This was a VERY interesting article..a bit long, but worth it

VANSILK
COLD STRUGGLE-LIFE OF A HIPHOP PIONEER.
EXCERPTS FROM THE FORTHCOMING BOOK
An Ear 2 Tha Streets Exclusive!



01-TITANIUM - Finally we get to speak to you?

VAN SILK - Same here, I guess I'm in for the third degree now since I committed to this interview, you know I really don't do interviews anymore. Since some folks have the tendency to change things. I'm one of the most misunderstood niggas around.

02-TITANIUM - No we are different, we keep it real here?

VAN SILK - Great, about time someone is trying to be real. I have a real problem with some of these nuts in the music industry. Always asking the same old shit. They get things confused with me asking me about the old school, we can talk about the new school also. The old school is part of my life, and when you dwell on old times you never progress in life, so I'm the type of person who is always looking to progress in life.

03-TITANIUM-For those who will read this interview, many do not know you are considered a HIP HOP PIONEER?

VAN SILK-Yeah that cool and all, but my role is something I cherish, some peeps got it twisted about me. I did my bid for Hip Hop and I'm very happy with life. Life can be better, but I have no reason to complain. Just don't confuse me as some old played out old head. If that is the case, then some got it all wrong. We came at a time in the 70's of creating a new way of living for all coming from the ghetto, and the pioneers ran with it. When I say pioneers, I'm talking 1st generation of HIP HOPPERS. Today the term old skool is used wrong. I was watching 106 & Park one day, and they decided to play an old skool video and came with a MASE video. I was laughing my head off. They need better writers or understanding of music history or even better, hip hop history for these shows. As our people keep downgrading everything we do, we need to come with a better term than old skool. Afrika Bambaatta calls it true skool…to me old skool is an insult to everyone.

04-TITANIUM-How long have you been down with HIP HOP?

VAN SILK-Too damn long, for real it will be almost 30 years as being down, not as fan or someone who was at the jams back in the dayz. If I had to go back and remember things, then you talking DJ HOLLYWOOD at Smalls Paradise (1971), or even the late Grandmaster Flowers from Brooklyn (1969). Then you had Pete DJ Jones (1967), and other before Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, &Grandmaster Flash, but It wasn't Hip Hop, it was Disco, and there are a lot of people who dedicated their lives and soul into this, which a lot of you don't even know about. The formula was there, and the New School (1973), which turned out to be us, added some flava to it. It's a damn shame how MTV can't give props to the real Hip Hop pioneers. And I'm not talking Russell Simmons he came late into the game around 1979, we was doing this around 1973. Russell Simmons did a lot for rap music, but as far as real Hip Hop he did nothing for it. People confuse HIPHOP and RAP MUSIC. Meaning that HIPHOP is a culture and Rap music is part of that culture. But rappers are all we see today. HIPHOP has 5 elements; how can a radio station be the best in HIPHOP, when you only can display 2 of the elements. So a lot of people should represent the term as RAP music.

05-TITANIUM-So you were born and raised where?

VAN SILK-Oh you really want to know everything. Born and raised in the South Bronx. I came from Patterson Projects on 143rd Street & Brook Ave It was 281 East 143rd Street. My family and I moved from there when I was 7 years old. NBA great, Nate Archibald, & Boxer Iran Barkley, came from Patterson Projects. 18 Park, now a famous park for jams, right behind was my building. I think rappers Showbiz & A.G are from there also, the "Diggin in the Crate crew". Then my parents, God bless my mother soul who passed in March 2000, moved us to John Adams projects, 156 Street & Westchester Ave. in 1965.

06-TITANIUM-Now you know we did our research and found out some things about you, so we would like to clear the air about the rumors and other things?

VAN SILK-What things are you talking about, if I think you are going where you are, then we can cut this interview now. But I will clear the air on certain matters. I just feel that it's not for everyone to know certain r\things. Some people today feel like they have to expose themselves to make a point in life. You knew me for a long time, and I have nothing to prove to anyone about my past life. Some want to live it, but that was my life at one time.

07-TITANIUM-Well, if you feel we are getting to noisy let us know.

VAN SILK-On the real son, you were getting there, but like I said, I'm willing to clear the air for this once, and then we can move on. So hit me with it.

08-TITANIUM-Well the rumors circulating in the music industry, some years ago that you were associated with the Mafia?

VAN SILK- That depends on what you are talking about. I know a lot of Italians and that does not mean anything.

09-TITANIUM-Ok, so let's keep it funky right now.

VAN SILK-You know this is about to get cut short but go ahead and ask me?

10-TITANIUM-Is is true you use to work for the porn people who owned Show World & the Gambino porn boss Richard Basciano as one of his managers around 1977?

VAN SILK-First of all, who is telling you all this information? And why is it important to anyone? I know that the other magazines out there are having peeps talking about their lives, but come on man this has nothing to do with Hip Hop. Everyone wants to have some claim to fame as mobsters, but the real life of La Cosa Nostra is nothing to play with. But to be honest with you we have more rats in this business, then what's running around the hoods and ghettos. All I have to say is, if you have no clue about that life then shut up to all the want to be gangsters. If you so real, we all know that you never open your mouth. You can get whacked for speaking on shit you never experienced. You can get whacked for not doing what you suppose to do, you can get whacked for killing a made member of a family. It's funny how rappers want to be mobsters, as much these niggas talk. A lot of these fools should have been dead already because they really don't understand the life of a real Goodfella. Niggas bickering and bitching on who did what for real with all these rap battles. No one has step up to the plate and battle for some real paper. Sometimes time I wonder if these niggas are for real or acting like a half fag. I respect everyone in the game. I have no beefs with no one. And on the other hand I still run with 2 crews, who have my back at any given moment.

11-TITANIUM-We just wanted to ask you that, because some peeps in the industry have mentioned your name some years back about this?

VAN SILK-Personally it's no ones fuckin business at all, it always some playin hatin asshole trying to stop some one from getting any paper. Where did you get this information from first of all, and to say names of people you don't know at all is not cool. Just because a nigga is not in the forefront doesn't mean shit. I have been around for 3 decades, building a new family to do things with. The clock is turning around on these corny frauds, it may sound like hatin, but who gives a flying fuck what the next person thinks. We as a people don't control shit. I could care less of what kind of car you are driving or how your crib looks at the end of the day, what equity do you have? When the game is over it's over son. We are not building communities, or even buying property for our kids or setting up our next generations of family to live right. When I see how some are spending papers on bullshit like the worst graded diamonds or Sprewells rims then I know we have fallen back. If you got the paper these days you can buy a Grammy, you can buy radio, you can buy anything when it comes to the music industry, you can buy airplay on radio to play your song. That been going on for the longest, and we wonder why some BLACKS acts are not even worth there weigh as an artists. We have no control or the power ink to make real deal happen. Then we wonder why we look like a bunch of jigga boos ass niggas wondering what went wrong. Get into real estate and fix up your community. Then maybe this generation can really call it a HIPHOP community. Stop making the other people rich buying their shit. I bet Jacob the Jeweler is laughing his ass off. Go to Chris Aire let him get the paper. I bet no one of another race is buying our shit directly. Our people have been exploited again, this time with materialistic shit at a high ass price.

12-TITANIUM-Well to be honest, it was from someone you know, and they felt that you are living a life of mad skeletons in the closets.

VAN SILK-Well that someone needs to get a fuckin life. That shit was so long ago why niggas keep bringing that old shit up. That shit is like trying to get rid of a bad habit. First I heard that he mob put up the 1.5 million for my Hip Hop pay per view special RAPMANIA in 1991. Then some rapper told my girl then who is now my ex when we got together, don't fuck with Van silk because he down with the mob. And he know who is bitch ass is too. To me all this shit is corny, live life for today and lets forget what happen years ago. I don't see anyone asking Don king some dumb shit like that. And he keeps it gangsta all the time.

