It's A Rap: My Love Affair With Hip-Hop Music

On Break....

2008-10-19T17:46:00.003-05:00

This blog is on a bit of a break until I get my creative mojo back... Things just ain't the same for gangstas...

For the time being, feel free to browse through the archives...

CAPTION THIS

2007-08-08T07:52:00.000-05:00

Looks like LL doesn't like the view from the back....

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LL COOL J

Public Enemy Comic Books?

2007-08-02T15:24:00.000-05:00

I'm SO late with this post, but I still wanted to give a heads up to the Public Enemy comic books being produced by American Mule. Has anyone purchased one of these joints yet?

"Public Enemy" #0
Exploding onto the American music scene in 1987 with their debut album, "Yo, Bum Rush The Show," Public Enemy quickly became the most important hip-hop act to ever take the stage. The music and lyrics were as hard hitting and biting as the political messages they contained, and the group quickly rose to the top of the rap food chain where they've maintained a presence ever since. With lyrics that name-dropped Marvel Comics characters like Thor and Namor, it was quickly apparent that someone in the group was also a comic book fan. The fan was the founder and front man for the group, Chuck D, a former graphic design student turned rapper/political activist. Now, twenty years since first declaring that he swings a hammer like the Mighty Thor, Chuck, Flava and the rest of Public Enemy are set to be immortalized in comic book form with the first licensed Public Enemy comic dropping this summer.
The series is written by Chuck with I. James Bomb, from the S1W's, and Professor Griff also providing story concepts and editorial support. Art on the series will be handled by by Adam Wallenta. A special #0 preview book that includes a short story as well as character bios will ship to comic shops this June from American Mule Entertainment. The book is 22 pages and retails for $2.99. Issue #1 of the series follows in July, a 40-page giant sized edition for $3.99. From that point forward the team will settle in to a bi-monthly publishing schedule, shipping 22 page full-color books every two months for $2.99. [Read more here]

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Public Enemy

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This Is How I Chill With Souls Of Mischief

2007-08-02T14:55:00.001-05:00

What better way to ease back into my love affair with hip-hop than with Souls of Mischief? These lyrical poets hailing from the East Oakland, CA have me cooling out to their 1993 hit, 93 'til Infinity. There have been times where I've listened to this song over and over, but let's check the history behind this classic hip-hop group...

Souls of Mischief is a four member alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California, that is also part of the hip hop collective, Hieroglyphics. The Souls of Mischief formed in 1993, and comprise rappers A-Plus, Opio, Phesto, and Tajai.

Oakland native Tajai began rapping with future band mate A-Plus at age 8, while both were in elementary school. Tajai and Phesto met later in junior high school. Tajai later introduced A-Plus and Phesto to the remaining Souls of Mischief member, Opio, and the group informally formed in high school before making their major label debut on Jive Records with their well received album, 93 'til Infinity, in 1993.

93 'til Infinity is the group's highest charting album to date (#17 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums; #85 Billboard 200), and in January, 1998, was named one of the Top 100 Rap albums by The Source magazine.

The group continued with Jive for one more album, 1995's No Man's Land, before being released from the label during that same year.

In 1995, following the release of the group from their major label contract with Jive, the group officially formed the alternative hip hop collective, Hieroglyphics, with rappers Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, Jaybiz, and producer, Domino.[2] The group participated as full members in both Hieroglyphics' studio albums: 1998's 3rd Eye Vision, and 2003's Full Circle.

The group has released two albums on the Hiero's self-owned independent label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings, 1999's Focus, and 2000's Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution.

In an October 30, 2006 Hierocast (Hieroglyphics' official podcast), Del tha Funkee Homosapien reported that the Souls of Mischief were currently working on their next studio album with Prince Paul (De La Soul, Gravediggaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School).[Source]

Wow, fourteen years later and I'm still chillin to this joint...

Souls of Mischief - '93 til infinity

Souls of Mischief - Never No More

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Souls of Mischief

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Ten Years Later... Life After Death: The Movie

2007-07-03T20:44:00.000-05:00

So I'm checking my email (yes, I'm a little behind), but I found this press release about the Life After Death: The Movie, which goes on sale today. Now, first off, I'm thinking, what else could possibly be said about Biggie's death. Then I read the synopsis from the movie's myspace:

Notorious BIG introduces his FAMILY [childhood friends] from Bedstuy, Brooklyn as Junior MAFIA [Lil Kim, Lil Cease, Banger] with their debut album "CONSPIRACY" - BIG's best man, Damion Butler a/k/a D-ROC is the unorthodox manager. Suif Jackson a/k/a C-GUTTA is their confidant.

