Reggie Osse is a writer, an ex-music industry entertainment lawyer, author of the book “Bling: The Hip Hop Jewelry Book”, and known to some as Combat jack with the daily mathematics,
Without further ado, Here’s the interview that took place:
I want to thank you for your time, Reggie. As we begin, I want you to know you can go as long as you want about a topic, brevity is not an issue and in fact, considering the length of most of your blog posts, would be ridiculous, right?!
Let’s begin.
First, a little background on you. Where did you start in the industry?
I started in the music industry August 1989. I started interning at Def Jam Records. Then I ended up getting a meager salary.
Favorite client?
Too many. Clark Kent, Manny Halley (who now manages Keisha Cole) Antonique Smith (who played Faith in “Notorious”), Shamello (who produced “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See”), Mike City, Lumidee, Tragedy Khadafi, Smoothe Da Hustler, Nice & Smooth, The Hustler and Trigger Tha Gambler, Deric “D.Dot” Angelettie, Nashiem Myrick, Ced Gee, 3LW, Jaz-O, Rockwilder, Ski Beatz, Lords Of The Underground. I even worked with Allen Iverson in connection with his record deal with Sony. Heh. Too many for me to claim one favorite.
Who was your main influence during your time in the industry?
Louise West. She is a pioneer in the game. One of the first Black women in the business. Started in the 1970’s. Mad connected. She is a genius with music publishing, but at the same time, knowing the other elements of the industry, could really get gangster. Taught me a lot about how cats never like to pay their lawyers, and how to get around that.
Most (and Least) fashionable client?
Jay-Z stayed on point dress-wise from day one. Dude was always clean. Least fashionable, a lot of the r&b producers and singers that I worked with during the early ’90’s. They were caught in between the end of old school r&b and the start of the new Hip Hop movement industry going on at the time.
Favorite song of yours to come out of your tenure as an entertainment lawyer?
Because I repp’d a lot of producers, my office held down the top singles almost every year. Some songs that I worked on:
“Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” (Busta Rhymes), “Hypnotize” (Notorious B.I.G.), “Who Shot Ya?” (Notorious B.I.G.), “Get Money” (Jr. Mafia), “Player’s Anthem” (Jr. Anthem), “Broken Language’ (Smoothe Tha Hustler & Trigger Da Gambler), “Regrets” (Jay-Z), “Brooklyn’s Finest” (Jay-Z featuring Notorious B.I.G.), “What’s My Name?” (DMX), “U Remind Me” (Usher), “Stroke You Up” (Changing Faces), “Uh Oh” (Lumidee), “L.A., L.A.” (CNN, Tragedy Kadafi, Mobb Deep), “Remember The Times” (Michael Jackson),” Ain’t No Nigga” (Jay-Z), “21 Questions” (50 Cent), CNN’s entire War Report album, “I Wish” (Carl Thomas), “Around The Way Girl” (LL Cool J), “Where My Homiez?” and “I’ll Take Her” (Ill Al Skratch), “Cold Rock A Party” (MC Lyte), “Poison” (B.B.D.), “Let’s Chill” (Guy), “Hate Me Now” (Nas Feat. Puff Daddy), “Let Me Be The One” (Intro), “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow” (Nice & Smooth), “No Digggity” (Blackstreet).
Those are just a few. Once again, so many to remember, to name.
In regards to the notorious movie you reviewed, you said: “in terms of factual content, flawless.” Being this movie was a period piece, what in particular did you think about Anthony Mackie playing Tupac’s role?
Anthony Mackie is one of my favorite up and coming actors. He’s really good. I thought he was miscast as Tupac in “Notorious”. Tupac was a force of nature wrapped up in a little guy. Plus, as my wife pointed out, his (Tupac’s) features were very distinguished. Mackie was a bit distracting visually as well as in the role. Maybe it wasnt fair for him, but he wasnt able to channel the spirit that was Tupac Shakur.
