NBA Restart, But What About BLM?

The NBA will resume play on July 30, 2020.  This is after more than four months of no games because of COVID-19.  As stakeholders of the NBA game—fans, players and owners have missed NBA action. But the players and owners have also lost millions of dollars during the pandemic.  During the stoppage, however, this country has experienced unprecedented social unrest.  And because so many folks are working remotely, or even worse, unemployed, millions of folks have had more time to pay attention to what is going on around us.  Before the NBA’s (players and owners) collective decision to return to the court, members of the media, leaders and folks from all walks of life expressed opinions on whether the NBA should restart its season.  On the one side are people who believe restarting the NBA season will slow the progress we (Black people and allies) have made in dismantling systemic discrimination, which certainly includes pervasive police brutality.  On the other side are folks who believe resuming NBA basketball is a sound decision. 

George Floyd.  Breonna Taylor.  Ahmaud Arbery.  Say these names aloud.  These are the names of three African American citizens who were murdered at the hands of law enforcement officers and/or by racist, gun-toting individuals who have a misplaced belief that their “right” to protect their neighborhoods (e.g., George Zimmerman) are more important than a person’s right to be free (and alive!).  In the wake of these untimely murders, big businesses have professed support for the Black Lives Matter movement.  Politicians have commissioned the painting of murals and removal of statues of known racists.  Some people now all of a sudden understand why Colin Kaepernick chose to exercise his First Amendment Right to kneel as a silent protest against police brutality, not as an act to somehow disrespect a flag.  Some folks believe that this “movement” in the right direction should not be interrupted by resuming NBA basketball. 

Livelihood.  Living check-to-check.  Collective Bargaining Agreement.  NBA players are one of the most well-paid collectives in the country.  However, just because a person makes a lot of money does not mean that he is wealthy.  The sad reality is that many of these players are living paycheck to paycheck, just like most non-NBA citizens.  Believe it or not, many of these young men need play to resume, so they can maintain their lifestyles and responsibilities.  Does anyone have the right to tell a man that he should be a martyr for any group?  Can I tell you that you should quit your job, neglect your responsibilities, so that a group you belong to can have more leverage?  I think not.  That Colin Kaepernick was willing to “die on the vine” for his beliefs, in the face of serious backlash is admirable.  It put him in the same group with Black men before him who “died on the vine” so to speak, e.g., Craig Hodges, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and many other athletes who opposed unjust practices or symbols.  The bottom-line is: Making a decision that will impact your ability to make a living is personal to each individual.  

In May 2020, the NBA and the Player’s Union agreed to extend the window in which the NBA can terminate the Collective Bargaining Agreement in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.  That said, shortly after the NBA season ends, the parties will begin negotiations regarding a litany of financial issues, including salary caps, and luxury cap thresholds.  The owners have lost a lot of revenue during the pandemic.  They will be looking to offset some of these losses onto the players.  So, had the players collectively decided not to play, there is no doubt that the owners would have taken an even harder position during upcoming negotiations.  As it stands, the NBA Players’ Union has been able to negotiate at arm’s length with the NBA owners. But the upcoming negotiations will likely be very challenging.  The current NBA salary cap is one of the best in professional sports because of the amount of “guaranteed” money included in many contracts.  So, the players decision to resume play or not will likely have a large effect on their lives well past this NBA season.  Players are far more than athletes; they have strong representation and know what is on the line. 

The NBA has invested millions of dollars into the “bubble” model.  Essentially, the NBA required NBA players and staffers to submit to COVID-19 testing before resuming the season in Orlando, FL.  The NBA has reserved multiple resorts to serve as the players living quarters.  Players will be unable to leave the bubble without explicit permission from the NBA.  Should a player leave the bubble for any reason, he will have to submit to additional COVID-19 testing.  Although on a smaller scale, we saw the “bubble” model work well for The Basketball Tournament (“TBT”).  This was a nice test case for the larger-scale NBA bubble.  It worked well although fans could not attend games, we could watch the games of the television.  If you have ever played basketball, this gave me AAU vibes.  At this point, sports fans miss live sports and are desperate for a return.  Most of us will take the NBA games, in any form, over the absence of live basketball.