BIG's murder in 1997 leaves D-ROC to manage Kim, Cease and JM -- the crew live, work and travel the world together as Kim becomes the breadwinner. TEN YEARS LATER, [Kim, D-Roc, Gutta] find themselves co-defendants in a federal indictment over a 2001 shootout at NYC'S HOT 97 radio [resulting from Kim's rival w/ rap nemesis FOXY BROWN.]

Despite only grainy video surveillence tape and NO WEAPONS found, [Kim, D-Roc, Gutta] are sent to prison as Cease and Banger testify against them for the Prosecution. Fact or fiction? Friend or foe?

This is the FACTUAL "story behind the story" of FAMILY, LIES and BETRAYAL told by the most explosive "never-seen" archive footage in New York hip hop history -- FOOTAGE THAT WAS LOST DURING THE TRIAL, WILL FINALLY BE EXPOSED TO THE PUBLIC AND THE SHOCKING TRUTH WILL FINALLY BE REVEALED --

Hmmm, I'm always down for a good documentary and judging from the footage, there's definitely a story here that needs to be told. Check out more video here:

Life After Death Movie Trailer Windows Media Stream

Lil' Kim Quiet Storm Live Performance Windows Media Stream

June Is Black Music Month, But What Does This Mean For Hip Hop?

2007-06-03T01:00:00.002-05:00

Of all the blogs that I like to ramble in, this one is by far, the hardest to maintain. Point blank. I'm stuck! Sometimes, I come here more to read past entries than to create new ones. It's like what can I say about this genre that hasn't been discussed on ten trillion other blogs. Then I think about my own personal experiences with hip hop and there's so much more that I can (and need) to share. Especially considering it's Black Music Month. In the music industry, Hip Hop has gotten all the attention when it comes to radio airplay, but on this here blog, I spin the tunes that I feel should make music history. So who's been rolling around in my mind? (Drum roll please) Pete Rock and CL Smooth. I wrote about them last year, but nothing explains my current mood for hip hop music than their song, Lots of Lovin'. I'm (im)patiently waiting for this current generation of hip hop to give me a tune that I can make love to. And no, I don't mean make love in the physical sense, but more so, love making of the mind. Two people enjoying the excitement of word play, but hey, summer just started so maybe I'll get lucky in love...

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blackmusicmonth

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Jam Master Jay's Murderer Found?

2007-04-17T21:22:00.000-05:00

The Headline Reads: Suspect Named in Jam Master Jay Mystery

Be Sure To Watch This...

2007-01-21T22:35:00.000-05:00

HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes takes an in-depth look at representations of manhood, sexism and homophobia in hip-hop culture. This groundbreaking documentary is a “loving critique” of certain disturbing developments in rap music culture from the point of view of a fan who challenges the art form’s representations of masculinity. Leading rap and hip-hop artists including Mos Def, Busta Rhymes, Russell Simmons are interviewed—and pressed—to answer some difficult questions about the violent and sexually explicit content of many hip-hop songs and videos. HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes premieres on the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens on February 20, 2007.

Read more about the film here

Watch the trailer here

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hip hop

Dead Prez: It's Bigger Than Hip Hop

2007-01-03T20:45:00.000-05:00

First let's check out these lyrics from Turn Off The Radio:

What's on the radio, propoganda, mind control
And turnin it on is like puttin on a blindfold
Cuz when you bringin the real you don't get ro-tation
Unless you take over the station
And yeah I know it's part of they plans
To make us think it's all about party and dancin
And yo it might sound good when you spittin your rap
But in reality, don't nobody live like that
You wanna know what kinda nigga I am?
Lemme tell you 'bout the nigga I'm not - I don't fuck with the
cops
Platinum don't mean that it gotta be hot
I ain't gotta love it, even if they play it a lot
You can hear it when you walk the streets
How many people they reach, how they use music to teach
A "radio program" ain't a figure of speech
Don't sleep, cuz you could be a radio freak (freak-freak
y'all)

Now let me say that I absolutely HATE the radio. When I get in the car, it's either a CD or the Ipod because like M-1, I believe the radio purposely doesn't play the kind of music that folks need to hear and one of the groups I like to listen to is Dead Prez:

dead prez are a critically acclaimed underground hip hop duo of alternative rappers stic.man and M-1. They have become known largely for their hard-hitting style and politically active lyrics, focusing on racism, critical pedagogy, activism against governmental hypocrisy, and corporate control over the media, especially hip-hop record labels. dead prez made their stance clear on their first album, declaring on the lead song, "I'm a African" that the group is "somewhere between N.W.A. and P.E.".

In 1990, M-1 headed to Tallahassee to attend FAMU (Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University) where he and stic.man met and connected due to their mutual love of music and knowledge. "I was soaking up the Black Panther Party as a whole," M-1 remembers. "I learned about their lives and it helped mold me."

