4 Years in a COMPLEX industry

In this fickle industry known as the “Recording Industry”, record labels, production companies, and recording studios open up very quickly and can shut down just as quick. The problem with most new “studios”, are that they are run very poorly due to a lack of some kind of structure. Regardless of the location, be it in a 5,000 square foot loft, or a dank basement, if the operators have no sense of business structure, then they are destined to fail.

When Cayex initially launched COMPLEX 2010, in the year 2010, he was just hoping to be able to become a good enough engineer that could bring in a steady clientele.

Fast forward almost four years later, not only has Cayex became a GREAT engineer, he’s become a Grammy Nominated engineer, and has one of the best studios in the city of Chicago. 

4 years in the business of recording is counted in dog years. That means in a figurative sense, that COMPLEX 2010 has been in business for 28 years! 28 years is nothing to take lightly by any means.

So I guess that means that are celebration is on the horizon. INDEED!!

Not only is COMPLEX 2010 going to celebrate 4 successful years in the business, it will also be throwing its end of the year holiday celebration, which unfortunately is only invitation only. 

So what will the individuals that aren’t fortunate enough to get an invite be missing?

Welp, there won’t be any lemon pepper chicken from Sharks. No sir!! There will be catered food from Uncle Joes Jerk Chicken. Some may say that chicken is chicken. If you say that, then clearly you aint been to Uncle Joes and had any of their Jerk wings, the red beans and rice, or the string beans.

This event is more than just food!! 

There will be some sort of industry big wigs in the building. Some you may know on sight, many you may NOT know on sight, OR by name. But know this much, the cats that you DON’T know, are the cats that you SHOULD know!! Those are the quiet individuals that wield the most industry power. The true movers, shakers and the candle stick makers.

This is one of the Chicago music events that if an invite goes out and you were meant to receive it, then that means that you were MEANT to be there. If this pertains to you, then that means that I will see you.

Damn, wait a minute!! I gotta make sure that I can include myself on the invitation list. LOL!

Grammy Nod (Nothing to do with a Grandmother going to sleep.)

Initially Thursday October 30th, 2014, was seeming like any other day down at COMPLEX 2010. Artists coming in and out, endless conversations about how the song that they’re about to make is going to be the next hit, how they’re about to “blow up”, Blah Blah Blah and whatnot. 

The buzzer rings to the doorbell. I get up from my office/workstation/pit/desk/barstool, and I approach the intercom. I hit the button and reply “Complex”. (Thats how I answer the intercom system.) “FedEx” is what the voice says to me. I take the steep hike up the 1 flight of stairs, down the hall, peek thru the peek hole, (because people have tried that FedEx line with me before just to try to get in.) verify the uniform, and I open the door. "Package for Syex EElah?”, the young caucasian courier says. 

"Its pronounced Kay Ex”. 

“Oh I’m sorry.” 

"Not a problem at all. I’m used to it, and so is Syex. LOL!”

"Hey, do you have one of those names too?”, the courier asks.

“Nah just Jonathan!” 

Now I could’ve told him that my alternate name was Joe Blacula, but I can guarantee that I would STILL be at the door explaining how I came up with that one.

I sign for the very wide, but very thin padded envelope and I bring it back down to Cayex, who was in the middle of a mixing session. 

“This is for you bro”.

“Could you open it up for me?”

I tear it open, place the envelope on the mixing console, and I start to return to one of my several posts inside of the COMPLEX. 

“WHOAAAAAAA!! JB come here!!”

Not having a chance to have sat down just yet, I pivot and return back to the “A” room.

“JB I got my paperwork!!”

"Paperwork for what?”

“My Grammy paperwork?”

“WHAAAAT?”

“Yessir!!”

“Congratulations bro!! You most definitely deserve it. So what do you need me to do?”

“Ima need for you to take some money out of the frivolous box (Thats a box that we have, hidden out of sight, for food or chicken runs to Sharks.”) and go to Sharks and get us a tray of wings!” Im also gonna need for you to go to the liquor store on State and bring back some Vodka because we are TOASTING this!!…Awww JB, you don’t drink anymore do you?”

