Ras explains why he's on the run......He has been fucked up....

[caTASHtrophe]

From ALLHIPHOP.COM

Much like Van Gogh, a 19th century artist who never attained any real commercial success until after his death, Priority Records recording artist Ras Kass is struggling with similar obstacles to those of the famed painter. The fact that Ras Kass' never-released third album was entitled Van Gogh, speaks volumes about the frustration felt by arguably the greatest lyricist to ever emerge from the left coast.

After enduring a four-and-a-half year period without releasing any new material, although having recorded two new albums (Van Gogh and Goldyn Chyld), Ras Kass has had enough of the same "bitter disappointments" that plagued the real Van Gogh. However, unlike Van Gogh, who would eventually commit suicide, overwhelmed by the obstacles in his life; Ras Kass has become determined to not let anyone or anything stand in his way of achieving success with his art.

Ras Kass believes that his only hope to salvage his art, his career, and his freedom is to demand that he be released from his recording contract with Priority Records. Unfortunately for Ras Kass his determination is being once again met by adversity. Ras Kass was recently convicted of a third DUI and was supposed to begin serving a nine-month prison sentence. So now to ensure his release from Priority Records, Ras must remain a free man and a fugitive.

AllHipHop.com: Let's just get right to it. What's the deal, you're on the lamb; what's goin' on?

Rass Kass: Really the whole thing is that I been wasting my time with Priority Records. You gotta keep this in mind, I'm a rapper, I can't go work at Sears. So what am I doin', I'm out here hustlin' to make sure I can bring home the ends meet for my children. And I signed a contract with people who are supposed to allow me to use my craft to make everybody in turn money. When they decided, basically because they couldn't use the Dr. Dre song I got to be the single. Then, they knew actually I had to go to jail five months beforehand. Everything's all good, we had a set plan of what we were gonna do. Soon as they decided that they weren't gonna put out my record, and it's already been a four-year fight (with) me tryin' to convince some f*ckin' stupid a** corporate people that my music is worth puttin' out; if I didn't have Eminem on it, or I didn't have Jay-Z, then it's not as good of a song. So when they decided that, basically implying that I go another year or more; I took my album, I went up there, I took my f*ckin' hard drive and I left. I'm not turnin' myself in when I'm out here, I gotta eat, I been havin' to eat and they ain't fulfilled their side of the bargain. So the jail sh*t, that's gettin' sensationalized. I think Priority got mad. If they want the album back, I'm willing to give 'em the album back, if they give me a release, and that's all this is about. And I'll turn myself in. I'm not goin' to jail and my children been havin' to suffer all this time while I been workin' hard, really f*ckin' workin' hard. And then I'm gonna get slapped in the f*ckin' face, like the month before I'm about to turn myself in, they decide because Dre doesn't want his song to be the first single. He didn't have any objections with it being a single. I had a song that was supposed to be the single, they didn't even work that record. The title song that (DJ) Premier did for me, "Goldyn Chyld." Well these people have never shown me any f*ckin' form of respect, and then you think I'm a let you keep an album and you ain't puttin' it out anyway. So f*ck you. You sayin' f*ck me, f*ck you, I'll take my sh*t, and you ain't paid half these producers, and Priority Records also f*cked off a million dollar deal for a year before a court case with me and Xzibit at Columbia for the Golden State (Project). These people are sayin' f*ck my kids and f*ck how we gon' live and eat, and I'm not playin' that f*ckin' game. This is just how I feel. I'm not goin' to jail, then catch me if you can, just like that movie. I'm Leo Decapribro. (laughs) Catch me if you can, and I'm not runnin', I'ma sell albums, I'm still doin' me. I don't really appreciate n***as blowin' up the spot, but I'm not livin' in New York, if you do catch me, you'll catch me in Cali.

AllHipHop.com: So are you basically just lookin' for independent distribution right now then?

RK: I'm not really lookin' for anything, I'm lookin' to be released from the f*ckin' plantation.

AllHipHop.com: Are you concerned that the fact that now you have taken off, this is gonna jeopardize the whole criminal situation?

