Dumb shit (2002)
# 29,072 in HipHop. Total songs: 953,836
# 18,497 in Hip Hop General. Total songs: 558,411

Force Feed (2004)
# 6,554 in HipHop. Total songs: 953,836
# 3,745 in Hip Hop General. Total songs: 558,411

IzyuOfvrzOne (2004)
# 14,819 in HipHop. Total songs: 953,836
# 8,996 in Hip Hop General. Total songs: 558,411

Pace The Streets (2004)
# 9,723 in HipHop. Total songs: 953,836
# 5,603 in Hip Hop General. Total songs: 558,411

Questions Of Y (2004)
# 2,066 in HipHop. Total songs: 953,836
# 996 in Hip Hop General. Total songs: 558,411

Truth (2004)
# 14,299 in HipHop. Total songs: 953,836
# 8,741 in Hip Hop General. Total songs: 558,411

War Prayer (2004)
# 8,886 in HipHop. Total songs: 953,836
# 5,287 in Hip Hop General. Total songs: 558,411

The Last Independent Album of an Local Artist Vagahbond is dropping his last independent album by Fall 2006 entitled the Monuementum: Chaos & Calm. Originally the album was suppose to be released by July 2005, but production issues as well as personal and moral reasons prevented an early release. The album is the final installment of his first release of The Lyreik (Pronouced ‘Lyric’) in 2002 and to his second album The Ryhym (Pronounced ‘Rhyme’ or ‘Rhythm,’ whichever you prefer) in 2004. Monuementum is the result of the rhyme-sayer perfecting his craft. “The events put abstractly are real; directed towards certain people, yet those who don’t know me would not know,” claims Vagah. “When I felt justified to move on something, I funneled those thought to paper. I rather write a song and look back and say ‘I was young’ rather than do what I feel is justified, catch charges, and wreck what little I’ve established.”

Currently, Vagah has re-recording songs at Righteous Force Productions, This-N-That Productions, Mad Bass Studios, and Earwaxx Studios; putting the final touches on the Monuementum project. He is also re-recording past songs for the Jersey Street Tapes Series, an eight-volume compilation featuring the illest independent recording artist from the all over the unknown and street-respected corners of ‘Nu Jeruzylem.’ “I took the engineering as far as I could,” expressed the song writer. “After listening to many beats, many first drafts and rewrites, copyrights, selecting voice samples, computer upgrades, logo designs and layouts for the cover, coming up with promotional ideas, strategies, and business plans…I was doing too much!” DJ Cee-Justice, the founder of Rigtheous Force Productions, offered to assist the local rap artist in making the quality of the production equal to the work ethic put into the lyric content. “Cee-Just is completing his health and fitness documentary. The film is entitled, Natural We just recently done the introduction, interview, and narration portions for the movie trailer,” says Vagahbond. “In helping each other out, we learn from each other. He didn’t have to help, but he chose to and I recognize that. Besides, we both benefit.”

Of the three part series, Vagah states that putting out these little know demo-albums was mainly for—in his words—“gradual development.” He wanted to be sure that he was familiar with the entire song-writing/ studio production process and show some growth from then to now. “A lot of emcees—especially local—earned their reputations, like Sage Badweather. He has been compared with freestyle legend Supernatual; spitting an infinite amount of bars hours instantaneouly, about anything, with nothing ‘pre-written’-purely off-the-dome freestyle, and still able to keep people interested and believing in what he is says. Sage was in the opening battle for the 2004 Summer Jam. Also, he ripped that chinese rapper Jin at Fatbeats, (The record shop in NYC which is still considered the main source of Underground Hip-Hop music). Badweather’s resume is impressive. However, when you know little about recording contracts and consequences of legal terminology, relying on other’s to make it to the venues, not open to criticism—and when to value an emcee’s word over a fan’s, when you fail to take into consideration of how much experience does your producer or production team has, not observing the tools they use to control the quality of the production, and the basic inner workings of copyrights, you put yourself in a weak position to get cheated out of publishing and other royalties, you slow yourself down being depended on others who may not be as advanced as you, and most importantly, your subject matter does not evolve, and you do not progress as much as you deserve to.”

“Yeah…An alternative form of Hip Hop is needed; a set criteria improves the quality of the music. Pro-athletes go to sports clinic, soldiers go to boot camp, actors go to Juliard… Detail is the difference between the rock and the sculpture. The artist should define their qualities to match ability with persona. In this way, you show love to the culture of Hip Hop and the individual retains a high level of respect. That’s what real is. Not a charismatic person who gets props for being a half-ass rapper.” On that note, ‘nuff said…