"No sir, but I mos def will toast the event with a chicken wing!!”

We both laugh.

How did Cayex receive a Grammy nomination?

Cayex goes back several years with R&B Diva Syleena Johnson. A few years ago, he produced an mixed a song for Syleena, that would up on the Faith Evans project entitled "R&B Divas”. When Cayex found out that Syleena was going to submit one of his songs to the Faith Evans compilation, he never thought that it would be accepted, or heard, and DEFINITELY aint think that it would be nominated for a Grammy.

Well the song was nominated. It didn’t win…but it was nominated! As Ron Burgundy would say, “Thats kind of a big deal!”

After the 50 wings with lemon pepper were brought back to the COMPLEX, and the drinks were toasted, it was back to business as usual at COMPLEX 2010.

The RETURN of the "Super Emcee" on FSD!!

On Thursday September 26th, 2014, COMPLEX 2010 decided to have an event titled SUPER EMCEE, where we invited numerous local rappers into a studio session, where they could all write together, and see what the end product would be. The event was great, all egos were checked at the door, and a great song...actually SEVERAL great songs were completed and recorded. You can record as many songs as you want, but TRULY great songs come to life during the mixing process. That's when speculation, turns to confirmation.

Fake Shore Drive is a very popular music blog for the city of Chicago's music scene. If I could compare it to anything, I would compare it to what the Source magazine once was for nation rap music. Andrew Barber created the Fake Shore Drive brand, and has gotten it to the heights of being mentioned on MTV and even CNN. So when I was notified that Andrew had heard of the Super Emcee event, and that he wanted to do a review on the finished, needles to say (but I'm gonna say it anyway!) that I was STOKED!!

The mix was jumped on, literally attacked with key precision, and made sure that it was sent off to Drew. 

In this sanitized media world of words that we live in at times, I tend to feel that no one will ever have anything to say about anything because they are rightfully scared of the consequences and repercussions of their actions. Well know this; Drew aint one of these kinda people ya dig? Some people chop down the product, and you can always tell that the person that's reviewing a project, either is a washed up artist who has his own agenda, or if they just feel like being a prick. Drew will cut ya down, but he will give you his specifics on how he feels that the project or song, can become that much better.

I am happy to say that Drew did not cut the song down.

Fake Shore Drive Article

Soundcloud link to "Working"

But now the question is this; NOW WHAT? Drew has written about it and now people want it. They may even want to buy it! Maybe they would and WILL! 

I set up a SoundCloud account to see if the song generates heavy traffic. If so, I will get the artists to sign off on the song. Then I'm gonna set an ITunes account up, set a price and see what happens next. 

Hopefully the "CHING CHING" from a deposit...A  HEAVY DEPOSIT!! LOL

Come one, come all, COME ON DOWN...To COMPLEX 2010

Have you ever noticed how some businesses seem to put up a going out of business sale sign, hang it from the doorway, but NEVER seem to go out of business for about a few years? I'm a fan of the Men In Black trilogy, more so the 3rd and final installment of the films. In Men In Black 3, there is a scene when Will Smith goes to see a store merchant about using a device for time travel. When Will arrives, the shot makes sure that it is clearly shown that the stores name is the "Going Out Of Business" store. Inside the store, there were signs on EVERYTHING saying that everything must go! I thought that was HIL-A-RI-OUS!! And at the same time, I thought that it was PURE GENIUS!

Bare with me for a minute because I'm getting to my point. 

COMPLEX 2010 has heard through the client grapevine, that some people feel that the company caters entirely too much to higher clientele that can afford the (affordable) rates. The comments initially started out as a low murmur, but as of late, its becoming a slight roar. 

How do we fix it? How do we reach out to other potential customers without offending our current clients? How do we remain upscale, without sacrificing our standards. 

I GOT IT!!

A GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE....But not quite...

What I have come up with is to design a hourly rate of $35 for 1 week and 1 WEEK ONLY. 

At the same time knowing in my mind that it will be for longer than only one week. 

How long? As long as it is felt that it is working. 1 month, 6 months, 3 days, I don't know yet. 

Im going to get the word out about the hourly rate and let it be known that the rate comes with terms. 

