Hi Hater...

Hustle Hard
written by gWiz

So ill be real, I definitely thought by this time Maino would have falling off but not only has he stayed around he has impressed me. No I do not think he is an incredible lyricist but I get an authentic feel from him. He represents that dude with some bad luck and a good heart. His "Predictions of 09" was entertaining, his "Letter to Pac" was interesting, his single"All The Above" ft T Pain has been successful and his new song "Million Bucks" ft. Swizz Beatz seems to have potential. Im just giving props where I feel they are due. Keep hustling Maino!

Aint nothing like a Brooklyn girl...

Respect?
written by gWiz

So by know everybody has either heard, read, watch, or laughed about this. I have done all four, but I have to ask seriously. Most men reaction would have been to hit her back, at least shake her. Mr Hamilton didn't lay a finger on her in retaliation, whether it was she beat him up before or he just respects women. So, of course seeing him get punched was funnier than funny, but do we give him some sign of respect because of how he handled it? Just curious.

Good Intentions, Bad Business

Burning Bridges
written by gWiz

I always knew Dame was over the top, but I didn't know the full extent of it. We used to always laugh at his interviews when he would call himself Mr Fresh to Death or his story about only wearing his white on whites one time then switching to a fresh pair. All is funny, but after watching these videos that were recently released I understand why he is in the situation he is in right now.

Ok yea he had a point in the video someone from Roc-A-Fella should have notified about the meeting and been present, but was that really the way to go about it? This dude talked to everybody like they were the son that he did not care about. At one point he was yelling at Kevin Liles, who was the President of Def Jam at the time! So it is pretty obvious that this wasn't the first time. Dame burned alot of bridges and when him and Jay were no more he really had nothing. Now you see him just trying to catch a break and making crazy statement. I.E. "Jim Jones album is comparable to Reasonable Doubt". wrong.

I am..

Thankful
written by gWiz

Music, where would I be without you? From my young days when I played the "drums" on my little blue plastic chair to DJing at universities in front of a thousand plus people. From the times when I did not want to hear anybodies voice, but there was always a song that knew exactly what I felt and made it all better. I can go on and on about what music has done for me but the funny thing is I guarantee we all got similar stories. Music has always been that escape for me, I couldn't imagine life without it. Think about it for a second...

No music what do we have...That ride to work (dead), that ride on the train (dead), clubs (no music), TV shows and Movies with just talk, no iPod, no Zune...Where does it stop? Somehow or another Music is essential. Music has given me and has create jobs for millions. I have even gone as far to have conversation with my girl through music. How deep is that? Im sure we can all relate and for that...

MUSIC I AM THANKFUL.

Enjoy Your Thanksgiving from the entire PTM Staff!

Gimmee what he got...

Fads & Trends
written by gWiz

It’s funny how things come and go, I still remember when Cross Colours dropped and my sister got some jeans. I was tight! Why? Because since she was older she had more access to stuff and that was the “trend” for all of those 30 minutes that it lasted. Looking back I am not mad at all that was denied that trend, but they continue on. From Kriss Kross rockin’ jumpers backwards to everybody rockin’ starter caps to the episode of New York Undercover when they all had Bear coats on.

How about when Puff had all the different color Yankee fitteds in the “Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems” video. I don’t know about your state but that summer I must have seen every color Yankee fitted imaginable with the matching jerseys in the streets of NY. (I had red, blue, and green haha) Speaking of jersey we fast forward to the throwback epidemic, I guess I would put Fabolous at the forefront of this one. Now I know this one was a trend that was universal because no matter where I went I saw walking sports figures everywhere. You still got old dudes rocking jersey now because they still think “That’s Cool” haha it is what it is though.

