We all know that crack kills.
And that it kills your brain cells.
The thing is, some of the biggest contributors to pop culture and society have been crackheads. Now of course, the term “contributors to society” can be interpreted many different ways, but interpretation, beauty, and thickness are all in the eye of the beholder.
Opinions are like that too. For instance, that new Jay-Z? Garbage. But some other person may hear some splendorous musical arrangement instead.
But back to the point: crackheads.
The other day on my trip out of town for vacation, my girlfriend and I had a conversation about people who don’t get enough credit. I started with Teddy Riley as somebody who’s managed to invent and re-invent himself over and over again over the past 2 decades and has produced some of the biggest albums (Bobby Brown’s Don’t Be Cruel, Michael Jackson Dangerous, Guy’s albums, etc.) and spearheaded the New Jack Swing movement in hip-hop/r&b. But not only did Teddy Riley do great work, he also mentored and inspired some other greats – created a certain family tree, if you will. And one particular part of that family tree lead me to 4 crackheads that don’t get enough credit. Follow me.
And proof of actual crackheadedness is unnecessary for today’s post – a general accepted assumption of crackedoutedness will suffice.
1) DeVante Swing
Not only is he the music (and largely the writing) behind Jodeci, he ALSO gave Timbaland, Missy, Ginuwine, and Playa their starts. Jodeci doesn’t have one album that can’t be considered classic (with Diary of a Mad Band being the greatest of the trio) and they largely defined a small period of the early 90s. But when you think about his contribution to music as a whole with the introduction of Timbaland and Missy, well, Mr. Swing is responsible for some of the biggest hip-hop and R&B songs of the 90s and 00s. And Justin Timberlake. And Nelly Furtado.
And by extension Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop”. (I’m convinced this was a Static Major song – member of Playa – that somehow ended up in Lil Wayne’s hands).
By the way, am I the only one who wonders if Dalvin harbored resentment for not having his name included in JoDeCi? Then again, I kind of wondered if in their initial trip to NYC to get their deal he didn’t just hop in the car and refuse to get out so they were like f*ck it, you can come, just don’t screw it up. Questions like this keep me up at night.
2) Marion Barry
I learned more about Marion Barry when I watched the 9 Lives of Marion Barry on HBO than I ever cared to know. I found out how much of a rabblerouser, but important civil rights figure he was. Basically, he did whatever he could in the name of civil rights early on in the movement and I feel that gets lost a lot in his lore. Plus, he actually (pre-crack, go figure) made DC one of the best run cities in the nation – for a time. Then again, when you’re most famous quote is “the b*tch set me up”, it kind of happens. Then again, that one line is worth more than its weight in gold anyway. If he did nothing more than that, he’d still be the Jay-Z of mayors.
3) Bobby Brown/Whitney Houston
I’m including them as one because I really don’t know who introduced who to what. I just know they were/are both on that rock at one point. Thing is, between the two of them, at one point, they sold enough records to make Kaiser Permanente jealous (that made more sense in my head than it did written out). Bobby Brown gave us Don’t Be Cruel, the best R&B album…EVER. And Whitney gave us “crack is wack”. I’d say they’ve done more for society and mankind than Extreme Makeover and American Idol.
4) DMX
Until DMX came out, folks were getting really pretty in their hip-hop. Then DMX came and grittiness became the cause du jour. Add in his superb and stellar acting in Belly, his horrible BET reality show and the infamous pink jail jumpsuit in Arizona, and I’d say that DMX is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. He just doesn’t get the credit for it.
Anyway, those are just a few crackheads who don’t get enough credit. There have to be some that I’m missing.
Who else needs some credit and/or love?
Do tell.
PS Have YOU hugged a crackhead today?
-VSB P aka THE ARSONIST aka TANGLE JIG P aka GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRL, HE A 3
Jesse and Al, you know them two have hit the pipe at least five times each
@T. Troy Stewart,
I can definitely see this happenin.
@T. Troy Stewart,
LOL! They probably do it together.
@T. Troy Stewart, You know, I’ve always wondered about Al. He just looks the type that would try a rock or 3.
Not so sure about Jesse, I’m guessing infidelity was his vice so he made sure to be good at it.
Operation Push.
DJ AM will be on this list in three years. So sad.
Too soon?
@Ms. Smart, yes. too soon.
you so wrong.
@Ms. Smart,
GO SAT DOWN. IN THE CORNER.NOW.
@Ms. Smart,
Def too soon. Please go SADDOWN.
@Luvvie, *standing up, walking to middle of the room, and doing the stanky leg*
Out of corner.
@Ms. Smart,
I think the timing here was appropriate.
@V.E.G.,
Damn.
@V.E.G.,
B/c u’s a jerk :-p
@Luvvie,
Do her a favor, call her ‘jerk’ one mo’ time.
Aside:: That f*cking song is growing on me. I need Jesus.
@BlackBerry Molasses, i agree. you just might need Jesus and a box of paperclips.
@BlackBerry Molasses,
It’s that beat…that’s what hooked me…lol
“I ain’t even do nuthin!!”
@BlackBerry Molasses, that joint is hot…especially when he kinda whispers..
do me a favor, call me jerk one more time….
@BlackBerry Molasses,
i concur with shay_d….that song is hott.
@BlackBerry Molasses, That song has grown on me too. And quietly that stupid LOL-Smiley Face song is creeping into my subconscious. I caught myself singing the hook today!!
@V.E.G., Thank you for your support.
@Ms. Smart,
yeah, just a little too soon.
@Ms. Smart, it’s NEVER too soon for insensitive jokes
@Naturally Alise,
That has some truth to it. In fact, I think the soon-ness is what makes it insensitive.
@Naturally Alise,
lol.
tragedy + time = comedy
@Ms. Smart,
“DJ AM will be on this list in three years. So sad.”
What’s so heartbreaking about this entire thing is that he JUST wrapped up filming a documentary to help OTHER drug abusers.
