d’ordre grammatico –psychologique ,pour un atelier et un concert, qui n’aura en fait lieu que l’année d’après). Pendant que les élèves d’un temps s’escriment, la Rumeur parle (à qui ? à moi. Qui est moi ? celui qui fait de l’égotrip comme Rockin’ Squatt, je sais, j’ai une étiquette de provocateur, hahahaha)

Déjà je vais vous demander, question d’actualité , qu’est-ce que vous choisiriez, entre Chirac, Le Pen et Jospin ?

Ni l’un ni l’autre (Ekoué), vraiment Sinon j’ai vu que vous êtes bien vus dans le journal « Les Inrockuptibles », et moi j’ai lu ce que les gens disaient (dedans), en gros, entre les deux tours il y avait une critique du parti Socialiste, et après il y avait intérêt à choisir entre l’un.. La position des Inrocks, par rapport au débat politique, ne nous étonne pas, je veux dire, c’est un journal qui, bon ben voilà (Hamé complète et « coupe » ) qui est assez consensuel, à la base tu vois, c’est un journal qui concerne la jeunesse de gauche. On considère ça comme un outil de promotion, tu vois, comme un autre, largement diffusé, maintenant, ce n’est pas le genre de media qui nous [représente ?]. Par contre, au-delà de ça, par rapport au 1er et 2eme tour, on était clair, c’est abstention, point à la ligne, tu vois ?

Si on laisse de côté les Inrockuptibles (je reformule ma question par rapport à l’originale), moi j’écoute Skyrock, et le soir du 1er tour, quelqu’un du Saian Supa Crew a appelé, et aussi Mokobé du 113, et le message en gros était de choisir l’un plutôt que l’autre. Il n’y avait pas de critique…

(Ekoué me coupe et enchaîne) Ca c’est leur problème. Tu sais, moi ces mecs qui se réveillent au lendemain du 2ème tour pour savoir que la France est un pays raciste, je ne peux plus rien faire pour eux. Non, nous, avant les élections, on appelait au boycott de toute forme d’élection possible. On considère que la solution ne vient pas par le vote, c’est un leurre, c’est un fantasme. On prend la [ ? un mot incompréhensible même après écoute répétée, ndm] tous les jours, on croit qu’on va changer nos conditions de vie, en mettant un bulletin dans l’urne ? Si c’était aussi facile, ça se saurait et on irait les premiers, on serait les premiers à le faire aveuglément, tu vois ? Non, non, je crois qu’il y a une grosse mascarade autour de tout ça, il y a… la situation [« précise » ?!? difficile de comprendre le sens ,ndm], après c’est revenir en profondeur sur le terme, de, comment dire, d’implication citoyenne, tu vois ce que je veux dire, à la cité, à la vie politique, on considère que la politique institutionnelle, telle qu’elle est appliquée, de gauche, d’extrême gauche, de droite, elle ne nous concerne pas, tu vois ? Parce qu’elle soulève des problématiques qui sont complètement absentes, du débat [« qu’on veut amener » ? ndm] par le biais de notre disque ou autres, par le biais de notre disque essentiellement. Donc, par rapport à ça, après, gauche – droite, évidemment que, bon voilà, en tant qu’immigrés on ne voit pas de différence notoire, tu vois, sinon que quelque part, la gauche c’est la perfidie, le vice, quelque part, exacerbé, la droite c’est une politique clairement réactionnaire, et [ ?! un mot m’a encore échappé, attrapez-le ! joke, ndm] beaucoup plus frontale. Maintenant, comme on a coutume de dire, on préfère de vrais ennemis à de faux alliés, tu vois. Donc après si on revient dans le contexte électoral dont tu parles, moi, ce qui m’a… nous, je parle au nom de La Rumeur, ce qui nous a fait gerber c’est cette mobilisation « bon enfant » pour dire comme quoi le Pen, c’est la tête à abattre, une fois qu’on l’aura ramené en dessous des 15%, le racisme n’existera plus, tu vois ce que je veux dire ? Ca c’est vraiment une manière, justement, d’ancrer d’une façon beaucoup plus insidieuse le racisme dans les institutions, tu vois , Le représentant du racisme, il s’appelle le Front national, et tous les partis qui se revendiquent d’une tradition démocrate ou républicaine, ne sont pas racistes, tu vois, ils ne votent pas de lois racistes, toute forme de discrimination raciste sous leurs gouvernements n’existe pas, alors que c’est complètement faux, tu vois, c’est complètement faux.

