Rating of the product: 4.5 stars

He might not be that familiar to your hip hop loving ears, Phat Kat is nevertheless one of those Detroit hip hop key personalities who are rich of a precious well worked on knowledge of their art.

Phat Kat, who also goes by the nickname Ronnie Cash, has already earned a lot of respect on his local scene. Not only will the Carte Blanche allow you to discover Phat Kat’s incredible skills, it will also introduce you into the Detroit hood s merciless, cold steel universe.

The Carte Blanche album makes Phat Kat s talent shine. Moreover, the album is mostly Jay Dilla and Black Milk produced- two names that really mean something to Detroit hip hop lovers.

Scratches and an over flooding instrumental background made of keyboard sounds, strident sirens introduce Phat Kat s marvelous torrential flow and his astute lyrics. Nasty, Ain ‘t It is flavored with a spicy touch of nastiness and you are definitely gonna like the way he does it.

Get It Started is built on violin sounds in the background mixed up with some female vocals and scratches. Phat Kat s lyrical aggressiveness is a major weapon in destroying fakeness. Again, the skilled emcee kills it all.

With its chilly violoncello background, Cold Steel is an introduction to the real, horrendous world of the Detroit hood. Werewolves yelling in the dark, cold sweat will push the listener into the harsh Detroit cold steel universe where gun talk is the rule. Phat Kat s syllables are running from his mouth like rapid gun shots, describing the tense situation in the hood.
Breathing faster, terrorized minds are watching children getting killed on a daily basis. Horror in its nudity has no name. Cold Steel is truly a must hear.

Danger feat. T3 of Slum Village and Black Milk is written in the same instrumentally disrupted scary style. It draws black men s angry mind.

Cash Em Out feat. Loe Louis is another demonstration of Ronnie Cash’s brilliance. Contrasting and hammering instrumentals enhance Phat Kat’s determination to smash his enemies with his cash flow . You could barely stay indifferent in front of his well thought lyrics.

Nightmare features another great talent: Guilty Simpson.
Guilty Simpson and his fellow Ronnie Cash combine their fast flow delivery with a lyrical soldier spirit. Dark voices, raw instrumentals, the typical cutthroat City spirit, a combination of murderous lyrics will appear as a serious menace to other labels. Well done.

Hard Enuff s piano notes and incredible rhythm construction really makes it an album favorite. Again, Phat Kat s brilliant lyrical demonstration needs to be underlined. The way the artist blesses the mic, the catchy beats, the scratches, Fat Ray s intervention in duo with Phat Kat are elements that make this song a good underground hit. Don t skip that song.

The album s weaknesses are the Vessels and Lovely featuring Truth Hurts and Melanie Rutherford. Well, I admit that girly songs have never been my cup of tea. However, and globally speaking, Phat Kat s work really deserves your attention. Carte Blanche is the magical French word that allows you to be treated as a VIP and to enter the arena of the Great.

Phat Kat fully deserves it if you ask me.

Copyright© 2007 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

How did you come up with the name 5ELA?

5Ela: Well its actually 5 Elementz and my boy IQ started calling us 5 ELA. Elementz just represents the 5 different changes we went thru as a group.

Not everybody is aware of it, but RIP Big Proof was a full member of 5ELA. How did you guys meet and decide to collaborate with each other?

5Ela: When I was about 15 I had a DJ named DJ KEVO and he worked with both of us Proof and myself but Proof and I had never met. One night I was doing something that I shouldn t have been doing. The next morning Kevo came to pick me up from some young ladies home and he had Proof with him (Maximum at the time) and Max had toothbrush mouthwash and other stuff for me. He said he was in that situation a lot. Wewere kids spending the night over grown ladies’ houses! So Kevo introduces us then said there is a talent contest he wants to enter us in;

We decided to do it as a group and not solo. The rest is history. We added Mudd about a year later.

What inspires you most to write your music?

5Ela: Proof, Mudd and my family.

Which accomplishment are you the most proud of since the start of your career?

5Ela: No particular accomplishment. I can say that to be viewed by a lot of people as legends is sometimes overwhelming. We have respect in Detroit! We want the world!

Rhymes and verbal dexterity do matter to you, as the music tends to fully prove it. Could you take us back to the years of the Hip Hop Shop and St Andrews and tell us a little bit about the rap battles and challenges that took place in the 90 s in Detroit?

5Ela: Those places turned out some of the best MCs in the world if you ve heard of them or not.

