Creative Loafing's Paper Gangsta Folds
I've always wondered why Creative Loafing pushes mediocre hip hop artists onto its readership (like Umbrella Corporation which just happens to be managed by CL's advertising editor?). Maybe they are looking to soak in some of the street cred residue? Either way, it looks like Creative Loafing is learning the lesson of be careful whose star you attach your wagon too.
Black Reign, a local artist whom CL bestowed a precious "Loafie" for his wonderful ode to Florida's prevalent gun society, "Gun Shine State" (original!), paints himself as an O.G. from the "hood." Yet, when the hot lead flew at Club Fluid in Brandon, Mr. Reign became Mr. Ran. According to the St. Pete Times, After hearing gun shots during his set, Reign manned up and did what any respected Crips/Blood/Hassidm would do:
Face to face with violence, Black Reign fled to the first place he could find -- the women's restroom.
He tried to assess whether he could squeeze through a bathroom window to escape. He could not. He hid with others among the stalls. He heard crying, screaming.
I am sure Reign was simply relying on the old Michael Corleone trick; wherein his trusty gat was taped behind a tampon dispensing machine ready to unload on the nefarious villian. Or maybe it was more of a George Costanza policy decision, where woman and children get out after 6 foot tall, 200 lb. rappers?
Then again, what can you expect from a suburban gangster?:
Black Reign's real name is Anthony Blocker Jr. He's 24. He lives in the suburbs and works in collections at Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. He grew up in Tampa Heights and earned his nickname rapping at lunchtime in high school.
Oooooo! A credit collector from Tampa Heights! That is scary!
Now, a real person died from the incident (Karen Williams of Riverview) and that is no laughing matter. You cannot blame Reign for that. He experienced a human moment where the majority of us would likely have acted exactly the same way. In fact, Reign was honest and humble when talking to the St. Pete Times reporter about the incident:
"I'm against anybody getting hurt," he said. "It should have never happened."
But, you have to admit the story does drip with deliciouis irony; a hip hop artist glorifying gun violence in da club only to have never experienced it before. Hopefully, Reign will think about whether his art needs to intersect with these messages.
Now, the story should've ended here. But, Creative Loafing has their rep to protect. They are the ones who are from the mean streets of North Howard. In typical self serving fashion, Wade "Gunner" Tatangelo (who's douchiness is well documented) attacks The Times and *tbt for exploiting the story. Because, after all, *tbt had the gall to reveal what a fake Reign is.
Words of wisdom from Wade:
"Tbt*’s headline mocks Black Reign for not acting like the characters he depicts in song. He’s ridiculed for being a phony. For being scared — as if in order for him to rap about shooting someone, he had to have actually done it, as if he should have pulled out his gat and returned fire that night several weeks ago in the Brandon nightclub called Fluid. The night a 36-year-old mother was shot and murdered."
Oh, I see Wade! Your critical taste has been revealed to be less than credible and the publication who actually conduct journalism is to blame, not the artist who promoted violence he has no business rhyming about.
But, don't worry Wade. You still have your "whiz" designation from the Rolling Stone "Almost Impossible Rock Quiz." You can at least hang your hat on that.
"Won't Get Fooled Again" The Who
music
who cares? can't we talk about musicians that are actually creating good music? and, writers who are actually writing things worth reading? leave all this shit for TBT. none of this is important.
posted Nov 10th 2007, 16:19