[Excerpt From the Nu Jeruzylem Journal, Fall 2006) You can hear songs from Vagahbond as well as other Jersey artist music on www.theblackmob.com at the Jersey Connect Podcast; an Internet Radio Show hosted by DJ Cee-Justice, Shaun-O, and Non-D]Legacy and what I knew of him: A Piece of the Hip Hop Side of Steve Paul Bugallo's Life (Feb. 18, 1980 –May 21, 2007)
My pen rides heavy with this one. I felt the obituary in the Morris County Daily Record didn't give the man a full description of WHO legacy was and what he meant to those around them. His closest family consisted of his friends. As his stepfather put it, "All he talked about was his friends!" His cousin mentioned some of "Leg's" trademarks, "You cold always recognize him from a distance, his camouflage, backpack, and his fifth of Vodka." Steve and I last had a conversation about what's new Hip Hop Albums are coming out. "This album is bananas son…the perfect blend of underground and the commercial," as Steve put it, referring to Joell Ortiz's debut album. In particular, the song "Brooklyn Bullshit," –the last song Steve posted on his "Inkblahtz" my space page—Ortiz's "So What" attitude portrayed in lyrics would give you accurate insight into Legacy normal character. "That song is so me," he mentioned while he was teaching me and another friend how to play dominoes, on Sunday night, a week before his passing…

Don't get me wrong, dude was definitely not a saint, but respectfully was moral in how he dealt with certain people. Still, he did burn some bridges. As with others who lived in the moment, drugs, drama, and toxic people have taken it's toll. In retrospect, curbing destructive behavior by living simply and narrowing his down his drug of choice to alcohol. Steve managed to quit all the other abusive substances. He was getting back into writing songs again, mending old wounds between him and his mother, being the "big brother" to his cousin he was mentoring as a Graft-Writer and in the traditions of Hip Hop Culture. I was fortunate enough to be one of his "open-ears" when he needed someone to confide in. "Vag comes to me when he cuts everybody off," he told one of my old friends when all of us stopped by his place to visit. While his closest people kept leaving, he needed his friends to believe in him. His grandmother was his staple and he expressed how alone he was when she moved to South America. "Look what my Grandmother sent me from South America!" She sent Steve a wall-sized blue, and white flag with a yellow sun—the flag of Uruguay. "Here-see! It even smells like Uruguay!" Still, he lived an improved life, matured slowly into a caring person, and quietly passed away in his sleep…

His family life and his "music" life were separate. Explosive on the microphone, influential with freestyle rhymes, and with intelligent complexity, this poet wrote sharp lyrics. I first met Steve through one of my other friend, Don Pachino(1). They had formed a group in Dover called the 5th Column. As I was told, the name referred to a governmental system that was installed in Spain after it's people revolted. Legacy, "Angel," "God-Over-Destiny," and others, formed this group. Every other week, this camp would meet for group songwriting sessions, listen to the latest underground Hip Hop Music brought from Fat Beats in New York, and simply enjoy each other's company. A few years later, names of people and the group evolved to T.H.C. Ignoring it's obvious reference—the acronym stood for "The High Counsel"—and the camp stuck to producing quality music and creative song concepts…

According to Steve, he was the first of his Uruguay family to be born in the United States and learning to teach himself is how he maintained day-to-day. Steve was always into all forms of music—everything from Death Metal and Punk Rock to Reggae Tone and Salsa, with the exceptions of Classical and County music. His main fear was of Sharks (mainly because you can't defend yourself in the water against a three-thousand pound animal) and zombies. He took interest in the sciences and conspiracy theories, reading books like the Physics of Superheroes, Robert Greene's 48 Laws of Power, and Carl Sagan's Dragons of Eden. He was always improving his street smarts, brushing up on knowledge of Illuminati, Masons, Five Percenters, and Nuwabic, which was the kind of folks he met in his "nomadic" lifestyle…

Legacy also had a strong ability to recall memories for on the spot storytelling; sometimes exaggerated, entertaining, and accurate. Most of his friends listened as Steve discussed one of his fears and how he would handle them: battle plans and escape routes if zombies arose out the forest in the back of his house. One story he told was when he was hanging out with Roller Derby Babes at Livingston mall, after the Morristown's St. Patrick's Day Parade. I enjoyed to see how happy he was when he found one of his favorite restaurants was still around. "Yo Vag! I thought Roy Roger's closed in '89!" Steve was comedian with the swift ability to turn into a Channel 41 (Hispanic Channel) anchorman, transform into Ol' Dirty Bastard in reciting the late rapper's songs, and transform into an obscene British sports commentator in split-second. Like the rest of us bachelors, he partook in drugging, drinking and breeding, which had earned him the names like "Johnny Dip" and "Slut Salvatore." Often, keeping a level head in gang situations and petty crime, he definitely had a talent for survival…

