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| Andreas_Hale |
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 Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:09 am Post subject: Full Transcript of Wordsmith/Nas' A&R Conference Call! |
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News Story Can Be Found Here!
Original Story (Nas' "Surviving the Times" Stolen From Another Emcee?)
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5797/title.nas-surviving-the-times-stolen-from-another-emcee
Current Story (Wordsmith Retracts Statement About Stolen Nas Track)
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5816/title.wordsmith-retracts-statement-about-stolen-nas-track
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Mike: I’ll start. The thing first and foremost, I saw a headline that said Nas stole something from another emcee, which is a harsh allegation to put out there. I want to get to the facts, that’s really where I’m coming from with it. I don’t know if it came from your blog, or HipHopDX put it [out that way], but that’s a harsh allegation to say somebody stole something.
Wordsmith: I can answer that first question, before we go any further. I wasn’t even going to reply; I didn’t reply until two or three days after [I heard “Surviving the Game”]. I was getting a lot of calls, a lot of responses Internet-wise. People were saying, “[Nas] stole the track,” so and so forth, and at the time, I didn’t even know who produced it. I want to make it clear that I am a huge Nas fan, on top of that. That’s the way it was being portrayed…HipHopDX had nothing to do with it at this point, that’s the way it was portrayed on the Internet, out here on the radio in Baltimore…so finding out that Chris Webber produced the track, I do have information, in regards to Chris Webber, that he does know my music and has heard my track, as far back as May. I felt the need to issue my statement, Mike, because of the of response out there and the information that I knew of, Webber knowing of my track. It’s just crazy to me that he produced and arranged something the same exact way as my producer Strada.
Mike: There’s two different instances we’re talking about here. We’re saying the track was arranged the same way that your track is arranged, but the song is from a [sample] that’s arranged exactly that way. You guys are sayin’ that, whether it was Chris Webber or Nas, that they listened to your record and created a composition from that, when going from the original song is what they did, and made a song from that. It’s a straight loop. The sample and our song are the same. The hook is exactly the same. So I’m just really concerned about the allegation; that’s a harsh allegation.
Wordsmith: Mike, I totally understand that. On the arrangement tip, what I’m not believing, is that another producer is gonna use the same “What Would I Do” as the loop.
Mike: That’s the hook of the song.
Wordsmith: I understand that, but when you’re taking something from scratch to sample, you’re not gonna be like, “Oh, that’s the hook of the song, let me use that too.” To me, another producer is gonna have ideas of his own. It’s like an artist listening to a beat, you’re gonna have your ideas of what that beat is telling you, what that song is about, anything like that. For me to know that Chris Webber was hearing my song, as far back as May, because he was hitting my MySpace…
Mike: That, I don’t know nothing about.
Wordsmith: Have you talked to Chris Webber at all up until this point in time?
Mike: My concern is that that the accusation doesn’t say, “Chris Webber stole…”, the accusation says, “Nas stole the MC’s song.” That’s what it says.
Wordsmith: I understand that, Mike. On my side, I know that I addressed Chris Webber and Nas. I’m trying to be a professional; I didn’t attack Nas or anything. I understand, you’re reading more into the headline, and I understand that that’s a harsh accusation. I’m not sure if you got to read my statement, but if you read it, I put in there firmly, that I’m not attacking Nas. I’m not attacking Chris Webber. I’m just here to state the facts, and most of it is speculation and so forth. I’m asking you to look past the headline.
Mike: You cannot get past that ‘cause that’s the major statement. If you’re asking me to look past the headline, then that means that shouldn’t have been the headline.
Wordsmith: That’s the way it was portrayed. I’m gonna be honest with you, that’s the way that people are looking at it, and that’s the way people are feeling about it, which will ultimately decide the outcome, in my eyes. It was already taken there before I even said anything, Mike. The most I can do is give you some information as to why or how I think Chris got the idea. I didn’t even know he produced, till recently. Now I know he produced on Nas’ Hip Hop is Dead album.
Mike: I don’t know anything about Chris being on your site. I know when the record came in, I know where the sample is from, and I know how it was created.
Wordsmith: Were you present when Chris created the beat? Was Nas?