Then Jay-Z said “Change Clothes and go…” and so everybody did. Button ups and jeans flooded the scene, which wasn’t a bad thing at all. What happened next? Everybody was a “rock star”, wallet chains hanging size 28 jeans but their real size is a 36. So we went from the baggy joints to borderline spandex? Ok

Then the Kanye’s of the world stepped in and kind of mixed the rock and Hov look together. It’s just funny to me how I can see somebody on the street and I can match his or her exact outfit exactly with what ______(insert a rapper/entertainer name here) is wearing. There so many to talk about this is just a few. I know you’ve seen it. That box on top your TV stand is powerful huh?!?!

Keeps me going...

Wack Inspiration
written by gWiz

Whats my inspiration? Is it fair or correct to say I am inspired by stuff that is wack? When i first started making beats hearing something that was wack or just not that good made me make something that was just that hotter. When i started rapping hearing a song with no content that sounded like everything else on the radio, just made me make something everybody would love and still be different. When I started DJing I would go to the club and just chill by the booth and watch the other DJ's. If they were wack, for some reason I would get hype for the next time I would be be spinning somewhere haha. Weird? I don't know, I think we all get inspired by the "wackness" that is spread around every now and then.

Check the ingredients pt. 2

So you might just be wondering who that is...It's the biggest boss that you seen thus far. The Smoking gun (TSG), as they like to do, came out with this story showing that Rick Ross was a correctional officer. He was asked before this information came out and denied it to the fullest. Why? to keep his image? Was he worried about his credibility being taken away. Even if he was a correctional officer, then decided to move weight what is the big deal. Why does he feel the need to deny it the way he did? check out the full story here The Smoking Gun - Screw Rick Ross....once again man, check the ingrediants first.

gWiz

confession...

Aight so I download...
written by gWiz

After reading JusHH post it was easy to write this. I remember my first real CD I was able to buy by myself (I bought a couple bootleg tapes first), it was DMX, "It's Dark And Hell Is Hot". I was hype not only because I got the CD but it came with a bonus disc. It had some EPMD tracks on there, some ONYX and other artist. Now to my point, in 2008 to get an album off the Internet takes no effort, but to me its like everything else. I wouldn't buy sneakers without trying them on first then walking over to the mirror and see how my jeans fall on them. Then I try to picture them with some other clothes to see if they are worth copping. When I go buy some clothes same thing, I try them on and see if this is something I want to drop my money on. Why is music different?

We all know we can't judge an album off the single they put out. There has been plenty of strong singles followed by weak albums. Now I actually get my music from legal source but I am still downloading it. To me it is like trying on those sneakers, if they fit right I'm getting them. If I like the music and the music is worth paying for I go to the store on the release date to pick it up. When some Jordan's come out (some retros) I know what I am gettng, I know the quality, so I don't even try those on I just bring them to the counter. Why? because years of consistency I know the product I'm getting. Artist consistent with the quality of their music? It is a no brainer I'm going to the store to get the album.

One more question. I can download and also buy bootleg movies just as easy as I can get the music, but why do I continue to pay to see certain movies? I know the quality of a Denzel movie, a Spike Lee movie etc etc you get the point. I feel if the artist is consistent with the quality of their music then people don't feel robbed when they buy their CD. Be consistent with the quality people who know me know I will go buy the cd till then So What I Download!!!!....

How To Write Rap Lyrics...

Grab A Pen

I thought this was comical, taken from Wikihow.com...

"So, you wanna be a rapper? Before you can write a rap song, you need to know how to do the lyrics. You can't just rhyme one word with another. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Steps
1. Think of a subject to help start off your rap, for example your nice flow ,pulling up in a hot car, etc. Example: "I got my sick flow, with my sick beat, Im a hustla man you cant touch me, when i pull up in the spot, im makin it hot, cuz i got my sick flow with my sick beat."

2. Make sure the intro to your verse is strong. Set yourself up for a good rhyme scheme. Man! its strong palm down,punch'em get em strong man.Girls you too but you never heard a girl put it down like this, kill for.

