THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER

The last party we did was crazy. Anyone that came to J. Valentines birthday party knows how the Money County fam gets down. DJ Amen and Big Von will be on the wheels of steel spinning the jams. Hennessy Black will be serving complementary shots all night btw... its only because we love ya'll. Make sure you come to this shindig lookin fresh. Thank you and you're welcome.

Make sure you check out:

www.OhDangMag.com

www.FilthyDripped.com

www.WePushHipHop.com

What The World Made Me

Look at that picture...

We all have those pictures that we look at that make use wonder how we got to where we're at in life. There are those moments that were captured before our innocence was lost. This is one of mine.

There is a song on Believing In Greatness called "What The World Made Me" that's more or less a reflection of how I became who I am. Because I often stair at this picture and wonder what happened.

And you can't tell me I wasn't the best looking baby ever... just sayin.

KLS Classic by 9 Five Eyewear

Check out these new shades from the homies at 9 Five... I need to buy stock in this company I swear...

I've seen everyone from Sasha Grey to Lil Wayne rocking 9Fives. They are one of the dopest labels out right now. It's weird because they get mainstream love but they are super underground. Me and the homie Jericho went to college with  one of company owners, so I guess my opinion is biased but whatever... they are dope and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Google them and find out for yourself...

LA Times

Just looking at the Los Angeles sky line is motivation for me. This city can change your life in such a short amount of time. But you have to be the type of person that believes that they have the ability to be greater than their current situation. Its one of the last places where the American Dream is truly alive. Impossible is nothing in the city of angels.

Movies like Menace To Society and Boyz In The Hood only show one side of LA. You have to experience the city first hand. That's all I can tell you. There is something for everyone in LA.

Just make sure you don't walk down Crenshaw Blvd wearing the wrong color. Not a good look. Holla!

48 Laws Of Power x The Art Of Seduction

Kanye got all you people talkinbout "power." I don't know if this book inspired the song, but I wouldn't be surprised if Yeezy has flipped through the pages of this classic from author Robert Greene.

I read an article about The 48 Laws Of Power in Vibe Magazine back in 2005. I bought the book the following day and finished it within weeks. Afterwards, I immediately started looking for other titles from Robert Greene. The Art Of Seduction was the next book that I read from the author. Man... I love this dudes writing style. And the content is on point. Pure greatness...

The cool thing about both of these books is that as you read them, you will be able to identify the situations in your life that parallel that particular chapter of the book. But the best part about the authors writing style is that he references historical events in order to prove his points.

I'm not going to talk to much more about these books. Just go check them out at your local book store. You'll thank me for it.

The Coldest Story Ever Told

You only see stuff like this in the Bay Area. Me and a couple of the homies were leaving a sports bar a few months back and I snapped this picture with my iPhone. So classic. I had to give the guy a few dollars on creativity alone...

Rules & Regulations

I jacked the title of this article from one of my favorite songs by E-40. I just had to get that out of the way... moving right along...

I may be wrong, but I don't think people understand how much work it takes to be able to make a living off this music game. We get so caught up in how good the music sounds and we forget about all the factor that go into building a successful career. Everything changes once money is on the table. Remember that... its no longer a hobby when people think they can profit off your music.

I know so many talented rappers that haven't gotten on for one reason or another. In most cases its money. But a lot of artist have the wrong people working with them. They trust the "homie" they grew up with to handle their business. Or the slick talker who makes promises with his mouth that his ass can't cash. But the worst is when an artist has all the right tools in place, and screws it all up because of ego and lack of gratitude. Man... please Lord do not let me be ruined by my own success. I guess I gotta become successful first though...

How many artist have the luxury of having money when they are coming into the game? Not many. And even if you do have the money, the chances are that you don't have the talent. I'm blessed to have a team of people that I believe in. That money in the picture above belongs to my investor. And its gonna take a couple more stacks than that to get this movement up and running. But when you believe in yourself and those around you, anything is possible. Know that.

PEOPLES @ Belo in San Diego

Shout out to the homie Nick Diamond for lacing me up for the show. Diamond por vida bitch! 

Here are some shots taken by the homie Ivan S. Harriss from my show with The New Boyz a few months back. This was such a fun night. Gas Lamp District gets is crazy in downtown San Diego. I can't wait to go back.

The chick next to the blonde girl was trying to get smoked out after the show. It was all good until she told me she came with five of her cousins that looked like they were overly affiliated with the Mexican Mafia. Needless to see I did not end up taking her back to the hotel.

This was my first time I've ever performed in San Diego. So I was anxious to see how the people would respond. There were over 1000 people there that night. These are the moments that remind me why I love being a performer.

I don't know what it is but San Diego reminds me a lot of the Bay Area in terms of the music scene. They have so much love for the Bay is insane.

These two were on the side of the stage goin dummy! You see baby girl making the thizz face lol good times! Thanks San Diego, see you guys soon.

The Real Iceberg Slim

I have a song on Believing In Greatness titled "Iceberg Slim." Being from the Bay Area, it was tough not to be influenced by the pimp game, even though I never became one. But the art of "macking" was never foriegn to me. The song is an ode to the lifestyle that many have come to glorify, but know little about. But here is a little background on the who the real "Iceberg Slim" was. "Pimp" is required reading for anyone infatuated with "The Life."

Iceberg Slim aka Robert Beck (August 4, 1918 – April 28, 1992) was a reformed pimp and American author of urban fiction. Taking "Iceberg Slim" as an assumed name, Robert started pimping at 18, and continued until age 42, when he decided against it in 1960, after a final 10-month prison stretch in solitary confinement.^[2] At that point, he decided to write about his past instead. Slim moved to California in the 1960s to pursue writing under the Iceberg Slim pen-name.

Believing In Greatness x Filthy Dripped x Black Scale

111 Minna which is my favorite club in San Francisco. Everyone in the Bay Area street wear scene has been to Minna at least once. The club doubles as an art gallery so its a dope spot to take a chick if you want her to know you have class and you're still a part of the "scene."

Yeah buddy...

Black Scale x True SF came illi on the new era fitted. The guys over at Black Scale have come a long way in such a short amount of time. Their hustle is on steroids for reals.

These are just a couple shots from last weeks photo shoot. 

Its been a long time coming getting the Believing In Greatness project together. A lot of people have been hitting me up online or coming up to me in person and asking me when the album is coming and why its taken so long for me to release the project. I'm actually flattered that people care. I put my life into my music, so it's humbling when people outside of my immediate circle ask when my next project is dropping.

Shout out to the homies at Filthy Dripped and Black Scale. They always come through in the clutch!