Friday Feb. 10th

12:00 p.m.

I get off the chinese bus (fung wah) with my peoples in new york. I get a call... its a friend of a friend, a lawyer. He loved my music. Wants to do legal work for free how ill is that?? He's a real good dude really down to earth. When I blow that man will come with me.... if he has the patience to wait till I make the big bucks... lol. I need to build a strong core of friends and associates and lock them all down for the long haul.... that is a tough job but "I " gotta do it. Personally i love that part. The pain the struggle the love the hate the money the family the life the bitches the hoes the ass holes the snakes the pussy the ballaz the pimps playaz and hustlaz I love it all. It makes this biz the best. It has the whole world encapsulated within fine walls on a culture. Beautiful

4:00 p.m.

Went to record with a long time Friend and Client. Both very talented and most of all they believe in me. We were in there for four hours and created a hot track that is almost ready to go. That marks a good time period in my life. The popping of a cherry if you must. Great feeling I must say. Met the man who wrote some songs for Aaliyah on her one in a million LP that was an honor, and what's more... he likes my music and that something. The industry in peeking into my closet..... I hope I packed it full of ill shit!!!

11:00 p.m.

Politiced with an engineer who has done things for Michael Jackson, Vanessa Williams, and a couple others. Wants me to come engineer in his studio. What??? You don't have to say nothing but a word.... I'm there!!! But, with a few stipulations, of course. He's real cool. Has a vivid direction to how he wants to play it out. He's been in the game for a while, I can definately learn a few things... I mean a whole lot of things from this man.

Feb. 11th 2006

1:36 a.m.

Got up with a very good friend of mine and went to her "slash" party. Met a few beautiful people and connected with them pretty well... One that I plan on making it a habit to see everytime I'm in NY. There is not enough to say about her.. she is simply amazing and her fiance is absolutly lucky. He really needs to know what he has.... REALLY! or someone will take that... quick...

8:30 a.m.

Woke up after the party after i slept on her couch and went back to my hotel room. I was DONE!!! back all hurting lol but i was feeling real good about that day that just passed. Got to the hotel and got 1 - 2 hours tops of sleep which brings my weekend total tooooo.... 3 yeah!!!!!

During this time I caught up with friend and family on the phone. Spoke to one of my good friends. And another one of my NY peoples who is lazy as shit and she knows who she is...yes, you, SUPA!!!!!!

Checked in wit my son... awwww man.. he loves DADDY!!!!!

3:00 p.m.

Went down to the city caught a flick. Underworld evolution. The main actress is sexy. i might just marry her but i'm not sure yet ;) shot the shit with street peddlers. Favorite line. Don't sell me your garbage CD I do what you do 10 times bette rthan you could ever do it..... that what you get for trying to peddle bullshit street cd's to a man who has credentials. Peaople always have product but never want to put the effort in to make it hot!

8:00 p.m.

I get a call... "Yo, demo I'ma be late fam"

Its cool fam take your time... I'm just happy you giving me a listen. Met up with someone real hot. Likes my stuff a lot. Not right for his project, but keep in touch. He wants to build more.... why not? Lets do the damn thang! Big business got invited to a red carpet event. Big business, network city! Guess where I'll be?? Judo know?? I won't tell. You'll see me!

11:00 p.m.

Find out busses ain't running tonight so now i gotta troop from Chinatown back uptown to harlem! ::sigh:: all I kept saying to myself is... its part of the struggle. Stay focused!!

Feb. 12

1:39 a.m.

Got to my peoples house

My friend let me stay at her house for the night she is so great. Unlike the lazy friend I have.

10:00 a.m.

Left for china town

12:00 p.m.

Left china town for home

7:00 p.m.

Got home



All the spaces in between you can fillin the blanks. It was a great weekend. I'm on cloud nine :) Monday, February 13, 2006 at 12:27 PM

In the world of hip-hop no one ever gets to see the side of every artist when they are outside of their role as a performer. A performer's true self is, more often than not, shrouded in the guise of the ever so common bling-bling, the sports cars, rims, women, money and so forth. Enter Grafh; one of music’s rising renaissance men. Grafh’s success is far from a secret in the entertainment role. Whether you’ve heard of his Black Hand label or if you’ve seen him on television with Dame Dash taping the ultimate hustler show on BET, Grafh’s name has been synonymous with success and as the hood puts it: grind.

Just coming from a photo shoot, for the cover of his soon to be released debut album “Autografh”, I caught up with Grafh to talk about life, music, and his goals for the two. While speaking to him I slowly realized that there is a thin line, if any, between his role as an artist or as a man in society. “Autografh” is set to be a not just an ordinary debut album, but a very introspective piece. From top to bottom it will mark the official introduction of Grafh into the game, his John Hancock if you will.