That’s all I am going to say about that.

What defines your music best?

5Ela: Freedom!

What are your main musical influences?

5Ela: Alternative Rock, The Beatles, Outkast, Run DMC, MC Ren of NWA and most of all Proof and Mudd.

What are your current musical projects?

5Ela: We have a song on this guy Finale’s album. H’s dope as hell! Mudd and I both have solo projects .

We re working on and a new 5ELA album. We’re pretty much looking for a new management and a booking agency so we can show the world what it feels like to be in love with hip hop again.

Besides Proof, who have you been collaborating through the years?

5Ela: Slum Village, J Electronica, Bling 47, J Dilla, Frank N Dank, Korona and more to come.

Which artist would you envision a collaboration with right now and why?

5Ela: We ;re open to almost everything because that’s what hip hop is about. So if anyone wants to hook up we re open.

Copyright@by Isabelle Esling

All Rights Reserved

April the 11th, 2006 was a tragic day for Deshaun Holton s family, friends and fans. A talented artist ended up in a pool of blood over a stupid argument at the infamous CCC club, leaving a whole hip hop community in grief. It also marked the end of an era in Detroit hip hop history. Some people only know Proof as Eminem s hype man or through his work inside of D12.
Proof s best known solo work is probably Searching For Jerry Garcia. Little did you know about Deshaun Holton if you actually think Searching For Jerry Garcia is his one and only solo CD during his whole career…

Deshaun Holton was the kind of person who would not let fame affect his behavior towards other people. He didn t feel too proud to talk to a former friend nor a fan who d cross his road in Detroit or anywhere else.

Within a decade and despite all his detractors might object against him, Big Proof has done more than many artists during their whole career.

1996:

Big Proof might not be as notorious as Tupac, his underground work resembles the hidden part of an iceberg: there is more to discover than you actually think. In fact, Proof s musical work goes back to 1996.

Working together with DJ Head (D12 s former DJ), the talented artist released a mixtape called the WEGO mixtape. 5ELA s Yester Years EP is also the fruit of a collaboration with Thyme and Mudd, who formed 5 ELA with Proof.

Deshaun Holton also had a special connection with the notorious Trick Trick and his Goon Sqwad group. The same year, another CD entitled From Death came out as the product of a common collaboration.

In 1996, Proof also released a Jay Dee produced song called Da Science.

1997

Proof concentrated on working with his D12 fellows on the D12 Underground EP, a remarkable piece of work that is characterized by a combination of astute, crazy, filthy rhymes and the frequent use of dark instrumentals such as the bass.

Here is an example of Proof s verbal dexterity within the D12 Underground EP:

You lack phat tactics, your thoughts are Dexitrim/Whipping my dick out on nuns if they say sex is sin.” (Proof)

1998

In 1998, Proof and his D12 fellows were actively working with Slim Shady on the Slim Shady EP.

On his already busy schedule, Deshaun Holton added some good quality work with hip hop dedicated artists of 5 ELA, Thyme and Mudd (Proof was also a member of the group named above). The trio gave birth to several underground jewels like The Album That Time Forgot and 5E Pt 3.

Proof and Bugz also united their lyrical efforts on deceased artist Bugz underground classic, These Streets EP. These Streets EP is, by the way, very popular in Detroit City.

1999 to 2000

The years that followed kept Proof very occupied. Eminem s overwhelming fame, the constant touring, kept Proof very active on the scene, as Eminem s hype man.

2001

Regarding D12, one could barely think of 2001 without thinking of the Devil s Night album. Major success followed with the release of the album.

During the same period, Detroit s Dirty Dozen released the Detroit What! Mixtape. Glory, fame and acclaim didn’t change Proof, who never ever neglected his local hip hop scene.

In 2001, Proof also combined some intense musical efforts with his long term friend Kevin Bailey, also known as Dogmatic.

Promatic originated from the combination of both artist s names: Proof plus Dogmatic equals Promatic. Both artists released the Promatic LP the same year.

2002

If you were already a Proof fan or listener in 2002, parts of his projects were available and downloadable on his former website, Big Proof Dot Com. One of those projects was the Electric Coolaid Acid EP.

2004

Sometimes, it feels so lonely at the top. Fame can alter the taste of simple pleasure and force you to do things that you like less, but that are requested by the music industry.