VAN SILK hangs up the phone on us and for the last 2 days we were trying to contact him. Finally we got back in contact with him, and he decided to talk to be open about what he feels is a misconception about him. Personally he told Titanium it really makes no matter to him what people think. After we contacted him again we continue to make this interview happen once again.

PART 2

12-TITANIUM-Yo son, we didn't mean to get personal about this matter, but you know how people talk?

VAN SILK-No problem, but my life is personal. And as far as people talking, they need to shut the fuck up. My name shouldn't be coming up at all. I have distance my self from the music industry, who even knew I exist? Only the few who know me, know how I operate. I made it a point not to be friends in the industry, because niggas are full of shit. So what you want to know now?

13-TITANIUM-We try to keep our interviews interesting, and we felt those questions were interesting to our readers?

VAN SILK-Well I guess your readers need to get a grip on shit. We can talk about many things, why is everything now associated with Hip hop has to be associated with gangstas or wanna be gangstas taking name from mobsters? This shit is so corny. But go ahead and ask these wack ass questions, before someone else tells you the wrong story.

14-TITNAIUM-Well getting back to the original question is it true you were working for these people back then?

VAN SILK-All I have to say is that I worked for several of the porn theatres back then, but I also approach them of putting up the money to record the 1st rap record. Which would have been a Kool DJ AJ &BUSYBEE STARSKI record. A lot of people didn't know that I use to work with AJ. He taught me the promoting game. They couldn't feel it and Bobby Robinson came with the ENJOY record label. AJ and I were real tight. He was one nigga who knew how to promote jams back then. He had M.C's like Sonny Gee & Kenny G, Cowboy from Grandmaster Flash & the FURIOUS 5, was M.C'ing for A.J also. I was known as R.C back then. When Mike & Dave starting doing parties with me, Mike started calling me R.C PAC JAM. It was all good because the JONZUN crew had a record out at the time on Tommy Boy called PAC-JAM.

15-TITANIUM- I see what you are doing here, you answering the question adding Hip Hop history to it?

VAN SILK-You finally caught on because it only makes sense this way to me.

16-TITANIUM-Since it seems like you opening up, can we continue to keep it funky?

VAN SILK-I guess so but I have to approve this interview before it printed. Man you niggas are funny. Keep it funky. Man keep it gangsta (lol)

17-TITANIUM-That will be no problem. Ok so lets get back to the porn business. Is it true that Robert (Dibe) Dibenardo son worked for you? (For all who don't know DiBE was supposed to have been murdered by Sammy Gravano on the orders of John Gotti.)

VAN SILK-Man you kill me with these questions. You people keeping watching those movies, and listening to the news. What you do? Go online and research who's who? Let me put it this way. It was 1978 I worked a job, getting a paycheck paying taxes like every other citizen. Who, what or whatever happened is not my business. And yes I know DiBE and his son Rich Jr But me being black, I was trusted, and before me they trusted another black guy name Blood. He was gone and I was the man. Is that what you wanted to hear. To be honest with you, I had advance further than most people in that organization. My goal was to take care of my baby that was on the way. And my life was different because I was taught how to HONOR & RESPECT others. But to me, it is all hearsay about what John Gotti & Sammy Gravino was supposed to have done as far as murder. I don't know Jack shit, and if I did I wouldn't tell you. The code of honor is to shut up. You don't know shit. I'm like Don King Only in America. We can get paid and do it the right way. Some rather speak on shit they never experience and get others in trouble. Man this shit is for real. A lot of bitch ass niggas out here hatin. These young niggas today have no loyalty at all. But we have to teach them the rules of the streets, it not an old skool thing, it's a hood thing.

18-TITANIUM-So how long did you work for these people?

VAN SILK- I worked for them like 6 years, and we built a few of the Times Square porn houses from the ground up. One was right across the street from Show World. I was the manager there, my boss was CHICK, no need for last names here. Show World was on 42ndst & 8th Ave. At the same time, I was starting to get involved a few years before going to rap jams. My life was downtown at the time, and what I was getting paid like $1,500.00 a week at that time. I lived in the old Carter Hotel on 43rdst paying like $70 dollars a night back in the late 70's. So the respect was there for me from all the policemen from midtown south to the pimps the hoes out late at night hitting the streets.

19-TITANIUM-So you are now keeping it real here?

VAN SILK-Well I might as well tell my story before someone else fuck it up. Some people in Hip Hop don't understand the life, and want to claim it. I will never claim to be a gangsta or mob associate, because that not what I am. I came up in a different time where your WORD is your BOND, HONOR, RESPECT and DEATH TO RATS. There are a lot of rat ass niggas in rap music today who should be dealt with. Then on the other hand you have some real playerz in the game today. I give them respect on holding things down and taking it to the next level for real, they know who they are. And I hope they realized that this shit is short term. Do the right thing with your paper.

20-TITANIUM-So you know we did our homework, a few years later you ended up working at Spring Records for the RIFKINDS, and if any of you out there never read the book HITMEN, it's a book based on the dealing in the music industry. The Rifkinds were portrayed as mobsters also?

VAN SILK-Well it true I worked for them but the Rifkinds being mobsters you asking the wrong person again. That was STEVE RIFKIND father's and uncle's label at the time. They had Millie Jackson, Fatback Band. & Joe Simon, plus they released the actual 1st rap record, KING TIM THE 3RD. Steve Rifkind is like my student he learned a lot from me and Afrika Islam, then the President of the Zulu Nation and Mele Mel. They fucked up from the gate when I brought them Dougie Fresh record, "THE SHOW". They didn't give me the time of the day. They also had Jimmy Spicer's, DOLLAR BILL Y'all. Russell Simmons did a single deal with them for that song. As far as what the Rifkinds were all about is there business, people are always writing books. I have nothing bad to say about ROY & JULES RIFKIND, but Steve is an str8 ass SUCKA. But I have mad love for Steve regardless how I feel towards him no love lost at all. He acted like he didn't know a nigga once Loud Records blew up. He was always asking me for my opinion on his artists at the time, TUNG TWISTA. I treated Steve like a brother, he was the only white boy who called me nigga, and I return the favor and called him Jew Boy. I speak to them on occasions to see how the family is doing. When the RifKinds sold Spring Records to Ace Records around 1989-1990 in London, I took all the Hip-hop masters that were done there. I felt like they were selling our culture to some people who don't give a fuck about Hip Hop, they been hounding me for years to return them. But my stance is that we can still license the products and make money. These are some of the classics recording even B-fats Wop it produced by Teddy Riley is also included. Charlie Ahearn who owns and produced the 1st Hip Hop movie Wild Style, I had set up the introduction with Rhino Records for him to license the movie to them. I was into getting my hands on Hip Hop masters. When SUGARHILL Records was trying to sell their masters back in 1994, Joe Robinson Sr (God Bless His Soul) gave me permission to shop the master also, Joe was looking for at least 25 million for the Sugar hill Records catalog and what ever else he had in his possession at the time. But JOE wanted to retain the publishing rights for the next 15 years globally. Meaning money is being made in publishing in every country and continent all over this world. I had a deal with him for 10 percent of the sale. Joe Robinson and myself had a great understanding for years. But I told Joe if I did a deal which I had the president of Polydor Records Davitt Seigerson interested in at the time, but as soon I mention a certain name as in (JOE I) who had a 3 month exclusive to shop the catalog, he gave it back to me in a heart beat. Meaning he wanted no part of this at all, I lost a sale and maybe 3 or 4 million. Rhino records ended up with the SUGARHILL catalog. I ended up with the photos of the Sugarhill rappers. Joe told me to do whatever, I been making money every time someone use the photos. But I lost interest over the years since Joe Robinson passed. But the most important master now are all the original HARLEM WORLD masters all 65 reels that were recorded up until HARLEM world closed, and if you know about Harlem World then we all know the hip hop shows that were held there are classics including all the battles.

