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- » Location: BROOKLYN, New York
- » Member Since: 04/23/07
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- » Hotter Than July, Stevie Wonder!
- » The Secret: Rhyme & Reason
- » March on Washington...
- » The Clipse, The Wire, Black Presidents and ... Sha Stimuli!
- » Rhyme and Reason
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9/11 • best lyricist • brooklyn • deal music • distraction music • dreams • entertainment industry • hip hop • mixtape • n-word • papoose • racism • rap • saigon • say something • sha stimuli • stack bundles • stimuli • the clipse • the juice crew • the underground music awards • the wire • tip • uma • wrap up
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Hotter Than July, Stevie Wonder!
I honestly started writing this entry about 3 weeks ago, I never finished and I kept coming back to it and changing it because the things I was talking about didn’t make any sense after awhile. I finally decided to finish today regardless of what the hell I ramble about. I was supposed to talk about my video, a show I did, Young Buck’s phone call, G-Unit’s sales compared to Lil Wayne’s, Jesse Jackson’s haterism and a whole bunch of other crap but I don’t even have the attention span to write it so I don’t expect anyone to sit and read it. This will be part one of my Hotter Than July entry, next time I’ll go more into depth about the CD.
I just signed a deal to do a digital EP, which is a six song release for those that don’t know. That is supposed to serve as one of my joints for this year so I have to map that out because I will need y'all to support for real…like buying it. I have a few labels urging me to stop the mixtape run for fear that if they sign me that consumers will be confused and feel like I'm too accessible. Wayne was able to create enough anticipation for his album to sell "A Millie" in the 1st week all because people believe in him and respect his talent. He overexposed himself and actually became a better rapper then made hot records. He even did a song that made 700 other rappers jump on the beat to attempt to outdo him and each other. Who killed the Millie beat the most? That's what I've been hearing the last few weeks. I don't know how I managed to stay away from it. In one sense, hip-hop isn't dead, Wayne sold records! Yay! In another sense the rest of the game is trying to sound like each other, the labels are losing money and artists such as myself have been deemed "up and coming" for like forever. Congrats to Maino for breaking through with a record that is catchy and relevant.
I think there are too many rules for rap guys nowadays. I hear the phrase "you gotta do" a little too much. I heard a Joe Budden song called "Who" and he's really goin’ in about what killed hip-hop. I think it’s a crazy introspective record that captures a lot of what we talk about when a bunch of us former hip-hop lovers get together. The only crazy thing is that I'm so exhausted talking about what's wrong I don't know if it’s wrong anymore. When I did the song, “Is it me?” (see NY State of Mine) I did the same thing. I spoke on the ills and blatant flaws in the industry, called names and made light of it all. The term hater has made anyone with an opinion feel like...well...a hater.
I've said this before, if you don't like Kobe Bryant then that's your opinion but if you say he's wack then that's just not factual. The same doesn't really work for music. I can put words together, switch flows, make records that move people and still be considered wack whether I sell records or not.
I heard Fab was on the radio calling out NY rappers or saying NY fell off or something like that. Every interview they ask about the state of hip-hop and I'm supposed to give some profound answer about what we need to do to get back to ‘94 or ‘96 or even ‘99. The most frightening thing is that my time machine is broken and I did a mixtape called NY State of Mine 2 years ago that touched on all of that stuff. What I mean is we can't go backwards and as much as I miss the days when I anticipated albums and radio had diversity and labels weren't focused on selling records fast and hit singles, the reality is things are just different. We are a very complex genre based on authenticity and street credibility yet we praise exaggeration on records and unrealistic portrayal of life in videos. Was it ever all good? Did we not know we were in Eden when we could choose between NWA, Public Enemy, 2 Live Crew and MC Hammer? When DMX went platinum crying on stage bareback with no jewelry barking and toured with the jersey rocking, flossing Jay-Z was that a paradise we will never be graced with again? What's the difference between "It Takes Two" and "This is Why I'm Hot" or Soulja boy and the Humpty Dance? And here we are again, another blog about what's wrong or maybe not. Maybe I'm confused with trying not to be a hater so badly that I can't even enjoy what's right with the game. I can't even appreciate the fact that I can email label execs and send 6 records or reach out to DJs from my computer and give out my myspace page info like it’s a demo in 2008. myspace.com/shastimuli for Hotter Than July my tribute to Stevie Wonder by the way.
Some people are asking me what happened to the June release and I started to feel like folks were getting real comfy with this CD dropping thing like they either want to see me fail or they think it’s simple. Although most of those questions sounded like the former than the latter I'm not mad at people for being concerned. I am taking my time with this Stevie CD, I kind of wanted to do a double CD but I don’t like too many of those double things. So I may do another volume if some producers want to submit Stevie joints to flatbushbk@gmail.com. Or if you have ideas for another project let me know. Technically if I sign another deal and they try to halt the releases I will still do what I have to do to keep my word. Oh and stop worrying about what CD goes with what month, you will get 12 before the year is over and I will never do another mixtape again. Vote for the best male rapper at the Underground Music Awards at www.hiphoppalace.ning.com but don’t go unless you vote for me, you can vote every day and if I win, you win money. That’s not true but the Lord will shine on you…for real, I spoke to Him, go vote…now.
The Secret: Rhyme & Reason
Today I am in Miami, Florida writing this entry. For the last few days I've been “Sherod” hanging out with my family. For those of you that don't know I was born and raised in New York but my entire family is in Georgia and Florida. On May 14th, I was in the middle of shooting a video for my song "Left Lane" off The Secret [click to listen] when my mother called me crying telling me that her mother passed. I tried to continue to shoot but I eventually just sat down in a reflective, confused mode for the rest of the evening. My brother spent most of his childhood out there in Miami and neither of us saw this coming.
I'm not writing this to be a downer or make an excuse for not having a new CD out yet but I always said I would use words to vent and I wouldn't fear vulnerability as an artist so here I am. I got a lot from this trip that is hard to put in words. I focus so much on “Stimuli” sometimes that I forget there's a whole bunch of people related to me that couldn't care less about my superhero persona but they just want to see me succeed. I often feel like family members will be here forever. I think about losing a grandmother but my mother lost a mother. People always say they don't enjoy funerals but I don't think any of us do the dance of joy while throwing on that black gear to celebrate someone's home going. I guess it’s sort of like the opposite of going to a comedy show. You know you're going to laugh at some point, at a funeral you know you're bound to cry. I don't think anyone welcomes that feeling.