3. Create a good rhyme scheme; you don't always need one,but it helps man!.It helps the flow sound more enjoyable,example: 50 cent has a bounce flow, up and down, Jay-Z Flow goes side to side. This is important if you're making hits.

4. Notice that most rappers use multi-rhymes(example: Kill For, Still Roll).Put these at the end line after each bar and see how hot your raps turn out. Count the syllables.

5. Let some of your friends read it and get their opinions, and if they have any suggestions write em down (get at least three friends opinions). When you get back to your writing area, redo the song with the suggestions from your friends and then go over it and make sure that the changes keep the flow.

Tips
* Write the hook or chorus in a way that makes the listener really want to hear more of the song, but make sure the hook goes with the verses.

* Just like you can be a good songwriter, but a poor singer, there is no shame if you can't rap the greatest lyrics you wrote. Get someone who can rap to test it out.

* Deciding the title isn't really that big of a deal, but try to make it something out of the chorus.

* If you want you can even have your friends in your song to have more variety of lyrics.

* Get a good book on writing lyrics, get some ideas from those."

Aight Aight I can't take it anymore haha I'm pretty sure you can't either. Rap, writing, singing whatever you want to say isn't for everybody. Yea if you practice you can become a better rapper, but there is no outline on how to write the next hit song. It just doesn't work like that, but hey I guess this gives somebody hope of being that next "big" thing. right?

The Diesel...

Balling/Rapping

Ahh man where do I start, I remember a couple weeks again a friend of PTM asked me to talk about NBA players rapping and I said I would get to it. That thought totally slipped my mind until I saw this...

Aight after I finished laughing with JusHH all I could say is Shaq is a fool. Did Shaq really just call out Kobe with lines like "Kobe ratted, so now I'm getting a divorce" and "Kobe how my ass taste" The one thing that i found that was real funny though, Shaq freestyled better than some dudes that we call "rappers". Wait let me change that he freestyled better than ALOT OF DUDES WE CALL RAPPERS. Now no I didn't go cop that "Shaq Fu" album or "Shaq Diesel" I wouldn't go that far (I actually just looked it up and you can buy it for $0.01 on amazon.com, funny), but this was pretty comical.

We have had our share of NBA players coming into the rap game and falling hard. I was kinda tight that Chris Webber even did it to himself, but then I glad when I found out he was producing and actually landed a decent track on Nasir's "Hip Hop Is Dead" album. Allen Iverson aka Jewelz? Kobe? nah man, HaHa I mean music isn't for everybody, just because you can afford the studio in the crib doesn't mean you can really make yourself or claim to be a rapper. I know there are alot more players that rap in fact Tony Parker is coming out with an album. No hate but I think some people should just leave it alone, do it for fun in your house and never let it go past that.

oh yea and Shaq Fu did go platinum haha I'm out (Kobe how my @SS taste!)

gWiz

Interpret...

Aight so I finally got to watch the third "Flashing Lights" video and I am even more confused. Kanye is from another world thats a given, but these ideas are so left. I'm asking for your view on these videos because the way you all broke this video down with K. Billy was amazing. (She don't believe in shooting stars)

All three videos after the link below, What you think?

peace, Wiz

Version that made it

2nd version

3rd version

Check the ingredients...

The Image
written by gWiz

What's in the image? What are these big labels looking for? They want the dude with the story that has been shot before. If you served time in prison they want you. If you are a former gang member they want you, but even if you have not been through any of the above they still may want you. We often here about a rapper being exposed, somebody from the hood they claim on their records, letting us know this dude isn't real. The labels know that it is always more interesting to have somebody with an extreme story to put out there. All of 50's promotion for "Get Rich Or Die Trying" was based off him being shot 9 times. That was the story you heard all over the TV, radio, internet, etc. I was just sitting down thinking the other day and this crossed my mind. I thought about this whole Lil Wayne situation. Now when we see Weezy in his interviews, on the BET awards, or in videos what does he have? Yea his cup of sizzurp.

