Phonte from Little Brother "The Real Reason Why Yall Hate Blood Money"

[jeromechickenbone]

6 pages in that other post and nobody's figured it out yet huh? Lemme break it down....

*sighs REAL deep*

Mobb Deep is gone. Club Mobb is what you have now. And you can either take it or leave it.

To me the last classic, dark, moody, make-me-wanna-open-fire-on-a-group-of-innocent-schoolchildren Mobb Deep single was "Quiet Storm." Hav and P were sharp as ever on the boards and on the mic respectively......and then.......

Enter Hov.

I'm sorry.....but I've never seen ANY emcee past or present be as VISIBLY affected by a dis as Prodigy was by that Summer Jam screen. All of a sudden, the same emcee who gave us countless quotables for 3 albums sounded as flustered and unfocused as ever. Hell, most of the time he wasn't even RHYMING..... Thus, we saw the beginnings of what I call "Club Mobb," a group that had had their street cred tested so many times (see: unfavorable incidents with TruLife and Keith Murray), that they figured 'fuck it.....let's take niggas to the club' and the results ranged from dope ("Burn"), to dope-once-it-grows-on-you ("Got It Twisted"), to horrid ("Hey Luv" feat. 112).

So what exactly happened?

Most people don't realize that the magic of Prodigy (and Mobb for that matter), lied in Prodigy's first bars. Literally......Prodigy has some of the most classic and memorable first bars in hip hop history, and that made for their best singles. Don't believe me?

"I got 'chu stuck off the realness....." -Shook Ones

"The saga begins.....we go to war/ I draw first blood be the first to set it off...." -Hell On Earth

"I put my lifetime in between the paper lines...." -Quiet Storm

"I break bread, r i b s, hunnid dolla bills...." -Keep It Thoro

Now as you listen to "Blood Money" try to find that bar. Dig through that album and search for that one line.....that ONE bar from Prodigy that made you and your mans rap along in unison like "I used to be in love with this bitch named E&J/ don't fuck with her no more now I fuck with Tanqueray" from "Drink Away The Pain."

You can't find it, 'cause its not there.

For better or worse depending on how you look at it, Havoc is now the best MC in Club Mobb. I take my hat off to him. Dude sounds hungrier than ever. And although P still has his moments (his verse on "Capital P, Capital H" is dope), for most of the album he's the same rambling, non-rhyming, unfocused guy that he's been for the past few years. He really sounds clinically depressed. It's sad.

So aside from its obvious artistic shortcomings, what does G-Unit have to do with people's hate for "Blood Money?"

Honestly......everything.

Like I told y'all so many times, even in regards to my OWN career.....in this game, PERCEPTION is reality.

And if people's general perception is that you cashed in 13 years of hard-earned respect for a Porsche...

AND you're rollin with the industry's hot new franchise boy (who DISSED you a year earlier, mind you)......

AND gave him total control of your album...

AND engaged in blatant cock-sniggling in interviews and on records by referring to him as Curtis Billion Dollar Budget Jackson.......

AND the only features on the record are G-Unit (no Noyd or any other QB niggas).......

Then what is the general consensus?

"Maaaaaan, them Mobb Deep niggas sold the fuck out," that's what.

Now personally, I have no problem with an artist selling out, or cashing in (however you look at it)....but I understand the ramifications of it. And the fact remains that when you sell out: 1) it damn sure better be financially worth it so that you NEVER have to sell out again, and 2) your post sell-out records better be artistically fucking BULLETPROOF. I mean, you better make the record of a lifetime or else there will be hell to pay.

And from the looks of things, Mobb may fail on both counts.

Cats are trashing the record left and right. Most die-hard Mobb fans have written them off by now. As dope as "Put 'Em In Their Place" is it ain't gon' get the 106 and TRL'ers, so those diamond numbers they were shooting for are looking more like Yayo's.

Not to place all the blame on 50, because truthfully, the songs he's featured on are among the best on the album. And I always thought "Outta Control" was dope, because it felt like a natural progression for Club Mobb.....it was the grown and sexy Club Mobb and it knocked. The same can't be said for "Give It To Me" and "Backstage Pass." They are club attempts that sound forced and honestly, are downright laughable.