21-TITANIUM-So is this how you stay grounded still in the families?

VAN SILK-What families are you talking about, are you still on that other stuff? I'm passed that. I always keep my contacts of people who had clout. That was important to me always. From the time of giving over 300 Hip Hop shows. And then getting my feet wet in the record industry, my power was to get to know the power players. The players back then was Morris Levy (BIG 7 CORPORATION), Art Kass (SUTRA RECORDS), Joe Robinson (SUGARHILL RECORDS), Dick Asher (POLYGRAM) Sam Weiss, Juggy, and others, but for Hip hop at the time, everything was independent. We had to deal with whoever had the power to release records .Who they were affiliated with is not my business and I'm quite sure everyone was connected then. But in the late era of Spring Records they brought in a partner name Mark Finklestein who new nothing about the music industry, but Mark was smart and started one of the hottest dance labels Strictly Rhythm and a rap label called PHAT WAX. Mark did real good for himself and gave me a job helping him with the rap label. Meanwhile Jheryl Busby then the president of Motown records (1991)- was trying to get at me on the pay per view shit.

22-TITANIUM-So what year was this?

VAN SILK-Man we skipped almost a whole decade already, this was around 1985 or 86, with Spring Records. But before that there was mad drama going on uptown. Niggas was getting money off Hip Hop parties. I was always a good salesman, so back then I decided to give my 1st joint. That was in 1980, but I was already helping promoting parties with A.J before around 1977. I stop fucking with A.J because he was on some KOOL DJ A.J shit and I was already getting paper fuckin with the Italians downtown. But my heart was into Hip Hop. And in between time, around 1975 or 76 I was getting to know everyone from DJ Hollywood, Eddie CHEBA, Love bug Starski, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool HERC and Grandmaster Flash we went to the same high school-Samuel Gompers.

23-TITANIUM-Now you meeting everyone, what was you approach?

VAN SILK-I really have to thank A.J for most of that shit. Personally, I didn't give a flying fuck about any of those niggas. To me, I had resources to do shit, and all I wanted to do is make some paper wit these niggas. You have to remember back then, we were a small group of black ghetto youths. Once you met FLASH, you met Ray Chandler Flash & the furious 5 1STmanager, or you met Tiny and the Casanovas. So as time went by, you were part of this growing culture called Hip Hop today. Everybody started to get to know one another, but it bigger than this. This been in the making for years. You had people like Reggie Wells, Eddie Cheba, and DJ Smalls, Luvbug Starski dong shit already with Pete D.J Jones.

24-TITANIUM-So who was the man at that time?

VAN SILK- The man at the time was Nicky Barnes and his crew, if you didn't know who Bats Ross or Guy Fisher was, you was a lame ass nigga. Pee Wee Kirkland, Reggie and George Fuellellen, were doing their own thing one time or another. Everyone had there own territory and respect. These same niggas came to a Pete D.J. Jones party, or down to Nell Gywnns Disco. You had niggas from Brooklyn, Queens, and Bronx & Manhattan also getting their shit on. So in my mind, everybody was the man in there own rights.

TITANIUM-VAN can we call it a night and pick up on this tomorrow? Man this is interesting. I'm so glad we were able to get you to talk. Actually I had to talk to many people to find out things about you. You are one hard brother to track down. So let pick up on this tomorrow. Holla

VAN SILK- Cool, yeah I'm tired also. I have to eat something. I done spilled enough of my guts already. HOLLA. SON

*****
PART 3

25-TITANIUM-. So how things been since we last spoke?

VAN SILK- Same shit different day. There is this one female I'm feeling right now, but I don't know how to come at her at the moment. And believe me, she is off the meters.

26-TITANIUM-So this mean you are single, I thought you were with the Original Spinderella?

VAN SILK-We was together for 13 years, and she broke out. That's my heart, but she a very strong minded person and she really never got to know me. She was there for the good and bad. But my personal life with her will be kept out of the public eye. We had something that was good for the times we were together. Plus my love always will be for the baby.

27-TITANIUM-So you had kids and all?

VAN SILK- That all I have to say on that matter, I never discuss any more than what needs to be known about kids and all. All I have to say about the Original Spin is that I wish her the best in whatever she does in life. Just don't BUMP your head. And she really helped me get my life together. I had to stop associating with certain people. She wouldn't let me go to Mulberry Street anymore or certain places in Brooklyn. I used to go to this health Club called Pardequet in Carnesie Brooklyn.

28-TITANIUM-Now lets get back to where we left off 3 days ago. So the Hustlers back then were running things?

VAN SILK-More like holding down their hood or territory. It was a time of the Black exploitation movies, SUPER FlY, SHAFT, Across 110th Street, shit like that. Niggas smoking weed, reefer was the name back then on 125th, they had the some weed called the HARDEST HARD. For all the players and hustlers getting money back then, you either shopped at AJ LESTERS on 125 street or LEIGHTONS on 47ST and Broadway. Man those were the days, going to the King Towers basketball games on 115th Street and LENOX Ave, and then later on Harlem World, which was a club, not what the rappers MASE was talking about. You had the b-ball tournament going on from Rucker to the P.A.L joints. In the background, was this thing called RAP, making some noise. My idol at he time was the N.Y KNICKS guard, WALT"CLYDE' FRAZIER. He was one of the 1st NBA players to have his name on a sneaker. They were called PUMA CLYDE. I tried to act like him, play ball like him, and dress like him. CLYDE just had more paper plus a Rolls Royce. Remember we all grew up watching these guys. So at any giving moment if you talk to any 1st generation Hip Hop pioneers, they all have a story to tell. And that's what pissed me off; a lot of these knuckleheads today think our life, or what we did, never existed. It's not a bragging thing, but we been exploited the streets and the hustlers game. Rappers like Johnny Wa & Rayvon came from the eastside, those niggas was street niggas. They came from the same hood as Rich Porter. Alpo AZ, MOBSTYLE and all those niggas were doing their thing, but they were also part of the Hip Hop movement one way or another. My man Sickle, who had a fish and chip joint on Lenox Ave, did his thing, plus he had his own rap record. Niggas don't really know what went down at all. The whole story meaning the rebirth of the ALPO, AZ and RICH PORTER story started when Dj KAYSLAY interviewed AZ for one of his mix tapes. AZ came by my store on 125th Street looking for me because he heard I had mad copies of his classic album THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY, some real gangster shit and he needed some for himself. I hooked that nigga up with KAYSLAY and the rebirth of them niggas was told again. KAYSLAY set it off for all the new niggas to know who did what. Niggas don't know about Cisco kid or the stick kid ALVIN on 8THAve. Or what Larry Davis was about, the spot on Webster Ave and 178th st the old burger king called Chino's. My crew open that spot, it was named after his brother. Much prop to my peeps REDDY and MIKE we came up as kids, some BLUE HILL AVE SHIT. Niggas hear story and repeat shit like they were there. Niggas didn't know FAT JACK that owned HARLEM WORLD. Or even the manager OTIS. Man this shit is so tired I'm really getting bored talking about this. But I had to let niggas know the real shit. Most of this and more will be in my book coming out soon. Shit niggas don't even know about. ONE THING NOT ONE PERSON MENTION CAN SAY THIS IS NOT THE TRUTH.

