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The word on the street these days is that everyone and their grandmother is either ‘hustlin or grindin and doin big things’. Name’s are supposedly ringing bells. But with all this talk, there’s very little change that I’ve seen and I should be wearing ears plugs according to these boast but I’m not. Now don’t get it wrong, there are in fact quite a few people that are about their business, turning nothings, into some things. Making names for their selves while creating a productive environment for other artist, independently.

We journey to the south, Columbus Georgia to be exact, to speak with a young entrepreneur named Kaleal Crooks.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Who are you, and why are you here ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

The name is Kaleal Crooks and I provide music and musical services to artists, musicians, and fans. As an independent musician, I was able to realize very early in my career exactly how important it is for an artist to understand who they are, what their purpose is, and how to ensure that their "prophecies" are fulfilled. Because music has such a magical effect on humans, it is absolutely necessary for us to create an environment in which music can flourish.

So that is The Unknown Prophets' mission.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Music has an affect on humans you say. Do you care to share some of your experiences that lead you to believe such a statement ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

One of the easiest ways to see how music has effected people is to look at those we have lost. Selena, Tupac Shakur, Big L, Aaliyah, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Elvis and others. The industry and the world have scrambled to find replacements for our great musicians because the music they have created has set the standard for what music should be, and the soundtrack we live by. Another simple scenario is how music is used to teach. The alphabet song is quite popular and the resemblance to twinkle twinkle twinkle little star (one of my first joints I played on piano haha) stick with us for a lifetime. Memorable melodies attach to something deep within us whether it was you and your girl's jam, or the music you grew up to. One song can make you laugh, cry, and remember at the same time.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Do you feel you make music that has that effect ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

Well personally, I can say I have made instrumental music that has that effect. Tajinity is a good example of how music can throw a human into a different world. It is available on www.SilverPharoah.com for free download actually.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Perhaps I'll toss that on when I get into my masculine aerobics. That's aerobics for real manly men.

Kaleal Crooks says:

Go for it haha. Scented candles and all.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Might burn the house down. No one needs to be homeless.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

About how long would you say you've been creating music on a professional level ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

Spring 2002, when me and One Term started dropping albums. Silver Pharoah came to the online community in 2004 though.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

So it's obvious you've begun creating a web presence. How important for you now is using the internet to reach individuals, considering where you are located. Seems there are quite a few artists that are all thumbs online and feel that's a waste of time. What do you have to say to them ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

The internet is vital to getting affordable exposure. If you are a pretty intelligent kat, there are countless ways to promote yourself online and the networking possibilities (like this one) are endless. However, being offline is just as important. I about an hour and a half from ATL so most people would think about the opportunity, not the competition. Simply being a rapper in the south automatically throws you into a box with the rest of the bunch, with people coming from all over the place to get a piece of the hype surrounding ATL, there is no home field advantage and the internet helps make sure you always have a way out of the trap before you get put in it. I can't knock anybody out there choosing to hustle from a single outlet. If it works for you then handle ya bidness, but with "multi-tasking" being one of the big buzz words, you may not be losing out on anything, but your not gaining either.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Not knocking anyone but let's be serious, if you don't have a million bucks or at least a well thought out plan and team to boot, you're not gonna do but so much offline hand to hand, now are you ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

All depends on the hustle man, like these young kats in high school and college that are out here setting up shop at an early age. Think about how many people you knew in school and how many of them would buy something just cuz you’re doing something they can't and they are amazed, or just cuz they know you. As you get older it gets harder because responsibility and obligations keep you tied down from interacting with new individuals on a daily basis.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

You're rather optimistic, forward thinking. Great qualities. With that said are you anything like some of your regional neighbors that are die hard haters of northerns or anything remotely northern ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

I can't even front, I'd hate to lose some fans off this but a lot of people from the north have this "home grown" supremacist type attitude that they use to make it seem like they are the originators, and the only real ones doing their thing you know. It's not everybody, but there are a lot of key figures out there who are tapping into the southern resources simply because they are losing their footing in the industry and they are scared to death because the title has been held by the same crowd since the birth of hip hop. The south had to sign themselves and most of the other areas don't run into that problem.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Yeah but that's Hiphop, don't you feel that this rivalry is much deeper then just who's doin what in music. Seems southerners in some cases have a great bit of animosity towards northerners and some northerners are so ignorant that they believe everyone down south is either dumb or slow or both dumb and slow.