@Ms. Smart,
am i the only one who had never even heard of dj am until his passing? is pittsburgh a dj am-less vacuum or something?
@The Champ,
I only started hearing about him when he dated Nicole Ritchie and her press was giving him more press. And that he used to be very hefty back in the day.
@Cheekie, Right!! He owes his shine to Nicole. Wonder what she has to say about this. Also, was he doing crack when he was fat? Cus for real, I thought fat crackheads were the unicorns of the drug world. Either they didn’t exist at all or didn’t exist for long.
@The Champ, Nope…I’d never heard of him either
@The Champ, i’d bet most folks hadn’t heard of him. i only knew of him cuz i deal with DJ’s a lot and b/c of the crash with him and travis barker. but he’s not but so popular. or wasn’t.
@The Champ, the first time I heard of him was when I was in Vegas a couple years ago and they wanted us to PAY $20 to get in because he was spinning. And he wasn’t even that good! hmph!
David Ruffin, D’ Angelo, Amy Winehouse…crack music
@DrBrownin, YES YES YES!!!!!
@DrBrownin,
Yes indeedy! How I wish D’Angelo would come back. Amy Winehouse, on the other hand, may be a lost cause!
@YGB, …maybe a lost cause!
may be? may be???? she’s an actual white crackhead. lol. if that aint a lost cause i dont know what is.
her antics have put her on total dopefiend status fo’ lyfe.
@DrBrownin, i can give you D’Angelo. though David Ruffin may be one of my favorite singers of all time, I’m not sure he doesn’t get enough credit. hell, he’s the most entertaining part of the temptations movie.
and amy winehouse gets way more credit than she deserves in my opinion. or she did initially before she turned into a raging crackhead. she’s like the cracked out white girl version of alicia keys.
i actually don’t think D’Angelo will ever get the credit he deserves for his first album and what it did to the game. a lot of artists have D’angelo to thank for their success.
@DrBrownin,
I second D’Angelo.
Anyway, those are just a few crackheads who don’t get enough credit. There have to be some that I’m missing.
Who else needs some credit and/or love?
Rick James
David Ruffin
Ezell from friday
Pookie from New jack City
@Humble_One aka Field Ninja,
DEFINITELY Rick James.
Besides all the wonderfulness he is, he gave us one of the best Chapelle’s Show skits EVAH!!!
“F**k YO COUCH!”
@BlackBerry Molasses, so true. i say this to people at least twice everyday. and i’m so no joking.
@BlackBerry Molasses,
one of the best?? how about the single best sketch in the history of sketches and sh*t. nothing anyone else has ever done tops the rick james sh*t
@The Champ, i’m gonna have to think on this b/c i’m not so quick to agree.
i’ll get back to you on my estimate and results later. lol
@Humble_One aka Field Ninja,
“Rick James”
Mmmhmm! He. Was. Cold. As. ICE!
@Humble_One aka Field Ninja,
Plus it turned into one of the best Bmore club mixes I’ve heard. Had everyone I knew in Jersey looking like a crackhead b.c. they would break out dancing, singing ‘Look b!tch I’m Rick James! Look b!tch I’m Rick James!’ for a month.
i cackled at devante. and ijustdied at boby/whitney “I’m including them as one because I really don’t know who introduced who to what” because it is sooooo true and a thought that’s been running around in my head for years.
i have nothing else to add at this point because i should be working.
*break over*
@SouthernGirl,
I’m pretty sure Bobby said to Whit:
“Gul. Why you effin with that cocaine? We can get mo fo yo money if you just do like me and git wit dis rock”
Yeah. I’m certain that’s how it went down.
@V.E.G.,
Having seen Orchard Park in Boston, I’m going to have to agree.
@V.E.G., you know, i’m actually really curious as to how all of this happened. lest we forget that Whitney is from Newark and is as hood as they get. Clive turned that piece of coal into a diamond. did they show up one day and he pulled out a rock and she was like, “i have one too!” and they fell in love and got married?
i’m really curious as to this. it would make a great lifetime movie.
@Panama Jackson,
me too. get to making it. I’ll finance.
@BlackBerry Molasses, show me the money.
@Panama Jackson
**pulls out fat knot of…. $5′s**
MJ.Crackheads already make me smile…..unless they are in front of me begging.
I would like to give a shout out to the crackhead that mows the yard for the low low. And details the car for a few bucks. They will do something strange for some change…….I don’t care what anyone says, they are some of the hardest workers out there!
::Off to youtube crackheads gone wild::
@V Renee,
*always
@V Renee,
“They will do something strange for some change…….I don’t care what anyone says”
This reminds me of Bubs from “The Wire.”
He and his friends were stealing metal and selling it to construction companies.
@Ivy St., that’s good money right there. cheap materials? sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit, we in a recession.
@Ivy St., Bubs! lol, good Wire insert.
@Ivy St., LOL@Bubs based on the truth. The did an audit of lightpoles on B-More. Turns out a WHOLE lot were missing due to crackheads cutting them down for the aluminum.
@V Renee,
You WRONG for MJ. Go SADDOWN.
But yes, crackheads keep my car detailing and yard work budgets manageable. Just don’t buy no DVD players from them
@BlackBerry Molasses,
You WRONG for MJ. Go SADDOWN. .
I’m just saying. The stuff he was strung out on may have been worse than crack.
R.I.P Mike. I kicked it hard on your bday!!
The DVD player thats really a box of rocks?!?!? LOL
@BlackBerry Molasses, . Just don’t buy no DVD players from them
hahaha! I learned this the hard way a few years back. ugh.
I submit MC Shan…check the tree that branched from him.
As rappers were there to big up the sound provider, he was the one to give Marley Marl the push. Marley, who produced the rest of the Juice Crew (bringing forth Biz Markie, Kool G Rap, Craig G, Master Ace, Roxanne Shante, and of curse KANE!), Intelligent Hoodlum (AKA Tragedy Khadafi), LL Cool J’s Mama Said Knock You Out album (which had a lot of classics on it), and quite a bit of new jack swing.