"I realized there's a struggle already going on and I have to try to help ride it out," interjects stic.man. M-1's quest for insight led him to join the International Democratic People’s Uhuru Movement (InPDUM) in Chicago for three years while stic.man remained behind in Florida and started getting into trouble. Burned out by the arduous labor of Uhuru, M-1 decided it was time to focus on music and stic.man agreed.

Dead prez transcribed the political education they acquired into lyrical poetry. Brand Nubian's Lord Jamar discovered them in New York and helped them sign a deal with Loud Records. But being the new kids of the block on a powerhouse label like Loud (home to the Wu-Tang Clan and Mobb Deep) wasn't easy. dead prez wasn't always Loud's top priority but that didn't stop them from building a fan base around their over-the-top performances (they've been known to ignite dollar bills and toss apples into the audiences, declaring that they must eat healthily).

So yeah, I'm gonna have my fun this year (and be all sexy), but I'm also quite aware that I must continue to respectively Walk Like a black queen.

Hip Hop

Turn Off The Radio (as performed at D Chappelle's Block Party)

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Let's Rewind: My Hip Hop Artists of 2006

2007-01-02T18:29:00.000-05:00

What we gonna do right now is go back... Back to the various artists that helped to spark the idea of talking about the different ways their music has affected my life. Even though 2006 wasn't the greatest year for hip hop, I can only hope that things show and prove in 2 double-0 7. Either way, I'll be here to ramble about it. Peace & Blessings ya'll...

A
Audio Two

C
Cee-Lo

D
Da Brat
Dirty Rotten Scroundals
DMX

F
Fugees, The

G
Gang Starr
Goodie Mob

H
Heavy D & The Boyz

J
J Dilla
Jeru The Damaja

K
Kid-N-Play

L
LL Cool J
Lords of the Underground, The

M
Masta Ace
MC Lyte
Mos Def

N
Nas
Notorious B.I.G

P
Pete Rock and CL Smooth
Pharcyde, The
Poor Righteous Teachers
Public Enemy

O
Oaktown 357

Q
Queen Latifah
Questionmark Asylum

R
Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
Roxanne Shante

S
Salt & Pepa
Self Destruction, The Movement of
Sir Mix-A-Lot

T
Tribe Called Quest, A
Tupac Shakur

W
West Coast All-Stars
Wreckx-N-Effect
Wu-Tang

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hip hop

A Listening Party For Hi-Teknology, Vol. 2: The Chip

2006-12-27T13:25:00.001-05:00

I really wish I had the time to review every single album that I listen to, but I don't. So let's just say that periodically I'll post up tracks to albums that I feel are worthy of a listening party. Up first is Hi-Teknology, Vol. 2: The Chip.

Tony Cottrell, better known as Hi-Tek, is an American hip hop producer from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his work with Talib Kweli on his Reflection Eternal album and on Black Star.

Hi-Tek started his rap career with hip hop group Mood and had a regional hit with "Hustle on the Side". That song was made for Mood's album Doom, which featured amongst others Brooklyn MC Talib Kweli. Talib and Hi-Tek clicked immediately, and Hi-Tek went on to produce most of Talib Kweli and Mos Def's Black Star (1998). In 2000, Tek and Kweli (under the name Reflection Eternal) released Train of Thought (2000) on Rawkus Records, with raps by Talib Kweli and beats by Hi-Tek. It enjoyed moderate crossover radio success with the singles "The Blast" and "Move Somethin'". The pair have yet to release a follow-up album due to creative differences.

The Chip was pretty dope and showcased a lot of underrated emcees. Check it out...

1. The Oracle (Intro)

2. The Chip

3. Keep It Moving (Feat. Dion, Q-Tip & Kurupt)

4. Think I Got A Beat (Feat. Lil' Tone)

5. Can We Go Back (Feat. Talib Kweli & Ayak)

6. Josephine (Feat. The Willie Cottrell Band, Ghostface Killah & Pretty Ugly)

7. March (Feat. Busta Rhymes)

8. Where It Started At (Ny) (Feat. Dion, Jadakiss, Papoose, Talib Kweli & Raekwon)

9. 1-800-Homicide (Feat. The Game & Dion)

10. Money Don't Make U Rich (Feat. Strong Arm Steady)

11. Baby We Can Do It (Feat. Nok & Haze)

12. Let It Go (Feat. Dion & Talib Kweli)

13. People Going Down (Feat. The Willie Cottrell Band)

14. So Tired (Feat. Dion, Bun B., Devin The Dude & Pretty Ugly)

15. Music For Life (Feat. J. Dilla, Nas, Common, Busta Rhymes & Marsha Ambrosius Of Floetry)

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Random Thoughts On The BET Hip Hop Awards

2006-12-18T19:06:00.000-05:00

Okay, so what I'm really late with this, but I guess that's only fitting considering BET was SO LATE with having a Hip Hop awards show. At any rate here are some video clips and my random thoughts on the show (preshow highlights here)...