I see a number of issues to consider when choosing an eventual champion.  Fans will not be allowed at the games.  So why does this matter? Well, it means that none of the playoff teams will have “home court advantage.”  For teams (and individual players) that feed on the emotion and passion of their fans, this could be problematic.  Which players stayed in shape during the layoff?  For those who did not maintain optimal health, will they be able to turn it on during a quick ramp up period?  Which teams will quickly find their collective rhythm?  Because no team will have home court advantage, the seedings may not matter nearly as much.  Which star players have the mental fortitude to carry a team, while dealing with not seeing family or friends for months?  And as much as I hate to even utter these words, injuries are part of the game.  Will any major stars or contributors be injured?  Afterall, playoff basketball is far more intense than regular season basketball and these players have been away from competitive NBA basketball for more than four months.  There are other issues, but for the sake of brevity, I will stop here.

I’m a Lebron James fan, so I want to see the Lakers win the Championship.  I believe they are well-positioned to do so, but they are far from a lock.  Avery Bradley’s decision to skip the restart is more important than some might think.  Although he is not a star player, he brings toughness to every game.  Either way, Lebron and Anthony Davis will have to carry this team. And they will need a consistent third scorer (paging Kyle Kuzma!) every game.  The Clippers are tailor made for a deep playoff run.  They have a fantastic coach.  They have scorers on the first and second units.  And they have gritty players who bring energy and grit to every game.  Assuming no major injuries (or untimely COVID-19 positive tests), the Clippers are the only team that can beat the Lakers four of seven games in a series.  I do not believe in the Bucks.  And I believe there are other teams that can potentially beat them in the Eastern Conference.    

Regardless of who wins the championship, I believe this will be a very exciting postseason.  It will give us all a reprieve from the monotony of day-to-day life “DC” (During COVID). 

Peace

Incredible Hip Hop Verses - 2020

There was a time, not too incredibly long ago when lyrics were the currency of hip hop.  Without this currency, many true hip hoppers did not respect an emcee.  However, despite this lack of “respect” some emcees still experienced tremendous commercial success without this currency, e.g., Nelly.    It seems, that hip hop culture has gradually moved from this practice.  It is almost as if the value of lyrics as currency has decreased, but there are still many emcees who care about being lyrically sharp.  I love words and admire those emcees who can use metaphors, double entendre, similes and other literary tools to craft a perfect line.  Each year, I look for these perfect verses and every year, I find a few.  This year, I want to highlight two incredible verses.

Royce Da 5’9 is an incredible lyricist.  He once served as Eminem’s hype man, but he is not your typical hype man.  He is a lyricist who can hold his own with any emcee who has ever touched a microphone (and I mean from any era).  Rapping is easy to Royce.  Earlier this year, on his song, Black Savage, he pinned an unbelievable verse on an incredible song with great verses from Cyhi Da Prince and T.I. He unpacked a lot in this short verse, but the overall theme was about Black excellence.  The way he went about doing so was creative, so I want to point out a few of my favorite lines.

Right out of the gate Royce raps: “I place value on brothers who never had justice/I am the Black savage/Ali and Foreman in Zaire fighting for black magic.”  I love how he flipped the word “savage,” which, in certain circles, has a negative connotation.  But he uses the word to underscore several examples of Black excellence.  In 1619, when our African brothers and sisters were yanked from their homes in Africa, shackled, and placed on ships to America, slave owners called them “savages.”  This term was meant to signal that our African family were uncivilized and not worthy of any sort of respect.  Yet Royce juxtaposes the negative connotation with a reference to Muhammad Ali versus George Foreman—a display of Black Excellence in the boxing ring.  I read this line to be a jab at the racists and bigots who called us savages, yet look how far we have risen, and continue to rise.  Everything about the Ali versus Foreman fight was Black—including the promoter, the location, the audience, and of course, the fighters.     

