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Jay-Z has announced a new show in the UK next month. Tickets for Jay-Zs latest date at Alexandra Palace are slated to go on sale this Friday (October 9) at 9:00 am. Jay-Z is in the UK promoting his latest album The Blueprint 3, as well as Empire State of Mind, his new track with Alicia Keys taken from the release. A recent show in London featuring Jay-Z sold out in less than :20 seconds. Jay-Zs show at Alexandra Palace is slated to take place Wednesday (November 4th).

Pioneering West Coast rapper/actor Ice-T may try his hand at a new career this Fall. The rapper said in a recent interview that Vince McMahons WWE contacted him and his wife Coco recently with an offer to appear on the companys popular Monday Night Raw wrestling show. According to reports, Ice and Coco are working out the scheduling details. The appearance could be delayed, as rumors are spreading that Coco could be pregnant with her first child by Ice-T.

A truce concert between Jamaican artist Bounty Killer and rival artist Vybz Kartel was cancelled yesterday, Bounty Killer was barred from entering Trinidad. Immigration officials cited security concerns and a past performance on the island, where the dancehall artists recited anti-gay lyrics and promoted the use of guns. Vybz Kartel was an artist in Bounty Killers group The Alliance. The pair had a falling out in 2006, which led to a number of diss tracks from both artists as well as physical altercations. Bounty Killer, who was featured on No Doubts track “Hey Baby,” has been featured on songs with Jay-Z, Swizz Beatz, , Busta Rhyme and others.

Rapper Wyclef Jean has teamed with Timberland to create an eco-friendly boot to help aid his native land of Haiti. According to reports, Jean will donate a portion of the proceeds of the 16-piece collection to his Yele Haiti Foundation, which he established in 2005. Jean will also raise money by selling a line of t-shirts at his concerts, which were designed by children in Haiti. In related news, the rapper recently revealed that he is attending Berklee College of Music, where he will receive a Bachelors degree in music theory. Jeans first class is on Monday. His curriculum this fall includes ear training, theory, improvisation and guitar. The rapper left college after one semester to pursue his career in music as part of the chart-topping group The Fugees. His first class is today.

A3C Festival Review: From Rakim To Rap Reunions – ATL Gets Rocked

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / MusicOctober 5, 2009

Do you love Hip-Hop, or just a particular style of the genre? Since human beings love to simplify, separate, and categorize things, Hip-Hop music has seen itself fragmented to catch phrases meant to signify the output of entire regions and/or movements. Dirty South. Gangsta rap. Hipster rap. Conscious rap. These are loaded terms in themselves, and rarely do justice the musical output of the artists theyre attached to. Every year, Atlantas A3C (All 3 Coasts) Festival seeks to break down those barriers we e#### on the culture. As the largest Hip-Hop festival in the Southeast (over 200 artists), the organizers bring together the best from around the country to celebrate Hip-Hop over 3 days and several venues within walking distance. And this year, A3C did not disappoint.

Day 1 (Oct. 1) featured a loaded lineup of well-known acts such as Skyzoo, 9th Wonder, and Big Pooh. Fans also got the chance to check out fledgling

artists like New Jerseys Kosha Dillz, who impressed many with his ability to rhyme fluently in Hebrew.

The night was highlighted by former Artifacts member El da Sensei and Black Sheep. El kicked off matters, and got the crowd hyped courtesy of the memorable singles from the Artifacts catalogue like Cmon Wit Da G## Down, The Ultimate, and of course Wrong Side of Da Tracks. Likely due to financial constraints no doubt exacerbated by the Recession, the selected venues were small bars and lounges with low lighting and smoky atmospheres. This helped manifest an intimate setting that conjured up memories of the Hip-hops early jams on the rooftops and parks.

Black Sheeps set was much appreciated by the 25 and up crowd, who sung along verbatim to the Native Tongue groups classic singles Flavor of the Month, Similak Child, and The Choice Is Yours. Dres was in high spirits, and made sure everyone in the building reenacted the latter singles engine, engine, number nine chant before wilding out and closing the nights performances.