Kaleal Crooks says:

Yeah I agree, it’s always "much deeper than that", but how deep do you really want to get with it? For instance, the way southern (black) people talk, most folks don’t realize the dropping of R's and other grammatical issues were derived from white slave owners, who were educated and rich, so sound itself has no direct correlation with being uneducated and poor, it just stayed in the circle. If you wanna go deeper look at who came to the south first, look at the original dialects of the groups established their home in the south vs. the north. There are too many angles to even attempt to justify why the south and the north act the way they do. The same way I use stereotypes against some northern artists, I use against southern artists.

Like club music... should stay in the club haha. It's not a North Vs South thing, its more like, What I think is good music. Vs What you think is good music.

Pretty pointless but sometimes you can't help being ethnocentric, its human nature.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

What are you currently listening to, other then you ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

Jodeci's Back To The Future, Lil Wayne, Lyfe's been doing some pretty big things too... but i'm constantly hearing music from those up and coming dudes you know, always looking to collaborate and pick up other folks like Haze and 2 Da Crib out of Dade county, lot of local kats from around the way are always doing stuff too, gotta shout out J-Rod and Polo aka PolarBear doing they thing from Columbus to Atlanta.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

You catch any flicks recently.

Kaleal Crooks says:

Aww man I caught it late but Crash was probably one of the dopest movies I've seen in a while. There's lots of characters all connected together into one plot and it's not one of those white films or black films, its something everyone can relate too. But on the real, I'm tryna see Curious George. Ha ha...

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

You know I still don't get that monkey craze from a couple years ago. That designer guy got payed off of primates. Go figure.

Kaleal Crooks says:

Lol, Man nah you got it all wrong, that man with the yellow hat, that’s the man.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

You know the original creator passed away recently.

Kaleal Crooks says:

Nah I didn't, always kinda sad to hear bout someone passing but the man got his grind on eventually, so he should be someone to look up to.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Margret E. Rey 90 yrs old.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

She.

Kaleal Crooks says:

Oh my fault.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Did you ever see the entire Planet of The Apes series ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

Can't say that I have, I think I've seen at least 2 though, I was real young so if it wasn’t cartoons in Technicolor I wasn't too excited bout it. Hell even now if its not a cartoon I don't pay it too much mind.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Can you say, Adult Swim... ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

Chu know bout bein an ol boondock head, that's really the only 30 minutes I take out of my schedule intentionally to watch TV during the week and it ain’t even 30 minutes long, gotta be the shortest show ever. That episode on MLK gotta be the greatest thing on TV since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Sticking to the apes subject. Your thoughts on Hollywood’s most recent offering involving our hairy friends, 'King Kong'. Subliminally racists, or just another attempt at emptying America’s collective wallet for less then 2 hours of cheesy acting and special defects.

Kaleal Crooks says:

Both, whether it was intentional or not. Racist is a sticky term though considering that race doesn’t exist. Ever fill out a form and notice that black and white is a color, but Asian is based on region? But, yeah, America will always have a problem with what they created. Both black, and white folks, feed into it too much. Monkey See Money Do.

Kaleal Crooks says:

*Monkey

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

So race doesn't exist ? Explain.

Kaleal Crooks says:

Race is some conceptual garbage that the European people came up with. Since the Europeans were some of the first people to travel around the world, they had to figure out what these other humans were and being the ethnocentric people that we are. Racism and was born. If you really analyze it, racism isn’t about color. It’s easier to understand racism when you look at a person’s way of life.

Kaleal Crooks says:

Every non-European culture has been a victim of some "racial discrimination" at some point in history.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Tattoos or piercings.

Kaleal Crooks says:

Tattoos are the bait but the piercings bring’em in.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

...

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Do you drive ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

Legally ?

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Enough said...