In the late 90's, Rockaway Mall was a 'hang out' spot. At my break times and after work, I and other Rhyme-Sayers ( such as Sage, Pachino, Slink, J-Tuck, Spinach, Phaze One, Twist, Covah, Trunks, Man Child to name a few) would cypha(2) outside, much to the annoyance of mall security. These cyphas— at times were fifteen or twenty people deep—was where Steve broke out of his shyness; from writing and memorizing rhymes to now speaking his songs out-loud and in-front of people. He was also improving as a better artist when he was involved with The High Counsel. Through his independent experiences, he developed "The Emcee Ego"—not as being conceited, but as in convinced in his ability to participate in battles(3) and be good at it…

Ethereal(4) had a ritual of battling for official membership, when battling was popular, during the Tupac vs. Biggie Smalls Era, I and Sage Badweather(5) went to his home. At that time, he lived across the street from New Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant in Dover, NJ. After a case of Natural Ice and about five of six 40oz, the initiation took place for hours into the mid-early morning! This was one of the first loses Badweather ever took. After Legacy and I was trading punch lines and claymores (subliminal metaphors) mercilessly, "It was like Vagah was possessed," as Sage put it. Legacy was initiated into the camp. We all found a new respect for each other. Sage said afterward, "the force is strong in this one."

Steve wanted to leave a "legacy" as being an "emcee" as well as describe the type of knowledge he was into, "Arm-Leg-A-Leg-Arm-Head," thus "Leg," for short. The more his reputation grew, the name stuck. The name, "Inkblahtz" came about when he lived in Pennsylvania and met a emcee named Inkwell. He flipped that name for himself, referring to the "shrink-tests" used for interpreting abstract thought. That, and having the freedom to say anything he wanted, despite anything anyone had anything to say against him or about him in Hip Hop or life—thus, the spelling of his name. Steve introduced me to music by C-Rays Walls, Sage Francis, Immortal Technique, M.F. Doom, Copyright, and other underground emcees. He also liked telling weird stories about legendary Kool Keith (…something to do with an insane asylum, and gluing on an amputee's arm with a jar of peanut butter). The most recent music Steve enjoyed Joell Ortiz. "A breath of fresh air," as Legacy quoted one of Ortiz's songs...

Steve was one of my closest "brothers." He was Unlucky when it came to car accidents, "I get hit by a car every year!" He joked, "God has it in for me." While visiting Cee-Justice(6) one day, Leg and I decide to wait for him at the local Friday's. In looking around at the obvious executives and middle-class families, we felt out of place. After we got a buzz going, we decided to ditch the bar tab. We didn't get far, for an "army" of the restaurant's employees cut off our escape. In prevention of calling the cops, I fronted like we forgot and paid. Needless to say we had a laugh about how serious the surveillance was.

Another time, I lost my temper at one of Leg's drunken house guest at implored him not to drive this person home due to his shared condition and for his unusual bad luck with motor vehicles. While Leg was sleeping off his drunkenness, that person stole back their car keys from him, hopped into their vehicle, crashed, then had a transmission failure during their "get-a-way to the freeway." Steve gave me this update when I saw him a week later, a few blocks away from his house, bike-riding with another friend. At which time, I apologized for my behavior. "I only get mad around people I consider family… my bad." I explained, He simply replied, "It's nothing."

Month's prior, Steve told me of a "vision" he had of his grandmother delivering an ultimatum while he was sleeping, "continue with the raps or give it up to save himself," as he told it to me. He chose Hip Hop…

Most of the experiences written above are from journals I've been keeping for over ten years and from recent events. I felt—in mourning—and in duty, amongst those who loved him should remember him as he became: a powerful person of unfulfilled potential. For those "otherwise," I can only ask that the bridges burned be forgotten for the sake of "Peace(7)." The most high chooses those with the strongest spirits, biggest hearts, and mature souls; know that he is in a better place…

Your brother in life and music,
Gahmeih, (Gaa-Meey-Ah) (thank you, It's because of you, Leg, I got the pronunciation to my name.) . . . R.I.P.

1. Don Pachino is a emcee from Morristown, New Jersey who won some rap championships in Greensboro, North Carolina in 2001 and continues to perform at New York's Pyramid Lounge and venues in the Newark-Essex County area.

2. Cypha is an "on-the-spot" performances where Rhyme-Sayers would huddle together in a circle to hear each other recite—rhymes.

3. Battle is competition/ duel between two or more Rhyme-Sayers where each person cleverly insults their opponent in rhyme form.

4. Ethereal was a rap group formed in Morristown, New Jersey in the Summer of 1998, in which consisted of Sage Badweather, Don Pachino, and Vagahbond.

5. Sage Badweather is another Morristown, New Jersey native who defeated the Battle Rapper Jin—of 106&Park—at Fat Beats Music Store, won the Hot 92 battle in Harrisburg, PA in 2004 and participated in the Hot 97 Summer Jam battle in 2003.

6. Cee-Justice was the former Dee-Jay for Lockem Shabazz of New Jersey's Flavor Unit light-weight bodybuilding state champion, and now, Co-Host for the Jersey Connect Internet Radio Show.

7. For the Acronym: Positive Elevation Always Corrects Errors.