The key two terms are...

1. This rate is for NEW CLIENTS ONLY!

2. You have to have an established catalog of at least 10 songs. (We have to know that you're serious!)

I passed this info on to Cayex and Merk and they agree. "Whatever you think works JB", is what they usually say. And at the same time, I hear the dreaded words..."Make It Happen!" 

(Scoffs)

That means now that I've come up with the idea, I have to lay it out properly and execute it.

1st and foremost a flyer has to be designed...DONE and APPROVED!!

Now the TRUE fun begins...(I hope that it is obvious that I am being sarcastic!)

COMPLEX 2010 Present The NBA 2K15 Tournament of Champions

​

The big event for the week at COMPLEX 2010 was our newly created NBA 2K15 Tournament. Initially, I wasnt supposed to be at COMPLEX​, or Chicago for that matter. I was supposed to be in Milwaukee celebrating my 7 year olds birthday. But my baby mama shifted the day of the event, which freed me up for Sunday. Cayex and Merk were glad to see me because they needed someone to make sure that the event stayed organized. Who better to make sure that the event stayed organized, than the person who organized it!. (ME!)

The event started at about 6pm. It originally was scheduled to have started at 3pm, but the Bears game was changed to 3pm, and there was no WAY that anyone would be willing to play while the Monsters of the Midway were playing the Georgia Dirty Birds. It was an assumption on my end, but I assumed correctly because no one was willing to come any sooner.

Drinks were served by Elementz Emcee, and for those that didn't want any alcohol, there were a few cases on Monster Energy drinks that we had on deck for our late night shifts.

20 invitees showed up, and were very glad to contribute the $50 dollar entry fee. 3 television monitors were set up in 3 separate parts of the complex. Teams were selected from a pool of the 16. The 1st round eliminated 8 teams, 2nd round eliminated 4, 3rd round eliminated 2...and then there was only 2. 

One shall stand...one shall fall! 

And indeed there was a victor! @Mr_4thQuarter beat Merk in a hard fought game between the Heat and the Bulls, and gladly accepted his $500 prize. A few people stated that I had made them aware that the prize pot was for $1,000. No sir! I stated that the prize was UP TO $1,000. The devil is ALWAYS in the details! But please believe that @Mr_4thQuarter had no reservations with accepting the prize. If this game was an omen to the things that are to come, then the Bulls will scrap and scrape their way to a victory over the Heat. 

Gamers ONLY!!

Complex 2010 is always active with activity. One of the best ways that we have found to relax is to play NBA 2K on Playstation 4. Now you may ask yourself, "why are these grown men playing video games?" Well if that's what you're thinking, then CLEARLY you've never played any of the basketball games in the 2K series. 

Understand that this obsession has a long history, and goes back to 1989. This is when Electronic Arts  (Now known as EA Sports) first released Lakers vs Celtics on the Sega Genesis game platform. Fast forward 6 years to NBA Live 95, which currently brings us to the now.

One day while taking a break at COMPLEX 2010, playing the newly released 2K14, and participating in heavy trash talking, we decided to round up everyone that we know that shares our love for the game, and start a basketball tournament. This way we could get everyone that we know, clientele and non clientele, and actually create something that could possibly grown into a much larger platform.

Initially when we first started discussing it, I thought that this would be an easy enough task to handle. But all tournaments require rules, regulations, fees, and a lot of patience while reaching out to find other players. Adding a cash prize would be an added incentive, as WELL as a special guest. (I'm working on getting one. Not including the fact that yours truly, myself, was in charge of creating the artwork for this newly created venture. Once again, I'm thinking that this would be simple enough to do. Once again, I thought wrong! 

After 8 revisions, and 13 hours later, the artwork was completed! The good thing about it was that I didn't have to give the hopeful participants too much info. I emailed them the finished artwork, asked them to share to all that may be interested, and waited for the replies. Fortunately I didn't have to wait long.

The official launch is Sunday October 12th at 5pm. (after the Bears VS. Atlanta Falcons game...) Unfortunately I wont be able to be in attendance. It's my 6 year old daughter Justice's Birthday!!