There was no fall off in day 2 (Oct. 2), which saw a vast array of acts during the evening from Finale, Tanya Morgan, Chip the Ripper, and Stahhr. However, the centerpiece of the night was the invasion of Duck Down Records. The label brought all of their acts that released albums this year, and got the crowds energy raised with the melodic thump of 9th Wonder and

Skyzoos work on The Salvation. Things took a harder edge with Marco Polo and Torae, whom got the crowd into a frenzy with the selections from their critically acclaimed LP Double Barrel.

Later, the Duck Down family closed with sets from Seattles Blue Scholars, Chi-towns Kidz in the Hall, and BKs Buckshot. With so much talent hitting the stage, there is always the danger of crowd burnout, and wisely the sets were mostly confined to no more than a half hour. This allowed each artist to get warmed up and work their biggest hits without draining the crowds entire energy for those that followed.

In addition, the Beatminerz held court between sets with classic 90s Hip-Hop along with comedic anecdotes from founding Black Moon member Evil Dee, who had words for former Gang Starr member Guru.

And you can tell him I said it. Guru, you sounding real wack right now without Premier, Dee stated. I think its about time you come on back!

With a festival this big and spread over different venues, there will always be an issue of time conflicts. During sets, it was a common occurrence to see fans bolt after hearing their favorite song to try and catch another act set to perform a few minutes later. Since Hip-Hop shows tend not to start on time, those time synchronization attempts rarely worked, and many would break their necks rushing to another venue only to find the schedule was two artists behind.

Curren$y has been burning up the mixtape scene for the past 2 years, and the New Orleans native was highly anticipated. His conversational flow and distinct, melodic rhythms were perfect for the party atmosphere, and the majority of the fans in attendance were familiar with his work from This Aint No Mixtape, How Fly, and Fast Times at Ridgemont Fly. His brisk set was highlighted by the thumping bass of tracks like In the Middle and Blown Away, to the smooth synth arrangements of Modern Day Hippie and Elevator Musik. Curren$y was genuinely touched with his reception, and made it a point to state this was his first official Atlanta appearance (dismissing a previous Spring Break stop with BET).

Day 3 (Oct. 3) culminated with a headlining performance from the legend known as Rakim Allah. The Ice House venue was selected, and issues with attendance became problematic as thelcoation swelled past capacity. But this historic Hip-Hop night would not be denied, and threats of shutting down the venue were quelled as Mike Bigga (aka Killer Mike) took the stage to open. Mike was in rare form, and took fans through the every facet of his career. Longtime followers were hit with his work under Outkast (Whole World, A.D.I.D.A.S.) to his recent Grind series and Underground Atlanta projects(God in the Building, Imma Fool Wit It.).

Backstage, Mike expressed his hope that festivals like these would help in expanding the minds of Hip-Hop fans. As an example, Bigga referenced to me his own ease in equally enjoying Gucci Mane as much as Immortal Technique.

As expected, Rakims set was centered on his groundbreaking album run with former partner Eric B. The smart fans in attendance made it easy for Ra, reciting all his lyrics word for word and handling adlib duties where needed. When you see a legend perform, you start to see their influence illuminate right before your eyes. Throughout the performance, various fans young and old would shout out requests for their favorite Rakim songs over the past 2 decades. The ladies got their attention courtesy of the songs Whats On Your Mind and Mahogany. The 5% followers in attendance got their shouts on In the Ghetto. Whatever song you were waiting on (Move the Crowd, Dont Sweat the Technique, Microphone Fiend), Ra blessed you with it.

Truth Hurts made a surprise appearance for her hit single Addictive. The singer’s voice was initially badly out of the key with the rhythms, but the former Dr. Dre signee hit a groove just before Rakim Allah knocked out his verse. The night closed strong with four of Rakims biggest singles: Paid In Full, I Know You Got Soul, Eric B. for President, and Juice (Know the Ledge). Rakim was flawless on each song, serving up a concert that no doubt wetted everyones appetite for his December comeback LP The Seventh Seal.