29-TITANIUM-So when did all this happen?

VAN SILK- Around 1997, KAYSLAY was on the come up a few years earlier, that nigga was hungry doing his thing. But his history with Hip Hop goes back some years also. He came from Wilson Projects and was a graffiti writer back in the day. So who ever I knew in Hip Hop, I made sure they got to meet him. This nigga was determined to knock DJ CLUE or whoever was #1 from the top spot on the street as KING. That's why he is the DRAMA KING. That nigga is really loved by the streets. So Kay and myself did our thing also, we got paper together. We got mad stories to tell years from now. All I know is that every Mix tape dJ was hatin on that nigga except DJ SHOWTIME when KAY came on the scene strong. Niggas was feeling the pressure of a real HUSTLER. Now everyone is feeling him. He keep it How we say it GANGSTA…

TITANIUM-So in between time, because now we are jumping all around your life and stories, what was your dealing with DON KING & MIKE TYSON?

VAN SILK-Man that was the life then, DON KING is family, haven't spoke to him in a while. But DON is a real nigga, who understand how business in America works. Don is the type of nigga who will handle his business and make his paper. I think DON dream money. If it weren't for DON KING, Rapmania, the Hip Hop pay-per view concert I did in 1991, would not have happened. I sat with DON and MIKE in Vegas discussing on how to get this show aired. Not one network was interested in trying to air anything about rap music on any station. We had most of the groups already signed with deposits and all. I fucked up the Hip Hop pay-per view game period, so no one else can do one. WHEN YOUPAYING NIGGAS $12,500.00 for your best shit in 10 minutes, who can follow that shit back then in 1990, plus you on T.V? We spent 1.5 million doing that show, plus I was the 1st black man in America to bring black music to pay-per view. No one did it before me. And yes, all the groups were paid. Some of the managers didn't pay their groups. They know who they are. DON KING hooked my partners and myself up with the pay-per view people. MIKE was getting ready to fight BUSTER DOUGLAS. I had strong investors baseball players, Darryl Strawberry, Eric Davis and 3 other partners, Paul Shiffman, Eddie Singleton and Harold Lipton Quincy Jones ex father in law. We met MIKE TYSON First, GRANDDMASTER MELE MEL and I. Mike was about 18 years old. I use to always see him down town and MEL and I was talking about this nigga and how dope he was. I was on the phone one day and he was walking down the street toward me, I introduced myself and said what up. . Mike spoke to MEL who was on the phone we exchanged numbers because at the time Mike was living on 38th Street with his Co manager, Steve LOTT. Since that day, we hung out, and Chris Rock was hanging also. That was late 1989 because ICE-T was working on his 1st album in the BRONX. He stayed at AFRIKA ISLAM'S house on 156th Street. ISLAM lived right behind my building. Afrika Islam was then the president of the ZULU NATION. ICE-T was making his name known on the east coast, although he was born in New Jersey. Mike only hung out with us, and when we introduced him to ICE -T, he went berserk. That nigga met MELE MEL and ICE-T in a month. Mike told Ice-T that he was his IDOL in Islam's apartment. That shit shocked the hell out of me. Here, the next heavyweight champ telling a rapper that he was his idol. We all knew that nigga was going to be the next heavyweight champ for real. Mike was on some next shit.

30-TITANIUM-Hey Van this shit is crazy.

VAN SILK- Yeah, but this is just the tip of all this shit, that why niggas front on me in the industry. I got their cards marked. We use to go to Steve Lott's apartment where Mike lived to watch fight films with him. At the time he was seeing a model that was not famous yet but she famous now. I remember the night we was watching the Larry Homes tapes. Mike was going to fight Larry Holmes. Now Mike didn't know any other rappers at the time. The night he knock TREAVOR BERBICK was the night he met ICE-T. Now remember all this happen within a month. We watched the fight, and now MIKE had his 1st belt. Mel said, "That nigga is not going to call" We were supposed to hang out that night. 2 Hours later that nigga MIKE was on TINTON AVE in the Bronx, with the LIMO. Then he met Ice-T, ISLAM, and Evil D ICE D.J We went to a house party, given by then Apollo model, TRACY, and then we broke out to the LATIN quarters. That was MIKE'S 3rd time there. Every one who was hot was there even porn star Heather Hunter, Just-ice, Red alert, KRS one, Eric B, you name them they were there. That was MIKE'S 1st real Hip Hop experience. That nigga went buck wild in there. We took Mike to the Latin Quarters before, but no one really knew who he was, just a few niggas. All the females was frontin' on MIKE until he got the heavyweight championship belt, then they all wanted to be up in that nigga grill.

31-TITANIUM-So after all this shit he been going through, what is the real Mike Tyson like?

VAN SILK- That nigga is like a baby brother to me, I might be one of a few people who can take him aside and let him have it. He is a grown man now, he might knock the shit out of me. When he was green, learning who is who, I always reminded him to watch what he does in public. Even when he was in prison, he called me often. Jay Bright would always make a 3 way call so we can speak. Mike will always be my dogg. After that Barbara Walters episode with Robin Givens, I called the house in Bernardsville, N.J to speak to him. His surrogate moms in the Catskill told me to go and check on him, so I called and Robin answered the phone. MIKE was so pissed we really couldn't talk. After all that Drama, he was never the same. When he got out of jail for the suppose to be rape charge, we all happened to be at the China club, I introduced him to PAM GRIER, and this nigga had a distance look as if he never knew a nigga. This nigga and I did mad shit together, plus had some of the same girls…

TITANIUM-Hold it dog, the same girls?

VAN SILK-Don't even try it that issue is dead. I will never tell on myself like that. MELE MEL & SCORPIO would tease my ass about that shit all the time, asking me if I found Mike's boxing gloves up in a girl pu**y. Stupid shit like that. Enough of this Mike shit, he my man and all, but I can't tell everything. Al I know he started acting funny later on in time, when I had my store on 125th Street, and everybody use to come there. It was a record store, and I mean everybody, ODB, Rod Strickland, SWV'S LeLe was there all the time. You name it they came by. LL COOL J, Q-TIP. Lenox Lewis will go next door to my man DAVY'S uptown Juice Bar to get his Veggie burger and then come to my store and sit behind the counter and eat his food. That's how much love we gave at the record store. Even the police hung out there as their post, so we never had to worry about getting robbed on 125th Street.

32-TITANIUM-So was there a lot of ass running around in your life?

VAN SILK- Now from mobsters, to Hip Hop, to ass. Man ass is always around. Too much ass we were lucky to get the good shit. Now you have shit out here I call it WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION. President BUSH is looking for WMD it right here. I was the type of nigga to get my hands on the hottest ass back then. I always had some unseen honey that niggas would be like where you found her. That was my style. Women today have shit twisted. So my thing is to be me. They watch too much MTV cribs and shit and want to complain about what a nigga don't have. Get your own shit. And get your hands out my pockets. (lol)

33-TITANIUM-How about now, who on the menu now or you would like to get with?

VAN SILK- Man there is a lot of fine honeys out here. But I have no time for games. The principal from the Steve Harvey show is hot. HALLE BERRY she need a real and truthful man in her life. Some one who going to understand her, RESPECT her for whom she is and listens to her needs. LISA RAYE got it going on she will give a brother a run for the money. She's gangsta. Then you have the black honey on the PRICE IS RIGHT, CLAUDIA JORDAN. She is fine as hell. You see she someone a nigga can marry, but you have to treat her right. We are friends and she real as it can get. But she left the show not to long ago. Then there are a few others. Also for sure TRACI I think she was on Bay watch the black girl but I heard she was married. Then there this honey in Philly name KELLI. She got a nigga open, but we'll see. Enough of my personal life, you see my standards are high. So now it's time to wake up (lol).