Other than that...Let the games begin!!

Padded Booth Experiment

The 1st version of the promo piece.

Merk Murphy was having a conversation last week with a client speaking on the possibilities of what could happen if he got ALL of the talented EMCEES in the studio, gave them a hot track, and let them have a writing session for a few hours. What exactly would happen? Would there be an old school based song about the upliftment of our people, bars and metaphors showcasing skills, or the status quo about the goings on in Chi Raq Dilla Noise? My opinion was to put the invite out there and see what happens...and at that point, I invited myself into my next assignment. (Sighs)

The 1st thing that I had to do was to come up with a list of people that Merk would like to hear on a song. The 2nd thing that I had to do was to come up with another list of WHO from the 1ST list would agree to be a part of the event. 3RD, I had to get in touch with the people. 4TH, I had to create the artwork to attract the artists. And 5th, I had to get all of this done in less than 36 hours! WOW!

Heavy task, but I knocked it out!!

I created a list of 30 people. I got in contact with 26 of them, and 15 participated. I actually only thought that 10 would show up. 

The event was scheduled to start at 11pm. Thus the reason why I told everyone that it started at 9:30pm. Everyone that was scheduled to be in the building were all there by 10:30pm. This gave Merk 30 minutes to explain how we were going to organize everything, and by 11pm, the artists were writing.

I was fading out by 4am, but the writers were STILL writing!! But seeing that Cayex had gone home, and that the other engineer had to leave, the decision was made to stall out the actual song until Saturday the 27th.

Saturday night came. Cayex was on board to engineer. The artists were back and ready. No one was really aware of what the other had written, but Cayex organized everything and it all came out nicely! 

(At this point, Cayex hasn't mixed the song. Thus the reason why there isn't a link to it.)

Next up is this damn NBA 2K15 basketball tournament. Another one of my BRIGHT ideas that I have to put together..Stay tuned for next week.

The 2nd and FINAL version of the promo piece. 

Finished Artwork for "Dope Baby"

My designated assignment for this past week has been to come up with the artwork for the Bennie Franks/Cayex Illah project. For the past 3 weeks, I have created 3 different versions that used photos that were taken at the photo shoot before the video. The 1st version, Cayex liked because he liked the pic of himself. Unfortunately Bennie didn't like the pic of himself. The artwork was denied. The 2nd version, Bennie liked the pic of himself. And of course, Cayex did NOT like the artwork of himself. The artwork was denied.

For the final version, I decided NOT to add a pic of either Cayex OR Bennie, and made the focal point on a stock photo that I had of a straight razor cutting into a Baking Soda form of substance. Why would I have stock photos of baking soda? Because at one point and time, I was a part of a music production team called the "Baking Soda Boys". Just in case you were wondering, It was a drug dealing reference. (At one point and time, having a slick drug dealing name was a very popular trend in rap music.) 

The only direction that I was given after the fact was to make the razor the same color gold that Bennie are wearing in the video. Not a problem! Done!! Keep your eyes open for the video. I am currently in the editing phase of it which has had me very busy. It will be up very soon...God willing...

Fight Night @ COMPLEX 2010

Do you see all of the people in this room? Well one of my jobs for this past week was to get in touch with the "premier clients" of COMPLEX 2010, and to invite them to the Floyd Mayweather fight on Saturday September 13, 2014. Premier Clients refers to the fact that they have spent a nice amount of income towards the services of Complex 2010. During the week I had to call, text, email, return calls, return texts, and return emails concerning the event.

The overall question of concern was "how much" and will there be food. The price was $10 per person and YES there was chicken...supplied by Sharks on Cermak & State and PLENTY OF IT! 

Not that anyone would care, but my day started off by watching two wonderful people get married at the Mosque Maryam; Mr & Mrs Edward & Leslie Muhammad. After the reception, I changed from my suit, and made sure that I got down to Complex 2010 to make sure that everyone that was in attendance, WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE!! If I aint call you or speak to you, then you could not get in. It was more of a space issue.