For the fifth straight year, the A3C Festival delivered the most comprehensive Hip-Hop experience in the region. And as long as continues to operate, Atlanta as a city will continue to be a powerful, eclectic force in Hip-Hop culture.

Hip-Hop Rumors: Rick Ross Falls! Ja Rule Twitter Beefin’! Nosejob For Who?

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: RumorsOctober 5, 2009

DISCLAIMER:

All

content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual

info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.NEW JAY-Z ALBUM?

You know before Jay-Z released Blueprint 3, he was talking about his next album. And so here are the rumors, but with a twist. There have been rumors that Jay is going to drop a new CD before the end of the year. After a bit of research, I realized this was just another greatest hits album for the end of the year. Still there is a new song to be featured on it called Crispy Benjamins. The song is going to be featured on the greatest hits album as a new feature to pull die-hard fans. The track was originally supposed to be featured on BP3, but…he didn’t include it. Oh well.

JAY-Z PAYS RESPECT TO THE LATE MR. MAGIC!

I hope you people know that we lost a major pioneer in Mr. Magic! Without him, you never know if Hip-Hop would be what it is today.

THE GAME SAYS

Normally, I would save this for the Twitter Follies, but The Game is The Game and Detox is Detox! I’m hype! Here is what The Game had to say about the pic I posted over the weekend.

Dr. Dre is supposedly going to be contributing to all three albums, Snoop, The Game and Detox.

“CAN U SAY “DETOX” ??? IN THE STUDIO WIT DRE & SNOOP. WE BOUT 2 MAKE ALOT OF PEOPLE MAD. RIDE WIT US OR GET RA …”

I’m a assuming he mean to finished saying “ran over.” But you know Twitter! Damn 140 characters.

STAT QUO ON DETOX?

Well, here is a bunch of good, good news surrounding the release of Detox. I heard that Stat Quo has been out in Los Angeles for quite some time working on the Detox album. I’m looking this rumor is true since Stat got dropped from Shady Records. He’s a talented guy. this may sound funny, but if Slaughterhouse would add a Southern component, he would be the one. Anyway – that’s it.

FREEWAY’S FAKE ALBUM?

Somebody emailed me and they were pretty upset. Apparently there is a new Freeway album that is not endorsed by Freeway.

What’s up with all these “fake” albums? Beanie Sigel just “dropped” an album that is supposedly unofficial. Oh well.

KEYSHIA COLE…NOSE JOB?

Somebody is trying to say that KeyKey went and messed with her nose. I’m not saying it, but Miss Mouth sent this sucker over to me and I have to put it out there. Also, Miss Mouth is coming back with a different column.

$300K PAYDAY FOR KIM AND LAMAR!

Khloe Kardashian is doing her thing! The reality TV “star” is caking up off her wedding already! She reportedly sold the pics to OK! magazine for a smooth $300,000! People magazine and some other tried to the pics, but they didn’t bid enough for KK. The weird thing is her new hubby Lamar won’t make a buck even though he is in the pictures. I guess the homey has enough paper already.

RICK ROSS FOSS, I MEAN, FALLS!

Even the Boss can take a tumble. I take them ever other day…only thing nobody’s watching me 24/7.

ILLSEED’S QUICKIES

When you get a chance, peep this crazy site from HBO…http://hboimagine.com/ – nuts!

Beyonce is working on her own Oprah feature in a few, according to rumors.

Here are some rumors from my boy Mikey The Movie star.

Young Buck is rumored to be releasing a new album called A Billion Bucks by the end of the year. This is supposed to feature the Outlawz and also have some behind the scenes footage.

It is kinda late, but Tony Sunshine is reportedly working on his new album that should feature Jada and Swizz.

Eminem may be taking over Neverland Ranch. Not sure, but Mikey heard Em looked it over a few and is pondering it. Not sure how he would know, but…hey…these are rumors.

I didn’t even know this, but Rick Ross and Baby are reportedly working on a new movie called “H.” It would seem like the event is slowed up, because of all the touring that they are all doing and this even includes Lil Wayne.