34-TITANIUM-What your out take on the rap stars today?

VAN SILK- Personally I feel keep doing you. Get that paper. What JAY-Z is doing, Dame Dash is doing, 50cent doing his thing. Cam' Ron and Dip set is hot. Baby & Cash money is doing it and props the rest of theses players. I'm very impress with Puffy and how he has grown up. I'm so impress with him these days since he now understand how shit goes. Then you have Suge Knight who is also a person niggas need to understand. Mike Concepion is also another misunderstood person. Then I turn around and see where Irv Gotti is trying to do. But we still must unite for the power movement of letting the industry know that a nigga like me is on the come back. I was so burned out I had to take a rest away from this Hip hop shit. I have always been an underdog in this shit. Don't ask me shit about the ol skool. If I decide to say hey Van silk and the whole Zulu nation is going to make a move on the whole industry we will. And that will include all my ITALIAN friends also. But I totally respect every one game; if I call you don't put me on hold and tell your assistance a lie to tell me. Other wise someone will come and see you at your office.

35-TITANIUM- Damn you sound very angry?

VANSILK-It not anger, it just venting. Know your history of why you are getting paid. Why you are able to live this life you are living right now. In real life most of these niggas would have gotten wacked already. But we all know that beef is whipping someone ass and not talking shit on mix tape and radio shows. That why no one ever step to STAR from HOT 97 or Wendy Williams because niggas on the streets know the repercussions of fucking with them.

36-TITANIUM- So really what is this all about?

VANSILK- I watch these peeps on T.V, and if you want to live like you mafia, then act like it. It so fake how niggas are being extorted and shit, but act like they are a DON. Now like I said earlier it all good for entertainment. But to play the game, live it. I can care less how much a silly ass niggas spend on a bottle of crystals or $1,300 a bottle of REMY. You don't even realized you been exploited. JAY-Z is smart and opened his own shit that nigga is s a real player. Jay-Z should hold class on how to stay focus.

37-TITANIUM-So what would you suggest?

VANSILK-These millionaires running around making people like Jacob the jeweler rich with his ass out diamond. I would have gotten 25 rappers who have paper and started and investment group putting up 2 million each 50 million dollars. That mean you could have been an investor in Bob Johnson new NBA team in North Carolina. But they rather waste that shit on a BENTLY or some bullshit which is making you no paper at all. So for those who want to get 2010 paper now HOLLA. EQUITY is the key to building a future for the next generations of kids coming up in the game.

38-TITANIUM- What is your out take on BET and their programming for BLACK ENTERTAINENT?

VANSILK- My out take. Personally I don't watch BET. I think it cool I like the basement with TIGGA. TIGGA has grown over the years. As for that other show 106 and park or should it be 57th st and 10th, what the host name FREE is doing a great job. And COMIC VEIW is funny sometimes. The best thing that can happen to BET is for someone BLACK to buy back the network and fired BOB JOHNSON and DEBRA LEE. BOB had no business selling out and selling that network. BET is the lowest paying job for any host on T.V. They are cheap as shit. I can see the new cable channel owned by CATHY HUGHES and her son ALFRED LIGGINS TV ONE knocking BET the fuck out in a few years. And to speak on the programming, to many of the same lame ass videos all day. And that uncut shit is BOGUS.

39-TITANIUM- So your love for BET is what between 1-10?

VANSILK-What kind of question is that? I have love for everyone; I just think they can do much better. You hear that Mr. HILL. I give them a 4 minus as for now. The best show they had that I really enjoy was the James Brown Tribute and the Queen of soul Aretha Franklin special. The SOURCE AWARDS need better producers, DAVE MAYS needs to HOLLA at a nigga for real. And getting rid of TAVIS SMILEY was some fag ass shit. They let the people at Viacom put Bob up to the dirty work. You have to understand that white people like YES niggas and Tavis is not a YES nigga. So they dismiss his ass. I wish BUTCH LEWIS had stepped in that matter but I guess he had he reasons.

TITANIUM-VAN can we call it a night and pick up on this tomorrow?
VAN SILK- Cool, HOLLA. SON

*****
PART 4

40-TITANIUM-I know we been jumping all around with our questions. But let talk about the different music magazine out here?

VANSILK-What about these magazine out here?

41-TITANIUM-Well for one what do you think about the SOURCE, XXL and VIBE MAGAZINE?

VANSILK- I have no thought about any of them they are not even on my radar these dayz. I support all of those magazines. VIBE is last on my list. To me right now FEDS and DON DIVA is the new shit for the last couple of years. Much props to Tiffany Childs at DON DIVA and Antoine and Artie at FEDS Magazine. But for real the top line magazine need to increase it contents. Reach out to hip-hop globally. Teach the fans about what going on in HIPHOP around the UNIVERSE. I see the Source have struck a few deals to print in different language. Great. They need to thank the ZULU NATION and Afrika Bambatta for setting the stage around the world over the last 30 years. And maybe they need to employ some of the hiphop true pioneers to write article for them to keep it real for HIPHOP. Other wise some one else will do it and they all will be non-existing magazine real soon. XXL is doing a great job so far. I really love that magazine. Dennis Page is doing a great job there. I will be calling you so DENNIS.

42-TITINUM-I realized that most of these black magazine are white corporation owned, what you outtake on this matter?

VANSILK-Again my out take don't mean anything. But I rather see some of these rappers spend their paper on forming something that can benefit them after they can't sell anymore CD 's. When their career is over and no one is feeling them anymore. After seeing these show like cribs and how many rides this one has or what it cost. The start up cost of a magazine is less then the $200,000.000 dollars spent on a ride or platinum diamond chain for real. It really hard for some to understand the power they have. Most of these artists can't even realize they have been exploited to the degree of slavery. Time is coming of age real soon just like how many artists who had deal are now putting out their own cd's. Well the same way can be for publishing your own magazine. And this is not to say everyone has to put out there own magazine, but some one must take the step to make it happen. This business is very small these days and artists must know how everything is done. That why I can see Titanium Magazine being a force in this industry Independency is very important in life. Also BE (BLACK ELEGANCE) magazine which is now totally black owned by Florence Anthony. She is some one every body needs to know.

43-TITANIUM- Mix tapes game did it hurt record sales?

VANSILK- Are you crazy, the mix tape game is the savior for this shit period. Now this is something that really needs addressing for real. Mix tapes is what hip-hop is all about, but it has gotten to a point of some asshole bootlegging real artists CD'S and the whole game is wack now. When the game of mix tape came about it was about skills of the dj. But any fool with a computer can make a cd and a cover with a list and call himself a dj. Now the mix tape game is more complex than what many think. With big time dj's like KAYSLAY, CLUE, BIG MIKE, WHO KIDD and CUTMASTER C these guys are the best ears for the streets and as far for creating the new rap artists they have shit on lock. Without KAYSLAY the whole story of AZ, ALPO & RICH PORTER may have never come to light. Or how CLUE got the buzz going on FABOLOUS and now pushing PAUL CAIN. Or who would have known about CASSIDY battling FREEWAY. Mix tapes also gave us all the hip-hop wars or beef going on Dj P-CUTTA & DNA did the STREET WARS series. Record companies are not spending money promoting jack shit. I even love new rappers like RED CAFÉ, REMI martin who is the shit. Also the YOUNG GUNS are hot. Now how did we find out about all these new rappers? Through the mix tape, the freestyles, talking shit and all. This is what hip-hop is all about, and this is coming from one of the pioneers of this CULTURE. HIP-HOP IS DEAD ALREADY, KILL OF THE MIX TAPE GAME AND IT OVER.

