GO! Snoop the flowers, Dr Dre !
June 24th, 2008 by JimContinuing the theme of healthy debates at GO! Smell the flowers here’s a brief musical interlude for discussion. Feel free to add keep adding your own music vids over at the flowers jukebox at Forums - all you need to do is copy and paste the link .
As we ‘pop’ back to 94′ with Dr. Dre Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr, erm we mean Snoop Dogg:
Onto the topic at hand - Does the media paint a tempting picture when it comes to Gangster rap encouraging others to follow suit that could spill over into other aspects of their life?
Does the media inspire gangland behaviour as man fights man or would it happen anyway to the same degree? Do tell - it’s a rap!
One I do not like rap music at all, I find it grates on my nerves because it is not melodic. And gangster rap concerns me because it desensitizes people to violence and makes it seem like a normal part of life which I know is true for some. However, it could be used for positive influences rather than perpetuate sterotypes and help people to continue to think this is how it always was and always will be…there are alternative.
ClinicallyCluelesss last blog post..Past Journal Entry: July 1, 2005
Sorry Clinically, i’m with you on not liking rap music…. unless its Sid Snot (aka kenny everett doing the rap)
Purple13s last blog post..Did you notice our Side Bar has had a spring clean?
Hooray!!! Gives me a headache and kids start acting like gang members when they hear it. I don’t like the language either…Do I sound old?
ClinicallyCluelesss last blog post..Past Journal Entry: July 1, 2005
I don’t like rap too even though me being only 21. Rap sounds so meaningless for me to hear it..
Nur Sarah Lams last blog post..Picture of Today - Vegetarian Fish
Yes and I really dislike that they use older song just for the back beat bass. Sometimes, I think, it is like prostituting a song.
ClinicallyCluelesss last blog post..Current Update ~ My Truth ~ My Childhood in a Cult Part I
Morse called it magpie music - quite apt
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I really do dislike gangster rap…
it glorifies the lifestyle, and gives kids the wrong impression of the world these guys live in..
These guys are nothing more than a bunch of Criminals, murders and the rest and the sooner they shoot each other which they do everyday the better…
sorry but these people who portray themselves as the way to live to our kids really need to be taught that it isnt…
the rise of drive bye shooting, gang related murders and rapes has done nothing but rise since this came about.. even the artist them selves are not immune to it, several having murdered even in recent times. Many of them have criminal records longer than my arm, then go about broadcasting their misadventures making a ton of cash and showing that crime really does pay.They then blame the environment in which they live and tell us that it was a matter of have to in order to survive this is a crock of shyte… anyone with any moral standards would tell them to get over themselves grow up and be a man or woman instead of behaving like the thugs they so obviously are…
Yes I hate Gangster Rap and the guys who profit from the misery they cause so many others…..
aussiecynics last blog post..Sad So Sad
Very well put!!!
ClinicallyCluelesss last blog post..Current Update ~ My Truth ~ My Childhood in a Cult Part I
thanks clueless
aussiecynics last blog post..Sad So Sad
gangsta rap is a product of its environment
far better people are writing and reporting what happens than actually going out there and doing it
as for them all having criminal records- disagree
look at how many other forms of music have people with criminal convictions
regarding bad lyrics- no worse than the likes of iron maiden and the heavy metal groups or even country and western.
as for rap stealing beats- listen to practically any band from the early 60;s and they all nicked their music from the likes of chuck berry and the blues guitarists
love rap in general love gangsta rap in particular- if your kids are that dumb that they will listen to a record then go and copy it outright then its parenting not music that must be looked at. general comment that not in repsones to anything put above
the problem with these guys is they actually are the producers of the environment and the perpetuators of it, many are or were drug dealers, and perform gang related crime…
These guys live what they talk about (rap is not singing), the whole sorry lot of it and it is in no way a form of expression or an indictment on the times.. it is of their own creating…
aussiecynics last blog post..Sad So Sad
Nice point, Urban Pagan, about stealing breaks, samples, etc. Sure rap does it, but in so doing creates something new, innovative & interesting. JayZ - headlining at Glastonbury tonight - was on Jonathan Ross (BBC1, UK) last night & for once JR made an intelligent comment regarding JayZ’s use of a sample from ‘Annie’ the musical in his ‘Hard Knock Life’ track. Can’t remember word-for-word but Jonathan Ross basically suggested that in using the twee, shrill vocals from Annie it made a witty juxtaposition against the message of JayZ’s track - a creative twist & something different, interesting & potentially thought/emotion provoking arises, something all good (& bad?) art should create.
As UP points out, Rock ‘n’ Roll stole from Rhythm ‘n’ Blues, which stole from soul & bluegrass, which stole from folk & gospel, which stole from spirituals. Stealing is one way of thinking about it, musical evolution & spreading across different cultures & generations another.
Personally, I’m not a the biggest fan of gangsta rap, prefer rap with big breaks, mesmeric samples & powerful messages, like ‘My Philosophy’ by BDP & ‘Get By’ by Talib Kweli. That said, drop something like ‘Straight Outta Compton’ by NWA & it blows up every single, f****** time.
many are or were drug dealers and perform gang related crime
hate to do this AC but ………… proof please?
or are you merely compounding a racial stereotype?
its like saying all aussies knock their women about!!
I’ll send through some links.. to you when I get home….
tonight mate…
no sterio typing….. you should know I give credit when due … bit havent found any due in this genre….
aussiecynics last blog post..Sad So Sad
Ghetto Gospel could be the answer……
Or is that the problem?
Hey you go Pagan
You asked me for proof so here is 3 news reports the first two recent the third 2004 but still relevant..
dont say sorry the research was actually enlightening and strengthened my resolve to keep this nonsense and iis influences as far away from my house as possible…
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Miami Police Chief John Timoney on Wednesday denied a newspaper report saying his department is building dossiers on hip-hop stars who live and party in Miami and Miami Beach.
A March 9 Miami Herald report said local police departments have been monitoring rap artists and their entourages, photographing them at clubs, on music video shoots, at Miami International Airport and other places and building thick files on them, including any information on gang activity or prior arrests.
Some of the rappers mentioned in the report included P. Diddy, DMX, Ja Rule and 50 Cent, all of whom have had prior brushes with law enforcement.While Timoney denied any organized profiling, his denial suggested police were paying special attention to rap artists.
“I’ve read the articles,” Timoney said. “The allegations and charges that are in these articles are basically, for the most part, untrue.”
Timoney did acknowledge that Miami police officers have traveled to New York for briefing sessions with New York police on the hip-hop industry and the musical rivalries that often occur, and that one officer received a binder containing photos of rap artists, and information on their criminal records.
But Timoney insisted there was no formal profiling.
“You would assume that the Miami police department has been profiling, watching rap artists meeting them at airports, surveilling them, taking pictures, going to their hotel rooms and doing all sorts of covert surveillances,” he said during a press conference. “Not only is it not true, I would never allow such a thing to happen and it has not happened.”
But the Herald continued to stand by the story, which the paper says was based on interviews with Miami and Miami Beach police officers, some of whom were quoted. At least two Miami police officers, Det. Peter Rosario and Sgt. Rafael Tapanes, told the paper they were among a small group assigned to keep an eye on hip-hop artists.
“A lot, if not most, rappers belong to some sort of gang,” the paper quoted Tapanes as saying. “We keep track of their arrests and associates.”
Rosario told the paper “there is always beef between rappers.”
Tapanes went on to say the officers involved in the surveillance were trained on what clues to look for in the lyrics of rappers’ songs that might indicate rivalries or potential violence, and that some officers have been dispatched to concerts “for intelligence gathering.”
Other officers who spoke to NBC 6 last week acknowledged that police are keeping tabs on rap artists, and seeking to better understand the world of hip-hop, where rivalries are blamed for the deaths of rappers Tupac Shakur in 1996 and Notorious B.I.G. in 1997.
“We have to keep an eye on these rivalries,” Assistant Miami Beach Police Chief Charles Press said last week. “The last thing we need in this city is violence.”
“These are your main players,” added Miami Beach Police Detective Bobby Hernandez. “This is why you have that competition between East Coast and West Coast. Nobody here knew this stuff, and now we’re one of the most hip-hop savvy police departments in the country, and that’s attributable to us taking the initiative to go out there and learning the most we could about the industry.”
The intelligence gathering reportedly began after the 2001 Memorial Day weekend, when 250,000 hip-hop fans flocked to South Beach for four days of parties hosted by their favorite rappers and hip-hop magazines. More than 210 people were arrested — double the number on a typical weekend. Police said most of the arrests were for disorderly conduct and intoxication.
In recent years, rap stars have increasingly flocked to Miami Beach, and local police said after 2001, they met with New York City police to learn all they could about the hip-hop industry and culture, in a bid to prevent violence.
Press told the Herald police had not expected the large crowds, and that the department decided to create a system to “protect” the artists and their entourages when they visited Miami.
But critics have blasted the policy as unneccessary and racist, saying it raises civil rights and privacy concerns. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, a non-profit group headed by Def Jam Records founder Russell Simmons, have threatened legal action.