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

What's your opinion on Mos Def's acting skills ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

Ha ha... I won't judge his skills, I'll just say he picks the right roles.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Fair enough. Ever think of acting yourself ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

Yeah I wouldn't mind acting myself in a movie or two. Nah man, lol, acting ain’t for me, I might write up some scripts though. I don't consider myself much of an entertainer, I don't really put on different faces. Most of our musicians on TV today, whether it’s a video or a live performance, only put on short movies. Whatever happened to playing your heart out, walking off the stage sweaty is rare now.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Does lip syncing cause one to sweat ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

Better ask Jeezy that question, but I don't think snowmen sing, cuz they don’t have lips.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Okay... lost me there. But we shall move on.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

What are you currently producing with ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

Right now I'm on FL Studio 6 w/ a Radium 61 key and Adobe Audition w/ an AKG C1000 but I’m looking to pick up a triton rack among other things. We review all of the hardware we use on www.silverpharoah.com in the equipment section of our forums for those who are interested.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

You fraid of needles ? Any strange phobias ?

Kaleal Crooks says:

Flying Cockroaches. Everybody that’s not from the south laughs at that, even Word thought I was being a punk till he moved to Georgia and experienced them first hand. I received an email from him that went something like "Can't Sleep... Roaches Everywhere..." Me and Term have been successfully fighting this war on roaches though, and the weather is on our side. The enemy seems to have retreated for now.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

They're in NY too. I recall an encounter with one in Harlem in the eighties. Japan has water bugs the size of your hand. They eat garbage. Smell like garbage too.

Kaleal Crooks says:

Roach spay is like..... Ooze to them things can’t even stomp’em no more, and they used to run from the light, now they come at you... I got roach radar though. I can feel my senses tingling with a roach in my presence.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Ohkay...

Kaleal Crooks says:

At 2:00 in the morning, seeing a roach and not being able to kill it, then not being able to find it, gives you a sense of impending doom. Ha ha…

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

...

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

What's the next move for you, music wise?

Kaleal Crooks says:

Lots of new things in the works. I'm still wrapping up Sterilization and Pop The Trunk 3. I know that people have been waiting for quite some time so I have to apologize for the delay but it will be worth it. My 8th solo is in the works and IV's coming back, but I can’t release any additional information on those projects. The plan for now is the same plan I've followed for some time, more beats, more albums, and flood every outlet possible. Get assets, then get money. SilverPharoah.com will also be getting a huge facelift but I don't have a date for that. Other than that, I'm just doing the same thing as everyone else, trying to collaborate with the right person at the right time, get shows, and do whatever I can to insure the security of my business and my family.

lestormanchestor.blogspot.com says:

Cool. Look forward to the next movement.

Jay Dilla Tribute on Valentine's Day...

J Dilla's Discography

JAY DEE / J DILLA DISCOGRAPHY

Artist Titles (As Producer and/or MC):
1st Down - No Place To Go 12" single 1993
1st Down - A Day Wit The Homiez 12" Single 1995 (Pay Day Records)
Slum Village - Fan-Tas-Tic 12" single 1996
Slum Village - Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol. 1) CD/LP 1996 (Donut Boy Recordings) 1997 (Sudden Impact)
Slum Village - We Be Down 12" single 1997 (Sudden Impact)
Jay Dee - Jay Dee Unreleased (Remixes) 12" EP 1997 (House Shoes Records)
Slum Village - Somethin' For The People, All I Do (Remix) from "All I Do" 12" single 1997 (WB)
Slum Village - Fantastic Vol. 2 CD/LP 2000 (Goodvibe) 2002 (Capitol)
J-88 - Look Of Love (Remix) 12" single 1999 (Groove Attack)
J-88 - Best Kept Secret 12" EP 2000 (Groove Attack)
Jay Dee - Fuck The Police/Move, feat. Frank N Dank 12" single 2001 (Up Above)
Jay Dee feat. Frank-N-Dank - Pause 12" single 2001 (BBE)
Jay Dee - Welcome 2 Detroit CD/LP 2001 (BBE)
1st Down - A Day Wit The Homiez CD 2002 (RonnieCash.com)
Jay Dee - Instrumental Series Vol 1 12" EP 2002 (Bling47.com)
Jay Dee feat. Frank N Dank - Take Dem Clothes Off/Off Ya Chest 12" single 2002 (ABB)
Jaylib - The Message from Stones Throw Summer 2002 12" EP (Stones Throw)
Jay Dee -Instrumental Series Vol.2: Vintage 2003 CD/LP (Bling47.com)
Jay Dee - Ruff Draft 12" EP 2003 (Mummy/Groove Attack)
Jaylib - The Red/The Official 12" single 2003 (Stones Throw)
Jaylib - Champion Sound/Strip Club 12" single 2003 (Stones Throw)
Jaylib - Champion Sound CD/LP 2003, and Champion Sound Instrumentals LP 2004 (Stones Throw)
Jaylib - Raw Addict/Ice 12" single 2003 (Stones Throw)
Jaylib - McNasty Filth/Pillz 12"/CD single 2004 (Stones Throw)
Jaylib - Blaze Up, The Mission (Remix) from Stones Throw 101 Mix CD 2004 (Stones Throw)
Jaylib - Popshit from Stones Throw 100 12" EP 2004 (Stones Throw)
J Dilla - Welcome 2 Detroit Instrumentals CD/LP 2005 (BBE)
J Dilla - Donuts: The EP 12" EP 2005 (Promotional)
J Dilla - Donuts CD/LP 2006

