So 2 Pac’s name has been in the news a lot lately. The L.A. Times goofed up a story regarding his assault at the Quad Studios in 1994 and even had to issue a retraction. And Puffy or P. Diddy, or whatever the hell he calls himself is doing everything…
With the First Annual Freestyle Awards just wrapping up in Miami last week, it seems right to give freestyle artists some love here at CrossFade. I personally watched Lil Suzy, Debbie Deb, Freestyle Evolution and other’s rip things up at the award show last Wednesday night. A lot of these…
When it comes to Miami-Dade County, no other Banana Republic in the southern hemisphere compares to our wacky tropical metropolis. Here, we can always expect a public official to find a way to bamboozle us. Take Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff. The Coconut Grove lawyer has already proven he has…
Poison the Fox If you don’t, you’ll drink contaminated water: I applaud Isaiah Thompson for writing “Poisoned Well” (March 20). It has been a matter of great concern for all of us who reside in this politically corrupt community. I personally know of one engineer who was asked to resign…
You know, I do agree with some of the readers who have been writing in saying that Jay-Z could have played a bunch of different tracks during his two night stint here in Miami that would have made the concerts better. I’ve got personal favorites that never game out but…
The next time you are heading south on Biscayne Boulevard look to your right just before you go under I-195 and you’ll spot this interesting piece. We’ve written about the artist and, um, debates surrounding his work. Click here to read that story. — Elvis Ramirez Elvis Ramirez…
The Other Side of Steroids We’ll spend our money elsewhere: I am shocked and dismayed by Michael Mooney’s article “Field of Schemes” (March 13). We have been loyal advertisers in New Times for three years. We have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars advertising our services in your paper to…
There’s no two ways about it: SXSW (pronounced South by Southwest) in Austin, Texas, has, by its 21st year, grown into the most influential event in the nation for anyone looking to divine the next trends in music. Oh, um, and drink and eat barbecue and develop (or aggravate) tinnitus…
Although the Magic City is in the Sunshine State, most Americans don’t think Miamians are very bright. In fact many regard us as coked-out, bikini-clad, rollerblading supermodel chongas who have Pollo Tropical surgically sucked from our thighs while we play dominoes with Crockett, Tubbs, and a mojito-drinking flamingo. Yet outside…
Missing Pedigree Missing papers: In regard to “TV Guise,” Francisco Alvarado’s February 28 Riptide story about Miami city Commissioner Marc Sarnoff: For your information, a man named David Collins, who owns a store in Mayfair called Out of Africa and who lives on Gifford Lane in Coconut Grove, was taking…
There is no shortage of graffiti in the Wynwood Art District and the surrounding areas. A couple of blocks away from the art galleries, you’ll find different works amidst the dilapidated buildings. This weathered piece at NW 1st Place and 21st Street appears to be a remnant of the earlier…
Thirstin Howl III is probably the most professional man in hip-hop. I arrived exactly a minute early for a recent meeting at the Latin Café on Biscayne Boulevard, and he was already lounging, a half-empty glass of Hennessy and Coke dripping on the table. He was armed with a neatly…
Rock Rolle! He doesn’t know which side is up: Isaiah Thompson’s “Payday Mayday” (February 28) reveals only the tip of the idiocy of Miami-Dade Commissioner Dorrin Rolle. He advocates special rights for African-Americans but votes against equal rights for gays and lesbians. Rolle is upset the county refused to award…
As some really nice lyrics — ass, titties, ass, ass, titties, ass, ass, titties, titties, ass and titties — crank at an eardrum-ringing volume from speakers at Studio A (60 NE 11th St., Miami), three chicks wrestle in baby oil. A guy clad in a #69 referee shirt and a…
Don’t Turn the Page on Manilow He can do Zeppelin: Michael Gallucci’s writeup of Barry Manilow (Live Wire, February 21) is not only offensive but also clearly lacking any knowlege of the subject. If Gallucci had done his research, he would know Manilow specifically chose number one hits for the…
I don’t really like to date,” says Javier, a short, dark, timeworn fellow in his thirties. “I basically come here looking for a sexy woman. You know, the kind who’s confident and dresses in a way where you can see everything but her areolas.” Lucky for this shrimp, most women’s…
This one takes me back to the last year that Slum Village was still together as a group and promoting videos for Fantastic Vol 2. Jay Dee was already working on Common’s Like Water For Chocolate album and doing beats for a slew of other hip-hop heavyweights but Slum as…
Photos by Elvis Ramirez On my way to lunch one day, I passed by this piece on NE 28th Street and NE 2nd Avenue. I didn’t think much of it because it looked like it was part of the buildings décor. I decided to take a closer look and I…
In the Zone Sarnoff’s vision is narrow: Regarding Francisco Alvarado’s February 14 article “Combat Zone”: I wonder if my district’s commissioner, Marc Sarnoff, would consider his aide, Ryan Alexander, for the job of constructing a timed security fence that would exclude ordinary middle-class revelers from patronizing Coconut Grove bars after…
It’s hard at first to pinpoint what makes mustached local musical sensation José El Rey so damn appealing. Perhaps it’s his music, a low-fi version of classic Miami bass and freestyle, the soundtrack to the youth of all twenty- and thirtysomethings who grew up in this town. No matter how…
So Mad Cobra didn’t really have much of a career outside of this track, but for a short while this tune ran dancehalls around the globe. Since it’s throwback day, don’t be afraid to sing along to this one. — Jonathan Cunningham…
MC Lyte will probably always remain one of the most underrated MC’s of all time. Of any gender–not just because she’s female but rather hip-hop enthusiasts tend to forget about her too easily. But what a lot of critics and award shows never acknowledged was that during the ’80’s and…