Welcome to Atlanta.. How appropriate?
It should have been welcome to New York, considering that's where it all started. But it's cool...

This is the first performance of the BET Hip Hop Awards(2006) with Ludacris Jermaine Dupri and Young Jeezy

Remy Ma: Is this the ONLY female MC they could get? Whatever, but her freestyle was cool...

Papoose, Lupe Fiasco, Styles P Cipher Pt1 Freestyle AND
Saigon, Remy Ma, Rhymefest, & Sway Cipher Pt2 Freestyle

Hip Hop is a $14 Billion dollar industry.

Well, damn!

Everything looks so bootleg.

JimJones & JuelzSantana We Fly High

Lil Wayne and Baby - Stuntin Like My Daddy (Live)

BET should stop having awards shows if they can't afford a REAL sound system and a capable camera team.

The Game perfoming "One Blood(it's okay) and "Let's Ride at the 2006 BET's Hip Hop Awards

How fitting that the use this song to end the show... I'm sure millions of viewers walked out when this shit came on...

Walk It Out (Live) - DJ Unk

BET here's a tip... Move the teleprompter closer, you know folks can't read that far away when they're high or drunk... LOL! But whatever, here's a youtube video of the WHOLE show... You make your own conclusions...

BET First Annual Hip Hop Awards 06 (Full Show)

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BET Hip Hop Awards

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Looking Way Back To Questionmark Asylum

2006-12-07T20:48:00.000-05:00

When I started thinking about doing a blog post on Questionmark Asylum, I got to wondering... Would anyone out there remember these four dudes (besides folks in the DC area) because Questionmark made my 90s quite FUN with their cool song, Hey Lookaway...

Washington, D.C., hasn't produced any breakthrough rap stars, which is why Questionmark Asylum remains unheard by most hip-hop fans. The four members -- Mistafiss (Kenny Jones), Rosta Swan (Marcell Gadson), Digge Dom (Dominick Warren), and Ding-Ding (Douglas Francis) -- lasted long enough to release The Album on RCA before fading away. ~ Wade Kergan, All Music Guide

It was nice seeing these guys make it considering not only were they from the DC area, but two of the group members were also members of the same COGIC church as my husband and I...

Nine out of ten rap fans surveyed could not tell Questionmark Asylum from the Pharcyde in a blind taste test. After all, the D.C.-based quartet possesses mad dance skills, has a uniquely tripped-out rhyme style, and sticks to a primarily positive alt-rap approach. Thankfully, all four MCs have their own unique lyrical flows, and The Album ultimately defies easy comparisons. On "Curse of the Q," which laments the loss of their original major-label record deal, they reveal distinct personalities that make the catchy hook and freaky vocal melody even more memorable, with Mistafiss and Digge Dom assuming drum and keyboard duties, respectively, as sidemen Kevin "KC" Campbell and Jesse "Twin" Blanks add guitar and bass to the ultra-funky mix. On "Love, Peace, Soul," go-go music legend Chuck Brown adds distinctive flavor to the acid jazzy mix, while "Get With You" samples Bootsy Collins' classic "I'd Rather Be With You" for a funky reinvention. An impressive debut from unfairly overlooked hip-hop shoulda-beens. ~ Bret Love, All Music Guide

I'm still loving this song...

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Questionmark Asylum

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Video from Jay-Z's Hangar Tour

2006-11-21T09:21:00.000-05:00

On November 18, Jay made DC one of his stops on the Hangar tour and although I didn't get a chance to see him, I believe the following videos give you an idea of what it was like to be there. This dude still gets much love from his fans...

Jay-Z Hangar Tour in NY - Big Pimpin, I Just Wanna Love U (Give it 2 Me), Show Me What You Got

Jay-Z Hangar Tour in DC - Show Me What You Got

Jay-Z Hangar Tour in DC - P.S.A

Jay-Z Hangar Tour in DC - Kingdom Come

By the way, I'll have a review of the album soon...

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Jay Z Hangar Tour

Lil' John Performs with Elvis??

2006-11-18T00:33:00.000-05:00

Check out the video here...

I couldn't believe this joint... LMAO!

Rapper 'The Game' Arrested

2006-11-17T14:19:00.000-05:00

The Headline Reads: Rapper 'The Game' Arrested (WNBC)

Here's the story:

"The rapper known as The Game has been arrested for allegedly impersonating an undercover police officer, authorities said.

At around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Jayceon Taylor, the hip-hop star known to his fans as The Game, flagged down a Lincoln Town Car at 56th Street and 7th Avenue, police said.

