Thanks for all the born day shouts and hollas y'all. I was gonna drop this T-dome a second back but in this month's Elemental Magazine my 'On the Real' article is pumped full of the appearance that Bryan Hardgroove, Kyle Jason and myself had at the STAX museum down in Memphis last May. It's been on TV all month so far and will lead a series of appearances I've been doing into the fall. There I was surrounded by the time of my career. Soul music's headquarters, the thriving hot spot of the blues, the recording birthplace of rock and roll and the state where black radio got its start alongside the innovation of the airwaves itself. The birthplace of SOUL, without it rap music would be null and void. My reason for being there was to participate in the opening of the STAX Museum and Music Academy, a 20 million dollar project that not only revitalized a building and facility but is instrumental in boosting the surrounding community as well. A community that for the past 35 years, since Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination in that same city had gone down and in many ways reflected the negative atmosphere that rap is now being accused of. Now, in this three day event I was invited by the BAR-KAYS to appear with them in concert since it was gonna be a film as well. ISSAC HAYES, EDDIE FLOYD, MAVIS STAPLES, RANCE ALLEN, JEAN KNIGHT, BOOKER T AND THE MGS, SOLOMON BURKE, SIR MACK RICE, DAVID PORTER, CARLA THOMAS, WILLIAM BELL, ANN PEEBLES, and oh yeah MR AL GREEN. This was no joke. These legends had come together, and I felt like I was surrounded by family. Indeed that's how it felt since in the 1960s I was raised by the family, the community and the messages in the music reflected this. As a people the 60s raised men and women's word to be bond, thus as a musician your music was your word used as a passport to visit other hoods just like yours and get accepted as family. STAX 35 years later received little to no mainstream media, artists and record company geniuses such as AL BELL and marketer LARRY SHAW, who sadly passed away just days after we'd met him on May 11th.. accomplishments were again segregated to an issue of small town news.

I, and my two co-horts KYLE JASON and BRIAN HARDGROOVE traveling with me, rented a car and drove to the BAR-KAYS headquarters just down the block from ELVIS' Graceland. Going on their 22nd album the BAR-KAYS, led by LARRY DODSON and JAMES ALEXANDER, have an operation that's running smoothly on all cylinders. Doing tours, cruises, and getting their new songs played on R&B radio, mainly classic stations across the map. We rehearsed SOUL FINGER the 1967 classic that was their first hit (with their original lineup which later 4 members perished in the same plane crash that killed the late OTIS REDDING), inside their studios and went through the practice in less than an hour. Their studio was adorned with framed posters and photos of their illustrious career. In fact JAMES ALEXANDER is still a key figure in the promotion of black music in the mid-south moving much of the DEF JAM accounts etc. We exchanged stories but mainly I listened and tried to figure how in the 35 years since the DR KING murder our music had grown to graciously accept that same violence and hate that has such a following today. After leaving there we coasted across Memphis where the rap scene has all but turned into a one dimensional aggression. Called the distribution city because of its proximity in the middle of the country and home of FED EX to boot, the city, rap- wise, was put on the map by 8Ball and MJG, and thus the sonic favorings leaned towards the Texas style of laid-back-ism. Many rap artists tend to follow what has worked and Memphis became a city that had many cats follow that same style, with little reward. On top of that the consolidation of corporate ownership in radio and the dominance of BET has overshadowed an indigenous Memphis style of its own. So not only has the music from the past been in a vacuum but the rap present has all but dried up and has little connection to it.

This is sad as the STAX/Volt catalog has spurred many a classic rap track... HEAVY D and The Boys posse cut "Don't Curse" off BOOKER T and the MG's "Green Onions", WU TANG CLAN's "C.R.E.A.M" by the Charmel's "Black Steel in The Hour Of Chaos" by yours truly off an ISSAC HAYES groove and riff off the Hot Buttered Soul album, MISSY ELLIOT'S Hi Records ANN PEEBLES classic "I Can't Stand The Rain", MR BIG STUFF, "WARNING" by B.I.G., SALT n PEPA'S "Whatta Man" off Lynda Lyndell's same titled track, "TRAMP" by OTIS REDDING and CARLA THOMAS as well as various now classic break beats thrown in the mix, all the way up to singer JAHEIM's remake of WILLIAM BELL's "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" gem, all these just to name a few. It has helped grow the vault of rap classics by default and here the major black media cultural magazines such as VIBE, and others simply wrote this off as another old has-been gathering. The night of April 29, 2003 I witnessed many of the still living artists do their thing as if they never left. Puttin it down as well as they recorded it the first time around. But more than the stellar performances, what was beheld by myself and others as we peeped these legends was the commitment to the craft and the love spread not only to their peer family but to the audience who definitely felt it.

