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CLICK PLAY ON ANY ARTIST....SPA IS SMOKIN!!! CLICK HIS NEW TRACK JUST ADDED!!!

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Check out Spa..The dude with the Mic in his hand...NEW TRACK JUST ADDED!!!

In My Ear: Jay-Z

(OPRAH.com) -- At 13 he was selling crack. By 30 he was a hip-hop legend -- having gone, in his words, "from grams to Grammys."
Jay-Z tells Oprah Winfrey a conversation with his father freed him "one hundred percent."

Now Jay-Z charts his escape from the hard-knock life, describes the reunion that healed the wounds of his childhood -- and even reveals his personal creed.

The rapper, now 39, was born Shawn Carter in Brooklyn, New York. His albums include "Reasonable Doubt," "The Black Album" and the just-released "The Blueprint 3." Jay-Z also owns a portion of the NBA's New Jersey Nets and founded, with Damon Dash, the clothing line Rocawear.

Jay-Z spoke with Oprah Winfrey about his father, his anger and his old life. The following is an edited version of the interview.

Oprah Winfrey: When you were 5, your family moved to the Marcy projects -- and then your father left when you were 11. When you look back at that, what did your 11-year-old self feel?

Jay-Z: Anger. At the whole situation. Because when you're growing up, your dad is your superhero. Once you've let yourself fall that in love with someone, once you put him on such a high pedestal and he lets you down, you never want to experience that pain again.

So I remember just being really quiet and really cold. Never wanting to let myself get close to someone like that again. I carried that feeling throughout my life, until my father and I met up before he died.

Oprah: Wow. I've never heard a man phrase it that way. You know, I've done many shows about divorce, and the real crime is when the kids aren't told. They just wake up one day and their dad is gone. Did that happen to you?

Jay-Z: We were told our parents would separate, but the reasons weren't explained. My mom prepared us more than he did. I don't think he was ready for that level of discussion and emotion. He was a guy who was pretty detached from his feelings.

Oprah: Did you wonder why he left?

Jay-Z: I summed it up that they weren't getting along. There was a lot of arguing.

Oprah: And did you know you were angry?

Jay-Z: Yeah. I also felt protective of my mom. I remember telling her, "Don't worry, when I get big, I'm going to take care of this." I felt like I had to step up. I was 11 years old, right? But I felt I had to make the situation better.

Oprah: How did that change you?

Jay-Z: It made me not express my feelings as much. I was already a shy kid, and it made me a little reclusive. But it also made me independent. And stronger. It was a weird juxtaposition.

Oprah: I've read that when you were 12, you shot your brother in the shoulder. Did your father's leaving have anything to do with that? Did it turn you into the kind of angry kid who would end up shooting his brother?

Jay-Z: Yes -- and my brother was dealing with a lot of demons.

Oprah: How old was he?

Jay-Z: About 16. He was doing a lot of drugs. He was taking stuff from our family. I was the youngest, but I felt like I needed to protect everybody.

Oprah: So how did you get back in touch with your father?

Jay-Z: My mom set up a meeting. And now I realize why -- it makes all the sense in the world. I remember very distinctly that I had a conversation with her in my kitchen. I was saying, "You know, Ma, I've really been trying to look inward, and maybe I'm just not meant to fall in love like other people do." She just looked at me like, "Hush up, boy."

Oprah: Wow.

Jay-Z: And I guess from that point, she figured out what was wrong with me, and she planned a meeting between me and my father. I was like, "Ma, I'm a grown man. I don't need a dad now."

Oprah: You didn't feel a hole in your soul?

Jay-Z: I never looked at that. I guess I didn't want to deal with it. Because, you know, once I looked, I'd have to do something about it. And I guess I still had too much resentment and anger.

Oprah: In one of your songs, you wrote that you weren't sure if your father even remembered your birthday is in December.

Jay-Z: I believed that. When I was a kid, I once waited for him on a bench. He never showed up. Even as an adult, that affected me. So when my mom set up this meeting, I told her he wouldn't come -- and the first time, he didn't. At that point, I was really done, but Mom pushed for another meeting, because she's just a beautiful soul.

Oprah: The second time, your father showed up.

Jay-Z: He showed up. And I gave him the real conversation. I told him how I felt the day he left. He was saying stuff like "Man, you knew where I was." I'm like, "I was a kid! Do you realize how wrong you were? It was your responsibility to see me." He finally accepted that.