The driver of the taxi, Muhammed Butt, said that The Game claimed to be an undercover policeman and told him to race through several traffic lights on Lexington Avenue, police said.

Police officers pulled over the taxi at 43rd Street and 6th Avenue for driving erratically, at which point the driver told them that his passenger was an undercover officer. After running a check, the officers found that that was not the case."

Listen To Jay-Z's ENTIRE ALBUM HERE

2006-11-17T12:22:00.000-05:00

Click here to listen to the FULL album of Kingdom Come and let me know what YOU think...

BET Hip Hop Awards Airs Wednesday

2006-11-13T08:33:00.000-05:00

The Headline Reads: Grandmaster Flash, T.I., Honored (WaPo)

If you don't mind spoilers, here's an informative article about what went down in Atlanta at the first annual hip hop award show for BET. I'm definitely going to ~~critique the hell~~ watch the show on Wednesday...

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.
The Associated Press
Sunday, November 12, 2006; 11:23 PM

ATLANTA -- Grandmaster Flash breathed a sigh of relief after being recognized for his turntable expertise, and T.I. finally believes the South has gotten some respect.

The Atlanta-based rapper, who was up for eight nominations, was a winner in three of the categories at the first-ever BET Hip Hop Awards on Sunday. T.I. won best hip hop video, CD and MVP of the year honors.

'You can't hate on hard work and talent,' he said. 'This awards show will show people a lot about where I come from.'

Grandmaster Flash was honored with the I Am Hip Hop Icon award. When Flash received the award, he gave recognition to all other disc jockeys who he has met, saying being a DJ was better than rapping.

'To get an award for my technological ability means a whole lot more than anything else I've accomplished in my life,' he said.

When hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs took the stage, he offered brief words for R&B singer Gerald Levert and Ed Bradley, who both died last week. Bradley, the award winning '60 Minutes' correspondent passed away at 65 on Thursday. Levert, who was known for his sensual, romantic songs, died at 40 on Friday.

"Let's celebrate their lives," Diddy said. "People will forever miss y'all."

Rappers Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri and Young Jeezy teamed with super-producer Lil' Jon to kick off the show with the 2001 hit, "Welcome To Atlanta." Dupri, who won best producer, said he felt humbled for having the event in Atlanta.

"For the awards to be in my city and I win something for producing, it's exciting," he said. "The outcome was something I could never imagine."

In his first act as the host, comedian Katt Williams stood in a blue suit and red tie behind a wooden podium with a sign posted on the front that said, "President Of The Hip Hop Nation." He said some jitters set in before the show.

"It's a good thing I was nervous," Williams said. "Being around hip hop helps me though, because there's a type comfort I have around these great artists."

The award show airs Nov. 15.

___

On the Net:

http://www.bet.com

Gang Starr Got Real Mass Appeal

2006-10-28T22:37:00.000-05:00

It's interesting where music will lead you. One moment I was listening to this and the next I was reciting the lyrics to Gang Starr's Mass Appeal:

No way you'll never make it
Come with the weak shit, I break kids
Step into my zone, mad rhymes will stifle ya
Lines like rifles go blast when I kick some ass
A lot of rappers be like one time wondas
Couldn't say a fly rhyme if there was one right under
Their noses, I hate those motherfuckin posers
But I'm so real to them its scary
And with my unique skills nah you cant compare me
And no we dont make wack tracks
And all the suckas get pushed back when I'm kickin real facts
I represent set up shit like a tent boy
You're paranoid cause you're my son like Elroy
And you'd be happy as hell to get a record deal
Maybe your soul you'd sell to have mass appeal...

Aww, damn, now I'm seriously depressed. When you have albums like Full Clip, which is pretty much the musical history of Gang Starr, one can only appreciate what it is they brought to music:

Gang Starr is a hip hop duo composed of MC Guru and DJ Premier based in Brooklyn, New York, founded in 1987 by Guru, DJ 1,2 B Down, Mike Dee and various producers, such as Donald D, J.V. Johnson or DJ Mark the 45 King helping out. In 1987 and 1988, Gang Starr released three 12" vinyl singles on the legendary Wild Pitch label.

In 1989, the group split and the only member willing to continue under the name Gang Starr was Guru. He soon got in touch with DJ Premier (then working under the name Waxmaster C) who sent him a beat tape which Guru apparently liked. He invited DJ Premier to join the new founded group and in the same year they released their first single "Words I Manifest". With that line up, Gang Starr went on working together for six albums, a 2CD "greatest hits" compilation and numerous singles and soundtrack contributions. As of 2006, another best of compilation is planned by the group's former label EMI for a christmas release, entitled Mass Appeal: The Best Of Gang Starr.