The event was successful. Everyone ate and enjoyed the fight. I didn't get a chance to really see much of it because I was making sure that no chicken graveyards were on the floor, and that everyone had somewhere to sit. Indeed everyone had a chair of some sorts, but most chose to stand. 

I was happy because I got to take home a half of a tray of lemon pepper chicken wings to my family. 

We ate on it for 2 days...

"Dope Baby"

My 1st official day of Internship at COMPLEX 2010 started on Monday September 1st, 2014. The 1st day was a very good day and very action packed! I was part of the video production crew for a video that Cayex Illah (who is also a rapper/producer/engineer) and Bennie Franks did together called "Dope Baby". Several suites were rented out for use for performance scenes at the Hard Rock Hotel on North Michigan Avenue. 

Half way thru the process, I realized that I shouldve been taking pics of the massive event. Cayex doesnt really mind taking pics, but he MOST DEFINITELY makes sure that he approves ANY and ALL photos of himself that go up publicly. 

The pic below is the only pic that he approved! LOL!

I was also put in charge of coming up with an idea for the artwork for the project. I don't really know yet what my concept is going to be, but i've been noticing lately that the more basic image, is the more popular. So i'm going to stick with something very clean, very basic, professional fonts, something white....YEAH!, I think that i've just come up with something. Im gonna work on it! If it's approved, then you'll see it in my next entry. LOL!

(Left to Right) High Beam, Bennie Franks, Cayex Illah on the set of "Dope Baby".

Chicago's Own Roger Ebert - Dead at 70.

Longtime Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert has died at age 70, the newspaper reported on Thursday. 

Just this week, Ebert announced that he had been diagnosed again with cancer and said he'd be taking what he called "a leave of presence" to undergo treatment. 

I always enjoyed watching his show "At the movies" when it aired from 1986 to 1999. 

Gotham Ville, Illinois.

View Gotham, Illinois in a larger map This is my final news item for my Intro to Interactive Media class. This Blog entry is about 3 major items that have been highlighted on my map. One is about a Man that was critically wounded in a Humboldt Park shooting. Maybe I should express more about the matter, but its pretty much open and shut. The second story is about how Cook County Board President put Mayor Rahm Emmanuel on blast about how he and the Police Chief are handling the shootings in the city. And last and certainly the LEAST; the 3rd story is about local Chicago embarrassment entertainer "Chief Keef", and how he had an interview filmed of him at a gun range....Can you say Duhh?? You're on probation DUMMY!!

@JoeBlacula Presents - Sylva Maria @SylvaMaria8

Sylva Maria

Click here to download Crash Landing

“Crash Landing” is brought to you from the uniquely chameleon styled mind of Chicago Artist Sylva-Maria.  Also known as Star, Rasta Child Morning, and The Lioness, Sylva-Maria uses Crash Landing as a bridge to a new era is Music.  Labeled by Sylva-Maria as ’Rhythm & Rhyme,’ her manner of sonic projection leaves nothing to be wanted no matter what genre of urban music you prefer.  

https://sylvamaria.com/

When ‘Star’ emerges, you are hit with bars from a talented lyricist.  Tracks like ‘Promise’ and ‘Note to Self’ from Crash Landing deliver classic Hip Hop with metaphoric bars stimulating any listener.  ‘Real Fire Spitters’ featuring Kadar is meant to guarantee her position as someone who knows how to lay down bars. 

Always incorporating melody into every thread of her music, ’Sylva-Maria’ is the songstress that adds the R&B element to every song.  Her sound and her voice is not your normal take on R&B.  There is a rough passion that hollows out her soul when she turns her words into melodic representations of her thoughts.  

http://www.gowherehiphop.com/node/21423

What is masterfully evident when ‘Rasta Child Morning’ settles in on the Mic’, is Sylva-Maria’s Jamaican heritage.  With her father being born and raised in Jamaica, and her American mother having a genuine passion for the culture, Reggae is a big part of Crash Landing.  Tracks like ‘Keys To The City’ and ‘Trippin’ infuse Jamaican Patios with common Hip Hop, giving it a blended sound of her two cultures.  Using her father, Reggae Artist Michael Black on the hook for the track ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ gives a trail to her lineage.  ’Too Experienced’ is laid over an energetic island style rhythm, bringing together the singer Sylva-Maria, with the rapper Star, providing an exact mesh of what Sylva-Maria is all about.  