Police brutality is, unfortunately, alive and well.  In 2020, it seems that Black men are dying far too often at the hands of law enforcement.  And they are not receiving any justice.  The murder of George Floyd is a case-in-point that seems to have motivated people from across the globe to stand together in opposition to this brutality.  So again, Royce is emphatically declaring that he gives credence and reverence to the Black men who have never received justice.  To me, he is saying that we must honor the fallen and not forget them.  They are the heroes.  They are kings who will one day receive their crowns – in this life or the next.

The next standout line is “Hopping up out the Chevy, Pac, Biggie, Machiavelli/OG like Nas or Reggie/culture like Ox in “Belly”/ Vulgar like Akinele/ focus like Dr. Sebi.”  Royce sticks to his theme of flipping the meaning of “savage.”    This technique is nothing new, however.  Black folks have had to turn negative labels into positive affirmations many times over.  For example, some folks have flipped the word “nigger,” which has a visceral meaning and instead turned the word “nigga” into a term of endearment.  In one quick line, Royce named some of the biggest figures in Black pop culture and keeps laying waste to the negative term “savage” and making way for Black hip hop royalty. Pac, Biggie and Nas are hip hop royalty.  Ox from Belly is one of the most recognizable characters in a Black movie.  If you don’t remember Akinele, do you remember the song with the chorus “just put it in your mouth?”  This might be my favorite line from the verse.   

The entertainment business would not be what it is today without contributions from Black people.  Long before we were receiving credit for our creativity in the arts—music, movies, dancing, etc., the “powers-that-be” were appropriating our talents as their own.  In the next line, Royce speaks to this as he raps: “We did it your way, but now the culture is boppin to our Sinatra Medley.”  It was not that long ago when journalists described hip hop as a passing fad.  They did not believe an artform founded in the Bronx by Black kids would ever be accepted and would not endure.  Boy were they wrong, as it turns out that hip hop culture is pop culture.  People from all walks of life purchase hip hop music, want to live the lives of hip-hop stars.  Hip hop is here to stay.  Royce’s verse is just a friendly reminder.

Freddie Gibbs is another underrated lyricist.  I must admit, I first learned about Gibbs a few years ago from one of my law school classmates.  If you are unfamiliar with his work, check him out on YouTube.  The song that is the focus of this post is titled Scottie Beam. 

I’ve heard the phrase “the revolution will be televised” several times during my life.  But in 2020, revolution seems much closer than it did 20 years ago.  Think about the events of the past few years—the election of a reality star as President; a Pandemic that is ravaging the world; and continued murders of Black people at the hands of law enforcement.  Yea, I’d say we are on the verge of a revolution.  Gibbs raps: “Yeah, the revolution is the genocide/look your execution will be televised.”  I interpret this line to address how, as history supports, revolution requires sacrifice.  In years past, the sacrifice was not always televised, but nowadays, due in large part to technological advancement, people record almost everything.  During the George Floyd Protests, which could be described as part of a revolution, we saw literal and figurative genocide.  I mean, police officers abused protesters, agitators incited unrest, and people lost their lives.  So, figuratively, this could be seen as a genocide.  And lots of the carnage was captured on iPhones and broadcast on television. 

Gibbs also helps clarify the plight of being a Black man in America.  He focuses on interacting with law enforcement whilst being a Black man.  Gibbs raps: “He pulled me over, I asked him, “yo, what’s the problem, sir?  I swerved to duck the potholes, man, I had no option, sir/ Just let me go cause my license, insurance, proper sir.”  I try to avoid having any interactions with law enforcement.  I do not want to do anything to draw attention to myself, such as swerving to avoid a pothole or speeding through a yellow light.  Think about the number of Black men stopped by the Police for a minor infraction, but ended up in jail or the morgue?  This happens far too often, and we are all tired of it.