The Miami Beach Police Department has scheduled meetings with the city’s black host committee, the mayor and city manager to discuss the issue.
next
Recent activities ….
Even though rap moguls Irving and Christopher Lorenzo — the heads of the music label once known as Murder Inc. — have been acquitted in a money-laundering trial, hip-hop still may not beat the rap on its often-troubled image.
“As a whole, I don’t think the trial will do much to change the public’s perception of rap and hip-hop,” said Murray Forman, professor of communications and cultural studies at Northeastern University in Boston. “For those who are not part of that community, who do not follow it closely, it will secure the image they have in their imagination. For them, it will reaffirm some of the pre-existing notions they already had.”
A federal jury decided Friday that the Lorenzo brothers — known professionally as Irv and Chris Gotti, in homage to the Gambino crime family — were not guilty of racketeering. Prosecutors argued that the brothers’ nom de guerre went beyond mere entertainment. They alleged that the Lorenzos knowingly laundered more than $1 million for convicted druglord Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff in the 1990s and used part of the money to help build Murder Inc., which boasts hip-hop stars such as Ashanti and Ja Rule.
In exchange for the brothers’ money-laundering services, prosecutors said McGriff — who is also suspected of being involved in an alleged plot against rapper 50 Cent in 2000 — provided them with protection.
McGriff, the prosecution said, presented himself as a music-industry executive, and relied on the Lorenzos to pay for limos and stays at luxurious hotels.
“All of it was a fraud,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Haran said. “He wasn’t a music executive. He was a drug dealer, and they [Irving and Christopher Lorenzo] knew it.”
The brothers’ defense conceded that they had an association with McGriff and that it gave them “a certain street credibility” in the hip-hop world. However, the brothers say there was nothing illegal about their relationship with McGriff.
“There’s nothing illegal about knowing a criminal, about socializing with a criminal, even doing business with a criminal, unless you commit a crime,” defense attorney Gerald Shargel said. “Irv and Chris Lorenzo committed no crime.”
If convicted, the two men would have faced up to 20 years in prison and the possible forfeiture of millions.
Guilt By Association, Guilt By Image
Defense attorneys argue the Lorenzo brothers are victims of guilt by association. But perhaps they have also been victims of guilt by image.
They didn’t shy away from the gangsta rap image. Besides adopting the Gotti stage name, they called their music label Murder Inc. before renaming it “The Inc.” earlier this year because of what they perceived as an image problem.
“It’s easy to say that Irv and Chris Gotti brought this on themselves. It’s too easy to say that,” said Erik Parker, music editor of Vibe magazine. “But that shouldn’t have any impact on their guilt or innocence. One shouldn’t have any bearing on the other. One should be able to name their music label whatever they want and take whatever name they want to take.”
However, fair or not, the persona a rapper or hip-hop artist chooses to adopt — and the image he wishes to put forward — may come at a price. The casual fan — and the less-than-casual observer — may associate rappers with rap sheets. The list of stars who have generated headlines over the years with their legal troubles instead of hit CDs reads like a “Who’s Who in Hip-hop.”
Before departing Death Row Records and becoming a kinder, gentler pitchman for Sprint and other products, Snoop Dogg proudly spoke of his past notorious affiliation with the Crips and flashed gang signs in his videos. At the height of his superstardom, he went on trial and was acquitted of murder charges in the shooting death of an Ethiopian immigrant affiliated with a Los Angeles gang.
Death Row Records chief Marion “Suge” Knight has had repeated legal woes and was released from prison in 2001 after serving time for assault and weapons violations. Philadelphia rapper Cassidy faces murder charges for a shooting incident that left one dead and two people injured.
Today’s best-selling rap artist, 50 Cent, has built a mini-empire on his violent past. Known for his graphically violent lyrics and surviving being shot nine times, he has used his street credibility to produce two hit CDs and a video game, and to star in the movie “Get Rich or Die Tryin.’” He is also producing a series of books.
Unfair Stigma
Still, despite rap and hip-hop’s penchant for legal controversy, some observers say it is unfair to stigmatize all artists as criminals.
“There has been an association in the mainstream media between rap and hip-hop and crime and some of it is very real,” said Parker of Vibe magazine. “Crime in rap gets spotlighted. But for the most part, it is an anomaly. Most of the artists are not involved [in] crime.”
Some critics suggest that the media sometimes do not allow rap artists with ties to violence and crime to escape their past. When Johnny Cash was arrested for drug possession at El Paso International Airport in 1965, he wasn’t known forevermore as “The Man With Drugs.” He was the legendary “Man in Black.” John McEnroe and Sean Penn were once known as “bad boys” — McEnroe for his outbursts on the tennis court and Penn for his assaults on the paparazzi. But over time, they outgrew their images and their infamous exploits faded in the public’s memory.
Perhaps 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin” persona will also fade. But for now, his gangsta image sells.
“He’s doing something that makes him look like some entrepreneurial, marketing genius,” said Forman of Northeastern University. “But you never hear that. Instead, all we hear about is his getting shot [nine] times. And I don’t think he’s living the same kind of lifestyle he was when he was shot.”
Rap Sheet Doesn’t Mean Rap Sales
Still, neither crime — nor a criminal record — guarantees record sales.
Lil’ Kim released “The Naked Truth” six days before she started serving her 366-day sentence for perjury, and the CD debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard charts in October with 110,000 copies sold. By the middle of this month, her CD exited Billboard’s Top 100 after having sold only 250,000 copies. Rapper Jamal “Shyne” Barrow, who is serving a 10-year sentence for assault, released “Godfather Buried Alive” from prison to much fanfare in August 2004 and it opened at No. 2 on the Billboard music charts. However, by November 2004, the CD was knocked off Billboard’s Top 200 sales list after selling only approximately 400,000 copies.
Relatively clean-cut rap star Kanye West has been a Grammy winner and a top seller since his 2004 debut “College Dropout.” He hasn’t generated headlines with arrests but with his music and post-Katrina tongue-lashing of President Bush. And LL Cool J, Will Smith and Queen Latifah have remained crossover stars without mug shots and shootings.
Though some critics say the trial of Irving and Christopher Lorenzo will not affect rap’s image in the long or short term, the future of The Inc. hangs in the balance.
Despite the success of Ja Rule and Ashanti, the label has not produced as many hitmakers as once hoped. However, the acquittal means the Lorenzo brothers can continue running the label and not have to hand over millions to authorities. For now, The Inc. is still in business.
then theres
This ones interesting… granted it is 2004 but hey why not
NYPD keeps tabs on rappers
BY GLENN GAMBOA AND SEAN GARDINER | Staff Writers
October 12, 2004
Jay-Z is one of the rappers police have an eye on.
Officially, the New York Police Department makes no special effort to keep tabs on rappers. Officially, the department has no binder of dossiers on the performers.
Officially, detectives do not comb lyrics of music’s fastest-growing genre for signs of past or future crimes.
Yet, hundreds of pages of police documents and interviews with detectives inside the department and with those from around the country trained by the NYPD show that city police have quietly collected information about top rappers for the past six years and continue that work today.
The NYPD has pulled together dossiers that contain photographs, arrest records and biographical information of hip-hop stars and their associates, as well as lyrics that make specific threats or brag about past wrongdoing, according to the retired detective who did most of the research, and documents obtained by Newsday.
The entries for recently retired superstar Jay-Z, for example, contain information about his arrests (an assault charge from 1999), the license plate numbers of his vehicles, where he likes to hang out (nightspots including Joe’s Pub and Club NV) and who he hangs out with (business partner Damon Dash).
Joining Jay-Z in what has become known as “the hip-hop binder” are many of the genre’s biggest stars — including 50 Cent, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Ja Rule, DMX, Nas, Fabolous, Busta Rhymes, Cam’ron, Li’l Kim and Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav.
Cops ‘know the players’
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne denied there is any organized effort to gather information on rappers, saying there are one or two officers in the Gang Intelligence Unit who “know the players,” and are often called upon to aid in rapper-related crime but aren’t assigned to that job full time and aren’t collecting intelligence on the hip-hop scene.
Browne also said that the department didn’t sanction the creation of the so-called hip-hop binder, saying the dossiers were collected by now-retired Det. Derrick Parker on his own.
But police departments from around the country have received copies of the binder during training with the NYPD since Parker retired, and Parker said the dossiers, copies of which were obtained by Newsday, have been updated since he left the force in 2002.
Law enforcement sources say that while police are wary of speaking about their efforts to keep track of hip-hop performers and the people around them, it is necessary because many of them have criminal records.
“No one can say that the rap industry is rife with crime because that’s not politically correct,” said an NYPD detective familiar with the department’s efforts, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Everyone would say that’s racial profiling. But it is what it is.”
Civil libertarians say that’s a lot like targeting all CEOs for investigation because of high-level wrongdoing at corporations such as Enron and Tyco, even though there is no evidence executives at all companies have committed crimes.
“If musicians are engaged in criminal conduct, an investigation of course would be appropriate,” said Christopher Dunn, associate legal director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. “But police cannot and should not be investigating musicians because of the controversial nature of their music.”
Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons calls it “cultural profiling.”