https://sylvamaria.com/

When needed, Sylva-Maria draws even more energy into her music by featuring members from her Crew, “The Knights of The Mic.”  Being diverse in sound is a consistent theme in any Sylva-Maria project, and her Crew only adds more to that sound.

https://sylvamaria.com/

As a single Chicago girl with no children, Music is Life for Sylva-Maria. Crash Landing has the soul purpose of exposing the world to intelligent, heart-felt music with a meaning.  Sylva-Maria’s views on Religion, Love, and Life are represented equally in her music to not only educate people on who she is, but to have others have a point of view to relate to.

All photos taken by @ladonnaraeh

WTH?? Starz "Fires" Boss After ONLY Two Seasons!!

Starz has canceled Boss after two seasons, Entertainment Weekly reports.....What the hell maaan....I'm really getting sick of this!!

 "After much deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to not proceed with Boss," the network said in a statement. "We remain proud of this award-winning show, its exceptional cast and writers, and are grateful to Kelsey Grammer, Farhad Sarafina and our partners at Lionsgate TV."

   Despite the show's low ratings, Grammer won a Golden Globe award for his portrayal of the Chicago politician.

 I dunno what the hell is going on with our Chicago based TV shows!! I'm wondering if the rest of the world just doesn't wanna watch about how corrupt our politicians and police are here in this great city. This canceling Chicago based TV shows, from what I can remember goes all the way back to Chicago Hope, next would be, The Chicago Code, The Playboy Club, Mob Doctor just got yanked off of FOX, and now Boss!!

  I'm actually pissed because I ACTUALLY LIKED THE SHOW!! They were shooting all over the city, and the acting was top notch! The sets that they used were excellent! If I didn't know the process of how movies are made, and how convincing that the designs of sets can be, I would've thought that they were filming on the 5th floor of city hall here in Chicago. Plus the storyline about the mayor slowly losing his mind, but wanting to maintain his powerful grip.....man it was deep!! 

   But as I watched, I noticed just how....REAL...the subject matter was, and I wondered actually how long this show was gonna stay on the air. I had this theory of why when they would open up the mayors office door on the 5th floor, it always seemed to cover up Mayor Harold Washington's face on the wall. In my mind, they were trying to cover up the fact that our beloved Mayor was murdered in his mayoral prime. After a while, they started slightly showing his face and I eased up a lil bit. The stories just seemed to be tellin a little TOO much of our business, and I hoped that it wouldn't get yanked. NOPE!! They yanked it!! 

   I'm starting to feel that actor Troy Garity is a bad luck charm. He played the white barber in the 1st Barber Shop movie with Ice Cube. Ice Cube makes a sequel, and it SUCKED!! I still supported the movie because it's a Cube flick, and it's Chicago. I mean, c'mon man! That's a no brainer. But then Garity shows up in The Playboy Club; The Playboy Club gets cancelled. Are we starting to see a pattern here people? Good lookin out for Garity for clearly staying here for the past few years. I'm sure he has his options. Why? Because he's Jane Fonda's son, and he's not from here that's why!!

The series also showcased the growing talents or rapper Clifford "TI" Harris. I've always been a fan of his music, and his "Family Hustle" series on VH1 is a favorite in the Whitaker household. I forgot the name of the character that he played, (Trey Rogers) but he played a shady cat, that lived in an undisclosed area of the city, and was the go between from the politicians and the hood dwellers. Once again another example of "Keepin it TOO damn real"!

Sanaa Lathan

And what about Sanaa Lathan?? Aint it hard enough for black actresses in Hollywood? She had a major role and played a major character on Boss. I'm guessing that she's happy that she still has her gig on "The Cleveland Show" on FOX. 

A special shout out to Chicago's own Karen Aldridge, who has gone from playing a doctor on BOSS, to playing a doctor on Chicago Fire. Keep up the great work! Holla at me so I can give you a well deserved interviewed.

