What's upper? Our all new "RAP ATTACK MESSAGE BOARD" is up & running & it's getting a lot of attention not only from our Rap Attack panel but from new heads nationwide who support what we do. Just go to the upper left hand corner on this page & click on "MESSAGE BOARD" or simply log on here at: http://rapattacklives.proboards41.com/index.cgi?...

A couple of weeks ago, MixMaster Spade (see photo above) who invented and perfected the singing-rapping-deejay style in the early 80s for the West coast, was involved in a horrific motorcycle accident. This is the kat who paved the doors for heads like Nate Dogg who incorporated singing with Hip-Hop beats & lyrics. The injuries he suffered from his accident were so serious that he was on life support and in a coma. His family and close friends made the agonizing decision last week to pull the plug. Everyone said their goodbyes and prayed for him. The call went out that Spade a legend in the West coast rap game had passed away. However, it was soon discovered after the word went out that he was breathing on his own and still alive. Doctors were not sure if he had suffered any brain damage because of his condition and were running tests, but he was still alive. Many of us hoped this reprieve was sign from God and that a miracle would happen. Sadly a couple of days later (Wednesday-March 16th) he left us for good. I remember bumpin' his cuts back in the early 80's on Seattle's 1250 KFOX & dj'ing and emceeing an event him & Toddy Tee did in Seattle in the late 80's. Here are a few of his cuts that's a must have to your Hip-Hop music collection:                                                       

Mix Master Spade and Compton Posse - Genius Is Back

Toddy Tee Featuring Mix Master Spade - Gangster Boogie

King Tee w/ The Compton Posse "Ya Better Bring a Gun" (Techno Hop Records –1987)

 Bobby Jimmy & the Critters "N.Y./ L.A. Rappers" (Ruthless/ Interscope Records - 1988)

Rap Attack's own DJ 3rd Rail reppin' Chicago, paid a musical tribute to MixMaster Spade on his phat Hip-Hop show last Sunday night on WNUR.Org! Right about now I'd like you to peep out an interview The Poetess did with MixMaster Spade back in March 17, 2004. For all y'all new jacks, here's another Hip-Hop history lesson to add to your books. Hopefully it will give you some insight as to who is and why he's an important figure within Hip-Hop:

P: Introduce yourself.

MMS: Ah Yeah.This is Mixmaster Spade the OG Compton Godfather of Rap.

P: Why do they call you the OG Compton Godfather of Rap?

MMS: Cause I was the first one from Compton to LA that started this
hip hop mixing rapping thing.

P: Who were some of the people that followed in your shoes?

MMS: You hear them all the time. Quik, NWA, Toddyy Tee King T,
Coolio. All them. All the Compton rappers from the old school. I
also helped CJ Mac. It was a few.

P: How did you come up with the name Mixmaster Spade?

MMS: I was in NY. I went to school there for a short period. One of
the boys in the neighborhood was a DJ. I use to go to the park on the
weekends. He worked at the park. So he use to bring his turntable
and mixer to the park and back then they was just mixing disco and he
would like to keep the beat and keep it going and then he showed me
how to do it. This was back in 78/77. He showed me how to do it and
I knew how to blend. He showed me how to do it. Really scratchin
wasn't really out then but if it's in your blood you can really do it.
When I came back home nobody wasn't really into DJing like that. My
grandmother was kinda of wealthy she gave me some money to buy a
turntable and a mixer. I came home I said mom they not doing this out
here and she said ok well just take your money and do what you want to
do with it. So I went and bought me a gang of clothes. I was fitted.
I was in high school fitted.

Went over my friends about 2 years later. We was all pop lockers
then. I use to go back and forth to New York wearing them out at Pop
Locking. They couldn't deal with that we was locking and poppin and
they was like Djing. I went to this battle of the DJ's thing one
time. It was Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Theodore and Afrika
Bambataa and all them kind of cats. DJ Hollywood and Starski them
cats. I was poppin in another room and my buddy said man come on, the
battle of the Dj's is about to start. Dj's? So I go upstairs with
him and it was Grandmaster Flash rocking one turntable with a beat
machine. I was like aw, man I got to get back into this.

