The artist formerly known as Tony Bones from The Home Office put together this ad for the Villain In Black’s new range of Swap Meet Snacks, which got me thinking –what are some rap endorsements that need to happen? Tim Dog’s Extra Beef Burgers?
-Dr. Dre addressed longstanding claims that other producers were responsible for his biggest records, insisting he's involved in every aspect of the creative process and
challenging his critics to replicate his success without him.
-Dre and Cube clashed over artificial intelligence in music, with Dre embracing its creative possibilities while Cube questioned its impact on human artistry.
-Marcus Clae (from Houston, Texas) a new artist Dr. Dre is working with.
-Dr. Dre; "Larry Smith does not get his flowers," Dre stated. "Larry Smith, to me, is the greatest rap producer ever. He did Whodini, he did Run DMC, all of the music that inspired us when we was coming up... Fat Boys, LL Cool J, Kurtis Blow. He did all of those records that inspired us when we were young. Larry Smith is the fucking best rap music producer ever, point blank."
-Dre estimated that a staggering 80% of the music he's created since 1985 has NEVER been heard by the public.
-Cube revealed that Dr. Dre was originally supposed to produce his 1990 solo debut, "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted", before Ruthless Records and Jerry Heller vetoed the arrangement. Cube asks Dre what would that sound like. Ice Cube even revealed that Dre has sent him at least three albums' worth of unreleased material. More than 35 years later, Dre suggested the two could still make that record together. From Ruthless Records and Death Row Records to Aftermath Entertainment, Dr. Dre's influence on rap remains immeasurable.
They’re called Magnificent Ruffians and have been around for 10 years and has released 7 albums to date.
I’m a little ashamed to say that I just recently discovered this brilliant group by random, though.
^DJ Sway Deez^
^Specific^
^Master Chief^
Their sound could be described as classic Hip Hop, without sounding dated. Topics range from daily problems to the state of Hip Hop and that’s just what we’re going to talk to Magnificent Ruffians about.
-^Culture^ "I grew up in America, so my culture is Hip Hop. DJ Aladdin, Terminator X,Scott LA Rock, Dj-ing, Break dancing, Graffiti and Rapping. Who knew the effects of our forefathers would be everlasting?"
Magnificent Ruffians “Being from the United States has it’s privileges. One of them was being able to walk into a music store in 1988 and seeing a black man with a gun on the cover of an album. I was only 10 years old at the time. I remember being fascinated at the cover alone. I think it kind of spoke to me. I bought it and didn’t even know who it was. Turns out it was the classic Boogie Down Productions “By Any Means Necessary” album.
Only later did I learn that KRS-One was imitating a classic Malcolm X photo.
It was this cassette tape and many others like it that would create what we know today as Hip Hop culture. 22 years later, KRS-One is still one of my favorite emcees. But when I was 10 and reached for that album, I had no idea of the impact it would make on that’s why I don’t even listen to the radio anymore. If I do it’s just because I want something to fall asleep to. Ha ha!”
Fat Cap magazine -When you later learned about the whole culture, did experiment with the other elements before you settled with rap?
Magnificent Ruffians "I sure did. Rap came along for me more because of my continuous exposure to it. I really never said to myself, "I want to rap". My first love was freestyle Hip Hop dancing. I don't like to say B-Boying because breakers are more into tricks and power moves. I am more into up rocking, pop locking, grooving and stuff like that.
Being from So Cal, we have always had a strong history in up rocking and putting it down in the dance cypher.
I also got a little into graff in 93 and 94 but it was to dangerous because gangs would label you as a tagger and force you to either join or stop tagging. Needless to say, i stopped. lol."
Magnificent Ruffians “Oh dam, you had to ask me that question ha? lol. Well, I went by “H.A.O” back then. It stood for Hard Ass Oreo. Lol. Wow, that was way back! I’m of black and white background so I felt at the time that Oreo was a cool way to describe myself. Our crew was H.I.C.E. Mob. I’m not going to go into that one. But people from Colton CA who go as far back as 93- 95 know who we were. We really put it down back then for being so young.”
-^Our Love^ EBK4, yo number 7 was my love. Grew up with the same type of thugs, same samples, same drugs, dumped the same slugs. See Gangster rap or Hip Hop it don’t matter it’s the same strug”
Magnificent Ruffians “The most common opinion I get when I tell people we do rap music is, “It’s so negative and they say the same things”. The next thing I always tell people is, “there is different types of rap music”. Just like you have Techno, House, Trance and Drum and Bass. They are all different but most people put them all in the realm of electronic music. In Reggae you have Dance Hall and Roots. In Hip Hop you have East coast, West coast, Dirty South, Trip Hop, Gangster rap, Neo-Soul and all kinds of stuff. But at the end of the day, we all want the same things. Food, clothes and shelter! It’s the same struggle, just a different hustle.”
