Former mega-smuggler Jon Roberts, who flooded Miami with $2 billion worth of cocaine in the ’80s, naps away his days in a quiet lakefront Hollywood home. But soon, if what he says is true, a book, a high-octane movie, and videogame contracts will again make him a player. But he doesn’t want you to know this. He’s worried this article could spoil the publicity for his book deal. When I told him last week this story would be published, the craggy, gray-mustached ex-gangster vowed, “You will never write another word in this town again… I will go on TV and tell them everything in your article is bold-faced lies. I hope you get hit by a truck, you little scumbag.”
The outburst is in character with Roberts’s gangster-flick biography, which he described in an on-the-record interview before changing his mind about publication. It begins with a hardscrabble childhood, continues through an astronomic ascent, and concludes with the inevitable prison reckoning. What probably won’t make the official cut, however, is his post-incarceration life, which his ex-wife claims included snitching on friends for cash.
Roberts was born and raised in New York’s Little Italy in 1948. His Mafioso dad was deported when the future smuggler was still a kid, he says. His mother died during a medical operation when he was a young teen. “Everybody told me it was a hysterectomy,” he recalls. “I don’t believe that was true. I think she went into the hospital to have an abortion, which was illegal at the time.”
Cocaine Cowboys : John Roberts Fabulous Life
A budding violent criminal as a teenager, he bounced among relatives’ homes. His sister, who lived in Brunswick, Maine, booted him when he was around 16, he says, and he drove back to Mulberry Street, where he entered the family business. He worked as an enforcer for a loan-sharking uncle, he says, augmenting his income with two-bit capers. “This was the early ’60s — everybody was ‘love, peace, and hope,'” Roberts says. “So I’d tell some hippie I had 20 pounds of pot. He’d give me $10,000. I’d take the money and not give him any pot.”
After a failed kidnapping involving a debtor escaping from a basement “with a chair tied to him and no clothes on,” the adolescent mobster shipped off to Vietnam for five years. “I thought it was great,” he says. “There were no rules. You could kill people, do whatever you want.”
After an explosion in an ammunition dump, he was sent home with four screws and a metal plate in his head, he says. Back in New York, he began opening nightclubs — until the late ’70s, when one of his partners turned up dead after taking 11 bullets. Roberts headed to Miami. He explains simply: “I heard there was a lot of coke down here.”
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Drug dealer Hector Rodriguez Estrada had a feeling he was next.
His boss was beaten to death and dumped in an empty lot, his teeth and fingers missing. Then one of Rodriguez’s underlings turned up in a soccer field, his head next to his body.
Rodriguez, 30, knew his enemies could only get him if he was asleep or high. But the thought made the longtime addict, who sold methamphetamine in his eastern Tijuana neighborhood, more jittery than usual.
“He felt like something was about to happen,” said his mother, Maria de la Luz Estrada.
With good reason.
Much attention is given Mexican drug cartels warring over lucrative transport routes to the U.S. But more and more, they’re battling for an exploding number of Mexican consumers, a market that barely existed a decade ago. While the U.S. is expected to remain the largest and most-coveted market, local consumers are a big and rapidly growing source of cash.
That makes street dealers like Rodriguez prime targets for assassins. Low-level sellers are easy prey for rivals seeking to expand turf, because they work openly on street corners without bodyguards or armored cars.
Drug dealers account for many of the 10,800 people killed since Mexican President Felipe Calderon began a crackdown on cartels in 2006 – particularly in border cities where the battles are fiercest. In Tijuana, they fill at least 90 percent of the body bags, according to top law enforcement officials.
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
The long awaited Back To The Feature mixtape from DC RAPS GREAT HOPE dropped on Friday. Primarily produced by ex-Little Brother beatsmith 9th Wonder, the tape is Wale’s bid for true hip hop legitimacy while simultaneously pushing a shameless and gross radio single. After the jump are my song-by-song first listen knee jerks on the tape.
“Cyphr” f/ Young Chris, Freeway & Beanie Sigel
So it seems Wale has been adopted into the State Property extended family. It makes sense, he’s comfortable rapping with them. Still it’s unfortunate that he’s pulling them closer to the rap-about-nothing territory he occupies when they’re so much better at rapping about shooting people and eating at Boston Market.
