After catching this NME piece from Frank Owen’s vault (courtesy of Mask Of Norro), which featured an actual interview with the great man shortly before he was fatally shot, I thought I’d dig out the 2002 XXL Mag piece by Noah Callahan-Bever and revisit the original New York Times report. The New Musical Express piece gives a fascinating insight into Scott’s rather nihilistic world view, which explains why Criminal Minded feels so markedly different than post-La Rock BDP. KRS told The Source in 1992 that if Scott had still been involved then ‘Edutainment might never have come out. Ghetto Music woulda sounded like Criminal Minded.’
Scott La Rock: Wasted In The Zoo (NME, Frank Owen, 26 September 1987)
Violent Death Halts Rap Musician’s Rise (New York Times, Esther Iverem, 31st August 1987)
Black Clouds: The Story of Scott La Rock (XXL Mag, Noah Callahan-Bever, September 2002)
Click for full-sized scan:
‘Afflicted by bad recording deals and bad drugs, many of the original Bronx talents are now spent forces. One such original, not long ago resident in the UK Top Ten, was last seen on the corner of 53rd Street and 3rd Avenue, a well-known gay pick-up spot in Manhattan, fronting as a male prostitute and robbing clients in the back of their cars. Previous to that, he’d been spotted begging for money on the street. This was a man who, when I first met him, was convinced he was going to be as big as Michael Jackson.’
^ I’m guessing this is a not-so-subtle reference to Kurtis Blow?
I was just about to ask who it was he talking about wit this part^^ lol
He was talking about Lovebug Starski…
@Michael Gonzales: Thanks for clarifying!
No problem. Frank Owen and I were close friends during the period when he wrote that story. He was so upset over Scott’s senseless murder.
@Robbie and @Michael Gonzalez thanks. I was reading that and racking my brain trying to figure who he was referring to.
Is Frank Owen still alive?