JIM JONES DID CRASH HIS CAR

I was right. A week or so ago I mentioned Jim Jones had crashed his Bentley. Well, that’s true.

TWITTER FOLLIES

Ja Rule didn’t appreciate 50 Cent calling him a “sucka” so Ja took it to Twitter to blast his arch enemy. Anyway, Ja got real serious….whoa!

@50cent How’d that slug feel going in ya mouth u B***H A** N***A lol… Stop lying to these people like u tough P***Y!!!

I want ppl to know that I’m not thinking about this clown boo boo but he’s always mentioning my name tell this n#### to get off my D**K! Lol

He even said he gotta glock for 50 Cent, when a follower asked him about 50 Cent

RT @mafiosoglok GLOK ON THE SPOT: Q: @RuleYork What do you think about @50Cent calling you a sucka still live on Ustream?

LOL! Ja Rule needs to stop the madness! No need to respond to 50 Cent over every little thing and definitely not using the “@” on Twitter. LOL!

This isn’t such a Follie right here.

Kandi Burruss of the group Xscape and now Housewives of Atlanta has broken her silence about her fiancee’s death. This is not a folly…this is a tragedy.

She said:

“im bout 2 giv my swollen eyes sum rest now. i just wanted to say thanks 2 every1 for their prayers. i gotta get up & go 2 my uncle’s funeral”

“I could never n a million years imagine this happening. please pray for AJ’s children. that’s who im the most concerned 4.”

“im just in one of those moods where i dont wanna talk, i dont wanna b held & told its gonna b ok. i just wanna cry myself 2 sleep, alone.”

Read all of Kandi’s thoughts right here.

EPIC FAIL OF THE DAY

MMA fighting isn’t for everybody. Look at these dudes doing a mock MMA match where one of them finds out how real it really is.

50 FEST IN NYC

50 Cent is usually the dude tearing people down, but now he seems to be the great unifier. Interesting…here are some vids.

ALLHIPHOPS SOCIAL LOUNGE – NEWARK, NJ -OCT 17!

KANYE MUST BE IN LOVE

His girl Amber Rose is in Elle magazine and ‘Ye styled her.

On a separate note, I wonder why Amber is so popular. Kanye’s last girl was pretty and fly as well..hmmmmm….His last two girls were hot. What’s the reason? I dunno…do you?

For more, go to illseed.com. Or just follow me at http://twitter.com/illseed

CHANCE ENCOUNTERS!MAX B HOLD YA HEADI

believe Max is still fighting his case through appeals (shout out to

Jolie) and I definitely wish him the best. No man should be caged up

like an animal so FREE MAX B. Meanwhile check out how different he

looks now that he’s in the slammer. Not so wavy…

AKON GOT THAT WHITE GIRL???

Word is Akon and Lindsay Lohan were in Paris partying and getting pretty “friendly”. An eyewitness said “She and Akon definitely seemed to be flirting...it looked like she was really into this rapper!”

I thought she was a lesbian??? Maybe she’s just experimenting … what girl isn’t Bi-curious nowadays??

BEYONCE RIDIN WITH ‘YEKanye

rode for Beyonce at the VMA’s and it’s good to see she’s not gonna

throw him under the bus. But with someone as classy as B would you

expect any less?? When asked about the situation she replied Everyone makes mistakes. Its unfortunate, but hes a good person. And I think its important to stand by friends.

SUCKER FOR LOVE

Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian (the “big” one)

recently got married after only knowing each other a few weeks. It

seems the Laker was on the rebound after breaking up with Yvette…I

mean Taraji P. Henson. He proposed to her after knowing her a few

weeks also; but she declined his offer. He met Khloe the week

after and the rest is gossip history. Both of them seem pretty desperate Omarion even tried to get at

Khloe on her show and she f**ked it up.