When he made “The Bridge” with all the claims within, this pissed off KRS-One enough to call up Scott La Rock and form BDP to deliver the classic answer “The Bridge Is Over” (which gets played infinitely more than the song it responded to). Off that little album that could, a star was born. I’m Gonna Git You Sucka’s protagonist suddenly had his own theme song as a result. Kris didn’t really put over ppl we care about to this day (D-Nice, Channel Love, Heather B), but he tried. And he’s still a shining example of MCing
and egoWhite dancehall chanter Snow boosted steaks from the supermarket to hold Shan down during the lean times (from smoking those rocks) and in return Shan co-signed him with his verse on “Informer”…then Snow turned around and got himself banned from the U.S. Ah well, good times.
And thanks to his already putting Queensbridge on the map, the duns were free to rise to power in the mid 90s. Nas, Mobb Deep, Capone N Noreaga (cosigned by the aforementioned Tragedy), Screwball, and more… Shan enabled Nore to get fat, Nas to get his pockets sliced in half by Kelis, and Mobb Deep to get their sickle cell medicine.
All this because MC Shan dared to put on the Puma uniform complete with Kangol hat…and the thanks he got was that they left him lonely.
@Stuff Ghetto People Like, i tip my hat to you for this comment. It is informative and hilarious at the same time. Thanks.
@Stuff Ghetto People Like,
“Kris didn’t really put over ppl we care about to this day (D-Nice, Channel Love, Heather B), but he tried”
What no Ms. Melodie? *giggling*
@miss t-lee, I think Ms. Melodie forgot she herself ever existed. Just roaming the Bronx with amnesia.
@Stuff Ghetto People Like,
@Stuff Ghetto People Like, very astute observation. mc shan definitely doesnt get enough credit.
then again, i never really liked him anyway.
Naturally Alise. She don’t get no kinda credit, I’m mad for her.
@overitnomore!,
you are a wack hungry Ramadan-face… wit yo gasoline soaked hijab…
@Naturally Alise, rude.
and i loooove the smell of gasoline.
*chin up, askin waddup??*
@overitnomore!,
sure was rude, i threw religion in just to make it sting more, because iCare about the little details. I am thorough and sh*t…
@overitnomore!,
I just almost snorted the rice I was eating. iHate u. LMAO!!!
@Luvvie, how do you mistake rice for coke?
@Stuff Ghetto People Like,
They’re the same color. To a crackhead there is no difference. White stuff is white stuff. Especially a hardcore one **looking at Luvvie**
@BlackBerry Molasses,
shots.fired.
@overitnomore!,
e-chile…
I so want to e-ground you… but this was HEE- LARRY- OUS!!!
@overitnomore!,
LOL. Rudeness!
Man oh man…the list I could make. How could any 80s baby not give like 12 names off the top of the dome? My abridged version:
4. Bernard King
3. Doc Gooden & Darryl Strawberry. My dad literally cannot see Doc on TV or hear his name mentioned without shaking his head like Sophia in the Color Purple when she tells Ceelie it aint worth it to cut Mista. Wasted talent. But you gotta understand this man did crack, came back 15 years after his prime, threw a no-hitter, then went back to crack??? Amazing. (See how I didn’t even mention that he turned his nephew into one of the best power hitters of our time? Ahem.)
2. Gil Scott Heron. No Heron, no hip-hop. No crack, no Heron. Simple.
1. Vanity. Of course she was on crack. Did you see them outfits? She still killt it (seriously, Rihanna should pull Vanity’s whole wardrobe from “The Last Dragon”). After all, this is about crackheads that deserve credit for changing MY world, not THE world, dagnabit.
@Sheffield Swats,
“Gil Scott Heron.”
Dayum. You stole my contribution to the list.
@V.E.G., yea, although rightfully I shoulda been the first to mench him.
@Sheffield Swats, Shall we not forget our favorite Line Backer (admitted Line Sniffer) ever to hit the grid iron in Gotham (Jersey to be specific), Mr. Lawrence Taylor (aka LT, aka Light Tokes). Hell, he even took some celebratory tokes of that rock and roll the night the Giants retired his number.
Let LT tell it: “I’d go through an ounce a day. And at times I’d be standing in the huddle. And instead of thinking what defense we were playing I’d be thinking about smoking crack after the game.”
That, my friends, is the incomparable, impregnable power of the devil’s dandruff!
@Frederico Savage,
“the devil’s dandruff!”
*dead*
@Frederico Savage, how i forgot Lawrence Taylor is beyond me.
@Sheffield Swats, that’s a really good list there homey.
@Panama Jackson,
danke. Was gonna include Ann Iverson (AI’s mom) and Gloria James (LeBron’s) but I thought that’d be too disrespectful. Aww hell, put ‘em on the list….right above DWade’s mama.
@Sheffield Swats,
man, there’s like 25 superstar athletes you can name between 1975 and 1990 who got strung out on crack, and half of them played in pittsburgh.
@The Champ, they might have played in pitt but they bought that coke-white from DC.
rayfuls!!!!
I gotta co sign that whole list!
I would add
Mary j blige. Without crack there would be no “my life or share my world” she is getting her game now but for a while there her drug use caused a heavy sigh instead of praise when her name was mentioned
The original r&b crackhead females Etta James for just being her and Natalie Cole oh crack had natalie sangin I can’t say no and scattin all over mr melody
And phyllis hyman who in her crackdom created the Gay Muse phenom
And lastly a family month F!cked up than the jacksons but just as talented
El and his brothers and sisters debarge
They created music that is still widely sampled,a distinct sound and kept light skinnt men on top during the 70′s and 80
@shay_d_lady,
You can’t be talking bout Phyllis! She had demons.
@V.E.G., hahaha. she had crack too.
@V.E.G.,
those demons made her an amazing talent. its just sad they also did her in.
@shay_d_lady, Wow. i’m in awe of this list. Da*n. The Debarges just kilt it.
