I always had high regard for Grafh till I seen him get washed by Stat Quo on a track
Talented rapper but I think him being managed by Chaz Williams stagnated him business wise and artistically
Talented rapper but I think him being managed by Chaz Williams stagnated him business wise and artistically
Stat Quo was nice as well, what song are you referring to? And I'd also like you to elaborate on how you think Chaz stagnated his career if you don't mind. Wasn't Chaz still managing him when he signed with Roc-A-Fella?
It was more like a "freestyle" track i recall that was featured on one of those SMACK or COCAINE CITY dvd's back in the day...
if i wasn't traveling right now i'd pull it up real quick ..im pretty sure it's on Youtube
but for the record Grafh was nice on that too.....great voice .....nice delivery
just wasn't fukking with STAT QUO at that moment....
as far as Chaz aka Slim
yeah duke is well connected and definitely has the street cred to "protect" his clients
but tends to "pigeonhole" his artists into this "staying connected to the new York streets" as opposed to being more well rounded and able to grow and develop as an artist and adapt to change...same mistake I as a former manager and many managers in the rap game tend to make....we try to mold the artists from our perspective with disregard to their ideal and individulaity
cause hip hop changes dramatically...as it did significantly during Grafh's prime...
Chaz also "consulted" 50 Cent..but you see 50 didn't stay with Chaz and it was a good move, because 50 knows how to deal with "change" and adapt as an artist.
I just recall none of Chaz's artists ever progressing under his watch.....that's why I wasn't surprised when FOXY BROWN abrubtly ended her ties to CHAZ business wise I thought it was a bad move from the start
I appreciate your insider perspective, breh. I don't know the ends and outs of their situation, but as far as I know, Chaz got Grafh major looks when he was managing him. Grafh was featured heavily on every NYC mixtape that dropped between 02 -04, and he did get like 2 or 3 major label deals while Chaz was managing him. I'm thinking maybe labels were more scared of working with Chaz due to his past, than anything that Chaz was lacking as a manager. That's merely speculation on my part though.
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yeah I didn't wanna go there..but I really do feel a lot of the BIAS from the industry towards Blackhand Ent. was the fact that many of the industry cats particulary the Jewish Tyc00ns felt uncomfortable feeling that Blackhand was an extenstion of Chaz Williams blackhand movement which wasn't just some "bank robbery shyt" but also was being tied into movements like the Panthers etc. based on Chaz being a blood relative of Mutula Shakur.
a lot of times the feds and I know this for a fact will send out a "memo" to major labels letting them be aware of whom they were doing business with , just to stifle somebody like Chaz from assimilating into "legit business".
even after they done served their time..it's like some harassment shyt that happens to a lot of aspring black moguls whom were attempting to transitionfrom the streets ..such as Meech, Supreme, T. Stuckney and the brother known as David Hyatt
so I don't doubt that plays a part
but I do know this...A HIT RECORD IS A HIT RECORD ain't no denying that and that HIT RECORD makes up for everything
INDUSTRY CATS will vouch and forget all your past misdeeds if your making that $$$ cause at the end of the day..
the music industry has ALWAYS BEEN GANGSTER since it's inception during the early phonograph days of RCA and WARNER BROS.
CHAZ just wasn't able to get that "hit" that would have greenlighted his way in try for him and his artists
These are both official remixes though, breh. Grafh was featured on hit records while Chaz was managing him. If given the chance, I think Grafh would've most definitely made his own hit records. Just imagine a Grafh album produced by Kanye and Just Blaze in '04. That shyt would've been crazy. Roc-A-Fella folding right after they signed him might've done him in more than anything.
those are the key words their breh...HIS OWN HIT RECORDS....
look I don't doubt his talent at all..when I use to listen to the old NYC mixtapes back in the day and Street Dvd's...
I always checked for Grafh, but real talk u and I both know this HE HIMSELF DIDN'T HAVE ANY "HIT RECORDS" that got popping on radio or in the clubs...
we can blame the labels all we want, but at the end of the day he has to be accountable for himself in that studio along with his business dealings with management...
all this could of would of shyt..is meaningless if it NEVER OCCURED
those are the key words their breh...HIS OWN HIT RECORDS....
look I don't doubt his talent at all..when I use to listen to the old NYC mixtapes back in the day and Street Dvd's...
I always checked for Grafh, but real talk u and I both know this HE HIMSELF DIDN'T HAVE ANY "HIT RECORDS" that got popping on radio or in the clubs...
we can blame the labels all we want, but at the end of the day he has to be accountable for himself in that studio along with his business dealings with management...
all this could of would of shyt..is meaningless if it NEVER OCCURED
I feel you, breh, but what if those records were made, but just never saw the light of day? I find it hard to believe he wasn't able to get in the studio with the right producer and make magic. His versatility is evident, he had connects with all the right producers, and those records I posted earlier showed that he could easily fit in that mainstream lane. There has to be more to it.
Animal House
Superstar
been a fan its a shame he never blew up. i really thought sai, pap the grafh would carry the torch
Pinyapplesuckas
He's A Good Man
the name grafh, yall.
It's Stat Quo. You're gonna get washed if you ain't careful
Pinyapplesuckas
He's A Good Man
i need to hear all of these Stat Quo songs where he's smashing everybody. i never thought he stood out at all personally 