“It’s illegal, and it’s a waste of the taxpayers’ money,” said Simmons, who has produced a show on the topic for Court TV. “They think it’s a statement of some kind, and if they can catch someone, then it becomes high-profile and newsworthy. It’s insane.”
Law enforcement officials argue such monitoring became especially important after the violence from rappers’ songs turned into real life mayhem.
Hip-hop’s violent images suddenly attracted more attention when musical rivalry between West Coast and East Coast rappers escalated into a battle that many believe resulted in the still-unsolved murders of two of hip-hop’s biggest stars, Tupac Shakur in 1996 and Brooklyn’s Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace in 1997.
It was Wallace’s Brooklyn funeral, Parker said, that brought him into the world of hip-hop. He was in the borough’s cold case squad, solving old homicides, when he was asked to brief police supervisors before the funeral procession because of death threats against Combs, Wallace’s friend and producer.
The detective — who once recorded an R&B single “Single Man” and was the grandson of legendary Harlem entertainer Willie Bryant — was passionate about the industry and was familiar with even obscure rap artists. Soon, though, the music fan gave way to the police officer.
AC
the most relevant bit of those reports
But for the most part, it is an anomaly. Most of the artists are not involved [in] crime.”
WHICH kinda shoots your arguement down in flames.
Its no worse than any other form of music.
Look a the likes of Amy Winehouse, Pete Doherty, the ones I mentioned before like Axl Rose and Ozzy, Johnny Cash etc
its cheap racial stereotyping and if the best that can be found is 4 press pieces from the last 4/5 years I would say its yourself not rap that has the problem!
also statistcially if you come from a high crime area it is more likely people you know from the locale will have experience of crime. but this is forgotten about isn’t it!
so what other music isn’t allowed?
heavy metal? country? r & b? reggae?
do tell
actually it is not that it is not allowed… it is making a choice as to what is appropriate and what is not…
My eldest would listen to 2-Pac and other rap persons.. however not until he was old enough to understand what they do/did, the life style they came from and the life and death they played with…
I do not ban music in the house… If you must know I DJ for 6 years in several clubs and mobile on my weekends. However the things I have mentioned need to taken in context…. What is appropriate for a 19 year old boy is not appropriate for a 9 year old girl, in the same way that Movies have ratings so should some music… this is one of those which should have a rating… and not just for the language, for the drug references, the crime references etc… so people can make a fair and informed desission as to what they want they kids listening too…. and glorifying these kinds of activities is not something I want my kids to see as acceptable…
As far as being stereo typing … I’ll include M&M’s rap sheet for you, of Vanilla Ices if you like… it is not about their colour or race but yes there is a larger amount of African Americans on the list but perhaps there is also more of them in the industry…
Amy Winehouse I dont now much about her but that is because I do not like her music and none of the kids have mentioned her… Axel Rose, and Ozzy as well as Johnny Cash are from a different Era and the comparison can not be made in a accurate light. If it where in todays terms and they where involved in the same way as many of those today are then they too would be included…
If you come from High Crime Area then yes you will know criminals and that does not make you one, but it should also not be used as an excuse for you becoming one either.. it has to work both ways.
If these artists want to change the lives of those living in the areas they grew up and actually make a difference perhaps they should glorifying what they did and start showing the kids how to get away from it and help those people in the front line trying to help.. All so many of them do is get involved further in the activities of their youth and thats why they get shot and killed…
Heres a List of those Rap artists to date that have died or been murdered and some other information which may prove my point a little better… enjoy
Enlarged March 27, 2008 (first published December 5, 2002) (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) –
A study published in the May 2003 issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that students who listen to violent music are more likely to act violently. “Across five studies, we found that violent lyrics do increase violent thinking and aggressive feelings,” said lead researcher Craig Anderson of Iowa State University.
In 2007 the police in Colorado Springs issued a warning that gangsta rap is contributing to the rise in violence and murders in their area.
In a pathetic attempt to defend rap against the police charge, one rapper said: “When two cowboys got into an argument at a saloon, went outside and had a draw, nobody blamed the music that was playing at the saloon” (“Colorado police link rise in violence to music,” Goupstate.com, Sept. 3, 2007). But cowboy saloon songs didn’t wind people up into a violent rage against society and urge them to murder and rape and shoot police officers and treat women like dogs.
Rap or Hip Hop is violent music, and it is not surprising that it is accompanied by violence.
The following are some of the cases in which rappers themselves have died untimely deaths because of the violence, drug abuse, and immorality that is glorified in rap music.
We wouldn’t even try to document the untimely deaths of common rap lovers, because they are off of the news radar screens, but the number would doubtless run into the thousands if not the tens of thousands.
Rapper Scot Sterling (aka Scot La Rock), whose debut album was titled “Criminal Minded,” died in August 1987 at age 25 of a gunshot wound.
King Tubby, who invented the dubbing process that was popularized by rappers, was murdered in 1989 when he was 58 years old.
Rapper Michael Menson, of the group Double Trouble died in 1989 at age 29 when a gang soaked him in gasoline and set him afire. Double Trouble had a hit that same year titled “Street Tuff.”
MC Rock, rapper with The Almighty RSO, was stabbed to death in 1990 at roughly age 28.
Trouble T-Roy (Troy Dixon), rapper with Heavy D and the Boyz, fell off a balcony after a concert in 1990 at age 22.
Brandon Mitchell, rapper with Wreckx-N-Effect, was shot to death in 1990 at about age 20 during an argument over a woman.
Rapper Michael Robinson (a.k.a. The Mac) was shot dead in Vallejo, California, in about 1990 while sitting in his car with his pregnant girlfriend. He was about 20 years old.
Charizma, rapper with Peanut Butter Wolf, was shot to death in 1993 at age 20.
Deah Dame, rapper with Damian Dame, died in a car crash in 1994 at age 35.
Eazy-E (Eric Wright) of N.W.A., one of the founders of Gangsta rap, died of AIDS in 1995 at age 31. His lyrics focused on themes such as guns, drugs, anti-law enforcement, and deviant sex. He had seven children by six different women.
Mr. Cee, rapper with R.B.L. Posse (Ruthless By Law), died after being shot nine times on New Year’s morning of 1996 at about age 30.
Rapper Hitman (Ricky Herd), was shot to death in 1995 at age 24.
Randy Walker (aka Stretch), of Live Squad, died of unknown cause in 1995 at age 27.
Tupac Shakur (aka 2Pac, Makaveli), a gangsta rap superstar who founded the Outlawz Immortalz after he was released from prison in 1995, was shot to death a year later at age 25. Time Warner Music helped pay Shakur’s $1.4 million bail. Outlaw is an acronym for Operating Under Thug Laws as Warriors. The members of the group took the names of various tyrants, brutal dictators, and enemies of America such as Fidel Castro, Idi Amin, and Saddam Hussein.
Yafeu Fula (aka Yaki Kadafi, Young Hollywood), of the Outlawz Immortalz, was shot to death in 1996 two months after the group’s founder Tupac Shakur. He was shot by a cousin of Napoleon, another member of Outlawz.
Rapper Seagram Miller was shot to death in Oakland, California, in August 1996 at age 26.
Rappin’ Ron of Oakland, California, who recorded with Cell Block Records, died of a car crash in January 1997.
Rapper Young Lay of Vallejo, California, barely survived a gunshot wound to the head in 1997, but his baby was kidnapped and his live-in girlfriend died in an arson house fire.
Notorious B.I.G. (aka Biggie Smalls) (real name Christopher Wallace), gangsta rapper, was shot to death in 1997 at age 24. This was only three years after the release of his successful album “Ready to Die.” This album was filled with cursing, violence, and immorality. One cut was titled “Suicidal Thoughts,” and Notorious B.I.G. sang, “When I die, —–, I wanna go to hell.”
San Francisco Rapper JoJo White of Bored Stiff was shot to death in 1997.
Rapper DJ Caravan of FunkSoulJaz died in 1997 of unknown cause.
Gangsta Rapper Dion Stewart (aka The True Lesson Giver) of the duo Black Dynasty was shot to death while trying to rob a convenience store in 1997 at about age 30.
Fat Pat (Patrick Hawkins), rapper who recorded immoral songs, was shot to death in 1998 at age 26.
Rapper DJ Crazy Rak died in 1998 in a hotel fire in San Francisco. He was about 32 years old.
Luis “Papo” Deschamps, rapper with Sandy y Papo, died in a car crash in 1999 at age 23.
Malcolm Howard, rapper with 4 Black Faces, was shot to death execution style in 1999 at roughly age 30.
MC Big L (Lamont Coleman), rapper with Diggin’ In the Crates Crew, was shot to death outside his home in 1999 at age 23.
Rapper MC Ant was shot to death in 1999 at roughly age 35.
Karnail Pitts (aka Bugz), of D12, died after he was shot three times and run over with a car in an altercation in 1999. He was about 30 years old.
Freaky Tah (Raymond Rogers), member of Lost Boyz, was shot to death while leaving a nightclub in New York City at 4 a.m. on Sunday morning in March 1999 at age 27.
Matthew Roberts of Blaggers I.T.A. died in February 2000 at age 36 of drug related causes.
