PREAMBLE: I've decided I'm doing a new type of post. It's called the Singing Telegram. Not that most of you would care. I just felt like stating it... Anyways, these will feature older songs and videos, and anything in between, hence the antiquated name.
This week's feature is late 90s New York hip-hop on its rise. With Biggie laid to rest and the West Coast reeling from the death of 2Pac and Death Row's instability, New York's crown was up for grabs. Cam'ron made his play at the throne with catchy tracks like this riff with Ma$e. 'Horse and Carriage' reminded me today of why I love 90s and 2000s hip-hop videos: the cameos. Take a look at any hip-hop video form the 90s and early 2000s, and you're guaranteed to see a who's who of rap's elite in the background, probably singing along or having random rapper fun. 'Horse and Carriage' is no different. I spy Styles P, NORE, Jim Jones (who looks ridiculous, by the way), among other hip-hop personalities. See who else you can spot...
Quick!! Without thinking, who was the last solo artist to go platinum with Diddy and his Bad Boy Records? If you said Biggie, try again. If you said Ma$e, you're still wrong. What about Black Rob, Cassie (*uncontrollable laughter*), Mario Winans or Carl Thomas? Still wrong. If you answered none other than Atlanta's own Yung Joc, then (*bells and whistles*) you are correct. Ironically, none of these artists, including the ones that cam after Joc are in any state of popularity in hip-hop. As you look down the roster of artists that Bad Boy has taken on, it's hard to find anyone sans Biggie, Faith Evans, Ma$e and 112 (all of whom were in the same era) who were able to levy their success to anything not Diddy-related.
The Complete Bad Boy Graveyard Family (and their last known wherabouts):
- The Notorious BIG (deceased)
- The LOX (removed from Bad Boy; now called D-Block to moderate success and have since reconciled with Diddy)
- Craig Mack (unknown)
- G-Dep (somewhere sucking a crackpipe)
- Ma$e (deciding between church and state)
- Shyne (now an orthodox Jew)
- Elephant Man (deported to Jamaica)
- Cheri Denis (unknown)
- Faith Evans (at a Weight Watchers near you)
- Mario Winans (I don't want to know)
- Da Band (defunct; now a punchline)
- 8-Ball and MJG (making music under different label imprint)
- Cassie (on MediaTakeout's first page)
- Boyz in Da Hood (defunct; Jeezy saw the light before it was too late)
- Gorilla Zoe (still on Bad Boy; buzz still is non-existant)
- Danity Kane (defunct; Dawn: now Dirty Money, Aubrey: now lesbian)
- Day 26 (defunct)
- Red Cafe (still on Bad Boy; album still pending)
- Dirty Money (now Diddy-Dirty Money; appear as backup singers on "Last Train to Paris")
- Janelle Monae (recently signed to Bad Boy; 1st album on label released)
Now, that list is by no means exhaustive. I state this fact to illustrate one point, and one alone: Signing up to work with Diddy is the equivalent of putting a (very close) expiration date on your career. Every artist that isn't dead, doing music on their own, or in another facet of show business is now a page in hip-hop obscurity. That said, Ricky Rozay, you look like you will be the first artist EVER to break the Biggie-Bad Boy Curse.
Ross, it's no secret that your larger-than-life persona is a complete fabrication. We've known this fact since 50 Cent went on one of his trademark offensives. Even so, you've been able to counteract these lies with what would be a very good career in hip-hop, by most standards. Four albums, a hefty amount of street anthems, and a number of legal run-ins after your 'Port of Miami' debut has had your pockets looking as obese as you are. With the way hip-hop is becoming more and more minimalist on an underground level, it's refreshing to see that you're thriving economically (or so you would like us to believe). That said, this new 'Bugatti Boys' initiative with Diddy looks like you're going to be doing a lot of the writing footwork, regardless of the fact that Diddy's name will be all over it.
When you first began working with Diddy, the parallels between yourself and Biggie were undeniable from a physical standpoint: two fat SOBs who can rap really well about being drug pushers, street violence and lavish lifestyles. On the surface it's almost as if Diddy struck the lotto twice. However, when looking more closely at you, Ross, it's easy to see why Diddy needs you more than you need him.
Diddy had nothing before he had the Notorious BIG, and even Biggie he had to push into stardom. Biggie never wanted to be a crossover hit. When looking at the albums he was alive for (not the ones Diddy muffed up), the Notorious BIG can be split into two personas: the older, Don Dada-esque Mafioso persona on songs like 'Warning' and 'One More Chance (Remix)' and the younger, gritty, damn near sadistic, Biggie on tracks like 'Gimme the Loot'. Diddy had to convince Big numerous times that the latter of those two was not conducive to selling, even if hardcore hip-hop fans supported the effort. In your case, Ross, you already have the backing of most hip-hoppers, who, even though they throw salt on your name because of the C.O. situation, acknowledge your prowess and presence on the mic. As your career has grown so has your well-constructed 'Bawse' persona. You didn't need Diddy to cultivate your radio-friendly side because you already were on the radio.
The endeavor you're embarking on with Diddy should be nothing more than a fun activity to pass the time between your next album. Any other affiliation with the artist formerly known as Puffy should be strictly personal, not professional (you saw what happened to Cassie). Additionally, it's clear that at this point in his musical career, Diddy is looking for nothing more than a crutch with which to promote himself. To work with P. Diddy, all you have to do is be hot at that moment and remotely marketable. You, Ricky, fit that standard perfectly, and Diddy has hooked you in.
What separates you from all of the artists I listed above is the fact that you already have an established career. Perhaps it's not as illustrious, or impervious to criticism as is Puffy's, but you certainly can put a case together for being in a better position than he. Whether its the extremely tight Miami circle of DJ Khaled, Trina and company, or any other affiliations you have, you can fall back without fear of losing your buzz. Not Diddy. Sean Combs is a spotlight hog
SIDENOTE:This letter is no judgment on Diddy as a person. Although some of his business practices are on the unethical side, his prowess for finding opportunity is ridiculous. Ross just happens to be next on that list.
who sadly, needs to be featured with someone else to be recognized in hip-hop. In all seriousness, when was the last time you saw a song that just had Diddy? No features, no 'and the Family'... Just Diddy? The fact that you're going to make music 'with' him is proof in and of itself. You'll be fine afterward, though. As long as you don't make Bugatti Boyz more than a passing fancy, you should remain the Bawse, and not another Bad Boy Family member that never makes it to the reunion...
P.S.: Clearly Jay Electronica's signing to Roc Nation didn't rub Diddy the wrong way. Just shows how quick he is to associate with someone when they're hot.
It's always refreshing to see two different mediums mashed together in a coherent fashion. In this case, we've got the superheroes of yesterday in their comic form with some classic hip-hop albums from yesteryear. The result is one of the most creative graphic design works I've seen in damn near forever. I won't kill you with words, because the images speak for themselves. Just try to guess what superheroes and what albums these are. 1000 e-points to anyone who can guess all of them. Check the rest out after the jump, and comment below if you can figure any of them out!!
As much as I think Diddy is a conniving yet brilliant businessman who profits off of the idiocy of others, I have to admit that the man makes quality moments on film. From Making the Band to I Want to Work for Diddy, his persona makes for hilarious results on television. This instance, it happened to involve Ma$e (I don't know if I should have added the Murda) and his lifelong saga to leave the artist graveyard aka Bad Boy. They bring the cameras in, and the result is great video. Check it out...