When I came back home this time I was like I'm finna get me some
turntables and I went over one of my friends house and they had 2
turntables and a mixer. What y'all doing with this? Y'all don't know
nothing about this and then I got on them and they looking at me like
yeah..I start (scratching sounds). They said man they all in the room
like this..How you do that? Man I been knowing how to do all this
when I was living in NY.

I use to go over they house every other day and then they messed up I
asked them to let me borrow it one day and they didn't see their
equipment for about a month. I was in my house every day all day just
mixing my mom said boy if you don't come out that room and go get you
something to eat. I said Ma I'm alright.

One day I start taping my self just to hear me practice and some of my
homeboys was like listening and they started stealing my tapes and
they started selling them. They was like man dude gave me 20 bucks
for that tape I said what? So I started making tapes and selling
them. I had a shoe box full of them one time and I was like selling
them for like 5 and 10 and I was getting around making a name for
myself with these tapes. I met these drug dealers right and I had a
shoebox full of them. I was on a mission. I had like 30 tapes. I'm
use to selling like one to each person. Trying to talk them into
buying them and they listen and once they listen they hooked and
become customers forever.

" Man dude I been looking for you man. How many you got?"

I said, "I got about 3 or 4 different ones."

He said, "naw how many you got?"

I said, "I got about 30 something."

He said, "Give me all of them".

"Give you all of them?" I said, "Man you ain't got no money to pay
for all of these do you?"

He said, Man give me all of them" and pulled out a big wad like this.
He said Now make me some more and gave me a deposit. I said oh it's
on. I went straight to the house I was in the room making all kind of
CD's (cassettes). Next thing you know I wasn't even looking for no
regular people no more. I was like.Hey I got those Mixmaster Spade
CD's tapes.tapes back then. It was history.

Just to show you how far I go back me and my other homeboy named Vegas
he DJ's now. He was a lowrider then he had a Vega. We use to go to
the Workshop on Western. He had a 8 track player. I had some mixed 8
tracks tapes of me mixing Good Times on them. Now that's old. I had
some 8 Tracks with me mixing Good Times and Roll, Bounce, Rock, Skate
on them way back then.


P: When did you decide to become an artists?

MMS: Like from 78 to 79 to 80to 84. 84 I was like really into it. 84
the thing came down in LA everybody was on the corner making them
dollars so I was like with them too making them dollars too and doing
this. I went from making 2 or 3 tapes a day to making a half a tape a
week. Cause I'm busy you know. So anyway I make a tape say a few
lines. I still had the voice and everybody still loved it. So one
day Totty Tee said man we finna go in the studio and make this record
Batteram. I said y'all go head man I'll be through there. So I go
through and kick it with them. Help them out. After that I kind of
slowed up with that. I started back Djing with them. Todd said hey
man come on man it's your turn to make a record man you started it.
You might as well go on and bust one. I said yeah well lets do it
then. Then we made Just Say No. Just Say No is a record like you
know first came on the radio couldn't get it off the radio. Greg Mack
will tell you no song was requested like that one I had them fairy
tale rhymes too about Little Bo Peep and it was like straight home
from there. I just took off.

P: Battleram was pretty much a LA record. It was a West Coast Record.
That record was big out here. A lot of people didn't know what a
batteram was.

MMS: You can't stop it baby. Battleram was tearing down people's
houses. Everybody can relate to it because everybody was into the
thing. The batterram was like a big issue around town then we came
out with the song Batteram it was like ah they put it on wax then we
had a street version. He had his little street version. I had my
version and it kinda like pushed us and escalated us. We was always
partners but we was just like doing our own thing. He was with this
clique. I forgot the name of the clique. I was always by myself. I
didn't need nobody I mix and scratch and rap all the same by myself.
I had a couple of dudes that was with me like Grady G a few other
ones.

P: Some people credit you for the singing type rap?

