More Miami Murder and Death

I love Miami. But every time I look at the news, it is flooded with strories about murders taking place in Black neighborhoods and senseless death.

Another shooting in North Miami on NW 7 Ave and 149 St leaves one man dead and another family to mourn Tuesday. A Jamaican family is murdered in Miramar after a mid-day home invasion. Oh, and have you heard of the woman that set herself on fire at Mall of Americas last week? Well, she died today due to her self inflicted injuries.

But not all news is bad news in Miami. While doing work for Nottheads, Inc. last night I ran into rapper Ball Greezy at a local night club and chopped it up boss to boss. He said all is good and to watch for his new upcoming label We Good Entertainment.

The sun still shines and the women are still beautiful in Miami, today August 18, 2009.

 

P Man Sam Silvasteen Killed

If you know Miami music, then you have probably heard of P Man Sam. Formerly known as Sam Ferguson, Sam Silvasteen has been on the Miami music scene for more than three decades. He was the one who broke the Rick Ross correctional officer story, and he was the current president for Miami operations at Don Diva Magazine.

He started his career as a member of the notorious Triple M DJs and started record labels EKG (one of Rick Ross’ first labels) and most recently, Off Tha Chain Records. In the early 80s he was a part of launching Club Rolexx (now called Club Lexx), probably the most famous strip club in the US. He was also the narrator for Rick Ross’ MI Yayo Documentary that highlights the drug game in Miami that fueled the music industry here.

So what happened to this man? According to police, Silvasteen was driving a red Chevy Impala north on Florida’s Turnpike when he was riddled with bullets and crashed into the median just before Griffin Rd. in Broward County. He died on the scene. Police are speculating that it was a case of road rage, but assure the investigation is on-going.

This was an ironic case for R. Daily to cover as we were supposed to be interviewing Silvasteen in the near future.

Comment with your knowledge of Silvasteen and look forward to more post in the future regarding this case.

 

Roosevelt Daily

RL Burney

You have entered into the highest realm of journalism and written expression.

Roosevelt Daily is a publication by R.L. Burney who is currently reporting from Miami. The contents of this site are produced by Burney and other contributing writers throughout the world.

You can post to R. Daily by emailing your story and premise to rl@nottheads.com along with links and media that may be included.

The posts on this site range in topic, and R. Daily uses this forum to create a diverse and comprehensive medium for all writers and reporters.

 

P Man Sam Silvasteen Gunned Down

Sam Silvasteen, also known as P Man Sam, was gunned down while driving north on Florida’s Turnpike near the Griffin Rd exit.

 

Miami Stripped

What is the best strip club in Miami? I say Take One Lounge. Yeah, Diamonds got the classy ladies, and going to Coco’s is like going to a regular night club added the ass. But I like those scarred up dancers. Make you call them a bitch type chicks.

Miami is a haven for gentlemen’s clubs; you can’t even put a number on it. From the moment you enter Dade County from the North until you reach the gators of the Everglades, the booty is limitless!

So I’m asking the world. Or anybody who has experienced this part of Miami. What club is the best?

Natasha

Club Lexx (formerly Rolexx) on 27th Ave and 119 St NW is probably the most famous strip club in the world. Founded in the late 70s, in part by Miami mogul P Man Sam Silvasteen, this place is legendary and still continues to be somewhat a tourist attraction for the city. When you walk in there, you can smell the heat radiating off the hard working women and the dollars that rain on stage.

What about Tootsies? The building is as big as a 20 screen cinema with stages occupied by women from every race, color or creed. Diversity and atmosphere define this spot. You’ll know your close when driving down Miami Gardens drive and see the big signs letting you know you are in Tootsie Land.

NMB’s Diamonds and Coco’s in North Miami go hard too. In these clubs you are going to find regular club going ladies that show up for the good music, food and fun. Everyone is dancing like at a party. The perk is that there are also fully naked women walking around, ready to give you the lap dance of your life.

Oh, but Take One? That is the spot. In the heart of Little Haiti on NE 79th St, this place will never let you down. It is small and intimate, but the females are raw! The DJ plays all the right songs to get the ladies working until the sunrises. Lap dances for the 5? No cover? What? I’m there every night!

The Mint Lounge, Foxxy Lady and Club VIP get it in too. The truth is, there are just too many strip clubs in Miami for one to visit them all. No matter what you like – tall, short, thick, skinny, black, white, Latina, whatever – Miami has just the place for you.

And everyone has their taste. So again. The big question; for ladies too: What Miami strip club is the best?

