So I’m sitting in The Smirnoff Experience press conference when I get an email from the homey Young Sav over at Def Jam about some top secret Jadakiss event. “I need you to be there big homey, can you make it?” Usually, the invites to those types of events are pretty generic, but when this specific request came through, I knew this would be pretty secretive.

When I landed over at Roc the Mic studios, I didn’t recognize any other writers or correspondents from any other media outlets, only Eskay from NahRight.Com and Miss Info from MissInfo.Tv. The holding pit filled up rapidly as I pounded away on a couple games of Ms Pac Man. Several more DJ’s filled in shortly after; Bobby Trends, DJ Envy, Mister Cee from Hot 97 and DJ Cut from Power 105 all filed in greeting each other cordially. Soon after, the man of the hour, Jadakiss, strolled in dapping everyone in the room.

He disappeared to the back studio where the session was being held and then emerged singing, “Swagger Like Us” in a playful tone. “Hoooooovvvva” Jada kept yelling, but laughing at the same time; you had to be there I guess lol. After devouring some insanely delicious soul food, Sean Pecas yelled, “If you’re a DJ come into the studio right now, we’re about to start this sh*t up. Everyone else, cool out for now.” Since I wasn’t a DJ, I kept my ass right on the couch and continued eating. Steve-O and Sav, however, came in and retrieved Eskay and I, which basically meant, I couldn’t finish my food…DAM!

Kiss, who was already sitting in front of the console, acknowledged everyone who entered. Obviously aware of Mp3/CD thievery, Ice Pick Jay, the A&R for Jada’s album, played the cuts from his MacBook. To be honest, stealing a CD from that session would’ve been a suicide mission. Pecas thanked everyone for attending, as did Kiss, but their main focus was getting the music into our system.

Mind you, while they were playing the songs for us, they gave little to know NO information on what was being played, but since I’m pretty good at guessing song titles, I had no problem figuring out what I was hearing. “Kiss My Ass”, the intro I’m assuming, came across as a catchy deceleration to basically anyone who pissed him off that day, lol! “If you down right spoiled and feel I don’t do enough for you, Kiss My Ass,” Jada spit. It could almost be deemed as a less serious “Why” Part 2 . Kiss said at the conclusion of the track, “That’s just how I was feeling at the time”.

“Slick Talk, Pain & Torture”, recognized as an easy self pat on the back in regards to the topic at hand, generated a lot of response from Team Jada and the rest of the participants. Sav and Peacas scrunched up their faces as if someone farted and threw up simultaneously and Jada’s goons were bobbing and weaving to the track so hard, one might have thought it was their track instead of Jada’s. Nonetheless, lyrically, that might have been one of the best joints. Highlight of the Evening Part One: Jada announces, Kiss My Ass is coming December 9, which is the SAME DAY as 50 Cent’s Before I Self Destruct release. YES!!!!

By this time, GALLONS and GALLONS of Patron were being passed around as if it were communion Sunday, along with several helpings of THE MOST potent herbal refreshments I’ve smelled in my 26 years of existence. I’m not a fan of mixing alcoholic consumption while writing, but peer pressure consumed ones thought process, so I took one back to the head. However, since the dude next to me felt it was necessary to blow smoke in my EYE SOCKET, I caught a contact and pretty much blacked out after that, lol (halfway kidding).

Rifling through about 16 or 17 cuts, the album sounded pretty solid. Actually, for a commercial release, there weren’t too many commercial tracks on the project, if any. On the reflective, “Things I’ve Been Through”, Jada took us on a colorful excursion from his crack slinging days on the streets of Yonkers, NY to his meetings in the boardroom with Interscope head honcho, Jimmy Iovine; story telling at its finest (that Luther Vandross sample they used was pretty AWESOME!). Oddly placed, but perfectly executed, “Letter to B.I.G.” was a somber, but celebratory tribute to Jada’s long lost buddy, The Notorious B.I.G.

Since the homey Miss Info arrived a bit late, no fault of her own, she basically strong armed Pecas and Ice Pic Jay to run the ENTIRE album back. Highlight of the Evening Part Two: DJ S&S giving a five minute speech about supporting New York artist. “If that artist doesn’t mess with you 100 days out of the entire year, cut him off” S&S yelled. Either someone pissed him off, or NYC really needs to unite. Whatever the case was, the speech entertained the hell outta me.

I managed to grab Jada after the session for a quick interview about the album, Def Jam and his December 9 showdown with Curtis (watch how his face lights up when I ask him about the “friendly competition”).

Sincerely

Low “It’s not rude to tell someone, “Kiss My Ass” is it?” Key

P.S. Highlight of the Evening Part 3: Talking with Miss Info and Bobby Trends about basically everything on the walk to the train.