Oprah: Where had he been?

Jay-Z: At his mom's house 10 minutes away from me. That was the sad part.

Oprah: Was there any explanation he could have offered that would have satisfied you?

Jay-Z: Yes -- and that's why we were able to mend our relationship.

Oprah: What was his reason?

Jay-Z: When I was 9, my dad's brother got stabbed, and my dad went looking for the guy who did it. People would call in the middle of the night and tell him, "So-and-so is out here." So my dad would get up, get his gun, and go outside to look for the guy. After a while, my mom was like, "Hey, this is your family now. You can't do that." But this was my dad's baby brother. And my dad was in so much pain that he started using drugs and became a different person. So I understand that the trauma of the event, coupled with the drugs, caused him to lose his soul.

Oprah: When you saw him again, had he come back to himself?

Jay-Z: He was broken. He had a bad liver, and he knew that if he continued drinking, it would kill him. But he didn't stop.

Oprah: How soon after you saw him did he die?

Jay-Z: A couple of months. I got him an apartment, I was buying furniture. And he passed away.

Oprah: Did you instantly make peace with him during that conversation?

Jay-Z: Pretty much. I felt lighter.

Oprah: The conversation freed you in ways that you hadn't been free before?

Jay-Z: One hundred percent.

Oprah: Did it open the door for you to have a life with love in it?

Jay-Z: Absolutely.

Oprah: So what's your personal creed?

Jay-Z: Be true to yourself -- and keep things simple. People complicate things.

Oprah: My creed is that intention creates reality.

Jay-Z: Now I'm having an aha moment! That's true.

OPRAH.com: The top 20 things Oprah knows for sure

Oprah: What's the basis of your spiritual belief?

Jay-Z: I believe in karma: What you do to others comes back to you.

Oprah: But don't you think we're responsible only for what we know? Otherwise, you'd be facing karma for every person you sold drugs to.

Jay-Z: As a kid, I didn't know any better. But now, if I were to act as if what I did wasn't bad, that would be irresponsible. And I'd have to bear the weight of that.

Oprah: Maya Angelou always says, "When you know better, you do better." Do you still think back on that time in your life?

Jay-Z: All the time. When you make music, you're constantly on the psychiatrist's couch, so to speak. That's an outlet for me. Because I'm not normally a talkative person. I don't have conversations like this for no reason.

In my Ear: Violence

An interesting interview with Treach from Naughty By Nature about the recent rise of viloence in Newark, NJ.



Treach brings up many interesting aspects. The main point that caught my ear was the vacancy of rules/codes of the street. Treach is doing great things by promoting peace. I believe the loss of rules comes from the lack of responsibility from the current role models/veterans of the game.

If we take a look at who the veterans are... they are the same people who were the heart of "Gangsta" Rap and "Reality" Rap. But where have they gone with their lives? With few exceptions, many of the artists had their fame and moved on. This is fine; except words are powerful and the words these "Gangsta's" were rapping were in negative light. Whether they were speaking truths or narrating creative scenarios; there is a certain level of responsibility that must be followed. These artists were kept in check by their elders; but seem to be spiteful for it. Subsequently, I feel these artists are not stepping into place to keep current; young artists in line.

This has a spiraling effect downward through society. Though the music seems to be more in a party and swagga theme... the young artists seem to want to prove they are hard. It seems as if there is a mystique to the hardcore gangsta rap of the early 90's. These artists want to live up to the hype of Onyx, NWA, and Naughty By Natue. The thing is, the new artists have no clue what these veterans lives were like. This is were the rules and codes of the street got lost. Its a new generation of violent crimes.

To me, street crimes have lost their integrity; and this violence is an outpouring of broken tradition. Then again, the generation before mine probably reiterated similar statements twenty years ago. A cycle that is sure to repeat... hopefully weakening the presence of street violence with every generation the passes; but till then do your part.. respect yourself by respecting others.

Featured Music: Shameless Plug

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Featured Artist: Shameless Plug

Stage Name: shameless plug

Real Name: phameless slug
Age: 3,282
Hometown: hopatcong, nj
Website: http://myspace.com/shamelessplug

Shameless Plug is a Renaissance Man. His style ranges so far in each direction; its as if he has a split personality similar to Jekle & Hyde. This man bangs a true underground flow then releases us with with a serenade of vocal genius that can only be described as angelic. It was destiny how this artist seemed to trip and fall; landing in the center of hip hop. Maturing his character as he grows with the music, Shameless can be found everywhere. He grinds his solo work, pushes through with killer collabs, and rocking with his band; The Yes Yes Yalls. Take a trip into Shamless' music and you can find yourself joyously lost for days. Pay attention to his intricate structures and rhyme schemes... and don't forget... YEAH thats him singing too!