His cup of lean (prescription cough syrup, if you don't know you can go google it) Now here comes the image, we all eat it up. I know I did at first, you see Wayne stumbling on the stage. You hear his voice when he talks, his speech is slurred. I have to ask though, how do you know this dude is really drinking "the syrup"? All we know those cups can just have some fruit punch in them or some water and hes acting. It adds to his image. Wayne is smarter than that, dude is in college at the University of Houston. Sippin that before, during, and after class? nah i dont think so. Majority of these labels are owned by white people in suits. Would they take him serious if he walked in the meeting stumbling with his cup like "shorty say im just like a lolli lolli lolli pop"? nah! im pretty sure he walks in there pretty sober. All im saying don't eat everything up so quick, we are so gullible at times and don't even know we are. Think about it.

Be real...

I just came across this I don't know if this is true but if it is I have to ask this question. Is it that serious for an artist to fabricate their story of their past/life to be successful? Do they have to put up this facade to really "make it"? Be real man.

"While the performer's rap sheet does include a half-dozen arrests, Akon has only been convicted of one felony, for gun possession. That 1998 New Jersey case ended with a guilty plea, for which the singer was sentenced to three years probation. Another 1998 bust, this one in suburban Atlanta, has been seized upon by Akon and transformed into the big case that purportedly sent him to prison (thanks to his snitching cohorts) for three fight-filled years. In reality, Akon was arrested for possession of a single stolen BMW and held in the DeKalb County jail for several months before prosecutors dropped all charges against him.

So there was no conviction. There was no prison term between 1999 and 2002. And he was never "facing 75 years," as the singer claimed in one videotaped interview."

Akon Fraud Story

Big Dreams...

What is it about The Game? Why do we give him chance after chance? I know I do, he is like that rapper you hate and love at the same time. Game will drop a crazy song then the next week have a butterfly tattoo on his face. I know that had me like WTF, but then he comes out with some quality music. All the beef with G-UNIT and his most recent his visit to jail, it's like aight game enough drama.

I honestly think he likes it, he is an emotional dude. What do you think? Does he really have the WestCoast on his back? Im looking forward to the new album as long as he doesn't say Dr Dre's name on every song and tell me about his chucks and nike airs I think i'll be good.

gWiz

Opinions...

While I respect the man somewhat for “owning up to” these charges, I find it difficult to take the apology and the acknowledgement of walking down a “long road of redemption” seriously. Be reminded that this is the same Clifford Harris that was indicted on drug charges and violated probation stemming from those charges. This isn’t a guy who is ignorant, especially as it relates to the United States Department of Corrections. With 4 Bars post today, I figured this would be a prudent addendum to our discussion today.

-KT

Pointing fingers...

BLAME IT ON HIP-HOP Written by gWiz

Many times when something happens like a shooting, words being said in a negative way, kids rebelling against their parents, etc. the blame is pushed upon the music; generally Hip-Hop. I agree with there being a lot of negativity in Hip-Hop, but there is also A LOT of good in Hip-Hop. We all know the events that happened from the shootings in the schools to Michael Richards to Don Imus. The blame was thrown around and people came up with general idea that Hip-Hop was to blame for these things happening. There so many influences in this world besides Hip-Hop we have movies, television, video games, billboard ads the list goes on and on, but what about other genres of music?

Why aren’t other genres of music attacked like Hip-Hop? Think about Reggae. I have heard a lot of Reggae songs in which they degrade a woman way beyond any Hip-Hop song, video or artist has ever. Listen to a song by Vybz Kartel, it explains a lot but yet in still their lyrics are not being broken down and used against them the way it has been done with Hip-Hop. Actually the music is accepted and loved by many, females included. Majority of Reggae songs are about sex and violence, don’t get it twisted I love Reggae but I am just coming from a different angle. There are also a good number of songs with artist expressing their hate for the gay community. I feel like if a Hip Hop artist ever makes a song or statement like that it’s simple, game over for them. Just like Hip-Hop there are also positive Reggae artist that make positive songs.