I also wanted for you to share with our readers about you getting on HGTV
That was a fluke. A friend of mine who works in television was looking for a job in craigslist. My wife and I just brought our home in Brooklyn. He saw an ad for a home makeover show and sent it to me. I responded on a whim. I had never heard of Genevieve Gorder since I never watch HGTV. They actually responded and chose us as the first family to be featured on the “Dear Genevieve” show. We beat out over 60,000 families. Like i said, it was a fluke.
I was in the process of leaving the music industry. I was winding up my law practice. I had fired one of my last clients, Jaheim. I received a call from a law school colleague who knew a small book publisher in Chicago who wanted to expand their market by publishing entertainment related books. We got connected and the publisher wanted me to refer some clients. I knew I had some decent ideas so I nominated myself. I threw some ideas/ concepts their way and bling stuck. I went ahead and put together a kick ass proposal, which resulted in being way bigger/ better than the publisher had anticipated/ had expected. They backed off and now I had dope proposal. I ended up getting repped by an agent in the literary department of ICM. Ended up getting two offers and my co-author (Gabriel Tolliver) and I ended up signing with Bloomsbury, which is the publisher that owns exclusively the Harry Potter book franchise. It was an incredible opportunity, especially since I never ever set out to be a writer, an author.
Regarding the whole diamonds, charcoal, peanut butter, lighter fluid and microwave thing, from what I know, it’s possible. Even though our recipe was “debunked” on the show “Mythbusters”.
Many thanks go to Reggie Osse for allowing this interview! “Bling: The Hip Hop Jewelry Book” is available for purchase on Amazon and various other book retailers.
“I had the immense opportunity to see this wonderful paper craft art installation by a genius of the name of Wataru Itou, a young student of a major art university here in Tokyo. The installation is hand made over four years of hard work, complete with electrical lights and a moving train, all made of paper! Clearly, this man must have created one of the most stunning examples of Paper Craft in the world? At the exhibition you will also have the chance to see a video showing Mr. Itou at work in his studio, cutting and folding piece by piece. The exhibition is calledUmi no Ue no Oshiro(A Castle On the Ocean ), 海の上のお城. It is exhibited at Uminohotaru, a place which in itself is a major attraction: a service area in the middle of the ocean, right between Tokyo City and Chiba Prefecture. If you haven’t checked it out yet, use Google Earth for a close up of what is probably the weirdest parking lot in the world. Well, it’s more than a parking lot actually, but I am saving a more detailed description along with photos for another post. For now, enjoy this wonderful work of art!”
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View more of the Lacoste Paris Collection after the jump (more…)
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After making it’s way into the hearts of young girls and women over the last 35yrs, Hello Kitty continues to amuse its extensive fan base since it debuted in 1974 on a coin purse. In celebration of is 35th anniversary will be announcing partnerships with Dell Computers, Swarovski, Flik Flak ( a division of Swatch watches).
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This past Sunday night Honduran President Manuel Zeyala was ousted from the presidential palace, in capital city of Tegucigalpa, by the army during, in what many are saying is an “unconstitutional expulsion”. Prior to his abrupt and involuntary departure to Costa Rica, Mr. Zeyala was set to initiate procedures, which could have leaded the country to constitutional reformation.
The referendum, initially set to be voted on Sunday (the day in which he was captured), was said to have included changes to the Honduran constitution that would open the doors for presidential reelection (amongst various other changes), however; The Supreme Court denounced President Zeyala’s initiative. Nevertheless, a determined Zeyala went against their verdict in pursuit of his previous agenda: to reform the constitution. He even took the lengths to fire those in office who argued against his referendum. (more…)
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HEARTSREVOLUTION are a NYC band that have created a brand which represents their parallel universe that includes the Heartschallenger ice cream trucks, merchandise and vinyl discography that almost looks good enough to eat. Their motto is CYOA! Choose Your Own Adventure!
Starting July 12th concerts will sweep across the globe in an international six-month journey reaching major cities all over the world. First date, Berlin on July 3rd, and then: New York, Tokyo, Helsinki, Oslo, Paris, Madrid, London, Beijing, Vienna, Sydney and Miami. Visit www.dieselumusic.com if you want tickets for the global tour as well as to attend the performances live from the comfort of your sofa.