Mais alors pourquoi vous, vous vous en rendez compte et tous les autres rappers, ils ne sont pas tous forcément blancs et riches, alors pourquoi eux ne s’en aperçoivent pas ?

Parce que, nous on est là pour donner de leçon à personne, tu vois, on considère que notre abstention, elle relève d’une conviction politique, tu vois ce que je veux dire ? Maintenant, ce n’est pas de l’abstentionnisme par flemmardise, c’est que…. Si on ne vote pas, et bien, on considère qu’il y a des problématiques qui sont absentes, qui nous paraissent essentielles, pour notre émancipation sociale, intellectuelle, politique, tout ce qu’on veut, tu vois, tout ce qui a trait quelque part à… Moi j’aimerais bien savoir, de tous ses représentants [quel est celui] qui parle ouvertement des relations de pouvoir entre la France et les pays du Tiers Monde, tu vois, entre les pays exploités. Et un Chirac au pouvoir, c’est des chefs d’Etat africains quelque part, qui se réjouissent et qui sautent au plafond parce qu’il a tissé des réseaux mafieux sur tout le continent, et quelque part [cela] conforte l’hégémonie des dictateurs africains, pour servir les intérêts des anciennes puissances coloniales, tu vois. Tu vois ce que je veux dire ? Donc par rapport à ça, nous, c’est une réalité quelque part, qui nous concerne autant que notre situation de banlieusards, parce que, tu vois, on est des immigrés de première génération, et on considère que la politique africaine de la France, elle ressemble de près ou de loin…elle est relativement proche de la politique ou des différents comportements qui se sont succédés, appliqués aux quartiers (c-a-d aux banlieues, ndm), tu vois ce que je veux dire ? Nous on ne voit pas de grosse différence, on considère que la politique néo-coloniale qui est appliquée dans nos pays respectifs, elle est la même [que] par rapport à nos quartiers. C’est exactement pareil. C’est : appauvrissement, à tout point de vue, culturel, économique, et répression. Répression, sanglante, et impunie…en toute impunité, tu vois. Donc maintenant après, le vote…si maintenant des rappers se réveillent, quels que soient leurs noms, quels que soient leurs courants, et considèrent que voter Chirac c’est un bien qui est salutaire et que ça peut leur permettre justement, de se donner bonne conscience et considérer que voilà, ben… c’est tant pis pour eux, tu vois, et le rap, tu vas dire, il n’échappe pas aux contradictions du système, tu vois, on considère que voilà, si voter Le Pen ou voter Chirac, c’est symboliquement un acte politique fort, moi je dis non, nous on dit non, complètement. C’est faux, c’est du leurre. Chirac, il a un programme tout aussi sécuritaire que le Front National, Chirac c’est un, c’est un… il a autant de sang sur les mains que Le Pen, en Afrique ( Ekoué s’est bein emmêlé les pinceaux, ndm), tu vois ce que je veux dire, les caisses noires, et même plus (quelqu’un d’autre intervient, Hamé ? oui, c’est Hamé, mais il y a encore un autre qui parle aussi, Philippe je crois, un peu de cacophonie…) Il est dans la majorité présidentielle, et les institutions, depuis les années 70, Chirac (là c’est bien quelqu’un d’autre qui parle, je suis un grand professionnel comme tout le monde sait, ndm, « introducin’ Hamé ») , attention. C’est pas « Les Guignols », Chirac, le mec qui boit des bières etc…, attention ! C’est un tigre, celui-là, c’est un tigre (j’ai corrigé depuis mais je remets le passage écrit à la retranscription « je crois que c’est Hamé , ndm») ! L’antichambre de Omar Bongo, (Ekoué) les réseaux de mercenaires, enfin tout quoi, je veux