RK: I already knew what my situation would be before I did it. I'm not a stupid cat. I weighed the pros with the cons, and I had to explain to certain people in my life what I was willing to do and what I wasn't willing to do. They had a year to negotiate a deal, a million dollar deal which benefits their artist in the long-term, puttin' out the Golden State (Project) record, which probably with Dr. Dre doin' at least two (tracks), might get an Eminem on it. You don't have to spend anything to make some money and put your artist in a position where at least now he's a gold artist or a platinum artist. And they were too stupid to even do that. They f*cked off the deal. Xzibit got breached, they lost our deal, not because of me, but I feel responsible because Priority Records is ridiculous. They're ridiculous, like really f*ckin' like a plantation over there. And I looked at my pros and cons; I had to be a man about it. I made a mistake, I'm willing to suffer the consequences, but I'm not willing to keep workin' for somebody who's not gonna work for me.

AllHipHop.com: I understand the label woes, but aren't you concerned that this situation could now turn a nine-month thing into a long-term bid?

RK: Nine months is not short. Anything over an hour is long-term. I understand that. So nine-months, a year-and-a-half; what's really the difference? I had to weigh those pros and cons from the beginning. I weighed 'em in the middle of the night, during the day, talked to people that I could trust and told 'em, well this is what I'm considering. They left me no choice. I'm a man before I'm a rapper, or any of all this other sh*t. I'm a father before that. I worked real f*ckin' hard for a long time and still ain't seen nothin' but a slap in the face. And if I made one mistake, that's fine I'm willing to suffer the consequences. But I'm not goin' now. Catch me if you can, I'm here to get a release from Priority Records. And if the people give a f*ck about a jail case, I really don't understand what all the f*ckin' excitement is about. But Wendy Williams is gonna talk about it, and it's all on the 2way and all on the internet. I mean I'm a great artist, and I been a great artist since I was sixteen, seventeen. I'm here to spit and get my Eminem money, and my Jay-Z money, and my Nas money. I just want my opportunity to provide for my family, and if in the annals of hip-hop I get to be declared what I truly think I am anyway, one of the greatest MC's ever, then so be it. I'm not really wrapped up in that, I'm more wrapped up in providing for my children, and I worked too hard to get slapped in the face. They been slappin' me in the face for four years.

AllHipHop.com: But aren't you concerned that this is not only gonna jeopardize your freedom, but it's also gonna jeopardize your career potential long-term? I mean this basically could turn into a Keith Murray situation.

RK: I doubt it, and I'm not concerned with that. First of all, I have a criminal lawyer that's dealin' with this. I'm not just out here wildin'. I have a lawyer that's dealin' wit it, and if I turn myself in, within a certain amount of time, I still just go through the same bid. So I have that time to be here and take a stand. You really need to understand that this is not about me per se. I love my kids more than I love me. So it's about me gettin' what they deserve, it ain't about nothin' else. And all this other sh*t is romanticized and 2way information and sh*t like that, gossip. I don't give a f*ck about that sh*t. I been to jail before, I'm not afraid of jail.

[caTASHtrophe]

AllHipHop.com: Initially I thought this was all over somethin' else. In your song "The Evil That Men Do" from your debut album Soul On Ice, you spoke of your incarceration for vehicular manslaughter when you were a teenager. Does your fleeing from this have anything to do with that case? Are you concerned that prior could possibly be held against you?

RK: No that was already dealt with when the sentence was handed (down). It definitely didn't affect it. I shoulda been smarter than to put myself in that position again, because I just can't afford it with the mistakes that I made when I was younger. So it's all my fault, I take all due responsibility for it. Some people can't afford to do that, some people get away with it. But it only takes one time to get caught. It's like murder, you can keep gettin' away with it, it's just that one time you get caught you gonna have to suffer the consequences. So yeah it definitely comes into play, that Ras' that was stupid of you, that was irresponsible. I know, and I'm willing to accept my punishment for somethin' that I did. But I came too far and worked too hard to not be able to provide for my kids fair and squarely. A lot of my f*ckin' legal woes was based on goin' out here and doin' what I gotta do to get money. And all I'm askin' is for a clean slate. And these people really have denied me that for the past two years. Trust me, this is nothin' new. Priority Records been knowin' Ras Kass was like "just release me." I'm not happy here, you don't do sh*t for me. I can do better by my gotdamn self.