@shay_d_lady,
this is a great list!
@shay_d_lady,
“Mary j blige. Without crack there would be no “my life or share my world” she is getting her game now but for a while there her drug use caused a heavy sigh instead of praise when her name was mentioned.”
Though I’m glad she is done with drugs and has changed her life for the better, I liked Mary’s music when she was on drugs.
@Ivy St.,
“Though I’m glad she is done with drugs and has changed her life for the better, I liked Mary’s music when she was on drugs.”
I concur. I think “the devil’s Dandruff” (c) frederico savage, did wonders for her vocals..either that, or utterly destroyed them post quittage.
@shay_d_lady,
Its true though… the best artists usually have the most demons. Hell, everyone whose art (musical, visual, and other) I love now is royally jacked in one way or another.
Makes em interesting.
Even me. My best work comes when I’m fighting my most intense internal battles. When I’m happy, my sh*t sucks monkey b@lls.
@BlackBerry Molasses,
“When I’m happy, my sh*t sucks monkey b@lls”
that’s a poem waiting to be written…
@Panama Jackson,
no.
@shay_d_lady, when i saw the Unsung episode on the debarges i was amazed at how much crack could affect an entire family.
i mean damn. the whole family was on that stuff. lol.
btw, d’angelo is directly responsible for chico debarge’s career.
and i’m not ashamed to admit i don’t own a single mary j blige cd post crack/kci. they’re just not as good to me. i stop at share my world.
there is actually a post in there somewhere.
@Panama Jackson, and i’m not ashamed to admit i don’t own a single mary j blige cd post crack/kci. they’re just not as good to me. i stop at share my world.
Me either..
and I bet she wishes she could blame that “in this danceree” song and video on the crack though…
*shudders* I mean she looked like she was having a seizure…her people aint shyt…LMAO
@Panama Jackson, and i’m not ashamed to admit i don’t own a single mary j blige cd post crack/kci. they’re just not as good to me. i stop at share my world.
I think “Mary” is her best. I luvs that album. That may be the first one after she kicked the habit.
Smokey Robinson. Dem drugs helped him write a lot of Motown hits.
Flo Ballard from the Supremes. Without her, there would have been no “Effie White” who was loosely based on/not based on (depending on who you ask) Flo at all. Besides, she set the standard for that chick who inevitably gets kicked out of a girl group.
@V.E.G., are you saying that Flo Ballard influenced Destiny’s Step-children??
@Panama Jackson,
Yes.
Beyonce.
As fierce as she is, only a crackhead would stop wearing real clothes in favor of rocking leotards 24/7.
@V.E.G.,
I Concur.
@V.E.G.,
BWAHAHAHA.
Also, she is under the delusion she can act and sway us to believing this by walking like a model throughout an entire film. (see, Obsessed. feat. Elba, Idris. Larter, Ali, et. al.)
@Cheekie,
(see, Obsessed. feat. Elba, Idris. Larter, Ali, et. al.)
Will do soon come. Got the bootleg right here on my desk.
@Stuff Ghetto People Like,
redbox..
its only a dollar…
I LOVE THE RED BOX
@shay_d_lady,
You paid too much.
Yawnce should paid you to watch that travesty.
Although having Idris in it made it bearable…yumm.
@Stuff Ghetto People Like, *don’t read this comment, ain’t no spoiler, just my opinion*
i finally saw it the other day (red box’d it too).
man that was one bad movie. and it had nothign to do with beyonce. she wasn’t good or bad in it. she was just in it.
that movie was just horrible from a good vs bad movie perspective.
No, I have not hugged a crackhead today. Thank you for asking.
I hate to turn this light-hearted affair into something else, but I would like to submit Len Bias. Someone earlier mentioned Gooden and Strawberry (I’d throw Shawn Kemp in there too) but to me no one opened the door to exploring athletes and substance abuse like Bias. Talk about a waste of talent – that cat could have been doper than MJ if the hype is true. I hate to straight bite a Bill Simmons article but think about if Bias had joined the Celts in ’87 – they were coming off the ’86 championship, returning Bird, McHale, Parrish and returned to the Finals in ’87, throw in Bias? Wheeew, I shutter to think.
What does he need credit for?
#1 for shedding light the “secret” of basketball players and drugs. Throughout the ’70′s it was known but unspoken that basketball and baseball players were indulging in such dalliances. It took the death of this college student to make people confront it and attempt to clean it up.
#2 – The death of Bias doesn’t get enough credit for what became of the Celts in the ’90′s. Think about the type of team that could have been built around that cat as Bird, Parrish and McHale retired. Boston drafted Reggie Lewis in ’87 , Dee Brown in ’90, Rick Fox in ’91, Jon Barry in ’92. I can’t even imagine the trades or players that would have freely gone to Boston to play with this man. Maybe you don’t have the Bulls dynasty, maybe Bias becomes the adversary that no one can get past instead of Jordan. Or maybe he becomes the challenger that Jordan never had – the Bird to Jordan’s Johnson and they go back and forth with rings during the ’90′s. Maybe the Eastern Conference Finals becomes the thing to watch instead of the NBA Finals. There are so many maybes and what ifs with Bias.
I dunno these are the ruminations of my mind at 1 AM. That’s what I’ve got – I’m gonna go find a crackhead and hug him. Ezell!
@Madame Zenobia,
Ok. This made me really sad.
@V.E.G.,
Child it mad me sad writing it. I hate What ifs and Maybes – especially when it comes to sports.
@V.E.G.,
Me too! At least until the hugging Ezell part!
@Madame Zenobia, i considered adding len bias to this list b/c of the bill simmons piece. then i realized i’d need a lot more than the 700 some words i used to fully explain his place in history. and what could have been, etc.
so i went with dmx instead. much easier to explain.
@Panama Jackson,
Understandable. DMX is clearly a simple crackhead.
@Madame Zenobia,
if this comment were a sandwich, i’d eat it.