Mike: We were talking about the track ‘cause I had an idea, he went and brought the beat back. It ain’t have nothin’ to do with… Nas is a movie-head. We were talking about a movie, and it came in from there. There’s two different issues here too. You’re [also] saying that Nas’ lyrics are derived from what you said in your song. That’s a whole ‘nother subject that we didn’t even get on yet.
DX: Strada, you’re on the phone. You hear what’s being said. You produced the Wordsmith track. Mike is saying it’s a popular concept, and so on. Can you just speak on what’s going on in your mind with this all?
Strada: As Words said, we created that track a year or so ago, and we had the beat for a while. I decided to give it to Words. It is a sample that people can recognize --
Mike: Before we continue, I’m looking at your blog now, it says, “The piano, horn and bassline are exactly the same as my producer laid his.” That’s the sample! Your producer didn’t lay that.
Strada: That is the sample, definitely.
Mike: Then why are you saying that?
Wordsmith: ‘Cause when a producer produces a track, it’s hard for me to believe it would be the exact same way my producer produced it. Your gonna flip it another way, that’s why it’s a sample. It wasn’t flipped any other way.
Mike: The elements are the same; you can’t get around. Then you went as far as to say you registered with ASCAP; you guys aren’t the owners of the record. The first thing ASCAP is gonna ask you is “What’s the publishing splits [between you and Motown Records]?” How would you register a record without publishing splits?
Wordsmith: My record is registered with ASCAP. The publishing is under mine.
Mike: Who’s the original writer of the music?
Wordsmith: We know it’s Nipsey Russell from The Wiz. We know he’s the original; I’m not denying it. I’ll tell you right here – no, we didn’t get cleared right now, ‘cause we didn’t have plans of putting it out right now. I know you have a December 1st release date. But Mike, we’re jumping ahead. If you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to my man Strada here, puttin’ in his little input.
DX: I’m going to interject here. Mike, you’re saying this is a harsh allegation. What would you like to see done?
Mike: If you guys were to post a blog, that says you used a sample first, whatever, that’s something that happens in the music business. But “Nas stole” is a harsh allegation. On top of that, it’s like, “Okay, well Nas’ song is similar to mine…” It’s two different allegations.
Wordsmith: If we’re talking about the beat, I want to address Chris Webber, the producer of this track, ‘cause you’re not answering my question. Were you guys present when he made this beat?
Mike: No, I wasn’t present.
Wordsmith: How did the beat arrive in y’all hands?
Mike: Chris brought the beat in.
Wordsmith: Did Chris say to Nas anything about, “I think we should go in this direction with this track?’ Or was it strictly Nas? ‘Cause my track is how Hip Hop needs to survive, not letting it fade away.
Mike: Nas isn’t talking about Hip Hop surviving! He’s talking about his life.
Wordsmith: That’s what I did.
Mike: You could say that Nas made a whole album off of your song then. Chris wasn’t present when the song was written.
DX: Words, what would like to see happen?
Wordsmith: I guess I just wanted an explanation. I just wanted to be shot down, to be honest with you. I’m not here to assassinate Nas’ or Chris Webber’s character.
DX: Mike, have you had experiences before in your career?
Mike: Nah, I’ve never been in a conversation like this, with an accusation saying somebody stole something. Never.
DX: What kind of resolution can we get here?
Wordsmith: Well…Nas is coming is out. Obviously, Nas is a bigger artist. This is going on his Greatest Hits album. The version I have is an unofficial, ‘cause I felt like the game needed it, the same way Nas dropped “Hip Hop is Dead” ‘cause he felt like the game needed it. So me being an underground artist on the rise and so forth, it’s disheartening when you hear something so similar, you know what I mean? Like I said, you said what you said, Mike, and I’ll take it for what it is, and I don’t doubt nothing else.
