Playlist: Jamie Hector from "The Wire"

By Toshitaka Kondo

It takes grindin' to be king in the streets. That and a ruthless demeanor, top-notch instincts and zero qualms about using violence to get the job done. On HBO's "The Wire," Jamie Hector's deadly character Marlo Stanfield, the king of Baltimore's most dangerous drug cartel, possesses all of these traits. And while running the streets usually leads to jail time or an early grave, one gets the feeling this gangsta won't die -- he'll just move to Miami. Hector, a twenty-something Brooklyn native, had small roles in Clockers, Paid in Full and He Got Game before locking down the block as Marlo on "The Wire." He picked a playlist fit for the streets and Sunday service.

The Notorious B.I.G. Featuring 112, "Sky's the Limit"
"Biggie made it clear to the young ones coming up that there is no limit to what you can make happen wherever you are or come from. I definitely respected that. Also, I like the way he put together the track."

The Notorious B.I.G., "One More Chance/Stay With Me"
"I really like that one also because it took me back to being in Bedford Stuyvesant, Crown Heights and East Flatbush."

Rick Ross, "Hustlin'"
It just gives you that frame of mind in the morning to make it happen. That's life. That's progress and moving forward."

Nas, "One Mic"
It made you get in touch with your emotions and open up. It brought it back to lyrics with flash. And at the same time, he was just talking about the world. I think he shot the video in Africa. He spoke the truth about snakes in the grass, and it was poetic."

Nas, "Represent"
“It shows you where he came from and how he progressed. When he wrote that rhyme, it was like I was there. I could actually see it. I can't put it to words, but it was visual. That's how I feel when I read a script. It's like you just hit my arm, because it just jumped off the page."

Jay-Z feat. Eminem, "Renegade"
“The Blueprint is sick! Em killed it. Goodness gracious! And Jay shook it with the lyrics, too."

Jay-Z, "Moment of Clarity"
"First and foremost, I respect the fact that he's thanking God. When you posted up and you just watching people and you see the way they move, and you're just like, 'Damn, do I move like this cat?' Whether they be good or bad. But he ain't even say he move like the guy. He moves like the rims. They don't even stop moving. Even when you're resting, you're mind is still moving. It's like you got to download. And I dug that. I listen to all kinds of music and when you listen to songs, hopefully they'll be inspiration. You think your mind is moving like the dude that's sitting in the Bentley. But nah, your mind isn't moving like them cats 'cause they stopped moving. Your mind is moving like the rims. You stop at the light and they still spinning."

Phil Collins, "In the Air Tonight"
“It just gives you that feel of being in a drop-top in Miami or L.A .or New York and you're driving with a shorty in the passenger seat relaxing. The thing with me and music is I associate it with a time. And when that came out I was watching Miami Vice, and it's that vibe that you want to get when the city lights is on and you just cruising through the metro."

Phil Collins, "True Colors"
“Phil Collins put that down even though they made it a Kodak commercial. That was one of those songs that made you analyze yourself. You might be walking around and hiding your true colors, but that right there is deep because that actually made me realize that a lot of people are walking around with a mask on. And they have to find out their true colors, as well as mine. And I felt that 'cause it was like one of those days that you just kick back. And there's nobody to blame anybody for it. And you can just lay back, relax, play it, and think."

Kem, "Find Your Way"
“I just saw him perform it the other day. I went to one of his shows. He isn't gospel, but Jesus is first and foremost in his life, and he made it certain at the show. He just goes hard 'cause he came from a long way. He was addicted to alcohol, I think. He made it through so he just took 10 minutes and dropped it about where he came from and how he came from the underground and made it up. He didn't do it by himself and he started his song and I was like, 'Wow, ok. Now I see where the music comes from.'"

Al Green, "Love and Happiness"
“When he wrote the song, I think it might have been in the '70s, people were actually like that with true love, in the backyard, relaxing outside, with everybody barbequing, and no hate. Not too many people can write about love and happiness and make it stick. Mary J. Blige is probably one of the only ones that can do that. She's basically found true love in God, and then in her husband."

Mary J. Blige, "Can't Hide From Luv"
“Mary J. got a way of calling people out on the low, but at the same time making them feel good. She's like, 'Yo, step it up and be a man!' She's basically telling everybody, 'Listen, this is what I'm looking for and this is what I want. A real man who's about his business and that's going to take care of the home.' It's one of those tracks that get in your heart and makes it beat fast."

Mary Mary, "In the Morning"
“I think that was around the time of 9/11, and I realized that even with all the drama that people got in life, the sun is going to shine in the morning. You know when you can speak to people and let them know that you're going through the same drama that they're going through. Some people think that you're in the sky and that you can't relate to them because you're so famous. They laid it down like, 'Listen, when you look at the sun, you see the same sun I see. Any troubles you have, I may have also, but I'm going to let you know it's going to be alright.'The name of the game is keep your cool."

Mary Mary, "Little Girl"
“She's talking to my 10-year-old niece. I see little girls trying to grow up so fast and quick. The little dudes, they just running and wanna play with themselves, and it's the little girls that's really trying to get their attention at a younger age. It's like, 'Listen, slow down before something breaks. Don't speed.'"

Eric B. and Rakim, "Paid in Full"
“Rakim had the demeanor of a leader. He wrote that in like the '80s when cats was basically trying to make it out cause that was right when crack hit the fan. So that was when they were about to knock off a couple generations of humans whether black, white, Asian and everyone. He came from there, but now he doesn't want to go there anymore. He's basically trying to go from point A to point B to point C. So now, it was like you thinking of a master plan, but you don't want to go left. And he's basically thinking about how to make some money, and there's a possibility he might end up going to the pistol, but he chooses to go get a job. I dug that 'cause that was the time that you could shape the minds of young dudes, too. He was just painting a picture for you like, 'This is what I used to do and what I came from, and I still gotta get it, but you know what? I'm no longer doing it this way. If I do it this way, I'm going to be around for a while. If not, I'm going to get killed or go to jail.' But the way he put it together was artistic."

Comments

[Koolkidkulture]

can't wait for the new season.

Boost Mobile Anthem 2.0
Behind the scenes with Jeezy, JD and Mickey Avalon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3er-A6HsW8w

[Deon Brown]

Loving the new season of wire ... You're a great actor ... wish the best for you in the future