that those of you who have downloaded and stole my music are true supporters of progressive hiphop.<P>I put my life into this music and I put my life into this album. And for you to go and just take my shit before it's even ready to be heard and then pass judgement on it just ain't cool.<P>I'm going to let you do what you want to do (I know some of y'all say you're going to buy it, but I know that's just words). Let the poppers pop and the haters hate.<P>Peace and Love,<P>Com<P>Buy the album: Like Water for Chocolate. March 28th.

Some of us are definitely with you on this Cornbread.... <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/happy.gif"> I can't wait til March 28th. Don't forget - that's my birthday <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/wink.gif"> Best release date you coulda had!!<BR>Dove<BR>~Sheepish Lordess of Chaos~<P>"I'm not a player I just "drop" alot" - One Drop - of course!!<P>People may doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do.<P>"...its about time that we get back 2 the true essence in many aspects of life. folks so busy with tha peel they forget about the banana.." - Okayplayer Nubia<P>

Like i have said in the past, i bought Roots, Common, and D'angelo albums before okayplayer.com or MP3's and i will after.<P>Common, you cant really fault those (me included) for taking the opertunity to hear some of a highly anticipated (for us) release early. This type of thing is why artists like DJ Clue make so much money. Getting people a taste early.<P>To those who downloaded the unmastered version and have critiqued it on this site...you are playin yaself. It is nothing more than a taste of what the real album will be so you have no right reviewing it and/or arguing with Quest or Common about the sound of it.<P>Who will make the purchase? All the real fans WILL purchase the album obviously. Yes it is about the music and having the audio may be alright for those who dont really feel your music anyway. But the fans will support your album and make others support it just because of who you are. I cant even count how many purchases of Roots and Common LPs i have caused MYSELF just by making peeps REALLY listen. As for the fakes who just wanna stir disscussion by runnin thier yap about his unmastered version, they know how pathetic they are so you dont even have to address them.<P>Nuff said<P>Sheldon Mar"Quez" Rankin<BR><a href="http://www.sheldon.bored.org" target="_blank">http://www.sheldon.bored.org<;/a><BR>click there ===> <a href="http://www.BlackPlanet.com/Referrals/Quez" target="_blank">http://www.BlackPlanet.com/Referrals/Quez<;/a>/<P>"oh lawd Quez is here, okayplayer will never be the same" ---- some wise man<P>"The truth is, my crew is, the smoothest spitters of saliva juices like The Roots is, more Organic than acoustics" ---- Talib Kweli<P>"No need to mic test, you can feel it in ya chest... yo BEYAAAAATCH, feel it in her breasts" - Common

who innocently download the ish because (I like to think) they're down on their money, or they're into the artist's music so bad, they can't wait to hear what's on tap...like a preview of sorts...<P>there will always be profiteers and pirates...<P>as for me...I patiently waiting for late March...I didn't even read ?uest's review...sorta like not reading a movie's review in fear or knowing too much...don't want to kill it for myself, divulging the finer pts. and all...

...Just because some of us have access to computers and the technology that lets us hear special music in advance like COMMON or THE ROOTS or D'ANGELO, etc...some people take it over board...I could hardly believe you said that you hadn't even read ?uest's review yet...that takes some serious-ass discipline!! I admit...I downloaded Dooinit and Sixth Sense on mp3 but I'm gonna buy "LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE" the MOMENT it drops...it's like peekin at the presents before Christmas mornin...can we help it if we ANXIOUS?! <BR>...peace!<P>HUSSA

I just tell myself I don't want to know what is to be considered dope and what isn't...I want to judge it on my own terms/listening/watching without any biases...which is hard since we're all okp's...<P>

isn't taping a song off the radio mix show similar to downloading a song off the net? Just asking....<P>True appreciators of music will buy the record anyway, simply out of respect for the art/artist.<P><BR>"She was used to seeing pimps in furs and gators. Told her I'm an innovator." - Common<P>"Enjoy your 15 minutes, you've already spent 12 of them." - fire<P>

bluetiger's thought was so simple and plain but yet it's so true. I'm downloading some shit right now but you can believe my Okay Player Street Teaming ass will be up in the spot copping the LP on the 28th of this month.<P><BR>The reason why there hasnt been an Okayplayer of <BR>the Month since early January? Because everybody sucks.-NazDak-<P>Reporter: What's the first thing you do after performing a show?<P>Lil Wayne: "Fuck a ho, slang a dick." <BR>

I hear what your saying Com. But put yourself in someone else's shoes. Here's an album they've been waiting to hear for a long time and they can finally get to listen to it. It's a tempting thing.<P>I can tell ya' straight up I've listened to it, not downloaded it. And I realize it wasn't the final project, but damn it just got me more hyped to finally go out and buy it!<P>People up on here will go buy it. I see it throught the anticipation and love you get up on these boards. There mad cats who have been with ya' since "Can I Borrow a Dollar" and I have no doubts they will come out and show their support.<P>Now as for the cats bootlegin' your shit and then selling it to others, that's shit is just wrong. <P>Keep making this strong music, and much respect for the inspiration and spirituality.<P> Ursus

Y'all need to understand that for an artist, purchasing his "work" is what get's him paid and makes him identifiable. No other bullshit than that. Y'all betta take your financial aid, save it, and buy the damn album, just like I did in college when i bought the Roots and Common. Shit ain't changed.<P>Tiny .. .now the okayplayer formerly known as Tinyteanie, now known as "tenpercent!"

>Y'all need to understand that for an <BR>>artist, purchasing his "work" is what <BR>>get's him paid and makes him <BR>>identifiable. No other bullshit than <BR>>that. Y'all betta take your <BR>>financial aid, save it, and buy <BR>>the damn album, just like I <BR>>did in college when i bought <BR>>the Roots and Common. Shit <BR>>ain't changed. <P>chill guy. I hope Com DOES understand that if one has the opportunity to download the unmastered version then, if one has been HYPED for years to hear the next Com joint, one is going to give in to the temptation download it... but that is NOT an indication that they won't shell out the cash for the final product. Man ... if Com invited you to chill in the studio and hear the album being recorded and mixed down live for free... would you do it? Or refuse saying you didn't want to cheat Com by peepin his new music for free before it comes out? I suspect 90% of the cats in here dissing the mp3 downloaders are cats who don't have fast enough connections or the right knowledge to download the mp3's... so they think they're all special not listening to the LP and all... when if they had half a chance they'd be downloading and listening in a SECOND if they could. Anyways, point is, Com has a right to be upset... all artists have had to deal with bootlegging since long time... and no doubt the mp3 scene makes it even more of a problem... but Com SHOULD also recognize that most of the cats (obviously with some exceptions.. including those who claim they bootleg mp3s to hurt "the man") who are dedicated enough to be posting on the okayplayer site are also dedicated enough to BUY the album when it comes out EVEN THOUGH they couldn't resist the temptation of downloading it off the net ....<P>peace<P>QUIZ<P><BR>

I never said I wasn't going to purchase it.<P>I said hearing it made me hyped to purchase it.<P>And it's just hard for me to have an opportunity to hear it, and not take advantage of that. But shit I ain't downloaded it. Just listened.<P>

bein a street team member and fam....i will do all i possibly can to make sure this album goes gold and beyond.........please yall....come together, support this shit....or else, it wont be around anymore....for real....i mean....this is ALL thats left...the roots, com, black star...and a handful others.....<P>please yall......dont be cheap.........<P><P><BR>One Love<BR>RamXL<BR>(beat junkie)<P>"Each soul is potentially divine, the goal is to manifest this divinity within by controlling nature: external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy -- by one, or more, or all these -- and be free." Swami Vivekanada<P><BR>"no man is an island, but at times i feel lonely, so i find peace through om." Saul Williams<P><P><P><P>

I've got my money stashed up somewhere already and I'm not pulling it out till March 28th. I'm not going to get some cheap bootleg or download it anywhere, only the real thing for me.<P>Thanks for giving us your heart & soul, and I'm sure it will be reflected on the album...and in return I will not only buy the album, but i will tell everyone I know to buy it. And after I buy it I will play it for everyone I know. You've got my support... so don't get hung up on those ripping you off, hopefully they will tell everyone that you've put out quality work. They just represent a small fraction of your fans. You can always rely on your true fans.

Hey Com,<P>Mp3s serve as a way for people to learn about new music, get new songs they've never heard before, to further invest into their record collection.<P>To STEAL your work is incorrect. I get a chance to listen to all the new stuff that comes out before it comes out and base my buying decisions on that. If you make some wack shit, I aint buying it. But like you proved to the whole world with "Like Water for Chocolate", it's a masterpiece. Mp3s serve this purpose and that's perhaps why artists dislike them. But what about people like the Jazzies that get no respect by their record labels? WHAT ABOUT YOUR OWN ALBUM THAT HASN'T GOTTEN ANY PRESS, that I've seen?<P>It's sad. MCA Records just straight jack people over. Straight up.<P><P><a href="http://members.xoom.com/ogando/bwphoto" target="_blank">http://members.xoom.com/ogando/bwphoto<;/a><BR>"And as a special treat this evening, I have asked America's foremost young poet, to read his latest poem for us....."

See, here's where things get tricky on the issue of musical piracy. Do I have the album? Yes. Did I get it off my boy's PC? Yes. Will I buy the album? Probably.<BR>But when I read all these stories about how the industry pays cats these ridiculously low rates for their diligence and brilliance, that makes me less likely to come off the ducats to buy a CD. It makes no sense how expensive CDs have gotten, and excess charge is all going straight to the pockets of stock holders and executives.<P>There are examples of people whose albums i feel more inclined to go and buy, and Com is on that status with me. Realize that are some people that are not doing this out of complete and total disregard to the artist, but moreso in defiance of this ridiculous system.<P>If a blank CD come at $40 bucks for 50 of them (and that's retail price), why the hell do I have to pay 19 for the jazzyfatnastees when they are going to barely see a penny??? the record company is robbin cats way more than lil ole me ever will.<P>

i love common...but on the real i think anyone who downloads albums and claim to like that particular group or person is doing them an injustice. Most peeps never think they're taking money out of that artists hands or even worse food from their families mouths.If you really have love for an artists support them legitimately. I know id want real "fans"to do the same for me so on march 28(two days after my birthday) i will purchase Like water for chocolate and wont come out my room till i have at least listened for 3 hrs straight. One <P>

Dove<BR>~Sheepish Lordess of Chaos~<P>"I'm not a player I just "drop" alot" - One Drop - of course!!<P>People may doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do.<P>"...its about time that we get back 2 the true essence in many aspects of life. folks so busy with tha peel they forget about the banana.." - Okayplayer Nubia<P>

What confuses me is how can an unmastered jawn get out? Maybe I'm being naiive, but it's interesting...<P>I'ma put myself out there. I have the jawn. It's hot to death. I let folks hear a couple of tracks, BUT when they ask for a copy, I tell them to wait until March 28...get the real deal with the notes, pictures, and better mixes.<P>Those that really love your work will go out and buy the album...those that don't won't...sorry to say it like that...I, for one, is anxious to get my hands on the real thing on the 28th and I will probably buy two (one for me, the other for my friend's birthday).<P>*sigh*...I guess it's all up to faith.<P>Uno<BR>Improv!?<P>***when moderators consider suicide...***<BR>DestroGold: dag only one person replied to my big up post <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/sad.gif"><BR>DestroGold: i'm not that bad<BR>Gigfog: I replied!<BR>Gigfog: only like 13 replied to mine.<BR>DestroGold: ummm...you're the only one <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/sad.gif"><BR>Gigfog: We arent loved<BR>DestroGold: *sigh*<BR>Gigfog: I swear..noone loves us LOL<BR>DestroGold: it's hard being an unloved moderator...<BR>Gigfog: it is<BR>Gigfog: we need a support group<BR>DestroGold: word...