MMS: Harmonize rap? I take credit for that, That's in my soul.

P: Who are some of the other artists from Compton you seen coming up?

MMS: Back then.DJ Pooh, King T. I ain't actually did no work with
Quik but we was affiliated like you know brushed elbows. .Eazy nem we
always brushed elbows, talked, kicked it. Dre did all the songs for
us. If you didn't know it, Dre did Batterram. Dre did Just Say No.
Dre and DJ Pooh collaborated on the Genius Is Back. Pooh did You
Better Bring A Gun.

P: What was the working environment like back then?

MMS: Call me man let's go.lets do it. It wasn't no money issue or
none of that. We didn't really have no money. We the ones that paved
the way for the cash to come in. We fought for that. Like KDAY was
in there tearing down the walls for everybody else to come on
thru.later.

P: How do you feel about that now?

MMS: I feel good about that but really the new school out here on the
West Coast aint really like giving it to like the old ones that really
paved and did the struggling for them.


P: When you went to other parts of the country how receptive was the
audience?

MMS: We use to go up to Oakland. Really we was mostly West Coast and
a little bit of the East Coast was accepted us. I got far as
Cleveland back that way. I hear on the radio my songs and I hear some
of the commercials of my song. So I know they was playing us back
then. Texas, we used to tour Texas all the time. Back and forth up
north and Arizona all just the West Coast really. Back in those days.

P: Who were on some of those shows with you?

Ok um, I did a show with Public Enemy, Too Live Crew. We did a West
Coast vs East Coast in Denver.

P: How was that?

MMS: All the East Coast did a show one night and all the West Coast
did the next night. They just called it East Coast West Coast.

P: You recently did a song with RBX and Soopa Fly and Suga Free.Dog
House in Your Mouth is that true?

MMS: Yeah with Snoop?

P: Yeah, How's that working with Snoop? You being a pioneer and him
being of another generation of rap?

MMS: That was the easiest song I ever did in my life. I just walked
in there he said man give me some of that old school. I want some of
the old flavor some old school and I'm like what? He said man just
say anything. Good evening Doggpound.he was like yeah that's it.
Come on lets go lets go. All he want to do is hear that (singing) I
said hold on man I can do something better. I can write something
right quick. "Naw naw, just do that" and Snoop wouldn't give me a
chance. He like bringing new songs with old flavor, old lyrics most
of his songs gotta a lot of my hooks in them. Do you want to go to
the liquor..Do to ride in my 6-4. You know all them kind of hooks.
He's an old school lover with the new school so that's how he wanted
it so I gave it to him.

P: What do you feel the state of West Coast rap is now?

MMS: We still holding our own. We need some more unity out here. I
don't see too much unity. Like in New York they support each other
more. Out here is a little space. We can't really reach out and
touch each other and collaborate and do things. Them dudes back East
every time you look around they ..like up in the Bay everybody's on
everybody's record. Down here in LA they all look scattered

P: Why do you think there's a lack of unity on the West Coast?
Geographically cause we're spread out? Everybody in their own
cliques?

MMS: Mostly everybody in they own cliques. You can say
geographically. We had that mentality we grew up in cliques anyway.
Like we got crips and bloods, neighborhoods and sets so we like that's
your set that's my set. We already grew up like that out here. Aint'
too much clicking clicking with other cliques.

P: What do you feel your contribution is to rap?

MMS: I gave West Coast a big head start. When I came out I was doing
parties doing my thing. People was like what's that? What's he
doing? What are you doing to the record? I was Djing a party in
Watts. I didn't want to do the party in Watts. I'm kinda like I
don't know about going over there. They be shooting and gangbanging
over there. I went over there anyway. I told my buddy to bring my
records later and he didn't bring my records so I had a few records
new ones like so I had to make them longer than what they really are.
I had to mix so I was in the kitchen. Everybody else was in the other
room partying. So Rough So Tough which happen to be one of my cut
records. I sat there running out of stuff to play. It's time for me
to start mixing. I don't have too much more to play. I put my head
down and the kitchen was empty. I put my head down start mixing got
into it cutting and scratching I just happened to look up and the
whole kitchen was full of people all over me. One of the dudes was
like "aww go head homie get down it's cool do that some more." He was
like do that some more. After that Mixmaster Spade was born where I
was like I'm here. Like all my homeboys in the hood and everywhere
was like where you djing at? They didn't really have no cars then.
They was walking to my parties. They would walk I'm talking about
miles.

