Nas - Cherry Wine (Explicit) ft. Amy Winehouse

DIAMOND D - DEFLATE CHA (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO 2012)

DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles KoleXXXion Album Trailer

..Happy New Year Happy Re Launch..

..Better late than never right?Happy New Year everyone.I hope that you guys had a great holiday season.I've started off my New Year by re-launching my fund raising page for the D&D Documentary.I am excited to say that the response to this project continues to grow.More and more people are ready to lend their names and talents to this project,which just proves the impact of this studio and the legendary music and artists that came out of there.I recently spoke to Buckwild producer and a good friend of mine, and he is eager to get on board with this so there is one more icon to the list which will easily equal one hundred by the time I start shooting.Also I have  Marketing and PR professionals ready to run with this project,I'm telling you this is going to be big.Don't expect a street DVD with bad lighting and horrible sound,I'll scrap it and start over before I put my name on that.So..as I said..I have to re launch my KickStarter page because although I received a number of pledges,I appreciate you all for that,I was no where near where I needed to reach to start.So we restart,no biggie,more time to pledge, more time to promote, more time to get it out there.If you can't pledge that's cool,I would hope you would pass it along to anyone who can.As before, I have placed banners and a direct link to the fundraiser page in this blog and the page itself.So support however you can,spread the word to whoever you can and let's get this vision out to the world.Peace Hip Hop..One.

..The D&D Documentary..

..Most of you may already know that I have been planning to do a documentary about the famed D&D Studios,and if you haven't been paying attention to the background and banners on my page,it's gonna happen.For months now I have been talking to the owners,former staff and artists about getting involved and being interviewed for the film and everyone is amped to do it.I have also been watching every possible documentary I could find,not just Hip Hop joints either.This film has to be done right and it has to represent the true spirit of what we were doing back then.I can't even believe how people are reacting to the mere mention on this project,it's added pressure ,but I'll make it through.I plan on doing blog updates until my website for the film is up and  keeping you guys involved,short blurbs about any progress made,along with my usual rants and memories.

..Thus far I have verbal confirmation from Doug and Dave,the D&D in D&D,DJ Premier,Da Beatminerz,AG(Show and AG),Dilated Peoples,Sadat X(Brand Nubian),Hakim(Channel Live),Bink Dog,Sonny Cheeba(Camp Lo),Ski Beats,M.O.P,Heather B.,Jeru Da Damaja,Craig G.,88Keys,Lord Finesse and that's just the calls and emails that I got responses from that I'm telling you guys about.I'm tracking down a few more heads and from what I've already got I think I'll be getting more and more positive responses.Needless to say that I have already spoken to my old crew of engineers and interns,the ones I could find anyway, and people from all over the globe are promising to donate funds for the production of the film.This is quickly transforming from a small documentary about a studio in mid town Manhattan, to becoming something truly epic.Unfortunately though,I'm a ways away financially from really getting things rolling, but with your help pledging what you can and spreading the word about this project and encouraging others to pledge and donate,it will happen.

..There is a link below to my fundraising page that you can click on,or you can click on one of the banners to take you to the fundraiser page as well.Thanks for supporting the blog and Thank You for supporting the Vision...Stay Tuned..Peace...

..Bit Of A Ramble But You'll Get The Point..

..It's been a minute since I wrote a blog.I've been converting my blogs into a book, making it a memoirs of my life experiences in the music industry and the entertainment industry as a whole.Recalling all these memories has been a great exercise for myself,  and surprisingly others.The feed back I have been getting has not only been positive for the most part,but also it's inspiring me to do more than just blog about the past.I plan on blogging about the current state of the industry,or what's left of it.So let's start with this shall we?The best part of blogging for me was reconnecting  my some of my old comrades,people who worked those sessions and lived that life with me.Who walked the path alongside me back in the day,saw what I saw and felt how I felt.Catching up with my "Industry Fam" has always been a goal of mine,to see where their lives has gone,what paths they have taken and to just maintain contact.Some have found me through Face Book,others through word of mouth about my blog,however it may have been, it is great to catch up with my fam.Some of us,not me of course,did the "adult" thing,got married, had kids,GOT A JOB,you know..all that grown up stuff.Others,like myself, remained on the entertainment side,though not as heavy as we once were.The hardest part of being in the industry is getting out of it when you think you are ready to,the thing is you never really feel like you're ready to.There is always one last project you wanna do.The industry lifestyle is addictive on so many levels and is hard to walk away from at times.Once you walk away you should never turn back,but we do sometimes and it ends up however it ends up, good or bad,it is what it is.As hard as it is to stay away, it's equally as hard to stay in once you're already in.You spend a lot of time hanging on.Mostly due the fact that we get older, the new faces start to run the game and us old heads get fazed out. Nowadays it's easier to get fazed out more and more frequently due the fact that technology changes rapidly and a lot of us refuse to change with it.