44-TITANIUM- So you really feel that strong about the mix tape game, but how about all the bootlegging of the pre released cd?

VANSILK- That all a game, the record companies are letting music out to decreased sales of these artists. But on the other hand rappers are giving the top dj's advance copies of their songs because they know the record companies will not promote their records. Here a good example of what is wrong, BEYONCE had a song that Ghost face went in and added 16 bars himself. And it made the record even hotter, but Columbia sent out email to radio station telling them not to play that version. Reason why, is that they had nothing to do with what Ghost face did and all the radio stations was playing that version. Some of these record companies executive need their ass twisted to understand how the streets work, fuck all these white consultant who are consulting BLACK RADIO. No one BLACK is consulting POP radio. It's not a racial statement, it the truth. All these big ass corporation who own these radio stations calling themselves the best in HIPHOP & R&B. And they have all these young listeners sucking up to the bullshit. Playing the same bullshit everyday and playing the payola game. Pay for play is still in effect in 2004. I HAVE NOTING TO LOSE, for one who really need radio to make money in this business and to top it off face elimination if you don't live by the rules of this industry. A sellout will always be a sellout. I rather have my sanity then to be caught up in something I will never have any control over. Once you gone as an artist, you can't come back. Britney Spears is riding high, but what so hot about her Beyonce had hotter songs and sings better. Or Justin Timberlake is not better than Usher. Why don't Entertainment Tonight and all the mass media give Usher the same amount of exposure as Justin and see how big he can be. But we all can see the how the KKK still works in this society. They only wear suit today. Justin is a fake wanna be Michael Jackson but we have no choice but to accept him. Now the boy can sing, but come on people he not that great. To be honest I would like to see Justin & Usher go one on one. Then you see the same bullshit that happen to black artists 20, 30 and 40 years ago happening today. They will always find a white singer, who can be like a black singer and steal all his glory. PERIOD. Ask LIL RICHARD. Or even RONALD ISLEY they know the real deal.

45-TITANIUM- Man you dropping knowledge on us?

VANSILK- It's not knowledge, it just the truth period. I can give a fuck what any one thinks right now. This shit been going on for years, they did it to PRINCE, LITTLE RICHARD. Now they are doing it to MICHAEL JACKSON the real KING of POP. Fuck ELVIS! Elvis sells more records than any artist in the BMG companies still in 2004. ELVIS was a drug addict plain and simple, but you have to label the real KING as a CHILD molester. Then they label artists like R KELLY as a rapper, that nigga is a certified writer of some of the greatest R&B songs over the last 10 years. But again it's the white media doing this to us. Niggas have no power in this business at all. And this is for real. The most powerful black in this entertainment industry is RICHARD PARSONS at TIME-WARNER and they figuring on trying to rid of his ass now. They want to blame the whole AOL failure on him. They got rid of BOB PITTMAN AND STEVE CASE and Richard is the final key to all this so call mess proclaimed on that merger. The RIAA is trying to say lagging sales is because of all the downloading of song. No that not the case, it's the recording of bullshit songs by these artists, who life span is less than 2 singles including videos these days. They really need more SIMON COWELL & RANDY JACKSON at these record labels listening to these non-talented so call artists today before they get a contract.

46-TITANIUM-Damn Van you really letting shit out the bag?

VANSILK- that's is the problem today to many losers running around on empty air. Let's face the real issue who really losing? THE FANS. Paying hard earn money for garbage. Man niggas need to be real in life and take it as it come. If some don't agree, then that to fucking bad I hate to have pull up some niggas skirts, but life is life. I like seeing niggas skirts get pulled up. Then you see what really going on. Ashanti, Mya and these other talented sisters should get the same amount of love as Britney, Pink & Jessica Simpson and who ever else is living well because of their race. AT ONE TIME I couldn't stand Mary J as artists. Over the years I began to like her a lot. She the real QUEEN I love that woman to death. She survive the struggle, so did Toni Braxton she real family comes 1st. But the labels are always looking at the bottom line.

47-TITANIUM-So what do you feel is the key to changing the industries outlook on things?

VANSILK-We need a balance, the only job that a black man can achieve in this entertainment industry that carries any respect is being a bodyguard for a star. Or video director, and the so called manager or boutique record deals given out by the major labels. Who in hand still call the shots and control everything. All these boutique labels do is all the legwork. And as for the bodyguards, believe me I RESPECT any one who will put their life on the line for someone who supposed to be popular. Some artist need bodyguards because of the lifestyle they lead before coming into this industry. The street game is still in effect no matter who you are. Then some need protection because of crazy ass fans out here. The industry needs to give more blacks the same chances as they give all the ASHTON KUSTNER's and RYAN SEACREST's. Having TYRA BANKS hosts a show looking for the next top model, she deserves that. BUT WHAT ABOUT MORE BLACK hosts on PRIME TIME NETWORKS? That will never happen because of the RACISM. There is more RACISM now then during the days of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Some will think we are moving on up to fast, getting to live the good life so soon. Have you noticed the 1st question always asked by a show host is how much money you are making? You never heard that question posed to a white movie star or artist. Just we BLACKS folks who are supposed to still be living like this is the 60's: how many black host are really on MTV? On ESPN we have Stuart Scott. 60 MINUTES Ed Bradley. DAYTIME T.V Wayne Brady and Montel Williams, Oprah don't even count anymore because she achieved what no black person has ever experienced as a talk show host. The view has Star Jones. Why is it that we can't have more than one black on any giving show besides a sitcom? Nighttime talk shows we as black folks don't have shit. BUT SOONER OR LATER THEY WILL FIND SOME TOKEN NIGGER to give the spot to, and then come up with bogus numbers that no one is watching like the did to ARSENIO HALL some years back. Look at him hosting STAR SEARCH, NOW WHO GONNA WATCH SOME SHIT THAT Ed McMahon done ran into the ground. Who really gives a fuck about STAR SEARCH when you have AMERICAN IDOL giving away a million dollars to the winner, it's like smoking crack all night and flipping through the channels and you catch SOUL TRAIN or SHOWTIME at the APOLLO on at 3 AM in the morning.

48-TITANIUM-Van let's call it a night and I'll give you a call in a few days to digest this shit.

VANSILK-Do that because nothing really has changed and this is 2004.

Moonwalkbjrain, this was such an interesting read I had to track down the rest of the interview...

PART 5

49-TITANIUM- so we are back after 3 days of rest, we like to ask you question about your relationship with the pioneers of this culture?

VANSILK-I was never the one to really get close to people. Grandmaster Mele MEL from flash and the furious 5 was one of my closet friends. We did a lot of things together. But as far for us being around each other now, times has changed. We all have grown apart but we all still are family. You talking 25 years of knowing someone, Remember some of us are already grandfathers. My oldest grandchild is already 7 years old, GRANDMASTER FLASH has grandkids, and so does Mele Mel. We have grandkids as old as today's rappers kids. But they will always be my brothers, and to all the pioneering female rappers my sisters. All of us came from the same hood in the South Bronx and we did something that no one will ever give us credit for. The true story of hip-hop has never been told and it seems that no one cares. There have been lot of lies told by certain people and they know it all lies. Everyone want to claim that they was there, but it seem that no one has made a true effort to tell the truth about how this really got started. A movie like Brown Sugar was all right. But again here we are giving someone else vision on how hip-hop affect they life's of millions worldwide. It really sad that no one has gotten the creator of this culture and put together a masterpiece documentary of hip hop. I feel sadden of how KOOL HERC, AFRIKA BAMBATTA, FLASH, MEAN GENE, REGGIE WELLS, LOVEBUG STARSKI, COLDCRUSH BROTHERS, FUNKY 4 PLUS 1 and other are feeling now. It's like they never existed at all. And I'm personally going to change that.