Gibbs also speaks to this generation’s obsession with recording anything, even someone’s death.  I recall seeing videos of terrible events, but not anyone trying to assist.  Just wanting to record it, so it can be posted to social media.  When you really think about it, it is sickening.  Gibbs raps: “Yeah my execution might be televised/Cross niggas like Bubba Chuck/I never gave a fuck.”   This line is dope to me because of the reference to Allen Iverson and his famous cross over move and how he was unbothered by the media’s portrayal of him.  He is saying that even if his execution is televised, he does not care.  It is almost as if he is saying if it is televised, the people will be able to draw their own conclusions, rather than relying on how the media might otherwise paint the picture of his death.  I believe that but for the video footage showing Mr. Floyd’s death, his case would have never emerged to the masses. 

I am a big Michael Jordan fan.  I still remember playing basketball in my backyard as a child.  I cannot count the number of times I practiced moves as if I were MJ.  The recent MJ documentary brought back feelings of nostalgia for me and millions of other MJ fans.  Gibbs raps: “Shit was different when Mike left and it was Scottie team/ex won’t take me back, without me, the bitch would not have a ring.”  If you are a basketball aficionada, you likely know that MJ retired for a couple of years, making Scottie Pippen the leader.  You also know that, although Scottie Pippen played well, in fact, the Bulls were not quite the same.  They did not win the Championship again until after MJ came back into the fold.  So the reference to his ex and the “ring” is clever.

Some say that hip hop is dead, or that hip hop is not what it used to be.  I would disagree with the former, but agree with the latter.  Also, as with most things, over time, they change and evolve.  Hip hop has done so, but it is very much thriving.  You might just have to dig a little deeper to find the lyrical bars we enjoyed during the 90s and early 2000s.

Peace

The Problem With Band-Aids

As children—before we knew better—we believed that putting a Band-Aid on almost any sore would begin the healing process.  Oh, you have an abscess tooth?  No problem, grab a Band-Aid.  As ridiculous as this sounds today, that is what certain “leaders” are proposing to solve systemic racial issues in this Country.  Painting “Black Lives Matter” on the pavement or naming a street “Black Lives Matter Blvd.,” or singing the Negro National Anthem before a sporting event are Band-Aids.  These do not cut to the root of the issues.  As it pertains to systemic racism, this country needs open-heart surgery.  Band-Aids are no good in that space.  Either of the overtures mentioned above could be productive as a small part of a more comprehensive plan of action.  Many folks are skeptical of these overtures, however, because we have seen it all before.  Folks need to see comprehensive plans of action and then see immediate steps to solve these racial issues.  That some leaders believe these Band-Aids will appease us is disrespectful and ineffective.  We need real change, not Band-Aids.

Police Brutality is a pervasive problem in the Black community.  And has been so for many, many years.  During the 1960s (60 plus years ago), the Black Panther Party outlined a 10-Point Plan of action to address many injustices plaguing the Black Community.  And guess what point seven of the 10-Point plan demanded?  You guessed it:  We want an immediate end to POLICE BRUTALITY.  Most of the Civil Rights activists are dead, imprisoned or no longer have a platform.  That we are still fighting for this basic HUMAN RIGHT is a problem.  It shines a light on the obvious, which is that this Country has only made marginal progress in this fight.  This is not a “post-racial America.”  If you believe that, you probably believe the world is flat and that storks deliver babies. 

Many Black folks have lost faith in the Justice System.  For older generations who endured Jim Crow Laws and then saw U.S. citizens elect the first (and only) Black president, I can only imagine how they must feel.  The roller coaster of emotions must be tough to understand.  We take two steps forward, and then 5 steps backwards.  This has been going on for decades, all while, systemic racism has never disappeared.  It is like the sand at the bottom of the ocean.  You may not see it every day because of heavy vegetation, or lack of sunlight, but you know it is there, somewhere in the deep abyss.  That is systemic racism.  It is pervasive.  It is enduring.  It is ugly. 

How do we solve the issue of police brutality?  There is no quick, immediate answer to this question.  One easy way to begin the long healing process would be to arrest the police officers who killed Breonna Taylor.  It is sad to say, but many of us have become accustomed to law enforcement officers taking our lives or our liberty (or both in many cases).  We are conditioned to not even expect justice in the form of arrests, convictions or prison sentences.  Instead, we are accustomed to these pronouncements: “No charges have been brought against officer John Doe”; and “The officers have been acquitted.” 

