Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Is Hip Hop Destroying Black America?

I had the opportunity to get behind the scenes look at my local college radio station. I noticed they played the same songs each week, but in a different order each day.  They would rotate a new song or two in the regular playlist from time to time. As a result, the listener gets pummeled with the same message over and over and over, which desensitizes them. As a result,some people seek out the life depicted in the songs, and some don't. This same effect could be seen with Rock and Roll. For a while "sex, drugs, and rock & roll" was the mantra for the genre, and may still be.  Some people succumb to it, and some don't. People use music as an escape, and as a result, they are listening to the radio and wishing they were in that life (just like watching TV sitcoms did for a lot of people).  It gets perceived as how life should be, and so it's imitated. Since Blacks make up a small percentage of the population, a larger section of that group will appear to succumb to it more often than others. Other ethnicities will display a broader selection of people who have bowed to certain ideals presented to them because there are more of them to draw from. I feel that is why it looks like American Blacks in general are doing far worse than other ethnicities in this country.  Thanks to the media, we have seen the American Dream being shoveled into our faces through various outlets, and as a result, people are bragging about getting: money, sex (in various ways and methods), drugs,material possessions... you get the point.  People desire these things, and will stop at nothing to get them. So before we accuse hip hop of doing this to a select group of people, we must recognize that America has been doing this to the WHOLE. WORLD., for quite some time, and this is just a cog in the machine, so to speak. The poorest of the poor come to North America in search for some of these things. They flock here because in some way, shape or form, media has told them that America is the place to be if you want to be somebody, meanwhile America's poor (and not so poor) people are seeking this out as well. The American Dream does not help Blacks at all because the same media that touted riches for everybody who entered, is the same media that systematically and continuously crapped on that particular ethnicity for so many years, in various ways and told them to shut up about it at the same time. Could you blame them for screaming for the American Dream, since it seems like everyone has it and they don't, especially when statistics are routinely made in order to drive the message home ?  From my standpoint, the image of the snake eating it's tail comes to mind.  I feel that hip hop is not the culprit here, it's this gangster ass pyramid scheme of a culture that belongs to North America.

Monday, November 12, 2012

I just posted a new video on  TheSpot4HipHopTV created by a friend of mine by the name of Linus Stubbs.  Check him out and watch him do his thing by clicking on the channel name printed in yellow.  For more videos, go to The Spot 4 Hip Hop's official   Youtube page!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Music

Sweet merciful Jesus!  This ish right here...this ish right here.. is what you need in your stereo.

Straight out of Ogden Utah...THAT'S RIGHT!  Ogden. Utah.

My current audio experiment:

 This is a preview of a spoken word EP I've been working on. Please give feedback, click like, and add input.  All HELPFUL comments and critiques appreciated (good or bad). More info on this project to come....




Look out for PEMG (Petroleum Empire Media Group) Here's something you don't see often in hip hop A very rare glimpse of fatherhood from the view of a single dad pertaining to the child support system he is subjected to.  I can understand where his frustration comes from.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

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

Friday, March 9, 2012

Classified

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.

Monday, February 13, 2012

How can females like rap music?

Over the years, I've been asked this question a million times.  As an avid rap fan for many years, I have struggled with it as well. I have gone through several phases where I would ban various artists from my ears because they constantly referred to females as all types of "bitches" and/or "hoes".  It didn't matter if they did it all day or maybe just once in a while.  I used to show complete distain for women who dance to songs that showed flagrant disregard for females, and even once thought the artist as possibly being gay due to the vitriol they spewed fourth when it came to their relations with women, because I felt these artists were responsible for why young guys felt it was acceptable to ask a random chick walking down the street whether or not they would let the guy "do her neck" (true story), and have the audacity to act hurt when the girl became offended by what was said.  Meanwhile, flashing cash in ridiculous ways and artists rapping to their fans saying in so many words that we won't ever have shit, won't be shit, and can't do shit, so stop hating and buy their cd while calling us broke mofos all at the same time started to get on  my nerves after a while.  It got to the point where I would question the motive of said artists, and ask, "Why would people want to buy their stuff so they could get crapped on in their ear? That's like some sadomasochistic type stuff right there."  So I'm going to address these topics first and foremost since they seem to stand out the most for me, and a lot of other people I'm sure.

Now before readers jump all over me for lambasting rap music and attacking artists for what they do or what I perceive they did, please note that I said, " I used to".  Here is why I came to that conclusion and what I did in order to continue to enjoy the art and do so unapologetically:

Regarding women dancing to degrading music:
Sure, some artists do that, but as a female, I must examine the situation closely. First I must understand that in a lot of cases, the artist is a guy. (The female artists who degrade are not off the hook yet. I'll get to them a bit later,lol).  Guys in general talk that talk amongst each other. They have done so for years. The only difference is that it has been publicized in various art forms. Women of all races have been disrespected for centuries, its just that no one has talked about it and it was the norm.  I have come to the conclusion that the artists are telling their "locker room stories" to other guys.  Sure, back in the day,if they were talking in a park, they might have quieted down when they saw a female walk by, but in reality they have no idea whether the person on the other end of the speakers is a female.   Men tell tales of sexual conquest (and so do women), and sometimes things get trumped up. Yes their audience is a whole lot bigger now, and yes some things shouldn't get aired out like that, but who are we to silence them?  I could play the "well they should have been raised better" card, but I guarantee that those who were "raised better" probably did or said similar things back in the day. The difference is the story about that particular female hasn't been blasted across the world.  Women have dealt with it and will still continue to, be it by dancing to the music or starting a movement of sorts.  If they chose to dance to it, then so be it. I can't account for anybody's actions but my own, and I really don't have time to worry about what they are doing.