50-TITANIUM- How are you going to do that?

VANSILK-Well 1st I have to get everyone of importance on the same page, and make them understand that we are the creator of something that kids today have no idea how it got here. It's like kids today have no clue what MARTIN LUTHER KING or Malcolm X stood for. We are actually fighting to get attention from the powers to be that hip-hop was not an accident. That this is part of America history and culture, but they keep getting it wrong going to the wrong people who had nothing to do with this at all. Since 1990 I had been writing and interviewing the pioneers, the creative force of this culture. So there will enough information for other to research on who did what for hip-hop period. It will be more important to know whom MEAN GENE or who is RAY CHANDLER or even the role FRED "RERUN" BERRY, SHABBA DOO and the SOUL TRAIN dancer had on us in the early 70's. RERUN who had dinner at my house was a wonderful person. We all know he passed in late 2003. But one thing I can say is that we made a bet 6 years ago that he didn't have his outfit from "WHAT HAPPENING". I lost the bet but also own the outfit, including the red beret. CHRIS ROCK borrowed it from me to wear on his CHRIS ROCK show when it was on HBO. So many people have been forgotten, and it sad. But the most important thing to me is that it documented for other to read and have an understanding that what you see on T.V and hear from others isn't always right. A lot of people don't want the truth to be, because it will damage they credibility. THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE!

51-TITANIUM-We know you agreed to answer 100 questions, are you still game to go on?

VANSILK-Yes why not, I already committed myself. I hope no one get mad at me. But you know what Henny will do to a nigga. IT'S ALL-GOOD.

52-TITANIUM-You had mention Pam Grier earlier, how did you come to meet her. Most niggas have dreams of being in her company?

VANSILK- that's really a touchy subject, but Pam is like family. She uses to date one of my friends. To be honest he put her through a lot of drama. I really felt for her. She would call my house upset over how he was treating her. I know I shouldn't be saying this. But she deserved better. Pam is such a wonderful person. With all she has done for black women and the movies she did. Pam is a legend in her own time. We spend Christmas and had dinner together some years back. Meaning Pam and her boyfriend and myself and my lady at the time the Original Spinderella. We did a lot together as friends and I would like to leave this subject alone. That's family and it getting too personal.

53-TITANIUM- I can respect that my brother

VANSILK-THANK YOU.

54-TITANIUM-So since we can get no more details about Ms Pam Grier, what about you and Irene Cara who stared in the movie SPARKLE?

VANSILK- That a new one to me. IRENE was fine as hell, but she was one of the co-host for my RAPMANIA hip-hop special that all nothing else. It was business.

55-TITANIUM-One more, we also heard about the soap actress from ONE LIFE OT LIVE "DELIAH" who was on the show in the early 90's?

VANSILK- Man not to many niggas know about that, but nothing went on with her either. Afrika Islam and me took her into the studio to cut a track on her. We met at a function with Robert DeNIRO and we just became friends. AND IF ANYTHING DID GO DOWN, WHAT MAKE YOU THINK I will tell anyway. Man can't we get off this subject. I feel like you did too much digging now.

56-TITANIUM-OK, but I did have one more to ask you about for real?

VANSILK-save your breath for real

57-TITANIUM-Well lets get back to some other things that we haven't touched on yet. I want to clear the air about certain thing I found out. Is it true that you were a JEHOVAH Witness?

VANSILK- I was at one time, my parents and grandmother are Jehovah Witness I was raised from birth into that religion, but left when I was around 17 years old. And this is the end of this topic. I don't want to talk about this at all. It's personal.

58-TITANIUM-It seem like the last few question, we touched a nerve?

VANSILK-No. certain thing I would rather not discuss. That really getting too personal into my family life. When you discuss music & business with me, then it different. But I do talk about it in my book.

59-TITANIUM-I also found out that you were a manager for some of the most important hip hop groups?

VANSILK-True that. That was something I really enjoy doing at one time, but as I got older. I had no time to deal with all the drama that came with managing artists. It more like opening a daycare center for spoiled brats. But dealing with certain groups at one time or another back then was fun. How HIPHOP survived back then was that the promoters really were the manager for the group they promoted the most. Ray chandler had flash and the furious5, Mike & Dave had the CRASHCREW, BOOGIE BOYS, ROB BASE, BIZ MARK and others. Bambatta had all his groups who were ZULU AFFILATED. I had started DOUGIE FRESH; I discovered and gave the FORCE MD's their break at HARLEM WORLD. Dougie use to hang out at my store on 120thst and 8thave.everyday rappin him and his dancer Loose BRUCE. Doug was like 14 or 15 years old bugging me everyday to let him get on the stage at HARLEM WORLD. Also my other groups were MASTERDON & the Death Committee they made the song that MASTER P recorded. Originally it was called FUNKBOXX. But P used the part (MAKE YOU SAY UHH.) I also had Rock master Scott &THE DYNAMIC 3. They 2 biggest song were the roof, the roof, the roof is on fire, and the other is called REQUEST LINE- DJ PLEASE GET ON THE PHONE YOU ON THE REQUEST LINE. Also the FUNKY FOUR PLUS ONE when they were on Sugar hill records. Plus my time with Grandmaster Flash and the furious 5. I was like always there manager or acting manager for either some off the group or certain members. I always got them into something. There was other like TORA SUBER & DENA HEAD who played for the WNBA. LELE from SWV made that happen for me, then I started managing LELE after SWV broke up. But my patience for managing was no longer. After giving over 300-rap show from the early days and all .I was totally burnt out for real. Plus I had other things I wanted to do in life. You have to remember there were many other group that I had my hands in also. Quick Silver & the Super Lovers which turn out to be Hurby Azor and Play from Kid and Play. Then I had Vandy C & Bill Blast. Man you bring to many memories up. But I do talk about all my former groups in my book coming out. Even when ERIC B &RAKIM was sign to ZAKIA Records, which was on 125thst.And owned by ROBERT HILL Eric was hungry and ask me one time to put them down. Then I had BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTION coming to me looking for a deal at Spring Records. The RIFKINDS wouldn't let me sign them or JAZZY JEFF & the FRSH PRINCE. The ended up with Barry Weiss at JIVE Records who at the time was located on 86th st and Lexington ave. Barry had like 2 office running that label. All Lawrence and Dana Goodman from Philly wanted for that record was like $3,000.00 and that was a lot back then for a single to get picked up. We had Teddy Riley who did B-fats Wop it. We had Ice-t who was looking for a deal around 1988 on the east coast. He had some singles out already like 6 in the morning. HE and all the west coast rapper was dealing with MACOLA records on located on Santa MONICA Blvd. DON Mc MILLIAM was the owner and he pressed the vinyl right there. I think they were getting like a dollar fro each 12inch single sold. ICE-T, TODDY T, DREAM TEAM, and EGYPTIAN LOVER are the real west coast pioneers and let not forget ALOZO WILLIAMS. We talk mid 80's for these guys now.

60-TITANIUM-Hold on one second, man now you really blowing my mind with all this information. No one has ever gone this deep into an interview?

