Thursday, October 30, 2014

Look what I found!

I Don't Camoflauge: A behind the scenes look at how rap artists, and participants of the culture look at the idea of trying to "fit in" and how they handled this idea when they first encountered it.


Thursday, July 24, 2014

The Problem With Ms. Hill (formerly known as Lauryn Hill)

I saw this article that Vibe Magazine put out and I decided I'd say something about it. Here's the video footage of the alleged "Kanye moment" as mentioned by the writer of this article.




 I get sick of people talking big shit on her. Sure, she had kids by a guy who she didn't marry and he was out (for lack of a better phrase) fucking and ducking. He broke her heart and she lost her mind for a while. That sort of thing happens to a LOT of people. Why did people shame her for that? She wrote about her relationships, and various things that happen in her life and people balked about what she had to say. They said she was trying to be "holier than thou" and trying to preach to people. I saw it as her trying to tell people what she had been through. Sure she did get at some men, but so what? Men shit on women CONSTANTLY in rap songs and no one bats an eye. She said something about some of the men she's been with or know about (without using or making up any derogatory slurs towards said men, might I add) and everybody was saying things like "Fuck that dumb bitch. She think she's too good, etc, etc." I guess women aren't allowed to mention said things (the aftermath of Nikki Minaj's Looking Ass Nigga was a great example of that) , but men can throw women under the bus all day and night and make up new slurs for all of the women they ran across. That shit is not cool at all. 

She's late to her shows. What planet are people on when they think a show is going to start on time? Shows NEVER, EVER start on time. At least she came to the shows and didn't use a stand in like MF Doom did, and yet people are still buying Doom's records. They said it was a "dick move" for him to do such a thing and left it at that. But oh no. Not Ms. Hill. She can't get a pass. Nope. And people want to say that she's rude. Newsflash! there are a LOT of rude artists out there, and I bet a lot of them are ruder than her. So What? If she's "rude to you" then don't see her play. Plain and simple. Nobody is twisting these people's arms or holding them at gunpoint and making them see the shows. If she is late to every show, people should expect that and prepare for it, since it's common knowledge in this case. In fact, this is the reason why I don't go to most shows. I just don't have the time these days. 

She is far from perfect, and is a flawed person. She's trying to get along in this world while people try to grasp at excuses to not like her. Whether it's for her music (That Thing, or any other song she wrote to blast on her ex-es WITHOUT male bashing slurs, might I add), or alleged "craziness" or not paying taxes. That being said, I haven't seen anybody talk shit on Wesley Snipes for not paying taxes, and he's been in jail for a while. In fact Murs wrote a song on the White Mandingo album called 'Free Wesley Snipes." If my memory is correct, people were mad that he got locked up and all of the Wall Street people are not locked up. People said that Wesley Snipes got locked up because he was Black, and people were mad about it. Why does Ms Hill get looked at in a different light? Sounds like she ought to write a follow up song to Mos Def's "Mr. N!gga" because it looks like she's getting the Ms. N!gga treatment to me. I'm just sayin.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Has-Lo: In Case I Don't Make It (2011)

This was me back in the day minus the academic misadventures. There was a point in my life where I would not be able to speak on the quality of my existence back then for fear of shame and bringing back the old feelings. Today, I can own it and say yeah, that was me, and still is a part of me in some aspects.  The great thing about my existence during those hard times was that I learned so much about myself, the people around me (for better or for worse), and I was able to learn how to use critical thinking skills in an effective manner. I admit that I 'm still a bit troubled in other areas of my life however I can say this, I am quite a bit stronger than I used to be and I'm assertive, direct, and very precise when necessary. The ability to acquire those skills has been the greatest gift of all.  That being said, this rapper named Has-Lo gets it. His 2011 album titled, "In Case I Don't Make It" was an eloquent piece of work that spoke on mental wellness, his experiences with religion and spirituality, rap music, as well as shared personal experiences in general.  Yesterday, I decided I'd revisit his album, and I'm really glad I did. I needed that. 


Thursday, February 20, 2014

Black Milk

Close your eyes and listen to this song. I mean, really listen to it. Pay special attention to each verse. ‪#‎BlackMilk‬ 's storytelling abilities really shine. This is why I love hip hop.


Friday, February 7, 2014

Mndsgn- (My Yert (0.)

I messes wit it! It's definitely off the beaten path, that's for sure. 

The Black Opera 80z Babiez to the 2Gz (The Experimix) < Check it out and go get it.



Last year, Mellow Music Group released a free mixtape by a group called, "The Black Opera". The album was called : 80s Babiez To The 2Gz. These guys go IN over recognizable beats from the 90s. You've got to check them out. I really enjoyed listening to it. http://mellomusicgroup.bandcamp.com/album/80z-babiez-to-the-2gz-the-experimix


The Villanz is just one of their songs that showcases their skills. Check them out.


M.G. Quarter Change pt 2 (Freestyle)

It's always good to see actual freestyles, not written prior and then recited by memory.


Isaiah Rashad- Soliloquy

Now this...I like...I like a lot.