Deshaun sometimes felt like his entry into the mainstream sphere had left a sour aftertaste in his mind. In I Miss The Hip Hop Shop, a brilliant mixtape that includes many local Detroit collaborations and productions, Big Proof expressed how much he regretted the golden age of hip hop he experienced at Maurice Malone s Hip Hop Shop.

2005

Maturity comes with age and experience. From there you can look back at your mistakes and try to improve yourself. In Grown Man Shit Proof started squashing a bloody beef with his long term rival, acid rapper Esham. But Proof didn t limit his reconciliation attempt to words on a tape: his reconciliation with Esham actually happened at his last birtday party on October the 2nd, 2006.

In Grown Man Shit, Proof also puts some insignificant local haters in place and astutely ridicules them in a well written song, with loads of humor.

2006

In 2006, Proof released his Searching For Jerry Garcia LP, a CD that he had been working on for at least three years before its release. In Searching For Jerry Garcia, Proof reveals his incessant quest for real artistry, showing how much it is difficult to be a real artist, in all senses of the term.

The same year, Proof s Hand 2 Hand mixtape, a beautiful compilation of numerous Detroit talents also came out.

Before his tragic death, in March 2006, Proof did a last album, within 24 hours that is entitled Time A Tell. The album, that includes some collaborations with underground emcee Intrinzik hasn t been released yet.

During his whole career, Proof has been collaborating with numerous local Detroit talents. Among them, the notorious Trick Trick and his Goon Sqwad, Jay Dilla, Hash, Purple Gang, Woof Pac, 5 ELA, Dogmatic, Royce Da 5.9, Slum Village, Malaki The Most Hi, Twiztid of Psychopatic Records and many more.

On a national scale, Proof has also worked with numerous influent mainstream artists such as B Real of Cypress Hill, 50 Cent, Nate Dogg and Method Man.

Deshaun Holton s short life is the testimony of his true love for hip hop. A love nobody can erase from the face of the earth.

Copyright © 2007 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Yes, you read it well…One of Proof s closest collaborators and friends, one of the instigators of the Promatic duo, Kevin Bailey aka Dogmatic accepted to answer a few questions in an exclusive interview. Read it here.

1. How did you get started as an emcee?

-It all started with the LL cool J I’m bad LP that my brother let me hear

2.Your first nickname used to be K-Stone. How and why did you change it to Dogmatic?

-I was very young as K-stone like 8Th grade through high school but as I got older I grew out of that name an image so I chose a name that more suited me as an adult and that would keep me relevant for the new millennium. The name Dogmatic came from my mom its what she called me an my dad for having so many girlfriends so i made the switch.

3. When did you meet Proof and to what extent did he affect your musical style?

-I met Proof in 1991 in a freestyle session over our boy an emcee B-def’s house, when I heard his wacky style it defiantly open me up to something new

4. Tell me a little bit about your Promatic album.

-It was hot it was fun an definitely before its time a real classic piece an some Proofs best work

5. What inspired you to create the Do What I Wanna Do video?

-well the song of course, plus Proof wanted to do something different an crazy so when i saw the treatment for the video i had to shoot it but really my first choice for our video was the song live but we were having to much fun to do that

6. Define your style within a few words…

-if you would have asked me this last year i probably would have said street gully but now the answer is just true hip hop in its purest form

7. What is your 8 Mile Chronicles CD all about?

-It was about getting all the shit I been through in Detroit and in the rap game off my chest

8.Proof s death affected most of us. What are your thoughts on the tragic event that deprived us from a brilliant emcee?

-I will always be be in pain from that tragedy that cheated us all it set me back emotionally plus changed me morally, but matured me a whole lot, i really wish i could change it or had been there to stop it from happening but I can t. I know he’s watching though and I will keep making him proud an let his voice be heard help take care of his family and keep Promatic alive.

9.Tell me a little bit about the Sick Notes label.

-I started Sicknotes ent. in 2000 with my nephew Witt an our friend pep some of our production credits are Promatic, the virus,D12 world, Obie trice, Proof’s searching for Jerry Garcia, Bizarre’s handy cap circus, 8mile chronicles, an more recently my new mix tape CD the reality show, an you’ve probably heard some of our tracks on VH1’s the white rapper show and MTV’s Big an Rob

1O. What are your thoughts about the local Detroit scene?

