True Hip-Hop Stories: Homeless Emcee on Vimeo

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1. Doug E Fresh & Slick Rick

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This is the story of a homeless rapper I met on the streets of Brooklyn. I feel for him because it's quite obvious he suffered a great deal as a child. I don't agree with how he lived his life but everyone deserves to be forgiven.

* Adult Language

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JPAZ 2 years ago

This was one of the best ones. Great work.
Distrakt 2 years ago

This was reality of a struggle and true science for those that got it twisted.
His mind is his home.
D-Nice you’re doing a great justice for the children and something important for the preservation of this culture.
Thank you.
Success Jae 2 years ago

Powerful..
jon madison 2 years ago

"everyone deserves to be forgiven". haven't even seen the video yet, but YES. absolutely!
now, on to the video.:)
Majestik 2 years ago

Good work...
jon madison 2 years ago

this was *ill.*.
definitely real talk.
an excellent look into the lives of the homeless, and really, as a black man, i feel that same frustration he does when he gets ignored in the streets, and i'm holding down a corporate job (but am hip hop).

he's teetering the line between choosing what's right and what's wrong. I appreciate his honesty, no doubt.
TheLoveinUs 2 years ago

I agree. it takes a lot for someone to come out and talk about their life, regardless if they are homeless or not--this man gave his all in almost 10 minutes. This touched me also [even if I weren't black], I am sure we all can say there has been times we ignored homeless people because of what we presume about them.

I am also sure that we can look at this video and readjust our outlook on life; not everyone has it easy.
JORGE SCASSA 2 years ago

Stupefacentiiiiiiiii !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dio the Dog 2 years ago

Insane work as always!
Adrian Bryant 2 years ago

This is becoming a favorite destination.
VILLALOBOS 2 years ago

D-Nice, once again exemplifying the merit niceness. Thanks for putting these out again and again.
FIVE5IVE 2 years ago

you definitely feel it and around 7:30 it all comes crashing down: there's a reason why he's doing this. It's so easy to dismiss as glorified violence, etc. but like he said there's a therapeutic element to his hiphop that quells any reactionary urges he might otherwise have to his circumstance. That's something I can respect and relate to because, I don't know about you, but, I don't own any jets or whatever "fifty" is 'singing' about these days...
topicgirl30 2 years ago

WOW!...Now that's REAL TALK
OUXU 2 years ago

REAL
excellent. like i said i love what you are doing. real stories.
Kev 2 years ago

great work. top to bottom. check them post...

slabup.com/2009/03/video-true-hip-hop-stories-homeless.html
charlie dallama 2 years ago

Interesting..but lets be real, this dude is living on the street vs taking care of his SEVEN kids. SEVEN KIDS with no dad. He raps about shooting people with Tecs and has an obvious crack habit (look at his lips).

The world we live in, but this dude is no tender poet to be romanticized.
TheLoveinUs 2 years ago

We aren't "bigging up" [for lack of better phrasing] his lyrics; it is obvious what he is talking about is something that derives from his heartache. Hip-Hop is expressing life as you know it, if this is what his life entails or evokes: he must express it justly. It wouldn't correlate for him to talk about anything other than negativity, he's still homeless with no one to steer him in the right direction.

I'm not sure how big of a hip-hop fan you are, but your music should be 100% reflective of how you FEEL, not a fantasy that doesn't explain who you are. Artists such as Mobb Deep, Nas, etc all spoke of their lives in the ghetto as they know it... And I much rather someone express how they feel [however raunchy], than to glorify violence for money.

Which is why he said that comment about 50 Cent, he obviously feels he was an artist that had a different demeanor before his finances roared. He can't respect it because that's not the life he lives... But what HE DOES live is a life of "shooting people" and "tecs".

That's why I am glad to see D-Nice produced this video to enlighten minds, as opposed to glorifying violence and drugs. Excellent job man.
The Outabodies 2 years ago

Whoa! Since when did you become an expert on this man's life? You assume a lot without asking and throw stones at what he did confess. No one has planned a parade for this man. Why sit in judgement of a person you don't know and never will. That was his point, or did you miss that part.
Blake Whitman 2 years ago

great work man. very real look into this guy.
Maximilian Pittner 2 years ago

excellent work!
OZORIA 2 years ago

Just keeps getting better...Great work D!
FlakeTV 2 years ago

Grand part where he talks about getting ignored during the day and side eyed in the evening. People tend to forget homeless people have feelings too!!