Yes, some of these artists haven't yet and will never receive their royalties off the songs they created, and seek ways to compensate the financial burdens set on them in this late stage of life. But with this age comes the knowledge, understanding, and most of all the wisdom on how to deal within the realm of this cultural tornado, while still kicking love is the message. It's the thing that allows them to still do what they do. A very important trait for rap and hip hop to follow if it is to even warrant a museum anywhere to gather it's importance, tell it's story enough to grow a community as well as making music so inspirational for the entire world to wanna take it to that next phase. So it's little wonder how the first ten years of recorded hip hop was so connected and answered to the needs and sentiments of the people, all one has to do is look at the legacy of black music and creativity that it was spawned from.

Speaking of ISSAC HAYES my hero, this came from PLAYAHATA.COM - Who is the man: Soul music legend Isaac Hayes has been focusing his attention on education recently. Hayes just got back from DC where he met with Congressional leaders about funding for a literacy program through his Isaac Hayes Foundation. Hayes also built a school in the African nation of Ghana; that school emphasizes literacy, computer technology and health issues. Music education is another area that Isaac Hayes is concerned about. He says young people need to know more about the music that came before them. Hayes said, quote: “I have concerns about this young generation not knowing whose shoulders they're standing on. The kids buying music today don't know, and some of the guys doing music now don't know, don't have the respect.”

I've been on the tube battling as well on MSNBC, the host... I forget his name, I think it's DAVID SALZBERG, had me on the channel's nightly Scarborough Report defending Rap music against the attacks of JAMES McWORTER, a Berkeley professor who was totally clear in his analysis of the one sidedness of rap promoted today thru the airwaves, society etc. I'm not one to get out of whack on TV no matter who it is and I surely understood where the professor was coming from. I agreed that some of these cat's actions were indefensible and that adjustments would have to be made to go forward for the people, the society and the music's sake. The host, fearing his segment of debate was over too quick, started throwing the darts at ICE T by bringing up the tired example of "Cop Killer" lyrics from 12 years ago. TV moves fast so I immediately didn't give in to his taunts in order to try and sell his show. Number one, I should've asked him wasn't it 12 years ago as a rock song, number two isn't ICE playing a cop on TV presently? Shoulda, woulda, coulda... I still defended the form, while keeping the fort and my composure. Even the show's producer called afterward about his asshost who couldn't save his deflated debate - MSNBC ain't a distant third in the news race for nothing...

More asshosts... SWAY is my man, and has been for years, but sometimes somebody in the crew always gotta fk it up for everybody. It only takes one asshost. In this case the morning comedian, who is on the morning show on HOT 97 radio in NY who, alongside SWAY was reputed to have ticked LL COOL JAY off so much one morning that they were about to go at it. Now I didn't hear it, nor did I see it but it's an increased example of how we let anybody take stabs at our heroes. I don't care what anybody says, LL is 20 years at the top of rap. He's a reason that cats have jobs today, indirectly. You treat that man with the utmost respect, as you would a QUINCY JONES. In his promotion of the movie S.W.A.T he's doing his thing, but this trend and thirst for ratings harks back to WENDY WRECK's dismantling of WHITNEY HOUSTON a minute back. Now I know this is a two way street because some of these so-called stars have tripped and have been led to trip out on the service areas such as radio for years. Now the pendulum seems to have wholly swung the other way, whereas jox are making personal attacks, not because they mean it but becaust of the thirst of ratings. LL tries his best to keep his head up in class, and we can't let a cat take that down just because he wants to be the 3,465th ranked comedian in amerikkka. I later talked to a jock friend of mine that saw no wrong in this. At the same time this person said that the demographics demanded this foolishness. Everybody can't be the recently fired STAR and BUC, who set that mold, I'm waiting for a radio show that; 1. tells me the name of the record played, 2. gives me info when it comes down to the artist interviewed, 3. tries not to be more celebrity than the guest themselves.