Q-Don (Raeneal Quann), rapper, was shot to death outside a Philadelphia nightclub in April 2000 at roughly age 30.
Yusef Afloat Muhammad, rapper with The Nonce, was found dead alongside a Los Angeles freeway in May 2000 at roughly age 28.
Big Pun (aka Big Punisher) (born Christopher Rios) died in 2000 of a heart attack at age 28.
Johnny Burns (aka Mausburg) was robbed and shot to death in his hometown of Compton, California, in 2000 at age 21.
Bruce Mayfield (aka Chip Banks and Bankie), rapper with The American Cream Team, was shot to death over a money dispute in November 2000 at age 30.
DJ Screw (Robert Davis, Jr.), inventor of a hypnotic, slowed-down, drug-influenced style of rap music, died in November 2000 of a drug-induced heart attack at age 30. He had long abused drugs and alcohol.
Erik Carson (aka Eclipse) was shot to death at 1:30 a.m. on November 14, 2000, in Oakland, California, at age 23.
Bruce Washington (aka Hussein Fatal), of the Outlawz, was imprisoned in 2000 for slashing a person’s face and stomach and another person’s arm and chest with a box cutter.
Lloyd “Mooseman” Roberts, rapper who worked with Iggy Pop, Ice-T, and Body Count, died in a drive by shooting in February 2001 at roughly age 28.
Prince Ital Joe, reggae and rapper who worked with Tupac and Snoop Dogg, died in a car crash in May 2001 at age 37 or 38.
Tonnie Sheppard, rapper and cousin of rapper Haf-A-Mil, was stabbed to death in a recording studio during a fight with studio executives in May 2001 at age 38 or 39.
Coughnut, rapper with Ill Mannered Posse, died in a car crash in September 2001 at age 33. The California Highway Patrol report said that alcohol was probably a factor in the crash that killed two other people, including rapper D Mac.
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, singer with rap group TLC, died in a car crash in April 2002 at age 30. A few days before her own death, Lisa had hit and killed a 10-year-old boy with her car in Honduras.
Jam Master Jay, rapper with the popular group Run-DMC, was shot to death in his recording studio in October 2002 at age 37 by an unknown assailant. This is the latest in a long string of violence associated with rappers, who produce a style of music that is infamously violent in nature (though Jam Master Jay himself was more positive than most).
Rapper Speedy Loc died of an unreported medical condition on June 13, 2003. He was about 30 years old.
B Brazy of Damu Ridaz died in 2003 of unknown cause. He was about 25.
San Francisco rapper Double D (Darrel Anderson) was killed in August 2003. He was about 30.
Rapper Lil Bo was killed in 2003 at about age 25.
In November 2003, Anthony “Wolf” Jones,” 38-year-old former bodyguard for “P. Diddy” Combs, was shot to death in a gunfight outside an Atlanta nightclub. $7,000 was found on Jones’ body. Jones and Combs had been acquitted of gun possession and bribery charges stemming from a 1999 shooting inside a New York nightclub.
In December 2003, federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna was gunned down during the trial of rapper Deon Lionnel Smith, who was accused of running a violent drug ring.
Rapper Freako of Ghetto Stars was shot to death in February 2004 at about age 25.
Rapper Juston Potts (aka Kanyva) murdered his promoter on June 7, 2004, because “she told him he didn’t have the talent to sell records” (“Aspiring rapper arrested in killing,” San Francisco Chronicle, June 8, 2004).
Rapper Holy Quran was shot and killed in 2004. He was about 25.
Russell Tyrone Jones (aka Ol’ Dirty Bastard), of Wu-Tang Clan, died in November 2004 of a drug overdose at age 36.
Rapper Andre Hicks (aka Mac Dre or Dr. Dre) was shot to death in 2004 at age 34. A news report said, “His death was as violent as the lyrics to some of his most popular songs.” Police say that Hicks was part of a gang that robbed banks and pizza parlors, and in 1992 he was sentenced to 5 years in prison. His rapper nickname, Mac, describes a man that women would pay to have sex with.
Rapper Anthony Watkins (aka Fat Tone) of Kansas City was shot to death in 2005 at age 24. He was murdered by rapper Mac Minister because he was suspected to have murdered Andrew Hicks (Mac Dre) the previous year.
Deshaun Holton (aka Proof), of D12, was shot to death at a bar in Detroit in April 2006 at age 32. He was the best man at rapper Eminem’s wedding to his former wife Kim four months earlier. Proof first shot 35-year-old Keith Bender in the head and then was shot by an unknown third party.
Rapper Big Hawk (John Edward Hawkins) of Houston, Texas, of DJ Screw’s Screwed up Click, was shot to death in May 2006 at age 36. His brother, Patrick Hawkins (aka Fat Pat), was shot to death in 1998 when he was in his 20s.
In January 2007 rapper Busta Rhymes (Trevor Smith) was arrested and charged with punching and kicking a man. He was also charged with assault in August 2006. In February 2006 his bodyguard Israel Ramirez was shot to death.
Stack Bundles (Rayquon Elliot), “an up-and-coming New York rapper” affiliated with Byrd Gang Records, was shot to death in June 2007 at 5 a.m. in the morning outside his home after partying all night with friends. He was 24.
Rapper Skee 64 (Toby Rios) died in March 2007 at about age 28.
Rapper Woodie of San Francisco died in March 2007 of unknown cause at about age 35.
Many other California rappers are affiliated with infamous Bloods gangs. These include DJ Quik, Suge Knight, The Game, the rappers of the Boo-Yaa Tribe, Mack 10, B-Real, and DJ Zombie (http://www.ufaqs.com/wiki/en/bl/Bloods.htm).
Two members of the rap group Damu Ridaz, with ties to the Bloods, were shot and killed in 2007 while in their 20s. B-Brazy and G Spider were both shot and killed at different times by Mexican gangs. Lil Hawk of Damu Ridaz is in prison serving a life sentence.
Big Moe (Kenneth Moore) of Houston died in October 2007 at age 33, probably of a heart attack. He was a part of the Screwed Up Click rapper group. In 2000 he reportedly overdosed on codeine-laced cough syrup, and he often rapped about drug usage.
Influential rapper Pimp C of Underground Kingz was found dead in a motel room in December 2007 at age 33 of unreported cause. His songs dealt with “descriptions of sex and conspicuous consumption and triple-beam scales used to weigh drugs.” He spent three years in jail on gun charges.
Other rappers that died violently and/or young in the last 20 years include Karizma of San Jose, California, California, Plan B of Oakland, Black Cee of San Francisco, Black C, DJ Co V C of Funxsouljaz, 4-1-So-Sicc-Ass-Rell of Cold World Hustlers, Lil’ Bo, Billboard of Black Wall Street, and Woodie (2007).
I’ll find the other link for you and when I do I’ll email to you…
Blimey - now that is some research!
all that proves is rappers are likely to be VICTIMS of crime. and given they are from high crime areas on the whole this is a statistical formality
also- people dying of hear attacks or in car accidents are hardly evidence of gang activity- thats more a list of deaths over the last several years
lets compare instead with rock stars who have died thi syear
June Scopes - Died 1-?-2008 - Liver disease ( Country - Rock ) She was 70 years old - Singer - Was a member of Wild Honey.
Rick Wright - Died 1-?-2008 ( Rock ) Guitarist - Was a member of Brutus And The Bullies.
Dennis Clifton (Dennis Allen Clifton) - Died 1-1-2008 in Florence, AL, U.S. - Cancer ( Jazz - Bluegrass ) Born 1-28-1953 - Singer, songwriter, guitarist and studio engineer - Was a member of Surprise Package and FCC (Funky Communications Commission) (They did, “Baby I Want You”) and Cornbread Red - Produced Iron Horse.
Robert L’Herbier (Robert Joseph Samson) - Died 1-1-2008 - Illness ( Pop ) Born 2-5-1921 in Levis - Singer and songwriter - Canadian Association Of Broadcasters Hall Of Fame Inductee.
El Charico (Victor Quero Blaya) - Died 1-1-2008 in a coma after an accident ( Flamenco ) Born 1979 in Albayzin, Granada - Singer - Worked with Grupo Maya, Emilio Maya and Jaime El Parron.
Danny Bonk - Died 1-1-2008 ( Musicals - Rock ) He was 57 years old - Born in Windsor - Was a member of The Lost Morals, Hard Top And The Convertibles, Lucky and Justine.
Steve Docherty (Stephen Docherty) - Died 1-1-2008 - Snowmobiling accident - He was 43 years old - Singer - Was a member of Power Ten.
Ben Marlin (aka Benny) - Died 1-2-2008 - Cancer ( Metal ) Born 3-18-1976 - Bassist - Was a member of Strangulation and Disgorge.
Jimmy Ray (Ray A. Staszak) - Died 1-2-2008 - Colon cancer - Born 7-3-1910 in Bridgeport - Played clarinet and saxophone - Led The Jimmy Ray Orchestra.
O.G. Style (Eric Woods) (aka Prince Ezzy-E)- Died 1-3-2008 - Brain hemorrhage ( Rap ) He was 37 years old - (He did, “Catch ‘Em Slippin’ (I Know How To Play ‘Em)” and “Steppin’ on Toes”) - Worked with K-Rino and Bun B.
