The Making of series (30th Edition) "You Know, I Know"

"You Know I Know" is one of the best examples of a B.I.P. song. Va'Les came over to APG Studios one night to record "Bald Black" track #18 on "S.O.A.z Featured Presented" (a CD that came out online as a choice for FREE CD awarded to voters in the Polls we have) this song is also known as "Lyrically High & Most"...That night they also recorded "The Mickey Remix". Before recording they went to a near by Liquor store & copped some Crazy Horse 40s, after Blazin & drinkin & recording in the Basement on the Roland 880 EX, Kwin & Va'Les watched a movie together called "THE BIG CHILL". This movie, is probably the most unlikely movie to inspire any rapper to have a concept for a song. Since Va'Les & Kwin used to hang out about every day back then (2003) they had great chemistry as artists. Kwin MD used to say "You Know" all the time, that, Va'Les's kids used to say "You Know" everytime they saw Kwin. In the movie "THE BIG CHILL" there was a scene where the movie sound track cutts to a song from the era of oldies music (between 1950-1970) where the female singer sings: "I Know"....Va'Les got the concept at about 4 AM that night watchin this flick. His idea was good. We sampled the skit from the S.O.A.z first street CD track #12 on that CD...All 3 Common Ground members (Omega Redd, Va'Les & Kwin MD) say in harmony "You Know" and we slowed & screwed both samples (the Big Chill Sample of "I Know" & this one) for the hook. Va'Les sings on the hook. The first verse was recorded at APG Studios, the rest of the song was recorded at Va'Les crib on Walnut Lane in G-Town....The entire song was recorded using the Roland 880 EX and mixed down using Cake Walk at APG studios.

The day after these 2 watched the movie, Kwin went to a local corner store to cop some cheese steaks for him & his grandmom. While on the way home, (about a 3 block walk) Kwin wrote the first verse in his head. After eating the cheese steak with his grandmom, Kwin recorded the first verse.

About one week later, Kwin went down to G-Town and Va'Les was ready to record this song. His family members were all chipping in with addlibs, which can be heard through out the song from the first hook to the end of the song. Va'Les freestyles the 2nd verse. The format for the 3rd verse is all over the place. It's not line for line, it's a freestyle that was sort of like a live performance where Va'Les & Kwin shared the mike & showed the great chemistry they truely have. Some of the lyrics in the 3rd verse are also in "Splendid". Those lyrics were done by both Va'Les & Kwin together (In "You Know I Know" they spit it at the same time, recorded on one live track)...This is the reason that on the upcoming "Golden Land" album, "Splendid" is track #16 and "You Know I Know" is track #17. These lyrics that are in both songs are lyrics that both Va'Les and Kwin used to recite together almost every day. That's how good the B.I.P. chemistry is.

The beat for this song is just like 2 other songs, "Love 2 Smut" featuring Lil' Debo & "Across the Map" (another song that will be on "Golden Land"...The reason why this beat is like those 2 songs beats is, Va'Les and his cousin: Willy from Philly made these 3 beats together in the basement at APG Studios on Willy's Beat Machine. Willy's voice can be heard on "Love 2 Smut" between the first verse & the Hook as a bridge saying "Blah, Blah,Blah, Blah,Blah, Blah, bring it back"....

Production....wutz hood

In 2002, Kwin MD and Shallow had a conversation about production. They were talking about the classic "Wu Tang Enter the 36 Chambers" album and how RZA master Mixed it with some unusual levels, on purpose. Not by accident. On purpose.

When the "Boilahmaker Sippah" album was Master Mixed, Kwin MD used a simalar philosophy.
This is not news, to read about that click here....Or peep this exerp: "You can't just push play on this CD you gotta bump it on your own settings for bass and treble..."

On Purpose, not on Accident....

Track #13 on the new "Golden Land" album (coming out very soon) is gonna be "Across the Map". Not giving away too much before the Making of Series covers this song, the levels were E-Qed a certain way for artistic purposes (on purpose, not by accident)...Leading to the inspiration of this post:


Review of Veitnam Nights by S.O.A.z Genre: Rap murder it.this one got murdered by the mix. the mix is so crucial that my speakers just shut off. its all ruined.
- ziplokdotcom Hudson, New Hampshire February 26th, 2008

Ziplok is a cat who is into the market and mainstream aspects of the Hip Hop business economy.
Move Units, record with state of the art pro tools, and put product out that matches the production quality of the artists who are signed to major labels. He's the A & R kind of cat.