I for one will be copping it on the 28th even though a copy came into my possession today, Im the hungry kinda hip-hop cat that cant wait, it was killing me not having heard it yet as others had, and soon as I had the opportunity I jumped on it. But you can trust that I will support without any doubt, we met a few times last summer in ny and I briefly told you how much I dig you as an mc. I have way too much respect for your talent as an artist, and the music/culture in general not to have my ass at Best Buy come the 28th. I hope thats the case with others too, that they were just too hungry to wait and will still support. This should be the one to get you recognized most definitely. Peace

Once again if the problem is folks listening to your album before it's "finished" and then giving critism, well I'll give you that (though folks need to stop boosting it so folks won't really hunger for it...)<P>Now, if the problem is that folks have the album, well here's some solutions...<P>1) ummm...give the folks a CLEAN VERSION. Trust me...folks hate the clean version...that way it would discourage the folks from DLing anymore tracks...<P>2) Do like De La when they released Breakadawn...PUT SOUND EFX ON IT...I remember they put like sheep sounds on that mugg...have someone say "Like Water For Chocolate" ala DJ Clue<P>Just some stuff of the top of my head...<P>Uno<BR>Improv!?<P>"If my voice is no longer heard/ why should I continue to speak?/ To protect the meek?/ To encourage the weak?/ I'm sorry/ I'm tired of being that beacon of light/ the savior to those who refuse to pick themselves up/ when knocked down/ thinking someone is suppose to do it for them..."---Improv!?

All he gotta do is stick some half dressed hoochie coochies in the Sixth Sense remix video and Bling! Bling! He will go triple platinum in one month.<P>OOh, I know, half dressed hoochies hanging out a convertible Benz will do it.<P>BLING! BLING!<P>I AM BLACK MUSIC <P>"Ima put a curse on you. Might as well cause honestly, don't want no one to have you but me....." Sleepy's Theme <P>"Now, who else wanna fuck with Hollywood Coles?"- Dre/Kast<P>"Guess I shoulda known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last." - Prince<P>"If trouble were money, I swear I'd be a millionaire" - Stokely/MintCondition<P>"The quickest way to fire's heart, is through her ears" - fire<P>"But, here I is slaving away for the man instead of entertaining the masses." - fire<P>"Bitch, tone this!" - Stress<P>

I think he meant to do to fuck with the released tracks so people will STILL buy the album..<BR>good suggestions improv..<P>How about having Ang do her little "okayplayer dot com" interjections over the whole track!!?! that would be tight...all the mp3's would have it..hahaha<P><BR>Much love,<BR>Kyle<P>"i always tell people that fame is nothing but a good publicist, while talent is a genuine article..." ~ PoZi<P>profound statement #1-<BR>"In school I used to doodle, now i daze I use my noodle" ~ Brother Question

That is the real solution though. Like Lil Wayne he could go platinum after three minutes of shelf life at Virgin Records in New York.<P>I say every one scan your receipts so we can let this brother know that we're going or have bought his album. He thinks we're joking, I Love you bruh but get mad at me if you want. Look for an email from me the day of release. LOL, don't worry Comm this ain't www.DMX.com.......we support the true artform at this site, trust me. Peace...........<P><BR>The reason why there hasnt been an Okayplayer of <BR>the Month since early January? Because everybody sucks.-NazDak-<P>Reporter: What's the first thing you do after performing a show?<P>Lil Wayne: "Fuck a ho, slang a dick." <BR>

I like clean versions! Matter of fact, I'mma buy me a clean version as soon as I see it! (Can't find any roots clean though. Yet...)<P>"Quack Quack."- words from an annonymous duck

i havent been a com fan too long but after i heard that retrospect song i copped his "one day..." and have been a devoted fan. like water for chocolate is comin out in 3 weeks and no matter what peeps say, u do what u gotta do cuz there are many peeps that will support u...like me.<P><P>"10 g's BANK on it!!!"- heather b.<P>"toOT toOT!!!"- me<P>"HI, im the HERB of the year!..." -b.t.<P><P>

We don't have much patience, in this society anyway, and when something is so readily, available, some people are going to take a peek, out of curiosity, some will download it, just to say they "have" the album,or because they love them some Common, and can't wait when its _right there_....I don't know about everywhere else, but, I do feel, that the majority of folks here, who have it, will buy it.<P>Personally, I'm a wait and see type person, I think, that the anticipation, adds, to the experience, of buying an album, you've been counting days off for. Plus, I'm a liner notes freak, I HAVE to have my liner notes, for production info, shout outs, etc.<P>As far as how it got out, I guess, we'll never _really_ know, but there's definitely been a buzz about the album, not only here, but on RMHH for awhile now too. I guess, it's a good and bad thing. Hopefully, the buzz, will get folks out to buy that sucka! I'll be right there on the 28th. <P><BR>regards,<BR>Dis.<P>Help the Jazzies get on Oprah!<P><a href="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/general1/3276.html" target="_blank">http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/general1/3276.html<;/a>

We support your music for real. And I'm trying to hear this y'all not really gonna buy it stuff. If I heard and it was wack (Which it isn't) I sure as hell wouldn't buy it. And I could also go the the CD Listening station at Towers or HMV and listen to it before I bought it too, in order to make a judgement.<P>I've said it before and I'll say it again. MP3s are SAVING some hip-hop groups. If it wasn't for MP3s, I'd have absolutely no idea who Slum Village, Jurrasic 5, Dilated Peoples, Lootpack are. MP3s gave me the chance to herar them and check for them.<P>D'angelo had mp3s out (not the whole album like LWFC) and a whole bunch of people had a CD copy of the album for months and he did over 300,000 units the first week and is platinum. When I let people hear the D mp3s I had people starting crying damn near feenin for the album and were the first ones in line buying the album the day Voodoo dropped.<P>Com, your last two albums didn't sell over 500,000 untis combined and MP3s weren't the reason because they didn't even exist. I know for a fact three people r gonna buy your album now cause I let them hear the MP3s. These folks weren't necessarily even checking for you before I played them the MP3s.<P>If you want to talk about bootleggers then fine. But bootleggers have always been and will always be with or without MP3s. There's so much of your music I would have never heard if it wasn't for MP3s like The Bitch in You and various remixes because those joints aren't readily avaialable anywhere. You ever try and find that Relativity Assault Compilation? Good luck.<P>I know its your work and you want to fully benefit from it, but MP3s are not the evil empire heads ae trying to make them out to be. If MCA does right by you and properly promotes and markets you, your album will get the props it deserves. The folks that make MP3s when the real album drops and not buy it had no ntentions of buying it anyway.<P>I'm done defending MP3s. MP3s FOREVER!!!!!<P><BR>Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the motherfucker upside the head...

Firstly, I have been burned too many times by artists to just start buying stuff and I use MP3s to see for sure if an album is something WORTH MY MONEY....there's alot of wack ish out there and I don't plan on putting any more of it into my collection....<P>Second, Nesta's point on underground is true, I have definitely been turned onto some cats who I NEVER WOULD HAVE HEARD OF just listening the radio (which I don't cuz it's all Ruff Ryders) or watching videos.... <P>Third, if the album is DOPE pple will buy it, whether they have the MP3 or not. The D'Angelo example says it all. It's like a preview, like the LIstening STations they put up in record stores...only our artists r hardly EVER UP for a listen... These MP3 sites get the buzz out and get pple ready it's like a cheap promotion....<P>About Com, I have never purchased a Com cd before cuz I was hating on rap but after hearing LWFC I will ******MOST DEFINITELY BE IN LINE WITH MY COPY ON THE 28th****** and I already have one.... <P> <P><BR> <BR>-----------------------<BR>"How u got high expectations, but got low patience?"<P>"Everybody's got opinions on the way you're living<BR>But son they can't fill your shoes<BR>Life is made of half illusion, 40% confusion<BR>Whatever's left I'm using to keep myself from losing<BR>You don't know what I've been through<BR>Hell I might go through you<BR>But it's all in my head"- Dre Benjamin<BR> <BR>"May your life speak as loudly as your words"<BR><a href="http://home.talkcity.com/reflectionsrd/bonamie" target="_blank">http://home.talkcity.com/reflectionsrd/bonamie<;/a><P>When u have read all posts....<BR><a href="http://www.BlackPlanet.com/Referrals/bonamie" target="_blank">http://www.BlackPlanet.com/Referrals/bonamie<;/a>/<P><P><BR>

I have to agree with Nesta. I am by no means an MP3 fanatic, but I am a fan. No disrespect to Com, but I HAD to hear that ish when I found out it was out because I AM a fan of your music. I just couldn't wait. But I also plan on buying the album. No doubt about that. So we still supoort you. Just because we downloaded the MP3 doesn't mean we aren't fans or are going to bootleg the ish. <P>Keep it flowin...<P><BR>Peace<BR>Tre' Boogie<BR>"I've got to keep experimenting. I feel that I'm just beginning. I have part of what I'm looking for in my grasp, but not all." -- John Coltrane<BR>

Com i feel you yo!<P>I particulary think kats be under the impreession that cuz people make music the livin large!!<BR>Er' body aint Bling Blinging!!<BR>I mean I works everyday to get my daily bread and i put my time and energy into my job so i can reap the benefits.......just as artist who make the records put they heart and energy into they music!!<P>I dont really go CD splurgin.....I am very particular bout what i buy......But I will be purchasing "like water for chocolate" for one that is my favorite movie and Com you my "NIGGA"!<BR>Seriously(imma send Ang the reciepts)......You be surprised how many cats I done gave stickers to and was like "bet"!!!<P><BR>My dumb ass knows not about damn MP3!<BR>I think it is the same as bootleggin cuz' catz be burnin them and makin boot leg CD's and selling them on 12th and Market!!<P>It sad cuz I realize that hip-hop is some folks 9 to 5!<BR>COM hold tight brother cuz you get mad love!!!<P>and COM.......You my "Nigga"LOL!<P><P><P><P><BR>"what part of the game is that?" my Boop!<P>"dancin wit Blanche and them bitches" Ghostface<P><BR>"think I'll get a bean pie and a 40" Suburban Mom<P>Smutometrist Nebtastic<P><BR>T.O.P.A Head of Security<P><BR>" E El Isum Shil El Eloh El Rahmun, Alazi Izu El Rahummul!"<BR> <BR>

I think I fully understand what you are saying. Whenever I get an album in MP3 form I INTEND to buy it, but I wanna go cop a new thing I "haven't heard yet", so I put it off. I think a lot of people are the same. The insentive I have to give myself is to delete the MP3s, and then I'll fene for the music until I buy it. Perhaps record companies should release a couple of songs off the album early, because if I have only a couple songs I wanna go buy the album right away if they are good. I do believe MP3s deter you from buying the album though.<P>BuckWild

People don't understand the effect that things like MP3's have on an artist, particularly a hip hop artists career. Before MP3's it was mixtapes, and underground shows like Stretch and Bobbito which would play unreleased joints way way before they were gonna come out. Even though I loved hearing things before everyone else, I bet there are a lot of artists who lost the support of their labels cuz that initial rush to the store to get the album was not there cuz all the homey's already had a copy of it in the hood. MP3 is the same kinda thing. Yeah, on one hand it puts an artist out there, but on the other, it drops sales, cuz I don't care what anyway says. 75% of the people who got your album on MP3 are not gonna buy it, and all of them give or take a few will have no problem letting other people download their MP3 versions of your album. They don't understand that this in no way supports you. And without that initial rush in the record stores to buy your album, then the record company will most likely not support you fully and help you get your music out there.<P>On top of that I'm sick of hearing all these people talk about unreleased tracks from your album. I think it is disrespectful to you, a professional artist, and for the rest of us who are not gonna buckle to the temptation and steal your album from underneath you. It's not like you are an artist who is just doing this for fun, and doesn't need the money. I think it is straight wack that so many people are proud of partaking in decreasing your record sales.<BR>I'm out,<BR>bananaman<P>March 2000- Banana and The King <BR>coming to a tape deck near you <P>"You’re a genius with a capital P/ <BR>another Booby Trap casualty/"- Booby trap the sniper.<BR>

