I'm back and moving in a new direction

My apologies for not making a new post in awhile - so much happening and time seems to escape my mental nowadays. "Take It Personal" has been postponed until late 2008 so I can get a few more tracks that dig deeper into the concept of the album, however I have had requests for a project to be completed so I'm finalizing a solo album entitled "N.O.W." (No Otha Will)so people can hear my music NOW (pun intended). The concept for this album comes from alot of people throwing around the phrase "Dallas Got Next" when these same people are doing nothing to make that a reality. Sure alot of artists here have talent but what about their business. The first argument is that they are not on a major or in competition with the majors so why have the business together, well because the new business model of the majors is to find artists & companies that have their "BUSINESS" together and who have sold product so it less work the majors have to do. You can run from it all day but it all comes back to having your business in order to make sure you get paid and to gain the attention of the labels - the music has become secondary. No Otha Will is my mission to show that I will do the things to have a complete package when no other artist or business will. I will write, rap, sing, produce and release a project independently of a major label yet go thru all the processes they would from mixing/mastering to marketing plans and promotion. Copyrights, contracts, industry organization membership (I qualify to become a voting member of the Grammys - application is underway), mobile content, digital & physical distribution, BDS/Mediabase/Soundscan/BMI/All Media Guide/etc registrations, radio airplay, live performances - everything from front to back, A-Z.

Over the past few months many have formed negative opinions about me because they think I read too many books, handle too much business or shouldn't protect my creative works when others steal them just because were all on a local level but the one thing that remains constant is that they still respect what I do (whether they publicly admit it or not). Of course everyone is not going to like you but if you earn it they must show the respect. This album focuses on that respect that I'm earning as a songwriter, singer, rapper, producer and executive. I'm not here to engage in any wars because my knowledge, experience and up-bringing is on levels that are far more ahead than the people who feel the constant need for "beef" or confrontation. Out of frustration and anger I have bowed to their idiotic level but no more. I'm focused on my career and life and I'm no longer concerned with others and their thoughts or ill-will towards me. To each his own - maybe I will see you at the top.

If your time permits please regularly visit my various sites as updates are underway to reflect the promotion of the new album.

http://www.smoothd.com
http://www.emortulz.com
http://www.myspace.com/emortulzsmoothd(all of my artist sites & blogs will be posted on the MySpace page for links)

Join my mobile fanclub by texting the keyword SMOOTH4U to MOZES (66937) & leave me a voice-mail message by texting SMOOTHD to SAYNOW (729669)

I will be posting different information about my albums, my label and the business of music on a regular basis.

Thank you for your time and attention.

2007 - Let It Go and Let's Go

As I awake I feel refreshed, refocused and reborn. This is going to be long-winded but PLEASE HERE ME OUT. 2006 is finally over and now it is the year that my life I feel has come full circle. It's been 10 years since the "Emortul" idea was started. In 10 years we went from banging on my mother's kitchen table, tapping our lyrics over industry instrumentals with a cassette recorder (damn we was actually on some mixtape shit 10 years ago and didn't even know it - we could have been the pioneers of it had we thought to put out all of those hundred plus songs we had) - now were making original beats, releasing cds, doing shows and making our dreams come true. Problem is that the original members are no longer here for various reasons. To take the grown approach to the situation (because the past 10 years has shown a kiddy mentality from all of us - myself included) I'd like to explain why.

Que was always the wild one, quick to get everybody crunk about any and everything. He was down with us but he always was really into the solo thing and wanted to move forward fast no matter what the costs - hell he was hungry and you couldn't blame him but he had no value for how he made it so he ran and joined the quickest thing moving - DSR. Luckily for him it finally worked out after 2-3 years independently they (well mostly because of his solo success) went on to sign a mutli-million dollar deal - go head my nigga.

B was pretty much the one in the group who connected all of us together see he grew up with Que, was my best friend, and since Jou was down with me - B immediately forged a brotherhood with Jou. B left because he had to leave the city behind problems with females and some personals at home. We thought it was a temporary deal but he ended up staying - now going on 5-6 years. He's still into the whole "Emortul" brethren and what we believed in but he's begun a new life and again you can't hate him for that.