-We have all the talent, we just need more love…

11. What are your biggest musical influences?

-All the old Motown stuff and the classic hip hop like run dmc, LL Cool J, Rakim & Eric B, P.E., EPMD, NWA, B.D.P., Nas, 2PAC,

12. Which artist do you respect most and why?

-Nas for carrying on tradition in hip hop, Master P for showing us our value an how to get it, Dr.Dre for giving us a quality standard in hip hop production, ice cube for showing us how to go from gangsters to business men, 2PAC for his pro blackness an teaching us to love ourselves Andre3000(from Outkast) for being original an teaching the kids, and KRS1 for educating us

13. What are your musical projects for 2007?

-There’s alot in the works a Dogmatic Lp, an a mix tape (the reality show), an of course a new Promatic LP, Promatic mixtape and dvd

14. What accomplishment are you the most proud of?

-I would have to say my 2nd K-stone LP 313 it really changed shit in the D its what started that saying 313 in Detroit an all over the world people using area calls to represent their city, hands down that’s my greatest accomplishment yet in hip hop starting the slang 313!

Enjoy Dogmatic s good music here.

Copyright© 2007 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Global rating of the product: 4.5 stars

D12 is back, ready to stalk the face of the world again with their witty lyrical assault. After the loss of their homie Deshaun Holton better known as Big Proof, many of their enemies prayed for the group’s demise. Little did they know about the group’s powerful mind. D12 is back and Detroit is in the house again. The Return of the Dozen features numerous Detroit talents, including Royce da 5.9, King Gordy, Young Miles, Marv Won, T Flame, Quest Mc Quody, Rock Bottom artists, the beautiful and skilled Monica Blaire, just to name a few…

On a relaxing musical background, the D12 crew announce their come back with a brand new style of their own. Be prepared for some powerful mob music!

Dolo first introduces the CD; soon Swifty and Kuniva will expose their lyrical craft. Any hip hop head should definitely love the track that is built on loud and powerful heartbeat alike drums. D12 is killing it for real.

We Back sounds like an euphoria blossom. Again, Swifty Mc Vay sends powerful lyrical grenades on a soft violin, oboe and piano background. Bizarre goes on, ready to stomp his auditorium. Explosive sounding lyrics will leave haters in a mental state of devastation.

DJ Salam Wreck leads the listeners into the Throw Them Up High atmosphere. What the hell of an atmophere, in which our emcees excel in bringing their skills to light.

A must hear song that totally enlightens Kon Artis, Kuniva and Swifty’s skills is The Drill. The rhythmic, chaotic song based on piano and keyboard sounds. The lyrical effort is obvious, the flow delivery well mastered.
Creep with them in the hood, follow their moves, feel the unsafe ambience of the track.
The crowds of listeners will be mesmerized, for sure.

Cheating In The Bedroom features two brilliant Detroit talents, King Gordy and Monica Blaire. Ready for some bedroom drama. Let King Gordy break it down for you while Monica Blaire’s warm voice is playing with them listeners.

I’m a G features Akon and Maestro. The noisy background totally matches with the 7 Mile scary landscape. Guntalk is law in the hood of the Murder Capital.

If You Want is another powerful track in which Kuniva will amaze you with his well mastered craft. The emcee has a merciless attitude that he intelligenty combines with well thought lyrics and dark vocals. You don’t wanna beef with him, do you? Be ready for war, fellows. Strident keyboard sounds are combined with gun sounds. Big Proof is mentioned in the song.

Swifty Mc Vay is taking over in U Never Know. The talented emcee will expose the hood for you listeners, followed by Bizarre. Welcome to a world in which danger is your daily part. A straight reminder: the hood is a jungle where you can get killed for nothing. Let them D12 emcees amaze you. By the way, Kon Artis’ part needs to be underlined too, because t is incredibly well handled.

Welcome to a Biggie styled song. I’m Gone featuring lets you enter into a bad guy’s mind. He’s giving up, after a life of sins. He’s about to take his life. Who’s gonna have mercy on this rotten soul?

Win Or Lose features King Gordy. Again the song totally enlightens Swifty Mc Vay’s lyrical force. I enjoyed the roughness of his voice, his determined spirit to conquer his audience. King Gordy will guide you into a cosmic, unreal atmosphere with the lighter tones his voice has to offer. I recommend this song for a listen.

Claps, a cadenced piano background…here we are in the 313 with our D 12 crew. I’m From The D has some beautiful sarcastic, hardcore-minded accents.