>People don't understand the effect that things <BR>>like MP3's have on an artist, <BR>>particularly a hip hop artists career. <BR>>Before MP3's it was mixtapes, and <BR>>underground shows like Stretch and Bobbito <BR>>which would play unreleased joints way <BR>>way before they were gonna come <BR>>out.<P>Man when I was up in college, we stayed up until allahours of the night to listen to the new stuff and then we would go out to the locla record store and try and demand that he gget that stuff in. Maybe we're from different planets but no one and i mean NO ONE I know sist around and uses mix tapes as a substitute for buying a bangin album. And by the wa when's the ast time you've heard Common or the Roots on a mix tape anyway.<P>It all comes down to exposure. Artists like Coma nd The Roots don't sell well because they don't get airplay on the radio and MTV like the Jay-Zs of the world. All this existed in absence of MP3s and using MP3s to blame is a cop out. Why didn't DYWM sell more records, Why didn't Resurrection sell more records? I assure u it wasn't cause of MP3s since MP3s didn't exist then, it was because of record comapnies that didn't support their artists. Is the Jazzies album not selling because of MP3s?<P>I really thought y'all were a little more critical than this. I definitely see hwere artists don't want their unreleased stuff out there (Although none of us work for MCA or the studio where they recorded the album...someone should be talking to them). But all this stuff is good promotion. I don't ever remember hearing any artists say "Damn, Bobitto is running my unreleased shit into the ground and heads keep requresting it." When they run it they are happy as hell cause they r getting exposure.<P><BR>Even though I loved hearing <BR>>things before everyone else, I bet <BR>>there are a lot of artists <BR>>who lost the support of their <BR>>labels cuz that initial rush to <BR>>the store to get the album <BR>>was not there cuz all the <BR>>homey's already had a copy of <BR>>it in the hood. <P>Man the labels are the ones puting the shit out there early trying ot get a buzz. I assume you aren't a DJ or own a record store.Record labels send u stuff way in advance because they want you playing their stuff for others to hear. My man that has record stor gtes free albums as an incetive to play stuff and my otehr man that used to vcollege parties all over the country (RIP Swift)would get boxes of unreleased stuff every week from the distributrs and the labels because they want their stuff to get play.<P>I'm tired of talking about this. But I guarantee you one thing, if Common doesn't go gold it will because his album didn't get video and radio play not because some folks have downloaded an incomplete unmastered version of his record.<P><BR>Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the motherfucker upside the head...

i'm pissed, i want common to do well, and i'm pissed cause i haven't heard the new ish yet. that's natural i guess. y'all shole got my appetite wet for that ish. the same way i felt for one day. i left work that morning and bought thatis the first day. so i guess it's a repeat about to happen.<P>rappers i crush, kill, and destroy like STRESS.<BR>- common (sense)<P>D Angelo says thank you and 180 of us respond.<BR>Common Says whats up and over 60 of us respond.<BR>People in seattle get pissed and over 100 of us respond.<BR>Quest just says anything and they damn near have to shut the boards down<BR> -okayplayer LmaniV<P><BR>preview my new video before it hits the stores<BR><a href="http://hometown.aol.com//layzboi/mywebpage.html" target="_blank">http://hometown.aol.com//layzboi/mywebpage.html<;/a><P><BR>at times my going forward seems like retreat<BR>-common (sense)

You just can be stealin' someones creativity before their ready to expose it to you. You cat's say oh "I'm gonna buy it, this that and the third" but ya'll don't realize ya'll backin' up a whole lotta shit. Cat's runnin around talkin' bout oh "I heard such and such and I don't like this or that", then the person you told tells somebody else , "it heard it's wasn't all that", then the next man like "oh I heard that shit is wack I ain't buyin' it , chain reaction" Na-I-mean.<BR>

I don't bootleg, I can't even watch bootleg movies. I have STRUGGLED and sacrificed my life for my music. I don't want anyone bootlegging my stuff, so I don't do it to theirs. Don't worry, fire will take her $13.99 and cop yo shit on March 28th. In fact, I'm gonna suggest that a few people that wouldn't normally buy your album without hearing it a million times a day on the radio to buy it. <P>SA-DA-TAY!<P>I AM BLACK MUSIC <P>"Ima put a curse on you. Might as well cause honestly, don't want no one to have you but me....." Sleepy's Theme <P>"Now, who else wanna fuck with Hollywood Coles?"- Dre/Kast<P>"Guess I shoulda known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last." - Prince<P>"If trouble were money, I swear I'd be a millionaire" - Stokely/MintCondition<P>"The quickest way to fire's heart, is through her ears" - fire<P>"Bitch, tone this!" - Stress<P>

I don't even like dubbed things, although I have accepted them in the past and someone is going to send me some dubbed stuff soon, I am really against people downloading music off the net and not buying the album....all those that were worried about whether or not the roots were gonna win a grammy should ask yourself whether or not you bought the album, if you did then you could have a bit more confidence, if not, then that purchase could have been what tipped the scales, but you blew it....ever wonder why so many hip hop artists never get their just due? look a the shit you downloaded instead of buying and you'll have your answer....I will disagree with comm on one point though, I don't think that purchases determine whether or not you are a true supporter of the art form, man needs to eat before he can do anything else, it's one thing to support the music and then it's another to support the artist, when you support the artist you buy their shit, and show your love...but there really is no obligation...my thing is, there shouldn't even be full tracks out there on the net, most stores will allow you to listen to the album before you buy it and if someone really wants to listen to the music they can do it that way...I will be buying your album on the 28th because I support you and progressive hip hop, not out of an obligation to show my respect and appreciation of the artform....<P>*****************************************************************************<P>eff a serious quote for a minute, these two are hilarious.....<P>"if your mind can see it then your vagina can achieve it"---Jumecca's advice on how to get layed in the 2000<P>"God don't like ugly people, and those mufucka's are going to hell with gasoline draws on"---Heavenlei

you can't get credits and photography, bootlegged. <P>I also have this strong belief in Karma. If I'm gonna rip someone off, it'll probably be Uncle Sam. <P>Hey, ain't April 13th almost here?<P>SA-DA-TAY!<P>I AM BLACK MUSIC <P>"Ima put a curse on you. Might as well cause honestly, don't want no one to have you but me....." Sleepy's Theme <P>"Now, who else wanna fuck with Hollywood Coles?"- Dre/Kast<P>"Guess I shoulda known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last." - Prince<P>"If trouble were money, I swear I'd be a millionaire" - Stokely/MintCondition<P>"The quickest way to fire's heart, is through her ears" - fire<P>"Bitch, tone this!" - Stress<P>

but I'm gettin a hunk a change back from da man, so I'm filing today, so I can get that shit in like a week and a half...girl..not quite in time for me to get some d'angelo tickets, but good enough timing to cop this common album...<P>*****************************************************************************<P>eff a serious quote for a minute, these two are hilarious.....<P>"if your mind can see it then your vagina can achieve it"---Jumecca's advice on how to get layed in the 2000<P>"God don't like ugly people, and those mufucka's are going to hell with gasoline draws on"---Heavenlei

I think not only can we cop Common this way, but it's a great way to get that new car I want. This idea is getting better by the minutes.....You're getting rapid refund? I hate it cause they make money off of you. I'm so tired of people getting rich off of me I don't know what to do.<P>SA-DA-TAY!<P>I AM BLACK MUSIC <P>"Ima put a curse on you. Might as well cause honestly, don't want no one to have you but me....." Sleepy's Theme <P>"Now, who else wanna fuck with Hollywood Coles?"- Dre/Kast<P>"Guess I shoulda known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last." - Prince<P>"If trouble were money, I swear I'd be a millionaire" - Stokely/MintCondition<P>"The quickest way to fire's heart, is through her ears" - fire<P>"Bitch, tone this!" - Stress<P>

I'm in Canada, so how does your rapid refund work, and how do "they" make money off of you?<P>man I just heard some tracks from like water for chocolate last night, and they were hot to death, I don't know how this guy got em but artists really need to find a way to protect their necks... I mean people had heard tracks off of voodoo last year, long before the album dropped, hell I had okp's teasing me with that shit all the way back in january, talkin bout they listenin to spanish joint and all kinds of stuff<P>*****************************************************************************<P>eff a serious quote for a minute, these two are hilarious.....<P>"if your mind can see it then your vagina can achieve it"---Jumecca's advice on how to get layed in the 2000<P>"God don't like ugly people, and those mufucka's are going to hell with gasoline draws on"---Heavenlei

>I'm in Canada, so how does your <BR>>rapid refund work, and how do <BR>>"they" make money off of you? <P>Rapid Refund is where you fill out your tax forms and get a refund right away instead of having to wait a month and a half to get the check.<P>>I don't know how this guy <BR>>got em but artists really need <BR>>to find a way to protect <BR>>their necks <P>I have a phrase that is one of the most profound statements ever made by an m.c.:<P>"RECORD COMPANY PEOPLE ARE SHADY" - Q-tip<P>That's all I have to say about that!<P><P>BLING! BLING!<P>I AM BLACK MUSIC <P>"Ima put a curse on you. Might as well cause honestly, don't want no one to have you but me....." Sleepy's Theme <P>"Now, who else wanna fuck with Hollywood Coles?"- Dre/Kast<P>"Guess I shoulda known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last." - Prince<P>"If trouble were money, I swear I'd be a millionaire" - Stokely/MintCondition<P>"The quickest way to fire's heart, is through her ears" - fire<P>"But, here I is slaving away for the man instead of entertaining the masses." - fire<P>"Bitch, tone this!" - Stress<P>

"RECORD LABELS ARE SHADY"....so what can the artist do to protect their work??? is there anything that can be done, or does the label have the final say??<P>*****************************************************************************<P>eff a serious quote for a minute, these two are hilarious.....<P>"if your mind can see it then your vagina can achieve it"---Jumecca's advice on how to get layed in the 2000<P>"God don't like ugly people, and those mufucka's are going to hell with gasoline draws on"---Heavenlei

Com, what kinda car(s) you got?<BR> I'm drivin a 90' Lumina with a messed up transmision so i'm burnin twice as much gas.<P>You got heat in your crib??<BR> Oh i was just askin cause occasionaly I don't.<P>Do you work a full time job and go to College?<BR> Yep, you guessed it...thats me again :)<P>Do you have heath care or enough money to pay for it??<BR> Who me? na, I don't...I gotta pay cash for my medical...still payin off bills from when i was in the hospital in sept. of 97. We need that universal health care.<P> But even though I gotta save up to buy a new car and continue to pay for school, I'll shell out 15 'ones' to help you in your struggle cause i'm a "true fan". It all works out well doesn't it?<P> Oh no, a person in my situation would never think about buying a burned cd for $5 cause I wanna own my own copy of the credits and shoutouts!<P> But on a serious note, you ask for so much support from us...which you do receive...what do we get in return(besides the product). I mean, athletes make millions and they give back a great deal to their community(a lot of them atleast). You rhyme about all these strugles you and your people face, but what have you guys invested in trying to abolish those strugles? I'm not critisizing, just asking. And this question is to all hip hop artists out there...why not take political stands that mean somethin and do somethin about it like other groups like U2 or Rage Against the Machine? Sorry to say, but as much as I truly love you guys, you don't use your power you have behind a mic for worthy enough causes. Think about that...