What about the Latin artist? I listen to Pitbull’s song, “Toma” “Si tu quiere’ que te coma toda” if you can't understand the lyrics just google it lol. I mean were all grown but my point is there is no equal standard across the board for artist when it comes to the music. It gives me the feeling that Hip-Hop is being used as the scapegoat for most of these events that occur. Who sticks up for it? Al Sharpton? That’s a whole different story lol, until next time. Peace.

What's the difference

and

I just cant wait to here the music behind this title...Thoughts?

Elektrorock

Breakin'
Written by gWiz

Now I was only two when this came out so of course I wasn't at the theater checking it but from the first time I saw this movie it changed me. Yea yea im talking about "Breakin". You see all these movies now with basically the same plot...a white person from the suburbs ends up (normally a jazz dancer or ballet) some how meeting somebody from the "urban" part of the city. They go on to show the white person how to dance like them and then they end up battling other people in the hood. lol right? But Breakin' didn't seem like that to me because it was one of the originators, from seeing the graffiti on the trains to seeing young Ice T rapping with the perm and snow goggles this movie represented Hip Hop in so many ways.

All the Hip Hop movies now really have nothing to do with actual Hip-Hop. I mean as much as I love Belly it was just Scarface with DMX and NAs. I can't even consider some of the other movies because everything is forced. All the Master P movies, did you really want to see Silk Da Shocker act? I couldn't stand him rapping let alone acting. Nothing seems authentic anymore. Can we actually make another Breakin' or maybe a Beat Street with our current state of Hip-Hop?

Use your voice...

Express Yourself
written by gWiz

We all want change I mean I know I do but I could never really get into politics, everything just seemed fake to me. As a young man in this world I never felt that we were really thought of when it came to this time. When Puff did the whole "Vote or Die" thing I still didn't get excited. To me that just seemed like another way to promote Bad Boy and some albums. This time around something sparked me and i feel like us (the youth) has some candidates that actually care about us. I'm not all crazy about politics but you can't complain unless you go to the polls and actually "Use your voice" Hip Hop is used a scapegoat for a lot of issues in America and it's definitely annoying. From blaming the use of the word "nigga" to the shootings at the schools its tired. Lets get somebody thats actually going to try and understand that this is more than music. With all that said all my people that can actually vote do so no matter who you choice, as long you there IM GOOD. Ill leave you with this lol....

guess you know who im riding with haha

"A Mead notebook and a Bic that click when its pushed and a whack ass beat..."

What's more important when you are making that "hit" record, the bars or the beats? That's a tough question but being that I have been on the production side and on the lyrical side ill share my thoughts. When I turn on the radio i hear alot of songs people consider "hits". Majority of these songs will have a decent or good beat with some of the worst lyrics I ever heard, but it is a "hit".

I don't really consider those songs hit records in my books, they have no life span. Will you really be pulling out your CD with "wipe me down" or "a bay bay" on it 5 years from now and say "Yea thats my joint!!!". I doubt it, a song can make a quick run with a hot beat but without the lyrical content its a partially finished record. Now not all songs can even make "the run", there have been plenty of songs where the beat is crazy, and the lyrics are worst than your 5 year old niece. Refer to Noreaga "Melvin Flynt Da Hustler", the album was laced with hot neptune beats but Nore repeatedly spit some hot garbage track after track.

Bottom line, lyrics are a very important part of a song. Listen to some of the old groups like Earth, Wind, Fire...Supremes...Dudes like Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Teddy P i can go on and on but you get the point. You can play their records this present day and people bug out like their CD dropped last week. Plus we sample their music like crazy you gotta love it. This is just my opinion, lyrics are most important. You don't believe? Listen to Lupe Fiasco's Dumb It Down, a simple beat brought to life with some of the illest lyrics I ever heard. peace.

gWiz