Great piece - a lot of layers! Hope everything turns around for this dude!
Matt 2 years ago

yo this cat is keen on the spoken word. it is really amazing how his mind is still sharp after all that madness, he's been through.
Thanks
Ira D. Paradigm 2 years ago

that was VERY powerful and makes you thing quite a bit. Is there anything we can do to help this man?
Laura 2 years ago

good job..sad story
nikz 2 years ago

Great work, so very powerful. D, are doing a documentary on hip hop? If so, I'm sure it would rock!
Oliver Margrander 2 years ago

wow. amazing. with what camera you shoot this?
The Outabodies 2 years ago

Great work. I really feel for this Brother, and I hope he finds a way through this. This hits home for anyone who has been forced out of one and had to survive in the streets.
Adriana de Barros 2 years ago

Great work indeed. I'll be featuring it today at Scene360.com.
Matt Cordy | U.W.Productions 2 years ago

Superb, good to see someone actually making something worthwhile with the 5DII. Keep them coming!
Glenn Weatherson 2 years ago

This is fucking gold.
Sean Mattison 2 years ago

i can't say anything that hasn't been said already but keep it comin!
Jon Rawlinson 2 years ago

Whoa. This was incredible.

Can I ask how you get such clean audio using the 5DMKII?
Dee Wells 2 years ago

What a story and this cat's story warrants a part 2.

As human beings, we forget to be human.
noid 2 years ago

Am I supposed to feel sorry for this cat? What does he expect everybody that crosses his path to to stop and say hello? People got lives to live and places to go. He's probably just 1 of 20 bums somebody has encountered before the noon hour. Then he has the nerve to complain that people are more cautious at night with some stranger walking behind you? He out of pocket. This oh woeth me story and the big bad homeless mug is fabulous. He f*cked up his own life and got attitude because people aren't paying him attention. STFU

You're a convicted felon dude on multiple occasion, what kind of break does he expect. 7 kids..the smart dealer puts money away cause the smart hustler knows its temporary money.
Simone J. 2 years ago

Do you think should feel sorry for him? It's a 9 minute piece on a man who has been here on earth way more than 9 minutes. Which means what? Probably: we are a sum of all of our experiences. All of them. Even you. This comment you posted may give us a glimpse into who you are but would you really want to be judged as a whole by this comment alone? THIS comment?... I'm going to go ahead and say probably not. The fact that you have posed this question and this semi-lengthy comment shows that, although you say you don't feel anything for this cat, you feel SOMETHING. Which means Mr. Nice has done his job as a filmmaker. The whole point and purpose of documentaries babe is to invoke emotion and conversation. Even if the conversation from some people is scathing and irresponsible and judgmental. Hey, we all can't be perfect right?
ERIC NEWMAN 2 years ago

Reality at its harsh finest !!
Tony Rodriguez 2 years ago

To: the TR808 D-Nice..... wow!!! it took me to watch every video before i could actually make a comment.... it was nice to see what all of the artists are into at this time in their lives. as a DJ who has spun the records of all you have interviewed thus far, including your tracks as well, i was immediately thrown back to that era where the spawning of Rap music in the culture was a tremendous growing force.

this is an outstanding thing that you have put together. it is also an education piece for those who DON'T know the history of other greats. it will be great to see who else you will dig up in future spots. i WILL spread the info out on these videos. i already have one posted up on my Facebook page.

keep 'em comin'....
Mesomorphic Man 2 years ago

maybe some record exec will shine on him and give him a chance. what would it hurt to let him put out a single and see if it hits? but there are a lot of (or it used to be) programs to help homeless, he speaks relatively well, seems like he could get a basic job doing something - warehouse, stocking shelves, something... or does he feel that is beneath him?
Radio 2 years ago

Wow. Real emotional. I like how it was cut....And the 5DMKII is really nice.
Jason Zada 2 years ago

this whole series is amazing man, keep up the great work.
ANTHONY JACKSON 2 years ago

Nice D-Nice.
real talk.
Glenn Z 2 years ago

I know Black. He deserves a break. Excellent segment. Well produced but the subject is the the deal. We sit here and watch but nothing changes. Get out there and try to make a difference. I have given him a digital tape recorder so he can capture his thoughts but then what? Too much talent living on the streets.
jackiie 2 years ago

hiis sT0RY was raw no b.s. needed kept shiit real..talk'd bout tha game && just liike tha corp. werld iits all corrupted && fawk'd up..ii l0VE h0w u just focused up on hiim..ii know he waznt look'n at tha camera bUT hiis sT0RY was deep..YEr real talented iin thiis diirectiin && m0ViiE sHiiT..keep iit up..ii w0ULD liike t0 c m0RE..
Craig mazzali 2 years ago

Wow. That was great. Did you shoot this with the mark II?

"takin out you suckas and you don't know how Ah did it!"