MC only:
Tami Hert - If You Were Mine (Detroit Demolition Mix) from "If You Were Mine" 12" single 1997 (550 Music)
v/a - Fight Club, feat. Dilla, Nottz & Boogie from "Best Kept Secret Mix" CD 2003 (Bling47.com)
Dabrye - Game Over 12" single 2004 (Ghostly International)
Wale Oyejide - There's A War Going On 12" single 2004 (Shaman Work)
Wale Oyejide - There's A War Going On from "One Day, Everything Changed" CD/LP 2004 (Shaman Work)
Slum Village - Reunion from "Detroit Deli" CD/LP 2004 (Barak/Capitol)
Pete Rock - Niggaz Know from "Soul Survivor II" CD/LP 2004 (Rapster /BBE)
v/a - Do Your Thang, Stupid from "BR Gunna Presents Dirty District Vol. 2" CD 2004 (Barak)
Phat Kat - Door from "The Undeniable LP" (New Version) CD/LP 2004 (Barak)
Lawless Element - Love (feat. Jay Dilla) 2005
Platinum Pied Pipers - Act Like You Know feat J Dilla 12" single 2005 (Ubiquity)
Platinum Pied Pipers - Shotgun, Act Like You Know from Triple P CD/LP 2005 (Ubiquity)
Sa-Ra - Thrilla feat. J Dilla 12" single 2005 (Sound in Color)
Diamond - We Gangstas from Diamond Mine CD 2005
Platinum Pied Pipers - Shotgun (Remix) from 12" single 2005 (Ubiquity)

Production Credits (by year):
1994-1995
Da Enna C - NOW from "Throw Ya Hands In Da Air" 12" single 1994 (Up Top)
Little Indian - One Little Indian 12" single 1995 (Premeditated)
Poe - Fingertips from "Hello" CD/LP 1995 (WEA / Atlantic)

1996
5-Elementz - Whutchawant, Feed Back, Rockshows, Party Groove, Janet Jacme, E.G.O., Don't Stop, Searchin from "The Album Time Forgot" cassette 1996 (That Was Entertainment)
A Tribe Called Quest - 1nce Again, Get A Hold, Keeping It Moving, Stressed Out, Word Play from "Beat, Rhymes, & Life" CD/LP 1996 (Jive Records)
Busta Rhymes - Keep It Movin', Still Shinin' from "The Coming" CD/LP 1996 (Elektra)
Busta Rhymes - Woo-Hah!! (Jay-Dee Bounce Remix), Woo-Hah!! (Jay-Dee Other Shit Remix) 12" single 1996 (Elektra)
Busta Rhymes - It's a Party (Ummah Remix), Ill Vibe (Ummah Remix) 12" single 1996 (Elektra)
De La Soul - Stakes Is High from "Stakes Is High" CD/LP 1996 (Tommy Boy)
De La Soul - Stakes Is High (Remix) from Itzsoweezee 12" single 1996 (Tommy Boy)
Mad Skillz - It's Going Down, The Jam from "From Where???" 1996 (Big Beat)
Kieth Murray - The Rhyme (Remix), Dangerous Ground from "Enigma" 1996 (Jive)
Natives Of Da Underground - Pack Da Hous/Brotha's Juss Don't Know/Whatcha Gonna Do? 12" single 1996 (ALR)
Phife Dawg - Game Day from "NFL Jams" 1996 (Castle)
Proof - Da Science from "Detroit Hip Hop Volume 1" 1996 Modern Tribe
Proof - Vibe Session from "Anywhere" 12" single 1996 (Hip Hop Shop)
Tha Pharcyde - Runnin', Bullshit, Splatittorium, Somethin' That Means Somethin', Drop, Y? from "Labcabincalifornia" CD/LP 1996 (Delicious Vinyl)