Mike: I hope that you have valid proof to justify all that…
Wordsmith: Chris knows a guy named Neil Dopson. Neil’s girlfriend is Chris’ cousin. Like I said, Chris was sent a link to my Myspace in May, along wit Neil Dopson. You can talk to Chris, if you have his number. I have facts for this; I have a source for this. I wouldn’t have spoken without some sort of evidence. I’m not trying to kill myself before my career starts, that’s just stupid. I’m not speaking so much out of turn as you might think, Mike. I’m just not. It’s just disheartening…when we have a December release. We went back a redid with no samples. I’m a Nas fan. Nas dropped his joint, okay, cool, you go ‘head and do your thing. I’m coming out with mine, and I don’t want my joint to be similar to something Nas did. Who are most people gonna look at? “Oh, you’re bitin’ from Nas!” Luckily, for my situation, it’s been 50/50 down the middle, with people pickin’ sides. I don’t know how you totally feel about me, I don’t know how you feel about Strada, I know you don’t like the accusation that was made, but I’m tellin’ you, that’s how it was put out there. Me and Strada talked, what we would be interested in doing, if it could happen, is…to know so there’s no bad blood, and so it’d be good for Hip Hop, is to do a remix or something with me and Nas.
Mike: Nah, that’s not gonna happen.
Wordsmith: That’s fine. I’m cool with that. That’s your answer, I’m cool.
Mike: To me, this seems like some kind of a publicity stunt.
Wordsmith: I’m already out there. I performed this song at SOB’s [in New York]. It was everywhere. People was defending me, that’s why I issued a statement. Why not? … Let me ask you, what do you want me to do on my end as far as rectifying the issue?
Mike: My initial problem is the statement that said Nas stole something from another emcee, so I definitely need a retraction; you can address it the way you want to address it, but that’s ridiculous.
Wordsmith: I will definitely retract the statement; I have no problem doing it. I want peace in this issue. I give you my word. Take my quote on that. I apologize for that headline. It wasn’t a headline I created, it was a headline I went with. I retract that, I’m not trying to kill Nas’ or Chris’ character, I’m not.
Mike: It could have been easily. You could have addressed this exactly how you’re speaking now, and move forward.
Wordsmith: On my end, I just wanted peace in the situation. I’m glad to talk to you, Mike. I’m hoping there aren’t no hard feelings in the situation, ‘cause that’s not what I want. I am a huge Nas fan, and I will continue to support Nas. This was not a publicity stunt. I’d rather do it own my own; I’ve been working hard on my own without using this situation, and it turned out what it turned out to be because of the fans. I’m just asking you, in the end, I’m retracting my statement. Let the people say whatever they’re going to say when they read this story. Either they’ll be like, “Words, you’re a fake; you did a publicity stunt.” I accept that. I’m a man. I know why I made a statement. Everybody gotta deal with controversy. I accept whatever comes to me.
DX: Thank the three of you.
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"If I don't like it I don't like it that don't mean that I'm hatin"
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Last edited by Andreas_Hale on Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:55 am; edited 1 time in total
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| S.Y. Young |
The man who will be king
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
Posts: 8279
Location: Im studying 1-20 right now, call me back at the god hour.
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:13 am Post subject: |
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i didnt feel like reading through all that blue and red text.
can someone break this situation down in about 6 sentences or less.
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| Naru Shikamaru |
The Don
Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 6297
Location: ..On Life On Wax, hungering for the sweet taste of success.
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:24 am Post subject: |
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Well, I read the whole thing.
Wordsmith was disheartened that a track VERY similar to his was released by Nas/Chris Webber. A track that featured the same sample, the same arrangement, same hook.
Mike however, tried to chalk this up as coincidence, and had an attitude about the accusation of Nas "stealing" a song from another MC.
DX Was mediating.
I dont know what was accomplished, but Mike seemed to be a little too defensive for my tastes. I can't be the only one that caught that vibe from him.
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Say Hello To The Bad Guy.
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| S.Y. Young |
The man who will be king
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
Posts: 8279
Location: Im studying 1-20 right now, call me back at the god hour.
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:25 am Post subject: |
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please dont tell me nas is getting MORE beats from chris webber.
i mean it IS possible that the shit got stole, i mean just because hes nas doesnt mean shit couldnt happen. 
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| |3for5 |
Madvillain
Joined: 03 Sep 2002
Posts: 16568
Location: interchangeable and upgradeable
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:41 am Post subject: |
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interesting article.
producers gotta keep their shit off myspace and shit these days. i swear ghost producers spend days just going around biting ish.
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im da bozz
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| S.Y. Young |
The man who will be king
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
Posts: 8279
Location: Im studying 1-20 right now, call me back at the god hour.
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:51 am Post subject: |
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| m3g@!!1 wrote: | interesting article.
producers gotta keep their shit off myspace and shit these days. i swear ghost producers spend days just going around biting ish. |
<------------does this.