<BR>why not take political <BR>>stands that mean somethin and do <BR>>somethin about it like other groups <BR>>like U2 or Rage Against the <BR>>Machine? <P>You know how much money U2 has! Don't give me this shit! They got money from the days when the internet was unheard of. I saw the Zoo TV tour six times! Six motherfucking times. U2 has hundreds of millions of dollars, they can "afford" to be extravagant. Plus, they probably have alot more points on their albums than your average rapper. And if I'm not mistaken, they went IPO? (I'm not sure I'll look into it)<P>And I'm not being funny or anything, but these groups have a larger white fan base which equals larger green money. sorry, but I was a broke ass student too. When Nate and Judy wired me money or put some in my account. Guess where the first place fire would go? The Wiz. Every week. You can't love music and hate it at the same time. You can't ask for the upliftment of the artform and not help artists' out who are really trying to make this music business less "shiny". So stop crying, stop bootlegging and buy his fucking album. And don't encourage people that bootleg by not checking them on it.<P>My boyfriend got mad at me cause I wouldn't watch a bootleg of Belly with him, sorry but I'll rent it before I watch it on bootleg. (And he's a rapper that would be real pissed if someone bootlegged his stuff. Had the audacity, when I first met him, not to let me "hold" his stuff so I could listen to it. Hypocrite!)<P>BLING! BLING!<P>I AM BLACK MUSIC <P>"Ima put a curse on you. Might as well cause honestly, don't want no one to have you but me....." Sleepy's Theme <P>"Now, who else wanna fuck with Hollywood Coles?"- Dre/Kast<P>"Guess I shoulda known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last." - Prince<P>"If trouble were money, I swear I'd be a millionaire" - Stokely/MintCondition<P>"The quickest way to fire's heart, is through her ears" - fire<P>"But, here I is slaving away for the man instead of entertaining the masses." - fire<P>"Bitch, tone this!" - Stress<P>

"can you pay my bills<BR>can you pay my telephone bills<BR>can you pay my automobills<BR>i don't think you do<BR>so me and you are through." (Bills, Bills, Bills - Destiny's Child)<P><P><BR>---<BR>"I hate when weird glowing invertabrates force me to respond to their posts! " - ICE<BR>---<BR> "Whoever controls the media--the images--controls the culture." - Allen Ginsberg<BR>---<BR>"If anyone has material possesions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" - I John 3:17

classic way to sum it all up.<BR>dam bugaboo...tryin to get me to pay for his album all the time...buy your own dam album!!<BR>I'm tryin to get the new air maxes man!!<P><P>"I desperatly wanna make love to a school boy"-Jim C.

If you like MP3s or not - they are here to stay, and are only going to get more common (heheh)<P>I for one like them a lot - Com, apparently you don't. But regardless of either of our likes and dislikes THEY ARE NOT GOING AWAY. <P>So unless the industry starts publishing on holographic cubes, or - even better - artists start locking down their ish before it hits the market (voodoo mp3s were everywhere b/c of that promo; i have no idea how an unmastered lwfc leaked out), we can expect mp3s to reign supreme.<P>yo, i don't think there are many artists or heads who like the way the music industry operates. Don't y'all see that mp3s and similar technologies are a way to SUBVERT THOSE MONEYGRUBBING ASSHOLES FOREVER???!!!!<P>we have the opportunity to change the whole system, fam. We own the means of distribution - you're reading my words on it right now!<BR>Viva la revolucion!<P>peace<P>"I'm Adam and I'm adamant about living large." -- Adrock

Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the motherfucker upside the head...

if your shit gets out early...period.<P>your post is on point, <P>lock shit down & bootlegging won't be a problem. <P>I'm feeling MP3's...<P>

"Everytime I step to the microphone, I put my soul on two inch reels I don't even own"<P>Common, welcome to the music biz, capitalism, and America... oh yeah... and okayplayer (which is part of the internet and humanity)<P>~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_<BR>April 11th -- Both Sides of the Brain by Del the Funky Homosapien<BR>Yes okayplayers... it got pushed back again!<BR>~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_<BR>Conversation with a friend/ex-okayplayette<BR>Del Jocker33: and how would you be able to validate if I get ass or not <BR> Del Jocker33: I could just lie to you <BR> FuEgoEnCieLo: well...u would have to show me the used condom...lol

>And for you to <BR>>go and just take my shit <BR>>before it's even ready to be <BR>>heard and then pass judgement on <BR>>it just ain't cool. <P>this is my question, answer it if you like, but, i wanted to e-mail you this...<P>Do you think that the album shouldn't be heard in it's entirety before march 28th?<P>...my reason is because i'm not sure of the signficance of that date outside of it being the release of your album, and i CAN listen to it now, but i'm not. kinda because i don't think it's time for it. i'm still digesting voodoo. i'm still loving mfdoom, i'm still laughing at thirsten howl III (two artists that i wouldn't know about if it weren't for the net and samples fo their shit) but, it's like, are we really ready for this album? do we need time to let d's shit grow? is it just about money, or about the creativity of a process? certain things hit at the right time, and enter our lives at the right time?<P>if it were up to you, would you drop it tomorrow? or does it still need the anticipation to grow?<P>just wondering, cause to me, it aint about money, but then again, i don't have a nickel in your quarter.<P>i'm buying it when it's in my store. maybe even a week after. but i'm not ready to listen to that now.<P>$0.02<P>_______________________________________<BR><a href="http://www.h8r.com/diallo" target="_blank">http://www.h8r.com/diallo<;/a>

Common,<P>I am too excited about your new shit. But you gotta realize that if people taste a single or two on MP3 or whatever, they still will buy your record. I guarantee that it helps your record to have it on the Net. Word of mouth.<P>That's mine,<BR>Darb

having your album on the net and access to a burner is the worst thing that can happen to an artists album..snippets are good enough if you ask me..ask yourself this, and this is just a general question to everyone, if you're a struggling student and you can get the album for free, or at a fraction of the cost, why in the name of all things chocolate would you pay full price?? loyalty to the artist, maybe, but how many of us have ever been like "yo son, let me borrow that XX joint, and while you're at it, hook me up with a copy of YY's jawn....shit nigga, I'm bouts to go down the block and pick me up MM mix tape, shit is hot to death"....a lot of us have done it, and those people that make mix tapes and don't get the written permission of the artist and the label are just as bad, cause they're making a profit without giving credit to the artists themselves....<P>*****************************************************************************<P>eff a serious quote for a minute, these two are hilarious.....<P>"if your mind can see it then your vagina can achieve it"---Jumecca's advice on how to get layed in the 2000<P>"God don't like ugly people, and those mufucka's are going to hell with gasoline draws on"---Heavenlei

>having your album on the net and <BR>>access to a burner is the <BR>>worst thing that can happen to <BR>>an artists album..snippets are good enough <BR>>if you ask me..ask yourself this, <BR>>and this is just a general <BR>>question to everyone, if you're a <BR>>struggling student and you can get <BR>>the album for free, or at <BR>>a fraction of the cost, why <BR>>in the name of all things <BR>>chocolate would you pay full price?? <BR>> loyalty to the artist, maybe, <BR>>but how many of us have <BR>>ever been like "yo son, let <BR>>me borrow that XX joint, and <BR>>while you're at it, hook me <BR>>up with a copy of YY's <BR>>jawn....shit nigga, I'm bouts to go <BR>>down the block and pick me <BR>>up MM mix tape, shit is <BR>>hot to death"....a lot of us <BR>>have done it, and those people <BR>>that make mix tapes and don't <BR>>get the written permission of the <BR>>artist and the label are just <BR>>as bad, cause they're making a <BR>>profit without giving credit to the <BR>>artists themselves.... <P>I had mounds of credit card debt coming out of college because I must own all of my music. I need the Liner notes and everything. So when I was a broke ass college student I still was buying everything I liked because dubs just didn't cut it. Same thing as now (although I'm not broke anymore). And the quality of mP3s does not match the quality of CDs (not yet anyway)<P>MP3s give artists such a great buzz. The buzz on Common's album now has a lot to do with the MP3s being out. I mean a little article here and there is cool, but the anticipation for Voodoo is much different than the anticipation for LWFC. <P>And if you are worried about bootleggers, bootleggers have been around since Berry Gordy was wearing short pants. Nothing will stop them. <P><BR>Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the motherfucker upside the head...

I'm not saying that you can't have your shit out there for promo's sake, but full albums, with the full tracks....come on man, snippets of like 30-60 seconds are good enough, take that shit and let it bubble in your soul, if you're feelin it, buy it, if you need more, go listen to it in the store...shit if that doesn't work, go buy, listen to it, and return it if you don't like it...just don't bootleg, it hurts the artist the most in the end.<P>*****************************************************************************<P>eff a serious quote for a minute, these two are hilarious.....<P>"if your mind can see it then your vagina can achieve it"---Jumecca's advice on how to get layed in the 2000<P>"God don't like ugly people, and those mufucka's are going to hell with gasoline draws on"---Heavenlei

That's what I'm trying to say. Tape Cassetes are the old school equivalent of MP3s. What you think people didn't get advanced copies before the Internet? You think they didn't make dubs for friends and pass it along before the internet? <P>When I used to spin in college we got a lot of stuff before hand FROM THE RECORD COMPANIES, so let's not be naive and think that all of this is happening because of the net. THE DIFFERENCE is that the record comapnies don't completely control it now and they hate that shit. Folks have been dubbing albums and not buying their own copies for years. Now if you consider that bootlegging cool. But this is nothing new, just a different method. <P>MY POINT IS THIS! I just don't want no one telling me that Common didn't go gold because of MP3s. Common and The Roots never went gold before and MP3s weren't in existence. That happened for many reasons including he couldn't get airplay and videoplay becuase his stuff didn't fit into the bullshit radio playlists and his label Relativity did little to push it beyond the "underground". Hopefully, MCA will push him and if they do LWFC will sell and I thinkit will gold. Plus being down with the whole Soulquarians/Roots thing isn't gonna hurt either. But if MCA treat him like they did the Jazzies he'll sell about 300,000 units and then heads on here gonna start saying dumb shit like if it weren't for MP3s LWFC would've gone gold. That's simply not the case.<P>And I'll say it again. Bootlegging has always been and will always be. They are violating but don't blame it on MP3s.<P>Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the motherfucker upside the head...

>I mean a little article here <BR>>and there is cool, but the <BR>>anticipation for Voodoo is much different <BR>>than the anticipation for LWFC<P>that's because common wears a shirt in photos.<P><P>you better bring me some muthafuckin' cognac or i'll kill you -- supherb<P>words ought to be a little wild for they are the assault of thoughts on the unthinking -- john maynard keynes

The difference is Voodoo has to be one of the most anticipated sophomore albums ever. Combined with the Lauryn drama the five years, dates keep getting pushed back. D went double platinum first time around.<P>Man, you know what I mean...Stop harassing me. LOL!<P>Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the motherfucker upside the head...