1997
5-Elementz - Sun Flower from "Yester Years" 12" EP 1997 (That Was Entertainment)
A Tribe Called Quest - Get A Hold, Mardi Gras At Midnight from "Jam" EP 1997 (Jive Records)
Brand New Heavies - Sometimes (Ummah Remix) from "Sometimes" 12" single 1997 (Delicious Vinyl)
Busta Rhymes - So Hardcore from "When Disaster Strikes" CD/LP 1997 (Elektra)
Crustation - Purple (ATCQ Edit) 12" single 1997 (Zomba)
Janet Jackson - Got Til It's Gone (Ummah Jay Dee Revenge Mix) 12" single 1997 (Virgin)
T Da Pimp - Why You Lookin Hard?/We Knowwe Rockit 12" single 1997 (Penmp)
Tha Pharcyde - She Said (Remix) 12" single 1997 (Delicious Vinyl)
Tha Pharcyde - Runnin (Remix), Y? (Remix) from "Drop" 12" single 1997 (Delicious Vinyl)
Truz - True Dawgs/Routes To Hell 12" single 1997 (Ad Fam)

1998
A Tribe Called Quest - 4 Moms, Against The World, Busta's Lament, Da Booty, Find A Way, His Name Is Mutty Ranks, Start It Up, Steppin' It Up from "The Love Movement" CD/LP 1998 (Jive Records)
A Tribe Called Quest - That Shit from "Funkmaster Flex Vol. 3" 1998 (Loud Records)
Bizarre - Butterfly from Attack of the Wierdos 12" EP 1998 (Federation)
Mood - Secrets Of The Sand (Remix) from "Snake Backs" 12" single 1998 (Blunt)
N'Dea Davenport - Bullshittin (Remix) from "N'Dea Davenport" CD/LP 1998 (V2)

1999
5 Ela - You Ain't Fresh, Ain't No Love from 5-E Pt. 3 1999 (That Was Entertainment)
Brand New Heavies - Saturday Night (Jay Dee Remix) from "Saturday Night" 12" single 1999 (Delicious Vinyl)
Heavy D - Listen from "Heavy" CD/LP 1999 (Universal)
Macy Gray - I Try (Remix) 12" single 1999 (Epic)
Nine Yards - Always Find A Way (Remix) 12" single 1999 (Virgin)
Phat Kat - Dedication To The Suckers 12" single 1999 (House Shoes Recordings)
Phife Dawg - Bend Ova/Thought U Wuz Nic 12" single 1999 (Groove Attack)
Que D - Underestimated, Supa Shit, Kilo, Cash Flow, Michelle, Rock Box, Don't Stop from "Quite Delicious" cassette 1999 and "Que D Limited Edition" CD 2003 (Royal Flyness)
Q-Tip - 11 tracks from "Amplified" CD/LP 1999 (Arista)
The Roots - Dynamite from Things Fall Apart CD/LP 1999 (MCA)
The Roots - New Year's @ Jay Dee's from "You Got Me" CD single 1999 (MCA)
Zooco - Butterfly from "Glow-Mellow-Flow" CD/LP 1999? (Columbia Japan)