“5 Minutes” f/ Skyzoo
Didn’t Wale already use this sample? Seemingly both artists only took five minutes to write their verses. That’s not a diss, that’s the concept of the record. Skyzoo comes off nicely.
“Night Life” f/ Young Chris & Tre
“I ain’t worried ’bout you little n****s blogging.” Blog rappers are constantly saying stuff like this on their mixtapes but if they were truly unconcerned with blogs then they wouldn’t have to mention blogging in their raps at all. Something tells me that Wale and Chris have been frantically googling “Back To The Feature” all weekend. This song has been out for months. It is still very hot. These are the type of records Wale sounds best on – upbeat tracks that nod vaguely to the go-go influence but aren’t totally go-go records.
“Hot Shyt” f/ Peedi Crakk, Black Thought, Tu Phace & Young Chris
Another Philly posse cut. Halfway through the tape this track marks eight Philly guest verses before a single DC area one. (Not counting UCB’s Tre who is basically Wale’s live in hype/hook man. I heard he sings the chorus to Wale’s pancakes every morning.) Plus there were three from Brooklyn, one from New Orleans and one from Newark. The fact that I’m doing math in my mixtape review doesn’t bode well for the quality of the tape or my own sanity.
With the album’s theme, Wale believes that collaboration drives the market today. “I think people have let features and cosigns run Hip Hop.” Still, he doesn’t feel as fondly about cosigns as he does traditional collaboration. “Anybody who knows me and knows the newer [group of] rappers knows that I don’t have that major cosign. I haven’t been fortunate enough to go on tour with anybody and things of that nature. All those dudes, I support [and appreciate] what they’re doing, but my thing is different.” Even as an artist signed to super-producer Mark Ronson’s Alido Records, Wale admits that such assistance doesn’t impress the typical Hip Hop listener, “Mark Ronson is something different. It’s not like people are checkin’ for me ’cause of Mark; I didn’t get Mark’s fan-base. Hip Hop is too heavy on co-signs. It’s too much! Certain co-signs can just jump-start a career, and I don’t think it should be like that. I think it should be more about the music.”
Although the guest artist fuels the theme of Back To The Feature, don’t expect to see this translate into the personnel for Attention: Deficit, the DMV rapper’s debut album. “On my album, I only have Bun B and K’Naan on there. I just kept that [list] real short with the features, as far as the rappers go. I don’t count somebody singin’ as a feature, ’cause I can’t sing,” Wale told DX. The album is due in the third quarter of 2009, on Alido/Interscope.
Sharp – Wale Ft. Torae & Kingpin Slim
Known for working with an assortment of sounds and producers, Wale also told DX about the significance of him now working with the Murs, Jay-Z and Erykah Badu producer. “I just wanted to have the traditional 9th Wonder sound, to kind of show my diversity. 9th is someone that I definitely think is one of the greats. I wanted to show people how I could rock on [some] of his [beats]. At the same time, I’m giving a little bit of light to newer producers I’m workin’ with.” Back To The Feature also includes beats by BKS, Mikey Mike and Mark Ronson. “9th Wonder is the meat and potatoes of the mixtape, the focal point. I got 11 9th Wonder songs on there; I got 12 from [others].”
Wale further explained where Back To The Feature fits in his mixtape catalog, which also boasts early work, Paint A Picture and Hate Is The New Love, “My manager (Daniel Weisman) wrote me a whole write-up of the mixtape, and he basically said this mixtape is just like 100 Miles & Running, but with features. He [said] that A Mixtape About Nothing was too intense, too powerful, too aggressively intense. This one is laid back Hip Hop [where you can] roll a J or whatever you want to do. Sit back, relax and listen to it. And I hope you like it.”
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
“If you’re a square then Medellin has nothing for you to worry about. But if you have some vices then you could get sucked in.
Hookers – A bang in a whorehouse is $13. You can get a threesome for $25. I heard of a whorehouse that had an anal special for May. It’s no surprise that a lot of gringos come to Colombia just to frequent the whorehouses.