During their career Gang Starr helped pioneer the New York City hip hop sound. The entirety of Gang Starr's catalog, especially Step in the Arena (1991), Daily Operation (1992) and Moment of Truth (1998) are well-respected among critics and hip hop heads alike. Their track "Jazz Thang", featured on the soundtrack to Spike Lee's film Mo' Better Blues, helped establish the sound of jazz rap, although they themselves consider their sound solely straight hardcore hip hop.

Maybe I'm just too emotional, but the lyrics to "Mass Appeal" speak volumes to what's (STILL) going on today in music...

Gang Starr - Mass Appeal

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I've Given Up On Hip-Hop Too...

2006-10-15T10:16:00.000-05:00

The Headline Reads: Why I Gave Up On Hip-Hop (WaPo)

I love Lonnae. She has always been an inspiration to me on my quest to be a journalist and her latest op-ed, which speaks to her own love affair with hip-hop, just proves how dope she really is. Although my sons are 4 and 2, I've already taken steps to 'hide' my love/hate relationship with hip-hop by changing radio stations and blocking BET/MTV on our TV because I fear that they will 'internalize toxic messages' (and yeah, I know what you're thinking -- they are too young to know what they are hearing -- BUT you'd be surprised at the number of kids under 5 who know more rap lyrics (and dance moves) than they know they're ABCs). But enough about me, here's an excerpt:

My 12-year-old daughter, Sydney, and I were in the car not long ago when she turned the radio to a popular urban contemporary station. An unapproved station. A station that might play rap music. "No way, Syd, you know better," I said, so Sydney changed the station, then pouted.

"Mommy, can I just say something?" she asked. "You think every time you hear a black guy's voice it's automatically going to be something bad. Are you against hip-hop?"

Her words slapped me in the face. In a sense, she was right. I haven't listened to radio hip-hop for years. I have no clue who is topping the charts and I can't name a single rap song in play.

But I swear it hasn't always been that way.

My daughter can't know that hip-hop and I have loved harder and fallen out further than I have with any man I've ever known.

That my decision to end our love affair had come only after years of disappointment and punishing abuse. After I could no longer nod my head to the misogyny or keep time to the vapid materialism of another rap song. After I could no longer sacrifice my self-esteem or that of my two daughters on an altar of dope beats and tight rhymes.

No, darling, I'm not anti-hip-hop, I told her. And it's true, I still love hip-hop. It's just that our relationship has gotten very complicated.

When those of us who grew up with rap saw signs that it was turning ugly, we turned away. We premised our denial on a sort of good-black-girl exceptionalism: They came for the skeezers but I didn't speak up because I'm no skeezer, they came for the freaks, but I said nothing because I'm not a freak. They came for the bitches and the hos and the tricks. And by the time we realized they were talking about bitches from 8 to 80, our daughters and our mommas and their own damn mommas, rap music had earned the imprimatur of MTV and Martha Stewart and even the Pillsbury Doughboy.

And sometimes it can seem like now, there is nobody left who is willing to speak up.

Indeed, Lonnae, it is time for us all to speak up. This is one of the reasons why I started this blog, so I could remember how great hip-hop was and to cherry pick current rappers that I feel still make a difference. I am still very hopeful that the future will be brighter for hip-hop... By the way, did you guys catch my review of Lupe Fiasco? He's definitely a rapper worth checking out. You can read that review here.

Woman Says She Didn't Rape DMX!

2006-10-13T15:51:00.000-05:00

DMX & His Wife, Tashera
The Headline Reads: Talk About Your Wildest Dreams (WaPo)

Here's the story:

A Maryland woman whose child was fathered by the rapper sued him yesterday in Prince George's County Circuit Court for his claim in the interview that she had "raped" him in his sleep. Monique Wayne , 25, is seeking $6 million for defamation, false statements and "unreasonable publicity" to her private life, according to a copy of the suit provided by her lawyers.

"Miss Wayne's been completely ostracized," said attorney Stephanie Moran . "She's had to answer questions from friends and family members. You have reporters as far away as Ireland commenting on this." A rep for the 35-year-old rapper (born Earl Simmons ) said last night that he would have to confer with lawyers before commenting.

DMX did not cite Wayne by name in his Q&A with Jamie Foster Brown , but Wayne's 2004 paternity suit -- which Moran said resulted in a $5,000-a-month support agreement -- had been widely reported. Wayne's suit alleges that the conception of her son, now 2, was hardly the passed-out one-night stand DMX described. She says they met in August 2003 at D.C.'s Dream (now Love) nightclub, then spent the night at Hotel Helix, followed by a day together shopping, playing pool and eating crabs at Hains Point. She claims DMX went on to invite her to parties and concerts as recently as this past summer.

"Then DMX turns around and accuses her of being a rapist," said Moran. "That's a serious allegation."

My goodness... All I can say is WHY!?