Q&A

How did you come up with your stage name?  

it just fit.

Has it always been this name? If not; what were some earlier names? 

my first name ever was manatarms. like the he-man character. i just thought it was cool. then it was apathy. then i found out there was somebody named apathy. then it was al sharp, which is the name of a song by the beta band. then i changed it to what it is now. recently i found out there's another al sharp. i doubt he named himself after that song tho.

What got you into being an emcee? 

the music i listened to and the company i kept growin up.

When did you spit your first rhyme? What was the topic? Do you remember and pieces of it? 

ages ago. wish i could remember how old i was. it was on some callin out fake thugs shit. cos there's a whole lotta them where i came up. i remember the first cipher i ever took part in. i was just standin there listenin and they thought i wanted to rap so they cued me in. i had never freestyled before and i only had that one verse written at the time so i spit it. one of the kids thought i was aimin it at him and proceeded to come back at me. it didn't go very well.

What is your inspiration?  

i write what i know.

At what point of your career do you feel you truly developed who you are as an artist; and what do you feel contributed to this? 

 it's just a constant rising up. i hope i always continue to develop and never peak. i'm never satisfied with anything really. and not just when it comes to music either. that prolly contributes more than anything else.

How many albums do you have and what are their names?  

there's two albums and an EP under the name the yes yes yalls, which is me as the vocalist (singing and rapping) and twoname jenkins, ryan gilligan and greg barbone as the producers. the names of those are 'boundaries', 'why, why, why?' and 'whinehouse'. then there's a handful of albums and EPs i'm on as part of a group called dumhi, which is all produced by a cat outta philly named haji rana pinya and features whoever the hell he happens to be workin with at the time. the ones i'm on are called 'vote dumhi', 'they call me bruce', '3 seats from heaven', 'flowers' and 'indian summer'. i only rap on those tho. no singin. haj won't let me sing. haha.

At this current moment; what is your favorite part of hip hop?  

the ability to take chances.

At this current moment; what do you hate about hip hop?  

the people that don't take those chances.

Best Emcee now: 

aesop rock. i swear he's actually some futuristic rap robot created by aliens from another galaxy.

Best Emcee 10 years ago: 

andre 3000. he's prolly my favorite of all time as well.

What do you hope people would say about you as an artist?  

he could do it all.

Worst Emcee now:

turn on your radio.

Worst Emcee 10 years ago:

see above answer.

Hardest part of hip hop for you?  

fitting in and being accepted by my contemporaries. i'm a bit of an oddball.

Best all around hip hop song ever...  

definitely somethin from the early-to-mid-nineties "golden age". i can't pick just one tho.

Finish these sentences:

Hip Hop should thank:  bob dylan.

When i write i:  pace back and forth and chainsmoke.

When you listen to my music:  you'll be reminded of a ton of different people.

In my music; i shock myself the most when:  i don't try too hard and it works anyway.

The track i am currently working on is: something very indie rockish with lots of layers and vocal effects. i'm going through a weird phase right now.

My favorite type of track is:  a dark, happy place.

---

What should we look forward to from you?  

whatever i feel like making. it'll be a little bit of everything.

upcoming shows?  

come to jersey. i do shows usually once or twice a week somewhere.  stuff comin up in new york and philly as well.

upcoming songs/albums?  

new yes yes yalls and dumhi albums coming soon. as well as a couple of mixtapes and an album with my man john blake. we're calling ourselves the nayno.

future collabs? 

somebody tell rick rubin and el-p to holler at me.

Anything else?  

plenty. stay tooned.