@Madame Zenobia,
Plus don’t forget that after Bias’ death MD essentially received the NCAA death penalty, and Duke became the storied program of the 90′s. If Bias doesn’t die and becomes a NBA star, doesn’t MD keep Lefty, doesn’t Lefty not let some of those DC/MD/VA stars go elsewhere. Doesn’t MD become the basketball behemoth of the 90′s to rival UNC and dominate the landscape?
@Dorian G.,
Excellent point.
I think we should pay homage to my Uncle Mike *name changed*, during his crack addiction we got some of the hottest electronics in our family and odd jobs were always taken care of (landscaping, painting, car washing, leaves raked, etc…). I am not happy about his past addiction, but the nice TV’s and laptops were a nice silver lining… plus he is clean now….
@Naturally Alise,
smh
@Naturally Alise,
HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!! And yet, so sad….
@Naturally Alise, at least your uncle got you good electronics
my uncle bay bro tried to sell me 1 walkie talkie for 10 dollars… and was really trying to sell it.. talmbout
see you can turn it on.. and uh
ya know shyt like that….
I gave him 5 for effort……
@shay_d_lady, you shameful enabler you…LOL
@Stuff Ghetto People Like, my unc is 60 years old..
hell aint no reason to stop now…..
@Naturally Alise,
Hot…mess.
Dave Chapelle – I believe crack(or some other narcotic) was the cause of his meltdown regardless of what he says!
@YGB, he was definitely on crack at one point in his life. though this begs the question:
was chappelle’s show as great in actuality as it was in theory? we’ve turned that show into the greatest sketch comedy show ever in nearly every convo. i wonder if it was really that good. methinks the parts (prince, rick james, race draft, etc) were much greater than the sum of the show.
@Panama Jackson,
I think that we said the show was so great because of the attention to racial issues and it was still funny. Kind of like a rap album about Masons Budism Christianity or Islam that still bangs.
I wonder how Chapelle’s show stands up to flip wilson + In living color
@WuDaMan,
+carrol burnet
@WuDaMan,
Good addition. She is thee plummest of fools. And it could’ve only come from crack.
@Panama Jackson, “was chappelle’s show as great in actuality as it was in theory? ”
I don’t know man, there aren’t too many DVD’s you can put in and laugh like you just seeing this joint for the first time like the chappelle show. I watch at least a part of it once a month, still not corny to me.
@IVR, i feel you, but he had some pretty wack sketches too. thing is, his great sketches were so good i think that they overshadow the bad. so may be it is that great.
@Panama Jackson, “but he had some pretty wack sketches too. thing is, his great sketches were so good i think that they overshadow the bad. so may be it is that great.”
I still don’t know who the hell Gallhager is or what sense that skit made but that’s what fast forward is for . .point taken.
@IVR, Black Gallagher was for those who grew up familiar with him. And Chappelle is a stand-up comedy enthusiast like I am, so I appreciated it.
FYI, the real Gallagher’s signature shtick was busting watermelons with a big carnival hammer.
Richard Pryor
Ray Charles
Chaka Khan
@pgh muse, so you dont think those people get enough credit for their contributions?
i’d wager that they definitely get their just due.
@Panama Jackson,
yeah. they do. *cue Alicia Silverstone* My baaad
@pgh muse, get yo’ life together. lol
Ike Turner
@pgh muse, without Ike and his crack habit, Tina would have never given us “What’s Love Got to do With It”.
@pgh muse,
sheeeit, without crack, Tina wouldn’t have been TINA.
She got her GAME (and those legs) because of all she went through with him and his White Horse.
@pgh muse,
And we wouldn’t have gotten the lovely line, “Anna Mae, just eat the cake please”.
@pgh muse,
Naturally Alise would like to introduce Negro Masterpiece Theater:
@Naturally Alise,
WHY must I CRY?!?!?!?!
Gawd u are DUMB! LMAO!!
@Naturally Alise,
I can’t loose this job for you crackin up
Afeni Shakur should definitely be added to this list. The Black Panther who gave birth to arguably one of the most influential figures in Hip Hop and Black culture deserves a a shout out. Later this month, 2Pac will be dead 13 years and his influence is prevalent in a lot of today’s hip hop still. If it wasn’t for his cracked out mama, many rappers wouldn’t even know what it meant to literally STAY in the studio and constantly record material – sometimes quality, sometimes not so much, but his work ethic was remarkable.
Sidenote: Maybe he was on crack too.
*shrugs shoulders*
Pac also made “Dear Mama” about his dope fiennnnnd mama which will go down in history as a hip hop song loved by ALL mamas even if they loathe thug life and rap music.
@Monk, Good one.
@Monk, that is a good one.
@Monk,
good one. and i wonder if pac is the only artist that could pull off calling his mom a crackhead in a tribute to her
@The Champ,
My guess would be a resounding “YES”.
“For instance, that new Jay-Z? Garbage. But some other person may hear some splendorous musical arrangement instead.”
I concur.
@miss t-lee, um…with which part?
@Panama Jackson,
Oh I’m sorry…the hot garbage part…lol
@Panama Jackson and Miss t-lee,
Wait I thought you meant the album = garbage cuz yes it is. But ‘Ye saves that song, to the point where it actually is hot at the end.
“what you think I rap for, to drive a f**king Rav-4?” Excellent
And Hov’s second verse is actually pretty good, you just gotta get deeper with it.
@Dorian G.,
*snooze*
@miss t-lee,
LMAO damn you not even gonna retort?
Peace god
@ Dorian G.,
LOL!!! Actually I just had to listen to the song again to make sure I didn’t miss anything, since I haven’t listened to it in its entirety since it leaked.
I’ll give you ‘Ye’s verse…
@miss t-lee,
I was listening to G-Unit radio this weekend, and Clinton Sparks show (get familiar!!!) this dude Sparks was working Hov just sh**ting on his whole swag right now. He was spittin that hot fire too so I couldn’t even get mad.