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| Biggums |
Pimp Nutz
Joined: 01 Nov 2006
Posts: 4965
Location: New York
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:51 am Post subject: |
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*Prints out verses from the cipher*
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"Ain't no livin' person can test him
Only two restin' in heaven can be mentioned in the same breath as him" -Jay-Z
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| S.Y. Young |
The man who will be king
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
Posts: 8279
Location: Im studying 1-20 right now, call me back at the god hour.
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:53 am Post subject: |
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*bites the beat that nas and wordsmith are fighting about and puts it out immediately*
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| Dee |
The Don
Joined: 06 Mar 2004
Posts: 2440
Location: Toronto/UK
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:04 am Post subject: |
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Meh....There is always a case for tranferance in hip hop.....
Samples are used in almost exactly the same way in so many cases....
As per the arrangement....same argument...
i cant see any mainstream artist risking it....nonetheless an artist of integrity like nas....but stranger things have happened...
They are talking about the song "blunt ashes" I presume, seeing as its th eonly one cwebb produced on HHID....the song isnt actually about the whole Hip hop being dead theme tho, so i cant see how nas bit THAT idea for THIS song...
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| NME |
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:31 am Post subject: |
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| S.Y. Young wrote: | | *bites the beat that nas and wordsmith are fighting about and puts it out immediately* |
That would be way too fucking funny.
Celph Titled should do it.
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| Ill-Matic |
Capo
Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 1347
Location: The Dungeons of Rap, where fake niggas don't make it back...
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:41 am Post subject: |
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| Biggums wrote: | | *Prints out verses from the cipher* |
Just watch which ones you print out...
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| CTL wrote: | | Your Friendly Neighborhood MC, Ill-Matic! |
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| Mittens2317 |
Made man
Joined: 21 Dec 2006
Posts: 207
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:46 am Post subject: |
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That Mike's a blatant amateur. Words, you coulda ate him alive. He didn't know what he was talking about, just repeating something over and over again. I doubt he was even listening to anyone else. His job that day was to get an underground emcee to retract a statement he made about a commercial rapper, and in typical industry style, he did it with such blatant ignorance and disregard for facts. He refused to acknowledge anything said by Words, and completely cut off Strada. Fuck this guy. Wordsmith should not have caved. I'm a Nas fan myself, but if his producer c&p'd my track, I'd go all out. It shoulda been made clear that the problem was with Chris Webber, coz sir Arse & Rhubarb's only real concern was Nas. He didn't give a fuck about Webber.
And btw, Wordsmith, I never knew you were an emcee, so I'm glad this happened, coz your shit's pretty ill. Folding like you did though is summat you should avoid if you're tryna make it big..
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| Hollyw00d |
The Don
Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 4851
Location: Why don't you bring yo ass on ova to Crenshaw and Slauson?
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:00 am Post subject: |
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This is some dumb bullshit.
*moves on*
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| 4th-Dimensional Trip |
You've Got Maelstrom
Joined: 16 Apr 2004
Posts: 8046
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:32 am Post subject: |
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| Naru Shikamaru wrote: | | I dont know what was accomplished, but Mike seemed to be a little too defensive for my tastes. I can't be the only one that caught that vibe from him. |
You have to understand his situation and the seriousness of the allegations that were made, Mike Brinkley is Nas's A&R. Someone was accusing HIS prominent artist of essentially "stealing" a song. Nas's artistic credibility is being attacked here and allegations like this have possibility of permanently damaging not only Nas's future, but as an A&R, Brinkley's as well.
On a directly related note, I haven't heard the Wordsmith version but damn, the local Hip-Hop station, played that new Nas joint tonight for the first time and it's really, really dope.
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| Perceptionist |
Scummy Bastard
Joined: 09 Feb 2004
Posts: 6869
Location: I'm so hood 30 inches on the chevrolet
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:32 am Post subject: |
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| Dee wrote: |
They are talking about the song "blunt ashes" I presume, seeing as its th eonly one cwebb produced on HHID....the song isnt actually about the whole Hip hop being dead theme tho, so i cant see how nas bit THAT idea for THIS song... |
Nah they're talking about a song off his new album out in Dec.
Might have been stolen, probably coincidence. But Wordsworth asking for a collaboration with Nas at the end was a bit much.
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