Featured Video: Jive The Universal

Jive The Universal - One Song at a Time

Check his site @: www.jivetheuniversal.com

As well as his studio, The Stiz,  featured in the video... www.thestiz.com

Featured Music: Jive The Universal

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Featured Music: Profyle

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Featured Artist: Profyle

Stage Name: Profyle
Age: 25
Hometown: NYC, NJ... Nomadic
Website: www.myspace.com/profyL3

From the beginning; fate, has directed Profyl3 down every path... an artist who doesn't claim a hometown because he is on the constant move wherever the wind blows. He takes life as it comes and then turns his emotions to rhyme. A true emcee who speaks only truth and mixes his honesty with the most intriguing punch-lines and metaphors.... his evolution of emcee-ing is a direct relation to his evolution to being a man. Traced even in his stage name. When "Pro" was younger his nick name was "Low Profile", but as he morphed into a man and broke his shell; he is now an outgoing spirit known simply as Profyl3...

Q&A

How did you come up with your stage name?
Has it always been this name?
If not; what were some earlier names?

The name was actually given to me prior to rhyming. During my first year of college I developed a stoic personality. I was known as that mysterious kid. I stayed rockin a fitted, brim low and my headphones on blaring. Thus I was dubbed low profile. After a while the name shortened and my personality changed. I'm a bit more social now..

What got you into being an emcee?

Fate. The story is long and one day ill explain it but for now know this. I didn't expect for this to happen. It just did.

When did you spit your first rhyme?

I was tipsy chillin wit friends. Someone started a cypha and my boy dared me to jump in. I did and its been a dominoe effect since then.

What was the topic?

Oooo.. Wow. I dunno. I was kinda sorta drunk. But people were biggin me up after. So I guess it wasn't half bad.

What is your inspiration?

Music has always been an outlet for me and when I first started ryhmin I realized that this is the perfect way for me to channel my emotions. Since then what inspires me is a great beat. That beat that gets your mind racing with so many ideas that you just get anxious. All I wanna do is step in the booth and murder it.

At what point of your career do you feel you truly developed who you are as an artist, and what do you feel contributed to this?

Summer of 06. I was pretty much homeless so I was stayin at my boys crib for a few months. He introduced me to a rapper called buddhakai. Buddha was an older head who has had experience in the game and industry. He was truly one of the illest lyrical emcees I've eva encountered. I spit a 16 for him and he was impressed. He took me under his wing and we spent countless nights in the lab recording til 6am, then I had work at 7. That was a crazy summer. Now buddha had his own demons but brought out the best in me. That's just how he was. Selfless. He taught me so much and helped me develop my style and flow. Shout out to him.

How many albums do you have and what are their names?

I only have one Ep and its called Manifest Destiny. I have a few projects in the works.

At this current moment, what is your favorite part of hip hop?

The movement aspect of it and its elements which consists of the emcee, dj, graf head, and b-boy. Hip hop is more than just rap music. An avid hip hop head knows this but the majority of people now have forgotten. My girl put me up on the b-boy tip. I've gone to a few jams and I gotta say this, if your looking for hip-hop, all you need to do is go to one of these. Back to that one question of what inspires me. You can add that to the list.

At this current moment; what do you hate about hip hop?

I don't hate much. There are some things that I don't agree on, but why sit there hating and do nothing about it when I can just do me and love it.

Best Emcee now:

Eminem. Since he's been out he changed the game. He made it lyrical again. His last couple albums were not as great as his first 3 but I heard this freestyle he did on satelite radio.. He fuckin killed it. I was in shock cuz I hadn't heard him rhyme like this since 8 mile..haha. Also that nick cannon, mariah carrey diss was ill too. He ripped it. There are a list of emcees that I can continue on with who are underground but I don't wanna make this into a novel. Tho slaughterhouse is now one my favorite rap groups.

Best Emcee 10 years ago:

Big pun... Why you ask? No, not cause ima fellow puerto rock. But did you not hear Capital Punishment?!?!... Classic. Redman and Method man. Blackout was hot and since they just released the 2nd one, yea you can put them on as best emcees now also.

What do you hope people would say about you as an artist?

"Whoa, he's really good!!" "Did you just hear what he said?"

Worst Emcee now:

No comment

Worst Emcee 10 years ago:

I dunno.. Master p?

Hardest part of hip hop for you?

Getting heard. Even with the internet there's a lot of talent out there doing the exact same thing as I am. So trying to stick out I guess. But whateva, I just do me and make the music I love. Even if just just a handful of people recognize me and appreciate what I do, that's all I need.

Best all around hip hop song ever...

This is tough one.. Thanks mike for makin me think. @$$ hole.. Ummm.. Fu-gee-la by the fugees. Amazing album and great song. You can play that at a club and people will go ape shit. Also just lay back and kick it. All around song.