Common,<P>I am too excited about your new shit. But you gotta realize that if people taste a single or two on MP3 or whatever, they still will buy your record. I guarantee that it helps your record to have it on the Net. Word of mouth.<P>That's mine,<BR>Darb

I'ma buy it... i don't have any mp3s of it.... all that ive heard is the two tracks that were on okayplayer.com<P><BR>"May the Force Be With You!" OBi-Wan Kenobi<P>Crazy

just like I've bought every cd of the three burned cds I've ever been given. It's wack to download the shit and then not buy the album and support the artist (unless the album's weak) I'm not big on all this MP3 shit, though, I rpefer the days when just about everyone got the shit on the day it came out, and most everybody was hearin it for the first time.<BR> <BR>--res-one-->you know my f*ckin name I rule all game...<BR>LPP for life (light pockets posse)<BR>peace, okayplayers...<P><BR>knowledge, wisdom, and understanding: with these three elements of life, we must build a better world, teach the young and old, use natural resources to uplift the people, not to make individuals rich, but to put the Human mind back on the right path and get rid of sick racist mentalities.- Afrika Baambaataa<P><BR><a href="http://www.mumia.org" target="_blank">http://www.mumia.org<;/a>

>just like I've bought every cd of the three burned cds I've ever been given. It's wack to download the shit and then not buy the album and support the artist (unless the album's weak) I'm not big on all this MP3 shit, though, I rpefer the days when just about everyone got the shit on the day it came out, and most everybody was hearin it for the first time.<P>what's the damn rush anyway, so you can tell your friends you've heard the album?? so what, are you gonna sing all the tracks off for them one by one just to prove it?? I'm with you man, people should have access to the work at the same time...<P><BR>*****************************************************************************<P>eff a serious quote for a minute, these two are hilarious.....<P>"if your mind can see it then your vagina can achieve it"---Jumecca's advice on how to get layed in the 2000<P>"God don't like ugly people, and those mufucka's are going to hell with gasoline draws on"---Heavenlei

but i don't have a CD burner and i don't have a subwoofer on my computer, and my shit's wack anyway. so you KNOW i'ma buy that jawn. i wanted to hear it and i been lovin it ever since. but it's NOT on my school network, like the rest of my random mp3s are, and i'm NOT lettin anybody else download it. it's mine to enjoy privately and hell, i'm gonna delete it anyway once i get the CD on the 28th (or whenever i can get to the store).<P><a href="http://www.thehungersite.com" target="_blank">http://www.thehungersite.com<;/a><P>"I ain't no goddamn son of a bitch--you'd better think about it, baby!"<BR> --Glenn Danzig (Misfits)<P>"Where the F*CK is my purse icon??????"

I'm telling all ya'll something, probably a year in advance:<P>IF YOU BOOTLEG MY SHIT, I'M BREAKING YOUR LEGS!!!<P>I'm not even playing! As poor and homeless as I've been for music, I swear I would be real pissed too! then to top it off, it ain't mastered. A snippet is one thing, straight jacking is another.<P>And if I don't do it personally, I got a really mean black mother that is a stickler for what her children deserve. Trust me, you don't want my mother harassing you. <P>Common, I can get my mother to harass these jokers if you want?<P>BLING! BLING!<P>I AM BLACK MUSIC <P>"Ima put a curse on you. Might as well cause honestly, don't want no one to have you but me....." Sleepy's Theme <P>"Now, who else wanna fuck with Hollywood Coles?"- Dre/Kast<P>"Guess I shoulda known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last." - Prince<P>"If trouble were money, I swear I'd be a millionaire" - Stokely/MintCondition<P>"The quickest way to fire's heart, is through her ears" - fire<P>"But, here I is slaving away for the man instead of entertaining the masses." - fire<P>"Bitch, tone this!" - Stress<P>

and tell them to stop passing out unmastered, incomplete copies of your shit.<P>Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the motherfucker upside the head...

But I'll still pull a Jay-Z out this Byatch!<P>BLING! BLING!<P>I AM BLACK MUSIC <P>"Ima put a curse on you. Might as well cause honestly, don't want no one to have you but me....." Sleepy's Theme <P>"Now, who else wanna fuck with Hollywood Coles?"- Dre/Kast<P>"Guess I shoulda known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last." - Prince<P>"If trouble were money, I swear I'd be a millionaire" - Stokely/MintCondition<P>"The quickest way to fire's heart, is through her ears" - fire<P>"But, here I is slaving away for the man instead of entertaining the masses." - fire<P>"Bitch, tone this!" - Stress<P>

i already copped a copy of your shit last month off of some arabs on bleeker. by the way, your album was wack except for your topless photo on the back and the skit where you do a drive-by on koala love's nasty marsupial ass.<P><BR>you better bring me some muthafuckin' cognac or i'll kill you -- supherb<P>words ought to be a little wild for they are the assault of thoughts on the unthinking -- john maynard keynes

I'm gonna get one disc and two vinyl copies.<P>ME<P>"You're the gay rapper, might as well admit it/<BR>claim the name, and use it as your gimmick"<P>-ME

:)<P><P><P><P><P><BR>THE SOULQUARIANS<BR>chewy (quest).....jan<BR>luke (d)........feb <BR>lando (jaydee)......feb<BR>cp30 (james poyser).....jan<BR>r2d2 (jazzy jeff)......jan<BR>hans (chaos)........jan<BR>anakin (lil mike)......feb<P>honorary members:<BR>kelo- soulacorn.......jan<BR>common- soulcies......march<BR>erykah- soulcies......feb<BR>

they put out the advance copies

Com's gonna make you buy the album that you executive produced? Damn. He probably makes his family pay and shit too. Greedy bastard. <P>ME<P>"...I rap like a mummy/ not for the money..."<P>-Com Sense<P>"You're the gay rapper, might as well admit it/<BR>claim the name, and use it as your gimmick"<P>-ME

Alot of people are missing the point of Com's post<P>The main issue here is the comments on the unfinished version of the album NOT whether MP3 or bootlegs hurt album sales. Honestly , who the fuck knows. But I can tell ou this, NEGATIVE COMMENTS, REVIEWS, ETC. DEFINATELY HURT ALBUM SALES.<P>Now I know you sayin "well nobody said anything when peeps said it was great etc. etc."<P>SO THE FUCK WHAT, who's gonna say anything in the long run that ain't hurtin' shit! If you truly like Com's work why would you even question this shit. This shit ain't about free speech, it's about the fact that some asshole stabbed Com in the back, leaked his shit out and caused it to be offered to the worlds ears without it even being finished. (LIKE A PRE-MATURE BABY AND SHIT)You catch enough shit when you officially drop your shit and when official promos are serviced, but now the shit's worse, outside cats are panning shit while your in the studio finishing it. AND THAT'S BULLSHIT, unless contructive critisism coming from crew.<BR>

>This shit ain't about free speech, <BR>>it's about the fact that some <BR>>asshole stabbed Com in the back, <BR>>leaked his shit out and caused <BR>>it to be offered to the <BR>>worlds ears without it even being <BR>>finished. <P>Well then Com needs to look closely at the people affiliated with him. Once he fixes that leak, he won't have to worry about this shit anymore.<P>it's *THAT* simple.<P>--me--<P>"no ride camel. me ride ass." -- john shaft<P>"i'm famous. ain't that a bitch?" -- thelonious monk<P><a href="http://www.thejawn.com/brainchild" target="_blank">http://www.thejawn.com/brainchild<;/a>/<BR><a href="http://www.thejawn.com" target="_blank">http://www.thejawn.com<;/a>

Yo, you're making this out to sound like it's on the stolen moments tip. Do you hear that Johnny Hathaway song playing in the background? <P>--Spark<P>"I leave no optical footprint within sight of the sands of time so it's impossible to follow me." --Pharoahe Monch<P>"Do you think I'm gonna grab the mic and waste my nation's time?" -- KRS-ONE<P>"I cut the head off the devil and I throw it at you" --DMC<P>"Too many MCs just don't know what they be talkin about, they should retire get the complimentary watch and be out." --Talib Kweli<P>"I ain't fraid of no ghost!" --Ray Parker Jr.

"Rappers,get on the mic talkin bout cars and clothes, soundin like hoes...ain't been exposed to the foes of most disciples, I'm from a state that is Ill." ~Common-UNIverse at war~ <P>"I can give a damn, if any fan recalls my legacy, I'm tryin to live life in the site of GOD's memory, like dat yall."MOSDEF~Theives in the Night<P>pro`found' ,adj.~ 2.Intellectually deep;thorough.<P>lyr'ic ,adj~ 1.composition in stanzas,and expressive of the poet's feeling rather than outward events and may take special form,as ode, sonnet, hymn, or any number of verse schemes

I won't even get into the industry thing cuz that's been discussed already...<P>Now if Com is upset that people are misrepresenting the album, then I will agree with him...Heard the final copy (if it is) and I will agree that the sequence of the tracks is key. I'm feeling this more than ever<P>I agree with what Nesta and Adamant says, MP3s are a godsend in some instances.<P>*sigh* back to work I go...<P>Uno<BR>Improv!?<P>***when moderators consider suicide...***<BR>DestroGold: dag only one person replied to my big up post <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/sad.gif"><BR>DestroGold: i'm not that bad<BR>Gigfog: I replied!<BR>Gigfog: only like 13 replied to mine.<BR>DestroGold: ummm...you're the only one <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/sad.gif"><BR>Gigfog: We arent loved<BR>DestroGold: *sigh*<BR>Gigfog: I swear..noone loves us LOL<BR>DestroGold: it's hard being an unloved moderator...<BR>Gigfog: it is<BR>Gigfog: we need a support group<BR>DestroGold: word...

>its hard to believe that those of you who have downloaded and stole my music are true supporters of progressive hiphop.<P>then don't believe it.<P>>And for you to go and just take my shit before it's even ready to be heard and then pass judgement on it just ain't cool.<P>I'm sorry Common. I didn't mean to go and tell all my friends how dope the new album was. I'll make sure I tell them how wack it is when I go out and buy my copy on March 28th.<P>>I'm going to let you do what you want to do (I know some of y'all say you're going to buy it, but I know that's just words).<P>Whatever.<P>Anyone know if D or ?uest went out and bought a copy of Prince's "Crystal Ball" when it was released?<P>I hope I *never* hear anti-bootleg comments from those two.<P>--me--<P>"no ride camel. me ride ass." -- john shaft<P>"i'm famous. ain't that a bitch?" -- thelonious monk<P><a href="http://www.thejawn.com/brainchild" target="_blank">http://www.thejawn.com/brainchild<;/a>/<BR><a href="http://www.thejawn.com" target="_blank">http://www.thejawn.com<;/a>

I for one am a DIE HARD Prince fan and any opportunity to get unreleased in the US or demo tapes. I have an album of his called "Yellow" which I bought in 1993 and just last year some of it's tracks were released and I bought it. You know what though, my copy was much more expensive & the sound quality was raw...to some they may have felt it was jacked up but it gave such character to these songs. So I agree a true fan will support...even when it hurts because "Chaos& Disorder" was just that (Laughing out Loud). Common - "Like Water for Chocolate" will be my first taste of you. From the title alone I know Imma dig it!<P>Coco<P>"Why is knowledge considered a curse? How come so many Willies now sporting a hearse?"- Me

com, find me at the reunion joint. i'm going through these posts and finding out who has it, and some heads are going to get flown. <P>this ish is out of hand. how about some kids in my class bootlegged "Stankonia"....Outkast's new album that isn't even out until June. <P>

Can I get teh emaila ddress of the cats that have Outkast's album. I'm dying to hear that shit.<P>And you can find me at the reunion easily.<P><P>Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the motherfucker upside the head...

with all this blasphemy, Nesta?<P>BTW, if you hear "Stankonia" please don't post about it, cause I'm not trying to hear it!<P>When good artists stop recording cause they have no funds, then I bet ya'll will stop bootlegging won't you?<P>BLING! BLING!<P>I AM BLACK MUSIC <P>"Ima put a curse on you. Might as well cause honestly, don't want no one to have you but me....." Sleepy's Theme <P>"Now, who else wanna fuck with Hollywood Coles?"- Dre/Kast<P>"Guess I shoulda known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last." - Prince<P>"If trouble were money, I swear I'd be a millionaire" - Stokely/MintCondition<P>"The quickest way to fire's heart, is through her ears" - fire<P>"But, here I is slaving away for the man instead of entertaining the masses." - fire<P>"Bitch, tone this!" - Stress<P>

i been saying since jump, dont download it. its a breech of trust in the artist- artist appreciator relationship. but no one listens to marie_laveau.<BR>i will definately wait.<BR>long live march 28th!!<P>Common's number one fan a.k.a. marie_laveau<P>"Be a cook in the kithchen, a lady in the streets<BR>you cant show ya teeth to every guy that you meet.<BR>its all right to be a little sweet,<BR>but be a momma to the kids <BR>a you know what in the sheets" betty wright

