----- Original Message -----
> From: "chester low" <cute_chester1964@yahoo.com.sg>
> I heard of other well known rappers were cold blooded guunned down.Is this
> trend of getting rid of rival rappers?

Not really a trend, but unfortunately an all too frequent
occurence in the rap industry. This is mainly due to the
"Thug-like" nature that many modern rappers like to
display since NWA made it big in the late 80's. They
helped to bring "Gangsta Rap" to the mainstream and
all of a sudden being a low life thug, was a good thing.
This coupled with a constant (Industry Engineered IMO)
fued between East and West Coast rappers helps to
keep rap active with hostility. Any publicity is good
publicity is the industry motto. Tupac Shakur and Biggie
Smalls are to prime examples of rappers killed due to this
childish shit.

Run DMC is from a whole different world though of
rap. They were the first commercially successful rap
group. They grew up in the streets of Queens, NY
and didn't have perfect childhoods, but they rapped
about more having fun and staying true to friends.
They had some more hard-edged tunes, but nothing
that resembles Gangsta Rap. Hell, for the past few
years they have been trying to pass on the word of
God to their fans at their performances. They told
the younger generation to put down their hate and
violence and put faith in God to solve their problems.
Whether you believe in God or not, at least they
were productive and not destructive as many newer
rappers are. JM Jay would not be someone a rap
fan would ever imagine being murdered, but someone
proved how nobody is safe from potential violence.
He was a devout family man, helped his neighborhood,
performed in a more positive note, pioneered turntable
work to an artform, helped with various youth and
special needs kids groups, and tried to be a genuine
role model to aspiring black children and all children
alike. He wasn't who you would picture as being
shot to death in an almost gangland style fashion. Hell,
they didn't even take anything. One shot to the head
and bolted.

...Like Chuck D (Public Enemy) said:
"You draw the comparison to when John Lennon was shot,"
he said. "It's an enormous loss to the genre."

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Bear "replicant" Powell

"Everything I like is either illegal, immoral, or
 fattening." - Alexander Woollcott

Game I am currently playing the most:
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (US - Xbox)