When I wrote "Live like I'm Dying" I thought about the end of it all. I wanted to yell to people the same way the dude from the movie Saw tried to get his point across. Appreciate life, live every day like your last because you never know. I think it came off more like I'm better than you but I referenced things like skydiving, hand gliding, sitting front row or first class and just living and imagining your last days doing things you would never do if you knew you had all the time in the world. I wanted The Secret to be a mix between uplifting verses and egotistical banter. I don't think I achieved the balance but songs like "Bentley" featuring Torae [click to listen] are a good mixture of both. I used cars as a metaphor for making it. I talked to the youth on "We Can Make It" after visiting schools and seeing how far we have to go with out next generation. It’s not that kids today aren’t smart it’s just they have a bunch of obstacles that we didn’t have. Reality TV, the internet and advanced communication technology are beautiful things but in some instances it makes kids a lot lazier from what I’ve seen. I’m sure the generation before us said the same thing about cable, beepers and call waiting but who knows? I just speak from what I see.
I wanted The Secret to let folks know that not only are there people out there that have it worse than you but if you expect good things then they will come to you. I never imagined I would be in this place I am in now until I started to claim it. For the first time ever I spoke about my situation with Virgin and Def Jam on record in the song “Right Now.” Other times I beat around the bush but I never said Jay’s name or let folks know what really happened. I’m kind of at peace with it all now and I have called forth success after going thru a political bind. Some of you may not know what I’m talking about but I was on one label, was supposed to go to another and ended up being stuck in limbo for 2 years. Ironically "Not Gon Cry" is one of those joints where I proclaim that no matter what I'm going thru it isn't bad enough to bring me to tears. I'll try to remember that. That song was supposed to go on an album of mine because I thought the pictures I painted needed to be seen by the masses. "Life throws a lot of curves that you really don't expect/like you facing incarceration a tumor made your mother a patient/you shot somebody now they want you erased and you go to church thinking that you in the sacredest place but you still afraid if you die maybe Satan'll take you."
It amazes how the people at church really fear hell. I often wonder if their praise is really a Love of God or a fear of eternal damnation. That’s another story though. So May is winding down, I am truthfully drained and my fans and haters are looking at me asking what’s next? DJ Victorious and I both decided that March’s CD had such an impact that it could’ve rode out for the year. The Secret features some records on there that can knock out some people’s LPs for real. With that said we decided to give your ears and our brains a concept break and deliver verses from songs that I have done with other formidable emcees. Some things you may have heard, some are brand new, most are fire, some are just good, the important thing is I’ve done a lot and I have a catalog most may not be aware of. Here’s your chance to catch up. I want to call it While you were Sleeping, Victorious wants to call it Featuring Sha Stimuli, one of us will win and next week you’ll have it someway or another. Please check out my video for “LOOK AT YOU” directed by Tee Smif [click to watch]. There are more videos to come so please stay tuned. And we also have a surprise for June dedicated to a legend. Stay with me.
March on Washington...
I wrote this whole entry a few days ago before the verdict came in on the NYPD officers that murdered Sean Bell. For those of you that don’t know, three of the detectives involved in the 50 shot slaying of the groom to be on November 25th, 2006 were acquitted on all charges. This kind of messed up my mood this morning and has me feeling like we need another “March on…” something CD or some riot music maybe. I’m still going to send what I wrote but keep in mind I feel like ranting about police brutality and the fact that we can lock people up for abusing dogs and evading taxes but you can kill an unarmed man and walk away with being demoted to a desk job. At least I touched on that on my last disc, check out “Murder Me” featuring A-Alikes, Immortal Technique and Steele if you haven’t already or if you’re in a “f--k the police” mood. Oh well, I guess I still owe y'all some explanation to some of the March songs anyway.
Here’s a bright side though, if you pick up the latest issue of Essence magazine with Laila Ali on the cover you may see one of your favorite rappers in there talking about relationships and crap like that. I guess when you drop a CD entitled Love Jones folks think you're an expert. Let's move on...with April almost done I decided to ride out this March on Washington CD until the wheels fell off. I think I pushed myself to a place I didn't know I could go. I listened to “Back of the Bus” the other day and I remembered I really wrote that song on the bus. I wasn't in the back but I was in the middle and I don't remember what sparked it but I wrote it without a beat and I just started thinking about being on the bus during the civil rights movement in the 60s. I was wondering if I would’ve had enough heart to get arrested for breaking an unjust law. We'll never know but I did end up being enlightened in that song and acknowledging my growth by the time I got off the bus. I went from not giving a damn about Rosa Parks on the song to watching the movie "Boycott" and seeing how foolish I sounded. I still don't know if I'm voting but I got a lot of folks talking since hearing "My Life" and "Say Something".
“My Life” touches on the North American Union and Obama's chances of winning and surviving. People ask me for more info about some of things I spoke on and I tell them to research it. I just throw the words out there and let others take their stance on it. I owe some of my supporters of the Say Something project that I started last year. I will still put that CD out but first before I put others on I had to establish myself as an artist who says something. On that record, which has about 60 more bars that didn't make it; I talk about radio not allowing a balance with messages we hear, the unfair judicial system, the fact that rap artists are afraid to be themselves and most importantly the school system.