dire, l’armement, le financement des armées dictatoriales, des régimes, des états-majors d’armée des régimes réactionnaires en Afrique, il est impliqué directement, l’assèchement de régions, les famines (là c’est Hamé qui parle, avec son accent du Sud) , le Rwanda (dont on a parlé hier lors de la « palabre » coorganisée par la Cimade, avec la 3ème ethnie, les Twa dont il est très peu fait mention, ndm) on sait que la France a une responsabilité directe, et ce n’est un secret pour personne, et ça personne ne le dit. Tout le monde le sait, et on sait que les cellules de l’Elysée, elles ont un rôle, moteur, premier, tu vois, dans l’entraînement, le financement, l’organisation des génocidaires au Rwanda, et avant le génocide, pendant et après, la France les a toujours couverts, tu vois. Donc voilà, ça s’est passé sous Mitterrand, à l’époque c’était avant la cohabitation , la droite est passée, la gauche a entraîné ça… ( Ekoué reprend la main) Historiquement Chirac pendant la guerre d’Algérie, il était, c’était un officier pro-OAS, pro « Algérie française », au même titre que Le Pen, donc il n’y a pas vraiment de grande différence, tu vois, moi personnellement… (Hamé, après avoir été coupé tout à l’heure, reprend la main) Le Pen aujourd’hui, il a moins d’années de pouvoir qu’un Chirac, tu vois ? Le Pen, on est d’accord, c’est un ennemi, clair, net, déclaré, il n’y a aucun problème. Simplement, il a… une nuisance moindre, en termes de pouvoir législatif, en termes de réel pouvoir, tu vois, de décision, tu vois, de décision. De prendre des décisions, faire voter des lois, des aménagements, voter des budgets. Jusque là, tu vois…jusque là, il n’a pas été du côté du pouvoir, Le Pen, tu vois ? Il aurait aimé, etc…, pourtant, tu vois, la plupart des coups les plus sérieux, des coups qui ont le plus liquidé, tué l’immigration et… les coups qui ont le plus liquidé, tué l’immigration et… les coups qui fait le plus mal à l’immigration, ça vient des partis traditionnels, tu vois, ça vient du PS, des partis traditionnels de droite et de gauche, quoi, tu vois ? De ceux qui se sont succédés au pouvoir. Donc, quelque part, que l’épouvantail du FN, est le degré ultime, tu vois, du caractère réactionnaire, ségrégationniste, raciste de la classe politique, c’est un épouvantail, mais faut pas oublier que dans les années 80, il n’y a pas eu besoin de Le Pen pour des crimes racistes, des crimes de flics impunis, pour les charters, le Rwanda, pour, tu vois, la dévaluation du franc CFA, c’est pas Le Pen, tu vois ? C’est des gens qui ont été plébiscités par le peuple français, tu vois, c’était Mitterrand, c’était Chirac, c’était Jean Christophe Mitterrand, tu vois, des trafics d’armes sur notre continent, tout ça, la mort, le venin, le poison quoi, tu vois, qui est inoculé dans les veines de l’Afrique, attention, tu vois, ces gens-là ils ont…attention, quoi, tu vois (tentative de Sull, écartée par Hamé qui continue) Ca on ne l’oublie pas, on ne l’oublie pas, et on n’enferme pas la problématique dans [un/ le] petit côté local (Ekoué approuve)… « Demain ça va être un peu chaud pour nos fesses », c’est chaud pour nos fesses, tu vois, c’est chaud pour nos fesses. Beaucoup de gens [se] sont réveillés parce que , si Le Pen passait, ça allait être aussi chaud pour les leurs, tu vois, et si Le Pen était passé…de toute façon c’était pas possible (Ekoué revient) De toute façon, s’il était passé, la situation aurait été claire, voilà (Hamé revient) Le pays aurait arrêté de fonctionner, il aurait été à feu et à sang (Ekoué revient) Qu’est-ce que, enfin je ne crois pas…