Margie Gray (Margie Hoffman Toscano) - Died 1-3-2008 - Heart attack - She was 83 years old - Singer - Worked with Boyd Raeburn, Randy Brooks, Gray Adams and Bobby Sherwood.
Stanley Gaines Sr. - Died 1-3-2008 - Congestive heart failure - Born in Atlantic City - He was 80 years old - Guitarist - Led Stanley Gaines And The Hurricanes.
Henri Chopin - Died 1-3-2008 ( Avant-garde ) Born 6-18-1922 in Paris, France - Sound poet and musician.
Winchester Davis - Died 1-4-2008 - He was 99 years old - Played saxophone - Led Little Wynn And The Deluxe Aces.
Mort Garson - Died 1-4-2008 in San Francisco, CA, U.S. - Renal failure ( Electronic ) Born 7-20-1924 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada - Composer, arranger and accompaniest - Played the Moog synthesizer - (He co-wrote Ruby And The Romantics’, “Our Day Will Come”) - Worked with Mel Torme, The Lettermen, The Sandpipers, The Sugar Shoppe, The Hollyrdige Strings, The Sunset Strings, Doris Day, Glenn Yarborough and Glen Campbell.
Doc Soul Stirrer (Harry Young, Jr.) - Died 1-4-2008 in Bessemer, Alabama. U.S. - Heart attack ( Rock - Blues ) Born 5-8-1940 in Baltimore, MD, U.S. - Singer and columnist.
Earl May (Earl Charles Barrington May) - Died 1-4-2008 in South Orange, NJ, U.S. - Heart attack - Born 9-17-1927 in Harlem, NY, U.S. - Bassist - Led The Earl May Quartet - Worked with Carmen McRae, Coleman Hawkins, Cab Calloway, Doc Cheatham, Ruth Brown, Jon Hendricks, Frank Foster, Dizzy Gillespie, Gloria Lynne, Moms Mabley, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Mercer Ellington, The Buddy Rich Big Band, John Coltrane, Herbie Mann and Lester Young.
Tony Ben (Anthony Joseph Ben) - Died 1-4-2008 ( Jazz - Disco ) Born 8-2-1942 - Drummer - Worked with The Sylvers, Ronnie Laws And Pressure and A Taste Of Honey (”Boogie Oogie Oogie”) - CCHS Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Arcani Crosswords (Michael Francis) - Died 1-4-2008 - Accidental self inflicted gun shot ( Rap ) He was 32 years old - Co-owner of Fam Tide Records.
Irene Reid (Irene Frances Redfield) - Died 1-4-2008 in Bronx, NY - Cardiac arrest ( Jazz ) Born 9-23-1930 in Savannah, GA, U.S. - Singer - Led Irene Reid And Company - Worked with Charles Earland, The Dick Vance band and Count Basie’s band - Appeared in Broadway’s, “The Wiz”.
Vernon Derrick - Died 1-4-2008 ( Country ) Born 1933 in Grant, AL, U.S. - Played fiddle and mandolin - Worked with Hank Williams Jr., Flatt And Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers and Jimmy Martin And The Sunny Mountain Boys.
Keith Baxter - Died 1-4-2008 - Heart attack ( Rock ) Born 1971 in Lancaster, U.K - Drummer - Was a member of Skyclad, 3 Colours Red, Elevation and Baby Judas.
Keith Smith (Keith John Smith) - Died 1-4-2008 in London, England ( Jazz ) Born 3-19-1940 in Isleworth, Middlesex - Trumpeter and bandleader - Worked with The San Jacinto Jazz Band, The New Teao Brass Band, Mickey Ashman, Mac Duncan, Bobby Mickleburgh’s Confederates, The Climax Jazz Band, George Lewis, Papa Bue’s Viking Jazz Band, Hefty Jazz, The Louis Armstrong All Stars and The Fron-Zi-Me Jazz Band.
Leigh Tomlinson - Died 1-5-2008 - Breast cancer ( Jazz ) Born 1961 in Fort Worth, TX, U.S. - Singer and actress - Led her own quartet and sang with The Sammons Jazz Program.
Drew Glackin (Andrew Glackin) - Died 1-5-2008 - Heart damage ( Country ) Born 1963 - Bassist - Was a member of The Silos (They did, “Come On Like The Fast Lane” and “Sunset Morning”).
Ken Nelson (Kenneth F. Nelson)- Died 1-6-2008 in Somis, CA, U.S. - Born 1-19-1911 in Caledonia, Minn, U.S.- Was the head of country A&R for Capitol Records - Produced Hank Thompson, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Wanda Jackson, Ferlin Husky, Wynn Stewart, Tommy Collins, The Louvin Brothers a and Jean Shepard - Country Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Cy Leslie (Seymour Marvin Leslie) - Died 1-6-2008 in Roslyn, NY, U.S. - Born 12-16-1922 in Brooklyn NY, U.S. - Founder of Pickwick Records - Was a Vice Chairman of The Songwriters Hall Of Fame.
Dan Falley - Died 1-6-2008 - Car accident - He was 55 years old - Guitarist - Worked with The Chevelles and Fyrestorm - Was the owner of Dan’s Guitar Shop.
Samir Hussein - Died 1-6-2008 - Fell from a sixth floor apartment ( Rap ) He was 34 years old.
Wally Willette (Wallace D. Willette) - Died 1-6-2008 ( Rockabilly ) Born 7-2-1929 in Bangor, Maine, U.S. - (He did, “Pink Elephants” and “Eenie Meenie”) - Rockabilly Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Bill Belew - Died 1-7-2008 in Palm Springs, CA, U.S. - Born in Crocet, Vir., U.S. - He was 77 years old - Fashion designer - Created jumpsuits for Elvis Presley and costumes for Josephine Baker, Ella Fitzgerald and Gloria Estefan.
Valdo Delgado - Died 1-7-2008 in Uruguay- Car accident ( Charango ) He was 41 years old - Musician - Born in Chile - Worked with Eduardo Pinto.
Eduardo Pinto - Died 1-7-2008 in Uruguay- Car accident ( Charango - Folk - Rock - Reggae - Jazz ) He was 28 years old - Played piano, guitar, percussions and was a singer and producer - Worked with Valdo Delgado.
Roberto del Fierro Lugo - Died 1-8-2008 in Guadalajara, Mexico - Shot - He was 47 years old - Was a marketing manager for Mexican musician, Jesus “El Flaco”.
Clyde Otis (Clyde Lovern Otis Jr.) - Died 1-8-2008 in Englewood, NJ, U.S. - Born 9-11-1924 in Prentice, MS, U.S. - Songwriter and producer - Worked with Brook Benton (”It’s Just A Matter Of Time” and “Endlessly”) - Produced Sarah Vaughan, Charlie Rich, Sonny James, Timi Yuro and The Diamonds.
Sondra Isaminger - Died 1-8-2008 - Cancer ( R&B - Funk - Soul ) She was 51 years old - Singer - Was a member of Under The Influence.
Daniel Hetu - Died 1-8-2008 - Cirrhosis of the liver - Born 12-1-1950 in Montreal, Canada - Pianist and songwriter - (He did, “Je t’attendais”) - Was a musical director for Rene Simard.
Doc Hunter (William Hunter III) - Died 1-8-2008 in San Diego, CA, U.S. - Natural causes ( Jazz ) Born 7-11-1937 in San Bernardino, CA, U.S. - Pianist - Worked with The South Market Street Jazz Band, The Chicago 6 andBill Allred’s Classic Jazz Band - He was the husband of dancer, singer and actress, Nanci Hunter.
Charlie Hahn (aka Banjeau Chucque ) (Charles Daniel Hahn II) - Died 1-9-2008 - Lung cancer ( Folk - Bluegrass - Gospel - Jazz - Irish ) Born 10-10-1945 in Auburn, Nebraska, U.S. - Played banjo, tin whistle and bodhran - (He did, “Pigs In A Polka”) - Worked with Rarely Heard, The Poultrygeist Band and The Greatful Stones.
Lew Spence - Died 1-9-2008 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Born 6-29-1920 in Cedarhurst, Long Island, NY, U.S. - Composer - (He co-wrote, “So Long My Love” and “Nice ‘n Easy”) - His songs have been done by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Short, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby, Billy Eckstine and Dinah Shore.
Dr. Kenneth R. Henderson - Died 1-9-2008 - Born 1-19-1935 in Wheatland, Wyo., U.S. - Played trumpet - Was a member of The Golden Eagle Concert Band.
Dr. Roi Kwabena (Roi Ankhkara Kwabena) - Died 1-9-2008 - Born 1956 in Trinidad - Poet, musician, historian and publisher - Worked with Hugh Masekela, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Opai Adisa Palmer.
Rod Allen (Rodney Bainbridge) - Died 1-10-2008 in Coventry - Liver cancer ( Rock ) Born 3-31-1944 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England - Singer and bassist - Was a member of The Cliftones who became The Fortunes (They did, “You’ve Got Your Troubles” and “Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling”).