I went to Mahalia Jackson junior high school in Brooklyn a few weeks ago to speak to kids for career day and it was a surreal experience. I went from class to class giving them my story, telling them I went to college, trying to get them to figure out percentages of recording budgets and giving them insight on being an artist on and off of a major label. Mostly they wanted to know if I knew Chris Brown, if I would rap for them and if you had to be hard to be a rapper. With all that said I enjoyed being able to speak to the 7th and 8th graders but I just wish I was more popular so that my words might’ve stuck. I foreshadowed this whole trip on "To Whom It May Concern" from the March on Washington CD. In my 1st verse I read a letter from a kid at a school I visited that was affected by my words. I actually got one of those messages on myspace and it let me know I'm moving in the right direction. I tried to cover so much on this CD that I had to do a verse about what I couldn't cover. I assumed the role of a critic and confronted myself on the 3rd verse of that same record "You got these online bloggers/hit me wit a message that my music was nonsense/He said Sha u pretend that u conscious/then you make songs about killing’ and being heartless/Then you try to spit for the chicks/now you wanna drop every month like a bitch/how about talking bout real life shit? /March on Washington? You better touch topics nigga talk about the unfair healthcare that we get/speak about the poor getting poorer to help the rich/police brutality, the foster care system/the civil rights movement, the overcrowded prisons"
So what I quoted myself, you get the idea. I know it’s hard to please all listeners and that gave me the idea to explore the politics of rap when I made "Oh Yeah" produced by Astronote from France. I sit around and listen to people telling me what I need to do all the time. Its kind of funny to hear folks say I need to get into beef or I need one hot single or one crazy beat or to slow my flow down but still spit crazy then make something for the clubs but don't make it sound like its for the clubs....I would go crazy if I really tried to please the world. I know there's plenty of artists that go through the issue of trying to breakthrough to radio or mainstream and are misguided. I however am done trying to do anything so all I do is make music about what I see and hear. I keep thinking about those kids and wishing I could’ve made a better impression than just rapping and promoting myself or sounding like some old head rap has been that's trying to deter them from chasing their dream. Luckily MTV2's sucka freestyle gave me some validity. The reality is that a bunch of them wanted to become artists or producers but had no clue about what it takes or what they need to know.
I honestly feel like stopping this CD run after this month. Maybe because I have so many ideas, I don't know what's next or probably because business wise I have to make some major decisions real soon about a label to call home or whether I'm just gonna ride these CD releases into retirement. All of the mixed emotions keep me writing so I will continue. For hard copies, my supporters can go to myspace.com/shastimuli. Check out my new page, leave a comment, buy some music, download some music, bootleg it, whatever. April 29th The Secret is supposed to drop hopefully. Stay tuned for The Séance, The Present, something dedicated to Stevie; an EP and maybe a 21 Questions joint oh I think imma do part 2 to the Love Jones called The Breakup. I'm just having fun with this shit. Sue me
-The Present
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SHASTIMULI
The Clipse, The Wire, Black Presidents and ... Sha Stimuli!
So this monthly CD thing I'm doing is getting more and more interesting. I was out in Atlanta for the A3C festival, well I was really just in ATL and happened to have a VIP pass so I went to the festival. The correlation between those 2 sentences is I was out there and my artwork wasn't finished yet so I was kind of worried I wouldn't have the “March on Washington" out before March ended. But it all worked out, thanks Precise and Victorious, wait let me rewind a little bit.
I had a show in New York on March 18th at SOBs for the Hot 97FM who's next showcase hosted by Peter Rosenberg with Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Consequence and Teyana Taylor too. For those that don't know I got in this game thru Masta Ace waaaaay back in the days on his Slaughtahouse album with my brother Lord Digga. I was the little kid voice on “Ain't U da Masta” and “Crazy Drunken Style” and so what you don't care but it meant something to me. So yea I rapped at SOBs and stuff and people kinda dug it. Some songs went over gooder than others…yea gooder. Block McCloud joined me for the “My Life” song and we killed that one. A bunch of folks came up to me and said I was hot and they enjoyed the show and they could’ve been lying but that's a good lie. Like if someone plays u a song and asks u if it’s hot and u say "yea" but in a high pitched voice that's a good lie. And it might even be true 'cause some songs are hot, just not to anyone that knows music. Where was I again? Oh yea Hot 97 showcase, good turnout, program director liked me, radio rotation on the way, or another good lie maybe.
So yea fast forward to ATL and I'm at the Loft watching the Juice Crew. Shout to Don DiNapoli for getting me in and I finally got to meet Shake aka Joel Zela from this little website hiphopdx.com. They're pretty cool, they play my stuff and let me blab on my blog and what's even bigger than that, they gave me a free t-shirt. HipHopDXx rules. So I got to see the Juice Crew, Craig G, another dude I used to be around when I was a kid, Roxanne Shanté, who apparently still has battle rhymes dissing Queen Latifah (I think we know who won that war), MC Shan who still looks like 1987 (that's neither good nor bad) and Biz Markie who taught me the most valuable stage show lesson: if u forget your words just say blah blah blah, ask the crowd to help and say "I wrote this 15 years ago". So next time I have a show and I forget a word I'm gonna try that. And if someone hates on me or says I'm unprofessional I'll say "I wrote that 15 years ago man."
The next night The Clipse performed and I'm a fan so I went to check em out. Before they got on I went to J Hatch's beat battle in the other room and my dude called me to the stage to do my joint "Look at U" acapella. I was surprised and excited that people knew me and felt me enough to let me get away with that. Thanks Hatch! Then I asked my dude Torae for his backstage pass to holla at The Clipse because he was one of the performers out there(Torae's hollywood now), he said “naaah man I don't want u to bug the artists that are here to get on. Do you know The Clipse?” I said "Well I heard Pusha likes my music." Torae said "word?" but like a sarcastic “word?” Then a few minutes later The Clipse are on stage and Pusha T sees me in the front and sorta like pauses the show to shout me out and give me a pound. He said something like "Stimuli in the building, u be spittin' that shit my nigga" or something like that. It wasn't as big as when Janet Jackson said "excuse me" to me in a crowded room at a club when I stepped on her foot but it was close. I'm going backwards.
Did I ever mention The Wire finale show? Damn I miss that show, best show ever. I could write a whole thesis paper on that shit but yea I'm drifting.
So umm “March on Washington” is available on the net [click to listen...], hopefully some of y’all downloaded it and checked it out. If you're wondering why I did it I'm not sure if it was when I did “The N Word song” that sparked it or all this talk about thee election this year. It may have been the fact I feel like I have a responsibility to talk about what's going on in the world. No I remember now, this started way back when I had an argument about voting and I was adamant about saying I didn't know if my vote counted, how it factored in what goes on in the world and if one elected official makes a difference in this nation or my life. At that time I couldn't conceive a Black president in my lifetime and I have to say it has switched my position slightly. I still believe my vote has little to do with what happens with our government because I don't know much about popular votes in relation to the Electoral College. And our government doesn't have much to do with how I govern my life. Maybe because I don't pay taxes and crap, but that's neither here nor there. I have taken somewhat of an interest in the policies of the candidates and what relates to me and those around me.