Jou was the baby but he had the attitude and personality of a leader. He was always the first to jump out and say something in a situation, first to smile for the camera or holla at the women we was after (they loved the dark ass nigga and he had a way of saying some "easy shit" to a female to get her to believe anything). He was second in command if you look at it. Jou's gon because..nah as many times as he's vaguely explained I guess I don't really know why he left. I've always thought it was because he wanted to do his solo thing and not follow anyone else, or because other niggas had pumped him up to think he was supreme and no one was better than he, hell I even thought he was jealous because he was always been looked at as my shadow and not my equal. Thinking back on it with new eyes I don't think any of those reasons are really true. When Jou went off to college it was at a real troublesome time in his life, his mom and he were arguing (to the point she kicked him out and started living with me), his brother Chris was in the Navy and never around, his father wasn't really being a father to him plus he stayed out of town and never really saw him, his step-dad was on some bull-shit bucking with his family and a little while after he was in school his grandfather died (god rest his soul because that was true OHIO of a "real man"). Something happened as well when he was down there and I really think that even set Jou off to turn his back on the world, his family, emortul, his friends and ultimately on himself. He was filled with so much hate, his confidence turned to arrogance and it was all about Jou.

Me, I was the leader though I never wanted to be. I was the quiet dude who keep everybody in line and made sure everyone was looked after. I did whatever I could to keep the group together. My house was the place you could go to to get away, I found us a producer and studio to record at, I handled all of the business for the group, I made sure all of my niggas graduated and stayed out of trouble - when I could but them fools were off the chain in they days. I'm still repping what we started but I have to admit it's great and at this point I filled accomplished but it's not 100% gratifying because my niggas aint here to share the feeling with me.

I've made diss tracks in regards to Jou and almost about every person who has lied, cheated, sabotaged or turned their back on "Emortul" and me personally because I love this and it means the world to me to have what we had in the beginning. SO much that I've done just about everything I could to keep it afloat but now it's time to let go of my "keep everybody together" mentality because it has ruined relationships/friendships/music partnerships/etc. I apologize to each and every one of you simply because I should have just let you go and not tried to "fix it" or "save it" to keep us as one - had I just said good-bye we may have still been on good terms or even friends because pushing the situation got the real feelings out in the open which eventually turned into the hate and war. Yeah not exposing how people really felt would have not shown people's true agendas but it would have stopped all the hurt and hard times that came from "the truth".

So with a New Year upon us, I've said what I've said about all my emotions and thoughts on my album, most of the real people had expressed their feeling (bad and good) in song or conversation - now it's time to let it go and move forward without each other. All of you who read this that I've dealt with are great people in you own respects (even Jou - most of all Jou) but we are not meant to be in each other lives and it is what it is - no matter how much we wish it was different (you may not want to acknowledge that Jou but you do believe it - I if no one else knows that). I can recall points over the last few years that I said I'm threw with the beefs and bad blood - those time I completely forgot about all those "old people and rivals". I felt the best I'd ever had and I got more things done than I ever have because my focus and energy was positive and not geared towards spreading negative energy on retaliating or trying to figure out why people were throwing shots at me. That's why I feel like if it wasn't meant to be then let it go. I see that when I don't have them in my mind or no ones is telling me about them or they are taking a break from coming at m or even when I ignore their ignorance - I prosper. What's sad is that I don't think any of my people prospered because they never could let go (even for a brief moment). People kept their hate like I did but didn't put it aside even long enough to focus on their won lives and that is what will ultimately destroy some of them. All of ya'll are talented beyond words because if you weren't I never would have wanted you around or tired to keep you around. I've never said any of you couldn't do big things or couldn't lead or didn't have talent (sing, rap, write, produce, had a business skill, etc.) - but I did say that you standards had lowered and I didn't like the music you're doing now or the way you were living as a result of it. I know all of ya'll can be better and achieve anything - what I don't know is why ya'll are quick to say I can't (Smooth can't lead, can't rap, can't sing, can't write). How quick you forget who wrote for you, who handled biz for you, who you were in a group with, who you followed, who you leaned on in hard time and celebrated with in good. I'm talented and I'm real too - if I truly wasn't then why were you by side as long as you were. This aint just for Jou either - it goes to all those who say they hate me right now.

So 2007 is here, I'm focused and I'm bout to complete the dream we had 10 years ago with or without my people (old and new) because it's time we saw this "emortul" thing become a true reality. Best wishes to all of you but let's try not to cross each other and let each other do our own thing (REALLY) so no more hate and no prosperity will occur for any for us. Call me a hoe for what I say or stupid for saying but it's the truth and sometime the truth hurts. So LET IT GO and LET'S GO.