"Whatever you ate yesterday, you<BR>will belch today" - Sai Baba<P>"O...bey" - Andre "The" Giant<P>"bitch, tone this" - Angieee (Stress)<P><BR>

so ask if you can use it....<P><P>"Word, cuz when you say you love me, it doesn't matter, I never take it serious bitch and laugh at ya..."<BR>-Jay Dee<P>"I must ask what's goin on with rap, white kids actin black, that's like McDonalds sellin fatback..."<BR>-Common<P>"My style's vicious, I rap in the lab and break dishes, my words wear jet black hoods, lookin suspicious..."<BR>-La the Darkman

Please chill with the guilt trip. You're actin like if I've heard your album, all of a sudden I no longer love H.E.R. That's ridiculous.<P>Personally, I don't see how a true supporter of progressive hip-hop can NOT download the album. I mean, we've been waitin for this joint for 3 years. People want badly to hear this album. I actually considered not downloading it, but then I decided I just couldn't wait to hear it. Even if it was unmastered. Just like when Star Wars dropped last year. Months before it came out, people would watch versions of it in various stages (without special effects, without sound, etc). Or they'd read the script or whatever. If you're a true fan, you just can't wait. You'll take whatever taste of it you can get, no matter how small. Just like, if all that was out there was a copy of the LWFC lyrics, mad heads would read all the tracks straight through.<P>So to say I'm not down with progressive hip-hop is an insult. We're just some hardcore fans who couldn't wait, that's all. We're still gonna buy the joint on the 28th, just like all the Star Wars heads packed the theaters out last year, despite the fact that most of them already knew the plot and had seen pictures and scenes of the movie beforehand. <P>As for passing judgement on the album, that's our right. That's how it works. You make the music, we judge it. It's not about "we paid our money, so we have every right to blah blah blah..." It's just our role. You make the joint, we listen to it. It's unfortunate (for you) that an unmastered version of your album got out, but there's nothing you can do about it now. You can't stop people from listening to it and passing judgement on it, no matter how many pleas you make on this board. Listening to an album is like meeting someone for the first time. You can't be like, "No wait! Don't judge my appearance right now, cause I haven't had time to comb my hair. I didn't mean for anyone to see me like this!" Well, sorry, but it's too late. Your (unmastered) album is out, probably half your fans have heard it, and first impressions have been formed whether you like it or not. You just gotta be secure enough in your music to accept that.<P>If you're talking strictly about sales, I feel no remorse in downloading the album, because I *will* buy it. And I have not distributed it to anyone. No one, but myself, has heard the LWFC mp3s that I own. I downloaded the album and exactly zero dollars came out of your pocket. <P>But if you're saying that I, as a lover of "true hip-hop", have some moral obligation to not pass judgement on your album until the magical date of March 28th... that's a little too idealistic.<P>---------------------------<BR>"when science finally locates the center of the universe, some people will be surprised to learn they're not it."<BR>- unknown<P>"words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them."<BR>- nathaniel hawthorne<P>"whatever happens it was written, meaning God meant it..." <BR>- nasir jones

Hook a mofo up then?! <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/wink.gif"> LOL<P>Heads are just impatient and wanna hear that shit now!! Me hearing that shit NOW ain't gonna make me NOT buy the fuckin' album LATER (March 28th!!) Take a chill pill Com! <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/happy.gif"><P>Peace2U,<BR>Re Alief<P>nu comp, software erased, AOL/im upgrade...bla,bla,BLA:nostrilz <BR>(AYO! Don't y'all be goin' ax'in me why 4 dat handle...a'ight?! <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/wink.gif">)<BR>___<BR>Sugah's (aka Suki SULI) published '98 poem :<BR><a href="http://www.rhapsodyinblack.com/98Summer/ea.html#HeavenonEarth" target="_blank">http://www.rhapsodyinblack.com/98Summer/ea.html#HeavenonEarth<;/a> & her page at BlackPlanet:<BR><a href="http://www.BlackPlanet.com/Members/MyPage/viewpage.html?MEMBER=SukiSuli" target="_blank">http://www.BlackPlanet.com/Members/MyPage/viewpage.html?MEMBER=SukiSuli<;/a><BR>><BR>ATTENTION!!!! You can now purchase the AutNoyz CD at mp3.com featuring the top ten hits "Aint No Tellin'", "360 Degrees", "Perfect Murder", and much more. Hey, Ya-Ya's on 4 tracks ok, go buy it kids!!!! (reposting Ya-Ya's stuff ok,player?)<BR><a href="Http://www.mp3.com/artists/60/autnoyz.html" target="_blank">Http://www.mp3.com/artists/60/autnoyz.html<;/a><BR>><BR>put HaK on!: <a href="http://www.h8r.com/mtv/form.htm" target="_blank">http://www.h8r.com/mtv/form.htm<;/a><BR>> <BR>Yahoo! members only! What ya handle iz? <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/wink.gif"> <BR><a href="http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/re_alief?c&.flabel=fld1&.src=bc" target="_blank">http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/re_alief?c&.flabel=fld1&.src=bc<;/a><BR>><BR><a href="http://www.BlackPlanet.com/Members/MyPage/viewpage.html?MEMBER=Re_Alief" target="_blank">http://www.BlackPlanet.com/Members/MyPage/viewpage.html?MEMBER=Re_Alief<;/a><BR>><BR><a href="http://www.BlackPlanet.com/Referrals/Re_Alief/" target="_blank">http://www.BlackPlanet.com/Referrals/Re_Alief/<;/a>

The point wasn't that you were criticizing his album the point was the MP3 is an UNMASTERED version of the album, so what you're criticizing ain't even finished yet. It's like telling a kid "you ain't gonna be shit when you grow up", you're clowning the album before it reaches its final, "fully grown" stage.<P>It doesn't matter tho, because true Com fans are gonna cop it regardless and these Mp3 cats are the same kids in high skool who dubbed an album rather than buy it (MP3 is just the newest form of dubbing). Some of those cats who dubbed bought the joint eventually, most didn't. I caught a dub of "Straight outta Compton" and I still ain't bought the real thing (of course, now I've developed this whole theory about dubbing artists who speak on nonsense but have good production...ha).<P>Spread love,<P>Spirit<BR><a href="http://amphibians.iuma.com" target="_blank">http://amphibians.iuma.com<;/a><BR>www.soul-sessions.com<BR>Hip-hop forever...power to the people<P>R.I.P. Filli (Amphibians)<P>"There will be no peace until God sits at the conference table" - Chi-Lites

...man... i've got that isht on mp3... and i love it... so WHAT, NIGGA!??!?!?!?!?!!?<BR>i'm all about buyin' that shit when it comes out... and that's not jus' fuggin' words... if you don' believe me, then you can call my red-brown ass and we can discuss it further, eh? 804.243.4934<BR><img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/happy.gif"><P>nah, really, comm... i love what i've what i've heard of yer album... and i'm definitely gonna buy a copy for me and maybe for the person in line behind me if i've got the money...<BR>...no lie...<BR>-kevin<P>"without awareness, there is no life... only activity"

that's why I don't do the mp3 thing. I can wait for the release date.<P>Peace<P>Pseudonym-less Wendell

DAMN, People been buying CDs for effing ever and now a mofo want to start politicking about the ish. True fans WILL go out and buy Common's CD; I mean what the hell do you think he dropped ish on disc for, certainly not for his health. We knew way before he even came out about Rule 1080 (Shady Bastards), now people want to boycott. Fucc that.. TRUE FANS WITH COP HIS CD, FAKE FANS WONT. <P>

Everyone that is so called "progressive"<BR>wants to get their first glimpse of that new album thats about to drop... so of course these people will go to any length to do so.. and the only people who would never think to do that are the "progressive" people that already have connects within the business so they get to hear shit ahead of time anyways.. <P>when people can't create their own shit they always want to say they were the first to get what they cant make.. the new pentium 3 whatever that brand new playstation game that new common cd.. whatever.. and the fact that there is a means to get it they take it. <P>Now I understand you are vexed becuase that should be in your hands not in control of some little 15 year old hacker from omaha or some bs..and i'm some 21 college kid with no real good advice so i can't really help you.. <P>people try to cut down on it but it happens anyways instead of putting it as .mp3 they give it a different extension name then when u dl it u rename the shit and there goes that whole idea of protection..advancement of technology... <P>i don't know man next time just put the shit on 8tracks til the day of release.... i wish i had a better answer.. <P>-Contagious<P> <BR><a href="http://www.thejawn.com" target="_blank">http://www.thejawn.com<;/a>

how does it keep happening? is it the company? is it engineers? who? what? my thing is this it's fucked up to just go and lift someone's stuff before they want it to be heard. I honestly think that to download ppls stuff just because you dont' have patience is fucked! straight up and down! if you really loved the music that the artist is putting out you would be patient. this man has a family to support and you're taking food off of his table. that's bogus. you can say you'll buy it but it wont' be the same. now a brother has to go and change tracks and shit etc etc. don't get mad when the cd ends up like jay z and mobb deep and nas. man... now i people like me who are patient and willing to wait for the final product have to suffer and not get the quality that they were supposed to. that's selfish and fucked up on y'all part. for real. <P>Quotes begin here------<P>(a black mother's reaction to why a white guy is dating her daughter)<BR>"I think he's dating her for street credibility."<P>a wise man once said/an eye for an eye/leaves everybody blind/i’ve always listened/but today i’ve grown deaf/eye for an i/i/am preparing to go to war/but i can’t see to find my sword - incogx<P>But what kind of genetically engineered cyborg are you to remember what you were doing at age 1?!? - Ornery<P>skidmarks. they're not just for underwear anymore. - crash bandicoot<P>'i feel you like, tomaz zamot ya know' - donwill<P>yardicus: hey don't laugh! I can rock the hell out a miniskirt and some "hooker heels..."<P>yardicus: Not to mention, my superb flynes when rocking a string of pearls...<P>just think/just think/ what if you could just/just blink your tag - Black Thought HOB 99<P>bAttlin me is like some KEDS tryna mess wit NEW BALANCES.. -Sporatic<P>dick hed mcs, wit dem flacid, phalic soundin subjects- one of those jail urine roach xylophone nukkas (jurx-donwill)

The artist should have the final say in what form his or her product is released in. <P>Peace Com, <P>Forrest

I do have your new album on mp3, just cause i couldn't wait to hear it. That might sound foolish, since i've been waiting for just over 2 years why couldn't i wait another month? Well it was in my face calling, so i answered. Trust me though I'll buy it, you don't have to believe me but come the 28th Like Water is gonna be in my cd player for months and possibly the jewel in my collection, for real.<P>peace<P>"from the spliff that i lift and inhale, it aint hard to tell" - Nasty Nas

Yesterday in chat this one cat was ASKING where he could go to download some music. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU CHEAP ASS..get a job and buy the album like a TRUE fan. There is nothing like an orginal. What are you going to do down the road when you are an old cat on a rocker on your front porch telling your grands about the greats and YOU DON'T HAVE THE ALBUM TO PROVE THAT THERE WERE! Let's get real. PLEASE!