  

 I'm very happy to have 2 great seasons that I can order on DVD, and watch em when I feel like it. For me to say that i'm hoping that they bring it back would be just plain ole stupid because they just don't do that anymore. So as of lately i've started watching Chicago Fire on NBC. It's decent, but it mos def aint BOSS! I'm gonna show support because i'm a media student at Kennedy King College, and i'm all about supporting local media activities that would employ my peers. 

The 10 Greatest Ghostwriters in Hip Hop

Allegations that Stic Man and Jay Eletronica contributed some writing to Nas’ Untitled LP has added another chapter to hip-hop’s never-ending ghostwriting saga. Though initially billed as a cardinal sin, it’s been prevalent in hip-hop from the start. Grandmaster Caz famously penned lyrics on The Sugarhill Gang and Big Daddy Kane earned stripes for writing half of Biz Markie’s debut, Going Off, including classics cuts like “Vapors” and “Biz Is Going Off.”

Over the years ghostwriting has become somewhat acceptable when provided for non-traditional rappers. Clearly, moguls like Diddy and Jermaine Dupri were too busy closing deals and producing to write for themselves, so their use of writers-for-hire was tolerated. It’s what’s made the Nas claims so controversial. Under no circumstances should such a prolific wordsmith lean on any kind of lyrical aid.

It's important to point out that the extent of stic. man and Jay Elec's alleged writing is still unclear. Both spoke up in Nas' defense, but their response wasn't explicit enough to put the issue to bed. It's pretty common for MCs to borrow a line or two from time to time. Could this be the case? Cormega's been on record saying that he lent Nas his famous, "I'll be flooded with ice so hell fire can't scorch me," on The Firm's "Affirmative Action." The rest of Nasty's verse was all his.

For now, Esco's alleged ghostwriting fiasco remains a mystery. What has been confirmed, however, is that God's Son has historically been assisting other rappers. He’s written for Dr. Dre, Will Smith and Diddy, and God knows who else isn’t on record. Plenty more MCs have serviced their bars for cash over the years. 

10. Royce da 5'9" (Tie)

Known Clients: Dr. Dre, Diddy
Nickel-Nine infamously contributed to Dr. Dre’s 2001 album (“The Message”), but his manager violated the first rule of ghostwriting: thou shall not speak. The Detroit MC’s behind-the-scenes man blabbed to the media and the good doctor quickly rebuked their pass to the land of D-R-E. Despite the hiccup, Diddy later hired Royce for his poison pen. There's been murmurs that Royce will be contributing to Detox as well.

10. Rick Ross (Tie)

Known Clients: Trina, Diddy, Dr. Dre
Ricky Rozay’s resume includes gold albums, crew construction and block bangers. But before Ross became the Bawse, he was the employee: double R wrote rhymes for his former label-mate, Trina, and rumors about that the Miami MC put in work for Trick Daddy. Although he didn’t exactly deliver his, Ross’ work helped launch Slip-N-Slide into the mainstream. Who knows nann now?

9. Grandmaster Caz

Known Clients: Sugarhill Gang
He may not possess a litany of credits, but Caz, undoubtedly, has the ghostwriting credit—he penned the rhymes behind hip-hop’s first breakout hit, “Rapper’s Delight.” Technically, GMC didn’t ghostwrite since his book of rhymes was stolen. However, years later he received the acknowledgement he long deserved.

8. Sauce Money

Known Clients: Diddy
Sauce Muthafuckin’ is an MC with bars sharper than Ludacris’ hairline. The one-time Jay-Z cronie took ghostwriting efforts to new heights when the crafty wordsmith won a Grammy for penning Diddy’s tribute to his fallen friend, B.I.G, “We’ll Be Missing You.” It’s a feat unmatched, still.

7. Big Daddy Kane

Known Clients: Biz Markie
King Asiatic Nobody’s Equal was suave on the mic, but the Brooklyn MC was also devastating with a pen. Kane crafted classics for himself, but he also increased the value of his Juice Crew brethren Biz Markie’s catalog. “Vapors” was one of the few gifted Biz’s way from BDK.