Magnificent Ruffians “Yes, exactly! That is exactly what it is. People should not judge any music or anything for that matter without looking at the whole picture. If you don’t know then it’s best to just not say anything. Rap is something you do, hip hop is something you live! To people who think all rap is about the same brainless stuff, I would refer them to Myka 9, Killah Priest, Common, Kool Keith, Special Ed and L.O.N.S to give them some examples of real skills.”
Fat Cap magazine -Yeah , for some reason people only see the negative shit. Several people like Tim Dog and Common has blamed the west coast for promoting negative images in their music and basically fucking up rap period.
What´s your take on that?
Magnificent Ruffians “I think that is BS. You can’t tell me Ice Cube is not lyrical. That Jayo Felony is not lyrical, Kurupt, Aceyalone, RBX, Brotha Lynch…. The list goes on. I agree that the West may have been the first to really bring the hood life to the main stream but Kool G Rap has been spittin like that sense the beginning. He is just as hood as any gangster rapper from the West. So how can you put it all on the West Coast? Like now for instance, a lot of people feel the South is killing Hip Hop. But 90 % of them sound like Too Short did in 1983- 1988. Check his Player Years cd. Ha ha. What goes around comes around and rap music is a constant circle. Hip Hop will get back to it’s roots soon enough. In the meantime, all an artist can do is DO YOU! Stop hating on the next man and his way of getting it. In the same respect, don’t hate on us underground emcees who still keep it raw and classic.”
Fat Cap magazine -Ain´t it a little hypocritical that we got our self a new scapegoat? (the south)
Magnificent Ruffians "Yes, it is very hypocritical. I used to feel the same way about the South. I used to feel that they were killing Hip Hop but the truth is they are just doing it there own way. Who are we or who am I to down the way they do there music? The truth is, sometimes you have to destroy in order to rebuild. The South will go through it's own transformations and will grow to establish there own footprint in Hip Hop."
-^I can’t lose^ “Yo I’m the type of brother that don’t like to hear the same thing over and over, so I don’t listen to the radio ….."
Magnificent Ruffians “The radio is so disappointing lately. I understand we as artist need to get paid and the best way to do that is get radio play. But DAM! Do I have to hear Lil Wayne and Drake every 5 minutes? WTF man! There is so many artist out there, switch it up a little. Don't tell me they are the only cats doing rap music. The DJ's have to start digging again."
Fat Cap magazine -In these days where more and more digital options like Spotify is available , don´t you think it´s just a matter of time before Radio has played it´s role?
Magnificent Ruffians “Yes, I think radio is killing itself. No matter who you are, no one wants to hear the same artist every 15 minutes. NO ONE! If radio does not fix itself soon, XM and other satellite providers will be the only choice people will have to hear quality music.”
Fat Cap magazine -What about the rumors about payola. Do you think there´s any truth to that?
Magnificent Ruffians "Oh 4sho! All it takes is money! Even for us independed artist. If you have any dreams of having your music on the radio, you better be ready to break bread because that is exactly what the big name artist are doing. Yes, all of them pay for play! It's how the industry is now. Only college radio and real Hip Hop shows are still down to play unknown artist. It takes money to make money."
Magnificent Ruffians “Perfect example right there. Yeah, some Matrix shit. We think these artist made it big because of there talent but the truth is, 9 times out of 10 it’s the money. Jay Z sold crack. Lil Wayne was part of Cash Money Millionaires and I heard they got there money from a big inheritance back in the day. It is what it is. I’m just waiting for some money to fall in my lap like that. ha ha!”
-^I can’t understand^ “We build the culture and ya´ll deface it”
Magnificent Ruffians “It’s simple, if your not adding to the game then just give it up. A lot of rappers have skills, but if your not doing something to build Hip Hop then your just dead weight. My favorite example is Dr. Dre. He helped N.W.A, then he signed Eminem,then 50 Cent. It’s a chain reaction. Look at all that dope Hip Hop just in his legacy. Imagine if other rappers did it like that? We could all be eating and making it moves. But no, rappers get money and then forget about the others. It’s selfish and it’s wak, that’s why we smash on emcees like that every chance we get.”
Magnificent Ruffians “To rappers who feel that way I would say one man can only do so much. Dr. Dre has helped out more artist than anyone else I can think of. Yes, Eminem and 50 Cent are not from the West but Snoop is. The Dogg Pound is. Hittman, Game and the RBX are. So just imagine if Drake did that, if Kanye West did that, if the Black Eyed Peas did that. We would have a gang of new artist and new flavor in rap. It’s every rappers responsibility to do something to reach out the next artist. That is why the Magnificent Ruffians never do songs with the same cats more than once. We always look for new talent to build with and expand the cypher.”
Magnificent Ruffians “My theory is they are selfish, brainwashed, industry clones who only do what there boss tells them to do. They actually think there is not enough money to go around. Lol. They must feel like if they put someone on who is better than them then they might lose there spot. It’s the same old crabs in a barrel story.”
Fat Cap magazine -But don´t that show us that they´re not really in charge? I mean look at what´s going on over at Aftermath, after Dre sold it to Jimmy he´s all tied down. One after one of talented cats Dre tries to put on, gets put on the back burner or let go for more safe investments.