P.S.S. Yo Nicole…………..WHAD UP????????

Jadakiss talks Kiss My Ass, Def Jam, and squaring off with 50 Cent on December 9th

It’s been a minute since I hit the city streets of New York, so I figured I’d mark my return to the Big Apple with a trip to Luda’s Private Album Screening (it wasn’t that private, lol). Since I spoke to Luda several days ago, I had no intentions on even requesting to speak with Luva Luva, I just wanted to enjoy the festivities…and I basically did just that.

I hit downtown about 30 minutes before the venue opened it’s doors, but of course there was already a hefty line to get inside. Since I’m not TOOO Hollywood, I waited in my designated position and chopped it with a couple of my industry cohorts. The homey Somya arrived shortly after I did and refused to wait in line, so she proceeded to strong arm whoever was in front. Surprisingly, she got inside within the next 3 minutes (lucky punk). As it began to rain, I pondered doing the same thing. Luckily, some of my Def Jam comrades spotted me in the crowd and pulled me right inside (ok, so I’m a tad bit Hollywood, but who isn’t?).

Once inside, I located the nourishment (food and liquor) and got busy. The venue, which was at a decent size, filled to capacity about 10 minutes after my arrival. I talked to my homey Melo for a bit (she kept bragging about Sean Pecas’s B-Day party last night at TAJ….Jay-Z, Nas, Fab and Swizz came out) Packed, to say the least, I scooted my light skinned behind to the back of the venue since everyone and their MOTHER was on the hunt for VIP access. See, the DJ was set up upstairs, and obviously, that’s where Luda would be hosting the nights festivities. Before the man of the hour arrived, the VIP area looked like the general area; packed like a sardine can.

Before the listening session commenced, LA Reid, Young Sav, Steve-O, Miss Info and a couple other important industry personnel made their way to the VIP corner. Shortly after, Luda snuck his way in and got down to business. He played several records from the Lp which included; “MVP”, a track produced by DJ Premiere (Primo’s first track with a southern artist), “Last of a Dying Breed” co-starring Lil Wayne, “One More Drink” co-starring T-Pain, and “Everybody Hates Chris” co-starring Chris Rock (sh*t is funny as all hell). Since the speakers kept cutting in and out Luda cut the session short and instructed everyone to the two theaters (you needed either a blue ticket or red ticket to gain access. I had both, lol).

We (me and Melo) grabbed some popcorn and made our way down to the front since the back of the theater was already packed. I copped a squat and began chomping on my pizopcorn. Miss Info, who was sitting about 7 feet away from me, yells over, “Yo Low, did you hear your shout on Hot97 earlier”. I replied, “Nah, what did you say”. If your not familiar, Miss Info is Hot 97’s, News Director. Every night she does the “Celebrity Drama” report on Funkmaster Flex’s show and last night LowKeezy got a nice lil shout for some information I posted yesterday.

After our mini quarrel (she wouldn’t tell me what she said on her report), Luda, MTV’s, Sway, Chaka Zulu and the rest of the DTP/Def Jam family made their way into the theater. Sway took some time to introduce the man of the hour and Luda took a couple seconds to introduce the film we were about to watch. In the clip, they showed some behind the scenes footage of Luda’s first single, “What Them Girls Like” and also his new clip, “Undisputed” featuring Floyd Mayweather. While watching “Undisputed”, I whipped out my apparatus and recorded about 2 minutes of the video. As to whether or not that should’ve been done, who knows, but it sure was a good video (check out some of it RIGHT HERE). 

During his Q&A Luda discussed being extremely underrated, his pool house burning down the other day (he was actually laughing about it), being financially stable and resolving his beef with T.I., a process that’s been going on for quite some time. All in all, the night was well put together. Good food, free drinks, a couple honey dips and great people. Shouts to the homies, Young Sav, Nicole (Lenny S’s assistant), Tim (fool!), Mazzi, Tapemasters Inc (welcome back), Steve-O, Nigel D (prick), Melo, Miss Info (watch your back) and everyone else I missed. Of course, pics are below! ENJOY (Good LOOKS, D)

Sincerely

Low “I have this sudden urge to go to the movies, tonight” Key 

Luda’s movie poster for Theater of the Mind.

Ludacris arrives in style at Tribeca Cinemas. 

Young Sav (in the blue sweater) and Steve-O (in the green sweater) look over the crowd at last night’s event. 

Ludacris walks us through some of the tracks on Theater of the Mind.  

Luda’s blue ticket for the Theater of the Mind Q&A session.  

Ludacris shares a laugh with the audience during his Q&A session at Tribeca Cinemas last night.