Rhymefest Stan Strong-Arms His Favorite Rapper?

Either a Stan has taken stalking where stalking has never gone before or Rhymefest has orchestrated the publicity stunt to end all publicity stunts.

It is being reported that a big time fan of Rhymefest (that's putting it mildly) recently caught Fest slipping and got him for his iPod, which was filled with new music from Fest.

Now the fan -- who has blamed his frustration with numerous delays for Fest's music being released as the reason why he stole property from his favorite rapper -- has threatened to leak all the new music on every week until J Records (Fest's label) announces a release date for a new album.

Regardless we'll see what comes of this. If we hear that fest has been dropped from J Records, I guess we know who was responsible for this stunt.

The Stan, who identifies himself only as Prometheus, wrote the following critical and laudatory diatribe aimed at Rhymefest:

To whom it may concern:

Whoever reads this open letter, whether it be Allido Records, J Records or Rhymefest (I don't care), listen very carefully.

To all rappers and producers: DO NOT LEAVE YOUR iPOD OR LAPTOP UNATTENDED WHEN YOU ARE IN A PUBLIC PLACE. I will get to that in a second.

First of all, I am a huge fan, and I love your music. I'm one of those people who consider you to be a highly underrated artist, partly due to the wack-ass label you signed to and their lack of promotion, partly due to how lame the Hip-Hop industry is and partly due to your inconsistent record releases. But, I'm going to help you. They say an artist can only create great art through great suffering. I'm going to make you a better artist, and I do this out of love for your music.

I'm not going to say where or when (because then you may realize who I am), but you were in a public place recently with your iPod hooked up to a sound system playing music for people, and I caught you slipping. You actually walked away for 15 WHOLE MINUTES!!! Then, you forgot it!!! Wow. I grabbed MAD music off of your iPod. And what did I find? A ton of songs you recorded for EL CHE. Maybe you shouldn't label the songs soo obviously.

This sh*t sounds incredible. Actually, this sh*t is HOT FIRE!!! Why isn't this sh*t out, n*gga? Don't answer that. It doesn't matter. I'm going to help you out, and here is why.

I bought BLUE COLLAR when it dropped. BLUE COLLAR and Busta's THE BIG BANG were the most noteworthy releases that year. And you didn't even go gold? How the fuck does that happen? Oh, my bad: J Records. But, I digress...

I went to some of your shows. I even traveled to see you perform when I could. Hot sh*t every single time, dude. You never disappoint. But, you would do sh*t on your MySpace that would build up a fan's anticipation, and then you wouldn't do sh*t! The EL CHE logo contest? You never said sh*t about a winner. The PLUGG CITY tour? My cousin submitted her info, and you never said sh*t about a winner. Who the f*ck does that? But, hey: I'm a fan. You must have had a reason, right? Don't get me wrong: I'm not a Stan or some sh*t like that. I simply need you to do what you say you're going to do.

Then, you claim that EL CHE was coming out last year. Then, it was this year. More contrived industry inconsistency. I've heard some songs like "Angry Black Man on a Elevator" and "Real N*gga Quotes" and I even heard "Exodus" for the 3.5 seconds you put it on your MySpace. That sh*t sounds incredible. I watched the YouTube videos with the Just Blaze and Jazzy Jeff joints. What the f*ck is up with that Jazzy Jeff project, dude?!? Either you or your label are some f*cking liars regarding what the f*ck is coming out, and I, for one, am tired of it. And, another thing: how the f*ck are you going to come at Lupe Fiasco for his political views when you didn't even have an album out? Was you trying to get attention, n*gga? Is that it? Attention for what? A new single? EL CHE??!!!?? I don't see a release date, my n*gga. Where art thou, release date? Was it worth it? MAN IN THE MIRROR was dope as f*ck. Why the f*ck isn't somebody trying to figure out how to sell THAT sh*t?!? I'm confused by you music dudes, for real. I love your sh*t. I buy your sh*t. I heard you were working with Dr. Dre on DETOX. Are DETOX and EL CHE ever coming out, n*gga? I NEED NEW MUSIC.

I got songs from your iPod. I'm going to leak a record from EL CHE every week until you drop a single or a video or some sh*t. The people have NO F*CKING IDEA how hot this sh*t sounds. Well, I'm going to show them. You had everything on your iPod. Even old, vintage sh*t. I'm gonna drop that, too. Until you or your weak-ass label keep your word and start dropping some f*cking music. And, I'm not playing. I'm going to make you a better artist. I can't wait to see what you do.

To me, this sounds like a classic case of an artist who is upset with his label and doing what it takes to force the label to release his music.

But at the same time I won't front and act like if I got my hands on the entire Neptunes catalog -- including the dozens of albums and hundreds of songs that have never seen the light of day -- that I wouldn't try to employ a similar tactic to either make them release them or release them on my own to the starving Neptunes faithful.

DJ Premier's Latest Hits

Why oh why do people younger than I sleep on DJ Premier?

This guy is a standard-setter, and has been ever since he came on the scene in 1989 with his incredible scratching ability.

It wasn't until a couple of years later that he refined his sound while also redefining what is now that classic New York City Hiphop sound -- boom bap Hiphop music.

Now he has a sound that is both instantly recognizable and while impossible to duplicate.