I think its internationally accepted at this point that Hov has turned into a mediocre rapper. I never thought I would say that after listening to “Where I’m from”
@ Dorian G,
I love Clinton Sparks. Especially on the “we got it 4 cheap” mixtapes. I’m not familiar with his show though…I’m going to hafta check it.
Jay’s supposed last album (Black) shoulda been it. Ever since he un-retired, it’s been straight boo-boo on a platter.
@Dorian G, “I think its internationally accepted at this point that Hov has turned into a mediocre rapper.”
Ehh. . . blasphemy . . . that is all.
“I think its internationally accepted at this point that Hov has turned into a mediocre rapper.”
Ehh. . . blasphemy . . . that is all.
a couple weeks ago i downloaded this mixtape that had some older jay-z sh*t mixed in with new tracks, and its jarring how much better jay was on even run of the mill type songs like “addicted to the game” than he is now. there’s no comparison.
everybody loses their fastball eventually.
@miss t-lee,
Holla at that Sirius satellite radio.
Plus I have to disagree because American Gangsta was an outstanding album
@Dorian G. ,
You’re right…I missed that one…AG was hot.
@The Champ, “a couple weeks ago i downloaded this mixtape that had some older jay-z sh*t mixed in with new tracks, and its jarring how much better jay was on even run of the mill type songs like “addicted to the game” than he is now. there’s no comparison.
everybody loses their fastball eventually.”
a couple weeks ago i downloaded this mixtape that had some older jay-z sh*t mixed in with new tracks, and its jarring how much better jay was on even run of the mill type songs like “addicted to the game” than he is now. there’s no comparison.
I hear what you are saying, but taking into consideration the many different tastes that exist among us when it comes to music, for this dude to be in the game 15+ years and going platinum every single time out that’s gotta stand for something.
*disclaimer: I’m probably biased because he is one of the few that folks are listening to repping my area of the world. I think once we get outside of Brooklyn we tend to stick together . . . ahdunno . . . if Foxy Brown get her hearing back I might buy an album . . . nah . . .probably not.
@Panama Jackson, “not to be a spoilsport, but what do platinum sales have to do with anything?”
To me it means people are still listening. People are still shelling out dollars to hear the dude. It aint about being a spoilsport just discourse homie . . . who cares what someone personally feels about how his rapping style has/has not fallen off. No one is going to agree 100% of the time anyway . . . a lot of the rap/hip hop/whateva y’all folks swear by around here I never heard of pre-military experience (i.e. Screw music/bounce/all of that) . . . Sh!t I know I’m in the minority a lot of the times around these parts when it comes to music (and other things lol). There is only one quantifiable aspect here . . . that’s all I’m saying. If people are still spending $15 dollars a pop to hear a dude 7 years younger than my moms RAP that is saying something. Again, I am biased, and I admit it.
@Dorian G., i did mean the album. i actually like that song.
@IVR, not to be a spoilsport, but what do platinum sales have to do with anything? sales and quality are clearly not the same thing. i’m a jay fan, believe me, but he has lost a step and i think its just b/c what is his motivation now. he’s rich beyond imagination, married to beyonce, is established as the GOAT…like what is his purpose in hip-hop now? this whole album is him telling us how great he is or that he’s not the same ole Jay. he’s bored and we can tell. the beat selection alone indicates that.
@Panama Jackson,
Yes I heard Venus vs. Mars and was like wait, this is the same ear that picked out “Can’t be life” and “Heart of the City”?
@miss t-lee,
I also concur. Also, I think no other song captures Rihanna’s monotonous arse voice than this one. She couldn’t sound more monotone if she were singing Kid Cudi’s “Day and Night”. It’s annoying as hell.
The song is mediocre at best…and what makes it worse is that MTV was hypin’ the hell outta it prior to the debut like it was going to be the best song in the history of retirement.
@Cheekie,
I told some other folks that it might be a decent sounding track if Rihanna wasn’t warbling all over it. We all know that chick can’t sing.
@Cheekie,
I told my bestie that the song would be way better (but not necessarily GOOD) if they had put a muzzle on Rihanna, and she looked at me as if I said I eat small children.
How can ANYONE stand her voice? Really. She’s a pretty girl to be sure… she just needs to shut the eff up.
This is my favorite crackish kat right here. Reppin’ that 3rd ward…Houston.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENAbFBQxZVw
*My friends and I still do this…walk in and thrown $2 on the floor.
Hilarious.
@miss t-lee,
LMAO. that is all.
@Selah,
His flow was sick huh?
*snickering*
After watching that HBO special on Marion Barry, my question is how bad do you have to be to lose the election to him, more than once? *cough* Sandy Seegars *cough*. The man was re-elected, AFTER testing positive for coke… *smh @Ward 8. Crack is one helluva wonder drug.
On another note, is it me or did Jay Z look like Jar Jar Binks in that ‘Run This Town’ video? “Good your album is not. Retire you should.”
@what she said,
“Good your album is not. Retire you should.”
CTFU!!!
@miss t-lee,
OMG!!! Miss this Yoda speak, how did I?
@what she said,
“The man was re-elected, AFTER testing positive for coke… *smh @Ward 8″
Either there weren’t that many folks voting or just the crackheads came out to vote that day.
@Ivy St.,
just the crackheads came out to vote that day. .
Either that or he gave people the SUPER hook ups and they felt like they owed it to him. He was the neighborhood crackhead/politician.
@what she said,
Marion Barry’s track record is bigger than his discretions, he has arguably been more embarrassing than ineffective, then when you have given a lot of poor people jobs and opportunities they don’t really care about your personal issues they got plenty they damn selves. Also his worst years as mayor came when the crack epidemic hit DC the hardest and that was arguably bigger than one city’s mayor. Besides nobody knows that Seegars lady and everybody knows Barry sometimes politics is as that simple…
Quiet as kept, a lot of that large middle class that people love to talk about in PG is just made up of people who made a lot of money in Barry’s early years and then moved out to the county. I actually really appreciated that documentary because it at least showed people that we aren’t completely crazy for liking Barry even if he like, Jay-Z and Brett Favre, will not ever be the same as he was.