Vampira (aka Maila Nurmi) (Born Maila Elizabeth Syrjaniemi) - Died 1-10-2008 - Born 12-21-1921 in Petsamo, Finland now Pechenga, Russia - Actress and TV horror host - (She can be heard on Satan’s Cheerleaders’ songs, “I’m Damned” and “Tribute To Elvis”) - Appeared in Ed Wood’s movie,
“Plan 9 From Outer Space”.
Dave Day (Dave Havlicek) - Died 1-10-2008 in Renton, Washington,U.S. - Heart attack ( Rock ) Born 1941 - Sang and played banjo and guitar - Was a member of The Torquays (They did, “Boys Are Boys” and “There She Walks”)who becameThe Monks (They did, “Shut Up” and “Complication”).
Freddy Nieuland - Died 1-10-2008 ( Rock ) He was 63 years old - Singer and drummer - Was a member of The Wallace Collection (They did, “Daydream”).
Stelio Valle (Stelio Romero do Valle) - Died 1-10-2008 - Stroke - Born 5-25-1950 - Singer and guitarist.
Pete Candoli (Walter Joseph Candoli) - Died 1-11-2008 in Studio City, CA, U.S. ( Jazz ) Born 6-28-1923 in Mishawaka, Indiana, U.S. - Trumpeter - Worked with Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Peggy Lee, Henry Mancini, and Frank Sinatra.
Bob Enos (Robert Manuel Enos)- Died 1-11-2008 in Douglas, GA, U.S. - Possible heart failure ( R&B - Jazz ) Born 7-4-1947 in Boston, MA, U.S. - Trumpet player - Worked with Jack Radcliffe And The New Viper Revue, Channel One and Roomful Of Blues.
Angel Gonzalez - Died 1-12-2008 in Madrid, Spain - Lung illness - Born 9-3-1925 in Oviedo, Spain - Poet - Recorded with singer Pedro Guerra.
Ahmad Ashurpur - Died 1-12-2008 in Tehran, Iran - Lung infection ( Folk ) Born 1917 in Bandar Anzali, Iran - Singer - (He did, “O Leily” and “Bandar Anzali’s Moonlight”) - Worked with Ruhollah Khaleqi, Morteza Mahjubi and Hossein Khaleqi.
George Denham - Died 1-12-2008 - Cancer - He was 65 years old - DJ - Co-hosted radio’s, “Yesterday’s Memories”.
Jon Stoll - Died 1-12-2008 - Illness - Born 11-6-1953 in Mamaroneck, NY, U.S. - Founder of concert promotion and booking company, Fantasma Productions and was a president for The National Association Of Concert Promoters - Worked with Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Frank Sinatra.
Duke Zitnik (Dusan Zitnik) - Died 1-12-2008 in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. - Born 5-14-1934 in Slovenia - Played accordion, trumpet and drums - Was a member of The Duke Marsic Band.
Gabriel Mannelli - Died 1-12-2008 in Buenos Aires - Hodgkin lymphoma ( Rock ) He was 37 years old - Was a member of Los Brujos and Babasonicos - Worked with Juana La Loca and Los Macarra.
Jim Faraday - Died 1-12-2008 - Illness ( Symphony - Jazz ) Percussionist.
Neker Jacques (aka N Jay) - Died 1-12-2008 - Shot ( Reggae ) Musician.
Ruby Corrine Morgan Mercer - Died 1-12-2008 in Longview, Wash., U.S. - Born 6-11-1924 in Texas, U.S. - Singer - She was one of The Morgan Family - Sister of actress and singer, Jaye P. Morgan.
Ron Murphy (aka Motown Murphy) (Ronald C. Murphy) - Died 1-12-2008 in Detroit, MI, U.S. - Born 3-3-1947 - Mastering engineer and record producer - Worked with Derrick May, Juan Atkins, Carl Craig, Kevin Saunderson and Jeff Mills - Worked for Sound Enterprises.
Matt Hogan - Died 1-13-2008 - Natural causes ( Rockabilly ) He was 54 years old - Born in Red Bluff - Guitarist - Was a member of The Incredible Diamonds - Worked with Brutilicus Maximus.
Jeremy Jenniges (Jeremy Cletus Jenniges) - Died 1-13-2008 in Tacoma - Motorcycle accident ( Rock ) Born 9-28-1971 in Bremerton, Washington, U.S. - Singer, songwriter and pianist - Was a member of Street Heart which became Jaded Mary. (They did, “By Your Side” and Harder”).
Harry Whitney (Harry O. Whitney) - Died 1-13-2008 ( Gospel ) Liver cancer - He was 66 years old - Pianist - Was a member of The Way We Used To Sing Choir - Worked with The Sunshine District Choir and The General Baptist State Convention Choir.
Richard Noble - Died 1-13-2008 - Prostate cancer - He was 75 years old - Songwriter - Wrote songs for Doreen Gravesande (”Lovely”), Monica ‘Lady Guymine’ Chopperfield, Billy Wade (”Deep Down Inside Of Me” and “If You Tell Me”) and Lord Canary.
Kevin O’Brien - Died 1-?-2008 - He’d been attacked and robbed ( Metal ) Bassist - Was a member of Garden Of Remembrance and Spandex Caravan.
Jorge Antonio Sepulveda - Found dead 1-15-2008 near Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico - Shot ( Folk ) Singer.
Fr. Eddie Hontiveros (Fr.Eduardo Hontiveros) (aka Fr. Honti) - Died 1-15-2008 ( Hymns ) Born 12-20-1923 in Molo, Iloilo City in the Philippines - Composer and musician - (He wrote, “Papuri sa Diyos” and “Magnificat”).
Brad Renfro (Brad Barron Renfro) - Died 1-15-2008 ( Rock ) Born 7-25- 1982 in Knoxville, TN, U.S. - Actor and musician - Acted in the films, The Client and Sleepers - Was a member of Frodad.
Paul Kuulei Kekoa - Died 1-15-2008 in Wisconsin, U.S. - Renal failure - Ukulele player - Worked with The Royal Hawaiian Girls Glee Club and The Kodak Hula Show.
Steve Gould - Died 1-16-2008 - Complications from diabetes ( Jazz ) He was 47 years old - Played saxophone, flute, clarinet and piano - Worked with The Instigators, Tito Puente, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, The Temptations, Liberace and Gregg Allman.
Robert Rogers - Died 1-16-2008 - Pancreatic cancer - He was 71 years ld - Pianist - Worked with The Vancouver Symphony, The CBC Orchestra, The Purcell String Quartet and Piano Power.
Marcin Malecki - Died 1-16-2008 - Cancer ( Jazz ) Born 12-3-1964 - Pianist and composer - Led The MM Trio.
Stonard Lungu - Died 1-17-2008 in Blantyre - Skin cancer - Born 1949 in Messina, South Africa - Musician - (He did, “Anachita Chobaya” and “Nkhutukumve”) - Worked with San B (”Zapadziko”).
Stompie Mavi - Died 1-17-2008 in Port Elizabeth - Pneumonia and low blood pressure ( Jazz ) He was 57 years old - Born in Queenstown -Singer - (He did, “Mother Africa” and “Umbongo”) - Worked with Victor Ntoni.
Kyle Parnell (Kyle D. Parnell) (aka K-Nell) - Died 1-17-2008 in Joliet - Shot in the recording studio, I Eat U Eat Sound Lab ( Rap ) He was 19 years old - Sang and played drums.
Carlos (Yvan-Chrysostome Dolto) - Died 1-17-2008 - Cancer - He was 64 years old - Singer - (He did, “La vie est belle”).
Cooper Hawthorne Jr. - Died 1-17-2008 - Complications from cancer ( Rock ) Born 7-28-1946 in Austin, TX, U.S. - Guitarist - Was a member of The Clique (They did, “Sugar On Sunday” and “Superman”).
Frank Lewin - Died 1-18-2008 - Congestive heart failure - Born 3-27-1925 in Breslau, Germany - Composer - Wrote music for TV’s, The Nurses and The Defenders.
Eric Ferris - Died 1-18-2008 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Cancer - He was 41 years old - Born in Tampa, FL, U.S. - Music executive - Worked on the release of albums by Breaking Benjamin, Hilary Duff, Jesse McCartney, Aly & AJ and The Polyphonic Spree and guided The Rolling Stones, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Spice Girls and Lenny Kravitz - Worked for Hollywood Records and Virgin Records.
Allen J. Bloom (Allen Jay Bloom) - Died 1-18-2008 in Bethesda, Maryland. - Lymphoma - Born 8-28-1935 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Worked for Irvin and Israel Feld of Feld Entertainment managing road tours for Buddy Holly, The Coasters, Frankie Lyman, Richie Valens, The Drifters, Paul Anka, Bill Haley And The Comets, The Big Bopper, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.
Freddie Cavalli (Freddie van Kampen) - Died 1-18-2008 - Lung cancer ( Rock ) Born 9-23-1955 - Bassist - Was a member of Herman Brood & His Wild Romance (They did, “Saturday Night” and “Never Be Clever”) - Worked with The Meteors, Vitesse and Jan Akkerman.