So how long does the Eos markII shoot in full frame HD for ? 12 mins or 2?
florian fangohr 2 years ago

Haven't seen him around the neighborhood in the last couple of months. Told me he went to Rikers for a month in the beginning of the year. Very skilled, just don't really know how to help him.
match josephson 2 years ago

just ran into Sawed Off last night in dumbo. hope he finally gets to battle busta rhymes (who lives around the corner in dumbo but wont give him the time of day). nice work d-nice!
SOMBRA 2 years ago

Thanks D!
Alex 2 years ago

what are your output settings to upload to vimeo, what codec, res, etc? thx.
Stuart Reeve 2 years ago

Just stumbled onto this and thought it was first and foremost a great piece of journalism and documentary making - too many people seem to be hung up on how they feel about this guy and his life, which I think misses the point that this isn't a movie or a tv show, and he's not a characger, its real life and someone with a really intense life telling you how it really was and is. That's great journalism.
Simone J. 2 years ago

Exactly. Well said.
joy peace 2 years ago

Now that's hip hop.
michelle 2 years ago

WOW! awesome
aliensawhitley 2 years ago

That whole concept of a man who had and lost. i believe can gain it all back by setting his limitations. he still have the skills to pay dues. he should look deeper into himself i firmly believe he can get another chance. hope all is well.
Alessio Balza 2 years ago

i love it...and the camera...wow....but is it 30 fps???
Andrea L Pettigrew 2 years ago

Deep.
delumen 2 years ago

Very awesome film, great job. Insightful story, sad to think there are millions like it. Fight and keep on doing what you have to do.
Stocktown 2 years ago

powerful work D nice!
Mark One 2 years ago

REAL! good to see it. Keep it up.
Stocktown 2 years ago

D-nice, I recommended your videos to mtv sweden check their blogg, you might get some viking visitors soon blog.mtv.se/ametist/2009/07/10/true-hip-hop-stories/
Wylie Styles 2 years ago

what do you use to capture the audio on these? Really ILL vids btw
Step One Productions 2 years ago

What camera did you use to shoot it? Great color.
AK_Alias 2 years ago

I keep coming back to this video. I hear the man in the video saying something like, 'the worst part of being homeless is not cold, hunger, boredom, hardship, etc - it's people acting like you don't exist.'

Nobody thinks that. The only people that know invisibility is the worst hardship are pariahs. The only thing worse than madness is the way people treat you if they think you are mad.

I like this film a lot. It gives visibility to the invisible. And while people have a lot to say about violence and morality in hip hop, there's no denying that its "Fk you, I am visible" attitude gives strength to the beat-down.

One consideration: the man's lyrics are metaphorical and his invisibility is literal. Another consideration: He can hear you. He has internet access. He is not an object. Do films encourage people to objectify the people in the images? A thought: judgemental people are terrified of looking like fools. The distance required to make a judgement makes people mean-spirited.
Erick C. 2 years ago

D-Nice could you explain more about how you met this man and how he's doing?
Will Haynes 2 years ago

Yo,that was really real,I feel him but his faith sounds deep so the ALMIGHTY will see him thru,but at the same time somebody needs to put him on since they wack asses throwin money away anyway!!!
Max Milligan 2 years ago

Great work - solidly shot and edited - what a find this guy is - be great to help him out in some way. His talent and humanity stand out in front of that purple paint.

Thanks D-Nice.
Simone J. 2 years ago

I can watch this all day. LOVESit
jp kalonji 2 years ago

so real...so sad...
Sunday Knight 2 years ago

Tragic, Gifted & Black.
J Mack 2 years ago

Whats up with the music though...
3 Sons Productions 2 years ago

damn what a piece. he has talented therapy. you feel alot more than just his lyrics. too bad ill proly never hear more.. good piece
Charles le Brigand 1 year ago

this guy inspired a stencil from my Friend Jef Aerosol: flickr.com/photos/jefaerosol/3263763937/
TheSocialistMovement 1 year ago

Very nice video man loved it.
Ron Elliot 1 year ago

some real stuff, well told and put together
Carlos Fabrizio 1 year ago

Wow, and he's one of millions that have had a rough life. Really great capture. Can't imagine being in those shoes. Sucks to know children having such a rough life. Well done D.
Jamal Rashada 1 year ago

Is this guys name Robert "Yummy" Sandifer?
Alex Kane 1 year ago

I ran in to this guy couple times in DUMBO, is he still around?
RakunFilm 11 months ago

bad music choice
Paul Raymond 3 months ago

Brilliant film.
Halfmad Media 2 months ago

it takes great skill to get someone to open up to a camera but even more skill to shut up and just film! DOPE WORK!
"Taking out You Sukaz And You Don't Know How I Did It"