Here are a few additional ideas, that, frankly, are practical and doable.  Hire independent investigators to investigate police departments with the worst reputations for police brutality.  This should not be hard to determine.  Policies and standard procedures must be overhauled as well.  So, empower the investigators to review policies and procedures that support a culture of brutality and systemic racism.  Empower these investigators to publish reports of rampant injustices and then begin immediately demoting, firing and even prosecuting wrongdoers.   Hire a task force to investigate widespread voter suppression efforts across this country.  We know this is a real problem and is prevalent in lower income communities.  If every vote were counted, that would entice many folks to vote.  Particularly this is important in years when we are not electing a President.  Local politicians are often the people who have the power to make meaningful changes in your community, not the President.  Implementing some or all of these strategies will not undo decades of systemic discrimination and mistreatment.  This is an action plan, at least.  And is more than another meaningless Band-Aid.    

Many of us know the Negro National Anthem. We learned the words to this song when we were children (although unlikely in school).  To be clear: singing this song before a sporting event will not impact systemic racism in any meaningful way.  It is a Band-Aid. 

When we speak about sporting events, lets talk about the NBA and NFL.  Both leagues are dominated by Black players, yet there is only one Black majority owner in the NBA (who conveniently is the greatest basketball player ever) and zero in the NFL.   What does that mean?  Well if there is not a critical mass of Black folks at the highest levels of these sports, how can we expect to have a meaningful voice at the table?  The answer is we will not and cannot.  How about we get serious about holding franchises responsible for having diverse and inclusive ownership and leadership teams?  I mean, can you imagine a sport dominated by non-Blacks such as hockey being owned and led by non-Blacks.  You cannot imagine it because that would never happen.    

2020 has been a rough year for most industries and has been challenging for regular people.  Travel is restricted.  Unemployment numbers continue to spike.  COVID-19 is ravaging our country.  And we witnessed one of the worst displays of racism in the murder of George Floyd.  People are sick and tired of Band-Aids.  We need immediate surgery on the problem that is systemic racism.  A Band-Aid is no longer sufficient (and never was).

Peace  

Beware of the "Sophomore" Jinx - Dun Language

Disclaimer: While Juvenile Hell is technically Mobb Deep’s first album, most hip hops fans refer to the Infamous as the Mobb’s debut album.  So, for this article, that means Hell on Earth is Mobb’s second album.

“Yo,yo, you know how we did it on the Infamous Album, right?  Aight, we gonna do it again son.” - Prodigy

For many hip-hop artists, the debut album is a compilation of a lifetime of verses, hooks (and even beats).  Artists—especially during the 1990s—had to have a laser focus on their debut album because competition was fierce.  Emcees and hip-hop purists were into lyrics and creativity.  So, you could not be wack or copy someone else’s style.  And during this period, the end-all-be-all for an artist was the often-elusive record deal.  Record deals were hard to come by, and often times, record labels had rejected these artists many times before finally signing them to a record deal.  Artists also knew that they might only have one chance to become a “star.”  Thus, when an artist finally released a debut album, it likely represented the best that artist had to offer.  There were many incredible debut albums in the 1990s.  The list is long, but I’ll name a few: Illmatic, Ready to Die, Reasonable Doubt, It’s Dark and Hell is Hot, Black on Both Sides, Doggy Style, Enter the Wu Tang, and many others.  But how do you follow-up a classic debut album?