<BR>You know how we all always complain, well atleast some of us about the purists not going gold or platinum.Well, if you download Com's shit and don't cop it.How can it go plat.the least you can do is buy the Lp when it drops, get the original shit.I know I will and believe me, it's not just words.I got Com's previous lp's to prove it.<P>Support the man and push for purists<P>Fuck being hard Posdunous is complicated-Posdunous

i dont take your words personally because they dont apply to me but you need to "believe". i have that unmastered album on mp3 & i burned it to a regular disc so i can listen to it on my stereo. i havent made copies for friends, shit, nobody i know even knows i have it! but on the flip i own doubles of the 6th sense 12" & i'll be picking up the CD & the wax as soon as it hits the streets. in fact, im planning a trip up to chicago (3 hour drive) based on the release date. the point is, theres people out there that do the mp3 thing that buy. the mp3 heads that arent buying are the same people who would dub your single off the radio or borrow thier friends cd. <P>just keep that in mind<P>"im harder than me tryin to park a dodge" eminem

I agree completly with Common on this. There's a hundred knucleheads runnin' around sayin this and that about the album and didnt even pay for it? U have no right to critique someone else's blood, sweat and tears while you're taking money out of their pocket by downloading and passing it off to everyone else. I had only spoke on the album after Jaydee played us that ish so i dont know how the MP3's sound, but i know that it does not do this album justice! Not to mention, do the artists some justice by not stealing their right to feed their families (look what happened to "One For All"). This is the same shit that happened to Slum Village and they still havent seen a dime off that album and everyone and their mama has it! While in their case the label intentionally leaked it, i cant speak for MCA or Comm. I think its a shame to fuck our own artists that we need to support now more than ever - since the charts are plugged with Bling, Bling and No limit- and it needs to stop. And for the asses that say they wont buy the album when it comes out, y'all are ignorant and missing out. Like Primo said, "y'all are violatin, straight up and down... u really dont know what this hip hop shit is all about."<BR>

Common probably at one time has bought a bootleg knowing it is one in fact. Listen artists who are against bootlegging mp3s on the net. I have this to say "THEY USUALLY HAVE BOOTLEGGED RECORDINGS IN THEIR HOME IF THEY ARE A AUDIOPHILE " I mean im sorry to step on the people...who dont want mp3s passed around on the net if they are there Im going to listen to them. And if Common thinks I wont buy his lp when it comes out...because I listened to it on mp3 then eff it. But for any of YOU okayplayers to side with Quest or...D'angelo on Bootlegs remember one thing ...Theres a whoooole lot of PRINCE and MILES Im sure they can indulge you in. You cant llive on one side of the fence and then hop back. THERE IS NO WAY WHATSOEVER. And that is what artists do who dont understand mp3s on the net. Thats your biggest fan listening to your music...maybe you should consider who you gave the promo to...instead of the person downloading it... (Words to think about)<P>My view is this if the unreleased stuff can be heard Im going to listen to it. Eeff what anyone thinks... Thats the way I feel. I have prince bootlegs and Hendrix Bootlegs and dont feel any guilt listening to them. Its very good work... and if they released it I would buy it but they dont so they lose out. Simple thing to understand.

The people who have the promos who put it on the net not the people who listen to it on mp3s. Eeffin Ridiculous. Common I gurantee you man have listened to some unauthorized recordings just like any of us who listened to your mp3s. And thats why you cant hop on the side of the fence like we are taking from you because downloading mp3s. But dont get mad at the people who have it...get mad at the dude who gets the promo and puts it on the net. This is such a silly debate because okayplayers...the artists you are supporting listened to bootlegs just like us. Its a crazy contradiction. It cant even be argued if they have personal bootlegs in their home. I wonder if Common will admit to that. Would you still side with Common if he had a miles/coltrane etc bootleg? I think that would make you shoot yourself in the foot right there.

don't worry com. in a few short weeks, people will be able to download the final, finished product.<P>d<P>algonquin college - class of 2000<P>"Nowadays everybody wanna talk like they got something to say<BR>But nothin comes out when they move they lips <BR>Just a buncha gibberish" - Eminem<P>"your head is throbbing and I ain't said shit yet"

True Com, nuff cats are going to bootleg your album. It pretty much can't be helped nowadays. Yup, I peeped the unmastered mp3's... and guess what! BOOM... I wanted the final finished physical VINYL (f this digital mp3 weak sounding crap) in my hands A.S.A.P more than EVER. If it helps... I had Mos Def's album on mp3 (mastered even!) waaaaayyyyy b4 it hit the stores... but I was STILL at the record store the day it was officially released ready to shell out my $16.99 Canadian for it, cause I respect it's creator infinitly. I had Jazzyfatnastees's album on mp3 as well... listened to it for a couple days... decided it was DOPE... and HAD to have the CD.... hit my local record store and payed nearly $30 for the CD cause it was the only copy I could find in the whole city... yet I coulda just kept the mp3's right and burned my own CD copy for free??? Same goes for your music bro, and I think you'll find there's more cats out there like me than you think. I sure hope there are...<P>onelove<BR>QUIZ aka SolSpirit<BR><a href="http://astralmajesty.fly.to" target="_blank">http://astralmajesty.fly.to<;/a><P>

What up Okay! I agree with post number 64! I often ask myself how the fuck does a person get the unmastered versions of an artists shit if they DON'T want it peeped before release? Is the label purposely releasing it out to get feedback or is a crooked manager trying to get paid early? What gives? I know some artist give certain select songs out to websites to feed the hunger of the fans to hold them before dinner. But when a whole album is released, who DO you blame? Not the fans! We don't have the power to go to the label and get advances! I didn't see any Carlos Santana releases before Clive wanted that shit to hit the market! If Jay-Z getting mad at Un for selling his shit, HOW DID IT GET IN HIS HANDS!??? I don't know how this industry bullshit works but all I know is that you got channels and we at the bottom of the totem pole! I'm throwing a contest FOR your album and a cahnce to get to battle you as we read this! But that's because I respect your work! If by chnce I don't win I'll buy your shit Common! That's as real as I get! Even though I have heard it!<P><BR><img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/happy.gif"> <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/sad.gif"> <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/wink.gif"><BR>Lunch

If you only want to have people understand and be influenced by a piece of music in its final form; wouldn't you discourage the executive producer from publishing a review until after the album dropped?<P>And then tell people they have the choice to:<BR> a) read the review. salivate. then not listen to the tracks.<BR> b) read the review. salivate. then listen to some tracks.<P>Like I said... who reads this far anyway...<P>{a}

AMEN!!!!<P>I read this far. AGAIN. Say Word!<P><BR>Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the motherfucker upside the head...

Are you defying me in public again? <P>That's it, no more Mint Condition dedications to you!<P>BLING! BLING!<P>I AM BLACK MUSIC <P>"Ima put a curse on you. Might as well cause honestly, don't want no one to have you but me....." Sleepy's Theme <P>"Now, who else wanna fuck with Hollywood Coles?"- Dre/Kast<P>"Guess I shoulda known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last." - Prince<P>"If trouble were money, I swear I'd be a millionaire" - Stokely/MintCondition<P>"The quickest way to fire's heart, is through her ears" - fire<P>"But, here I is slaving away for the man instead of entertaining the masses." - fire<P>"Bitch, tone this!" - Stress<P>

>If you only want to have people <BR>>understand and be influenced by a <BR>>piece of music in <P><BR>its final form; <P><P>>wouldn't you discourage the executive <BR>>producer from publishing a review until <BR>>after the album dropped? <P>I'm pretty sure that review was of the FINAL FORM<P><BR>

See, here's where things get tricky on the issue of musical piracy. Do I have the album? Yes. Did I get it off my boy's PC? Yes. Will I buy the album? Probably.<P>But when I read all these stories about how the industry pays cats these ridiculously low rates for their diligence and brilliance, that makes me less likely to come off the ducats to buy a CD. It makes no sense how expensive CDs have gotten, and excess charge is all going straight to the pockets of stock holders and executives.<P>There are examples of people whose albums i feel more inclined to go and buy, and Com is on that status with me. Realize that are some people that are not doing this out of complete and total disregard to the artist, but moreso in defiance of this ridiculous system.<P>If a blank CD come at $40 bucks for 50 of them (and that's retail price), why the hell do I have to pay 19 for the jazzyfatnastees when they are going to barely see a penny??? the record company is robbin cats way more than lil ole me ever will.<P>

Comm,I regret to admit that I was weak and could not resist the temptation of getting a hold of some of the MP3's off LWFC but only because I couldn't wait to hear it. I know words are only token. But as fan sense you were known as Com Sense, I hope you understand my perspective in the matter. As a jesture of good will and appreciation for bringing the realness to hip hop, I called the radio station(WIZZ 97.9) to request "The 6th Sense". I suggest that you <BR>Com(mand) all fans who (Com)mandeered the MP3's to <BR>request "6th Sense" as (Com)pensation as well as get the album,t-shirts,key rings, action figures,autobiography,breakfast cereal etc.

How can anyone support a) stealing the man's music. b) after you steal it, you have the audacity to give it bad pub. <P>Now, I'm not Mr. Anti-Mp3 or anything, I too have the album on my hardrive. But there's no way I would dream of criticizing a piece of work that isn't completed. And of course, I will purchase the album when it drops the 28th.... I wouldn't miss it for anything.<P>And to all y'all sayin 'you didn't complain when it got good reviewz'. Well, that's different. Why, you ask. Because if someone says the UNMASTERED version is tight, then of course the mastered version will also be tight. But if you say the unmastered version is weak, the mastered version could be much better.

>And to all y'all sayin 'you didn't <BR>>complain when it got good reviewz'. <BR>>Well, that's different. Why, you ask. <BR>>Because if someone says the UNMASTERED <BR>>version is tight, then of course <BR>>the mastered version will also be <BR>>tight. But if you say the <BR>>unmastered version is weak, the mastered <BR>>version could be much better. <P>Oh I see. If you "steal" someone's music that the person has "put life into this music and life into this album" but you say its the greatest album in the last ten years, its perfectly ok. But if you do the same thing and have the audacity to say that the album is "merely" very good and not perfect then you're foul. <P>PUH LEASE. It's funny cause I have yet to see one person sya that the album isn't good. People were responding to the amazing hype that certain memebrs of this community were giving the album (not Common. But I guess if you "steal" something and then talk about it, you are obliged to say that its the greatest thing ever.<P>The level of dialogue on this board just continues to go in the toilet. <P>And for the record, Com's people are the one's that "stole" the album and put it on the street, not us. He needs to get on their case about that.<P><P><BR>Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the motherfucker upside the head...

No, you don't have to say it's the greatest thing ever. You just can't critique it as a WHOLE FINISHED product. You can critique it like by sayin 'From what I've heard... blah, blah'. Or 'The unmastered version.. blah, blah'.<P>But as Jay (i believe) explained extensively, that's not what people are saying. They're saying 'is common's ALBUM really that good', etc.<P>And plus, it IS different because if you say that it's a great album, it can only get better mastered. If you say it's a weak album, then, you don't know if it is until you hear the whole finished product.<P>But if no one said that it was weak, then right on... good job. I'm happy for you.

>No, you don't have to say it's <BR>>the greatest thing ever. You just <BR>>can't critique it as a WHOLE <BR>>FINISHED product. <P>No one said anything ofthe sort..not most folks anyway<P>You can critique it <BR>>like by sayin 'From what I've <BR>>heard... blah, blah'. Or 'The unmastered <BR>>version.. blah, blah'. <BR>>But as Jay (i believe) explained extensively, <BR>>that's not what people are saying. <P>Which is exactly what most people were saying contrary to Jay's belief<P>>They're saying 'is common's ALBUM really <BR>>that good', etc. <P>And I like I said, they were responding to the unbelievable hyping of the album as the best album in the last ten years.<P>>And plus, it IS different because if <BR>>you say that it's a great <BR>>album, it can only get better <BR>>mastered. If you say it's a <BR>>weak album, then, you don't know <BR>>if it is until you hear <BR>>the whole finished product.<P>AGAIN. NO ONE, NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON even hinted that the album was less than good. NOT ONE PERSON.<P><BR>Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the motherfucker upside the head...

My first post on this topic was in response to a person the was like "I just downloaded an UNMASTERED VERSION of lwfc...why is it not what I expected (or whatever the fuck he said) bla blah blah, like it was a finished work.<P>My whole thing is still:<P>Who's to say the some tracks won't change, things weren't left off, etc...<P>You guys got your lil' downloads, you say your gonna purchase, cool whatever do your thing, I'm not the MP3 police and I never attempted to be.<P>But I just felt it was fucked up for money to dis an unfinished work.<P>Believe me I know that there are generally two totally different sources for unauthorized MP3s and bootleg product.<P>BTW...<P>Nesta you can stop playing devils advocate now.