Hip Hop began one day many years ago. Wu Tang was out when the game was in the later stages of the Golden Years. 2PAC, B.I.G., KRS1 & Rakim were the best back then. Back then, Jay Z was a nobody.

This was before the "THROW BACK ERA", Va'Les used to always say, himself, Kwin MD & Omega Redd were "Veterans of the Throw Back era".

Now Hip Hop is corporate.
Ice, club music, platinum, and suites making the choices of what's what.

Back in the Golden Age of hip hop, performing live was your finger print in the game, how you held your own on stage. Hype man? KRS-1 did it well and did encores with no hype man. Back then, "production" was not this type type big deal. We left the studio with a master copy on cassette tape. CD? What? In 1999, if you left with a Burned CD, you had connex, man your studio was the shit.

I got a tape from the golden era where Big L murders Jay Z in a FREESTYLE, but Jigga did pretty nice job on it (even though Big L was unstoppable).

I aint gonna explain "Vietnam Nights" again, The Making of Series has that covered.

I just wanted to talk about the Golden Age of Hip Hop, before all the suites came in to direct cats like Soldier Boy and the makers of "A Bey Bey" and all the other Bubble Gum crap that watered down this music. Metaphysik had made a nice song about this new generation of bullshit back in 2001. The Golden era of Hip Hop was real, man. So when "Golden Land" comes out, think about the Golden Era, 1980-1998...The best 18 years of real hip hop. Flavor Flav was Flavor Flav, Ice T was shittin on bitches, Will Smith said "You saw my blinker bitch" as the Fresh Prince, and Biz was Biz Marke...Underground was Hip Hop, Hip Hop was underground, not this rediculous corporate nonsence.

When Fabolous does his 3 song performance with 55 hype men, and walk off the stage scared shittless in that club in D.C. where that Norega video was made (I think it was DREAMS), he is the symbol for the ICE AGE of Hip Hop.

The Golden Age was so much better then the ICE AGE.

Anyone as old as me remembers the old CD singles you used to be able to cop (or gank)...

CD Singles were the shit!

Now, the internet has killed that.
The "WEB" & the "NET" are words that are slang for the internet right?
A Spider uses a WEB or a NET to Kill it's prey.

The internet will suck the whole population of the world in (like bugs, trapped in a Spider web) and take over alot of shit, both small & big. As small as a CD single, as big as anyone could emagin....

DOG & PONY SHOW

Check out this link: DOG & PONY SHOW


Those 2 reviews were both signs that this song could not get a high rank right?
So how is this song ranked 194th out of 271 Rap songs?
194 of 271 is not high, but, look at it like this....It is ranked higher then 77 other songs, the 1st review didn't hear the song at all, the 2nd one stopped listening when he got fed up with the fact that the production quality and mix down was too poor for his standard. Either those 77 songs were really bad, or this contest is a dog & Pony show.
Since the year 2000, Garageband has never had a rap or hip hop song be ranked #1 overall. Since the year 2000, Rap & Hip Hop has been the most popular genre on the radio & billboard charts out of all genres. The sight has always been a "Dog & Pony Show" Fraud...But don't get me wrong, don't get it twisted, I like uploading the music there, because I value the listener critism & oppinion. It was never an effert to try and "blow up" or win that contest, it was always the exposure.

That's why I have this post here, I like to get the feedback & critism, these 2 reviews here are both pathetic. The irony is, we get these 2 reviews after I post an example on how to review here & in THA HOOD/BBS on Remote....My example is better then about 95% of the reviews I get as far as how to review. I don't need it to be that well done, but damn, these 2 didn't even listen to the song. I want people to listen to it, as far as I'm concerned, both of these reviews should not count....

The Making Of Series (29th Edition) "Bosses"

"Bosses" was a B.I.P. song. Va'Les made the Beat with his Keyboard and Drum Machine at APG Studios. Kwin MD added the sound effects and mixed it down. This one only had verses 1 & 2 on it for a while, the 3rd verse wasn't added until later on. Va'Les wrote the hook. Va'Les didn't like the 3rd verse too much. This was recorded at first in November of 2005. This song was recorded, Mixed, and finished before Rick Ross ever made a song to come out Nation Wide. Unlike Rick Ross, we don't say "Boss" in every song we do. We just made this song before he made all of his songs with "Boss" in it. Since Rick Ross did so many songs with the word "Boss" in them, this song looks like we took ideas from him. We were the originals...Other songs like "Damn Shame" and "Triumphant" were also done that day.