The idea of a Black president represents a lot of change and shit too. I thought seeing one on the show “24” was the closest we would get. Anyway what kind of emcee would I be if I didn't touch on some things going on in our country? Long story short, I did this "March on Washington" CD not as some preachy, militant, beat you in the head music. But for those of you that don't know me I love provoking thought, and that’s what this disc is all about. It’s a little late since we’re already in April but I got another one coming. I may sound contradictory on a record because I'm representing my own ignorance and enlightenment within 3 verses. If you can't follow that listen to “The N Word song” and you can hear me dis Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement in one verse. I criticize White Americans for using the word and defend them at the same time and in the 3rd verse I actually stickup for the word myself and ask Jay-Z to help us all get rid of it. So yea I'm all over the place but like I said before I feel like I represent those folks out there that know what's going on in terms of social issues and thee election and the war but if you place a microphone in front of them they're going to tell you what affects them personally and they may really have no in depth knowledge of the truth unless they are avid CNN watchers.
I think I'm gonna save the rhyme and reason for next time and give a more in-depth breakdown ‘cause I'm starting to bore myself. I got some shows coming up at the Bowery Poetry club on Sunday April 13th, I think I'm gonna open up for KRS at Vassar college on the 19th but don't quote me on that. I also did a video for “The N Word song” in ATL with director Liquid Sunshine and I saw someone did one on youtube using The Boondocks with my song. Stuff like that is always hot to me. Download "March on Washington" and if u want hard copies go to myspace.com/shastimuli. Beats and features, flatbushbk@gmail.com. The Secret is next I believe…Maybe…I told u this stuff is interesting.
Rhyme and Reason
At the top of the year I put it out there that I was going to drop a CD every month for 2008. I didn’t factor in the fact that I was working on a major release and an independent because when you’re on a roll and you have so much built up music and thoughts you just tend to want to get it all out. So I challenged myself with something that seems sort of insane to most folks. So far, it’s been pretty fun writing and recording songs to a particular theme or mood and getting it out there to the people. 3 weeks ago I released the 2nd CD for the year entitled Love Jones with DJ Victorious, inspired by the film and things going on in my life in the past and present. The release party was a success, shout to everyone that came out and supported and those that helped make it go down beautifully. Musaic management, The Carnegie Group, Mister Fame, DJ Kaos and the press people that came out Spate magazine, Bronxrap.com, Protégé magazine…my dude Esso and of course all the lovely ladies that showed up…I have to thank you all.
So I have to admit that I was hesitant to throw this CD on websites, not only because I’m selling it on my myspace page but I have to say that music targeted towards females or simply about relationships didn’t seem like what hardcore online hip-hop fans would be interested in downloading and analyzing. However the responses I’ve been getting from males and females have been very encouraging. People ask me where I get the inspiration for a lot of these songs and if I went through all of this stuff I’m speaking on. Well I don’t normally do the rhyme and reason thing but I’m guessing that since I’m dropping every month I want you all to know that this isn’t some fly by night bunched together recordings. So if you haven’t been fortunate enough to hear this disc but you’re wondering what the hell would the 2007 UMA best lyricist award winner have to say about love without compromising his image I can give you a brief over view. This disc can be broken up into 3 categories: 1. Trying to get her. 2. Going thru it with her 3. Staying with her?
I think we’ve all been in situations where we see someone we may want to get at whether it be for a one night stand or for eternity. So I remixed Anthony Hamilton’s “Since I Seent U” and added a sincere verse about wanting to be everything to a young lady. Then on “Bounce” I’m in another scenario where I simply ask a woman I just met if I can take her home for the evening, crack a Guinness stout and break a Guinness record. We’ve all been there. Of course my braggadocios side comes out as I explain what I can do to her attacking “Every Angle” and I even sprinkle hate on a girl who already has a significant other on “Do What It Do”
The songs I get the most questions about are the ones that deal with the core of the relationships though. “My Only Girl” produced by Just Blaze talks about the thirst to be with one woman but having the feeling that the grass may be greener on the other side. This song speaks to a woman in a situation with a man that is trying his hardest to make her “the one” although she’s not what he sees as his perfect woman. Instead of letting her go though, he holds on just because he doesn’t want to see her go somewhere else and he thinks he can keep her as “wifey” because she’s been so loyal. He leads her on all the way to the altar, well almost. These are the everyday dealings that pushed me to put this music out. “Tight Ones” deals with a variation of that same topic of having a main girl but being faced with the temptation of different women and “Up and Down” touches on an obsession with the strip club and is familiar to any dude that has ever wished he had a lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets. This is real shit ladies and gentleman. From a dude faced with getting money in the streets hustling to a dude hustling in the booth with his love waiting at home are all real instances in life.
I even break down to my current girl (hypothetically) why it’s so hard for me to commit and that explanation contains blow by blow details about someone that hurt me in the past on “I Tried.” If you haven’t copped this CD yet but you identify with the things I’m saying maybe you should check it out, no pressure. Of course after all that mushy shit there had to be a paradigm shift for the month of March. So after recording my N Word song I guess the political bug bit me a little bit. Maybe it was doing a song for KRS-1’s Stop the Violence Movement CD and actually dropping a verse on one of the new versions of Self-Destruction that got me going in this direction. That was a monumental experience by the way to even be asked to be a part of a recreation of that record. So anyway I’ve never been concerned with elections, I mentioned that before. I still am not preachy about this whole politic thing or about social issues but I’ve been given this microphone thing for a reason and before I’m done rapping as a whole I wanted to let some things out. I felt like this CD every month thing is the perfect opportunity to say something. So prepare for a disc that isn’t militant or browbeating but I would label it moving and thought-provoking. I’ll break it down more next time about my inspiration for the records and why I thought this music is coming at a perfect time.
I know I'm forgetting to plug some things. Oh I’m performing at Clara Barton high school in New York City March 14th. Check out my article in the Urban Post newspaper, I think my mtv2 freestyle is officially a commercial now. Don’t be afraid to hit me on myspace and to all those producers that want to b heard and don’t mind getting some exposure that will turn into something big down the line, holla at me. Clams Casino, I got u! Congrats to my brother and his new addition to the family, I guess that’s my family too huh?
Black History Month, the Election, NY Giants, Mixtapes...