Met with my man DAVEY D who is doing a great job over at AOL RADIO. Man I tell you that radio makes you wanna go out and buy records, they embarrass regular radio, indeed. If all of urban radio had a DAVEY D, the people would be better informed.

I dig PHARRELL but peep it, I don't care who brings what back them netback truck stop hats will always be wack. I'm a hat wearer, I come from back in them days and I hated them flimsy brims then. I couldn't wait for the real authentic lids.

PE's 48th tour in SPAIN and PORTUGAL was another enjoyable blast. It was our first time to PORTUGAL, doing a festival near the town of VIGO Spain-wise but in the coastal town of PORTO. The festival was great and it was one of the first times that rap stepped foot into PORTUGAL... before DE LA SOUL put it down and laid the groundwork. The language barrier has been a difficult hurdle for English speaking artists but rap cuts thru, of course rappers from BRAZIL followed the slave-pipeline across to LISBON to introduce the form as well as the curious visits from rhymers from the Spanish east. That night the show started as we played to about 10,000, coming on after THE WAILERS and TRICKY. TRICKY and I did a blistering version of BLACK STEEL live, somebody's getting me a tape soon. This was after the RESPECT FESTIVAL in LONDON where we played in this gigantic arena- stadium where the city and the mayor opened this building to the public free of charge. This gig was in remembrance of Steven LAWRENCE who was killed in a racial dispute over 10 years ago. Events like these keep the people chill, and for the first time in some time LONDON looked like NEW YORK or something. I mean people of color were in the house and I longed for the chance for the group to play in front of a free crowd. It was great... although I don't think we did the best show but, hey we'll take it..

Can I say it loud "SPAIN was incredible!" First time there in a couple years, and to places like BARCELONA and BILBAO in about 11 since the 92 Olympics. In BARCELONA the city is sooo vibrant, we were fortunate to stay in the centre square ,and for a day off beforehand walking the streets in the heat was rewarding to the senses. The street vendors, musicians and the restaurants are second to none...plus the EURO goes a long way there. I rarely hang out after a gig but I would say that the club there was banging until 6am. I stayed till the last drop... and the DJs, many of them 2 at a time were rockin the walls off. I tell you this, it took a big sound to make me totally understand BEYONCE'S "CRAZY IN LOVE." Played big that record is crazy for real. When I heard it small it was cool, but the DJs sped what seemed to be 100 BUSTA and MISSY ELLIOT joints 10 bpms faster... yes across the world hip hop is the new 'rock'.

Went hanging out in ROME where we look to play in OCTOBER... the inner city hasn't changed in some decades, its character remains intact, a beach town perhaps keeps the people freespirited. Drove around the many roads, dug it. What tripped me out was watching a modern elevator go up in the COLISSEUM. Now that was crazy.

From EUROPE str8 to LA it was real news with a US soldier a day getting killed in IRAQ as well as public opinion looking at BUSH the BULLY in EURONEWS, all the way to news being all about KOBE. Now that case is crazy, KOBE is getting the MILLENNIUM MANDINGO treatment from a white chick looking to get paid. Her family is in on it but I got more than 21 questions; Why did she go to his room? Why did she consent to the sex? And the problem is so complex now because if she consented to the sex, I hear that anal sex was also in the program.. so that's where the rape charge may begin. This all sounds like insanity across the news and KOBE has all the reason to be scared right now. Meeting him once I'd never met such a superstar with the manners he had. The jokes about him are classless.

Speaking of ball... I hear JOHN AMAECHI, the big center, is catching hell in the NBA for criticizing the war on IRAQ as SON OF A BUSH must be DAVID STERN's homeboy or something. The outspoken conscious NBA player is little and none. If this is true it follows CRAIG HODGES banning, and MAHMOUD ABDUL RAUF flag turning. More than that this intellectual fiber has been replaced with the quest for street cred and dropoutism, thus basketball needs fixing to scale back to some basics, while baseball has to step up to today's realities, the NFL continues to set the standard in sport where courage, teammanship, and mental perseverance transcends to enlighten our everyday lives. Shhhheee black music used to do that as well.