P: King T Totty T.Were you one of the first people King T worked with?

MMS: Me and Totty T had a hit record Just Say No out and Tila had a
record out a little bit after that on the radio it was Payback's A
Mutha with DJ Pooh and my boy Scotty D was with them but he was also
with me. He was like Spade man won't you do a song with my other
little partners. Tila and Pooh wanted to hook up with me. So Tila
and Pooh, King T came to my house instantly much love. I love all
rappers. We all got together and went in there and done You Better
Bring Your Gun in one day. It came out and that's how me and Tila
became tight and Pooh. The next thing you now that's my clique, me,
Tila, Pooh and Totty Tee but Todd really wasn't clicking so much.
They was doing they own. I was doing my own. I ask Tila and nem to
help me do The Genius is Back cause he owed me. I said man just do an
intro for me. He started it off for me and I took the rest. Pooh did
the beat along with Dr. Dre We had DJ Var on there. RIP.

P: Do you feel West Coast rap started to take a turn when Eazy E and
NWA came out?

MMS: It took a big turn when they came out. That gangsta went to the
mainstream out of the neighborhoods. They put it on the big line. We
had it on the county and the state line like just LA to Texas line.
When NWA came out with Jerry Heller and made them major boys put them
up on the videos and the nationwide distribution and all that. They
took off instantly. That's the advantage they had. And of course
they had Dr. Dre.

P: What are you doing now? Are you still in music?

MMS: I'm just dibbling and dabbling. If you call me I'll come. I'm
really trying to do a little project just a collaboration with a lot
of artists. I'm trying to call it the Return of the Compton Godfather
featuring myself and every other artists and a lot of top artists I
know that owe me favors.

END
 

Rap diva Lil' Kim was convicted last Thursday of lying to a federal grand jury to protect friends who were involved in a shootout outside a radio station. The shootout occurred outside New York's WQHT, a.k.a. Hot 97, when Lil' Kim's entourage crossed paths with a rival rap group, Capone-N-Noreaga. Kim's entourage confronted them about the song "Bang, Bang" from a Capone-N-Noreaga album, which contained a scathing dis to Kim from her longtime rival, Foxy Brown. A shootout erupted, leaving one man injured and more than two dozen rounds fired. She won a Grammy in 2001 for her part in the hit remake of "Lady Marmalade." Now she's probably headed to prison...

Biba The Diva exits Barak Records & we wish her well in her future endeavours. Barak Records is about to drop some serious R&B/Hip-Hop/Dance heat with their new artist, Emelee. I got a chance to peep her new track "Head Over Heels" & this 17 year old artist has got a promising future after peepin' this joint out. Stay tuned...

Welcome back to my girl Rebecca Altman from Conspiracy Sounds. She's taken a well deserved break & she is back & back with a bang with her new project by Exile & Lokey "Sinking Ship" b/w "The Bridge & Signs" (Mixt Ape Records). This cut is tight & well worth bumpin' on your wheels. I think you'll enjoy these 2 tracks. Peep it aiight & show Rebecca some love like ya used to! You can hit her up for copies online at: conspiracysounds@hotmail.com...

I've always been a fan of the Geto Boys & been down with these kats since day one. Their new joint's got some heat with "G-Code" (Rap-A-Lot). Hit up Xavier James at: xj@rapalotrecords.com for copies...