..Since I entered the game in the 90's,technology has indeed changed several times over, right before my very eyes, and the industry changed with it for the most part.There are some that try to maintain the old way of doing things which just doesn't add up to much.They go with the flow in the hopes they can still make a dollar and live the dream.The rest,they do what's necessary if you want to stay in game and win,they change with the changes and don't complain about it.Eliminating some of the human element from the music and how it was done is a major way that this thing of ours has changed dramatically.Believe it or not,people used to actually talk to each other in this business, not just on text,orIM,or Skype.. but over the phone or in person!Shocking isn't it?!They had meetings about the music and making albums,how to sell them and who was going to be on it.Long discussions about art work and radio play,promo tours and in stores,promo items and release parties..the list goes on and on and on.There was a lot of aspects that went into making an album and eventually making that album and the artist a success.There was lots of hard work and sleepless nights,or at least nights sleeping on the couch of a studio.And of course recording the album has changed,because now,thank you technology,the artists are not required to be in the same room, let alone the same state to be on a record together.Back in the day,artists actually had to collaborate on a record.Subject matter mattered...it wasn't the obvious lets just throw verses together non sense we have today..there was actual artist to artist collaboration.On a few occasions a reel would have to be flown somewhere to someone,but that was often rare and due to scheduling, and even then, there was a phone call to sort out the particulars.Nowadays the music that's being serviced has no feeling,nothing human,very robotic and microwave driven.This stems from the fact that most music is being mass produced in the homes of the artist,simply in order get the music out there faster,which ultimately leads to music that sounds redundant and boring.They email music back and forth because it's convenient,and it's all good,but the music suffers and as a result the consumer/fans suffer.No wonder no one buys music any more,why should we?The artist might as well just email the fans the music as soon as they finish it..save us the trouble of  downloading it ourselves.Sales don't matter anymore anyway so why not?

..The ultimate question is where are we going with regards to music and entertainment media as a whole?Does creativity have to suffer because technology has made it so easy to "create"?So much emphasis has been made on file sharing and downloading that we lost sight of the fact that we create to make an impact on other human lives.To reach out to others who feel like we feel,who are looking for a relatable voice,face and way of being.Besides the fact that it is sooo easy to make and distribute artistic forms of expression without relying on the " corporate machine" as much,does that mean that the human element in the work has to be removed as well?We need people to want to have it,that much is obvious,and everyone wants to be compensated for their work,but that doesn't mean that there should be no soul in your work.When I worked in the big studios, there was a lot of emphasis on how music felt.Sound as an art form conjures up emotions, and as one of my former clients used to say.."I can't make music if it don't feel right".Today's music has no feel,at least not to me.Apparently my generation lost our opportunity to teach the new generation about what it like to be a part of something bigger than ourselves,because we were to busy doing"us".A lot of the artists I worked with came from not having much,if anything at all, so when they got a chance to have something, they wanted to have as much as they could.This in most cases is never a good thing and most will end up right back where they started,because usually,but not intentionally,certain things get over looked and left behind for later.So fast forward and imagine waking up to a whole new way of being and doing, when all you ever knew,all you ever taught yourself to know is no longer relevant.You have to get with the new program,literally.What do you do?People still rely on you,so you do what you have to.A whole new generation is upon you and they look at you with"entertain us" in their eyes,and you have about fifteen seconds before someone sends them a text with a link for the new hot shit.So you go along with it in the hopes to maintain what little you have left and a little bit of yourself goes away and slowly you don't even remember who or what you were before you got here.This is the fear of most artists.Artists who refuse to bend, get broken and if they try to be what they are not, they get discarded and if they don't embrace the now and the future they get lost and forgotten.So where do you stand?How do you compete?Where do you go from here?....

..D&D Studios Part Seven..WORD IZ BOND!..

..This is probably one of the most difficult memories to write about,but it wouldn't be right if I didn't do it.Just a lil history on my man HeadQCourterz.I first met HeadQCourterz during the making of Group Home's Livin' Proof album.He was one of many crew members that rolled with Dap and Mal back then.Always a lively dude..loud and boisterous..but remarkably intelligent and well spoken when he wanted to be.Most of the time he was just a knucklehead,having fun with the crew doin dumb shit like we all did from time to time.When the Group Home album was done the crew dispersed to do their own thing i.e. go on tour or do time or whatever.As a result, I wouldn't see Head for a few years.He popped up at the studio one day out the blue and planted himself on the couch in the main lounge.."I'm here to see Premier"..he said as if I wasn't gonna let him..."Whatever just stay out my room son till he get here"..him.."Oh I can't go in there son?!"..me.."Nah you good where you at.."..he laughed at me saying.."Aight G..I can respect that."Him and I would have lots of verbal sparring matches when he came through to the studio,talking about each others clothes,shoes,if either one of us took a shower this week,stupid shit.One day I asked him,cause I had to frigging know.."Dog why they call you HeadQCourterz?"..him.."Cause I got a big ass fucking head!"..we both fell out laughing cause he was good at making fun of himself as well as others.