“Industry Rule number four thousand and eighty, record Company people are shady.” – Q- Tip

Music is a multi-billion dollar business.  It is unsurprising that record companies want to ensure a favorable return on their investments into an artist’s career.  Three common pitfalls lead to a bad second album.  First, assuming the debut album was good (otherwise there probably would not be a second album), record labels pressure artists to work on a second album quickly, so they can capitalize on the success of the first album.  The record company often won’t care about an artist’s creative process.  This can lead to subpar music.  Second, some artists (often pushed by the record label) decide that after a successful debut, they want to display their range as an emcee.   For some artists, this can be a good decision.  For other artists, however, this can be a career-killer.  Whether fair or not, some core fans do not want their favorite artists to change, or show incredible growth.  What they really want is a repeat of the debut album with new beats, hooks, and lyrics.  Lastly, artists place more pressure on themselves following a successful debut album.  In doing so, they can miss that “it” factor they had when creating the debut album.  This can lead to a letdown.   Anyway, let’s talk about one of my favorite groups, Mobb Deep, and their “sophomore album.”

Mobb Deep is a legendary group.  There was a time in hip hop that Havoc and Prodigy (R.I.P.) were arguably the best group in the game.  A few quick thoughts about the Mobb.  During their career they: (1) were at the forefront of the infamous East Coast/West Coast Beef; (2) were consistent; and (3) stayed in their lane.

The East Coast/West Coast Beef was an ugly time in hip hop.  For casual hip hop listeners, the beef starts and ends with Biggie and Tupac.  The Beef, however, was much deeper and involved other hip-hop artists, gangs, goons, and record labels.  Mobb Deep was one of the first groups to go on wax with a song in opposition to Tupac.  I remember watching the video for Capone N Noreaga’s song, LA LA (featuring Mobb Deep).  CNN and Mobb made this song in response to Tha Dogg Pound’s (featuring Snoop Dogg) record New York New York.  In that video, Tha Dogg Pound stomped through New York and kicked over New York skyscrapers (very disrespectful!).  In Tupac’s famous battle track, Hit Em Up, he fired shots at Mobb Deep.  Mobb Deep did not back down and had some things to say on Hell on Earth.

You cannot discuss Hell on Earth without at least mentioning the Infamous.  The Infamous is one of the best hip-hop albums of any era.  It was a classic when the Mobb released it in 1995.  It remains a classic.  As good as that album is, I love Hell on Earth just as much. 

Context is key, so I want to provide a little information to help you understand my perspective on Hell on Earth.  I was fascinated by hip hop in the early 1990s, but because I was young, I had not fully developed my appetite for hip hop music until I was 14 years old, which happened in 1996—the same year Mobb Deep dropped Hell on Earth (November 19, 1996). What a time to be a young hip hop fan!  In my opinion, 1996 was the best year in hip hop.  That summer, I bought (well, really my mom bought, but you get the point) Reasonable Doubt, It was Written and Atliens.  Now that I think about it, summer 1996 is the time when I fell in love with hip hop.  As a young man from the East Coast, I was fascinated by the East Coast/West Coast Beef, which coincidentally occurred during this time.  Tupac was murdered in September 1996, so the stakes were high for Mobb’s release in November.  I remember wondering if the Mobb would diss Tupac?   

Now, imagine being in the car with me (and my mom) on the way to the record store in 1996. Ironically, I remember the weather being cloudy and cool on this day.   We finally get to the store to purchase the album.  I bought the CD, and then went home.  I sat down in my room (with all the lights off) so I could listen to the music on my Discman without distractions.  I was curious as to how Mobb Deep would start the album.  Would they declare war on the West Coast?  An album's first song/introduction usually sets the tone for the album.    

When I pressed play, I heard a sinister beat and Prodigy talking shit, just before P and Hav began rapping.  I knew the album would be special.  Then, track two, Drop a Gem on Em, began playing on my Discman.  After a few bars, it was clear Mobb Deep had not backed off of their stance against Pac.  In listening to just two tracks, you knew Hell on Earth would not be a letdown album. 

My favorite tracks on this album are Nighttime Vultures, G.O.D. Pt. III, Hell on Earth (Front Lines) and Give it Up Fast. 