Devine Carma- "Martin Didn't Die For This"

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. 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 ? We have kids and adults from poor to upper middle class backgrounds that want to be "bad bitches", and want to be associated with BIG MONEY, and if they can't get there, they can at least look the part. As a result, you have people all across the board, regardless of race facing foreclosures, people going to college expecting to make BIG dollars straight away after they just put themselves so far into debt they have to live with their parents, we have for profit colleges, people with ATV's, Boats, RV's, cars, and stuff like that they can't pay for, broke folks with six hundred dollar cell phones, and really high cable bills. People are reading Better Homes and Gardens, entering the Publishers Clearing House (if that still exists),and scratching lottery tickets in hopes to "make it big" right now because if "so and so can do it, then I can too, because that's the American Dream, right?" People like to point to hip hop and say, "Look at what those people are saying with their music, that's destructive! :o ". but it's just a cog in the whole machine. The whole culture it represents is destructive, and no matter how it is spun, that is NORTH AMERICAN culture. Who decided that was American culture? You can't lay baited mouse traps in a room with mice, then turn around to pontificate why those particular mice got snared up, then collect data about it while shaming the mice for "being so self destructive". People must recognize the what, when, where, why, which, and how a situation got to where it is at the moment before they make accusations regardless if it is about self degrading music, or whether issue you may feel strongly about. Once the issue or issues are turned over and looked at from as many angles as possible, then and only then will a solution be found and things will be able to change. From my standpoint, the image of the snake eating its 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. America needs to do better. Devine Carma's Martin Didn't Die For This makes a solid attempt to address this.

 

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Moving?

So I'm considering moving the blog to Google Plus. As of late, a lot of people don't really like Google Plus. I was one of those people, but the more I use it, the more I begin to like it. It's easier to post the things I like, plus I dig the lay out. I spend more time on Youtube these days as well.  What do you think? Is there anybody out there?

Hello.


Anybody?....................











Bueller?...........



Anyway, what say you (assuming there is someone out there. Check out the Google +  and see for yourself.

YC The Cynic- Negus (Prod. by Frank Drake)

I really like the angle the emcee is going for. Im going to check out this album.

D-Strong- The Gathering, ft John Robinson and Leif Erikson

Smooth flows,plus a jazzy vibe. I like it. Adding the video footage was a nice touch. Nice work.

Monday, January 13, 2014

HQ- Here I Am (Cartoon)



Just in time for the beginning of your work week, HQ reminds us to seek more outside of working a nine to five.




______________________

Chi-Smoove



I happen to be one of those people who listen to hip hop for the lyrics.  A great beat and nice lyrics are a huge plus. For a while it seemed like finding both was a challenge. These days that isn't a case. Chi Smoov does both here:



_____________________________

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Dom's Sketch Cast interviews Myke C-Town of Dead End Hip Hop

Myke C-Town (of Dead End Hip Hop) chops it up with Dom's Sketch Cast where they discuss the mindstate of artists in general, growing up, religion, success in the music industry, and much more. They also touch on artists that aren't in the hip hop genre as well. Check it out and see for yourself.




Thursday, January 9, 2014

Women Rappers. Where have they been you ask?

They say there aren't many female emcees, or "femcees" worthy of being noticed. I find that's hardly the case. Women have been rapping for quite some time now, it's just that they don't get noticed for some reason. In order to get noticed in the first place, it seems they have to get a new a$$ OR their subject matter gets in the way. Rap is very male dominated, especially more so with fans. A male fan doesn't want to hear about how she got "dicked down" (lack of a better phrase) by her man, nor does he want to hear about various things that only a woman can speak on, or metaphors geared toward that. I remember somebody saying something along the lines of "If a chick is ugly, she will be judged on talent alone". That says a lot right there. All in all, lady emcees  don't seem to get marketed well in general. Bahamadia was dope back in the day. Jean Grae struggled for a long time. Nitty Scott is dope so is Boog Brown,and Rhapsody but they don't have the marketing that Nikki Minaj had, and she had to get a fake butt and breasts to get noticed. This article sums it up best," Currently, the genre of women mainstream hip hop is monopolized by one or two female rappers now. In order for a woman emcee to break through the glass ceiling, she has to a) create or initiate beef with an already established artist, b) be white and co-signed by a major black rapper or producer (i.e. Kreyshawn and Iggy Azelea) or, c) as Erykah Badu once stated in an interview, “do some ho- sh-t.” Emcees like 3D Na’Tee, Nitty Scott MC, Farrah Burns, and Rapsody won’t be heard or seen in mainstream media because they’re not perpetuating the stereotypes of female rappers that have been around for almost twenty years."  That's pretty telling, if you ask me. Why is that? Whenever I ask this question, they always say that the artist "didn't bring anything to the game," as if (insert any sex fueled woman rap artist) has added "something different" to the game. When I say, they aren't selling their asses to get noticed, then here comes the, "What are they doing musically that's different"?  Really?  Rap styles come in waves. There are a million rappers who sound the same. What are they doing  musically that's "different"?  For example, gangsta rap has been done over millions of times with the same story, but different flows and beats. Club music has been done over and over. What's different about these is the person rapping them and that's it. Jean Grae has been doing her own thing and she is seriously dope, but hasn't gotten the shine she deserved over the years, and as a result, she's done with rapping and is on to different things. Why couldn't she get that support? Her story in the rap industry, (among many other women who came before) is pretty upsetting.  That being said, here are a few artists that have been doing it for a minute now, but haven't received much shine:

Tiff The Gift



StaHHr




Honey the Hippie



Neiva Eure


Nitty Scott, MC (already mentioned, but I had to add this song)



Thoughts?

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Boom Bap Playlist

Artists have been recreating that 90s Boom Bap sound I loved the first time. Here's a playlist of artists who are bring it back. I'll keep adding more to this as I find more great artists.