“I take you through a journey through my whole life as a youth growing up to being a grown ass man now”

This won’t be an album with a target demografhic (pun intended) as he puts it…

“I make music for every one”

The rap Michael Jackson… Big shoes to fill but if anyone had the feet to do it, it could be him.

When asked about the album’s production, second to his lyrics, this is probably where he takes most of his pride in. He wasn’t going after all big name producers or all the hot ones. He went after people he believed in as people and as producers. Above all of their abilities he labels the producers as musicians, which is pretty rare in hip-hop. To often do you find a “producer” who doesn’t take the time out to appreciate music for what it is. The album’s soundscape is forged by Developed, Yogi, Kool & Dre, and Ronin.

“If you appreciate good music you’ll appreciate this”

The album wasn’t created to go with any set formula. Grafh makes it a point not to deal with the ideas of formulas. Pointing out the mix tape game he explains to me that that formula has been used and abused. “Mix tapes nowadays are trash”. We all come to terms with that same notion when we buy some of these mix tapes. They lack originality, direction, and emotion.

Grafh’s reasoning for doing his mix tapes?: “To keep my buzz, I make like a song a day with no place to put it but the streets”

The reason he did this album?: He did it for the fans of his music.

This ties into his most memorable moment in making this album. At a show he leaked the song “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” on stage to give the crowd new material. After the show people came to him and thanked him for that song.

“Getting a reaction from the people is satisfying, when they feel what I felt when I wrote the song…”

I asked him about the notion that there are no fans in the world anymore, referring to the song on the emcee’s (Jin) latest release.

“There are fans, but is sucks if you’re not a leader. If you can’t influence the minds of those that follow you its hard. Be a trendsetter and people will follow what you do. I’m a fan. I like music in my c.d. player right now you can find bands like audio slave, and U2, if I’m feeling Jazzy I’ll throw is some Miles Davis. I hardly listen to rap because everyone coming out is garbage.”


Grafh had 100% control over this album which is an added testament to his versatility as an artist, musician, and business man. Manned with his own photographers, van’s rappers, singers, engineers, and producer’s everything on this album is self contained and deeply rooted in the blackhand family.

The future for this artist/business man seems far from being a “one hitta quitta”. With a clothing line and modeling company in the works its going to be a nice year for Grafh as he positions himself to get his own seat in the billionaire boys club. He is also in the works to develop and release artists such as Shalone, Orbit, Prinz, and Don Palmer.

Grafh thanks all his fans and supporters that have been there since day one and all who have signed onto him recently. Dedicating his music partly to them, because they recognize the pain and struggle which is a universal language. To learn more and hear more from Grafh you can visit his myspace.com page ( www.myspace.com/grafhblackhand) or his website ( www.grafh.com). Autografh is slated to his stores in the spring or 2006. Monday, February 06, 2006 at 6:11 PM

A very good one.... aside from the fact that I had to work..... but in between those times.... what the shit man!!!!

Feb 3. 2006

The fort minor tour touched down in boston. The show starred 3 of atlantic records top grossing acts. 1 was Mike Shinoda formally 1/2 frontman of the group linkin park who split off to do his own thing with his own band called "Fort Minor". 2 was everyone's favorite underground hiphop super group "Little brother". 3 was underground heavy weight Apathy. What a great lineup. With the Demigodz backing apathy it was a stage performance to die for. Little brother's show was great too. It was too great.

Why is this significant??

I was back stage thanks to the help of DJ 730 and Matt Conaway. I met Mike Shinoda, Apathy, and little brother (Big Pooh, Phonte, 9th Wonder). I had my little rinky dink press kits with me. I made them myself :D... it had my bio, resume, and a business plan for a cd I'm working on. I gave it to them all. And 2 of them already signed off on the project. The little kid in me did cartwheels, the man in me didn't get flustered. I got everyon's number who would give it to me. I got manager's numbers. Producer's numbers. Artist numbers.... i think my phone gained a few pounds.

I was there actually to interview apathy but do you think i was gonna do my job and be out?? HAHAHAH ur buggin... I did my job and got on my grizzly!!!!! {grizzly = grind}

I was chillin with all of them on their tour buses. I can't wait till i go on tour... them buses was Hizzot!!! I'll make sure i come to some of your cities ;)

That night i left with a new sense of... whats what and who was who.... It was a great night!

Feb 4th 2006

Worked in the morning went to the studio with my new found energy only to rush home to my son. He was crying and screaming... his mother called me and all i could hear was him screamin!
Daddy made it all better trust! but it sucked to put music down for him... when I was feeling it. Well fam comes first.. period!