Hell on Earth is a classic album.  Mobb Deep did not fall into any of the pitfalls outlined above.  The  album flowed like a movie.  Beginning with the title and flowing into the tracks (scenes).  It was clear that Mobb Deep put some time into this album, which makes sense.  Remember: the Infamous was released in April 1995, more a year before Hell on Earth was released.  Mobb Deep stuck to the script on this album, which was smart.  Hardcore Mobb Deep fans were not looking to see the Mobb show their hand at expanding their range.  They (we) wanted sinister beats, dope lyrics and more “dun language.”  Simple.  We wanted a continuation of the Infamous, which is exactly what Mobb Deep delivered.  Lastly, if the Mobb felt any pressure in making Hell on Earth, it did not show through in their finished product.  Hell on Earth is a gem.  If you have not listened to the album, or even if you have not listened to it lately, pull it up on Youtube.

Peace

Battle of the Giants – DJ Premier v. RZA

2020, has been a challenging year.  Kobe Bryant – a global icon – died in a tragic helicopter accident.  Then, just as we were recovering from his untimely death, COVID-19 arrived.  It feels like we are living in a horror movie.  With shelter-in-place orders abound, simple tasks are challenging.  Basic things many of us currently cannot do include: (1) have dinner at a restaurant; (2) go shopping at a mall; (3) have a drink at a  bar; (4) play sports (or watch live sports); or (5) enjoy food at a cookout (yes, it is almost cookout season).  To make matters worse, we have no idea when these restrictions will be lifted.  Many Americans have lost their jobs – whether temporarily (furlough) or permanently.  So many people are literally trying to figure out how they will pay monthly bills, with very little assistance from the federal government.  Accordingly, the unemployment rate has spiked.  How is any of this related to DJ Premier (“Premo”) versus RZA beat battle?  Simple: music is (1) an artistic outlet that unites people, from all walks of life, and (2) allows us to “feel good” and nostalgic, even if temporarily.

 

In March 2020, Swizz Beats and Timbaland sensed the fear, and uncertainty sweeping the country.  They used their collective influence to create an interactive Instagram Live series titled “Verzuz.”  The premise is simple.  One beatmaker plays a song he has produced.  Then, his opponent plays a song he has produced.  The competitors go back and forth in this manner until each competitor has played 20 songs.  A few weeks ago, I watched T. Pain “battle” Lil Jon.  The battle was both entertaining and nostalgic.  That battle took my mind back to my college days in Greensboro, North Carolina.  This was fun, but when I heard about an upcoming battle between RZA and Premo, I was ecstatic (as were most all hip-hop fans). 

Premo is a legendary producer.  He is one half of Gang Starr (RIP Guru).  Many believe he crafted the soundtrack for early 90s gritty, raw New York City hip hop.  Regardless of whether you agree, it is hard to argue with his impact on hip hop culture during the last 30 years.  Premo has produced tracks for the best of the best, including BIG, Nas, and Jay-Z.  If you are unfamiliar with his production style, I would recommend listening to a track by Nas titled NY State of Mind. 

The Abbott, the RZA-rector and Bobby Digital are just a few names RZA goes by.  If you are familiar with Wu-Tang Clan, you know who RZA is.  Most of the songs you have heard from the Wu-tang Clan, especially during the 1990s, are courtesy of RZA.  If you are unfamiliar with RZA’s style, I would recommend listening to Enter the Wu Tang.

Prior to the battle, I envisioned key points to be considered, which I boiled down to three.  First, I wondered whether RZA and Premo would select their personal favorite beats, or would they choose “crowd favorites?”  Second, I thought about the format allowing for each competitor to play only 20 songs.  I thought this format would level the playing field such that the breadth of a person’s catalogue would not be determinative in the battle.  Third, the format allowed each competitor to interact with followers via live stream, which I thought might favor Premo because he is a DJ, while RZA is not.   

The Battle

The battle was everything I thought it would be.  I thought Premo would easily win the battle.  This was no knock on RZA, but, more, a nod to Premo’s greatness and breadth of his musical catalogue.  And this was after personally witnessing Premo destroy Pete Rock, another legendary producer, in Raleigh, North Carolina a few years ago. After watching the battle, I must admit that I underestimated RZA (In Baby’s words: Put some “respek” on my name”).