Pour moi, ça va être un peu flou ce que je vais dire…

(Ekoué) Fallait voter Le Pen ? Non c’est pas ça, mais si le Pen était passé, voilà, justement cela aurait été plus clair et ça aurait montré qu’il n’y avait pas que le vote, et que…enfin moi je ne comprends pas que les gens n’aient pas la mémoire…moi j’ai 30 ans, mais Chirac, il y avait Pasqua et le jeune… Malek Oussekine ? Voilà etc… il y a eu des tas de choses, donc euh je sais pas…
Parce que , après, tout simplement…nous on considère (Ekoué a repris la main) que, de toute façon, comme venait de le dire Hamé, Le Pen au pouvoir, ça relève du spectacle, tu vois ce que je veux dire, et c’est un commerce aussi, tu vois, quelque part. Moi j’ai regardé ce élections comme la Coupe du Monde, tu vois, avec sa part de suspens, avec ses grosses parts de marché, avec, avec tout [cet ? son ?] intérêt médiatique, avec un résultat qui était, je veux dire… un truc fomenté du début jusqu’à la fin, tu vois ce que je veux dire ? Des espèces de pseudo… je veux dire… tu vois, un truc qui était largement prémédité, tu vois, je veux dire, quant à l’issue de cette campagne, et puis, encore une fois de plus, voilà, tout ça… tu sais, un régime d’extrême droite, un régime fasciste, ils le mettront à partir du moment où les intérêts des banquiers, quelque part, ils seront de plus en plus vacillants, à partir du moment où les grèves se montreront de plus en plus massives, à partir du moment où quelque part, la grève touchera tous les secteurs d’activités, et t’auras un front commun routiers/ agriculteurs/ employés/ fonctionnaires quoi ou qu’est-ce, ouvriers, tu vois, à partir du moment où, je veux dire, t’auras… le rapport de forces et la lutte, tu vois, le rapport de forces et les luttes sociales, elles s’aiguiseront, dans une période de crise ( on est très loin du « bling bling », « P.I.M.P. », ndm), quoi, tu vois ? (c’est Hamé qui a repris la main). Non, et puis tu vois, ça m’aurait trop fait mal au cul, quoi, de voter pour un… (Ekoué surenchérit) Ca m’aurait trop fait mal au cul de voter tout court, quoi, déjà, alors certainement pas pour ça… (Hamé revient) Regarde aujourd’hui, leur programme en matière de sécurité, et ce qu’ils comptent faire par rapport aux quartiers, tu vois, c’est prévisible ! Ils ont repris…ils ont repris, comment dirais-je, toute l’hystérie sécuritaire avant le premier tour, l’hystérie médiatique et tout, tout le bourrage de crâne idéologique par rapport à l’insécurité , ils l’ont repris à leur compte, et c’est une version allégée, tu vois, de ce que le FN propose ! C’est tout. Et puis attends, ces gens-là, depuis…aujourd’hui , il faudrait comment dirais-je, presque s’excuser de ne pas avoir voté, quoi ! Il faudrait s’excuser de ne pas avoir voté parce que ça a amené [Le Pen]… Je suis désol é, les premiers responsables ce sont ceux justement qui ont pactisé avec lui, quoi ! tu vois, Le Pen, sa rhétorique, son discours, ses thématiques, ils les ont tous repris ! (Ekoué approuve) Du PC à… à Madelin, tous, quoi, tu vois, des transversales, le PC, tous, ils se sont mis d’accord à un moment donné, au tournant des années 80, vers 84-85, pour dire que l’immigration c’était un problème, et que (Ekoué aimerait en placer une, mais quand Hamé est lancé…) les quartiers étaient quelque part, un peu le cancer de ce pays, tu vois, quelque part. et que, voilà [les] différentes immigrations d’Afrique, et ben, on ne peut pas accepter tout le monde, toute la misère du monde, il y a des seuils de tolérance, il ne faut pas exagérer, euh on pue, on fait du bruit et on pue, tu vois, « le bruit et l’odeur », tous ces trucs-là, tu vois, tous ces trucs-là, qui ont… qui auraient très bien pu sortir de la bouche d’un Le Pen, et (moi ? voir ? ndm) Pasqua, le code de la nationalité, la législation autour du droit… du séjour des immigrés, la question des sans papiers, toutes les lois qui ont quelque part réglementé, toutes les lois répressives et pénales autour de ça, ça aurait pu être pondu par un Le Pen, tu vois ? Ca aurait pu être pondu par Le Pen, voilà, c’est la même logique, donc quelque part, c’est un rejet en bloc, c’est un rejet en bloc (Ekoué revient) C’est le Léviathan, un peu, de la droite, quoi, tu vois ce que je veux dire ? C’est le visage le plus caricatural, le plus hideux tu vois, de la droite, mais c’esr…voilà, ça reste, ça reste…un bourgeois,une caricature d’homme politique, de riche, et puis c’est tout, quoi. Voilà.

Sinon, on va revenir à la musique, moi j’avais… il me semblait que l’album devait sortir il y a un an ou il y a six mois, qu’est-ce qui s’est passé ?