IM JUST SAYIN’

Sunday is date night in the Carter household … Jay-Z and Beyonce

try to hit up a special high end Pizza Place every Sunday night.Christina Milian is 19 weeks into her

pregnancy…she claims “”Honestly, it was kind of planned. We were

engaged for many months.” … Ummm…If you say so.

A judge has said the Jackson kids are adjusting well … good to see they’re being taken care of and moving forwardThere was a rumor going around that Maya Angelou was in the hospital it’s NOT TRUE.

I heard they are gonna remake Thundercats and Beyonce is in the running for Wonderwoman.I

heard Latoya Luckett has been shelved?? IDK the reliability of this

source though. Someone get at me and let me know if it’s true or not.Peace – ChanceCDR @ Twitter or GmailFor more, go to illseed.com. Or just follow me at http://twitter.com/illseedALEXIS AND BROOKE, WE LOVE YOU!!!

They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!

-illseed

WHO: illseed.com

WHAT: Rumors

WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed

HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at

[email protected].

Kandi Burruss: Death On AJ Jewell In Her Own Words

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: AlternativesOctober 4, 2009

I am devastated by the loss of AJ. His death comes on the heels of the death of my beloved Uncle Ralph and with both of them gone, my heart is heavy with grief.

I had spoken to AJ two hours before I got the call that he was in the hospital. Never in a thousand years did I think it was going to be the last time I heard his voice.

He was taken way too soon.

There are so many things that I should have said to him, wanted to say to him… But now it’s too late.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of my family and friends — and that means my twitter and facebook friends as well — for the beautiful words of encouragement, prayers, and the sweet condolences.

I make it through these difficult days because of you.

I know this is cliché’ but I urge everyone to treat each day as if it’s your last and tell that special someone you love them today.

Kandi and AJ

Don’t wait. It may be too late. Please pray for his children, his family and Riley – they too are grieving the loss of an incredible man, son, brother and father.

I wish you all had gotten to know the AJ we all knew and loved.

‘Kill Bill 3’ On The Way; New RZA Movie In Production

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsOctober 4, 2009

Director Quentin Tarantino has confirmed a third installment of his popular Kill Bill series of movies is on the way.

Tarantino made the announcement during a press conference yesterday (October 3) at the Morelia International Film Festival.

Hip-Hop producer The RZA produced, orchestrated and scored various scenes in the first two versions of the critically acclaimed films, which star Vivica Fox, Lucy Liu, Uma Thurman and others.

Tarantino offered no other information about the third installment of the Kill Bill series, although he revealed it wouldnt be release until at least 2014, to give Thurmans character 10 years of peace.

At press time, RZAs involvement in the third version of Kill Bill could not be confirmed.

In related news, RZA is currently working with actor Eli Roth, co-star of Tarantinos latest hit film, Inglorious Basterds.

The pair are working on a script for a new martial arts film titled The Man With the Iron Fist.

A release date has yet to be confirmed for the movie.

Sunday Selection:Mya Gets With Nicki Minaj

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: AlternativesOctober 4, 2009

Whats up everybody? Hope

all is well. In reviewing a host of new music this week I came across

a new mixtape from singer Mya. Having been a fan of hers from Day 1

I definitely think she is one of the most underrated R&B chicks

in the game. Its a shame shes been overlooked the last few years.

But enough about that, Im just going to get straight to the point

and say that this new mixtape she released Beauty In The Streets

Vol.1 is hands down some of her greatest work. I dont know who

she teamed up with this time around, but shes been revamped with

a sound that is top notch amongst some of her female R&B counterparts

out today.

Hearing this new music from

Mya made me excited for her and after realizing how dope it really is,

I found myself asking Why the heck is this a mixtape? This should

have been her new album! Yup, its just that good – and Im not

easily impressed. If youre a Mya fan Im going to suggest you get

your hands on this because you wont be disappointed.

Two songs in particular from

Beauty In The Streets Vol.1 are currently floating around the net

that are probably being considered as the first single for her new album

set to drop in the upcoming months. One titled Ponytail that features

Nicki Minaj and another called Club Go Crazy featuring Chamillionaire.

Both are good choices.