Suicide features Sindy Sirynge (Bizarre’s wife)…meet a jealous man’s anger while the music makes you feel the tension within the couple. Listen to Sindy Sirynge’s complaint…suicide is on her mind…Bizarre describes human misery with a particular attention to detail.
The song also features RIP Big Proof who brings the song into a new light. The song’s complex, well built.

Globally speaking I enjoyed the whole mixtape. True to the voice of the streets, the D12 emcees came up with their genuine spirit. They put a lot of work into the mixtape that also give voice to great local Detroit talents. I’m glad the Return Of The Dozen allows D12 to illuminate their great individual talent. Word to the haters: D12 can make it- with or without Eminem. Marshall Mathers does in no way obliterate D12’s talent!

From a critical point of view, I have been a little bit disappointed by Plead For Your Life featuring Royce da 5.9. I am used to better Royce skills. However, you can cope the mixtape without hesitation!

Copyright©by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

A good dose of well placed ghetto rage, a hardcore electric guitar background, a well handled keyboard, hammering drums: welcome to 7 Mile Mob’s artistry.

Discover some dedicated emcees with a determined mobbing spirit.

Buttons Up is astutely constructed on rhythmic a piano-keyboard background. It unveils the doors to the 7 Mile MOB crew that takes over with lyrical confidence.

Haters And Bustas must be ready to get lyrically and instrumentally by a talented crew.
As the repetitive chorus “We don’t fuck with you haters”, the menace grows like a dark cloud in the sky. 7 Mile Mob are ready to pour out their rage on very rhythmic, well handled lyrics.

I recommend the song to Detroit hip hop lovers, because it truly represents the Detroit hood.

Black J’s slowly starts on claps, dark and deep rooted keyboard sounds. 7 Mile Mob’s flow amazing flow delivery needs to be underlined in any case.

I enjoyed the raw reps, the harsch attitude and the scurrilous atmosphere of the song.

Although Cutie Pie is a softer song, I think it is worth listening to, because of its swinging accents.

It has a beautiful funky flavor. Again, you will be amazed by the nice flow delivery provided by the talented 7 Mile Mob emcees.

Check them 7 Mile hip hop representatives here.

Copyright© by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Hey people please do not forget to check out the Detroit Festival of the Arts this weekend. It’s one of my favorite events of the year and since I am an artist by nature and by schooling (Graphic Design), I will most definitely be down there.

This event is perfect for the family as there is something for everyone of all ages to do and see. I still remember getting my face painted as a youngun and my mom struggling to scrub it off later in the day….good times.

Check out the Festival of the Arts site for more info on performances and other things.

A nice ice cream and deli shop I love to frequent. I’m a chocolate addict so of course I usually go for the chocolate waffle cone. D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S. In my humble opinion, better than the Ben and Jerry’s right down the street. I’m surprised more people don’t know about it, but that’s why I’m telling you now.

Go check them out the next time you’re downtown. I gave a more in depth review here at my website as well.

They are located at 128 Monroe St. which is right down the street from the Hard Rock Cafe and across from the Cingular Wireless Store. You can’t miss it.

Have recent developments in Detroit slipped from your mind? Model D has recounted many of the major advances in the past year in its 16 Sweet Developments in Detroit. They include the RiverWalk, Dequindre Cut, Rosa Parks Transit Center, the Eastern Market expansion, Grandmont Rosedale Dev. Corp.’s new office on Grand River Avenue, new stores like Bureau of Urban Living, Mezzanine, and Design 99, and of course Zaccaro’s Market, restaurants and bars like the upcoming Woodbridge Pub (they have a myspace page) and Mercury Cafe , D’Mongo’s, Mudgie’s, El Barzon, and Shield’s and Angelina’s downtown, South University Village, the casinos and hotels. Also there are the many new art offerings from the Hatch HQ in Hamtramck, the new Detroit Institute of Art, MOCAD, and CAID, all of which have added space or changed drastically.

“Pay as you drive” insurance may become commonplace in Detroit someday. But will Detroit be prepared?

PAYD means that the more you drive the more you pay for insurance and conversely the less you drive the more you save on insurance. Like having to pay for gas and, to some extent, more maintenance on a car this rewards those who drive less, those who live closer to their jobs. Some cities already implement this by including insurance into the price of a gallon of gas. Now GMAC and Progressive Insurance are offering these insurance plans to even more people by placing hardware in each car that will report how many miles you drive. If many people who drive less than average switch to these plans and save money than those left on the normal plans will find that they have to pay more and will have to consider driving less in order to reduce their insurance rates. Are you prepared for that?