Spent a good minute b-day week in LA filming a WILL FERRELL / ADAM McKAY flick titled ANCHORMAN; THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY. CHRISTINA APPLEGATE, DAVID KOECHNER, STEVE CARREL, PAUL RUDD, FRED WILLARD, KEVIN CORRIGAN, MYA RUDOLPH, AMY POEHLER and TARA SUBKOFF are also in the flick. Most of the cast are from the SNL alums, and I had a pretty good time bonding with these peeps. Acting is not my forte, although they all say I did a great job at it. Still I prefer getting into the non-traditional areas for blackfolk like the scoring jobs and soundtracking, so I throw in acting. In this case HAL WILNER is figuring out this sonicvibe. For 3 days we tripped up to film inside an observatory on a 7000 ft peak named MT WILSON. Only minutes from downtown LA it's where all the transmitters are and the overlook across the southland is stunning. It took about 30 minutes each day to drive up the mountain and come down. I dreaded that hike, it made me even more curious about the ANDES in South America which I'm trying to see this year. About the flick, I'm part of a radical unit called the ALARM CLOCK where we hijack RON and the airwaves to make change in the world which takes place around 1973. It's along the same line of humor that WILL and ADAM are famed for. MYA RUDOLPH who's a SNL regular with AMY POEHLER had me dying laughing when they had a scene screaming at each other. MYA is the daughter of MINNIE RIPERTON and DICK RUDOLPH. CHRISTINA 'Married with Children" APPLEGATE cracked me up when she said peeps roll up to her and say they dig and have ALL OF HER MUSIC.

FLAV at ROSCOES while up in LA ran into IKE TURNER and also ran into WC. We visited JIM BROWN who's making more changes by the day and his man BO TAYLOR is doing an incredible job of reversing the crime on the LA streets regarding the gangs.

Speaking of that, I see they're gonna come out with a ROSCOE'S CHICKEN and WAFFLES movie? For those that don't know ROSCOES is the famous eatery that every black actor, music cat, etc go to grub occasionally in Hollywood. It's a break back into black reality. Now every race creed etc. roll thru there on the regular and the lines are 20-25 minutes regardless of who the hell you are, and that's cool to me.

Marcus Garvey 116th born day anniversary. I keep his DVD on me continuously as a reminder of the drive this man had for our people. The thing that always gets me is that in his last years, he lived in disgrace, exiled in Jamaica and ridiculed by the townspeople he lived with. He would be hit by coins thrown by little kids who heard that he was a disgrace. This is a typical treatment of heroes from a people suffering from slave mentality. The oppressors rank high while the rebels die off in obscurity, not by the adversaries but anonoymous to the people who the heroes spoke and fought for.

Man, BARRY WHITE, who I'm a perfect example of a person who downloads but have to get the record by any means necessary from a real artist. When I was out in LA they named a park after the maestro... it touched me as I watched on TV TYRESE, JERMAINE JAX (who always represents us well) and BARRY'S ex, GLODEAN. I went out and got BARRY'S book and a few CDS. BARRY WHITE was a real cat and one I regret never meeting face to face. GREGORY HINES is another one R.I.P. His role in A RAGE IN HARLEM is one of my all time faves. SHIRLEY DIXON, the daughter of WILLIE DIXON, just passed away as well. These people are examples of how to use your time on this earth to the fullest.

On top of this we are just weeks away from the re-launching of RAPSTATION where there will be many great things that a rapcat can enjoy. I purposely left my commentary on ON THE REAL so that it could reflect and freeze the situation that rap is presently in.

BRINGTHENOISE.COM is coming with the radio, SLAMjamz.com has tightened it's roster come with some new features and now has offline distribution, and PUBLICENEMY.COM comes with a new featured home page to answer all the people who ask me in passing, "so what are you doing now?"..

Well catch me on the enemy board and check the rapstation forum boards as we are centralizing much of your consolidated viewpoints.

Peace And luvout

Mistachuck@rapstation.com