General Steele's Blog

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH US…..
General Steele

It started as a simple Twitter beef, 140-character spurts of anger by two young men who grew up together.
But the tough talk exploded out of cyberspace and onto the streets of Harlem, where a college student was gunned down feet from Gov. Paterson’s home.

Now tweets sent by victim Kwame Dancy, 22, and accused killer Jameg Blake, 22, could become key evidence in a murder trial, the Daily News has learned.

Dancy’s mother, Madeline Smith, is appalled Internet chest-thumping could have led to blood spilled on the sidewalk.

“That’s not a reason to shoot somebody,” she said last week. “That’s crazy. I don’t know what’s going on with that Twitter thing.”

Dancy, who was studying to be a nurse, was killed by a shotgun blast to the neck Dec. 1 across from Lenox Terrace in Harlem, where he grew up with his father.

Blake – who lived on the same floor as Dancy, one floor below Paterson in the luxury high-rise on W. 132nd St. – was arrested two days later.

Charged with murder, he pleaded not guilty Wednesday and was held without bail.

Police sources said the two had a rocky relationship and the Twitter messages they posted – with friends jumping in – only made it worse.

Hours before the shooting, Dancy may have taunted Blake with a tweet: “N—–s is lookin for u don’t think I won’t give up ya address for a price betta chill asap!”

Blake’s Twitter account is also full of online disses, though only one tweet mentions Dancy by name: “R.I.P. Kwame” on Dec.3.

A police source said the messages may be subpoenaed to bolster the theory that there was bad blood between the two old pals.

But the Twitter beef wasn’t the only strain; Dancy and Blake fought last summer over a girl in front of Lenox Terrace, sources said.

Despite the insults and fisticuffs, when Blake was collared, Dancy’s mom was stunned.

“They were good friends, that’s the sad part about it,” said Smith, who is divorced from Dancy’s dad and lives in Brooklyn. “Obviously, I didn’t know him like I thought I did. I just want to ask him. ‘Why? How could you?’”

She said her son had taken off a semester from Manhattan Community College and was training with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. He planned to return to school and get his degree.

He had tried to steer Blake – a high school dropout and father of a baby boy – to get his GED.

“They’ve been friends since they were kids. Kwame would often try to help when [Blake] was going through stuff – and this was his thank you?” Smith said.

Blake’s arrest was particularly shocking because he showed up at Harlem Hospital after Dancy was shot and hugged his father.

“Either he wanted to see if he actually killed [Kwame] or he wanted to see if anyone knew he did it,” Smith said.

Authorities have a witness who identified Blake as the gunman, and video shows Blake leaving Lenox Terrace around the time of the shooting with a bag large enough to hold a shotgun.

Records also show Blake used his phone around the time and place of the shooting. The murder weapon, a shotgun with a spent shell, was recovered with two shirts in Central Park.

Blake’s parents and lawyer Thomas Klein declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Dancy’s mom cries every night about her son.

“He said, ‘Mommy, I’m going to be a nurse,’” she said. “And look at this – we’ll never know how far he would have gone. His dream was snatched from him, over foolishness.”

MEN WHO COOK

SURVIVAL SKILLS 101

I am a survivor.

I acquired many skills from my family.
My moms roots are from the South
and my Dad has west indian roots
but unfortunately he had no direct ties what so ever to those roots.

I learned how to cook from my parents mostly
then of course watching as well as helping my grandmother and aunts
around the house, particularly on those Sundays. Man I miss those Sundays.

I also have to give credit to the many women who have come into my life
and shared many different recipes from their vast backgrounds
as well as methods of cooking.

I have learned that there are many folks WHO DON’T COOK AT ALL.
“My Mamma never Taught me how to cook”-Annette Peacock
My family didn’t have a whole lot of money
but my parents made sure my brothers and I ate a hot meal every night.

Fast food was very rare. Not to much Mickey D’s and only a few pizza parties
even though we all enjoyed them so much…

When my kids were born
I tried to give them the same lessons I got and the importance of being able
to COOK FOR SELF.

And to be able to take care of the family.
I have made it a project to cook with my children.
Its fun and they are extremely helpful and they are fast learners…they inspire me.

I have to admit I am sort of a Food Network fanatic
even though they cook a lot stuff I wouldn’t eat….at least no now…
lol.
I do respect their grind…it’s crazy.

I dream of one day having a lil’ family spot
with my moms, my brothers and of course my lil’ homies.
Maybe even have them run the spot….yeah the youth run the restaurant
and the elders run the card game in the back…haha.

So now I be experimenting more
especially in these tough times
got to be more creative…haha

Besides fast food ain’t for the kid..
or the kids for that matter…THAT STUFF CAN KILL YOU
["SuperSize Me"]
I look to expand my menu
sometimes I be shocking myself…haha

but I’m getting better

and I salute all
MEN WHO COOK

stay tuned for more……

I must admit I have not been to the movie theatre in awhile. I can’t say i really remember the last movie I went to see.
Embarrassed to say it might be the Darknight…Batman
That was a hot flick
RIP Heath Ledger

I have been watching the flix that hollywood has been releasing and I must say as of lately it seems to be a nice selection out there.
I mean all across the board.
I guess creativity coupled with technology has expanded.

my kids went to see Avatar went their uncle…they didnt have much to say about it
but a few of the older homies did urge me to see the movie..
being I love a good conspiracy
and from what I hear ..this movie reflects views concerning eugenics and world domination to say the least..
like I said I havent seen it but it sounds like another 10,000 BC slash Matrix slash Ice Age.
Nah but on the real I see a lot of trailers some which have me looking forward to seeing the movie then others I’m not so sure about
well here are a few I found

Clash Of The Titans

The A-Team

IronMan 2

The Karate Kid

The Book Of Eli

Legion

Sherlock Holmess

I feel like I’ve been in some alternate surreal reality, if that makes sense, for the past couple of months.

My friends are tight with me because i don’t call, I’m one of those funny phone people, but out of sight never means out of mind in my book. I feel like I have been bogged down with lifes work. Being a dad, a boss, a friend, a coach, a cook, an editor, an engineer, oh lets not forget a rapper, amongst other things.

For the past couple of weeks I have been working on my solo album titled Amerikkkas Nightmare 2/Children Of War while at the same time working on the new SNW/Pete Rock lp.

At first I thought it may be a conflict, but it was a natural ebb and flow. Its just all the politics that drags progress out. There has been a lot of downs and not to many ups but for some reason I am still here.
Peace Be Steele
The Amerikkas Nightmare lp is my baby hand picked all the beats and all the artist, same as with the Welcome To Bucktown lp
It was fun and my boy asked me do I think people are ready…I told him I don’t if “I’m” ready…but most times thats the best time to go..
Its been a trip SET TO RELEASE THIS FEBRUARY

AMERIKKKAS NIGHTMARE 2/CHILDREN WAR

I will discuss more in another note
but on another note…haha
The Pete Rock/Smif-N-Wessun lp
has also been a great experience. Pete is a prolific producer and this is Tek and Steeles 5th lp SET TO RELEASE THIS SUMMER

Dem P.N.C bwoys back @ it again

I always wanted a summer album
we got some solid cuts on there
and I am happy with the progress as well as the diversity on both of the projects.
It has been an illmatic juggle to say the least but the experience has humbled me.
Give thanx and Praise to God for life and the ability to create something from nothing…Be Free
And peace be still till the next time we build and I will go more into details about the projects.

Peace
Power & Prosperity
General Steele

SALUTE!