This song is one of the 21 songs on the new (Coming Soon) Common Ground Debute album:

"Golden Land"

Every Time THA HOOD/BBS On Remote refers to APG Studios, (as mentioned above) it is referring to the room that this picture provided in this post is taken from. That was the same room, Kwin MD's father grew up from kindergarden to High School living in, the same room Kwin MD's Great Grandmother lived in (and died in) and the same room Kwin MD lived in while living with his Grandparents as a senior in High School in 1999 as well as from 2002 until 2004 Kwin MD stayed in that room. After moving to West Philly with his Girl friend (now wife), Kwin MD turned the Bed room into a studio (took all the furniture out and change the closet into a vocals both)....

The picture is from 2003 when the Roland 880 EX was the main recording system and APG Studios was primarilly the place for the mix down. The mix down was what Kwin was doing while the picture was snapped...

Garageband BBS (On Remote) Post:

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-wE14_Io8eK2Dz8zZLaGTpYx7Ew--?cq=1&p=40

Before Ali P. took away the BBS Forums on Garageband.com this is the type Posts I used to do...

This is why this Arena is called "THA HOOD/Garageband BBS on Remote"

I copied it from THA HOOD (created back in 2006 when they banned Greenguy: my screen name on the BBS from GARAGEBAND BBS)....OF COURSE THEY LIFTED THE BAN BEFORE iLIKE BOUGHT GARAGEBAND & THEN THE BBS WAS CLOSED OFF....

ANYWAY, THAT LINK ABOVE IS TO AN EXAMPLE ON HOW TO REVIEW A SONG ON GARAGEBAND.

I feel as though an example like that should be on display because so many reviews do not provide any critism or any substance. Most reviews are very lame and lack any kind of insight....

So this would have been a BBS Forum post, here it is here, on remote...

Second Tha Hood/BBS on Remote Video

Watch it...

Breaking NEWS:

Well Well, the Poll we had that gave you 3 FREE CDs for your vote, which was the decider of the March 2008 Flavor of the Month, is now official closed. Thank you to all 6 of the voters, one of them voted annonomously and did not ask for the FREE CDs, oh well right? "I AM" won 4 to 2. It's a Damn Shame that "Damn Shame" didn't win. Oh well right? So the March '08 Flave is gonna be "I AM". The next poll will be set up soon, it will decide the Flavor of the Month for JUNE 2008. Hopefully we can get more then 6 votes, but of course we will still start with 2 FREE CDs and bump that up to 3 for holidays & to sweep the final weeks of the poll (like we been doing with the previous polls, e'y poll so far, we been giving out 3 for promos like Holidays & such)....

Yeah, "Golden Land" is almost ready to be released. The goal is, to get the Common Ground debute album out & online (availible through download powered by SoundClick and through FREE CD Promos) before we set up the new POLL....

We are not sure if "Damn Shame" will get a second chance in a new poll or not but "Damn Shame" is the top cannidate for the next poll. We might put a new song in there, we might put one in from the collection like "Grilled Cheese" which is a Common Ground underground top secret (only Common Ground & friends have heard that song so far, it's a private classic)....Who really knows...?

That Video we put out here in THA HOOD/BBS On Remote is the first video we ever made with that camera. We plan on putting more in every once in a while, we thought we could get more last minute votes with that gimmick. It didn't work, but oh well right....Dust it off & try again....

Today's Post

Yo, people who been following us around in Tha Hood, been asking:

"How yall gone put the "Golden Land" album out and end the Poll before yall release it?"

That is true, the FREE CD poll ends on 2-25-08 and the "Golden Land" album is supposed to come out in March....

Here's the thing, we will have a new Poll in place before the new album comes out.

We got yall covered....

One

SoundClick Banners

Regular Post

Yesterday's annoucement about "Vietnam Nights" had a Button to visit the Garageband Records Page for the Feb. 2008 Flavor of the Month, that button for some reason is not working. So, if you want to see that song on Garageband just visit www.mckomandoni.com and go to the S.O.A.z Page, then click S.O.A.z News, then go to the Flavor of the Month Page, it's right there at the top.

"Golden Land" is about 50% ready for it's debute as a downloadable Album Powered By Soundclick....

Click the Soundclick button at www.mckomandoni.com and you will see some new songs were posted yesterday and today. They are availible for 75 Cents to be downloaded individually. These are about half of the songs that are expected to be on the "Golden Land" album and are all marked as "Golden Land" album songs...