I will always hold Hav and P near and dear to my heart, and they will always be viewed as hip-hop legends to me because of their first 3 albums (honorable mentions go to "H.N.I.C" and "Free Agents" tho). But I gotta call a spade a spade.

For longtime Mobb Deep fans, "Blood Money" pretty much confirmed our worst fears of what we thought a G-Unit/Mobb Deep partnership would bring forth:

Our boys done got rich and stopped trying.

_____________________________________________________________

Most of the blogs he posts are on his myspace which is http://www.myspace.com/littlebrother but he posted this one on the Justus League message board.

I think Phonte summed it up pretty well.

[Mo Z. Dizzle]

Enter Hov.

I'm sorry.....but I've never seen ANY emcee past or present be as VISIBLY affected by a dis as Prodigy was by that Summer Jam screen. All of a sudden, the same emcee who gave us countless quotables for 3 albums sounded as flustered and unfocused as ever. Hell, most of the time he wasn't even RHYMING..... Thus, we saw the beginnings of what I call "Club Mobb," a group that had had their street cred tested so many times (see: unfavorable incidents with TruLife and Keith Murray), that they figured 'fuck it.....let's take niggas to the club' and the results ranged from dope ("Burn"), to dope-once-it-grows-on-you ("Got It Twisted"), to horrid ("Hey Luv" feat. 112).

anybody hav a picture or video of this?

[The Watcher]

spot on

[Eihtball]

It's a good piece, I'll admit, but this whole idea of saying Mobb Deep is now "Club Mobb" is bullshit - say what you want about "Give It To Me" and "Backstage Pass", but those are just two songs on the album.  And besides, Phonte's really talking far more people's perceptions of them, not so much the actual music.  So those of you who still love saying "Blood Money is wack, yo!  G-G-G-G-U-NOT!" and think you've got support simply because Phonte has written this column had best check yourselves right now.

Hey, Jrome, I hope you'll notice from the rest of Phonte's various articles that he doesn't share the majority of the attitudes I've seen you express about the culture.

[jeromechickenbone]

It's a good piece, I'll admit, but this whole idea of saying Mobb Deep is now "Club Mobb" is bullshit - say what you want about "Give It To Me" and "Backstage Pass", but those are just two songs on the album. And besides, Phonte's really talking far more people's perceptions of them, not so much the actual music.

Well first, this article displays his agreement with everybody's perceptions of Mobb Deep 2006.  Point out the one place in the article that he refutes that perception?  He's echoing the sentiment in the entire article.

He's not criticizing the music?  Did you not read about where he talks about how drastically P has fallen off?  How he no longer conveys those verses / bars that make you and the homies wanna recite it word for word?  He says "the fact remains that when you sell out: 1) it damn sure better be financially worth it so that you NEVER have to sell out again, and 2) your post sell-out records better be artistically fucking BULLETPROOF. I mean, you better make the record of a lifetime or else there will be hell to pay.  And from the looks of things, Mobb may fail on both counts. "

That says a mouthful about his perception of Mobb Deep, and it sure as hell isn't an endearing one.

So those of you who still love saying "Blood Money is wack, yo! G-G-G-G-U-NOT!" and think you've got support simply because Phonte has written this column had best check yourselves right now.

Who has done this?  I haven't seen anyone on this forum hold Phonte's word as gospel.  I for one read the blog and thought it summarized my feelings on Mobb Deep to a T.  No where did I say "Now kiddies, Phonte says its wack, so by God ITS WACK!"

For the record, I'd give Phonte a lot more credability for his opinions than half these magazines that are in G-Unit's back pocket.  And how many of these magazine reviews have been floating around on this forum in the last few weeks?  I don't see you jumping in those threads chastising the poster's if they agree with the authors sentiment.  So maybe you need to check yourself right now.

Hey, Jrome, I hope you'll notice from the rest of Phonte's various articles that he doesn't share the majority of the attitudes I've seen you express about the culture.

Well luckily I form my own opinions, and don't rely on others to dictate them to me.  I'm sure I have differences of opinion with numerous people that I respect musically.  I agree with the article 100%.  But since we're here, care to enlighten me how he doesn't share the MAJORITY of the attitudes I express about the culture?

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Mobb Deep fell off a long time ago, so really, I don't care about Blood Money or Phonte.