The Origins of Emortul

It started out in 1997 when myself and 3 friends (Brandon Brooks aka Aries, Julian Sneed aka Joulz Il Duce & Cedric "Que" Tuck aka Big Tuck (DSR)) got tired of people letting us down, lying to us, trying to control us and all sorts of other mess. These 3 guys were my brothers. It's funny but these dudes were my life because as a youngster I didn't have many friends because we were always moving and I was just a quiet kid. So the summer of 1997 we decided to start our own record label and way of life. Emortality came from the word immortality which stemmed from the movie Higlander. An Immortal was a man who could live forever, have great power and leadership. We felt like each of us had those qualities and the music that we made was the type of music you could listen to for years to come. Aries came up with the name Emortul (another spelling of the original word) and I came up with the Entertainment because that's what we did was entertain people. The slogan was simple for me because immortals live forever so I felt our entertainment and friendship would live forever (man was I wrong). We came up with our own language, hand-signs, nicknames - the whole basics of a new fraternity or culture. We all went to the same school, most of us were in the band (LINCOLN HS), we all stayed in South Dallas and we were almost like one. If you saw one there was at least one right next to him and the others were on their way. Everyone mostly stayed at my house 24/7 though we all called each other moms "momma" and ate food like we stayed at 4 houses. I was always the "responsible one" out the group cause no one could go anywhere unless I was going cause they mom's trusted I would look out for them and keep them out of trouble (which I did when they were with me, now when they did things on their own that's another story). I made sure each one of them graduated (Jou had several teachers out to get him so I used my influence with some of them and a certain principal to get him thru, Aries failed and I made sure he went to summer school to get his final grades changed and Tuck had an English assignment that called for a collection of poems that he had 2 days left to turn-in to pass (I gave him all of the poems I had written and made sure he turned them in on time). So with this info from the start I was forced into being the one to look at for leadership. So we all were supposed to go downtown to the library and study the biz so we all could be C.E.O.'s of our new label, however the rest of the guys always chose to hit the West End or go over some girls houses while I stayed up in the library. SO whenever business was brought up I was the one making the suggestions or giving the info. Whenever we performed for people or somebody asked about us about the label everyone looked at me to give answers or they told people to ask me about it. I never offered to be the leader or wanted to be - everytime leadership roles were needed they were passed off to me. We planned to go downtown and register the label with all 4 of us being owners and CE.O.'s but I was the only person who showed up that day. I signed the papers but we all still held the title of C.E.O. On numerous occassions were were supposed to go back and get the registration amended to add everyone but well it never happened. So from then on I was the "leader or C.E.O." and everyone just did whatever I suggested even though I tried over and over to give them each some responsibility in how the company was ran - they didn't want it. All they wanted to do was say this is our label to impress females and I was cool with it cuz them was my boys and I knew they were down for whatever we was doing (later this became the main reason for the group breaking up cause they looked at me as getting more respect than some of them). Things went well for about 2 years and then Que started going M.I.A. working at G103 with DJ Scorpio (though Que was always the outcast but that was Que always doing his solo thang (which paid off - congrats again on the deal man), Jou started staying to himself and then went to SFA (which I think so life-altering events happened to push him into a lonely, angry state of mind though he never said what actually happened to him down there) and B was getting into more and more trouble with females (you was over ya head in playing games back then fool) and I was gun-ho in trying to build the label into a real company. Well after so much time of everyone being focused on their own thing the shit hit the fan. Que became a member of Dirty South Rydas (DSR) whom he met thru Scorpio, Jou became so self-centered that me and him got into a heated argument of nothing particular (we both we feeling the tension of him distancing himself and constantly making everything about him, fuck what they group wanted it was all about Jou) - so he bounced, Aries got into the ultimate trap when 2 of his girls met at the same time which led him to move to Ft. Worth. The group that had outlasted all of the crews that began when we did, the group of guys who were inseparable and didn't do anything without each other was dead in the water. Aries came back for a short while but he had made another life in Ft. Worth (me and him still talk and he still reps tha E - when he comes back home he has his place still here), Que went on to gain success with DSR who signed with Universal for millions (me and him still talk to this day and if it ever came to the point where he was led back to Emortul he'd have his place). Jou and I have gone back and forth in battle for years because he can't stand that I got more respect and was seen as a leader by those around me and that I've continued to do all the things we were supposed to do as a team. He started with the 1st diss track after he heard something that someone "said I said". I came back at him because he was telling lies and trying to make himself look like the victim. He's left a snitch in the label to get all my documents and plans, he's tried to use my girl (cuz he was producing for her after he left and they were still friends) to get information on the label and how to run business and even went to the lengths of pretending to call a truce so I would help him try to get a deal with a major. Problem is with all of his lies and deception I have always came out victorious because I didn't have to lie or cheat to let people know I wasn't in the wrong. The label has continued to grow and exceed the plans we had for it under my leadership, I still rap/write/sing/produce, I'm still with the same girl after 8 years (and a spell of friction because of Jou and her being friends - too bad she don't trust or care for your as a friend anymore after she saw how you really were). I'm doing everything he has always wanted to, I get the respect that he's always wanted but I did it the right way and because he does it the wrong way and seems to be punished everytime he turns around he wants to hate me.