For the record, I am not for the disrespect of women, and I am not calling all women "queens" so to speak. Yes there are shady men and women out there. Face it. All men aren't "kings"either. There are just as many trifling mofos out there as terrible women. As we go out into the world we are bound to run across (or become)one of these fools (men or women). It is our choice to keep company with them, not associate with them, or become them. This also applies to the female rappers who talk trash about men or women as well.

My take regarding female rappers and sexuality:

Ladies: Men are visual creatures. Men are mostly the fan base. Therefore a lot of the mainstream female rap artists are catering to that demographic.  Men don't want to hear about how some guy did a girl wrong, a break up to make up relationship, lost love,or growing up as a young woman, etc. A lot of men want to hear how the artist can sex them up while looking hot as well.  Unfortunately, there are some female artists who don't really want to be known for all of that,but still appear as "grown and sexy" so these artists get the short end of the stick when it comes to gaining exposure.

My stance on women degrading women.


Women can be very jealous. It shows its ugly head in various ways (2 women+ same outfit = #hellisfinabreaklooseupinhurr).  So depending on the women, she may attempt to deflect it by saying something along the lines of, "Fuck these hoes and bitches! Can't nobody do it like me", etc.  Strangely enough, the same goes with guys in the club, except there might be an unsettled issue (or same outfit scenario) that might cause a fight or worse, bullets.   Again, it depends on how the person deals with it.  Rap music is all about status. Always has been, always will be. This leads me to the next thing to watch for:  Rapping about "Bling"

Remember Erick B and Rakim's album cover, "Paid In Full" ?  That cover was made in 1987, long before the so called, "Bling Era" of rap.  Note the stack of money, the chains, and the "fly" clothes of the day donned by them, not to  mention the title of the album.  The whole album is about getting  paid. in. full., or cutting out the middle man so to speak.

I also used to get annoyed about the flaunting of cash by No Limit, and Cash Money Records.  But guess what?  Everybody wants money, new clothes, a nice car, and a house.  It's a universal phenomenon in this country.  I know I like to be able to go shopping every once in a while, I buy jewelry once in a while, and I want to eat good as well.  Yes, No Limit and Cash Money and various other camps, or artists were a bit excessive with it, but that's how they chose to spend their money. Sure, I could do without the platinum teeth encrusted with diamonds, the Lamborghini  with the suicide doors, and a pool in my living room, but a lot of rappers rap about having "thangs" so to speak. I could listen to Nappy Roots spit about cars all day long, because they do it so well, but it was torture listening to Still Fly from Big Tymers.


I guess what I'm saying here is in order for a female to still enjoy rap music, she needs to do this:
The trick is to search for artists who rap well and fit your music tastes. It was a lot harder to search for music back in the day because it meant you needed to do some traveling to the music shop, dub some tapes from your friends, etc, but we have the internet for God's sake! So  much is at our finger tips it's insane!  Yes, it takes time to find these artists, but when I find them, either I'm pleasantly surprised, or I have another album or mixtape I have to discard.  The best part about it is a lot of the stuff I find is free, so I don't waste any money.

I can hold on to my Jean Grae, Rah Digga, and Bahamadia cds in hopes more dope female emcees will take the underground crown, and get noticed for having flows and not being hoes while hearkening back to the so called "Good ol' days " when Monie Love, Roxanne Shante, MC Lyte, Salt and Peppa ran the game, or I can get busy looking for artists like these:
Boog Brown
K-Rino
NYOIL
Signif
Declaime
Jasiri X
Horse Shoe Gang
Ill Sevenz Music Group
The Left
Nitty Scott, MC
Invincible
Tiye Phoenix

On that note, I hope I encourage you to start digging the e-crates to find your new favorite artists.  Hopefully, I can get another female out there (or male for that matter) to like hip hop and realize that hip hop is not dead, it is alive and and well, kickin it in the underground.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Disclaimer (Read this before you read any other poems from me)

So you wanna know what's on  my mind?
I must warn you.
These wide lines hide hard times behind leather designs.
Some might find they invoke hope from the rhymes I spoke.
Others see trials and tribulations that might burn their throat.
Keep in mind, writing is how I cope.
Otherwise the tide gets high enough to  make me choke.
I can't swim,so I row my broken boat to stay afloat.
The fight inside me got me tough enough to write this note.
So if you continue to let me keep your ear, sit back relax and grab your favorite beer.
Let me take you where I've been and tell you what I know.
It ain't much, maybe you'll take home your favorite quote.
I  might lose friends from what you see in this.
Before you read on, I give my hug and farewell kiss.
I hope I miss you, there's no telling where my mind will go,
WIth that said, I finish my flow so I could start the show.

Thank you.