Is Jay-Z Bringing The Beef Back With Nas?

2006-10-07T19:41:00.000-05:00

The Headline Reads: Jay-Z’s Return KOs Nas (New York Magazine)

As soon as I made my last post, I find this article in the New York Magazine:

Will Jay-Z’s comeback reignite one of the biggest feuds in hip-hop? The Def Jam president and not-so-retired rapper put an end to a long-standing quarrel with revered Queens rapper Nas when he signed him last year. “We’re both excited by what this could potentially mean for hip-hop as a whole,” Nas said at the time. But then the November release of Nas’s hotly anticipated Def Jam debut, tentatively titled Hip-Hop Is Dead … The N, was suddenly delayed until after Jay-Z’s new album, Kingdom Come. Is Nas’s boss bigfooting him to steal his thunder? D.J. Sickamore, an A&R man at Atlantic Records, attributes the delay to Jay-Z. “Nas is talking about how his album is incredible. Nas did not release a press release saying, ‘My album’s not ready.’ ” Anslem Samuel, music editor of the hip-hop magazine XXL, also expressed surprise that Jay-Z would choose to outshine his own artist. “Someone that’s your peer, there should be a priority to do right by him. Especially after the beef.” Reps for Nas and Jay-Z were not available to comment. Nas’s album is expected to be out in mid-December."

Well, damn. What's going on here?

If Nas Ruled The World

2006-10-07T19:04:00.000-05:00

Nas inspires me. I'm not a rapper and I didn't grow up in the 'ghetto' per say, but I've had my hard times and I'm still having problems. Striving in this world ain't easy, so when I'm feeling stressed about it all, I throw on Hate Me Now because, well, I just don't give a damn sometimes and in my opinion, Nas perfected that feeling of not giving a damn with these lyrics:

You wanna hate me then hate me
What can I do?
But keep gettin money
Funny I was just like you
I had to hustle hard never give up
Until I made it
Now y'all sayin that's a clever nigga
Nothing to play with
Hate on me, I blew but I'm the same ol G
People warn me, when you're on top there's envy
Took my niggas out the hood but you doubt on us
Sayin' we left the hood
But can't get it out of us
My bad, should I step out my shoes
Give 'em to you?

Yeah, those are some real motivating words right there, but let's slide into some biographical information about Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones:

Born September 14, 1973, Nas is a prominent American rapper. Raised in the infamous Queensbridge housing projects in New York City and the son of a jazz trumpeter, Nas is best known for his 1994 debut album Illmatic, widely considered one of the best hip-hop albums of all time. This album established Nas as one of hip-hop's most profound lyricists, introducing his signature poetic style.

In the years following the release of Illmatic, Nas pursued a more commercial direction, which resulted in wider success but decreased artistic credibility among critics and hip-hop purists. Furthermore, Nas' increased commercial success was accompanied by stylistic changes that fostered accusations of giving in to corporate wishes that compromised the style his fans enamored. Nevertheless, the LP Stillmatic is often credited for restoring Nas' credibility among fans. Since the success of Stillmatic, Nas continues to maintain a high profile within the hip hop community, and has pursued a decidedly personal aesthetic. While Nas' current artistic direction differs greatly from his most successful work, it has ensured that he remains one of the most respected and acclaimed contemporary rappers.

To me, a good rapper is one that can speak to a lot of different situations in this world. He (or she) should be able to speak about power and pain or love and lust, but more than anything a good rapper gives you more than a bunch of bars about tits/ass and from the videos I've selected below, I think Nas is that good rapper who can do it all:

If I Rule The World (Ft Lauryn Hill)

I Can

One Mic

Nas

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JAY-Z RETURNS

2006-10-03T20:55:00.000-05:00

The Headline Reads: Jay-Z exclusive! The world's most powerful rapper returns (EW)

This was a very good ~~and long~~ article, but here are a few snippets:

According to Jay-Z, people should tell the truth, whether they happen to be a multiplatinum-selling rap icon, a major-label president, or a drug dealer. He should know. Born Shawn Carter 36 years ago and raised in Brooklyn's grim Marcy Projects, Jay-Z is the only person on the face of the planet with all three occupations on his résumé. ''In life, anything, just be yourself,'' he says this August evening, largely ignoring the glass of cabernet beside him at the bar of Manhattan's Mandarin Oriental Hotel. ''You don't have to be like that in the record business. You can be conniving and nothing happens to you. But I can't put up a front. On the street, you had to be a straight-up guy, you had to stand by your word. Because something could happen to you...''