>BTW... <BR>>Nesta you can stop playing devils advocate <BR>>now. <P>Who r u? Ain't no one playing devil's advocyte son just because I point out a double standard. And thanks but I don't need direction from you on when and what positions I'll take.<P><BR>Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the motherfucker upside the head...

>And for the record, Com's people are the one's >that "stole" the album and put it on the street, <BR>>not us. He needs to get on their case about >that. <P>It could have been any outside company hired to work on this project. (Even though I suspect the mastering lab cause that'about the only time I can forsee this project coming near a computer) Just because you hire someone it doesn't make 'em members of your inner circle.<P>

I got that shit early and shared it with a few people- even a guy who played a track on his radio show.<P>Im guilty as charged- but when that shit comes out Im gonna buy a copy just like every okplayer out there that talks all that "bootleg shit is wrong" but kept hittin me up for a copy or a link (y'all know who you are).<P>Am I wrong- I never intended to sell it and i didnt let anybody listen to it that I was not sure wouldnt buy the shit themselves. I let my boy play it on the radio cuz i want people to know that shit is on the way- and to be honest i aint heard nothing about it except here and the same went for the people i hooked up.<P>As for passing judgemement- that shit is all the way beautiful and if im wrong for reaching that conclusion im sorry- but i still think the shit is the best album for 2k and i dont think you need to change a thang.<P><BR>K

HoMeBrO SaYs He's Broke 100 percent, Im getting your album for free anyway using a free gift certificate combined with a coupon, thats how broke I am.<P>There's nothing unethical with listening to an advance unmastered copy of your album, Common, If anything it should drive your album sales to the roof! <P>Your too paraniod ya know, Only maybe 1 percent of us know how to use a burner, or can afford one.<BR>Any person would tell you they would prefer to own the orginal version anyway. The MP3s were ripped from a vinyl copy, they don't sound 100 percent, people with common sense would realize that and pick up the real copy.<P>You could add extra tracks, add cd ripping protection, or hidden tracks, but people will find ways around it, you can't stop it, but these people might be the first one's to buy tickets to your show, and that's where the profit and money comes in for rappers like you and the roots.<P>ironic is it not?<P>

HoMeBrO SaYs You should Beat down the fools or crackheads who gave out the vinyl advance recording of your album.<P>Common you need to research the subject find out how to make mp3s profitable for you, like other artist have done,<P>Look at chuck d of public enemy, he's learned the way to use mp3s to push new artists and to make money.<P>If you sold your album online, you would be making 100 percent profit you know, the record company would not get a dime. <P>Progressive - moving forward or onward<BR>I think you should "progress" your self beyond this issue, you know.<P><P><BR>

"In Our Own Game"<BR> Speech given by at the Soul Train Awards 03/04 <P> Some people find it odd that when we win anything in<BR> this game, we give praise back un2 God. Well in<BR> somebody else's game, any triumph makes us feel<BR> blessed. When its ur game, u make the rules,<BR> everything comes easy. All of ur friends r in key<BR> positions so when u decide u don't want 2 play<BR> anymore, u never leave empty-handed. Can somebody<BR> say "golden parachute"? <P> Well it's not ur game. U didn't make the rules so<BR> everything comes hard. As long as u're signed 2 a<BR> contract, u're going 2 take a minority share of the<BR> winnings. A select few of us will do well. The majority<BR> will not. So as a people, we'll be considered a minority. <P> But stop - let's take a moment and look at urselves. <P> There's nothing minor about u. U r a blessed people.<BR> U're the most talented on Earth and u r still grateful.<BR> That is y upon winning in their game, u always thank<BR> God. 2night eye would like 2 ask one favor of u.<BR> Imagine what we'll all be like in our own game. <P> Peace and love4oneanother. <BR>"HE IS THE UNDISPUTED PRINCE OF THS HOLY LAND"

a friend of mine sent me a link<BR>and maybe I should have said,<BR>"hell naw man,<BR>you think Common would want us<BR>to hear this".<BR>but I didn't<BR>but I refuse to pass the link on<BR>to others<P>I ain't even got a mini disc recorder<BR>or a CD burner<BR>so I have to buy the album<P>God Bless Com<BR>Jihad<BR>Out<P>whatever<P><BR>Good Jihad<P>"Now if you got the fort / and you think you can hold it down /<BR> Then you can spark a movement / of the Cross / in your hometown /<BR> And when your finished with this tape and the music /<BR> If the Cross ain't done yet, then neither is the Movement! / /"<P>We allow the devil to influence our actions but.....<BR>"The devil will laugh while you get your butt whoped" My Mamma<P><a href="http://www.crossmovement.com" target="_blank">http://www.crossmovement.com<;/a><P>Bad Jihad<P>JohnPhlow: "tell me something that I don't know/ like if we have sex you don't want dough"<BR>RayzaSun: and if you like prada shoes with the open toe/ make sure the style goes with your clothes<BR>RayzaSun: keep it going i can go for days!<BR>JohnPhlow: hey Goldie want me to cop you a matching rollie?// just cover your teeth and move your head slowly<BR>RayzaSun: If ya want your baby's mom to flex the Gucci/just get between my legs and pretend my clits a tootsie<BR>JohnPhlow: I'm with that just sit back//unshaved kitty kat//hip movement urn you farm das phat<BR>RayzaSun: boOoOoOo<BR>RayzaSun: I like my sex like how I like my posts...on top...quote that shit? ha..i think not...<BR>RayzaSun: hehe..rhyme of the millenium!!<BR>JohnPhlow: you ain't dominat I'm my bed// whatever way i insert the head is law// sloopy rough sex no flaw<BR>JohnPhlow: whatever<BR>RayzaSun: i won!<P>sn: JohnPhlow AOL & AIM

MP3's are no better than bootlegs. It's just an ungoverned way for people to get a hold of someone's single without paying for it. You can DL it to your hard drive, burn it on to your CD, and voila', you have a bootleg copy of Common's new single. That's that bullshit. That's the reason Nas had to go back to the lab for "I Am", and why most of the good shit that was supposed to be on that LP never made it on that album, or on "Nastradamus". Same shit happened to Mobb Deep, why you think "Murda Muzik" got pushed back so many times? Cut that shit out, that's some real bullshit. You want a taste of the album before it drops? Cop it the old fashioned way....mixtapes.<P>And I'm out,<BR> <BR>Liquid Dope

AAITE NOW.... COM MAKE SURE U REPLY TO THIS ONE.<BR>Peace... <BR>Common--------- As an artist I am fully aware of how you feel about this bootlegging situation ....I wouldnt want noone stealin my ish either..... but you should know and probably do..... Nowadayz there's 2 kinds of bootlegs.... the ones that pop up BEFORE the record drops & the ones that you can get off the street AFTER the record drops s via our akhi's (if you feel me.... I guess they gotta make a living too) Don't be mad at me, I'm just explaining what happens.... (just like bootleg movies, didn't u rhyme about it?) Now since none of our brothers have access to your joint BEFORE it drops........ I think you need to check your camp. Now I can't tell you who, but think about how many people have access to your creation BEFORE it drops...YOU, the recording engineer, the assistants, a close friend (Man, $$$ makes cats do strange things!) Your label, the mailman or UPS guy that is delivering the packages.... unless you hand deliver them............the people that master the records...... (oh yea your joint is an un-mastered copy so you can cut them out of the deal.....) it shouldnt be difficult to figure it out man.... Plus....... How often do you hafta check in with your label & let them peep it...... This is a business and cats are gonna get paid anyway that they possibly can...... This bootlegging is not gonna stop........... So whatcha gotta do is figure out how you can get paid for it also.... either that or drop your label & record your albums in secrecy...... then sell your own ish on the net or outta the trunk or buy a commercial spot on TV and mail order the ish.... that way you got TOTAL control..... Will it be worthwhile? HELL YEA because you are controlling your own ish.... but then.... the ? is can you survive? sure u can..... b'cuz u can collect 100% of the $$$....... Final word..... Don't be mad at us b'cuz we listenin' to it... (I've heard it too.... & the project is hot.. I can tell that you spent a lot of time & effort on it) Get mad at someone that you are close to, or someone that you are payin.... cause they rippin you off & that ain't cool.<P>As-salaamu Alaikium<P>Black

BUT I THINK YOUR ALBUM SUCKS.<P>AT LEAST NOW THAT I HAVE IT IN MP3 I KNOW NOT TO WASTE 16 BUCKS ON IT WHEN IT DROPS.<P>THE ALBUM IS PRETTY INNOVATIVE AND SHIT, JUST WACK.<P>PEACE.

what do u know about wack? i have heard commons UNFINISHED album and it is far from wack. please dont waste the 16 buck on commons album. i am sure he doesnt want fans like u anyways. there is no way in hell common is going to ever put anything out there wack. If you think you know what wack is , then why dont u tell us why his UNFINISHED album is wack. <P><BR>djS<P>"I just came home from messing around..I was about 13 or 14 years old, and my mother was banging on the door... So I stop the music and she opened the door and she was talking to me. At the same time she was talking to me I felt myself moving the record back and forth and forth and back while she was talking to me, because I wanted to keep that same groove I was on. I was talking to her and I was listening to the record...and I said to myself... Hey.. this sounds really good. So I kept practicing it.. and it became a scratch." ......Grand Wizard Theodore

Forreal that shit is fucked up, but yo i've got mad confidence in comm's new lp... That shit is gonna be a banger... most of the albums dropped nowadays lack longevity but certain artist such as common, you can stay bumpin their shit... Anyone who is a true head needs to cop LWFC cause i gaurentee it will be the hottest album in 2g. And if common dont get at least 4 mics its a damn shame... Support the real and fuck all these cookie cutter cats with the same played out shit... yo Rash i understand your upset but hold ya head you'll see that on March 28th you'll get what you have worked so hard to achieve... you may not have been selling platnum in the past bust you are still my favorite emcee and my hope for the future of hip hop... I heard your doing a promo tour and might be comming to Spfld, Ma, i hope what i heard was true cause whenever and where ever it is i'll be there!<BR> <P> Keep it true,<BR> ya biggest fan...<BR> Anthony <BR>

at all...but i've certainly considered buying "...for chocolate"...u said u liked my piece & i support those who take the time to support mine...however miniscule...for the efforts are not futile...dope rhymes not included<P><P><BR>....................me jane.<P><P><BR>~theHIghestKoUp~blk sunshine~<P><P>"because marvin died the day before his birth is why i hurry"...jessica care moore<P><BR>"i wanna man that knows how to hold me, cuz i gotta enuff fools who wanna know why"...bonnie raitt<P><BR>"my love is too saturday nite to have thrown back in my face"...frum 'for colored girls who considered suicide when the rainbow is enuff"<P><BR>"The Khary Syndrome"--PaulineVictoria

since it got deleted before, i'll do a little repost. <P>com, you won't have to worry about people downloading your album in an unfinished state, with no tracklisting. over the weekend, many websites had the album available. sure, i have no way of knowing if this is the finished product, but this version has the tracklisting, as opposed to the unmastered one that has been available.<P>anyway, thank god the album comes out only 3 days after my b-day. that means i will be able to afford it. see, the dead prez album came out 3 months before my b-day, when i had no cash, so i had to take the mp3 route.<P>d<P>algonquin college - class of 2000<P>RMHH vs. Okayplayer??? Naw, forget it.<P>Keep on voting: Okayplayer, OHHLA, Boondocks.<BR><a href="http://www.onlinehiphopawards.com" target="_blank">http://www.onlinehiphopawards.com<;/a>