John Stewart (John Coburn Stewart)- Died 1-19-2008 in San Diego, CA, U.S. ( Folk ) Born 9-5-1939 in San Diego, CA, U.S. - Played guitar and banjo and was a singer and songwriter - (He wrote The Monkees’, “Daydream Believer”) -Led Johnny Stewart And The Furies (They did, “Rockin’ Anna”) - Worked with The Woodsmen, The Cumberland Three and The Kingston Trio - He was married to singer Buffy Ford.
Andy Palacio - Died 1-19-2008 in Belize - Stroke and heart attack - He was 47 years old - Musician and singer - (He did, “Gaganbadiba” and “Show Your Motion”).
Suzanne Pleshette - Died 1-19-2008 in Los Angeles, CA., U.S. - Respiratory failure - Born 1-31-1937 in New York, NY, U.S. - Actress - (She sang, “The Girls Of San Francisco” and “Happiness”) - Best known as Emily Hartley on TV’s, The Bob Newhart Show.
Trevor Taylor - Died 1-19-2008 in Cologne, Germany - Heart attack ( Pop ) Born 1-11-1958 in Montego Bay, Jamaica - Singer - Was a member of Bad Boys Blue (They did, “You’re A Woman” and ” Pretty Young Girl”) - Worked with Street Noise, Osazuwas, Supa T and Umoya.
Haj Qorban Soleimani - Died 1-20-2008 in Aliabad, Iran - Pneumonia - Born 1920 in Aliabad, Iran - Singer and dotar player - Worked with Gholamhossein Bakhshi Jafarabadi, Mohammad Qeitani and Avaz Bakhshi - Son of musician, Karbalaii Ramezan.
Tommy McQuater (Thomas Mossie McQuater) - Died 1-20-2008 in London, England ( Jazz ) Born 9-4-1914 in Maybole, Ayrshire - Played trumpet - Worked with The Maybole Brass Band, Louis Freeman, Jack Payne, Lew Stone, Benny Carter, The Swing Rhythm Boys, Danny Polo And His Swing Stars, The Ambrose Orchestra, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante, Vera Lynn, Nat “King” Cole, Benny Goodman, Cliff Richard and The Squadronaires.
Jimmy Dougherty Sr. - Died 1-20-2008 - He was 56 years old ( Rock ) Singer and songwriter - Was a member of The Allen Collins Band (They did, “Ready To Move” and “One Known Soldier”) and Alias.
Zoe Collins (Zoe Collumbine) - Died 1-?-2008 ( Jazz ) She was 75 years old - Singer - (She did, “Seven Eleven”).
Francis Clay (Francis Potter Clay) - Died 1-21-2008 San Francisco, CA, U.S. ( Jazz - Blues ) Born 11-16-1923 in Rock Island, IL, U.S. - Drummer - Led Francis Clay And His Syncopated Rhythm - Worked with Jay McShann’s band, George “Harmonica” Smith, Jack McDuff, Shakey Jake Harris, Sunnyland Slim, James Cotton, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Bobby Fields, Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Victoria Spivey and Muddy Waters.
Ljubow Zaharczenko - Died 1-21-2008 - Born 4-4-1961 - Singer and songwriter - Russian bard.
Benson Krause - Died 1-22-2008 - Suicide ( Pop ) He was 29 years old - Singer - Was a member of Fertility and Ophur.
Jack D. Johnson - Died 1-24-2008 in Nashville, TN, U.S. - Congestive heart failure - He was 79 years old - Born in Knoxville, TN, U.S. - Managed Charley Pride, Ronnie Milsap and T.G. Sheppard.
Lady Barbirolli (Evelyn Rothwell) - Died 1-25-2008 - Born 1-24-1911 in Wallingford-on-Thames, Berkshire - Played oboe and piano - Worked with Reginald King’s salon orchestra, Lew Stone’s band and The London Symphony Orchestra.
Adrian Clarke - Died 1-25-2008 ( Jazz ) He was 70 years old - Pianist - Worked with Andre Woodvine, Rosemary Phillips and Errol Bradshaw.
Jeff Salen - Died 1-26-2008 - Heart attack ( Rock ) Guitarist, singer and songwriter - Was a member of The Tuff Darts (They did, “Who’s Been Sleeping Here?” and “All For The Love of Rock and Roll”) - Led Tuff Jeff Salen & The Silencers - Worked with Robert Gordon, Chris Spedding and Ian Hunter.
Islam Rzayev - Died 1-26-2008 - Born 1934 in Fuzuli region - Singer.
Don Watkins (Donald H. Watkins) - Died 1-26-2008 in Dobson, NC, U.S. - Heart attack ( Bluegrass - Gospel ) Guitarist and singer - Led The Watkins Family (They did, “Power Of The Holy Ghost”).
Adam Parker Block - Died 1-27-2008 in San Francisco, CA, U.S. - Pulmonary illness - Born 2-7-1951 - Rock journalist - Wrote the column, “Block On Rock” for The Advocate and also wrote for Mother Jones, The New Musical Express and Creem.
Jane Bowman Nigon (Jane A. Bowman Nigon) - Died 1-28-2008 near Rochester - Car accident - Musician - Born 6-13-1961 in Rochester - Worked with The Back Porch Band, The Shamrock Strings and The Bitter Creek Band.
Ben McMillan - Died 1-28-2008 - Complications from diabetes ( Rock ) He was 46 years old - Singer - Was a member of Gruntruck and Skin Yard.
Louise Bennett Smith - Died 1-28-2008 in Dallas, TX, U.S. - Natural causes - She was 91 years old - Born in Dallas, TX, U.S. - Singer - Worked with Phil Harris, Ligon Smith and The Paul Whiteman Orchestra.
Uncle Jessie White - Died 1-29-2008 in Southfield, MI, U.S. - Complications after a heart attack - ( Blues ) Singer and pianist - Born 9-24-1920 in Terry, MS, U.S. - Recorded for Blues Factory Records.
Len Nickelson (Leonard C. Nickelson ) - Died 1-29-2008 in Rogers, Minn., U.S. - Born 5-13-1914 in Duluth - Musician - Was a member of The Four Playboys - Owner of Nickelson’s Music.
Bill Saragih (Bill Amirsjah-Rondahaim Saragih) - Died 1-29-2008 in South Jakarta - Stroke ( Jazz ) Born 1-1-1933 in Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra - Played flute, piano and saxophone - (He wrote, “Anna My Love” and “Billy’s Groove”) - Was a member of The Jack And Indra Lesmana Quintet.
Elaine O’Donnell (Elaine Muriel O’Donnell) (Elaine Muriel Slawter) - Died 1-29-2008 - Pancreatic cancer ( Standards ) She was 80 years old - Singer and pianist - Worked with her husband, Harry Reese O’Donnell and with Fran Kosienski.
Lindy Polk - Died 1-29-2008 - Heart attack - ( Blues ) He was 49 years old - Sang and played harmonica - Led Lindy And The Night Howlers.
Kim Chang-ik - Died 1-?-2008 in Vancouver, Canada ( Rock ) He was 50 years old - Drummer - Was a member of Sanulrim.
Don Pavel (Donald Stanley Pavel) - Died 1-30-2008 - Heart attack ( Rock - Bluegrass - Blues ) Born 1947 in St. Paul - Guitarist - Led The Big Top Chautauqua - Was a member of Nothin’ To It, The Lost Nation String Band and The Blue Canvas Orchestra - Was the band director of the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua.
Miles Kington - Died 1-30-2008 in Limpley Stoke - Near Bath, England - Pancreatic cancer - ( Jazz - Cabaret ) Born 1941 in Northern Ireland - Writer, humourist and bassist - Worked with Instant Sunshine.
Rosli Khamis (aka Loloq) - Died 1-30-2008 in Petaling Jaya - After brain surgery - He was 50 years old - Born in Singapore - Songwriter - Collaborated with singer, songwriter and composer M. Nasir (”Andalusia, Bonda” and “Nafas Cinta”).
Ted Arighi - Died 1-30-2008 - Lung cancer ( Rock ) He was 58 years old - Guitarist - Worked with The Misfits, The Faragher Brothers, The Precious Few, The Blue Flames, The Tiks and Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose.
Gary Weber - Died 1-30-2008 ( Polka ) He was 55 years old - Played concertina and accordion - Was a member of The Polka Preps, The Electra Tones and The Treltones.
Sean Finnegan (Sean P. Finnegan) - Died 1-30-2008 in Maryland, U.S. - Heart attack ( Punk ) He was 43 years old - Drummer - Was a member of Void (They did, “Think” and “Get Out of My Way”).
Carlos Nieto - Died 1-31-2008 in Buenos Aires - Cancer ( Folk ) He was 63 years old - Singer and composer - (He did, “Captive Moon” and “On The Pampa Of The Guanacos”).
Big Joe Turner - Died 1-31-2008 in Pascagoula ( Blues ) Born 7-4-1944 in Jackson, Tenn., U.S. - Bassist and trombonist - Worked with B.B. King, Albert King, Little Milton, Isaac Hayes, Earl Lee Hooker and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown.
Michal Bukovic - Died 1-31-2008 in Prague, Czech Republic - Throat cancer ( Pop Rock - Country ) Born 9-17-1943 in Prague - Songwriter - He wrote songs for Karel Gott, Vera Martinova, Michal Tucny (”Prodavac”) and Karel Zich (”Parada”).
