So maybe I'm late, but now I'm getting a little used to the myspace thing. My page is pretty ok, I wonder if I'm gonna keep it up. In addition to that, there are rumors about a shutdown. For now, check out my page!!!!
myspace.com/stetsasonic.

Heard a Rakim record today. You f*ggots couldn't catch him after the resurrection!

This week we mourn the passing of one of my dear brothers, Lumumba "Professor X" Carson. I like to say I brought Lumumba into the business. I remember those days in Brownsville he wouldn't let up on calling me 'til I answered. I remember him holding down Stet before he put out his first record. I remember puttiing his name in my records. In the last of his years, we strayed apart like friends sometimes do. We talked but not often, although our words were always kind and thoughtful. I'm gonna miss my friend, who I claim made "The Blackest Record Ever". X-Clan tossed Stet, BDP, PE, and the Stop The Violence Movement in ONE record. LUMUMBA! To the crossroads! And then...............

While in Vegas the past week, I ran into some Hip-Hop legends. Melle Mel, Cool Herc, Sha-Rock, Grandmaster Caz, & Busy Bee. They were promoting a clothing line with their images and stuff. Funny how displaced we all seem sometimes. I do think the tribute payed to rockers like the Stones should be payed to Mel & Herc on our side. How we get to that point is the real question.

For some reason, I'm gonna keep a clear eye on rap/rock relations this week.

I did an intro to an album for a group I manage yesterday. Full-on, Daddy-O voice and all. It was so much fun, and the mic was so dope. Being on the mic, there's no other feeling like it. Wow.

Backround vocals in rap. Really an oxymoron. Its something that only happened due to recorded music. The thought of doubling your own vocals is really a sell-out mechanism.

Rap is outta control. That old EPMD song got me thinking, after hearing about a member of Busta Rhymes crew getting shot to death. What is it that now makes this music form seemingly a magnet for violence? I personally don't think its the music per se, but the present attitude of young people in the entertainment (mostly music) business. You would think, after a direct onslaught of everything from payola to police brutality, things wouldn't be so violent internally. Hip-Hop has a stomach virus.

So I'm trying to decipher how to digest this rapper "beef". The Camron' joint, the new 50 joint, etc. The real question for me is, are these guys that good, or is the public too good to them? Just note: not a lot of research being done by fans nowadays.

It would be interesting to ask the general public, if they think Hip-Hop is in a state of emergency. Some years ago it was common talk. It seemed to change when the big soundscan numbers started.

Two things about working again. One, its good to be doing it again. There's nothing like the certainy of steady pay. Two, and a big two is the surprise of fatigue. I've been keeping fairly long hours to get adjusted, and although waking hasn't been difficult, I have been beat. I know a good deal of it is mental, listening and positioning music all day, and I'll balance it out eventually. For now I just work.

A buddy of mine wants to start a record label called "Classic Universal" headlining classic rap acts. I'm with him for the most part, I even came up with the name for the label. The challenge, is twofold. Hailing at number one is financing. His vision is to get that from overseas. Hailing at number two is getting solid (let's put hit on hold for right now) records from rappers in their late 30's and 40's. I come from a school of thought where nothing is impossible. The problem with dreamers is that we're hardly practical.
Anybody for a new Whodini record?

So what do I do with the people that had "nuttin" for me when I been calling for two years, but now that I'm in position wanna bring me stuff?

Most of the time, veteran MC's like myself feel the "pull" of seniority. Its a strange-ish feeling, knowing your place as a King, and often, not being able to perform as one. This is the point (boy this one is getting shrink-ish!) where we need to take inventory. The life we all live today is a product of the choices and decisions we made yesterday. Better to admit it and move on, than to hold on to past success (and failure). People make mistakes, its just that some are worse than others. It may take a while, but if there's any chance for old school making a "comeback" so to speak, we need an attitude adjustment. (why'd I get so deep?)

Voiceover was the best I've done thus far. The big news is I got hired yesterday. I am the A&R rep. for Kedar Entertainment. God is so good. And this is a good place for me. Its like starting all over again.

So on my way to do a voiceover interview today, my agent called. I've been dealing with this voiceover agents for like 6 months, haven't landed anything yet but the way I'm feeling these days I may even end up in the blessed commercial!

Its hella cool when your Pastor shouts you out from the pulpit.

Was up at Bad Boy yesterday, interesting when I visit record companies. Good and bad I guess. On one level, I'm a big fan of progress. On the other hand, not always a fan of what people deem progressive. My meetings were good though, thank God. Glad he's lookin' out.

OK. Here it is, Dipset are MC's. My reasoning? One of the distinct qualities of an MC is that if you're copied, people recognize someone is biting your style. These guys have done what more people in rap should do. Homework necessary. Purple dew rag not included.

Been thinking about acting lately. Not so much because of other rappers, but because of acting itself. There is, however, something in my psyche that sees the phony in it, and that scares me. Entertaining other people is cool. Movies are cool (mostly) and so is TV sometimes. But I don't want to sell out for a role, and you never know with Hollywood, if I make it that far.