Ponytail is real sexy

and the verse from the new go to girl in Hip-Hop Nicki Minaj will

aid in helping this song get the push it needs if its chosen as her

first single. Now I cant say that the lyrics to this song are the

greatest, but the beat is crazy and it draws you in. And while Im

not a big fan of Nicki Minaj, it is what it is. I can only imagine what

the video for this song would look like. If done right Ponytail

could do big things for Mya.

Club Go Crazy has the

potential to be a mega hit too. The name says it all for this song.

Its a dance track and Mya shows her rhyming skills with this one,

which I must say arent to shabby! Yeah shes rapping and its

a trip. LOL. Chamillionaire, who we havent heard from in a while,

drops a quick verse for the track which puts the icing on the cake.

So let me know what you think.

Take a listen and tell me if you had to choose one of these songs for

Myas first single, which one would it be – Ponytail or Club

Go Crazy? Without hesitation – Ponytail gets my vote!

Oh yeah by the way, have you

caught Mya on Dancing With The Stars? Not sure who was responsible

for picking the cast this time around, but whoever did must have missed

the memo that Mya is a trained dancer. But then again, Im sure somebody

hooked up the spot for her so she could get her name out there again

on a mainstream level and create a buzz for her upcoming album. Cant

knock the hustle there!

Well yall thanks for taking

time out to read what I had to say.

Enjoy this weeks Sunday

Selection from Mya! Until next time

Ponytail

Club Go Crazy

Nia Beckwith is a Senior Writer

for AllHipHop.com. She can be reached at [email protected]. You can also follow her at twitter.com/niabchicago.

Eminem Settles With Apple, Preps Relapse 2

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsOctober 3, 2009

Eminem’s publisher and Apple, Inc have finally settled a legal clash over the digital downloading right for a number of the rapper’s songs.

Richard Busch, the attorney for Eight Mile Style, revealed that an amicable deal was reached on on Thursday, but declined to offer details.

In the 2007 lawsuit, Eight Mile charged that Apple had no right to sell 93 songs on the popular iTunes platform, but the computer monolith claimed they had a clearance through Aftermath Entertainment. The publishing company was seeking millions in compensation.

Eminem’s Relapse 2 is expected to drop before the end of 2009.

Hip-Hop Rumors: The Game, Dre & Snoop Are Working On Detox – NOW!

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: RumorsOctober 3, 2009

DISCLAIMER:

All

content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual

info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.

FINALLY: DETOX IS MOVING FORWARD!

Who said Gangsta Rap is dead? Snoop Dogg send out the illest pic ever on his Twitter and totally made me feel confident about the Detox project. Apparently, Snoop, The Game and Dr. Dre are now in the studio working on the HIGHLY delayed project! Now, I hope this wasnt some sick joke thats Snoop is playing on us!

I have said a few times that Dr. Dre NEEDS The Game for Detox to come off for the new era. Thats not a slight to anybody. Having Snoop and Game (the unity factor!) in the same room makes me comfortable in waiting for whatever they have coming out. Lets make it happened! Yipppeeeeeeeeeeee!

For more, go to illseed.com. Or just follow me at http://twitter.com/illseed

FREEWAY RICKY ROSS, WE LOVE YOU!!!

They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!

-illseed

WHO: illseed.com

WHAT: Rumors

WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed

HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at [email protected].

Follow the Leader: In Search of Hip Hop’s Talented Tenth

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: UncategorizedOctober 3, 2009

“I’m here to break away the chains, take away the pains, remake the brains…”

“Follow the Leader” -Eric B & Rakim (1988)

Twenty years ago the members of Public Enemy announced that they were going to raise up a nation of 5,000 black leaders. For a time it seemed to be working as many black folks started reading Afro-centric literature and listening to lectures by black scholars for the first time. This is not much different than Dr. WEB Du Bois’s efforts a century earlier to cultivate a “talented tenth” that was supposed to uplift the black race. But in 2009, when ignorance is produced in mass quantities, the question that we must ask is where are they now?