I have to share a few observations.  RZA began the battle with Liquid Swords, which is a phenomenal beat.  But, when Premo dropped A Million and One Questions, I just knew it was over for RZA.  I felt that Premo set the tone that he was out for blood.  But he definitely did not keep that same energy (although he certainly could have done so). I also noticed the mutual respect between Premo and RZA.  They were both humble, but I felt that Premo was so respectful that he almost forgot he was in a beat battle.  I think he saw it as a win for the culture, so there was no need to “compete.”   From the beginning, I believe RZA approached the battle a little more seriously (but not in an asshole type of way).  Premo has a deeper catalogue, but RZA was more consistent in selecting the best of his catalogue.  Also, I think RZA did an excellent job surprising Premo with songs that he was not expecting.  In a sense, it felt that RZA was in attack mode, while Premo, at least at times, was reacted to RZA’s moves. This factor played into momentum, which RZA seized and never truly relinquished, although Premo started swinging for the fences towards the end of the battle.    

RZA	DJ Premier	Result
1.GZA- Liquid Swords	1.Jay-Z – A Million and One Questions	Premo
2.Method Man – Bring Tha Pain	2.M.O.P. – Breakin the Rules	RZA
3.Wu Tang – Maria	3.Mos Def – Mathematics	Premo
4.Raekwon – Wu Gambinos	4.Big L – the Enemy	Tie
5.Ghostface Killa – Run	5.KRS- MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know	RZA
6.Wu Tang – Shame on a Nigga	6.Das EFX – Real Hip Hop	Premo
7.Wu-Tang – Protect Ya Neck	7.Group Home – Livin Proof	Premo
8.GZA – Cold World	8.D’Angelo – Devil’s Pie	RZA
9.Wu Tang – Method Man	9.Gangstarr – Just to Get a Rep	RZA
10.Ghostface Killa – Motherless Child	10.Jay-Z – D’evils	Premo
11.Raekwon – Verbal Intercourse	11.Nas – Nas is Like	RZA
12.Ghostface – Buck 50	12.Gang Star – Remainz	Tie
13.Raekwon – Ice Cream	13.The Notorious B.I.G. – Unbelievable	RZA
14.Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Brooklyn Zoo	14.Jeru the Damaja – Come Clean	Premo
15.Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Shimmy Shimmy Ya	15.The Notorious B.I.G. – Kick in the Door	Premo
16.Biggie – Long Kiss Goodnight Long Kiss	16.Gangstarr – Above the Clouds Above the Clouds	Tie
17.Ghostface -Assassination Day	17.Nas – N.Y. State of Mind	Premo
18.Raekwon – Criminology	18.Gang Starr - DWYCK	RZA
19.Raekwon – Incarcerated Scarfaces	19.Royce Da 5’9 - Boom	RZA
20.Mary J and Method Man – You’re All I Need	20.Biggie – Ten Crack Commandments	Premo

The Winner

So, who won?  RZA won by the slimmest of margins.  To be clear, I believe the music played by RZA and Premo were pretty close to even.  As noted in my observations, I believe RZA won on what I would call “soft” factors.  He seized the momentum; he embraced the concept of “battle;” and he made Premo change his song selection a number of times.  And, he also gets some props because he was the underdog, but he really came through with heat all night. 

To use a basketball analogy, last night was like Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals (I apologize if you are not an NBA Fan, but just google it).  In this corner: RZA (2001 76ers).  In the opposing corner: Premo (2001 Lakers).  The 76ers were large underdogs, but were led by a motivated Allen Iverson.  The Lakers were dominant, led by Kobe and Shaq and had not lost a game in the 2001 Playoffs until Game 1 against the 76ers.   For this one night, the Iverson-led 76ers beat the Lakers.  At that level of competition, any team has a fighter’s chance to win on any given night.  Last night was RZA’s Game 1 (a phenomenal performance by an underdog).  But, as history showed in the 2001 series, the Lakers won the next four games to close out the series.  If Premo and RZA battled four additional times, considering Premo’s catalogue – I would expect him to win each time. 

Last night’s battle, however, belonged to RZA.  And the big winner was, well of course, “the Culture.” 

Peace