Brisco "Who You Is" (Poe-Boy Ent.) is a joint that I'm really feeling off the MP3 my boy & Rap Attack Mixtape reporter, DJ Killatone (see photo above) hit me off with. It almost sounds like a cross between a Cash Money joint & somethin' outta the G-Unit camp! Brisco is on FIYA & you can expect to hear more about Brisco off da vinyl in a couple weeks. Stay tuned...

Straight outta the yay is Hip-Hop's, reMo' Conscious with his debut EP, "Thought Criminal-Journey Of A Serial Thinker" (Soul Cipher Records). After peepin' his tracks, I was impressed to hear a west coast emcee reppin' the "415" comin' politically correct. After listening to his lyrics, reMo' Conscious embraces Hip-Hop as a lifestyle rather than just a commercial commodity. Cuts like "The Real Bogeyman" & "Justified Homicide" stood out for me. Hit up reMo' for the vinyl or cd cause it's definitely a positive Hip-Hop vibe to add to your playlist. You can reach him at: (510) 332-7579...

Fast Life/Koch are making big noise with the latest AZ featuring Nas joint. Get ready for more serious Hip-Hop noise with Nottz presents DMP "Mr Smif N Wesson Man!" Peep da vinyl...

Peep this out from our fam, Osiris reppin' MI's 89.3 WHFR radio: "As prominent members of the Hip-Hop radio community, I would appreciate any help you guys might be able to offer in getting the word out to college / internet deejays about this website: http://www.headsupfm.com. This is a new website currently in beta-testing created to maximize the number of on-line listeners to hiphop college / internet radio. Visit: http://www.HeadsUpFM.com for more info
1.) Deejays sign up with info about their college/internet station
2.) Then enter the link to listen live & the time show airs
3.) The show will appear on the site during air time for people to tune in.
Peace & thanks in advance for any help...

Straight outta Los Angeles, lookout for new up & coming Hip-Hop artist Kev with his debut single "Churrp" (Centerline Ent.). Every year a new Hip-Hop joint drops & it just either sounds so different & stands aside from everyone as something new. Kev is one of those artist & his sound is different. He reminds me of back in the days when Arrested Developement or even Paperboy came out. It was different but caught on & made some new noise in Hip-Hop!Lookout for Kev...

Jin is no doubt puttin' asian emcees on the Hip-Hop map. On that note, lookout for Orange County's own, P.A. The One with his debut joint, "So Fly So Dangerous" (Big Shot Music). P.A. The One has opened up for Jin & has gotten nuttin' but rave reviews on this phat new asian emcee. Log onto: www.bigshotmusic.com to learn more about him & his music...

Sway & Tech are also bout to drop their new album "Back 2 Basics" (Bolo Ent./Bungalo). This album from my boys reppin' "The Wake Up Show" features exclusives from Chino XL, Common, Kam, Crooked I, Canibus, Sly Boogy, Royce Da 5'9", Self Scientific, our own DJ Revolution on the wheels & more! The first single has just dropped from Chino XL "Watch Closer" b/w "Enough Beef" featuring Royce Da 5'9", & Common. If you'd like to get custom drops, etc., hit up my girl Stephanie with all your info & contact info to: stephanie@bungalorecords.com or call (818) 710-7740. Here's what some of our Rap Attack dj's are saying about "Watch Closer": DJ Scene (KUBE-Seattle) says, "Every now and then a project is done right & this is a good example!"... DJ RIP (KBLR-NE) says, "This Chino XL---is fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"... Nick Huff (KOXY-Los Angeles) says, "This track is FIYA. Focus comes tight on the production and Chino rips like he always does"... Papa-D (WRBB-Boston) says, "Shit is heat, Chino still got it on the mic & the beat is catchy" and DJ Earthquake (Live365.com) says, "Great to hear new Chino. I been waiting for him to blow up. He has such a tight and hot flow and really brings it. That beat is so banging. My head is hurting and I have whiplash from my head bouncing to the beat"... If you haven't yet, you can watch Sway, Tech & Rap Attack's own, DJ Revolution on the "Wake Up Show" for free! All you gotta do is have a Windows computer with a cable or dsl modem & you can watch the "Wake Up Show" 24/7. Log onto this link at: http://www.nft-tv.com/clients/wakeupshowTV.zip.

