What's upper? One year ago today, yours truly suffered a mild heart attack, lost half my site in my right eye & was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I really thought my life was about to end & I was scared. What kept me motivated to live? My faith in God & you. Here it is a year later & I haven't smoked a cigarette or drank any alcohol in 365 days! I want to thank everyone who kept me in their prayers through all this. Like the saying goes, "If it doesn't kill you, it'll make you stronger!" After all the drama I've been through over the last 4 years, I AM A STRONGER MAN NOW! AMEN to that...

Illvibe is puttin' on their "Battle Of The Illest" DJ Battle here in Southern Cali, this May 1st. The event takes place at the Venitian Palace (6740 Corbin Ave) from 4pm-9pm (tentative time). It's an all ages event with agrand prize of $500 to the illest dj! Guest judges will be: Still Will (KCAQ-Oxnard), Mega-Man, Nasty-Nes (RapAttackLives.com), King Tech (Wake Up Show), DJ Buddhabong (SolOfHipHop.com) and Truly OdD (Power 106-L.A.). I'll announce who our guest performers will be next week. For more info contact Stephanie Ojeda online at: Stephanie@BungaloRecords.com or call: (805) 212. 6157...

My boy, DJ Pick One aka Hobin outta the NYC has been makin' noise since he moved to Southern Cali 2 years ago! He's been busy puttin' together some of the finest Hip-Hop video documentaries & compilations. Please log onto his site & peep his work at: www.whathiphopis.com...

I got to give props to the new album by 2Mex of the Visionaries "SonGodSuns" (Up Above). Make sure you cop a copy of the album. Tracks I recommend you peep are: "Mirrors Into Fire" featuring Bus Driver, "Gone Till Whenever," Everyday," "So Many More Words," "Breath Of A Salesman" featuring Jean Grae and "Over The Counter Culture." If you need to get laced, holla at Desirae Gonzales online at: desirae@upabove.com or call: (562) 983-9999 ext. 108...

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:

Chela (WXDU-NC): "How about NC Basketball? Although I stay in Durham and am on Duke Radio, I go for UNC when its convenient. And well, Monday night was one of those times! Chapel Hill is off the chain right now. My latest mixtape, "Embedded Reporter: Live from the Front Line" has just dropped! Just got in from a trip to NYC, big shouts to everybody I got to see up there, esp. Sam Crespo, Justo, Mike $, Nathan Sheard, DJ Splif, DJ Bluesteel, Steven, Kendell, & Theo Brown @ Def Jam, Hen Roc @ Bad Boy, Frankie Boy @ AV8, Travis @ Sequence, D @ Jive (Thanks for the package!), Dan Green, Courtney and Sean @ Koch, Mecca @ Music Choice, EOW, Dove, Tre Black, DJ Lex, First Lady El, Lazy K and the Murda Mamis, Supreme, Chocolate Thai, Immortal Technique, Jean Grae, Abi Odun of the Last Poets and Dave Ghetto and hopefully I didn't forget too many names! As part of the Justo's Mixtape Allstars I will be soon airing mixes on Justos Music Allstar's on Music Choice. As always, keep sending dirty versions of MP3s to: djchela@gmail.com"...

Damian Rodriguez (KGNU-CO): " Hey all, I just moved into my first place, my first taste of my own picket fence. And I don’t have an internet connection setup yet, so I’m squatting on some neighbors wireless connection (hi tech ghetto!). Here’s the goods & note the new address

Damian Rodriguez aka Mr. Groove

KGNU

11211 Holly St.

 Denver, CO 80233

please delete my old address: 4130 e. 119^th pl #b in Denver, CO 80229"...

Kiz-One (WickedKarma.com): " Whatz the deal. Just wanted to let everybody know a few things going on, on my end. After filling in on many guest nights on my radio station. I will now be on live on the 1's and 2's, 2 nights a week. Which comes out to 4 hours a week to bang some of the hottest joints out now. My new time will be Monday's 5pm to 7pm (6pm-8pm EST.) and Wednesday's 5pm to 7pm(6pm-8pm EST.) on WKRN Live 105 (web cast: www.wickedkarma.com)  Also starting in three weeks I will be spinning about 3 to 4 nights a week at different clubs through out Kansas City. And I will be starting back up "The Agneda" mix tape(cd) series So once again I will be break'n your artist to many of the buying public. So let's make this a summer to remember"...

Jon? Doe (KCPR-CA): "Well, my wife and I welcomed our third son into the world. As if life with school, work, family and music wasn't enough... let's just throw another rugrat into the mix... needless to say, my 1-and-a-half year old is NOT happy right now. I am definitely seeing a doctor who owns a sharp pair of shears ASAP!!!"...

C-Sharp (WVUT-VA): "We're currently looking for giveaways and promotional items for our biweekly WUVT Hip-Hop Benefit Shows. Please reach out if you think you could be of some assistance. We've got a Blueprint and Illogic show next weekend and hopefully more regular and larger shows in the future.Please contact me and/or Son with any questions, concerns, or specific feedback requests at: CARTHUR@HIPTOP.SUNCOM.NET"...

Benny Ben (WDBM-MI): "This is gonna be my last WDBM chart report and I wanna thank all of you for your support over the last 6 years & 320 shows. I just had my last Cultural Vibe show Saturday, and it’s been a great run. Special thanks go to all my listeners the directors and air staff at WDBM, my partner DJ Radd 1, my former PNC RS3, Nasty Nes & Kazzeo at RapAttacklives.com, bumsquadjz.com, DJ Fusion at Urban Network and everyone at CMJ.