FEB 2008 Flave is Here/ The Making Of Series Addendum

The S.O.A.z Flavor of the Month is now in The Active Contest Powered By Garageband Records.

Feb. 2008 Flave is "Veitnam Nights" and this song was just in the Making of Series a few Days ago. Something we might have left out in that making of series for this song is the sample that was used.

So here's the info about that sample, we sampled part of the 3rd verse from the song "Walkin thru the Jungle" by PL & Kwin MD saying together "Livin the night life, skippin breakfast & Lunch" we screwed to down to slow speed. We added to random parts of this song here...

The Making Of Series (28th edition) "Alwayz Daydreamin' (Remix)"

This song is very execlusive. This song was only released on a Street CD that circulated in Richmond, VA only in the summer of 2004. Most people have only heard the original "Alwayz Daydreamin" which is found on the double disc album "Best of Kwin MD (est. '99 son)"

Coming sometime in March of 2008, this song will be released again, on the upcoming album by Common Ground called "Golden Land" (availible through download and FREE CD promos only).

On one of the early S.O.A.z mixtapes that was in Circulation in 2004, a differant version of this B.I.P. song was released. Extra addlibs from Va'Les old crib in G-Town on Walnut lane as well sounds from Va'Les playing an Organ (which was brought over to that house by Common Ground by a donating party who had endoursed the S.O.A.z movement). This version had parts of the addlibs also done by his family members as well. This version was known as the remix and not many copies of that mixtape were in circulation. This version will never get released again.

That version was brought to Columbus, Ohio and Kwin MD used the Organ parts that Va'Les played, some of those addlibs by Va'Les & his family members, basically some of that REMIX, and Kwin MD layed a new Vocal part and basically doubled his lyrics from begining to end at Blue Moon Studios in Ohio...

This Blue Moon Version also has a new Bass Guitar added to the B.I.P. Production, making it a B.M.A.B.I.P. song (Blue Moon and Black Irish Production). This version is only ever going to be availible on the "Golden Land" album. This album was supposed to be released by now, but the released date has been pushed back for a few reasons. One thing that is in the works is making about 10 copies of "Golden Land" on CD to get some people who have had a connection with Common Ground to get a copy and to get some of the fans who have been loyal a copy in Virginia, Georgia, and Philly. That is something in the works. The album artwork and CD Cover and such is still in the making, but the musical aspect is ready now. Also, promotion is a big part of the whole thing too.

When this album comes out you can expect a major announcement here in THA HOOD/Garageband BBS on Remote, as well as the parent websites: www.mckomandoni.com and also THA HOOD 360 degrees (powered by Yahoo) and Tha Hood newsletter and Forum (Powered by Yahoo Groups)...You will recieve a FREE CD paid for by APG Forx records (you pay nothing, not even postage) for joining THA HOOD (Powered by Yahoo Groups) just visit www.mckomandoni.com and while you're there, from now (2-20) until 2-26-08 ( 5 more days) you can pick up 3 more FREE CDs just for voting in our poll at www.mckomandoni.com (which is a total of 4 FREE CDs availible now and you can get one of them to be an artist that isn't on our list, you name the artist, we'll mail you there hottest music for FREE along with some more music from our list of choices)...

If you read this after 2-25-08, we will always offer the One FREE CD for joining THA HOOD (powered by Yahoo Groups) only the poll is expiring during this time, the poll will reopen soon enough as well. It is only closing for inventory and to name a winner...

The Making Of Series (27th edition) "Cream Cheese"

This song "Cream Cheese" was written & inspired by Common Ground concepts & conversations when Va'Les lived in G-Town still on Sheldon Lane. This was around April of 2005. Kwin, Redd, & Va'Les were supposed to record this song at M.A.U. Studios. Kwin was living in West Philly at the time, he was working graveyard shift and slept through the time to meet up at M.A.U.

Then in the summer of 2005, Kwin & REDD were waiting outside of M.A.U. studio & Reese at M.A.U. didn't show up for to open the studio (So Kwin went to Atlantic City instead & REDD went home)...

Then in November of 2005, APG Studios was reopened without the Roland 880 EX but with that Mike Stand & high quality Mike Filture that was mentioned yesterday on the 26th edition of the making of Series.

"Cream Cheese" was the first song recorded with this new set up at APG Studios. It was done the same night as "Veitnam Nights" and "Verbs" was done.