Emortul should still be flourishing with all of us at the head of it but with so many years and so much hate I don't think we could ever go back to those good days (I'm thru beefing with Jou, Aries is tired of what Jou has become, and now Jou is hating on Que's success). Damn shame cause we were the super-team. I recently found a pic from our 1st show together at Club Trakks and laughed my ass off at the way we looked but that night was the best when we were introduced as D.L.C. with Emortul Entertainment and when we finished performing everyone loved our show. It was all us, our music, our way. I miss ya'll niggas (except for Jou unless you say the old Jou aka Jewelz, that's my nigga but Duce is nothing but a (several very explicit phrases using curse words) to me. Aries & Que - holla at ya boy.

Why Is It.......

People think just because you start out helping them that you're supposed to do everything for them for the rest of their lives, at some point you think they would start doing things themselves. I cant count how many people (let's be more specific and say artists but this still applies to everyone who has taken my kindness for weakness) that I've helped over the years since I've started doing music since age 8. I did not give them their talent, they got that naturally but I did assist in nurturing and molding it or just getting them to show the world they had the talent. Whether it was helping them become better songwriters (on-the spot or pre-written), doing a radio edit, performing (rehearsed or freestyle), recording in the studio, learning the business, putting a project together, promoting themselves, putting money behind them and/or their music or just giving them words of encouragement....I've done just about everything imaginable for some of these people (gave folks money for bills, let people stay with my mom and with me when I moved out, paid for abortions, feed people, picked folks up at crazy times and in dangerous situations, etc). What do I get in return for all the help I've given....usually hate. I use to think it was because I was doing something wrong like making them feel insecure (I tried to make everyone feel apart of this by giving them a say in what we did), or treating them like children but I never gave orders (I always made suggestions), I never said you better or you have to (everyone always had a choice about what they wanted to do). No one was ever forced to follow my lead, go with my ideas or as some of them say "follow in my shadow", if they did they did it by choice and shouldn't get mad at me because of the choices they made. A lot of these people are mad because many people respect me for my hard work ethic, willingness to search and study for answers, ability to sacrifice for myself and others and overall kindness towards others. How can you get mad because I've went through everything I've had to go thru to make people see me in those lights and you haven't. They say I'm selfish, egotistical, threatening, and rule in a dictatorship - how, when and are they really serious. Every move I've made has been what the group wanted or made the decision to do, I've always tried to do group or label projects (never my solo - how may compilations had been attempted), hell I kept the label going when the original members left to do their own things when I could have just went solo myself. I give people 3 or 4 chances when they mess up and I stretch myself past my means so others can have an opportunity but I'm all about me because every now and then I'd like a simple thank you. Why is it someone else can can give and give and then expect a thank you but I cant? So to all those I can think of off the top of my head that I've helped or supported in some form or fashion at some point in your life and career...All I ever wanted or expected from you was a thank you and for you to use whatever help I gave you to better yourself and/or your career. I wasn't trying to be yo daddy, yo big brother, yo husband or Hitler - I was trying to be your friend and mentor so that one day you'd think about what I did for you and you could do it for someone else.

Regardless if we're cool or beefing - I've helped the following people in their lives personally and/or artistically:

D'Wayne (TYG), Kendrick (TYG), Twonsta Mac (Mac-N-Smooth), 3 Fresh Posse (South Dallas Records), Joulz Il Duce aka Jewel (HYP/SDR/D.L.C./EE), J-Dunn aka Taz (HYP/D.L.C./EE), Que aka Big Tuck (HYP/EE), Ken-Dogg (SDR/D.L.C.), HYP City Entertainment Consortium (which I help start, did just about all of the work and supplied the studio time and producer (Kevin aka Crucial Fiction), Baby T & Miss K aka Oak Cliff Girlz (HYP), Miss Pooh (HYP), David aka DJ Shadow (HYP), Lady J aka Juliet (HYP), Big Ben (HYP), K-Dogg (HYP), Obie (HYP), Polo (HYP), Solo (HYP), Ronald Washington Jr., Vicious D., K.D.O.N. (EE), Ace (EE), Mike P. (EE), MeShe (EE), J.R. Reed aka DJ Ready (EE), Jest-E (NNP), One Love (Elliot & JR - EE), Dirty Boyz (EE), Dante (EE), T.A.E., Coquette, Ghetto Rebelz, Young Max, B aka Aries (HYP/EE), KB (EE) & D'Shae (EE) all the way to my current artists and Emortul Entertainment (which I help start and again did just about all the work until recent years when XL and others started assisting - there will be a post about the origins of Emortul)... Madame Ice, Big XL, Martinique, Hoo-Daddy, Ms. Royaltee, Shantel, Dano & my staff.

That's a lot of help and a lot of sacrifice. Some of these people don't do music and some still do (hell some doing it very well) but I bet none of them can say that haven't used something they got from me in their life now. So thank you every now and then would be appreciated.