AllHipHop.com: This is a hell of a way to try to get out of a deal though.

RK: Well, I'm willing to try whatever it takes. This is by all means necessary for me.

AllHipHop.com: So how you been holdin' up through all this?

RK: I'm unaffected. I have to be a thinking person. I have to think about what I'm doin'. I gotta be careful. At some point, either I'm gonna get caught, or I'm gonna turn myself in. There's only seven years, I didn't kill nobody or nothin'. There's only seven years, maybe I can stay out of dodge for seven years. I don't plan on it. I 'd rather go turn myself in and pay my debt to society, to be honest. But until (then) I'm using this as a platform to explain how f*ckin' completely racist and for some strange reason, how extraordinarily f*cked up Priority Records has been to me. And all I'm askin' for is a release. They weren't gonna put the album out. If they woulda put the album out, I'd be in jail right now.

AllHipHop.com: So is that basically all it's gonna take, just a release?

RK: They give me a release, I'm fine. They can take points, rollovers, or whatever. I'm just not a f*ckin' slave. I'm not gonna allow these people to treat me like a f*ckin' n***er. I done did that. I tried to be too civil with these people and I don't think they understand that they f*ckin' with peoples lives. And that's exactly what this is about; it's about nothin' other than.

AllHipHop.com: So that's all it's gonna take to end this whole thing?

RK: Priority Records need to leave me the f*ck alone. They can have the album back, I told 'em that. It's not like I can't make more. I took the album because they said f*ck me and my kids, so f*ck you. You think I'm goin' to jail knowin' these people sayin' f*ck me again, and they keep tryin' to tell me that for the past four years this is all my fault? And we know this is not the case. I'm not takin' that, my children don't deserve it. I'd be a b*tch if I went to jail like that.

AllHipHop.com: I just think it's f*cked up, you finally get Dre and Primo on the same album and this sh*t happens.

RK: Well you know, everything happens for a reason. I gotta give it to God and be a soldier about it. I'm willing to own up to my mistakes, but I'm not willing to keep lettin' somebody abuse me; this sh*t is oppression.

AllHipHop.com: So they just got you in some Prince sh*t.

RK: Yeah, and I'll write slave on my cheek all day. And whatever it takes, I'm gonna change my situation. If this is gonna garner attention, if people like enjoy other peoples misery, well f*ck it I might go to jail, who gives a f*ck. I'll run around with a "free Ras Kass" t-shirt all day. Please don't get it f*cked up. If that's what you wanna see, if that's entertainment to you, I'll do that. But it ain't about that.

AllHipHop.com: Well ironically this is turnin' into great press.

RK: Yeah, ironically. I didn't really plan on nobody really givin' a f*ck. I figured it'd be on the 2way one time, and that would be it. But f*ck it, people wanna hear my story. This is my platform. Any artist knows what I'm talkin' about. And you gotta do what you gotta do. We all grown a** men, and I'm not lettin' no f*ckin' corporate people take advantage and f*ck off my kids life. I could see if I just didn' t wanna work, (but) I'm sayin' "hey I wanna work." Give me the opportunity to work, let me provide for my kids, whether that record sells two copies or sells two million copies, give me the opportunity to work, 'cause that's what I signed on to do. Or if not, leave me alone and let me go do my thing elsewhere, whether it's with another label or by myself. That's the bottom line.

AllHipHop.com: I don't wanna dime you out here, but can you tell our readers anything about where you're at, at the current moment?

RK: I don't think it's anybody's business.

AllHipHop.com: Ok. That's understandable. What I'm tryin' to clear up is that there were a couple of sites that leaked (your location). Actually Priority did you a favor there and leaked that you were in N.Y.

RK: Yeah, 'cause they're f*ckin' dry snitchin'. I would just say, that's the plantation, I'm just a field n***a. And I refuse to be a f*ckin' house n***a and some coon for these f*ckin' people. And yeah, they can snitch and they can be mad, because the bottom line is Wendy Goldstein, and please print her name, and Andrew Shack, they're f*ckin' racist people that abuse artists. And all I'm sayin' is, if you wanna sh*t on me, f*ck me, then f*ck you. All I'm askin' for is a simple release. Xzibit just tried to buy me out. They act ridiculous. He was gonna buy 'em out for some ridiculous amount of money. And then have the nerve to say, "well we're not gonna say anything until you give us back our album." And they haven't even paid Mike City, one of my original producers. Still ain't paid these people for two years. It's not they f*ckin' album, and it's my soul on it. So what the f*ck do I owe them?