6. Nas

Known Clients: Will Smith, Dr. Dre, Diddy, Foxy Brown, Jermaine Dupri
Despite being embroiled in a controversy this past week over allegations that he, himself, used ghostwriters on his Untitled album, Nas has a history of penning hits for others, most notably his former labelmate, Will Smith. The Queens poet put in writing duties for Smith on the Tinsel Town titan’s Big Willie Style album, contributing “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It,” “Miami” and more. He also put in work for Dr. Dre (“Watcher”), Diddy (“I Need A Girl”), Foxy Brown and Jermaine Dupri. Whether he needed help to be more radical or not, one thing’s certain: Esco is more than able to cover that fly shit.

5. The Notorious B.I.G.

Known Clients: Lil' Kim, Lil Cease, Diddy
Biggie didn’t keep his twisted genius all to himself. He shared some with Lil’ Kim too. It’s best exemplified on Kim’s classic debut, Hard Core. Big ’s contributions weren’t always officially credited, but his being Kim’s mouthpiece was public knowledge. Kim’s “Queen Bitch” reference track would later surface. Hearing Big Poppa rhyming, “Got buffoons eating my pussy while I watch cartoons” was priceless. And Kim, delivered it flawlessly. The Black Frank White would also write for Lil’ Cease and Diddy, but nothing comes close to the blueprint he’s laid for Kim’s legendary career.

4. Jay-Z

Known Clients: Memphis Bleek, Foxy Brown, Dr. Dre
Jay-Z’s ‘96 debut, Reasonable Doubt may not have struck platinum until much later, but the God MC earned a plaque that same year for his writing contributions to Foxy Brown’s Ill Na Na. He’d previously written for Fox on RD’s “Ain’t No Nigga” and penned Memphis Bleek’s verse on “Coming of Age.” He arguably topped himself when he ghostwrote Dr. Dre’s “Still Dre” three years later. Not only did Jigga Man pen from Dre’s perspective as if the Good Doctor wrote it himself, Brooklyn’s own captured West Coast life as if he was bred in Compton. Only a select few have been fortunate enough to benefit from Mr. Carter’s pen. He doesn't share his sharp bars anymore—that we know of—but for the right price he can certainly still make your shit tighter.

3. Ice Cube

Known Clients: N.W.A
Eazy-E may have been the mastermind behind N.W.A, but Cube’s lyrics are the reason the influential Los Angeles group became known as the world’s most dangerous group. In addition to writing his own rhymes, Cube shared ghostwriting duties throughout the Panic Zone EP and Straight Outta Compton—at times writing for Eazy, Dre and even MC Ren. Yea, yay!

2. The D.O.C.

Known Clients: N.W.A., Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg
The D.O.C. was off to a fast start until he got into a near fatal car accident that damaged his vocal chords. The crash happened only months after the Dallas MC’s certified platinum debut, No One Can Do It Better, hit stores. He reinvented himself as a ghostwrite who contributed lyrics to N.W.A. LPs post Ice Cube and later Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s early work. He’s still part of Dre’s pen team to this day.

1. Skillz

Known Clients: Diddy, Ma$e, Foxy Brown, Jermaine Dupri, Will Smith, Willow Smith

Most MCs on the list have occasionally been writers-for-hire, but Skillz—in addition to D.O.C.— is one of hip-hop's true career ghostwriters. There's no denying his own catalog as an MC. The Virgina lyricist has five albums to his credit. But no other MC has written for such a lengthy and diverse list of clients. He even documented his feat on the controversial 2000 single, "Ghostwriter.” On the song, Skillz puts several of his high profile clients on blast—some for failing to compensate him. His label at the time, Rawkus Records, edited the names out. Though he would later perform the first verse uncensored—revealing that Jermaine Dupri, Diddy and shockingly Ma$e, had previously procured his services. It’s no secret that hip-hop’s very first crossover hit—The Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight—was ghostwritten, but Skillz’s revealing cut shed light on how common the once taboo practice had become. Skillz more recently added Willow Smith to his resume and he’s maintain a close working relationship with her dad, Will, over the years. Skillz may never put the song back out with the names in it as promised, but his confirmed client list is enough to certify him as the greatest ghostwriters to ever do it.