Yes, Jay-Z is a man of his word. Except, it seems, when he isn't. In 2002, the rapper declared that his next CD, The Black Album, would also be his last. His future lay not in the beats but in the boardroom. And that ambition became a reality when, in December 2004, he was announced as the new president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings. How to explain, then, the news that this fall Jay-Z will release a new CD, Kingdom Come? ''It was the worst retirement, maybe, in history,'' he admits. And then he launches into an impromptu a cappella preview of the title track, which was inspired by a 1996 comic in which Superman comes out of retirement to save the world. The lyrics that effortlessly roll off his tongue may help explain his return: ''Take off the blazer/Loosen up the tie/Step inside the booth/Superman is alive!''

So without further ado, let us welcome, and celebrate, the return of Jay-Z, a.k.a. Jigga, a.k.a. Hova. He is, arguably, the most powerful man in the music business — but without his music, well, he's just Clark Kent.

'It wasn't like a defining moment,'' he says of his decision to make another album. ''Something, when you love it, is always tugging at you and itching at you, and I was putting it off and putting it off. I started fumbling around to see if it felt good.''

It did. Later this evening Jay-Z plans to meet up with hit-machine producer Timbaland to work on tracks ''till we're exhausted.'' That explains why the noted clothes fanatic is attired in nothing fancier than a rumpled white T-shirt and dreck-smeared sweatpants (offset, in a style open only to those with a reported $320 million net worth, by his watch, a $70,000 limited-edition Audemars Piguet). The album's still a work in progress, and the mogul in him doesn't want to divulge too much. But soon his obvious enthusiasm for the project overwhelms his better judgment.

''It's more in the vein of The Black Album than The Blueprint,'' he says. ''I've been experimenting with things, different types of music.'' In addition to Timbaland, Jay-Z has called on the production skills of Kanye West and Dr. Dre. He also hopes to reteam with Rick Rubin. ''Oh, and actually, Chris Martin produced a track on there,'' he adds casually. Yes, Coldplay's Chris Martin. ''We met at a charity dinner and just really kept in touch. He sent me these beautiful chords for this song called 'Beach Chair.' I had Dre put some drums on it. It's really, really incredible.''

Kingdom's lyrics, too, come from a wide variety of sources. A track called ''Most Kings'' is inspired by a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting (which he owns). ''Lost Ones'' finds the man who once rapped about his inability to shed tears dealing with the car-crash death of a beloved relative. ''One of the most crushing things that ever happened to me was losing my nephew,'' he says. ''As you mature you realize that being vulnerable isn't weak. You realize that a man is himself.''

Well, I must say I'm interested to see what C.E.O Jay is going to bring back to the game...

In the I.N.C Ride with Masta Ace

2006-10-01T21:26:00.000-05:00

I think you might know this one...

It's the ride y'all, come on we're goin on a ride
It's the ride y'all, come on I know you wanna ride
It's the ride y'all, come on we're goin on a ride
It's the ride y'lla, it's the I.N.C. Ride

Damn, this joint right here is one of my favorite jams and what better way to combine my two favorite genres of music? Yeah, I know the lines have been blurred lately between Hip-Hop and R&B, yet I love how Masta Ace flowed so perfectly over this sampled track from For The Love Of You by The Isley Brothers (sorta like how Ice Cube used Footsteps In The Dark for It Was A Good Day). He made me wish for a car back in 1995, just so I could go riding around town blasting this shit. LOL, but here's some info on the man we know as Masta Ace:

Masta Ace (born Duval Clear) is an African-American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. Appearing on classic 1988 posse cut, "The Symphony", he garnered notoriety as an unsung asset to the Juice Crew posse, and is therefore, widely considered one on the roster, where he released a number of well-respected albums that were nonetheless little-heard outside purist circles. The single that has earned him the most attention has been "Born to Roll" (a remix to the track "Jeep Ass Niguh", which uses a tweaked Moog synthesizer bassline sampled from Kraftwerk.)

His most recent (and reportedly final) album, A Long Hot Summer, gained considerable acclaim in 2004. He is one of a number of rappers to have mulled over the possibility of operating a record label, and his decision whether or not to quit rapping per se is pending.

In the early stages of his career, Masta Ace was very energetic (cf. "Jeep Ass Niguh", where, tongue-in-cheek, he taunts police officers for their knee-jerk predisposition to harass black youth on city streets.) He also recorded material with a six-member supporting entourage, Masta Ace Incorporated. In light of his newly claimed status as a veteran, he has gravitated toward an earnest, matter-of-fact plainspokenness in the new millennium. Many of the songs that have lent newfound heft to his reputation are simple, no-nonsense rumination on feelings and facts of urban American life, including "Soda and Soap", "Brooklyn Masala" (which highlights a budding romance between Ace and a lovely but reserved Pakistani Hindu immigrant), and "Beautiful".

I've also learned that Ace might be coming out with a new group in 2007. You can learn more about that by checking out their website...

The I.N.C Ride

Born To Roll