It’s black history month, the election is bigger than ever and the Giants just won the Superbowl. With all that said I will still find a way to plug my career and my new CD within this entry. For those fellow Giant fans out there, congrats. It’s been a long time coming for them and even if you’re not a fan you may still be able to identify with being an underdog in any situation. I must say I feel sorry for the Patriots after almost completing a perfect season. I don't think almost will ever have the same meaning to them. How do you regroup after a season like that? I know the feeling of coming close and I also know what its like to be an underdog.
The day after Super Tuesday I have to admit I have never been one to be too involved with politics. I know enough to consider myself informed and I remain ignorant enough to never feel dependent on an elected official to shape my life. That does not take away the importance of this election. I remember watching the TV series 24 and seeing an African-American president on the show and thinking we were decades away from America accepting such a drastic move. Here we are in 2008 and America is in a place where we have the power to elect Barack Obama as our next president. On one hand I listen to his speeches and can see that change is his motive and I actually believe him. On the other hand, I don't have enough of an opinion on the issues at hand to look to one man to affect my day-to-day life. I am aware that healthcare is big, teachers’ salaries should go up, college education is expensive as all hell, war is stupid and oil is a necessity but what I have no clue about is who really makes these decisions and will one human's occupation affect my path. All of this inspired my release in March which is entitled March On Washington. I will save this topic for next time.
I don't want to skip February so to briefly sum it up, I was inspired by relationships around me, past, present and those I hear about to bring you a CD mixed by DJ Victorious and starring me entitled Love Jones. We took clips from the film, some of my unofficial R&B remixes and songs that show some of the ups and downs of male-female relations. If you're a lady and you want to know why men cheat or what makes dudes not want to commit or why we're afraid to be hurt then take a listen. Well honestly, I've taken my personal experiences and those I've witnessed to bring you a well-rounded disc that may surprise a lot of listeners. If I do say so myself not many emcees at this level in my career would do something as daring to release music dedicated to...well I guess you would call it love. Love of women, love of myself, love of money and success. We all go through this shit but very few hip-hop artists are bold enough to venture into doing this type of vulnerable music. I’ve always used rap music as a tool and over the years I’ve recorded songs that captured my true feelings over beats. Sometimes it’s my story, other times I used the lives of those around me. Either way it is a very entertaining collection of joints. Listening to it, I reflected back to what I was going through during penning a lot of these songs. I’m sure people out there can identify with being hurt, hurting someone or helping another person through it.
I've already been receiving scrutiny and doubt since I staked my claim to drop 12 CDs this year. It’s nothing new to me though; I enjoy being doubted in this game.
I would like to thank all of you that supported The Wire mixtape and special thanks to Julito aka Namond Brice from the cast for jumping on and hosting the CD. We got a lot of love at the official Wire party at BB Kings.
For the Love Jones CD I will have a release party on February 14th at Nest on 28th street between 7th and 8th avenue in New York, NY, doors open at 530pm everyone free before 7pm, ladies $1 after and men $5 for the rest of the night. It will be a very eventful night with free giveaways, food and music. So if you have a date or you do the love thing bring your peoples with you or come through after or before you handle your bizness. 2 days before that I'm at Don Hills for a very big concert series held by DJ Bedtyme 357 featuring myself, Torae, Nina B, Skyzoo, Sic Osyrus and some other notable artists. I think it costs $1, if you're in New York you should be in attendance on February 12th. February 29th I will be performing with King Magnetic in Pennsylvania at 3rd & Walnut. I also just signed on to speak on a panel on February 26th at Brooklyn College, details to come.
-The Present
myspace.com/shastimuli
12 Mixtapes in 12 Months?
Salutations, Happy New Year and White History Month and all that. If you don’t know me my name is Sha Stimuli and in 2007 to just run thru and sum it up I became a free agent again, dropped a few CDs, started this journal, got some magazine and DVD features, appeared on MTV and BET doing the freestyle thing, jumped in a few movies, got some hot 97 radio spins and won an award for Best Lyricist. Of course I’m leaving out a few things but I can never remember everything and I sound pompous.
Anyway it’s a new year and with it brings new things. So I decided to drop a CD every month this year and I’ve been getting a lot of questions about that whole idea and I’ll get to that a little later on. The 1st installment is a CD dedicated to and inspired by the hit HBO series The Wire. DJ Victorious and I put it together after discussing and anticipating the final season. I recognize the show’s influence and authenticity and decided to put out music that mirrored the program. I’ve received some slack for not including Baltimore artists on the CD and I understand that totally, I also know some of the songs were previously released. 1st of all we put together the concept from the point of view of a New York dude in that area trying to get money. We all know a lot of the cast members are from Brooklyn but that’s neither here nor there. I did reach out to some Maryland artists but time became a factor, Kingpin Slim, my dude from DC is on there and I did a song with my boy Panama from B-more who is on the actual show but the joint didn’t really fit. The finished product is available online (http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/mixtape/id.322) and it includes an unofficial remix to Scarface’s "Never," "Don’t Come Outside" featuring Cashmere and some other powerful music and show clips that pay homage to one of the most dramatic scripted shows of our time. Shout to Jaime Hector and Julito for offering services, we’ll get y’all involved next time. As far as the previously released stuff, we used joints that had a vibe that captured the essence of The Wire but for the rest of the CDs this year, don’t expect too much dated material. If a song is old it’s only included because it fits. It sounds like I’m coppin’ a plea but I’m not, leave me alone.
My 1st performance of the year went down on Friday the 11th celebrating the release of Torae’s new mixtape/album entitled Daily Conversation. He received a lot of support from the fans and artists that are a part of the joint. He put together an incredible CD, I wish him much success with it. Chaundon, Skyzoo, The Away team, Kil, Kel Spencer, Torae and I all blessed the stage at The Knitting Factory. It was an epic night; we took a slew of pictures, did interviews and most importantly showed that New York hip-hop still has a pulse. My set wasn’t too long but I had enough time to give anyone who had never heard of me a nice display of what I do and why I was born. One of the biggest things for me was being able to perform in front of Masta Ace who had me on his album when I was in junior high school and actually helped get my earliest inspiration and fuel to begin writing rhymes. He never saw me rap until that night so to impress him meant a lot to me. It’s like your 1st basketball coach coming to your game in the NBA and you get busy…well maybe the NBDL but you get the picture. Pete Rock was also in the building and he was the 1st to congratulate me for doing my thing in front of the crowd.
