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Where are Willie D, Melle Mel, DJ Yella now?
The latest issue of Rolling Stone (Nov. 16) contains what they call "The Hip-Hop Report 2006." Sadly, it mostly consists of predictable features on Sean "Diddy" Combs, Nas, Young Jeezy, Lady Sovereign and 2Pac's legacy. In other words, exactly what you'd expect from a mainstream music magazine like Rolling Stone. But nestled between the standard fare is a collection of tasty appetizers titled "Life After Hip-hop." In this section, the mag visits a number of MCs that have exited the spotlight and finds out what they're up to. The results are surprisingly interesting. The most unlikely story might that of the Geto Boys' Willie D (pictured). While his exploits in the boxing ring have been featured in The 411 Online a couple of times, we had no idea he was living overseas in Azerbaijan making real-estate investments. "Azerbaijan ain't like the USA," Willie D said of the country located between Russia and Iran. "It took some time getting used to. You're going to have some problems going to the bathroom when you start eating that food, and you'll get your ass killed if you talk about the government." The craziest story belongs to Melle Mel, who is trying to become a professional wrestler in the WWE under the name Muscles Simmons. In the meantime, he's bodybuiling and working as an exotic dancer. "I've been dancing for 10, 15 years," Mel told Rolling Stone. "A lot of private stuff. I'm also developing a touring show called "The Gun Show." It's not exactly the black Chippendales, because we might have some white guys in it, too. It's all catered to the ladies -- really nice." Others featured in the section include phenom-turned-doctor Roxanne Shante, who had all of her schooling in psychology paid for by Warner Brothers Records; Kid 'N Play, who report they have a new movie in the works; Salt-N-Pepa, who are pitching a reality show together; 3rd Bass' MC Serch, who's hosting "Ego Trip's White Rapper Show" on VH1 and preparing a release of lost tapes from 1994; and DJ Yella, who has directed more than 50 porn movies while waiting for Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and MC Ren to call. "The N.W.A reunion should happen," he said. "If the Rolling Stones can stay on the road for 100 years, then we should be able to, too." Of course, Eazy-E's passing in 1995 makes a full gathering impossible, and that's what Yella said caused him to be "done with music" and turn to producing porn. "I wanted to bring hip-hop to it, because porn had the worst music in the world," Yella told the magazine. "I bought a bunch of equipment and just learned on the job. I shoot, I edit -- I do everything but star in them."
-- The 411 Online
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