..Head had been M.I.A. for a few years as I said before.During his hiatus,he had decided to restructure himself .He was now hustling T-Shirts and hats outta this humongous back pack, as well as doing promo work for GangStarr.Dude would come through to the studio  and sell a shit load of merchandise,racking up a couple hundred dollars at D&D alone."I'm buying you lunch today you fat bastid.."he said to me one time counting his money.."Good,dealing with you is a full time job nukkah..and stop blocking the light with your dome piece"..him(voice raised and laughing at the same time).."Yo word to my mother I'mma smack the shit outta you son..WORD IZ BOND!"..me.."Cool..can we eat first though?"..him.."No doubt".His hustle eventually paid off.While selling tees and hats and doing his promo for GS,he landed a gig with Rawkus doing their street promotion,ultimately becoming the head of that division.I remember him coming through to the studio with a Dodge Durango that Rawkus purchased for the Street Team.."I told them niggas get me this shit!"..he said sitting in the drivers seat.By this time, he had made a name in the industry as one of the most aggressive street promoters for Hip Hop.Everyone knew Head,and respected the way he did his thing and handled his business.You always knew when he was in the building.His voice was loud and distinctive.One day while in the studio he told me he was going to go back to school and get his degree,as well as start his own promotions company.Almost as soon as he said he popped up with a mini van he copped and had it wrapped for his promotional push for Large Professor's solo debut..."Look at this shit nigga,I'm doin this on my own!WORD IZ BOND!".Yo I gotta run but I'mma catch up with you fat nigga.."..me.."Aight moon face be easy!Peace!"..him.."PEACE!"...

..On Wednesday 30th,October,2002.Jam Master Jay was tragically and violently gunned down in his recording studio in Queens,NY.Hip Hop mourned the loss of one of it's forefathers,mentors,idols,heroes the list goes on and on.Ironically,that was the last time I saw Head alive.He told me about an up coming show he was going to, to promote for Large Pro and that is was supposed to be on Friday night.That Friday night/Saturday morning my dude was also gunned down.I was in the studio with Malachi(Group Home)waiting for Premo, to do whatever the fuck we were supposed to do that day.I got the call from Flippah of M.O.P.,who were on the road at the time.It took me about 2 minutes to really understand what he was saying to me.I guess I didn't want to hear it,but he made sure that I did.."The same thing that happened to Jay happened to Head Dex..".Malachi saw my reaction and was asking me what happened.When I told him,he lost it.Punching walls and screaming at the top of his lungs.."What happened to you Kenny?!..What Happened To You?!".I calmed Mal down,locked up the studio,went home and went to bed and stayed there off and on till Monday.No one could answer any questions.The who's,whats and whys were just that..who,what and why.Who would do this to my dude,a dude who had given himself a second chance to be great.A dude who had brought himself back up from the bottom.A dude who loved his family and friends as much as they loved him.What did they gain from it?Why now,just when he was about to excel past even his own expectations.My best friend Samantha picked me up to take me to Head's wake.I sat in the car ..frozen,I couldn't get out.I couldn't look at him.It was too final.At some point though,I'm out the car,but I still can't go inside.I'm standing outside BS'ing..talking with the fam reminiscing,laughing,drinking a lil henny someone had.Sam comes over.."You have to say good bye to him Dex.".Reluctantly I go in,the first person I see is Guru, tears running down his cheek.."We gonna miss him Dex,but he still here wit us..Word IZ Bond!".Walking down the pathway I see his sister.I met her briefly once at the studio,but I knew it was her because she was wearing a wooden necklace she had brought back from Africa for Head.He wore that necklace with pride.."This joint straight from Africa nigga...can you say that bout your bullshit gold chain"..he said to somebody once.I didn't realize I had reached the coffin when I did.Looking down on my dude for what would be the last time.."Look out for us Head..watch our backs down here".As I was leaving,Premier pulls me aside and says to me.."This is Head's mom.."..with tears in my eyes I said to her that I was sorry for her loss,to which she responded.."We all lost that day son"..Preem interjects.."You see mom,you see how much we loved him?!".She nods in agreement while giving me a hug.Bumpy Knuckles takes the podium to speak about Head,he was preaching rather and as he spoke I went outside.The reality of my dude passing had struck and now we have to regroup and carry on his legacy.I know he wouldn't want us to mourn him to long,but rather use him as a source of encouragement when we need it.His murder was never solved but his name however lives on.In "03 D&D closed it's doors,later to be reopened and renamed The HeadQCouterz,in honor of our fallen family member,and those of us who remember him will continue to carry the torch of him.We Love You Head..WORD IZ BOND!!!...