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Ras Kass Letter From Jail ..
To All:
First of all, I want to say thank you to my family and friends for all their support. Everyone who signed the “Free Ras Kass” petition, I consider you family; thank you, whole heartedly. I’m extremely appreciative to my homey’s West Coast to East who rode with me. I eluded the California Department of Corrections long enough to record and possibly release my music. I’m indebted to Kristi & Jo (Asti Management), Paul (allhiphop.com), Spon (RasKass-Central.com), 6 and Scipio ( Re-Up Ent.), Storm, Science, Dr No & Jason (Perfect Storm), C.L, Drew & Tone (Digi-Wax/ Stay Laist) and my attorney Randy Cutler of Cutler & Sedlmayer. Fuck Priority. Forever. With an AID’s- infected dildo. Especially Wendy Goldstein and Andrew Shack to name, a few. A great thanks to Bonsu for giving me a National platform to get some awareness out about what I was going through. One Love XXL, as well as 4 Corners, Murder Dog, and Eric Cubeechee at 100.3 the Beat. I won’t soon forget that. (Tung ha, you’re Re-up)
Since it’s no mystery where I am now, I do feel the need to clarify what it is I was fighting for, or as some saw it, running from. Also, to give an update as to the progress we made……
As those close to me know, I never had a problem serving my “debt to society”. I broke the law. I got caught. ‘Nuff said. God forgives- the State of California does not. Well, Robert Downey Jr. Maybe.
What I fought against was the systematic undermining of my economic wellbeing. The politics within the racist machine known as Priority/ Capital Records who, for 5 years, binded me in a recording contact but never fulfilled their part-promoting and distributing an album. Now ask yourself, “if I couldn’t get these people to put out an album nor would they agree to allow me to record elsewhere-how do I eat?!” compound that with the fact that anybody who tried to help was also slapped in the face. Platinum producers and artists who have not been paid in 2 years! Don’t believe me? Ask Mike City or Xzibit. Priority’s reputation as a garbage label and a plantation is common knowledge. Former employees will tell you the same. Ironically, when I expressed concern that I wasn’t being given a fair chance, Priority’s executives branded me “hard to deal with!” then ‘drunk!’ I was even told I was “too smart for my own good”. Whoa!
Anyway, needless to say, when Priority pulled this most recent bullshit and reneged, my entire album disappeared! 1.2 million dollars and 5 years worth of my wasted talent. If I’m black balled, so be it. But fuck them.
As of now it appears I’m finally free. Thank God, it looks like I can finally close the chapter of my life at the plantation, Priority. This August, Ras Kass presents ‘The Re-Up’ release. It’s a compilation that reminds me of a West coast Version of Nas’ the lost tapes. A lot of random shit and an introduction to my man Scipio. Next, the album I recorded while a fugitive, Catch Me If Can releases on Landspeed. Strictly spit. Mixtape Street shit. In the meantime and in between time the albums Priority “lost” will probably find their way to ya local bootlegger. There’s Van Gogh and Goldyn Chyld with beats by Rockwilder, Premiere, Dr Dre, Scott Storch, Hi Tek, Rick Rock and Mike City to mention a few. Its pure fire. Shamed it was wasted at corny ass Priority.
Anyway, I’m in this 2 man cell here in Bakers-field, CA. Its like 110 degree out here and my celly’s a crackhead. We get two hot meals a day and a peanut-butter & jelly sandwich for lunch. We’re in the cell about 23 hours a day. Shower every other day and there are NO phone privileges here. Fuck the rap songs and videos young people. Jail is not COOL! I’m blessed, ²²²²²s is in here doing way more time than me. Just yesterday somebody recognized me, told me to get out & drop some hot shit then told me he had to serve 30-life. That’s real.
To my folks I should see you sometime late in 2004. Haters, we wiping yall out. I’m kickin’ rocks.
Ras Kass Aka Tiger Hoods
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"In Loving Memory of my Dad Rigo Guzman"
Sunrise 9-2-1948 Sunset 3-11-2008
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