And after what seemed like a couple of years off from rap to get that money from Christina Aguilera, it seems that Premo is back in a major way in 2008.

In no specific order, here are my favorite DJ Premier-produced joints of 2008 -- thus far:

1) Real N*gga Quote - Rhymefest: Equally as much a political statement as it is an examination of the N word, Premo outdoes himself on this beat with his vintage sound. It's really kind of a throwback when you consider the addition of Malcolm X vocals over the last part of the track. Quotable:

"That's why I say f*ck 'em all
Hillary, Jesse Jack even Brarck is involved
When police beatin' that ass
None of y'all will do a damn thang.
But you can raise $100 million for a campaign?
Homey, ya better explain!
I'm in cell with a n*gga that look like Ving Rhames!"

2) On the Rise Again Feat. Haylie Duff - Kool G Rap: No doubt this is an unexpected collaboration, but it works. Classic Premier drums, a sick strings loop, minimal bassline, and ridiculous scratching on the hook with Duff's vocals as the perfect complement. G Rap is still living the fast life, and he kills it with top notch crack raps. Quotable:

"My main alliance was cocaine giants
N*ggas had more material than Lane Bryant's
Had the block flooded with customers and clients
They had the metric system down to a science.
Up and down the strip in the gulliest whips"

3) Criminal Minded 08 -- KRS-One: Starting off with Premier verbally dedicating the track to Scott LaRock followed by the Blast Master singing in the same cadence from the original version of the song, before the first drum hits you already can feel that this one is special. We haven't had a KRS-Premo collabo in years, so I'm glad they didn't half step when recording this. You already knew Premo would hold up his end of the bargain but I wasn't sure if Kris would come with that boom bap rap or that holier than thou mumbo jumbo that alienated much of his original fanbase. Over a crisp, sinister Premier beat, KRS doesn't disappoint, aiming his hatred at the everlasting sucker emcee. Quotable:

"Yo Premier, why these rappers so soft?
Their corny ass raps be making me doze off!
When I spit lyrics, I step farther/step-father, like ya other dad."

4) Just (remix) -- Mark Ronson Feat. Alex Greenwald & Blaq Poet -- I know I sound like a broken record, but this is Premier at his best! A remix of a Radiohead song, and also a remix in the true sense of the term, Premier uses the original song's horns and vocals and adds his boy Blaq Poet (from Queens rap group Screwball) for a ridiculous 16 bars about a guy debating on taking his life. Quotable:

"You can't take it, take a razor and erase it.
On the 15th floor lookin' at the pavement.
Just do it, don't think, go 'head, fly
Might do it on the first try, just die.
Just forget it, you ain't been sh*it your whole life.
Do the world a favor, do it to yourself twice.
Get some pills, a gun, or a sharp knife.
Goddamn, you can't even do this right.
Too much stress, too much pressure.
F*ck the world, the note's on the dresser.
Smack my boss, and kiss the kids.
Let my wife know that she's a cheatin' ass b*tch.
And just take that leap
And hope you make real big mess in the street
As the world goes on not missing a beat
Don't do it to yourself, don't listen to me!"

Here are the rest of my favorite 2008 Premier joints:

Big Shug - Like a Muhf*ckah: Premier experiments with a new, slower style while still maintaining that sound we all know and love him for. Of course, his scratching is ever present on the hook. Shug isn't the best emcee but he puts together a somewhat conceptual song regarding the emphatic street colloquialism, "like a muhf*ckah".

Little Vic - The Exorcist: I know nothing about this rapper except he's decent on this basic Premier beat. But there's something about dude's flow (his lyrics are not spectacular) over this easy-going, bouncy beat. And when you hear Premier cut up a line from an old Lords of the Underground song, you're hooked. This song gets better and better every time I hear it.

Reks - Say Goodbye: This Boston emcee has been doing his thing on the low for the past few years, snagging features with much better rappers and producers than he deserves to be with. And this song is no exception. But as always, Premier brings out the best in his collaborators. And Reks follows suit with bar after bar, steady spitting, going in and out and over and under the beat, owning it. The haunting vocal sample over Premo's drums is the final deal maker.

Ya Dayz R #'D (Remix Feat. Lady of Rage, Freddie FoXXX & Royce Da 5'9): The original was great, but Preem remixes this song something vicious, and then adds real rappers Freddie FoXXX & Royce -- who steals the show with lines like "I let the record do the talking for me like a Preem hook" -- along with Lady of Rage, who always seems to pop up out of nowhere and make a random appearance every few years, like this one. She has good timing to jump on this one.

That White - Fat Joe: I get sad when I think about the direction Fat Joe's career has gone in, knowing he will never make another Jealous Ones Envy, or even another Don Cartagena for that matter. But every now and then he returns to his DITC roots and gives the streets a good, solid banger. Pause. Hot classic Premo as usual, this time with Fat Joe ignorantly praising the Almighty for the existence of cocaine.

My Thoughts - Freddie FoXXX: I'm actually guessing that this is from 2008, but that's when I first got wind of this magnificent beat with cinematic strings and a simple piano. Premier's drums are softer than usual, but very appropriate for this track. And FoXXX talks his usual sh*t, just letting us in on the many tings that go through his head at any given time.

BONUS: Jadakiss - From then Till Now (DJ Premier Scratches) (Produced by The Alchemist