[Teddy Roosevelt]

To me the last classic, dark, moody, make-me-wanna-open-fire-on-a-group-of-innocent-schoolchildren Mobb Deep single was "Quiet Storm."

LOL.

[Jome]

Havoc is now the best MC in Club Mobb. I take my hat off to him. Dude sounds hungrier than ever.

Pretty much sums it all up.
P wack, H dope, we need a Havoc solo album, with 50% Havoc production and 50% Alchemist production.

It's also interesting to see, that the Amerikaz Nightmare discussion thread got 18 replies, while Blood Money gets 18 new threads a day.
And it sure isn't because it's better than AN.

[Teddy Roosevelt]

It's also interesting to see, that the Amerikaz Nightmare discussion thread got 18 replies, while Blood Money gets 18 new threads a day.
And it sure isn't because it's better than AN.

The haters are always quick to come out.

[Don Breezio]

personally i think AN & blood money are trash...BUT....that is off one listen each...i bought amerikaz nightmare the day it came out...i listened to it all the way through...and then i sold it on ebay or something...i felt it was terrible.

this album i downloaded...i listened to it...and i felt it was a little bit better...but still a steaming pile of shit.

[keepin_it_real]

Phonte broke it own good, he's the illest.

[Leggy Hendrix]

yeah, he regularly posts stuff like this on the lawn...hes pretty much on point...

[Minkaveli]

Phonte is on point, dunn!

[Eihtball]

Well first, this article displays his agreement with everybody's perceptions of Mobb Deep 2006.  Point out the one place in the article that he refutes that perception?  He's echoing the sentiment in the entire article.

He says he understands where people are coming from, yeah.  He also says that he doesn't necesarily mind Mobb Deep selling out provided they do it well.

He's not criticizing the music?  Did you not read about where he talks about how drastically P has fallen off?  How he no longer conveys those verses / bars that make you and the homies wanna recite it word for word?  He says "the fact remains that when you sell out: 1) it damn sure better be financially worth it so that you NEVER have to sell out again, and 2) your post sell-out records better be artistically fucking BULLETPROOF. I mean, you better make the record of a lifetime or else there will be hell to pay.  And from the looks of things, Mobb may fail on both counts. "

I never said he wasn't criticizing the music at all, just that this article is more about how "selling out" affects the career of a group that is known for grimy underground music.  It's not Phonte's personal review of "Blood Money"; it is a discussion of why Mobb Deep cannot expect to do what they've done and expect to retain credibility, satisfy fans, and appeal to the G-Unit/TRL crowd all at the same time.

Who has done this?  I haven't seen anyone on this forum hold Phonte's word as gospel.  I for one read the blog and thought it summarized my feelings on Mobb Deep to a T.  No where did I say "Now kiddies, Phonte says its wack, so by God ITS WACK!"

No, but it's pretty obvious you think your opinion will sound more valid if you have somebody from Little Brother agreeing with you.

For the record, I'd give Phonte a lot more credability for his opinions than half these magazines that are in G-Unit's back pocket.  And how many of these magazine reviews have been floating around on this forum in the last few weeks?  I don't see you jumping in those threads chastising the poster's if they agree with the authors sentiment.  So maybe you need to check yourself right now.

I said the XXL review sounded like bullshit when that one was first posted, and also the one from G-Unit World.  I also didn't exactly take a strong stance on the AMG review (which I posted myself, BTW).

Well luckily I form my own opinions, and don't rely on others to dictate them to me.  I'm sure I have differences of opinion with numerous people that I respect musically.  I agree with the article 100%.  But since we're here, care to enlighten me how he doesn't share the MAJORITY of the attitudes I express about the culture?

Because you've repeatedly demonstrated you have backpacker-esque sentiments that rappers should be motivated by art more than money.  I've been debating issues on rap music with you for months now; I think I have a pretty good idea of your attitudes at this point, and intuitively, I'm pretty sure you'd be disappointed to hear of Phonte's own sentiments towards rappers you would hate.  I remember in one topic you asked me why it was that mainstream pop-thugs are tolerated by the conscious rappers (Phonte being one)...read some of his other blog articles and you'll probably be disappointed to hear him shatter some of the stereotypes about conscious rappers that you seem to believe.