If Du Bois’s challenge was to uplift a people just two generations up from slavery, why do we find it so difficult, in the 21st century, to organize against ignorance?

During the era 1988-92, members of the Hip Hop Nation tried to develop a massive mass education project . For example, KRS not only tried to organize H.E.A.L. (Human Education Against Lies) but also released the timeless track, “My Philosophy” which, till this day, is still one of the greatest arguments against anti-intellectualism ever recorded.

Groups like the X-Clan moved a whole generation towards Afro-centric thought and exposed a nation of black youth who had only known of Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King to the philosophy of Garvey-ism via songs such as “Funkin’ Lesson.”

The impact of the 5% Nation (NGAE) cannot be overstated as groups such as Brand Nubian and Poor Righteous Teachers saw it as their spiritual mission to “civilize the uncivilized.”

However, by 1992, the age of enlightenment gave way to Hip Hop’s Dark Age, in which, we still find ourselves 17 years later.

The reasons for this backwards journey are many.

However, we must start with the nature of the beast, the music industry ,itself, and it’s relationship to “revolutionary” music a generation prior to the “conscious” Hip Hop age.

In his book, “There’s a Riot Going On,” Peter Doggett writes of a meeting of advertising agencies and entertainment conglomerates that was held in October of 1968 called “Selling the American Youth Market,” which was followed two months later by a Columbia Records marketing campaign called “The Revolutionaries are on Columbia.” Thus, the revolutionary energy of the Vietnam Era was quickly co-opted and transformed into a Capitalist marketing scheme. The music that was once radical became politically ambiguous, at best.

If we juxtapose this with progressive Hip Hop music, we see that with the commercialization of the politically charged rap it began to loose it’s militancy , attempting to attract the coveted crossover market. This was also exacerbated by an American political structure that has always seen intelligent African Americans as threats to national security. Not to mention a corporate America that has grabbed every opportunity to “dumb down” the youth in an effort to make them more vulnerable to marketing schemes and corporate exploitation.

While many of the causes have been external, they have been internal, as well.

Although, members of the era of conscious Hip Hop waxed poetic about the conspiracy to dumb down black youth, they were ill prepared to do anything about it. So why should we be surprised in the 21st century that the fruits of this labor have come to fruition? Also, we must admit that too many in that era gave VIP (Very Ignorant People) passes to the early gangsta rappers in the name of Hip Hop unity. This has produced the dilemma in which we find ourselves, today.

While Kwame Ture’ spoke about “making the unconscious, conscious” until his dying day, what has developed is an “anti-conscious” movement. Biblically speaking, they are those who are destroyed not for their lack of Knowledge but for their rejection of it.

This is the target audience of today’s representatives of what is passing for a black consciousness movement, many of whom were either in elementary school or not even born at the height of the political rap era, 20 years ago.

The problem with the new school Hip Hop intelligentsia is that they have so much dumbed down their messages that they have become the antithesis of the mission to uplift black people. Many of them have become less disciples of Rakim and more so followers of Nas, whose lyrical contradictions oft times outweigh their potentially, powerful impact. Also, because of the misuse of social networking sites such as youtube and Twitter, they have tried to out-gangsta the gangsta rappers , often bitterly attacking those who should be their comrades in the struggle.

Perhaps the biggest fault lies at the door of those who Du Bois would have referred to as his talented tenth; the college educated, as many of the music moguls with higher education are the main purveyors of the worst examples of anti-intellectualism; Sean Combs, Dame Dash, Suge Night, David Banner, etc.

While the call for 5,000 black leaders in the 80’s was admirable, what we need now is a call for 5,000 black poor righteous teachers who realize that, despite all the rheatoric, the greatest threat to global racism is not a gun but a book.

The battle for the minds must start in our own communities as we must dedicate our lives to raising the consciousness of those around us.

Because, as Du Bois wrote in 1903 in “The Negro Problem,” “if you do not lift them up, they will pull you down.”

Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. To learn more about The Intelligence Over Ignorance Campaign visit http://www.ioimovement.com