My man DJ Radd 1 is still holding down the first 3 hours of the Cultural Vibe every Saturday night from 8-11 EST, and we’ll have a permanent DJ for my half (11-2am) shortly. Auditions (live on air) start this week, so The Cultural Vibe moves on without skipping a beat. I will be doing my best behind the scenes to prepare the new on air talent for the challenge that awaits"...

Solo (WECI-IN): "I have been blessed. Last Friday after my show someone pulled out in front of me and I could have died, wrecked my truck or whatever. But cuz I my friend had a dream that it would happen the night before and prayed, I truly believe she saved my life. Monday I was written up at work for attendence issues. My boss could have fired me. I called in 12 times in 3 months due sickness of my family. I was given a blessing on how to handle that situation. I am still waiting on a financial resolution. haha! Being chosen to rep Interscope again is great, thanks Nasty Nes. It show's hard work pays off. And to Corporate Ken over at Universal, get well"...

Raw-B (KUSF-SF): "It was good to finally meet many of you in person last week at the Urban Network conference in Palm Springs. Big up Nasty Nes for putting the panel together and being very entertaining throughout. More shouts to Nick Huff, DJ Babu, Kate, Beni B, P.B. Wolf, Medaphore, Trick, Hideo, Capital D, Kazzeo, Jellow, Chris Atlas and everyone else I had the opportunity to talk with. Thanks"...

Kazzeo (KHDC-CA): "So this past week, I was lucky enough to be included as a participant of the College Radio Panel at the15th annual Urban Network Convention. This was the first time I'd been asked to be on such a thing and I was very nervous. Luckily I basically kept my ears open and learned from some of the best in the game. Thanks to Jellow and his staff at Chrewd Marketing / Urban Network for including me & to Def Jam & Splif for sponsoring our hotel room.

While in Palm Springs, I had a chance to hang with a lot of heads. Shouts to Nasty Nes, Chill Will, Nick Huff, Icy Ice, Mii Mii @ Suspense Recordings, Beni B & Kate Wolfson from ABB, Sam & Desirae from Up Above, Peanut Butter Wolf & Med from Stones Throw, Hahn Solo & the Fat Killahz, Raw B from KUSF, Troy Marshall, Chris Atlas, DJ Hideo, Juice, Ty C @ Delicious Vinyl, TK, Roddy Rod from Jive Records, CL @ Digital Wax Service, Judd G @ J Records, Lee Cadena, Corporate Ken @ Universal, Christopher Roker, Latin Prince, DJ Babe and Sonny D @ Capitol. If I missed your name, feel free to scream at me on the im.

On one of the panels, I saw a very prominent LA commercial dj really make himself look like a tool in my opinion. While I understood the points he was trying to make, he clouded them to the casual observer by using the "F" word as a crutch and using every response as a way to promote his artist. To paraphrase his dialog, it was similar to this. "I feel that as fucking dj's, we have to fucking keep on point and keep diggin for the fucking hot shit. If we fucking start sleeping, then the radio will be fucked because playlists will be a fucking joke. That's why my artist is gonna fuckin' have major impact at radio. I am fuckin' bringing in the best producers and will not release anythiing until every song is fucking ready". If you want to know the name of this fuckin' guy, just fuckin' im me mutha fuckas!
It was quite a sight to see Nasty Nes poolside dancing to a female artist whose lyrical content consisted of "whatever bitch? whatever hoe?". Great to see intelligence alive and well in 2005. The only thing that would have been more entertaining would have been if someone could have shoved that artist into the pool. She needed some serious artists development. Interestingly enough, the queen of the convention Jessica from Spectre Music was missing in action.

While in LA, I relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed time with my "extended" family. Big up's to Baby C, Niko and Candace. Shouts to Stephanie Ojeda from Bungalo / Universal. Good luck on the May 1st event. I could go into a long diatribe about the death of the Pope but that's been done already so let me move on"...

Brian "Z" (WZND-IL): I HAVE SOME VERY BIG NEWS-- THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE SERIOUS NOTE OF HERE. AS OF NEXT AUGUST (2005) I WILL BE STARTING AS THE NEW PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT WZND Z106 JAMZ. SAME STATION, NEW JOB AND OFFICE. A NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR WILL BE HIRED BY THE END OF THE WEEK AND WILL TAKE OVER FOR ME. I WILL STILL OVERSEE ALL DECISIONS IN REGARDS TO MUSIC AND 100% OF THE PROGRAMMING. I WILL SEND OUT AN E-MAIL WILL ALL THE NEW MD'S CONTACTS. PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP CORRESPONDENCE THROUGH ME AS WELL. THANKS!"... 
 

Lee L'Heureux (WMHB-ME): "Max Brown will be taking over my position & reporting status for WMHB effective now. Here's Max's updated contact info:

WMHB / Max Brown

4000 Mayflower Hill Drive

Waterville, ME 04901

Office: 207-872-3686

Cell: 917-647-2915

email: mfbrown@colby.edu

mp3 email: shivwell@hotmail.com. Also, I'll be reporting for WRED which is also a BDS station. We play a lot of indie records so people should continue to service me there"...

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Tell him Nasty-Nes from RapAttackLives.com sent you.

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SHOUT OUT TIZIME: Happy Birthday this week to Def Jam's West Coast Rep, Brian "DJ Fly" Samson!... My compadre, Arnold Noche (thanks for hookin' me up with your ultimate escrima weapon "Got Stick?" I encourage any martial artists into the filipino stick fighting to peep this out & order your stick online at: http://mandirigma.org/product.html... Congrats to Baby-C on the birth of her newly born baby girl, Candace Anoush Taylor (6 lbs & 3 oz) born on April 8, 2005!...

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

Nasty-Nes

(Pinoy Pride4Life / John 3:16)