On considère qu’un album, c’est une période de ta vie (c’est Ekoué qui parle), tu vois ce que je veux dire, [c’est une marque de ta vie] quelque part. Nous, on a une conception d’un album, quelque part … comme une pièce qui s’affirme dans le temps, tu vois ce que je veux dire ? On [ne] fait pas des albums ponctuels en fonction des impératifs du marché, en fonction des différentes sorties, tu vois ? On fait un album quand on sent…c’est-à-dire quand on sent qu’il est prêt à sortir, il est le reflet de notre état d’esprit, le reflet de nos influences musicales, le reflet de notre conscience politique, tu vois ce que je veux dire, le plus abouti, et ce qui a notre goût semblera vieillir le mieux, tu vois ? C’est-à-dire que demain, si on dit qu’on [ne] va faire qu’un album, et bien on espère, tu vois, que la durée de vie, tant au niveau des thématiques [un mot non compris, je ne pense pas que ce soit « qu’à celui de la tech-eu-niqueu » hein Didier Deschamps et son manteau de cuir, ndm] de « L’Ombre Sur La Mesure », et bien on sera, entre parenthèses, tranquilles pendant les cinq prochaines années, quoi, tu vois ? On aime bien aussi le caractère avant-gardiste au niveau des thématiques, tu vois, ce qui aujourd’hui, quelque part, est complètement absent, dans le rap et même au-delà, au-delà du rap et même dans les débats [suit un truc incompréhensible], quand on parle de groupe engagé, ou de musique engagée, il y a des degrés d’engagement quelque part, qui nous mettent complètement en rupture avec le reste, quoi. Si aujourd’hui être engagé, c’est faire une espèce de cabbale anti- Front National, tu vois ce que je veux dire, ça on laisse le débat à d’autres, tu vois ce que je veux dire ? Donc les problématiques qu’on essaie d’amener dans « L’Ombre sur la mesure », et ben, tant au niveau du fond que de la forme, on veut que ce soit un truc qui nous ressemble et qui résiste le mieux au temps, quoi, tu vois ? Donc ça demande du temps, beaucoup de remises en question, énormément de morceaux écrits, très peu gardés à l’arrivée, et on veut, voilà, une cohérence du début à la fin, tu vois, c’est un album, quelque part si tu apprécies le groupe, et ben, on veut que voilà, du premier au dernier morceau on veut que tu sentes qu’il y a un fil constructeur, c’est quelque chose de construit et de… et voilà. Cohérent (dit Hamé), un parcours comme un film, tu vois ce que je veux dire ?

Ca va peut-être vous fâcher, mais… Vas-y, vas-y (Ekoué) …mais moi j’avais cru voir qu’il devait sortir le 16 mars, or il se trouve que l’album d’Arsenik devait sortir le 16 mars aussi, est-ce que cela avait un rapport…
(Ekoué me coupe) Non, non, je te dis franchement, non Quand je dis Arsenik, je pense à d’autres albums aussi
Après, si peut-être pour eux c’était un problème, mais rassure-toi, pour nous ça ne l’était pas du tout, quoi. L’album était terminé, il était terminé… (Hamé coupe Ekoué et enchaîne) Il devait sortir le 24 mars, et on l’a repoussé au 16 avril, parce que…on aurait pris du retard, par rapport à la réalisation de clips, tu vois ? On devait faire concorder la sortie de l’album avec l’arrivée, tu vois, de clips, avec une marge de 3 semaines, et cela ne nous en laissait pas le temps, en fait. On avait pris trop de retard par rapport à d’autres chantiers parce que… la sortie de l’album était accompagnée de différents trucs, elle était accompagnée d’un triptyque de clips, tu vois, qu’on a réalisés avec un budget assez dérisoire et un temps aussi très restreint. Et il y avait un journal, aussi, un journal gratuit. Donc tout ça, [tous] ces chantiers-là, ben c’était pas arrivé à maturation à cette période-là, fin mars. Donc on a dû se laiiser une marge, tu vois, 2-3 semaines de battement en plus (PAUSE, quelqu’un des backstages demande un truc au groupe, en fait c’est pour préciser qu’on ne peut pas fumer dans la salle, ndm) Donc voilà, il nous fallait 2-3 semaines de battement supplémentaires ( toi il t’aura fallu 2 ans, ndm) pour pouvoir parachever tout ça, et pouvoir accorder…toutes les différentes pièces qui devaient se greffer à la sortie de l’album, tu vois, soient finies. Parce que sinon, cela risquait d’être un peu la débandade. Ca n’a rien à voir avec euh…(Ekoué coupe) Je ne savais pas qu’ils allaient sortir leur album, et de toute façon quand bien même…tu vois