Master P beat came from Omega Redd's mixtape collection. Kwin MD's studio tape player lined into the PC. Ripped off the cassette tape into the computer on ACID.

Same Gun Shot Sound Effect used in "Bison" but chopped & Screwed differantly. That sound came from Wu Tang Forever Song which begins with this sound "As High As Wu Tang Get.....If You can't wear it....well don't fuck wit it.....Tical got a hold on ya do it exactly, what the fuck a marajuana...."

That song....

The hook was a concept that Kwin Ghost wrote all together.

The Va'Les addlibs & Omega Redd addlibs during Kwin's verse were planned on paper.

The 3rd verse was 100% freestyle by Va'Les & Omega Redd (that one Kwin Addlibbed)...

"Veitnam Nights" The Making of 26th Edition

The 26th edition of the making of series is about the song which is coming out soon on Garageband Records as the S.O.A.z Feb. 2008 Flavor of the Month very soon. This song was made around the same time frame as "Bosses", "Verbs", "Damn Shame", "Cream Cheese" and others mentioned before in other Making Of Series posts....

November 2005 was the time frame. Before Greenguy's return to the Garageband BBS Rap Hip Hop Forum (a polar event) and after the Roland 880 EX had been sold and was no longer being used.

The studio equipment used in APG Studios to over-come the lack of the Track Machine (Roland 880 EX) was a very high quality mike filture, a good mike, and a very nice Mike Stand & Spit cover. The mike was lined onto the PC and the recording was done on the software known as ACID....

The method with the Roland 880 EX was similar but, Cakewalk was the software used to mix down and the Mike had no stand & no spit cover, They used a clean sock as a spit cover back then.

The mike & all that was upgraded to compisate for the lack of the track machine. The studio was no longer portable as it was with the 880 EX though....

Now, this song "Veitnam Nights" had an instramental that Big L used in the past, it was Omega Redd's collection of instramentals that inspired Common Ground to record this. It was Madden 2006 that inspired Va'Les to have Marty Booker's name in the Hook:

"You don't wanna end up droppin the ball like Marty Booker"

That was written By Va'Les although Kwin MD spoke the lyrics there...

The Miami Dolfins did just cut Marty Booker recently too.

That laugh from the 2nd Hook heading onto the 3rd verse was unrehersed. Va'Les was naturally laughing & got caught on record, Redd & Kwin laughed at how it sounded in the sound & they both insisted that Va'Les keep it in there as a addlib...

That's the fun we have when the Common Ground 3 records together....

Track of the Day 2-12-08

Garageband Records has selected "S.O.A.z Reign Supreme" by Common Ground the fathers of the S.O.A. coalition to be the Track of the Day on Tuesday 2-12-08. This song was uploaded to the contest as Jan.-08 Flavor of the month. The Honor is all S.O.A.z to be Track of the Day...

The Making of Series 25th Edition: "Verbs"

Recorded at APG Studios. On this song Va'Les says in his freestyle "We at Nan's" which was true, that was where APG Studios was located at from 2002-2006. Nan was Kwin MD's paternal Grandmother who lived from 1933-2007. Nan was a great friend of Omega Redd & Va'Les as well as Va'Les' family and even Champain got to meet her. That is who Kwin MD lived with from 2002 until 2004.

When Kwin MD moved to West Philly with his girlfriend (and now wife) he left his studio in the Bedroom he was staying in at Nan's House. Everyone misses Nan may she Rest In Peace.

This was one of the last songs recorded at APG Studios. A simple Freestyle done by Common Ground after finishing off the written lyrics to "Cream Cheese". This instramental was also used for written material on a song by Common Ground called "Earth up in the Air"....

Usually when Common Ground gets together to record a written song at least one Freestyle song is recorded that same day...

During the time of this recording (October 2005) the S.O.A.z / Common Ground street movement had began to slow down. The internet movement was starting to become the main focus. This was only 2 months before Greenguy's return to the Garageband BBS Forums (only to find a bunch of Hip Hop Haters ganging up on Indecent3000 in the Hip Hop forum)...

This same time this song was being worked on, songs like "Cream Cheese", "Death Toll", "Veitnam Nights", "Damn Shame", & "Bosses" were being worked on. Between October and December of 2005 these projects were being thought of & recorded in the studio. All of these songs mentioned and more will appear on the upcoming "Golden Land" album...

Freestyle take turns style on the simple song format of this song "Verbs" recorded & Mixed by Kwin MD and the beat was unoriginal material...