Sister A. Maryam Muhammad (Carolyn Marie White) - Died 1-31-2008 - Cancer - She was 63 years old - Singer and musician - Was a member of The Royal Heritage Ensemble with her husband guitarist, Jose Roberto Bonilla.
Clive Jarrett - Died 1-31-2008 in Kingston, Jamaica - Shot ( Reggae ) He was 51 years old - Founder of The Dynamite label - Worked with Sly And Robbie, Lone Ranger, Carlton Livingston and Al Campbell.
Clark Robinson - Died 2-?-2008 - Illness - He was 57 years old - Drummer - Worked with Rancho Rebop And The Full Moon Howlers, Southpaw, Redwing, The Wichita Showband, The Cavaliers, Lateshift, Box o’ Bananas and Wang Dang Delta Blues.
Tigist Shibabaw - Died 2-?-2008 in Bahar Dar, Ethiopia ( World ) Born in Chagni - Singer - She can be heard on The Bole 2 Harlem CD and Radioaxiom - A Dub Transmission.
Shell Kepler - Died 2-1-2008 - Kidney failure - She was 49 years old - Born in Painsville, Ohio, U.S. - Actress - ( She did, “Popular Girl”) - Best know as Amy Vining on TV’s, General Hospital.
Robert Luly (Robert A. Luly) - Died 2-1-2008 - He was 65 years old - Born in San Bernardino, CA, U.S. - - He invented rock and roll’s earliest amplifiers - He built amplifiers for Chicago, ZZ Top, Three Dog Night, Bread and The Beach Boys - Worked as a guitarist for Frank Zappa.
Iwan Miscienko - Died 2-2-2008 in Russia - Car accident ( Rock ) He was 22 years old - Musician.
Jackie Orszaczky - Died 2-3-2008 - Cancer ( Jazz - Rock - Pop ) Born 1948 in Budapest, Hungary - Bassist, singer and producer - He did, “Taken To The Cleaners” and “What Is Hip”) - Worked with Syrius (”Psychomania” and “Crooked Man”), Bakery, Marcia Hines, Tony Buck, Chris Abrahams and Tina Harrod.
Fred Leadston - Died 2-3-2008 - Cancer ( Jazz ) Born 2-3-1935 - Played trombone, bass and euphonium - Worked with The Regimental Band, The Artillery Band, The Central Band, The Vimy Band, The Music Vets and The New Orleans Express.
Tata Guines (Federico Aristides Soto) - Rey de los tambores (King of the drums) - Died 2-4-2008 in Havana, Cuba - Kidney infection ( Jazz ) Born 6-30-1930 in Guines, Cuba - Percussionist and bassist - Worked with The Estrellas Nacientes Orchestra, Josephine Baker, Arsenio Rodriguez, Dionisio Martínez, Chano Pozo, Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, Miles Davis, Bebo Valdes, Israel “Cachao” Lopez and Frank Sinatra.
Chris Anderson - Died 2-4-2008 - Complications from a stroke ( Jazz ) Born 2-26-1926 in Chicago, Ill., U.S. - Pianist - Worked with Dinah Washington, Johnny Griffin, Gene Ammons, Charlie Parker, Roland Kirk, Leo Blevins, Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins, Howard McGhee and Max Roach.
Alan Jay Axelrod - Died 2-4-2008 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Complications from diabetes - He was 61 years old - Born in Pittsburgh, PA, U.S. - Keyboardist - Worked with Barry Manilow - Was a musical director for The Groundlings.
Deryck Bernard - Died 2-5-2008 - Heart attack - Born 4-12-1950 - Politician, preacher, author, musician, singer, composer and arranger - Was a member of The Woodside Choir, The Gospel Heralds, Unshackled, Korokwa and a conductor for The Joint Methodist Choir.
Schoolboy Cleve (Cleveland White) - Died 2-5-2008 in Daly City, CA, U.S. ( Blues ) He was 82 years old - Played harmonica and guitar - Worked with Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and Ron Thompson.
Winston Walls - Died 2-5-2008 in Fort Myers, FL, U.S. - Congestive heart failure and diabetes ( Jazz ) He was 65 years old - Played the organ and drums - Worked with Bill Doggett, Dionne Warwick, Sonny Stitt, Lou Donaldson Jack McDuff, Jimmy Smith and Groove Holmes - Son of pianist, Harry Van Walls.
Sepp Stark - Died 2-5-2008 in Munich, Germany - Heart failure ( Punk ) Drummer - Was a member of ZSD.
Kevin Hass (Kevin Joseph Hass) - Died 2-5-2008 in Hawarden, IA, U.S. - Colon cancer ( Rock - Punk ) Born 3-12-1970 in Hawarden, IA, U.S. - Bass guitarist, guitarist and songwriter - Was a member of The Flak Jakets, White Hot And Blue, Headshot, The Chew Toys, The Velour Prunes, From Within, Search For George and Three Man - Worked with Guns For Hyre and Razor Kane.
Bud Cairns (Arthur S. Cairns) - Died 2-6-2008 in Myrtle Beach ( Jazz ) Born 7-27-1919 in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. - Played trombone - Was a member of The Swing Time Band and The Ambassadors Of Dixie.
Phil Bullard - Died 2-6-2008 - Colon cancer ( Metal ) He was 59 years old - Drummer - Was a member of Black Death - Worked witn Mandrake.
Yu Zhou - Died 2-6-2008 in Qinghe, China after being detained by the police for 10 days ( Folk ) Sang and played guitar, drums and harmonica - Was a member of Xiaojuan & Co-Residents In The Valley (They did, “Sunset Glow” and “My Home”).
Chano O’Ferral (Rufino O’Ferral) - Died 2-6-2008 in New York, U.S. - Cancer - Born 1944 in Puerto Rico - Percussionist - (He wrote, “Love Is Love” and “Life Is Just A Moment” (Part 1 and 2)) -
Worked with Roy Ayers’ Ubiquity.
Benny Neyman - Died 2-7-2008 - Cancer - Born 6-9-1951 - Singer and songwriter - (He did, “Waarom fluister ik je naam nog?” and “Vrijgezel”).
Slawomir Kulpowicz - Died 2-7-2008 in Warsaw ( Jazz ) He was 56 years old - Pianist - Led In Formation - Worked with Zbigniew Namyslowski, Shujaat Khan, Burhan Ocal and Tomasz Szukalski.
John Wright - Died 2-7-2008 ( Folk ) He was 60 years old - Born in Bournemouth - Singer, songwriter and guitarist - (He did, “Peace On The Border” and “The Foray”) - Led The John Wright Band.
H.K. Narayan - Died 2-8-2008 - Illness - He was 72 years old - Composer and singer - (He wrote, Nissar Ahmed’s, “Nadavirada Baduke” and Da. Ra. Bendre’s, “Shubha Nudiye Shakunada Hakki”).
Sami McKinney (Samuel McKinney) - Died 2-8-2008 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Born 9-23-1957 - Producer and songwriter - Worked with Patti LaBelle, Nancy Wilson, Anita Baker, Santana, George Duke, Lalah Hathaway, Martha Wash, Grover Washington, Chaka Khan and Phyllis Hyman.
Jane Lumb (Jane Katherine Lumb) - Died 2-8-2008 - Breast cancer - Born 11-23-1942 in West Riding of Yorkshire, England - Model and actress - She worked in public relations for Showaddywaddy and The Bay City Rollers - She appeared in The Beatles’ film, A Hard Day’s Night and The Rolling Stones’ promotional film for the song, Ruby Tuesday - She had been married to music manager, Tony Gourvish.
Scot Halpin (Thomas Scot Halpin) - Died 2-9-2008 ( Rock - Jug Band ) Born 2-3-1954 - Drummer, guitarist, singer and songwriter - Worked with SnakeDoctor, Plank Road, The Sponges, Funhouse and Folklore - Performed with The Who filling in for an ailing Keith Moon who had left the stage.
Chris Townson - Died 2-10-2008 in London, England ( Rock ) Born 7-24-1947 in Battersea, London, England - Drummer - Worked with John’s Children, The Who, Jook, Radio Stars, Martin Gordon and Jet.
Ross McGarry - Died 2-10-2008 - Pancreatic cancer ( Rock ) He was 34 years old - Guitarist, singer and keyboardist - Was a member of Wish who became Stars and then The Sci Fi Lullabies.
Harold B. Andrews (aka Professor) - Died 2-10-2008 ( Jazz ) Born 1916 in Pensacola - Played bass and was a singer - Was a member of The Tuskegee Collegiates - Worked with Joe Occhipinti and Dizzy Gillespie.
Sergey Bashkirov (aka Funeral) - Died 2-10-2008 - Lung illness ( Metal ) He was 37 years old - Guitarist and singer - Was a member of Saints Everlasting Rest.
Freddie Bell (Ferdinando Dominico Bello) - Died 2-11-2008 - Lung cancer ( Rock ) Born 9-29-1931 in Philadelphia, PA, U.S. - Trombonist, bassist, drummer and singer - Led Freddie Bell And The