MC Ren is back with a vengeance it seems, a new website for January 2004, a new album with producers like Yella and E A Ski, what else could you wait for ? West Coast News

Hey, Schaeffer is a real loser, he proved it again by calling Patrick Mboma although he had said he would never call him again in the national team, he's a puppet and lousy coach, that's all I wanted to say

Some local advertisement, "Concept Reuni" , a compilation dealing with local rappers, slammers, ragga MCs (and R'n'B too) is out now. Of course it's French rap (but you have an english written song by Str8 Ballin', Cameroonese rappers as fleunt in English and French, they are Westsidin' if you know what I mean, real G funk and the song is "The Grand Party", if you want to know more, my email address is sauldaniel666@yahoo.fr

I was at the famous "Match de l'Amitié" (play for friendship), a tribute to the fallen hero Marc Vivien Foe (Untamable Lions Of Cameroon), a great play, and Cameroon won 3 goals to 1, Anelka played, Mboma played, unfortunately Lauren Etame Mayer wasn't there. I must salute every player who was there, especially people like Thierry Henry, Tony Vairelle, but I've still resentment towards Winfried Schaeffer. There were near 24000 people there, a good thing considering the way it was advertised. As I said before, now Cameroon must win everything in memory of this general, in 2004, 2005 and 2006. And if Cameroon fails, another African team must succeed for these 3 years

It was interesting to see T-shirts against George Walker Bush in Germany, especially Wacken Open Air Fest (did Joshka Fischer get the message ?), any way just check Paris ' Guerillafunk website (www. guerillafunk.com) , the new album is coming at the end of September. It seems the brother of Marc Vivien Foe will be there in Tours September, 21 (there will also be a ceremony for MVF with I think Francois Omam-Biyik attending), all this by Africa Mega Evenements Productions (Valery Theophile Ngandimoun, former Asecat chairman). there are movements at Bad Azz Mofo offices, just check their website www.badazzmofo.com, a digest and a comic strip called SOLID released, and for us Frenchies, the releasing of "The Boondocks" part 2 in November 2003 (in French).

Bad Azz Mo Fo

There's a song "Adriano" by Brother Keeper, a kind of rappers' collective against fascism, it's German and you have a featuring of Xavier Naidoo, check that song please!

Dead Prez sacked from Columbia recs but getting 4 and a half mikes in The Source, Cameroon Untamable Lions reaching the final step but losing tragically their midfield Marc Vivien Foe, sad news, go to www.camfoot.com for more news and hold the Red, Black and Green flag high, a soldier has fallen but some will rise ....

A big Salute to Cool Freddy Jay( "La Derniere Dimension") and crew (a real "rap raia"), Taksi ("Tankya Du Son part 2") for the broadcasts, and Brigada Flores Magon who are featured in a pro Mumia Abu Jamal French compilation...and also a big up to TTC, more to come in a few months... David Walker is watching....By the way I finally had D Dash broadcasted (New Panther Vanguard Movement) with "Reparations Are Due", it's a cool West Coast influenced song (I mean G funk like The Coup)

The release party is removed (Los Angeles), but let's talk about Blaxploitation for a while, I watched some extracts of "Sheba Baby" and almost whole "Sugar Hill", for what I saw, I prefer "Sugar Hill",it seems the movie makers hadn't much money for "Sheba Baby" and Pam Grier seems tired, old (if you compare to "Coffy"). "Sugar Hill" was ok, the problem is both movies were in German language on tv. What else can I say, Eto'o (Cameroon soccer player) 's in, Egypt out! And check out MC Jean Gabin "J't'emmerde" video... Denzel's movie "Antwone Fisher" is very correct, I hope there will be other pictures from him

It seems Daz will host a release party for his upcoming album, on May 10, expensive tickets ($40 and $75 for VIP), but what would you expect for a West Coast Riders event, 21 year old at least, so it may be "hot" (they talk about some Playboy playmates coming...). for French people, Daz is featured in the magazine Radikal (the interview is too short I think). The Triptik show (with also La Vème Colonne, Conseil De Guerre, le Kyma) at MJC Joué les Tours was cool, big thanx to Dabazz, Blackboul, Sam, DJ Pone for the interview...and TTC coming in May 10 (it's less expensive than Daz private party!) . By the way, the party will happen at Century Club, Century City, in California, they talk about 2 days of "celebration" and special guests like Snoop crew, DJ Quik... OK I did my job I think