2000
Black Star - Little Brother from "The Hurricane (Soundtrack)" CD/LP 2000 (MCA)
Brand New Heavies - Sometimes (Remix), Saturday Night (Remix) from "Trunk Funk Classics" CD/LP 2000 (Delicious Vinyl)
Busta Rhymes - Enjoy Da Ride, Live It Up, Show Me What You Got from "Anarchy" CD/LP 2000 (Elektra)
Common - 10 tracks from "Like Water For Chocolate" CD/LP 2000 (MCA)
Common - The Light (Remix) from "Bamboozled (Soundtrack)" 2000 (Motown)
D'Angelo - various tracks from Voodoo CD/LP 2000 (Virgin)
De La Soul - Thru Ya City from "Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump" CD/LP 2000 (Tommy Boy)
Erykah Badu - Cleva, My Life, Didn't Cha Know, Kiss Me On My Neck from "Mama's Gun CD/LP 2000 (Motown)
Frank N Dank - Me & My Man/Love (A Thing Of The Past) 12" single 2000 (McNasty)
Frank N Dank - Everybody Get Up/Give It Up Pt. 2 12" single 2000 (McNasty)
Guru feat. Bilal - Certified from "Guru's Jazzmatazz Street Soul" CD/LP 2000 (Virgin)
Innerzone Orchestra - People Make The World Go Round (J-88 Mix) - 12" single 2000 (Planet E)
Phife Dawg - Bend Ova, 4 Horseman from "Ventilation: Da LP" CD/LP 2000 (Groove Attack)
Phife Dawg - Ya Heard Me from "Definition of Ill Compilation" 2000 bootleg
Royce Da 5'9" - Let's Grow from "Lyricist Lounge Volume 2" CD/LP 2000 (Rawkus)
Spacek - Eve (Remix) 12" single 2000 (Blue)

2001
Bahamadia- One-4-Teen (Remix) from "Summer Sampler" CD 2001 (Goodvibe)
Bilal - Reminisce from "1st Born Second LP" CD/LP 2001 (Interscope)
Busta Rhymes - Genesis, Make It Hurt from "Genesis" CD/LP 2001 (Elektra)
Chino XL - Don't Say A Word from "I Told You So" CD/LP 2001 (Metro Records)
De La Soul - Peer Pressure (Intro & Outro Monologues by Jay Dee) from AOI: Bionix CD/LP 2001 (Tommy Boy)
Lucy Pearl - Without You (Remix) 12" single 2001 (Pookie/Virgin)
Mos Def - Can U C The Pride In The Panther? (Remix) 12" Single 2001 (Interscope)
Que D - In Yo Face from "Still Bangin" 12" single 2001 (Up Above) and "Que D Limited Edition" CD 2003 (Royal Flyness)
Toshi Kubota - Nothin But Your Love (Remix) 12" single 2001 (Epic)

2002
Big Tone - Party Crasher (mixed by Jay Dee) from Party Crasher 12" Antidote 2002
Busta Rhymes - It Ain't Safe No More, What Up, Turn Me Up Some from "It Ain't Safe No More..." CD/LP 2002 (Elektra)
Common - various production & instrumental credits from "Electric Circus" CD/LP 2002 (MCA)
DJ Jazzy Jeff - Are You Ready (with Slum Village) from "The Magnificent" 12" EP 2002 (BBE)
Frank N Dank - Push 12" EP 2002 (Mummy / Groove Attack)
Phat Kat - Dedication To The Suckers, Don't Nobody Care About Us, Microphone Master, Big Booties, World Premier from "Dedication To The Suckers" LP/CD 2002 (RonnieCash.com)
Slum Village - Hoes, Let's, One from "Trinity" CD/LP 2002 (Capitol)
Talib Kweli - Where Do We Go, Stand To The Side from "Quality" CD/LP 2002 (Rawkus)

2003
ASD (Afrob & Samy Deluxe) - Komm Schon from "Wer Hatte Das Gedacht?" CD/LP 2003 (Eimsbush)
ASD (Afrob & Samy Deluxe) - Wenn Ihr Fuhlt... from "Hey Du" 12" EP 2003 (Eimsbush)
Common - Come Close "Remix" (Closer) 12" single 2003 (MCA)
De La Soul - Much More/Shoomp 12" single 2003 (AOI)
Fourtet - As Serious As Your Life (Remix) 12" single 2003 Domino
Frank N Dank - 48 Hours CD 2003 (Bootleg)
Vivian Green - Fanatic (Remix) 12" Single 2003 (Sony)
Phat Kat - Dedication 2004, Destiny, Big Booties from "The Undeniable LP: Detroit Edition" CD/LP 2003 Barak Records
Que D - Supa Shit 12" single 2003 (Royal Flyness)
Royce Da 5'9" - Life Goes On from "Build & Destroy: Lost Sessions Part 1" 2003 (Trouble Records)
Subtitle - Mark Luv Mixtape Song from "Greatest Hi$$" CD 2003 (Marks03 Recordings)
T-Love - When You're Older, Who Smoked Sunshine, Chiquita, Long Way Back from "The Long Way Back" 2003 (Pickininny)