Feb 5. 2006

Slept all morning... I needed it.. I probably need to take more time to sleep. I should proly take better care of myself... but there is so much work to be done. So much music to be made. In the afternoon I had one of my good friends and his lady come over the house for the superbowl. No one was interested we all chatted about everything else and we were showing off our children. Its so good to be a dad in those time. To be able to brag about something that is yours!!!! I have every right to be like that with my kid. I'm proud and he's been through a lot. He's such a trooper!

untill next time ! at 1:05 PM

I went to school here in my home state by the name of CATHEDRAL HIGH. Yes I was put through catholic school throughout my life. Never once stepped into a public school for education. To tell you the truth it wouldn't feel right if I did. But in any event I feel like I should let out a few stories about my high school days from freshman to senior periodically through this blog.. it'll be fun.. nostalgia @ its best... it'll be fun remembering all those times that I did what I did or didn't do it.....


BE ON THE LOOK OUT!!!! Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at 3:24 PM

Its funny how people want to be inclusive to things that you do but don't put enough in for all that to go down.

" When you blow you gonna hook me up right?? "

" When you get on don't forget about the little people "

BLAH BLAH BLAH

the fact that you have to say that shows your insecurity about out relationship

If you didn't put in on this you won't get nothing out of it.

simple.

I wanna help as many people as I can.....

But my life support comes first....

so if you:

Part-timin it

Talkin to me when you see me in the mall

Calling me for nothing but your own selfish games

Dangling your accomplishments in fron tof me

trying to get freebies with no intentions of recipication

We have a slight problem in the department of helping you.

This game is forging something I hated my whole life which is a fuck you pay me attitude....

I wanna help but in life.... that simply is a little less than a dream....

Everything has its terms.....

Nothing is free... even a kiss goodnight Monday, January 30, 2006 at 12:12 PM

So, for the past 2 days I've been chopping it up with 2 management companies. And, Im pretty excited about the situation that I've been presented with. What situation you ask?? The situation is this: They both want me to work with their artist and they both would like to be the reason why I blow up. And, it feels good!!!

But there are pro's and cons to these 2 companies or should I say concerns

Company A:

Pro's

Has plenty of connects and has positioned itself to have a deep and strong cliente base inside and outside of the company.

Hustle is incredible..everyday its a new chapter

Has artists that I WANT to work with

Has media oulets (he's a writer)

Accepts my creativity, and TOTALLY shares my vision

While talking to these folks there wasn't a disagreement. I felt them thouroughly. They seem to have the total package. but the key word is seem.... you never know with folks...

Con's

One thing I'm a little concerned about is their in house cliente base. Its big to my standards. I do not want to be in the down bottom of any group. The other clients have done work for NAS, FAT JOE, SNOOP, 50 CENT..... and I'm not even close to that. My beats may say I'm on or close to their level... but they have a track record... I have yet to hear the ref say go.

Also they work 4 hours away from me, in a different state. And because I'm a real personable person when it comes to my music I can't constantly make 4 hour drives to new york and back again it'll be way to exhausting.....

Company B

Pro's

The type of manager I want. Real earthy, a hustler, small stable and knows people.

Has hook ups to the media and has his own media outlet.

Really wants me to be lead producer.

Is always in the thick of things.

Sets up industry meet and greets.

Con's

Communication is an issue. It sometimes takes them a day to get back at me. (I knew em for about a year now)

Never know what he's up too. Way too secretive. If we gonna rock let me know was good. In this profession you can brag... its ok!


So who is the winner??

Is it clear??

What should I do??

I'll keep talkin to them....

but truth be told... in a day or 2 (business) I'ma have a contract in my hand..... Friday, January 27, 2006 at 9:38 AM

Really?

in·sub·or·di·nate ( P ) (ns-bôrdn-t)adj.
Not submissive to authority

Me not submissive to Authority???

YUP! I'm not your doggy... I have a job that I signed on to do but beyond that you NEED to pay a brother for the extra shit.

Today @ work (I'm an AV tech) they ask me to do the job of not only an AV tech but also an IT professional. I could.... But I'm not getting paid them big bucks SO I WON'T. I bust my ass day in and day out for crappy ass wages. If the suits want something done then they need to do it with their bigg ass checks. What do I look like?? I'm a hard worker but dammit you cannot expect me to work harder on my own dime.

So they think I'm being insubordinate... NOPE .... I'm DOING MY JOB Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at 3:51 PM

I'm following the footsteps of some of my peers and creating a second blog that dips a little deeper than this blog...

Its based loosely on my insecurities as a man

and what i think of certain relationships I have.

I am reluctant to shar it with anyone but myself.....

It is a vulnerable part of me.....

But I willshare... WHEN the time is right....

its just hard.. Tuesday, January 24, 2006 at 2:10 PM