Video network Vevo teamed up with Public Enemy’s Chuck D to celebrate 50 years of hip-hop. There will be programming including “Legends In Concert,” “Hip-Hop International,” “2K Hip-Hop Legends,” and more. The world’s leading video network will also collaborate with a hefty, yet, impressive list of hip-hop artists with appearances throughout 2023 from legends such […]
In remembering the legacy of the legendary Juice Crew member Biz Markie, we came across this rare freestyle sent to us by 2Mex consisting of Biz Markie, 2Mex, Chu Chu, Trenseta, Aceyalone, Tray Loc, MC Serch, Sesquipedalien 48.
On the most recent episode of Revolt’s Drink Champs, N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN chopped it up with white rapper pioneer MC Serch, founder of rap trio 3rd Bass and Serchlight Publishing, the company name dropped in Jay-Z’s Nas diss “Takeover”.
With Serch being a living legend in the rap game, there were many historic Hip Hop moments touched on in the interview, including him attending high school with Dana Dane and Slick Rick, his relationship with Eminem and him signing Hip Hop’s second coming of Rakim known as Nasir Jones.
When Jigga sampled Nas’ “The World Is Yours” on his 1996 hit “Dead Presidents”, he insinuated on “Takeover” that he paid MC Serch and Serchlight Publishing for using the sample, thus, Nas receiving no compensation for use of his own voice. Serch says that’s merely rap rumor and if anything, Nas owns a piece of Jay’s catalogue.
“The true story about that that’s really crazy [is] I’m the head of CHR at Def Jam and they’re about to put out Reasonable Doubt,” Serch says. “And it was either Kareem, Dame and JAY — or Dame and JAY — [they] come to my office and say, ‘Hey, you gotta clear this ‘Dead Presidents’ sample.’ I said, ‘OK, no problem, just give me $2,500. But, just know we’re gonna have 25% of your record on the publishing’ and he was like, ‘Alright, cool,’ and that was it. He gave me a check for $2,500. I delivered it to Zomba. But, if you look at the liner notes on ‘Dead Presidents,’ Nas is one of the publishers. So, I said yeah, that line can live as much as it lives, but JAY don’t own a piece of Nas’ catalogue, but Nas owns a piece of JAY’s catalogue. And that’s a fact, though.”
MC Serch was one of the first Jewish emcees to be established in Hip Hop and today he turns 52!
Born May 6, 1967, in Far Rockaway Queens, New York as Michael Berrin, MC Serch is a one of a kind act solidified in hip hop for decades. From being a reality star to having been credited with popularizing the term “The Gas Face,” Serch has stuck it out as a veteran in show business.
First starting out with the group 3rd Bass, he recorded three albums before launching a solo career under Def Jam and recording his premier solo album Return of the Product in 1992. The album featured Billboard Number 1 “Here It Comes” and another hit single “Back to the Grill”, featuring the likes of Chubb Rock and Nas, with whom he is credited with jumpstarting his career. Serch is also responsible for the career of Zev Love X in his pre-DOOM days with KMD.
After retiring his recording career, he also became a staple personality in the radio DJ industry with Detroit’s Hot 102.7 and running his own promotions company Serchlite Music.
From all of us here at The Source, we say happy 52nd, Serch!
Rakim is currently on a press run for his new book Sweat The Technique and has made his rounds to all the notable outlets. During a visit with The Lord Sear Special on Shade 45, a conversation ensued where Lord Sear brought up a controversial moment involving MC Serch allegedly ghostwriting for the God, to which Ra said he’d put the mitts on the 3rd Bass rapper.
In the conversation, Sear asked Rakim about MC Serch’s interview with DJ Vlad where it seemed he said that he was approached to write for Rakim who allegedly had a writer’s block but that wasn’t the case according to the Follow The Leader rapper.
“No disrespect to my man Serch but I will knock my man the f*ck out if he is trying to say that he wrote something or I needed some help. Don’t throw no bullsh*t in the game 40 years later, man. Serch, I love you man but I will knock you the f*ck out, f*cking up my legacy. Don’t do that,” Rakim said.