Oh, and after America voted for Bush twice (not to mention all this Palin nonsense) can’t nobody tell me nuffin bout DC’s political decisions…
@Omar,
CO-SIGN!!! I’d vote for him to come back AGAIN white residue and all!!
@what she said, they LOVE marion barry here in DC. i’m almost convinced he could get elected again. hell, he manages to win his ward 8 election every time by a landslide.
he’s the mayor for life for a reason.
@what she said,
“On another note, is it me or did Jay Z look like Jar Jar Binks in that ‘Run This Town’ video? “Good your album is not. Retire you should.””
LMAO!
Also cracking up at the fact that he always looks like something other than human. First Joe Camel, now Jar Jar Binks?
@what she said, “After watching that HBO special on Marion Barry, my question is how bad do you have to be to lose the election to him, more than once? *cough* Sandy Seegars *cough*. The man was re-elected, AFTER testing positive for coke… *smh @Ward 8. Crack is one helluva wonder drug.”
Last week on a cab ride from Columbia Heights to Alexandria my cab driver gave us a 30 minute briefing on the merits of Marion Barry and if all that he says is true, this dude has done a lot for this place. “He just love the dr*gs and the p*ssy” according to the cab driver. These folks in DC love that dude apparently. I’d imagine it would be kinda hard to run against him in this town for anything. . .
For instance, that new Jay-Z? Garbage. But some other person may hear some splendorous musical arrangement instead.
I’m so happy I’m not the only one NOT feeling the new Jay-Z.
@she’s a maN.I.A.c on the floor….,
LOL, I’m lovin’ your moniker today, N.I.A.
Sly Stone
How else would you know that you’re everyday people?
Plus, that blond mo-hawk he rocked at that awards show (I wanna say Grammys) was hot2def!
@K to the…,
“Sly Stone
How else would you know that you’re everyday people? ”
HAHAHAHA!
What’s an everyday person? Like, do you qualify as one because you wake up every morning?
@K to the…,
I think that was pcp. Yall got’s to remember crack hit in the 80′s okay.
@K to the…,
Good one!
GEORGE CLINTON!
P-Funk revolutionized music and in a lot of ways and still influences a good portion of hip-hop music today.
CHHHHHUUUURRRCCCCHHHHH!
@ESQuared,
I love this addition. That mofo is never missin’ a beat. He’s just missin’ a few marbles…
Co-sign on George Clinton.
George Clinton gave us P-Funk, Parliament and the greatest guitar solo ever from Eddie Hazel.
P-Funk gave us G-Funk… NWA, Ice Cubes first 3 albums, Chronic, Doggystyle etc.
George Clinton directly influenced Africa Bambatta and perhaps most significantly OutKast. Who have go onto ifluence newer artists like Weezy and B.o.B
btw OutKast have 4 of the greatest albums of the last 15 years.
@Dangerous,
btw OutKast have 4 of the greatest albums of the last 15 years.
I STAN FOR ‘KAST!!!
What? I ain’t ashamed….
@K to the…,
why would you be ashamed of stanning for OutKast?!
That gave you ridiculous cool point from me. Shew, I was rockin my OutKast t-shirt this weekend…. to church. **snicker**
@Dangerous,
Guitar solo? Do you mean the one from Maggot Brain. I love that song.
@WuDaMan, Yep. I want that played at my funeral… I WANT TEARS GOTDAMNIT!
@Dangerous, btw OutKast have 4 of the greatest albums of the last 15 years
this is factual.
@Dangerous, not for nothing, and i’m a huge ‘kast fan myself…
but which 4 would that be? and that’s a pretty nebulous statement. 4 of the greatest albums out of how many great albums?
just curious b/c as much as i love ‘kast, i’m not sure i’d make that statement myself. so i’m curious as to what brought that statement together.
@Panama Jackson,
Damn you beat me here, cuz I was about to post the same run of questions.
@Panama Jackson,
ATLiens
Aquemini
Stankonia
The Love Below/Speakerboxxx
I don’t think anyone would disagree with the first 2.
Stankonia was ahead of its time. Whilst folks was either banging on their Casio keyboard, tryna do their best Swizz Beats impression or jocking Kanye & them ‘Kast where on another planet. Synthesizers, drum & bass music, electric guitars and that’s just BOB.
And on the other one, 3Stacks and Fat Sacks proved they could do it independently whilst still sounding like OutKast.
Oh and Big Boi murdered the GOAT on Flip Flop Rock.
“And Whitney gave us “crack is wack”. I’d say they’ve done more for society and mankind than Extreme Makeover and American Idol.”
*nods*
Nancy Reagan WISH she came up with that. She had “Just say no” which was also a pop culture reference, but she didn’t rhyme, though. Rhyming trumps everything.
Oh, forgot to add my crackhead addition:
Gary Busey.
@Cheekie,
H3ll yes.
No one has mentioned one of the greatest wide receivers ever, Michael Irvin. Better yet Florida State football in the late 80′s and early 90′s and the Univ of Miami football in the mid 90′s. These teams used coke, crack and heroine to propell them to college football greatness. And they produced some great WWF wrestlers (Faruq and the Rock)
@Peysonic Temple, so true. so true.
@Peysonic Temple,
Three cheers exactly.
Chris Farley (RIP) he was kind of like the fore runner to people like Will Ferrell, Borat and anyone else willing to make a completely fool of themselves to make us laugh…
Eddie Murphy, assumptions of crackedoutedness based on that music video and his leather jumpsuits from Delirious and Raw.
Sigmund Frued, he was a coke head but still, he did psychoanalysis while on coke and people STILL believe him…
Jimi Hendrix, nuff said
Ol’ Dirty Bastard, his whole career is priceless and deserving of a comedic documentary.