Drugs – A gram of cocaine is about $5, but if you got a guy then $2.50. A fifth of an ounce of marijuana is $5 (I’m guessing the weight but it’s good for about 20 cigarette-sized joints). Pharmaceuticals are also cheap.
Casinos – There are a handful of clean casinos that have the usual games including hold ‘em poker. The blackjack tables allow surrender which improves your odds somewhat. I have found $1 blackjack tables. People play like fucking idiots (I saw a guy split 6’s against a dealer face) but it’s fun if you have a friend.
Alcohol – Many clubs offer all-you-can-drink specials that start at $15. Domestic beer, rum, and aguaardiente are dirt cheap.
Silicone– More fake breasts than any city in the United States. Really adds to the overall ambiance.
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Here is an article by Dean Cortez Strip Club Game: 10 Tips For Picking Up Strippers:
(My comments in Bold)
Here are ten of my tips for strip club success:
1. Go in with the right mindset: when you’ve got game, you know you’re way more interesting and confident than 99% of the customers who come to this place. Strippers spend most of their shift having tedious conversations with lame, predictable men. Once you’ve demonstrated otherwise, she’ll be pleasantly surprised to meet you.
Excellent Advice. Only I go into a Gentleman’s Club knowing I am way more interesting and confident than 99.99999999% to 100% of the customers.
2. When you enter the club, walk around with your head held high, like you are totally familiar with this environment. Never lurk or mill around as if you’re unsure of where to sit. Find a seat and settle in, preferably near a speaker. (I’ll explain why in a moment.) Do not sit on “pervert row” (this is what the girls call the seats in front of the stage.)
Always enter with mad swag. And Dolo. I prefer sitting near the bar.
3. When a stripper you like approaches you, don’t let her sit on your lap. Make her sit beside you. (”Whoa, easy there! Have a seat next to me until we get to know each other a little better.”) Having a cocky, playful attitude goes a long way in the strip club. It conveys confidence and establishes that you understand her “game”-and aren’t going to follow her script.
I don’t mind if an Exotic Dancer sits on my lap in an outdoor smoking area. But never in the club.
Also, don’t agree if she immediately offers a dance. Pretend like you didn’t hear her correctly-act like you think she asked YOU to dance for HER.
Never get dances unless it is your only opportunity to isolate a girl ie a no-alcohol grind spot. And then, just have her sit next to you while you pitch. Or if you are looking for a “Buzzer Beater”.
Say something like, “Are you sure you can afford me? I charge $100 for three songs, and no touching below the belt.”
Not sure about this line. A little goofy. But the “spin” is correct.
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Get her to sit down next to you, and ask her name. She’ll tell you her “dancer name.” (Mercedes, Porsche, Destiny, etc.) To this, give another playful response: “My dancer name is Hercules. I dance on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the club down the road. But I’ll tell you what if you tell me your real name, I’ll tell you mine. Just promise me you won’t stalk me or do anything weird.”
Again a little goofy. I typically have no issues with getting a Dancers real name. But I typically am wearing custom suits from Savile Row, so that may play a factor.
Say this playfully, and you’ll get her to laugh and tell her your real name. Now you’re starting the interaction on a genuine level, and you’re breaking her out of her “work” mind frame. Strippers, like salesmen, have a canned “script” that they use on every customer; when you control the interaction instead of answering her questions, she is unable to use her script and has no choice but to be real with you.
Pole Dancing
Preferably you’ll be sitting with her near a speaker (I suggested you choose this area to sit in), because now you can say “let’s move somewhere quieter, I want to be able to hear you.” This shows you value what she has to say, and gives it the feel like a “mini date”: you’re taking her somewhere, even if it’s just to the other side of the room. Physically leading a woman to another area is a great way to convey masculinity and confidence.
I like this theory. I do the same thing only chill at the bar and take an Exotic to go smoke. Builds rapport.
4. Keep your eyes off of her body and maintain eye contact. Never comment on how good she looks; if anything, call her “cute.”
“You’re cute, but I can tell there’s more to you than meets the eye. So tell me something about yourself that none of these customers would ever guess about you.” (Again, you’re framing yourself as not being a customer.)
Excellent technique. Never be like “regular guy”.