The making of Series 24th Edition:

"I'm a S.O.A." is a song by Common Ground. Recorded with Maurice at 72nd & Lindbergh in S.W.P.....

Shallow made the beat, the concept was organized at Va'Les crib on Sheldon Lane in Germantown.

Omega Redd layed his verse in 1 take.

This is a studio that Montana Black uses frequently. This was the studio where the beat for "Everybody's Got a 12 Pack"

Kwin MD did verse 2 in a few takes.

Va'Les did verse 3 in a few takes too.

The whole song was recorded with Pro Tools...

More Announcements from APG Forx Records and the S.O.A.z

The 1st announcement is from APG Forx Records:

The Poll for FREE CDs we have been offering 2 FREE (regularly) and 3 FREE from now until 2-16-08 will be closing soon. This poll is at www.mckomandoni.com and it will close at 2-25-08.

The results will be announced on 2-26-08. The results may not decide the March 2008 S.O.A.z Flavor of the Month. If the results are too close to a tie, the S.O.A.z Flave in March of '08 will be decided by Common Ground Members at a meeting. If the results are good enough to define a public consensis and point out a public favorite, then the results will be the decider of the March '08 Flave....

So far after offering FREE CDs like we have been, we only got 5 votes, and one of the voters doesn't even want the FREE CDs, they voted annonomously....

Also, the "Golden Land" album release (download only online & also as a choice for the FREE CDs for voting poll) date has been pushed back. We are now looking at a release date of 3-18-08.

The reason for pushing back the release date is, the Sound Click web host for the MP3 Downloadable Album is not ready yet. Also, we are not 100% sure the track order is where we want it yet. Common Ground started in 2003, and after so many recordings and other music making gatherings and performances, the first Common Ground album to ever get released is this "Golden Land" album. So it is very highly anticipated...

Special Annoucement 2-6-08 (expires 2-16-08)

The 2 FREE CDs for your vote at the poll located in www.mckomadoni.com has been upgraded to 3 FREE CDs for your vote. As promoted in the sister blog, THA HOOD, here in THA HOOD/ Garageband BBS on REMOTE, we make it official... Just send your e-mail with your 3 choices off the list, and similar to the rules for the 2 FREE CDs, if the list isn't appealling enough, give us the name of any artist, we'll include the hottest CD we can get from that artist but instead of you getting one from the list with the artist you name, you get 2 from the list with the artist you name....Send your 3 CDs you want or an artist name & 2 picks from our list, along with a mailling address to send the CDs (scardy cats and girls we aint stalkers we are a low budget label called APG Forx Records we'll mail it to your Uncle's house if you're a scardy cat) and any way, your mailling address & your picks & the vote & 3 Free CDs will arrive na mean APG Forx pays the mail man for ya!

The e-mail address is mckomandoni@yahoo.com and we had a someone annonmously vote last week who didn't claim their CDs too. We are sad about that though. Yeah we save the postage money but, we really want people to have these free cds though...

So you have from now until 2-16 to get 3 FREE CDs, the offer is only good for 10 days.

You should mention in the e-mail you read about the 3 FREE CDs in THA HOOD.

Feel free to sign up for THA HOOD YAHOO GROUPS NEWS LETTER because in that arena, just like this arena, you can make comments too...

The making of series 23rd edition:

"Damn Shame" is one of the songs in the Poll that awards voters 2 FREE CDs when they vote. This poll asks for your oppinion at www.mckomandoni.com about "I Am" and "Damn Shame".

The way "Damn Shame" was made is very unorthadox. Omega Redd brought a disc over to APG Studios with intramentals. The instramental for "Damn Shame" came off that disc, this was brought by when he was there to record his lyrics for "Death Toll" in October of 2005.

Shortly after that, he brought the same disc to Va'Les crib in S.W.P., they both wrote lyrics to the song and made a hook, this was planned to by a Common Ground Song.

In November of 2005, Va'Les went over to APG Studios and Recorded his verse and from his verse came Kwin MD's verse which was inspired by Va'Les verse & Va'Les idea of the concept that Omega Redd & Va'Les were writing about at Va'Les crib...

When Omega Redd came back to APG Studios it was May of 2006. He had been in the Bay Area of California for a while so between the start of the recording of "Damn Shame" and the end of the recording Omega Redd spent about 3 or 4 months in the Bay Area of California...His verse is first on the song and it was his verse recorded last....