Somewhere in between the mainstream hip-hop artist and the unknown rapper is a level that some refer to as the underground. Sometimes it’s because of content, other times it’s due to exposure. There are days when I wonder what it will take to go from internet buzz or street notoriety to national recognition. Some say it’s a hit single on the radio, others may argue that a hot video will do it. Most people feel like once you get a record deal you’re good but I think in the last 3 or 4 years that theory is gone out the window. So what’s the answer? It’s obviously not talent because the most talented are hardly the most successful. Is it marketing combined with luck and opportunity? Kanye had the biggest selling rap album last year and it was also celebrated by critics for its simplicity and consistency. But without the 50 Cent 1st week feud would he have sold as much? Is controversy the answer? Maybe there is no one solution to the puzzle. Maybe we as artists need to go back to the days when music didn’t necessarily equate with wealth. Wouldn’t that change our minds when we create songs if we weren’t focused on selling millions? Wouldn’t that change the labels’ strategies if they were content with reaching every artist’s target audience and keeping the budgets lower? That might even deter some of the people that have no business rapping from picking up a mic.
Maybe I’m bugging but with that said I vowed at the end of last year to drop a CD every month this year. It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time but it got some people talking. They wonder can I keep it up. Will I drop mad old songs? Will it be quantity over quality? Didn’t Papoose and Lil Wayne already do that? Who cares what Stimuli does anyway? I’m not sure but when they ask why I ask why not. I have a bunch of material that I record when I’m feeling moved and music serves as a release and I'm tired of holding it in while I wait for promo and marketing dollars. My mission is challenging but doesn’t everyone need a challenge once in awhile? I feel alive again, almost like I have a job that I’m not getting paid for but I’m rich so I don’t need the money. Since the latter of that statement is untrue I have quite a bit of work to do. No gimmick, no real goal in mind, just good music for folks to identify with and enjoy. Thanks to Big Ray we’re also adding some visuals to the music as time progresses so stay tuned.
I’m not gonna beat y'all in the head with this but for those that doubt me or hate on me thank you because you are part of why I’m still here. I have some surprises for Cinderella Man and Thee Emotion Picture, yes they are still on the way this year but don’t worry about me running out of material…good material I should say. Check me out in the new Connex List magazine and thanks to BET for showing me rapping on back to back days. I got more bars if y’all need em by the way.
R.I.P Malaika Bermiss, hold ya head Sek. I’m out.
You Thought I Was Done?
I know y'all thought I stopped these journal things but I'm back at it. I promise not to disappear again for too long. I missed a lot of good topics too, mall shootings, Kanye's mother and Stephon’s father passing, I had a lot of plugs like me getting called back for the Terrence Howard film "Fighting" but I guess I'll have to fill you guys in briefly on this one. I must say the acting stuff I've been doing is taking up a lot of time in a good way. On the set for 13hrs shooting outside in the cold gave me a new respect for film. I began shooting the independent film “Gotta Get Mine” in Brooklyn. We've been shooting every weekend for the past month and although we’re there for long hours it definitely is a learning experience and it’s also enjoyable. It’s another way to express myself other than the stage. Pain in Da Ass is one of the funniest humans ever created by the way. I would never have imagined how much goes into shooting one scene of a film. I’ve gone from doing background acting to an actual lead in a short amount of time but I can tell you whether it is a major or independent movie, or if you have a significant or extra role, the process is still time consuming and difficult. I believe the reward with music and film is different though. You’re not judged by a flick the way you are by an album. The director has more on the line than the actors and the way you earn a living is slightly different. However the main similarity is that if you don’t put in the work, there’s no payoff. So consider these my paying due days. Stay tuned.
I also spoke at the Schomburg(is that how it’s spelled?) on a panel to a group of 100 kids ranging from ages 11-17 about the entertainment industry with super engineer Ken Lewis, promoter J Hatch, DJ Reg West, Amanda Precise and some other notable industry folks. It was amazing just to see kids come out on a Saturday to get some information and they asked some serious questions. What had me even more open was the fact that some of them knew me and shouted me out. I rapped a little bit and they really felt it. I signed autographs and took pictures for a half hour and headed right back to the movie set. I'm telling you all of this because putting words together has opened up a few doors for me. I let kids know that I went to school, I interned, I studied the art and I'm not depending on rap to be the only thing to make me whole. I haven't spent a hip-hop dollar in a few years and I'm not bragging all I'm saying is that I don't do this for money and as much as I try not to sound negative about this music thing it is an up and down career choice.
What else did I miss out on? I heard Papoose got beat up, no comment on that one but I hope he's fine. I performed at Sputnik last weekend with Nina B, Famoso and Tools. We had to compete with the Mayweather fight but some folks came out to support and you can check out the show as soon as I get the footage on my myspace.com/shastimuli page.
I was also supposed to promote my live audio concert for jamnow.com. I don't want to promote other sites but I'm sure we can work something out since they're not competition and they feature artists performing at there spot for a 30 minute set and the audio goes out live over the net along with an in-depth interview. This may be a wave of the future although it was very weird performing for no audience on a soundstage because after I felt like I killed a song there was only the soundman and the interview guy to clap. I still fed off the energy of my own music and it came out hot. Fame youtube that right away.
I'm going to try my hardest to not say or email any of the "let's get it this year" or "we're about to take over" for the New Year. So if you get one of those from me it’s probably laced with sarcasm. But truthfully there will be some changes this year as far as me dropping a mixtape every month with DJ Victorious. Don't steal that please. And I'm ending the year with a feature on BET's Rapcity on December 14th at 5pm. I just filmed a cipher for BET and Rockme TV yesterday that I will have more details on soon.
I can't remember what else is going on with the world right now so I may have to have a year end review entry next time. Oh yea my man Saigon decided to call it quits. Someone asked me if I thought this was a publicity stunt and I had to go back to the night I met the dude at a show. Ironically it was at SOB’s, he was hosting I was performing and he set it on someone in the crowd for acting like they wanted to boo me as he gave me a grandiose intro. He’s always been real from day one and I think he expected the industry to be real as well. Going on radio and disrespecting hostesses and threatening rappers is one thing but the media making a big deal about it and ignoring any positive comments made is another. I haven't heard enough about Sai's video or single but him punching Prodigy in the face was everywhere on the net. It puzzles me a little bit sometimes. I really feel like there is a dumb down conspiracy going on. The last few years we've seen a shift from a focus on talent to a concentration on buzz, street credibility and of course controversy. All in all I haven’t heard the latest but I’m sure my dude will keep going.