Serch replied with the swiftness because although Rakim’s threats came with a rare chuckle, it still sounded deadly serious. Serch took to video for the discussion and while Lyor Cohen did indeed ask for the ghostwriting assignment, Eric B. disapproved of the move thus Rakim never knew about it. As it stands, Lord Sear appears to have a brewing beef with MC Serch to contend with and will appear on SiriusXM today to discuss the matter.
Check out the Lord Sear and Rakim interview below. Hit the 13:00-minute mark for the ghostwriting discussion.
What you don’t want to ever want to do is play with the Microphone Fiend and his gift. But that is exactly what MC Serch did when he went on Vlad TV last year and said that Lyor Cohen, then the lead manager at Rush Management, asked him to write some lyrics for Rakim. Rakim needed a ghostwriter? Well, that is exactly what Serch contends.
MC Serch says to Vlad, “… With writing the lyrics for Rakim… I got a call from Lyor. He was managing us. And he was basically like look ‘Rakim has a bit of writers’ block. I know you are cool with Eric B. Could you write some lyrics and maybe get him jump started.”
“So Rakim (even to this day) is the ‘Greatest Emcee’ of all times.” he declares. “So it is a tremendous honor to be asked to write anything for Rakim… to write a word for Rakim… yet alone a song.”
He continues, “So it was easy for me to get into his mind-frame.” That what did the Queens lyricist see in his mind-frame?
“I saw him in my head with Supreme and with his crew: Them stepping to the A.M.” he reveals. “I was yeah. Them stepping to the A.M. that’s dope.” But Eric B did not think it was dope.
Serch tells the story of how Eric B hung up on him after he heard the idea that he wrote something for the god emcee. Somehow he (and we assume Lyor) thought this was a good idea. The result was Eric B never spoke to Serch again.
Ain’t with Rakim’s new book, Sweat the Technique, being released Rakim has finally addressed this ghostwriting controversy at SiriusXM radio.
MC Serch went on someone’s platform and said that he wrote something for you. And you were like ‘what?’ Was that true?”
Rakim smoothly addressed it. “He said he wrote something?”
“I don’t even know if it got to me.”
“Yeah he said that you needed some help. Ra needed help.”
That kind of did it and is actually why Sweat the Technique is an important book to cop. Why? Cause people always sweating the man’s technique.
Ra’s whole being shifted from the otherwise cool and calm collected vet that have grown to know, and showed to the people why he ‘Ain’t No Joke!”
“I mean no disrespect to my man Serch. But I will knock my man the f*ck out if he is trying to say that he wrote something or that I needed some help. Don’t throw no bullsh*t in the game 40 years later. Serch I love you but I will knock you the f*ck out, f*cking up my legacy. Don’t do that. Never.”
Hopefully, this was all a misunderstanding on management’s part and there is no love lost between the two parties.
When asked on Twitter who is his favorite rapper of all times, Serch still contends: Rakim.
Music executive Dan Herman is on a Kanye West-esque rant right now. The hip-hop veteran has relied on social media for the last 48 hours to rip rap game pioneer MC Serch with a slew of accusations.
Since the weekend, Dan has flooded his Twitter feed with Serch disses claiming everything from him being a snitch to stealing money with a kickstarter campaign.
According to reports, Herman has also leaked private messages and e-mails connected to Serch.
Dan Herman has become an advocate for The Circle Foundation and he is working with them to do a Mac Miller tribute album. Herman says he reached out to MC Serch, who only gave him the runaround, prompting Herman to do research on him, now accusing the man of only using his Kickstarter campaign to pay his rent. In addition to this, Dan Herman is taunting MC Serch on Twitter, leaking emails and text messages, in hopes of exposing Serch. (HHV)
Herman is most known for launching his Chinga Chang Records nearly 20 years ago and having close-knit hip-hop relationships.
Chinga Chang Records is a Philadelphia-based independent hip hop label. Founded by CEO Dan Herman in 2003, Chinga Chang has released music by artists including Kool G Rap and Lil Scrappy, including the Kool G Rap album Half a Klip in 2007.[1] The label has also released two mixtapes, which include previously unreleased music by artists such as KRS-One, Ras Kass, Big Pun, and Sean Price. (Wikipedia)