Back to life, I would say! I just read that the famous Brazilian thrash metal act Sepultura covered "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos" by you know who, Public Enemy of course, that's great...more news soon

Just wanted to add something, especially about Malcolm X, I surfed on Mp3.com and wanted to hear stuff by the hardcore punk band Warzone, so I could watch the video clip for "The Sound Of Revolution". It's very interesting because it starts (and ends) with a BPP anthem, and amidst other things you can see pictures of Malcolm X on this video, so I say big up to Warzone, and Raybeez, rest in peace

Just to let you know I found a good website for Soul & Funk lovers,www. soul-patrol.com, they got a radio show online and info about several funk, soul bands....EKN moves very slowly, sorry La Rumeur!

After a long time, some news, I watched " Gangs Of New York", great movie,but kind of violent stuff. It shows America, or NY, came from corrupt politics & vice,and crime which didn' say its name, and you had different movements really devoted to what they stood for, and flexing muscle so you could "stand up and be counted", the end of the movie could have been better but it's great stuff, especially for people who read Howard Zinn's "History of people of America". Some said the anti Black hatred wasn't showed enough, I disagree, if the "Natives" had scorn for White foreigners, do you really think they would love Black people (especially after having exterminated Indians)? But of course you have to think about it, it's not directly said. Strongly recommended movie!

Back at it again, just got some interesting news from Belgium, there's a group called European Arab League doing what the Panthers did at the beginning, patrolling the police to prevent bad actions from them, and it stirs uproar from the Belgian far right (Vlaams Blok) who wants Arabs to be nice and stupid, obey without protesting, surrender to white supremacy. They are accused of antisemitism of course (whereas they're anti zionists and pro Palestinians). Needless to say I support this movement...

It's been a long time, I'm back with some reviews,maybe you heard about Darius James aka Dr Snakeskin's "That's Blaxploitation", a funny book about one of my favourite movie's genre. It's hilarious, especially the sketch about "Shaft" (the so called 1934 version of the movie). The problem is, it starts being too bawdy in the end, what was funny ends, if not boring, quite embarassing, for me, especially the extracts from a book Miller like, with zoophilia, masochism, written in a funny way but after thought is quite shocking. In fact you have three sections in the book, the Preacher, the Pusher and the Pimp ones. If you like Badazz Mofo magazine, you'll be delighted, the porn stuff put aside. Some politics now, I discovered a new magazine, thanx to the webmaster of Mumia now. free website, Remi Lazes, related to Move, called AWOL, strongly against (US) Army. Cool magazine, hip hop related too, with a CD. It seems Mr Spike Lee, so loved by Mr David "BAMF"Walker, did some ads for the Navy, this guy needs to be checked. All right, something else, about music, I found a website, dealing with the band Arghoslent (maybe their own website). As I had seen the name in underground extreme metal press years ago (and flyers), I went on it. First, a dubious picture of slaves (tortured, it seems) and then you finally read about this death metal act, self professed "radical and militant". For what do they stand? it seems White Power. So now every bling blinger brainless rap addict, leave this Ashanti/Ja Rule/Cash Money/ Dre thing and start studying, spying, caring about the Real Enemy. It's not about golden teeth any longer, or "When we all were kings and queens in Ancient Egypt" (because they were not fatty boys and girls in a Jerry Springer show), or false brothers found again in Ghana. If you teach African studies, you better should do it the right way(people know who you are).

BAMF(blaxploitation magazine)

Blaxploitation

Public Enemy

rapstation.com

Saturday, October 05, 2002

Another post as I forgot things...Very good video clip (and music) from The Coup with "Me & Jesus the Pimp...". Bad news as Raymond Kalla(soccer player of Cameroon) decided to retire, due to the failure of World Cup 2002 (especially the lousy organisation from Cameroon officials). Cameroon may play against Brasil (friendly match)

It's a long time, isn't it ? I just listened to the latest PE album and there are 2 songs I really like, because of the heaviness of guitars, you guess which they are, "Son Of A Bush" and "What Good Is A Bomb" (brilliant, although reminding sometimes of RATM, but there is also a vague early Funkadelic/ Jimi Hendrix feeling)

Hello, it's the famous day, and I wonder why nobody asks about African reactions, it seems every continent is dealt about on newsbroadcasts, except Africa (and maybe Middle East, I mean Palestinians for example). Something else, it seems there are new witnesses for Mumia 's case, a woman talked with Cynthia White, and it's a frame up, CW allegedly was paid to lie and afraid of going to prison, she was paid by the police...so when you talk about September Eleven, just try to get the whole picture!