@Omar, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, his whole career is priceless and deserving of a comedic documentary.
oh shyt! How does one forget Ol’ Dirt Dawg?!?!
@Omar,
I love your list.
Booiful.
@Omar,
Chris Farley (RIP) he was kind of like the fore runner to people like Will Ferrell, Borat and anyone else willing to make a completely fool of themselves to make us laugh
you can’t make this list without john belushi, who was the mike jordan of crack-out/tragic death insanely funny men.
Eminem – the drugs made him. then we, the black delegation, drafted him. thank you, drugs.
Heath Ledger – the Joker wasn’t psychotic. He was just on Vicoden.
Michael Jackson – for every bad thing someone says about MJ, the ultimate rebuttal is, “But he made THRILLER!!!!”
Flava Flav – he gave us Flava of Love season 1. Then proceeded to destroy the black race with concurring seasons and bad spin-offs
@SouthernCharm,
Though I did watch all of the first season (sad I know), I felt like Flava Flav destroyed the black race with the first episode of the first season. Then again, it wasn’t him. We expected him to act that way. It was the women, acting crazy and fighting over….?
@SouthernCharm,
“Flava Flav – he gave us Flava of Love season 1. ”
Yes, I look back with nostalgia on the Flava of Love days of yore. I mean, it gave us Janice the Muppet aka New York who in turn gave ME the made-up word “blist” (read: bliss). I can barely say the word ‘bliss’ to this day without adding that lovely and hilarious ‘t’ at the end.
From the looks of it, the real topic should be NON-Crackheads that don’t get enough credit. Everyone is some form of a crackhead.
Let’s not forget Lil Wayne. He kept some purple in his cup…..and still managed to knock up Lauryn.
@V Renee,
And that is some Gangsta cockroach sh*t right thurr.
ion’t like him, but I respect his hustle.
@BlackBerry Molasses,
And that is some Gangsta cockroach sh*t right thurr. .
OMG this just made me laugh. Sooooo hard.
@V Renee,
Let’s not forget Lil Wayne. He kept some purple in his cup…..and still managed to knock up Lauryn.
Birds of a feather…
I agree with your entire list, especially Devante Swing and DMX! I love me some Bobby Brown also. I was playing Whit Whit’s new cd in the car this morning thinking “she’s come a long way, and cleans up well!”. Its not old Whitney, but it’ll do.
Oh yeah PJack…every time I see the blog title for today, I’m reminded of that Mack 10 song…lol I’ve been singing it all morning.
This is random, but speaking of DMX, why was I flipping through the stations and landed on the public access channel and they had the Hebrew Israelites on doing their preaching (ex. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2P-fjSOsjs) and I swear I thought that ninja was gon’ start barking like DMX circa 1998… he was scary @ me.
@Naturally Alise,
they scare me so much that i’m not gonna click on that link
@The Champ,
Even though it’s probably hilarious. Yo which variety show do you think was funniest chapelle, he haw, flip wilson, carol burnet, or in living color?
@Naturally Alise, the Israelites did make me smile in the clip where they shut down those Mormon dudes though, I can’t front.
overlooked crackheads not yet mentioned
fredo corleone
***who helped the corleone family make inroads into vegas, impregnated at least twelve showgirls, and helped to cement mike’s status as the coldest movie gangsta ever with his betrayal and subsequent murder***
redman
rodney king
maia campbell
***has to be one of the top two or three best looking crackheads ever***
@The Champ,
“fredo corleone”
Good pick…I completely forgot about Fredo.
@The Champ,
maia campbell
***has to be one of the top two or three best looking crackheads ever***
Clearly you haven’t seen her post crack
@Dorian G., I’ve seen her around the hood on two occasions.
Okay I’m listening to the BP3 yo the beats sound kinda good n stuff but Jay sound old. I mean really he sound like a ole preacher gaspin for his breath.
@WuDaMan,
Okay now I’m like the production is trippin under his voice. I mean it sounds like a b-movie score. kinda pop like and stuff or is that Drake?
@WuDaMan,
Okay wait ole boy sounded like my homie Tabby Bonney
@WuDaMan,
So Hov is now old and has like two newer good songs. kinda good. this is what’s effing up the game.
Venus vs Mars is the best cut I’ve heard so far form BP3,…..hoping really hoping that OBFCL2 is THE sh*t tho ,”House of Flying Daggers”… young… that video…. smh….. so serious…I feel like certain artists , certain tracks, certain vids, are avant garde and haute couture, not necessarily Rae, we’ll see tho, but def Dennis Coles and 4 sho the Daggers vid…sh*t is just mad crazy wikked artistic …..
ok, I’m gonna admit that I haven’t read the whole post, or even most peoples comments…. and I also don’t know how to do the cross out thing with brackets etc.
Anyway, why are Americans (old + young, black + white, male +female, smart+ intellectually challenged) so obssessed with Hip-Hop? Kanye West is probably the only good rapper I can think of…
Don’t shoot me down or whatever, I’m not trying to be controversial, but seriously, what would happen if you take away hip-hop from America for a day…. or am i wrong??? Do people not care as much as I think they do??
xx
excuse any spelling mistakes… I can’t be bothered to read through it, I hope it makes sense…?
i think money changes everything. this explains jay’s not-so-hot releases recently. he’s got it made now and i think sum1 else mentioned that. it’s hard to see with your fans and the hustlers who, in a sense, made you, when you’re perched on a mountain-high pile of money with beyonce by your side and not a d*mn thing to study. he has lost his touch. the driving force behind him and his music (ie making it out the ghetto) is no longer there
i cant believe a white english dude has had to come on here and point this out…. the late great marvin gaye, the ‘black frank sinatra’ (although to my mind marvin > frank any day, and i aint just saying that on here for brownie points, ill go on stormfront and tell them the same thing), booking out 3 hotel rooms in his heyday on tour, his preacher on his left, and his coke dealer on his right with marvin in the middle, hows that for the duality of human nature? does he not count cause it was powder white not hard?