Buy Freeway’s album, that’s my boy and the album is fire, he deserved a much better 1st week. Thank you Def Jam, I see why I didn’t fit. Anway “The Rehab” is getting love in the streets and on the net. “The Séance” is next along with a CD dedicated to the greatest show on earth, “The Wire.” DJ Victorious and I are teaming up to really…well kinda like take over this year but I said I wouldn’t say that so insert a catchy phrase right there. Oh yea I’m on the new Real Talk DVD with my dudes, The Hometown Heroes as well as The Source with Nas on the cover in the Tale Of the Tape section. “The Best Of Me” is about to hit the net next week and the hood real soon. This is turning into an update isn’t it? Well anyway Friday, December 14th BET’s Rapcity, 5pm catch Sha Stimuli before his head gets big. MTV2 is still showing me love by the way. Lastly, on December 22nd I'll be giving out toys for kids at a hot 97 Street soldiers event with Lisa Evers in New Jersey. Ok I’m done. Next time. Cinderella Man’s on its way 2008…ok for real I’m out.
The Nigga Entry
I started to think maybe I don't like writing journals or I'm too busy to gather my thoughts to sit and write em down for the public. The truth is I was trying to time this entry with mixtape releases but I heard from a few people that I offer quite a bit of shameless plugs and not enough insight. And here I was trying to water down entries so I wouldn't sound like a geek or a journalist instead of an emcee. I guess I'll just see where this one takes me and y'all can judge the content as you see fit. I've been a little busy rehearsing for this independent film I'm in with Pain in Da Ass, Rock from Heltah Skeltah and my man Tah Born called “Gotta Get Mine.” We haven't started shooting yet but it’s going to be a good joint to check out and it’s already turning out to be fun as hell. I was supposed to have a bigger part in Terrence Howard's film Fighting but I got reduced because of some SAG issues. Being on the set for 3 days was crazy though. I connected with some real cool people (shout to Kaleber and my boy Floyd) and laughed at everybody else.
So I got this mixtape with my boy LEGEND from Cali called "The Present and the Future” which is real hot. He put it together himself and I don't even know how he got some of the records he has. It feels good to know a DJ thinks you're worthy of his time to not just let you host his CD but do a whole mixtape of your joints. He did sneak on a song that I originally did for The Official Boondocks mixtape for the cartoon with DJ Wally Sparks. I didn't mean to leak that one until I got word from the show if they're going to use it somehow and of course I wanted Wally to have the exclusive. But due to powers beyond my control "The N Word" done over The Roots "It Don't Feel Right" is on the net. It’s sparked a lot of convo and I've gotten mad feedback from it. I hear the name of Nas' album is "Nigga" so I guess my joint was right on time. The idea of this song came when my homie Angie had me speak at a panel for racism at St. Vincent Youth services for young black males in foster care. I didn't have much to offer other than a story about my experience playing ball in junior college in Iowa for a year and growing up being a black male harassed by the police. Although the young dudes listened I felt like with a little more popularity I could’ve really touched a life or two.
Anyway the N-word came up and I heard different ideas about the word. One kid said we took the offense and negative connotation out of the word. Sort of like "queen bitch" or "superho," we turned “nigger” into “nigga.” I get that one. And we really did. We made "nigga" a cool word that replaces "friend," "guy," "dude" etc. Another person said he uses it and when he's around other people of different ethnic backgrounds they use it and it’s ok. My Spanish nigga, my Chinese nigga. We're all minorities. I get that. Then another man said he didn't use the word at all because he grew up during the civil rights movement and the word still stings so there's no way to take the negativity out of it. He was there during segregation and Jim Crow. His parents cleaned houses for white folks. "Nigga" was always poisoning to his ears. I couldn't argue with that. Then there was a question that made me think of myself. I play ball with Caucasian dudes every week and when me and my boys toss around the N word I cringe a little because I know one day one of my Caucasoid boys may slip and use the word and of course we would all want to fight. Is that justifiable? Maybe but who's to say? I actually have some Blanco friends that admit to dropping the N-bomb as they like to call it, of course in jest which is where my line about Brad and Steve come in (listen to the song/shameless plug). So like I was saying the question arose would you be upset if a Caucasian used the word. Everyone said yes and it kind of amazed me.
Well not really but I didn't hear anyone defend our stupidity with intelligence enough to say that if we made the word cool then why can't they. We all know it’s the fact that that white person could be a racist just waiting for the chance to show it in the sneakiest of ways. It’s the same reason we can get away with calling them crackers or why comedians can base their careers off of Black/White stereotypes and have either be the butt of the joke. It’s why George Jefferson can call Willis a honkey and why Chris Rock can say he hates niggas. We somehow feel like "the white man" owes us for slavery and segregation and racism. And now it’s ok to berate them publicly on their speech pattern, lack of rhythm, good credit, whatever. The N Word song just talks about all this shit in a clever way and is an attempt to get myself to stop using the word. Hoping that as I repeated the word in the hook that artistically it would irk me so much that I wouldn't want to do another take in the booth. I hoped that hearing the truth in the verses would spark me to make a change somehow. It didn't really work and it’s a shame I called out Jay-Z to help me out (see 3rd verse). But its real, Jay is a major trendsetter that waves his hand and makes throwbacks go away, has all of us checking the back of Range rovers and now Cristal isn't even in the clubs anymore. I don't know what Nas album is about but I got a verse for it. By the way the song he's on on Jay's album is crazy. Where was I? Oh yea nigga. I hear there are more nooses popping up and more racial inspired beatings on tape. We think we've come along way and then one day you realize people will always hate. This country was built on it. It just surprises us at times I guess.
