I Do Me - Ro Spit

Ro Spit is a man of many hats. He's one half of one of the most respected sneaker boutiques in Michigan, a father, a husband, a DJ, and a rapper. Ro Spit recently released a musical hybrid called "The Oh S#!t Project" and his single, "Renaissance State of Mind" has been deemed a Detroit anthem by many. While he's technically not from Detroit he still holds the city down well. Ladies and Gentlemen: Ro Spit.

Name: Ro Spit
Role: Renaissance Man
Affiliation: Burn Rubber Sneaker Boutique

Alex Washington (AW): How is Ro Spit different from DJ Phrikshun and Burn Rubber Ro?

Ro Spit (Ro): I'm the same person to the core. All three of those people want to get money and provide for their family—bottom line. Now, the person that is nothing like any of those guys is Roland Coit. I'm just a humble dude that loves to laugh and work hard.

AW: What is the Oh S#!t Project? From what I understand it's not a mixtape but it's not quite an album either.

Ro: The Oh S#!t project fits right in between a mixtape and an album. The reason I didn't want to call it a mixtape is because of the negative stigma that the word "mixtape" has on it. Everybody and their grandma has a mixtape out here in the streets. Another thing is that mixtapes have short shelf lives and I want my music to stand the test of time. It's not a mixtape because I'm rapping over all original beats; even the "Renaissance State Of Mind" track was re-made—that is not the Jay-Z and Alicia Keys version. On the other hand, the project is set up like a mixtape; it's songs on a CD with no real story. My album will tap more into me as a real person—not just dope rhymes and dope beats. This project was to show people that may not be familiar with me as an emcee, that I got bars.

AW: What can people expect from this project?

Ro: Raw beats and raw lyrics, cleverness, slick talk, flow and fresh sh*t.

AW: Who are some of the featured artists on the project and why did you select who you did?

Ro: I have a few features on this project. The most notable is Bun B, and for obvious reasons. He's a legend in the game, well respected and got bars for days. I can't take the credit for that feature though, I gotta give it up to the producer of the track my man Frank The Butcher. He gave me the beat, and said he wanted me and Curt@!ns on a track together; he could hear Bun B on it. He made a call and the rest is history. Big Sean is also on a track, he came through in the clutch, literally. The day before the project was to be turned in, he came to the shop like, "I gotta get on a track man," that was the perfect track for his feature. Of course I got my 101 fam on there, Marv Won and Ron Dance, we all we got and Marv Won is one of my favorite rappers, period. Got my man Stretch Money on there, he's that dude that a lot of "Hip Hop" cats sleep on because he's all over ther radio, but that dude is a monster and will shut a cypher down. Other than that, I have the fabulous, M Bleezy on there twice. Monica Blaire is a star; I love her voice, and she's a beautiful person to just be around. She's like one of the fellas almost, but still a girly girl.

AW: "Renaissance State of Mind" has definitely become an anthem of sorts, did you intend for it to happen that way?

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Yay or Nay: Grindin'- Birdman, Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj has made public claims that other female rappers have not reached out to her and many have dissed her (though she has admitted that Trina has embraced her). Lil' Kim has said that she has no problems with Nicki and is flattered that she has been influenced by her to do the things that she does. All of that to move into today's Yay or Nay which features both ladies. You would assume that since Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj are on the same track that would put aside any controversy that the two had beef.

Kim's line: "There will never be another me what chu out ya mind?" has sparked some controversy that the song is a front and the line was a subliminal to Nicki. Kim seems not to mind the little stuff or the controversy, stating in her Facebook status "Take it how you want to take it though."

What do you think? Yay or Nay: Gridin' (Makin Money) -- Birdman feat. Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj

Yay or Nay: Doin' Good - Tone Tone

You may know him from his track "Luv the Way She Doing It" or his more popular "What Up Doe?" but Detroit local Tone Tone returns with his new single "Doin' Good." Now Tone Tone hasn't been sitting quietly since the release of those songs. He has had singles in rotation on local radio stations throughout the year and word around town is that Tone Tone is gearing up to release his new mixtape "Kill The Streetz" sometime soon. Yay or Nay: "Doin' Good" - Tone Tone feat. OJ Da Juiceman.



P.S. Producers, here's your chance, Tone Tone is looking for beats. Think you have something he may like? Send it to this e-mail address: tonetoneinherre@yahoo.com

My President - Young Jeezy

There are a lot of people that are YouTube famous and Alphacat is back. In case you do not remember Iman Crossom (known to Youtube as Alphacat) became instantly famous when his spoof of Barack Obama doing Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" routine went viral about a year ago. Since then, he has went on to make many more spoofs (averaging about 400,000 views per video) including Drake, Shakira, Jay-Z and Mario. THis time around he spoofs Thriller as Barack Obama...what do you think about it?
Was it too soon to spoof a Michael Jackson video? Is it time for Alphacat to stop filming? Is it simply hilarious?

Love of My Life - Erykah Badu

Hola, I'm back (for serious this time).

It's been about two months since my last post, but I decided to resurrect Tha 'A' Side, new posts, new layout same me.
Lots of things have happened since my last post, but we will get to all that soon.

I was having trouble deciding what I wanted my first post to be...an interview, a leak, a video blog (just me rambling) but I decided to post this documentary done by one of my high school classmatesMidori about a year or so ago.

The documentary was done for a class project of hers and discusses the gender and racial politics of hip-hop (deep stuff right?) You'll see some of your favorites in the half-hour long documentary including, Ro Spit, Big Sean, and The Cool Kids.