 

How Much for Hip Hop

Questions for the hip hop soul

Damn. It’s been a long time since I’ve bought a hip hop cd out a store. What about you?

More than likely it’s been a minute for you too and majority of American consumers, in fact. Since 2005, hip hop record sales have nose dived into near oblivion and rarely are new rappers making millions in this category.

As of today, August 16, 2009, there are only two and “a possible” hip hop records in the Billboard Top 20. The Loso’s Way soundtrack brought to you by Fabolous, Eminem’s Relapse, and Black Eyed Peas’ The E.N.D. (considered the “possible” as the Black Eyed Peas would probably be classified as pop, but it’s still hip hop to us) are the only albums representing our beloved genre. Oh yeah, Lady Gaga and K’ Jon are there…and hey, Maxwell is back!

But what does this say about the hip hop industry? Is it dying as Time Magazine so anxiously inquires? No! It can’t be dead, Nas. If it is, all these hungry artists standing on the strip haggling with their homemade CDs are just zombies in a cold world. Most would argue though, that the game has just evolved and only the poppiest and the most mainstream sounds get sales.

Flo Rida? Well past 10 million singles and albums sold worldwide? This is an example that there is still hope somewhere, I think. But is the hood bumping Flo’s Mail on Sunday album or did you or anyone you know go out and buy “Low”?

This is the state of hip hop. You have millions of young (and old) people trying to break through right here in the United States and countless more in other parts of the world. Can artists still look forward to going platinum (via ratings) and living the dream as so many of our rap heroes? I doubt it. But maybe that’s not what it’s about anymore.

Hip Hop is a culture. Some people make the music just for expression and never have the want to blow up off it. Most do want to at least “blow” or get a deal; make some money doing what they love. For the most part though, hip hop has become the way we live, the way we think, the way we feel and express ourselves. So it’s time that we find new ways to get to where we want.

And we already have, with the “mixtape”, bootleg albums available in every hood and the internet offering everything for free. So we all are looking forward to seeing where this ends up. How will hip hop continue? Who is the next big thing? Where do we go from here?

 

Gangsta Shorties Define Longevity in the Rap Game

After nearly two decades in the game and enough drama to make the weak hearted run, two members of the original four man group Gangsta Shorties out of Miami, brothers Jump and Shy, continue to roll with the punches and make music for the hood.

This brings up the argument of longevity and the struggle for artists to maintain relevance in rap.

There are several artists in the hip hop game that one could say have put in enough work and time to be entitled to the crown of longevity and permanence. Nas, who has been making albums since 1991 and counting, Tupac who before and after his death dropped countless records that are still being played today, and LL Cool J the self proclaimed G.O.A.T. is still making albums and his mark in the industry. These are just a few artists that have shown that talent and skill are undying in a true rapper and once given the platform to shine, must never stop achieving greatness on the mic.

Today there are more rappers than ever and the question of longevity is a looming one – set forth in Jay-Z’s 2009 track D.O.A. (Death of Autotune). Even Nas created an entire LP accusing the new generation of hoppers of killing the art with lazy and uncreative music with Hip Hop is Dead. This in itself is proof that hip hop is considered an endangered craft and the artists are fading out quickly; most not lasting more than 3 albums.

As we study our beloved hip hop, it is important to reference the veterans who have and continue to set the bar when it comes to putting out good music. The hip hop audience is at least a wavering one, quickly ready to disown an artist who has lost appeal and status on the radio or TV. There are of course ‘backpackers’ or ‘hip hop heads’ who claim to have an unbiased opinion on artists and focus solely on the quality of music. This crowd is also dangerous to artists who feed into the mainstream and place popularity over skill.

Since 1992 when the Gangsta Shorties signed with former Stress Records, they have been known for their grimy and sultry lyricism with an underlying message of progression and change. The Liberty City squad took on the likings of groups like NWA instead of going with the booty poppin’ sound made popular by Luke and followers.

This is the life of a rapper with longevity. It could be argued that a rapper or group of rappers must be selling X number of records and be signed to a major label before they could call themselves lasting. But the difference is, is that these people have consistently stuck to their guns, and without compromise have kept making bangers for their fans. Whether signed or not, seen or unseen on a national platform, a true rapper never quits; and for damn sure doesn’t resort to garbage for a quick buck or the spotlight.

Take it from the G. Shorties that the industry is cut throat, and unless you have the heart and confidence to move forward within it, you will get eaten up quickly. Because there are so many people trying to get their foot in the door these days, the chances of signing with a major label are slim. So, more than likely your longevity has to come about by being a legend in your hood, amongst your crowd – this is what the Gangsta Shorties have achieved.