The Urban Network Conference is just around the corner, March 30-April 2nd at the Riviera Resort in Palm Springs. Log on to: www.UrbanNetwork.com for more info...

Here is our new address for 2005 to send material for review, etc (vinyl & cd's)! Same address, just a new Ste. number:

 RapAttackLives.com

4750 Kester Avenue, Ste. 11

Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Attn: Nasty-Nes

Rap Attack takes a "WHAT'S UPPER" look this week with:

Check out this phat & in depth interview with Miami's own, DJ EFN at:  http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=djefn...  

PrizMatik (WFTU-NY): "That's right everyone, after a few week hiatus, we back with a vengeance. Well I am happy to say I caught up ten fold and I am ready to take this music thing by storm. Y'all haven't seen anything yet. Don't fret, there is enough room aboard the caboose for everyone. www.HipHopFundaMentalz.com is about to change the industry indefinitely. Don't take my word for it, keep your eyes glued to the website. Keep your ears tuned into the radio feed. Many developments about to unwrap. We showcase the best music incorporated with ALL Hip Hop and its elements"...

DJ Kazzeo (KHDC-CA): " THOSE OF YOU ATTENDING URBAN NETWORK IN PALM SPRINGS AT THE END OF THE MONTH, LOOK FOR NASTY NES, CHILL WILL, BABU FROM DILATED PEOPLES AND MYSELF AMONG OTHERS ON THE COLLEGE RAP PANEL. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT HOMEBOY MADE IT TO THE FINALS OF AMERICAN IDOL AND THEN QUIT. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? A LOT OF SPECULATION GOING AROUND ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. ONE RUMOR IS THAT HE DID SO WELL ALREADY THAT HE GOT A SUPER DEAL ALREADY. ANOTHER IS THAT HE WAS A SESSION SINGER ON MICHAEL JACKSON'S LAST ALBUM AND FEARS HE'LL BE CALLED TO TESTIFY. IN ANY CASE, I THINK THIS WAS AS BIG A BONEHEAD MANUEVER AS YOUNG BUCK SHANKING THE DUDE AT THE VIBE AWARDS.  THE STAR WARS TRAILER LOOKED AWESOME!!! I CAN'T WAIT"...
 

IT'S BACK: EXCLUSIVE NEW RAP ATTACK OFFER:

RIM BLACKBERRY 7100t - DEAL: Here it is the ALL NEW Blackberry 7100t. TMobile is offering our Rap Attack DJ's & affiliates (friends & readers of RapAttackLives.com & business associates) the following special:

$200 plus a $100.00 rebate ($100.00 for the unit)

$29.99 monthly fee which includes unlimited web browsing & email plus 300 incoming & outgoing text!

$50 SIDEKICK II - 2WAY DEAL:  I've got the exclusive hook up if you're lookin' to buy a "Sidekick II" 2 way. They normally retail for $300 plus. TMobile is offering our Rap Attack DJ's & affiliates (friends & readers of RapAttackLives.com & business associates) the following special:

$100.00 plus a $50.00 rebate ($50.00 for the unit)

$39.00 monthly fee for cell & unlimited text messaging & online, etc.

Contact Alex Nguyen at (408) 310-3933 or online at: vtxguy4O8@yahoo.com.

Tell him Nasty-Nes from RapAttackLives.com sent you & save yourself up to $250 on a brand new "SIDEKICK II."

SHOUT OUT TIZIME: Happy Birthday to "Wake Up Show's" own, DJ Revolution's celebrating this Saturday, March 26th, to my Seatown homegirl,  Dove celebrating her birthday next Monday March 28th and a belated b'day gangsta greeting to my dawg, Suspens reppin' Philly & Suspens Recording!
 

PEACE, LOVE & HIP-HOP UNITY (God Bless & Isa Mahal),

Nasty-Nes

(Pinoy Pride4Life / John 3:16)