Finish these sentences:

Hip Hop should thank: I don't think hip hop should thank anything. I think we should be thanking hip hop for even existing.

When I write I: transfer words into energy.

When you listen to my music: pay attention!!

In my music: I try to grasp the listener and help them escape from there daily lives.

The track i am currently working on: its untitled. And in the works. Still needs a hook. Its featuring nolo smart. Another good artist. We each have two verses in it.

My favorite type of track is: An epic one

--

What should we look forward to from you?

Just keep your eyes and ears peeled.

upcoming shows?

Soon

upcoming songs/albums?

I'm working on a mixtape entitled and an album. Dates and names will be given later in time.
future collabs? I'm down to work with anyone as long as they have talent and do not waste my time.

Anything else?

U rock Mike.

In My Ear: Jay-Z "Reminder

Jay-Z is at it again... This track is Hott... Got the flow, got the lyrics, got confidence...and a catchy hook...
Jay goes off..."joggin your memory" of why he is on top of this game.... not much to say..song speaks for itself.. Click the play button and enjoy!


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Featured Artist: Spa

Stage Name: Spa
Real Name: RJ
Hometown - Hackettstown, NJ
http://www.myspace.com/spathegod

Since a youth, Spa, explored tape-decks and radio stations for music... not just any music; but great music. From day one; Hip Hop became his love. Competitive spirit and the idea of being the best; combine to create what Spa considers "the game; the sport" of hip hop. Which was the most intriguing part to him then... and continues to be his favorite part now. Spa considers his introduction as an emcee; a natural progression of his love for Hip Hop. He spit his first rhyme over one of his favorite beats: "1,2,3" from the Lost Boyz' Legal Drug Money album. Spa develops with every song and every verse; a true perfectionist. His search for perfection within himself is directly related to his love for great music... Spa holds high standards for not only music in general... but also applies these standards to his own work within the booth.

Q&A

How did you come up with your stage name?

a few people take claim to the creation of the name Spa, but basically I had a headband that said the word spa on it (it was a promotional headband from the brand of water called "spa") and the name kinda stuck from there...

Has it always been this name? If not; what were some earlier names?

I think I was gonna use Avalanche at first, lol

How many albums do you have and what are their names?

I have dropped 2 complete mixtapes, first one called The Mixtape which I go in on and really let people know the lyrics are real... then came Stop The Presses which was more serious and I recently released an album with my boy MCMF called NJ Transit which we are really pleased with and we have gotten some great feedback on. My album Raise Your Glass has been a career in the making and is finally almost done.

At this current moment; what is your favorite part of hip hop?

same as always, competitive spirit of, it's the game, the sport, the idea of being one of the best... lotta diversity now too, so many types of hip-hop.

At this current moment; what do you hate about hip hop?

fickle fan base

Best Emcee now: (and why)

I'd say Slaughterhouse as a whole lyrically is the illest right now, Royce Da 5'9 specifically is so dope Bar Exam 2 should be used as a guide on how to rap, Joell Ortiz shit is nasty as hell too...

Best Emcee 10 years ago: (and why)

Jigga hands down, I think he still may be but he takes verses off now to make complete songs, D.O.A. was a hot song but the lyrics are just okay, some tracks he is more concerned with riding the beat...

What do you hope people would say about you as an artist?

that I make good music

Worst Emcee now: (and why)

if someones wack I probably don't listen to them, I always wonder how that Baby Bash dude ends up getting songs on the radio

Worst Emcee 10 years ago: (and why)

no idea

Hardest part of hip hop for you?

trying not to DL everything!

Best all around hip hop song ever...

this is basically impossible, "electric relaxation" by Tribe

Finish these sentences:

Hip Hop should thank: the pioneers of course

When I write I: get frustrated

When you listen to my music: you will never say "that line was wack"

The track i am currently working on is: I'm workin on a whole album, Raise Your Glass, whole album is based around the theme of living life to the fullest, celebrating each day

My favorite type of track is: a primo beat!
---
What should we look forward to from you?

a classic album

upcoming shows?

hopefully soon

upcoming songs/albums?

Raise Your Glass hoping to have it out by September, if not around Thanksgiving

Future collabs?

real excited about a track I did with my boy Praverb from VA dude has worked with some real good artists and we made a classic track called "Soundtrack" with my boy Jive on it as well...