July 5, 2006 **** I hope everyone had a good holiday weekend. I spent the whole weekend chillin with my wife, plus the 4th, and I loved every minute of it. Honestly, I hadn’t been in the best mood. All things considered, being in prison, et cetera, it’s not so hard to understand that, but it goes deeper, as all things do. Besides dealing with the vultures and swine on this plantation daily, I’m dealing with those outside of these walls who don’t seem to understand what’s necessary for not only my own, but for their success as well. Everyone keeps writing and asking where the new CD is, writing and asking where the shirts are, where’s the product… and the answer is (drum roll)… I don’t KNOW. I want to know the answers more than anyone else. Let’s take a peek at it from my perspective…
As far as the CD goes, everyone is aware that Loki is Vice President of Bloc Star Entertainment and that he has been in charge of the production and everything else that has to do with the new CD, IGNITION. It was a year ago to the day that I cut the first check toward getting this CD done. A whole year. I’m not even sure how much I’ve spent so far (if you take that literally, you’re a moron) but I’ve put money on whatever Loki told me he needed to cover for the production of this CD. I’ve paid for every single detail of Bloc Star Entertainment out of my own pocket, on my own. No complaints, of course. This is MY COMPANY. Let’s be clear about that. If you want independence for REAL, it’s gonna cost you. So that’s all good. But I’m saying, I’ve handled my side of things, as usual. I was asked for money, I provided money. I was asked for vocals, I provided vocals; there has been nothing but support from me and my people for Loki, and he has done a lot for us in return. The songs that he’s actually finished are HOT. If not, I wouldn’t even be speaking on it. I would have moved on. But I really believe that Bloc Stare will be SPECIAL, different from the rest of these so-called companies if we keep going in the direction we’re headed in. The only way we can do that is for Loki to finish the CD. In his defense, he has done a LOT with limited resources, and niggas probably have been faking on HIM. Instead of complaining about it to me, he shoulders the blame and keeps trying to push forward. I understand. But there comes a time when we have to get at each other with what’s really real so we can make real decisions. The fact of the matter is that Bloc Star is at a point where all we have left to do is to just start releasing product. To do that, I need a master. I wanted Ignition to be the first release, which is why it’s called IGNITION in the first place! The Bloc Star launch! Our takeoff! But I can’t keep waiting, understand? The key to spending money is knowing how you will replace what you’ve spent. I'm ready to MAKE money, forget spending it all up wit no visible return, no opportunity to put that money back and then some. So I’m saying, “HEY! LOKI! WHAT’S UP?!” As much as she tried, the wife has yet to comfort me on this issue, primarily because she agrees with me, in addition to the fact that nothing will comfort me besides someone handing me a master with bangers on it. Loki, my good man, I need you to finish that CD. I need you to speak to me about what it will really take to make that happen. I am not here to persecute you or blame you for anything. We succeed together, we fail together. I’m SERIOUS about that. Loyalty, respect, dedication and trust. When it’s offered to someone, those things have to be sincerely given. Ask Big Mike Shanahan. You are my dude and I’m not turning on you over a few mistakes or a lack of communication. I’m asking you to improve the quality of our interaction with each other as men. If we do that, business gets better automatically. Speak to me, my good man. I’m listening. What do we need to do to get this thing done?
As for the shirts, well, I paid for that already, too. I’m waiting for the guy to contact us and let us know when they are ready. This is my first experience dealing with this person, so I don’t know what the outcome will be. I’m hoping to have a positive experience that w3ill result in a continued business relationship. Bridges aren't built to be burned; they’re built to be utilized for travel. One of the first things invading armies do in times of war is knock down the bridges. Remember the movie Saving Private Ryan? When they finally found him, he refused to be “saved” because he wanted to stay and help his fellow soldiers defend a bridge. I look at good business practices the same way. No matter what, we have to protect the bridges. Hopefully the shirt guy knows how to do that because I plan on utilizing that bridge regularly.
On the brighter side of things, the website is up and running! I’d like to welcome everyone!
www.blocstarentertainment.com in case you’re reading this some where else. My sincere thanks to Jerry Reynolds at Alimoe Underground for taking care of everything. It’s strange having to thank someone for a service that you paid them to render, but so many people fail to do what they are supposed to do that it is noteworthy when someone actually handles their business. Speaking of handling their business, I want to thank Elayne for making it happen! Remember what I told you, Pretty Eyes: Kick all ass because, well, that’s just what WE DO!
The most important thing for everyone to remember is that it takes time to do things the right way. I rushed Madman Records and it cost me. I rushed Gangway and it cost me. I accept all responsibility, for the successes AND failures. I learned something from both experiences, and the most critical thing is that the foundation of structure is just as important as the thing you are building. With hip hop companies, the emphasis is incorrectly placed on the appearance of the building. Hip hop is an image-driven industry. It’s necessary for someone within each company in this genre to step up and start working on the foundation of his or her company if they want to be successful, and that takes time. If Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin hadn’t built the foundation for Def Jam properly, it would have impacted everyone from LL Cool J, DMX, Jay-Z and Ja Rule, to Young Jeezy. Not to mention all the executives who came and went on to better things, from Kevin Liles to Lyor Cohen. Imagine if Suge had done the right things at Death Row, or Eazy at Ruthless Records. The possibilities are endless, but what we do know is that people just like you and I have made hundreds of millions of dollars in the hip hop industry and there is no reason to believe that it’s going to stop happening any time soon. The best move any of us can make is to create a situation where we are in a position to reap the benefits generated by our labor if and when the opportunities arise. That goes back to the foundation of the company. So when people ask where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing, I always say that I’ve been staring at the ground. I’ve spent the last few years trying to find the most solid ground to build on, figuratively speaking. And I’ve done that. No matter what happens, who comes and who goes, Bloc Star Entertainment has been [properly built and we are in position to reap the benefits of our labor. The question becomes, who will we do it with? The biggest recording companies in the history of music were bigger than any individual artist. The company itself was the star. So I assure you that we will be releasing Bloc Star product because we are definitely in position to do so, whether it’s Ignition or something else.
Speaking of options, my loyalty, respect, dedication and trust to Big No Love, sixteen years strong, sincerely given and received. I’m ready, big homie. You hear me? Whatever you want to do, speak it and we will make it a reality. You’re just as tired of these lames as I am, so let’s shake ‘em and do it 24 Blocc style. The 4th & 1st quarters, I’ll pay for whatever you need done. Say the word and the firm will draw up the deal once and for all.
On another note, people keep asking why the BLOC in Bloc Star is spelled with one “c” and no “k”. It shows the differences in our thinking, patna: A “bloc” is defined as “a group of persons or nations working together to achieve a common goal.” In this case, the common goal is stardom in our industry: BLOC STAR. Follow?
More can be said but I’ve got a wife to pay attention to, so that’s it for now. I’ll try to do this as often as possible because I know how fast the internet moves. I actually know what I want to touch on in my next episode, so don’t be surprised if I pop up on y’all a few days from now. This is not something that’s going to vanish. This is the beginning of something that will be around until one of them North Korean missiles actually hits us. But that’s a whole other thing.
Peace, unless you’re shooting at me…
Nefarious 24·Raided
AKA Jaq Bauer
Sincere respect and loyalty to Emil and Malke over at worldwideconnected.com Whatever you need from me, all you ever have to do is ask. My word."