Magnificent Ruffians "Yes, exactly! They are not in charge because at the end of the day they answer to someone behind the curtain. But lets not feel sorry for them. This is what they agreed to when they got the contract they did. It's kind of like selling your soul for money. It sounds like some conspiracy shit, but it's real."
Fat Cap magazine -You´re right, we shouldn't feel sorry for them. ;) But it got to be frustrating, no matter how much you´re paid to be a yes man to see what you believe in go straight to the recycle bin. Anyway,so what in your opinion should be their next move to break this bad cycle?
Magnificent Ruffians "Man, that is the million dollar question right here. What can they do? They can stop fronting for one. Second, they can invest some of there money back into the hood. Create some jobs for the people who support them. It's never too late to make a change for the better. Help someone with you connections and wealth. If you’re not helping someone else besides yourself then you’re really not worth a dam."
Magnificent Ruffians “In the immortal words of Immortal Technique, “Pick up a book and read Niggaz, READ”. Lol. But if they don’t read then we have another way to let them know. We will bang it in our music so they can hear it instead.”
-^Nothin New^ "Nixxxs are biters,you hire ghostwriters so the boss is not you,so the verses is not true ...that nothing new.... I´m tired of this fake shit, we´re going to break the Matrix and make sure the wak shit dont make it"
Fat Cap magazine -Songwriters has existed probably as long as music has been around. But for most in Hip Hop circles this is a tabu. Speak on it ;)
Magnificent Ruffians "Your right again, it is tabu! lol. Why? I think because in Hip Hop we put so much effort and energy and creativity into our lyrics that it is almost disrespect in insinuate that we need help from another rapper. A real emcee feels that if they are not good enough then they will just get better. You don't ask another emcee for his help. You practice until you feel you are at the level you want to be at. But when you don't have love for the art, you can bring yourself to just pay another rapper for his talents instead of mastering your own."
Fat Cap magazine -I feel you. But lets take two recent publicly known examples. Paris entirely wrote and produced Public Enemies "Rebirth Of A Nation" and Snoop had a whole team to write his last two efforts. These artists got a voice that wants to be heard,but for some reason needs help to put words to them. Is this necessary wrong as long as long they´re publicly open about it?
Magnificent Ruffians "Is it wrong, no. But is it wak, YES! ha ha. So what if they are open about it. That just means they are openly wack. It's kind of like plagiarism. If someone is reading a book, they naturally assume and feel as if the author is the one who wrote it and is speaking to them. Imagine reading a famous series of books like Harry Potter and finding out that Stephen King wrote them. It changes the whole feel about it doesn't it? lol."
Fat Cap magazine -More like performs than artists, more a brand so to speak. At the same time breaking one of the unwritten laws of Hip Hop.
Fat Cap magazine -There´s speculations that some of these beefs is staged ?
Magnificent Ruffians “Yes, I would not doubt it. It’s all just entertainment at this point. None of these rappers are really murdering anyone. TuPac and Biggie was the last real beef I can recall. And you see how they both ended up. Beef is real and it never ends up on a good note. In fact, it only ends when someone gets shot. Also, it’s never the rapper talking about the beef who does the dumping. It always ends up being there big homie or there bodyguard. Today its all a plot to sell records.”
Magnificent Ruffians "I think it is because ultimately, the powers that be don't give a dam about rap, or rappers, or Hip Hop, or emcees, or anything that actually can help bring profit to someone from the hood. We are in the hood because that is where they want us. If we all became Jay Z's then we would have the money and resourses to make real change. I don't mean diamonds in our watch or neckless, I mean sending our kids to better schools. I mean owning a home instead of renting. Real change that can be past down to the next generation. A dead rapper is like cutting off that lifeline to whatever family that artist was taking care of."
Fat Cap magazine -That´s some conspiracy shit right there, but I think you´re onto something ;)
Magnificent Ruffians 'I feel you homie. It's real shit. I think that is why they like to promote and sign rappers who talk that gun talk and killing. That just makes for a more thugish personality and more of a chance that they will end up dead or in jail. Look at Gucci Mane, T.I, and Lil Wayne. All locked up over some dumb shit."
Fat Cap magazine -I have this theory that part of was supposed to be art imitating life became life imitating art. Any thoughts about that?
Magnificent Ruffians “Very true! These rappers put the mask on to fool the public and make there money. But before they know it, the mask is actually part of there face and they can no longer tell the difference.”
-^Just a matter of time^ “Let the truth be told. We’re so ready to blow. Just a matter of time … we done this too long.”
Magnificent Ruffians “Word up! Just A Matter of time! One of my favorite songs. Do we want a deal? I would be lying if I said no. Hell yeah we want a deal. But at what price? We have made it this far on our own and we are still growing. With every passing year we get more and more love and respect. At the end of the day it’s not about the money and the jewels and the cars and the girls that a big budget deal can bring you. It’s about being happy with yourself and handling your business.”
Fat Cap magazine -That said, on what label do you see yourself comfortable in todays climate?