VANSILK- Well that the reason niggas fear me because of my knowledge of hip-hop. My life would have been different if I had the chance to sign them. That is why my attitude is the way it is now. I have forgotten and forgave them, but again I was hired to do a job then, and never got the chance to sign what came through our door. I don't blame the Rifkinds at all. Man Steve Rifkinds even had a rap cartoon on at the time called STREET FROGS. This was a cartoon about RAPPING FROGS. The cartoon producers RANKIN-BASS gave Him a chance to make his dream come true. He was ahead of his time, but at least he got the chance to make it become a reality. So a lot of groups I couldn't sign, they ended up going to RUSSELL SIMMONS or somewhere else. RUSSELL was building an empire him and HEIDI SMITH. So if I couldn't get you, he will grab them or they try some place else. Remember 1985 there wasn't to many labels that would touch rap music. So a lot of these old time record labels owners started popping up again. Starting new labels for rap. These are the same owners who had artists JACKIE WILSON, FRANKIE LYMON and many artists from the 50's & 60"s and 70's,now was rap music was the new game in town.

Now rap music had no outlet as far the music industry go. PAUL WINLEY (WINLEY RECORDS), BOBBY ROBINSON (ENJOY) JOE and SYLVIA ROBINSON (SUGARHILL), JULES AND ROY RIFKIND (SPRING) AND JOHNNY SOUL (SOUL ON WAX) gave birth to RAP MUSIC on WAX. But we talking like 1979, we been doing this for like 7 or 8 years already. No matter what anyone says the most important rap recording is on these pioneering labels. Then we had Peter Brown who had SPONNY GEE. Then Gene Griffin had SOUND OF NEW YORK label, he was the manager of GUY and TEDDY Riley's mentor. Gene griffin in his day was a monster. He controls whatever he wanted to do. Gene used to have an office downtown on 59th street the building was owned by my father cousin CHARLES HUGGINS. Melba Moore ex husband. CHARLES HUGGINS who ran his company is the original player. Charles Huggins came to one of my show at BROADWAY INTERNATIONAL one night in his ROLLS. Mick JAGGER came uptown; the house was packed to the hill. It was a show we did with GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIUOS 5. LEON BRILL was the owner of BROADWAY INTERNATIONAL, LEON will go out and helped myself and the late DONALD D (who discovered SWV) promote our show posting posters all over the Bronx, Harlem and Brooklyn. LEON BRILL took me downtown one day to his daughter apartment in Manhattan, and then he said he had a son who was starting a T.V SHOW called COURT TV. NOW ISN'T THAT SOME GANGSTA SHIT GOING HERE.

61-TITANIUM-Now I see why niggas are frightened of you. You are a walking hip-hop historian. So what else happen as who did what and all that good shit? Man you telling me shit way beyond anything I ever expected.

VANSILK- my book is off the fuckin hook, what make thing crazy other pioneers story is probably better than mines. But getting back to things since I'm open to talk now. Things were changing in the game, Russell Simmons got RUNDMC together it was only RUN AND DMC that it. . Jay wasn't into the picture yet. Actually KOOL DJ A.J was djing for RUN DMC. But after thing had change from uptown to downtown there was a club called the ROXY's located on 515 w 18thst. STEVE HANEL was the owner of the ROXYS. Now everyone went on Friday nights. Friday night we had over 2,000 people on the dance floor. The VIP LOUNGE consists of whoever was hot at the time MICK JAGGER and his wife. SYLEVESTER, Kool and the GANG, Name it they was there. But the house belongs to AFRIKA BAMBATTA, AFRIKA ISLAM. DST, JAZZY JAY and RED ALERT they were the dj. FLASH, MELE MEL, RUSSELL SIMMONS, ANDRE HARELL, FULL FORCE, UTFO, and FATBOYS, all the rappers started hanging at the ROXY's. Back then coke was the thing, and believe me there were many hundred dollars bills fill to the fold. Lady BLUE and FAB 5 FREDDY had taken hip-hop downtown. After lady blue and Freddy left, Vito Bruno ran Friday's night. I had to figure a way to get in and get that paper for all these people coming in and paying 20 dollars to hear rap music. So Vito Bruno and Steve Hanel the owner had a fallen out, and guess what VANSILK was the man now running Friday night. The 1st thing I did was cut the quest list from like 600 people to like 200 free people. Then it was on, I did all kind of shows in that place. Bonds international was hot on 45th and Broadway and Rose land ballroom was making some noise also, and let not forget the FUNHOUSE which was on 25th st and 10thave. But hate came into the game; the other clubs were booking the rapper from NORBY WALTERS, the booking agency from the main agent CARA LEWIS. But Cara got mad at me because I didn't have to go through her to book any rap group. I put most of these groups on, or did their 1st shows. Plus my price was different. I GOT A LOT OF RUSSELL SIMMONS groups for free, STEVE SALEM who passed not to long ago) managed ROXANNE, UTFO, WHISTLE, and FULL FORCE gave me a price break .My theory was fuck CARA LEWIS. But NORBY and his son RICHARD WALTERS understood the game and knew my background. But when I had to go to them to book certain shows I did. They respected the game. Plus they were booking every black act that was out. I personally was not going to be gangsta by anyone.

62-TITANIUM- I notice you use the N word a lot.

VANSILK- Personally I apologized to anyone who is offended by it I get offended by it also. But now we have all kind of niggas out here. We have Mexican niggas, Puerto Rican niggas, Jewish niggas, Italian niggas and so on. But if you come at me and say what up nigga and we tight it ok. But to come at me from another race and call me nigga, we got problems. But in the long term of it all, we all need to stop using that word, it has a long history which many of us is not respecting.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The link for PART 6 just points back to PART 5.
I've sent them an email so hopefully they'll fix it.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm
[Edited 7/6/05 22:11pm]

ohh cool man thanx..i was wonderin if the rest of the parts was even out yet, where'd u find 5?

Moonwalkbjrain said:

They're all listed here: http://redzonedj.com/octo...dition.htm

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

An ode to ignorance, may I ask who is this Van Silk, and why should I care?

UncleGrandpa said:

I plead ignorance right with you when it comes to Rap & Hip Hop history.
To hear him tell it, he's one of the pioneers of the genre.
Maybe some of the more educated orgers on the subject can shed some light on this.

I just thought it was an interesting read, accurate or not.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

Hey fellas, Thanks a mill for posting this interview. This is one of the best reads I've seen on the Org in a while. This guy knows his stuff and it would be cool to see a movie made about his life (ala "Goodfellas" or "Scarface").

what I know of this cat is he is an old school promoter who used to promote club and park gigs for alot of pioneer hip hop acts...he was responsible for producing 2 pay ppreview hip hop concerts in the ealry 90's RapMania and Sister's In The Name Of Rap I believe he is married to The Original Spinderella (Latoya Hanson).
[Edited 7/6/05 17:24pm]

boriquateddy said:

he was but not anymore..and yea spyzfan it would be hot to make it a movie..maybe someone will

Moonwalkbjrain said:

he's not married to her no more???? I remember in the late 80's he was married to female rapper Dutchezz...and I think Spin broke that up kind of like how she was trying to make moves on Hurby back in the Salt N'Pepa days.

boriquateddy said:

nope nolonger married see

VAN SILK- Same shit different day. There is this one female I'm feeling right now, but I don't know how to come at her at the moment. And believe me, she is off the meters.

26-TITANIUM-So this mean you are single, I thought you were with the Original Spinderella?

VAN SILK-We was together for 13 years, and she broke out. That's my heart, but she a very strong minded person and she really never got to know me. She was there for the good and bad. But my personal life with her will be kept out of the public eye. We had something that was good for the times we were together. Plus my love always will be for the baby.

Got this email reply from RedZone regarding Part 6 of the Van Silk interview...

"It will be finished soon, no problem, it was a great interview."

...

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

theAudience said:

ohh cool, good lookin out man..i can't wait to read it