Like my boy TI, when I met him he was Tip. He had just got signed to Arista and we rhymed for each other in the VIP area at 112 because I was out in Atlanta rapping on the street for everyone and my name was getting around. My demo sucked so I had to rap for folks and when we shared bars that one time we kicked it for a month straight. I don't think success happened too fast for him but I do think someone may have been out to get him. Tip wasn't paranoid to be around his people and now the government is showing once again that we as entertainers are still just Black males. They infiltrated his camp and are trying to take him down for gun possession. I don't have an opinion about him being right or wrong I just wish he himself wasn't connected to the firearms. I'm sure there's a reason and I'm sure this is a wake up call to all entertainers. I pray I never have to have a gun fetish on purpose or by force but right now my prayers go out to him and his family. Its obvious this man is not about to go to war or is he in a position where the guns would be used by him for anything other than protection. In a court of law all they will see his skin color and all they will hear are his abrasive lyrics that may even get played as evidence. Chris Rock would probably call Tip a nigga who got money and got guns. Rappers will use his name in punch lines and at the end of the day he'll be made an example of whether he serves time or not. My song made me remember why I love rap music. I can have a conversation about some shit, put it in a rhyme and it becomes entertainment. No other genre allows you to reach so many topics. Country music may be the closest but there are just some things you can't croon about.
DJ Victorious and I are finished The Rehab so if you've been hating on me this is a chance to get it out of your system. I'm about to give away a slew of shit to get y’all prepared. The Rehab is just a treatment and a basic sketch for what I’m about to do. The Séance is my next CD and it’s a trailer with a piece of the plot and some scenes to pull you in to my independent film Cinderella Man. All of these are musical movies to set up the major Thee Emotion picture, don't steal that! Everything is visual. Catch me on mtv2 still doing my thing. I'm the sucker free artist of the week, shout to Derek Jones, good looking homie, I mean nigga. I know I'm forgetting mad shit. Oh yea much luv to DJ Vlad for inviting me to that battle at Fat Beats. Nah I wasn't in it but I did show people why I won Best Lyricist at the UMAs. And speaking of battles I got to shout my dude Math for his win against Iron Solomon on Smack. Yea I'm biased but that is my dude and he kept his composure and got busy. Not to mention we tore down a show uptown a few weeks ago and I’m on his album. “Best Of Me” online somewhere. Check the myspace…hit me up.
-The Present
myspace.com/shastimuli
The 'Obligatory' 9/11 Report
I'm back like I never left. New material done, new deals brewing, movie roles locked. I'm still riding off the high of the Best Lyricist award and I carried that high into SOB's last Wednesday for Chaundon's mixtape release event/concert. It was kind of nuts with all the performers that are also featured on his CD. Sean Price, Skyzoo, Poison Pen, Torae, Mag, NY Oil, Emilio, DV Alias Khrist and myself to name a few. I had an outer body experience rocking some new songs for the crowd in there and getting a lot of love. It always feels crazy when people get the words I put together. DJ Ease held me down and even as I asked the people in the place to tell everyone they know that shouldn't be rapping to “put the mic down,” they were still with me. The video is on the way. Shout to Peter Rosenberg as well, whenever you're ready to show me some love I'm here man.
I gotta thank my boy Memphis Bleek for inviting me to his video shoot Friday at the 40/40 in Atlantic City. Lotta ladies, liquor and I got my cameo so it was worth the trip. Seeing Beans and the Young Guns with the new breed of the Roc Uncle Murda and True Life it looks like Rocafella may be returning at some point. We were there til about 4am rocking to his new single and Beans joint with R. Kelly as well. It’s a big deal to see Bleek is doing it by himself without waiting for Def jam $ for this video so I had to come out and support the homie. My dude Red Cafe got The Co-op dropping real soon with DJ Envy so pick that up, it’s been a long time coming for Red.
So everybody's asking who's going to sell more Kanye or 50? I would sound like a hater if I said I could care less because it’s just 2 millionaires making more millions but I am a bias Ye fan. We go back to when we first started to appear on mixtapes and we were featured on a few of the same CDs. He inquired about me and I was fortunate enough to be in Baseline studio and hear College Dropout very early. I went on to tell people he was a problem and 2 albums later he's still doing it. I'm sure he'll break records along with Curtis but all the excitement about the 2 LPs is really big since we are in an era where the album format is becoming a secondary focus for major labels. Graduation is an innovative album, a real breath of fresh air; I've had it for a few weeks and its definitely good music. I'm hearing Curtis is not the best installment from 50 but I'm no critic. I will say that all the attention these guys are getting leads me to believe that the industry is turning into a place where they will be 2 extremes: the iconic legends that have a fan base and will continue to sell records and the one hit at a time, big single, ringtone and download artists that may not sell albums but are creating revenue with singles. The middlemen such as Common, Talib or even Swizz Beatz will suffer though because although the first 2 I mentioned have strong fan bases and the latter had a string of hits, no one is rushing to the store because there isn't enough hype or in Swizz's case there is no connection to desire a whole LP of party records. The game is a little different right now than it’s ever been. There's no blueprint for success yet some people still believe there is and the artists try to fit into that concept and set themselves up for failure. I'm talking as if I'm not a part of it right? I guess that why I focus on more than just rapping my ass off. I saw Mos Def and Dr. Cornell West on Bill Maher's show on HBO. Quite a few people told me they saw it and were impressed with Mos on the show. I thought he was animated and well-informed, a little opinionated but most rappers probably couldn't even get up there and have 2 sentences to contribute to those political topics. I know I would’ve been all opinion with a tad bit of fact and an ounce of history had I been a guest on that show. When Mos said he didn't believe Bin Laden had anything to do with The World Trade Center falling I don't necessarily agree but I understand what he meant by saying we as Black Americans experience American terrorism and don't have time to be afraid of what we can't see. I also believe that if Bin Laden did do it that the government was either informed a long time before or hours before. It’s tough to not pick up on an aircraft headed to an area where there's no airport. But of course there is no reason to give Americans information that would make us less patriotic. Although watching footage of Bin Laden praying, giving thanks and looking extremely happy after the event makes me wonder how this video was obtained and also what would make a country of people rejoice at such a heinous act. Unless of course they had been attacked 10 times worse over the years. Children were dancing in the street on 9/11/2001. Bill Maher tried to blame the Islamic Faith for terrorism as Mos defended it well. I doubt a religion can force a people to kill if those that do not wish to be a part of it but speaking for a typical American I also see where his ideology comes from. The bottom-line is we are all pretty much a nation without any knowledge of a lot of the things going on around us. Watching that program or should I say hearing about that program from some of the most thuggish dudes and uhhh non-political females let me know that our people may not be willing to use their brains all the time but if its entertaining or you throw a little hip-hop in the mix its a whole new ball game