Something I've noticed in the current hip hop culture.

As a lot of you know, I've always enjoyed the hip hop culture and rap music. I've seen a lot of trends come and go, and come back for the better or worse. I've gone through a phase where I would rail against songs that had any form of disrespect to women, or anything degrading in them (as folks could see in my previous blog addressing such issues) . I wouldn't even touch a club song with a ten foot pole with a condom on the end of it because I was "too conscious" for all of that, lol. Nowadays things are a bit different.

These days, instead of restricting myself based on prior beliefs, I am willing to check out the artist to see for myself, and take their music for what it is. Recently, I've been exposed to Tyga, Big Sean, and Lil Wayne. And you know what? I may not like the stuff that Tyga, and Big Sean put out, but I take it for what it is: Music made strictly for dancing to. If a person loves to dance, then it suits them. Since I don't go to the club, nor can I dance (strange fact for the day), I figure the music wasn't made for me and leave it at that. Lil Wayne has surprised me at times during appearences on various albums (Nas and Damian Marley's Distant Relatives album), but I still don't go very far to search out his stuff. I enjoy GOOD gangsta rap even though I was never a gangsta. I knew people who were into the street life,I can sympathise with their struggle and feel where they are coming from. Believe it or not, some of the smartest people are/were all in the street life, it's just the dumb ones who put their business out there and get caught up, and some cases, skin color plays it's part as well (don't front, it is true that cops will go after anyone looking "suspect", and that particular level of suspicion depends on the area you live in regardless if you are in the street life or not). Some of these people get dismissed because they may not have graduated high school or been to college. That doesn't mean they are stupid or uneducated, they just have a different degree from a different school that some of us may not have gone to.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is stop being so restrictive. Think about it, the hip hop culture is the most diverse culture to come out of this country. Run DMC was the first to incorporate rock samples in their music, and as a result, many many legendary artists have used various samples from various genres of music to this day. I'm not saying all hip hop fans should go out and buy all albums by every artist ever made, but when I find an artist that may not fit into my so called parameters or requirements for a dope emcee, I check it out, and then form my opinion regardless. They may be Black, White, Puerto Rican, Asian, thug, ex laywer, ex scientist, homeless,street scholar, political, etc. If they spit that real hip hop, then I'm all over it. Life is too short to be trying to fit yourself in a box. That being said, here are some more dope emcees I've encountered over the course of several years. Feel free to check them out. Maybe they might gain a new fan or two!


Bambu- http://bamburants.blogspot.com/


I Self Divine- http://first-avenue.com/event/2012/05/iselfdevine


David Thompson- http://www.kooleyhigh.com/


Keith Charles Spacebar- http://spacebar.bandcamp.com/album/beforecommonera


Lute- http://westsidelute.bandcamp.com/album/west1996


Brother Ali- http://rhymesayers.com/brotherali


Termanology- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termanology


Psalm One- http://regularblackgirl.com/


Tito Lopez- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiTDfdw_WCE


Aceyalone- http://aceyalone.bandcamp.com/releases

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CD/DVD Repair:


Is your CD collection looking kinda raggady?  Do you love your albums so much that you have cds that you've played so much that you've had to  replace them several times? Are your jewel cases all scratched up, faded by the sun, or just flat out broken?   If so, Don't worry, I got your back.  I know this economy has been bad for quite some time, and a lot of folks just don't want to replace their albums, or pay really high prices for music stores to buff out their CDs, only to bring them home, or play them in the car and find out the same skip or jump in the track is still... there...????  That's why there is an alternative.  I offer a professional CD repair service that will allow you to completely restore your album.* That means I will replace your jewel case, and repair your album.

Now I know what you're thinking.  You're probably thinking it would be expensive, therefore I invite you to be the judge. The rates are as follows :

Deluxe package for single cds: (includes a new case, and a repaired cd) $1.68 per album
Double Disk Deluxe (also known as the "Triple D" package): $2.56 per album

Regular package for single cds and double albums: (disk only)  $1.23 per disk,  meaning if you need to have both disks of 2Pac's All Eyes on Me repaired, then each disk is $1.23, or $2.46 total

Please e-mail me with the subject heading describing your package, or questions, meaning if you want 2 double albums with the triple d package, just include  "triple d package for 2 double albums" in the heading.  In the body, include your mailing address and name .

*This does not include artwork restoration.