5. Be respectful of her profession. Never refer to it as “stripping”; the term to use for her is “dancer.” Say (or imply) that you’ve dated dancers before and demonstrate familiarity with her profession. Then I’ll say, “It’s too bad I swore off dating dancers, because I can tell you and I would get along.” (If she asks you “why you don’t date dancers,” be vague-just tell her, “It’s a long story, I’ll tell you about it sometime.” Then ask her another question that prompts her to keep thinking and sharing.
Another good line to use: “I know you must have some funny stories from working here. My friend is a dancer in Las Vegas, and she told me some hilarious stories about the customers who come in these places”
Too standardized. Every girl has heard this one a million times.
6. Befriend the staff: bouncers, coat check, bus boys, DJs, managers, the owner, etc. When you visit, staff members should know and greet you. This gives you high social value (or “social proof”) in the eyes of the dancers; again, you’re not a typical customer.
Again, straight out The G Manifesto Playbook. Lock the spot down.
Befriending male staff members is easy: I’ll bring a can of Red Bull over to the doorman and say, “Here, I thought you could use this,” and give him the drink. Then tell him, “you must be the envy of all your friends-hanging out in a club full of beautiful, half-naked women every night and getting paid for it. By the way, my name’s Dean.”
Nine times out of ten, the doorman will proceed to tell you why working at a strip club is anything but exciting and glamorous. Have a few laughs with him; chat for a few minutes, then head back to your seat. He knows you now, and he’ll appreciate the gesture. Every time you return from now on, he’ll give you a warm welcome.
Befriending the manager or owner will give you even greater social proof. To do this, I’ll ask my waitress to point out the person who is running the place. Then I’ll walk up to the manager/owner, introduce myself, and tell them this is one of my favorite clubs. Then, I’ll say that I’m trying to find a good location for my buddy’s upcoming bachelor party and I think this place would be perfect. I’ll ask how much it would cost to reserve a VIP room and several dancers for a few hours.
(I never actually come back for any bachelor party; I just use this as an “ice breaker” to get to know the manager/owner. They’re happy to talk to me about this. When I return in the future, if they ever ask me about the bachelor party plans, I say with a smile, “well actually, it looks like we’ll be throwing him a divorce party pretty soon. Do you do those, too?”
7. Don’t forget, the girls are there to make money. Go on slow nights when there aren’t a lot of customers vying for their attention. When you sit down with a girl and you’ve been chatting for a little while, it’s okay to buy a dance from her-but a minute or two into the song, tell her she can sit back down, and resume the conversation. (Again, always behave like a non-customer.)
Weeknights are always best at The Gentleman’s Club. Weekend nights are only if you have the spot on lock.
8. During the conversation, apply the same tactics you would use on women in a bar. Use techniques like Cold Reads and Hypotheticals. Many examples of these are explained in the “Secrets Of Strip Club Seduction” book. At all times, you will control the direction of the conversation and keep taking it to a deeper level, instead of trying to fill the time with pointless small talk.
9. One of the most effective ways to bond with a stripper is to get her to reveal her hidden talent and or/ambition. They’ve all got one. Strippers are used to customers treating them like brainless sex objects, and deeply appreciate it when a guy recognizes them for being more than that. This conversational thread also gives you the opportunity to reveal YOUR talent/ambition to her. (To women, a guy with passion and ambition is often MORE attractive than the guy who already has a lot of money.)
True. But having tons of CASH never hurts.
10. As far as “closing” with the dancer you like, the “Secrets Of Strip Club Seduction” program contains some very clever (and effective) methods for scoring her phone number and getting her to agree to meet you after her shift ends. (Special tactics are necessary here, because strippers normally have a tendency to be flakes.)
Meeting up with that same night needs to be your primary goal. This is why an essential part of seducing strippers is knowing two or three “go-to” spots that are within easy driving distance of the club, where you can meet and chill with her when she gets off work.
Always have the “after hours” spots on lock.
Always “oversell” these places to her. Instead of asking her to meet you at a bar (which sounds boring and ordinary), tell her that the bar has “the most amazing appetizers” or “the most incredible jukebox” or that “your buddy Mike the bartender makes the best margaritas you’ve ever tasted.” This provides additional motivation and frames you as a guy who is “in the know” and is going to turn her onto something cool.
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