AllHipHop.com: Before we go, is there anything that you would like to say to all of your fans out there?

RK: Just to my fans, I hope I gave some clarity as to why I'm doin' what I'm doin'. Aside from that, just look out for this Re-Up album. My company is called Re-Up Entertainment, so I was gonna call my album Ras Kass Presents The Re-Up. But my homeboy said I should call it The Fugitive (laughs), so I may just call it Ras Kass Presents The Fugitive.


Damn i feel really sorry for Ras, He could have been so big and proved many times he was the best lyricsts without a doubt had he had the chance.

 

[Kaidy]

thanks Tash, that was a real good read. Shit, i feel bad for Ras. I mean, everyone has their industry horror stories, but this cat has been continuously fucked over for years and years. Even though he might not have amazing commercial appeal, Ras Kass IS Hip Hop, he needs to have a label that supports him. I support him 100% in what he's doing, aside from the DUI shit of course.

FREE RAS KASS!

[Damon X from ATL]

Damn, I love Ras and I know what he means about industry rule 4080.
But when I was over at Geffen Records I worked under Wendy Goldstein when she was running things over at that label in NYC (yea, I pretty much know every god damn body, lol). And she didn't give me the notion of being racist, I don't know her whole vibe over at Capitol/Priority now in B-Hills, but she was/is good people. A Real motherfuckin' racist ass bitch is this cracka name Ron Spaulding who was the VP of Sales at Priority when I worked with Cube and Mack 10. He's a  cracka ass cracka and I told him so, which resulted in my immediate firing from Priority, plus there was a couple of bitches...oops I mean female house niggas who decided to stick up for "massa" and not a brother, but that's another industry tale. He isn't over there anymore, but I feel Ras 100% and know what he's going thru. I think he is taking the wrong steps, but if he feels that's his choice, he has to do him, but it's no secret that he's been in NYC for the past few years, once he left Cali. The main reason he left Cali, was because fools on the West didn't appreciate his style and NYC was a place that he could garner that respect, that's why he was down with Rza and doin' alot of underground NYC shit. But Priority did do some busta shit by giving the Feds the heads up, but what do you expect from an "enemy"? He needs to get his shit correct, but he needs to just give them that album and get a good representation and get him released. I mean Priority is known for dropping/releasing artists, I think they have some stipulations thatprevents them from doing so. There's more to the story than Ras is giving up, if he went to the bing now, he could of already had somje time knocked off.

Good luck Ras, fuck that 7 year recording statue, you can progress further then waiting that out.

[Cry Me A River]

Damon can I ask you something?

Im not racist but you said "He's a  cracka ass cracka and I told him so"

If I was to talk on a black guy who I disliked and said "He's a  nigger ass nigger and I told him so"


Would you not have a ceasure? Would that be ok for me to say?

I think black people are just as racist towards whites as whites are to blacks. for instant I allowed a 'Black' family to move into MY street. Would I be allowed to move into theres? or the jungle? = NO I would be hunted

[King Tech Quadafi]

thanks Tash, that was a real good read. Shit, i feel bad for Ras. I mean, everyone has their industry horror stories, but this cat has been continuously fucked over for years and years. Even though he might not have amazing commercial appeal, Ras Kass IS Hip Hop, he needs to have a label that supports him. I support him 100% in what he's doing, aside from the DUI shit of course.

FREE RAS KASS!

[js83]

damn he just wasted fucking 4 YEARS IN PRIORTY??..goddamn why don't those faggots just release him??? i don't understand...

[EM28]

damn he just wasted fucking 4 YEARS IN PRIORTY??..goddamn why don't those faggots just release him??? i don't understand...

yeah things are fucked up....shit like this always happens...

peace

[P Nelson]

Fuck priority what the hell are they doing?

[Mudpole]

Yea Priority are some stupid ass motherfuckers, why the
hell would you keep an artist on your record label if your
not goin' to release any of his shit. It just ain't good
business, Ras I support you all the fuckin' way!!