2004
5 Ela - Scenario 2004 from "The EP" 2004 (5 Elements)
Amp Fiddler - You Play Me, Waltz Of A Ghetto Fly from "Waltz Of A Ghetto Fly" CD/LP 2004 (Genuine/PIAS)
Amp Fiddler - I Believe In You (Jaylib Mix) CD/12" single 2004 (Genuine/PIAS)
Brother Jack McDuff - Oblighetto (J Dilla Remix) from "Blue Note Revisted" CD/LP 2004 (Blue Note)
De La Soul - Verbal Clap, Much More from "Grind Date" CD/LP (Sanctuary)
DJ Cam - Love Junkee (Remix) 12" single 2003 (Inflamable) and "Liquid Hip Hop CD/LP 2004 (Inflamable)
Elzhi - Days and Nights, Concrete Eyes, Love It Here, and Look At My Friends from "Witness My Growth" Mix CD 2004 (Libido Speedo)
Frank-N-Dank - Let's Go, Okay, MCA from "Xtended Play" CD/LP 2004 (Needillworks)
Lawless Element - The Shining 12" single 2004 (RMR/Fat Beats)
Oh No - Move from The Disrupt CD/LP 2004, and The Disrupt Instrumentals LP 2005 (Stones Throw)
Proof of D12 - Bring It 2 Me from "I Miss The Hip Hop Shop" CD/LP 2004 (Iron Fist)
Prozack - Leisure Rules from "Death, Taxes, and Prozack" CD 2004 (Outofwork Records)
Slum Village - Do You from "Detroit Deli" CD/LP 2004 (Barak/Capitol)

2005
Common - Love is..., It's Your World (Part 1 & 2) from "Be" CD/LP and "Be Instrumentals" LP 2005 (GOOD Music/Geffen)
Common - The Movement from "NBA 2K6 - The Tracks" CD/LP 2005 (Decon)
Dwele - Keep On from "Some Kinda" CD/LP 2005 (Virgin)
Dwight Trible & The Life Force Trio - Antiquity from "Love Is The Answer" CD/LP 2005 (Ninja Tune)
MED - Push feat. J Dilla 12" single 2005 (Stones Throw)
MED - Push, So Real from "Push Comes To Shove" CD/LP 2005 (Stones Throw)
Moka Only - One Time from "The Desired Effect" CD/LP 2005 (Nettwerk)
Oh No - Move Part 2 feat. J Dilla & Roc C 12" single 2005 (Stones Throw)
Slum Village - Who Are We from "Prequel To A Classic" CD 2005 (Barak Records)
Spacek - Dollar 12" single 2005 (Sound in Color)
Spacek - Dollar from "Space Shift" CD/LP 2005 (Sound in Color)

Me'Shell Ndegéocello : Beautiful in more then one way.

Les-tor must admit that he's stared at the photo above for much longer then any person should view any image. But so what. This comfort woman is a divine sight for sore eyes and her vocals can be just as soothing as a warm bath blessed with the right mixture of Satsuma oil and an assorted bathing salts. I wanted to take a moment and make note of one of the best albums I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. An album that I must affirm most importantly, I purchased. Unfortunately, I did not make that purchase at a chain record store where the soundscan would be counted.

Me'Shell Ndegéocello is a dynamic creator of soundscapes that capture emotion. She is an ever- changing ball of influentional energy. She epitomizes to me at least what it is to represent versitility in the midst of the mediocracy that plagues mainstream music culture ( independents are just as bad). She is a beacon for those that may have similar chameleon abilities but lack the power to assert them due to the onslaught of naysaying and adversity they are faced with when trying to be themselves and release their version of a message to the world. I applaud Me'Shell for being what many are afraid to be. Different. It is those artist like herself that push forward the evolution of music, plainly put.

Check out Comfort Woman a great album meant to be heard late night in the dim light with the shades drawn, candles lit and perhaps a bit of your favorite frgrant oil burning into the wee hours.