An interesting book I would recommend, "Lies My Teacher Told Me" by James W. Loewen, about American history (maybe some US skinheads would "think again", or call this a bunch of lies). And the mighty Dark Angel may reunite (remember "Darkness Descends" album)

Well it's me again, got several things to deal with, first Above The Law is finally back with a "new hustle", a single called "Sex, Money and Music". I got the first Geto Boys album, "Grip it...", it's cool stuff especially "No Sell Out" (they're talking about PE there) and the(in)famous "Mind Of A Lunatic", it's kind of NWA meets Ice T and PE, you know, samples of classic soul... and the big shock is about Bad Brains, a really great great album, you got "Sailin On"/ "Don't Need it"/ "Attitude", and "Banned in DC", "The Big Takeover", of course "Pay To Cum", really a bunch of manic tracks. Some other news, Cameroon soccer team may play with Brazil and Mexico in October 2002, great events, and of course I still have T-shirts of and for supporters (and cheaper than the official Cameroon shirt), red, green, blue, yellow and orange ones. A final word for Warrior Kids comp, the first 5 tracks are really great. By the way, I think Ripping Corpse isn't ( or wasn't) so good

I had the luck to listen to some tracks of the new PE, it's really OK, I just wait for the video clip right now. If somebody connected to Melvin Van Peebles reads this, I've copies of his interview (Tours, 1999), I can send one if he tells me where to send it. Other stuff, I've got some P38 cds for sale, it's French Street punk, there are very good songs like "Tous Unis" ("All United"), "De bar en bar"("From pub to pub"), "Asocial", "Anti police"...Oi! & punk fans will enjoy

"Criminal Minded" is hailed as a classic, but for me it has less punch than "Yo! Bumrush the show" by you know who, anyawy for people speaking French I advertise a new website, www.harmaguedon.com, "WASP guidance is advised" ,to misquote NWA. Some news, the famous 80ies NWOBHM band Blitzkrieg is back (they were covered by Metallica on the "Creeping Death" EP) and plays at WOA fest, Daz Dillinger runs for the $ but not the talent with producing a wack track for Doc Gyneco, FC Nantes (soccer) heavily defeated, and that's all for now, waiting for the next PE...

It seems Public Enemy is back, got a bad review in XXL magazine, so we have to wait for this. I got "Criminal Minded" both on CD and vinyl, just have to wait for some Geto Boys stuff, well today no more to say except somebody tried to murder Jacques Chirac ( French president), a so called neo nazi militant, that's what they say and drove him straight to asylum...Really some strange thingshave happened since September 11th

Some news, I 've just read a Soccer website on blogger, a cool thing, I'm happy Brazil plays the final and hope Germany won't get the Cup, enough is enough. Pierre Wome (Cameroon) said he was angry towards Cameroon Football Federation Fecafoot, I agree with him, once again enough is enough, they didn't want to do anything as should be done, kind of parasites reaping all the benefits if victory but leaving all the blame to others (the players on the field especially) if defeat. Anyway, I got some Oi! from Italia for you, I mean I bought a bootleg with Nabat, Rough, Basta, Hope & Glory, really good songs especially "Torrino e la mia cita", "Laida Bologna", "Nessun Podere", "Spazi Potere" you don't have to be a totally Oi addict to like them. Something else, I bought "Black Gestapo", a blaxploitation flick for those who don't know. I think it can be compared to "The Spook Who Sat By The Door", I mean both cover in a way Black militancy (especially Black Panther like one), "The Spook.." featuring the happy, well aimed attitude (Geronimo Pratt, Huey Newton before 68, Assata Shakur and BLA) and "Black Gestapo" featuring the decline, the BPP turning into Huey's own army of evil doers. I would like to know if Lee Frost and Wes Bishop got in touch with Party members or saw the BPP evolution in Oakland. I think if you see it just as a movie, there's something lacking. Even if Cameroon was defeated, I still have some T-shirts of supporter. That's all folks!