“Caviar”
“Caviar”
“Hello Good Morning Remix”
“Ghetto Dance”
“She So Good”
:Imma Be Freestyle”
“Excellent Taste”
“Over (BWS Remix)”
DISPOSABILITY
As the social
state is displaced by the market, a new kind of politics is emerging in which
some lives, if not whole groups, are seen as disposable and redundant.
Henry A.
Giroux, Youth
in a Suspect Society: Democracy or Disposability? (New York: Palgrave
Macmillan, 2009), pp. 155-156.
They lack the
minerals and vitamins which time releases
So they try to
blind you with the diamonds in they time pieces
Okay, you got
money, and we all can see it (great!)
Now, rhyme about
something time don’t depreciate
Hi-Tek ft.
Talib Kweli & Dion, Time, Hi-Teknology3(2007).
Round about midway through the last
decade, no more was it acceptable to cling to that absurd conviction claiming
Hip-Hop was merely undergoing shifts and trends, and that much of the remonstrations,
showering down from all tunnels, were ill-begotten and untimely and but the misguided
ramblings of a few East-Coast-elitists displeased with another region (the
South) assuming control of the Rap music machine. With the silly and senseless
parodies that came to count as true
artistic creations, most who once held skepticism to any criticisms began
losing faith. It was at once clear, that more than a shifty trend, the ship was
sinkingthrusting all those within deep into the bottomless seaand that a
future, if at all there was one, might be greatly imperiled.
How, for instance, could rappers
recklessly resurrect Minstrel themes of old, without a piece of protest from a
public that likes to think of itself intelligent enough to e#### ever-higher
standards for the many annual Rap aspirants eager to be accepted as authentic
and legitimaterealrepresentatives of Hip-Hop music and culture? How could
major radio stations whittle down their playlists considerablyand fall
dependent on no more than 5 or 7 songs (each blasting out exact, decadent suggestions)and
face no concerted, consequential demonstration demanding better? How could a
rapper, in a music video, swipe down his credit card, spilt-through the
backside of a female dancer, and have a popular TV station plug it endlessly (around
midnight, of course), and have many rise up to his defense because, so the
chants went, Rap is about free expression, and this man deserves no less right
to express himself as Hugh Hefner or Howard Stern?
Beefs,
Blings, Bricks, Bullets, and Backsides
And if the misogyny wasnt firm enough,
the ravenous glorification of violence and vapid materialism certainly broke
the water. Having come through a decade that opened coffins for two of the most
explosive and expressive Rap artists, it was agreed a new dawn must arise, and
a new way of thinking surrender, if a future for this international cultural force
was wanted. But the last decade began no better than many hoped. Two great New
York rivals clashed hard to serenade the new millennium, and drew at each other
for many years, until, in October 2005, maturity and intelligence steered their
hearts toward reconciliation.
But as both growled and gnashed, putting
their lives in persistent danger for incidents a good one-on-one session could
have corrected, the only winners, as always, proved to be the major record
labels, for whom both were serfsmere lackeys on the field, walkers on the
streets.
They take the
strongest of slaves to compete in a track meet
For the king of
the city, sing songs of back streets
Choruses of
cocaine tales and black heat
Only to trade ni**as
like professional athletes!
Years after Tupac and Biggie, LL and
Canibus, Nas and Jay-Z, it took long for 50 Cent and Ja Rule to embrace this
sobering reality, as both walked into the same trap their many predecessors had
once too been entangled in; but, as always, by then the game was nearing final
whistle, and anticipated revenue had already been met, and the real winners
were out the door, brimming with great prideanother set of young Black males
heisted, millions of fans swindled (but, by god, entertained!), and millions
more in cash collected.
At every major intersection in Hip-Hop
history, never has this plan failed or fall shortof pitting natural allies
against each other, setting up fictional accounts that send both boiling and
scribbling feverishly into their notepads, and sitting calmly-faced as they
sling fireballs back and forth: and in case a fatality should occur (as past
events document), retreating into total obscurity, all the while well-pleased
with the ignorance of men who can move hearts and souls with complex poetical
constructions, but whose humanity has been defined, and theyve come to
interpret, by narrow conceptions of Machismo.
We played against
each other like puppets: swearing you got pull
When the only
pull you got is the wool over your eyes
In midst of crafting threatening rhymes
toward anyone insecure enough to take the bait, many rappers assuredly took
time out to account the number of chains hanging from their necks, bracelets
and watches fastened to their wrists, shine and size of rims spinning on their
tires, the amount of cars overflowing from personal garages (and, dear god, the
paint jobs glistening thereupon), the piles of raw cash stacked on either sides
of their pants pockets, the make of sneaker shoespreferably customdragged
around with their feet, the design of clothes stashed in their closets, the
brand and size and kind of wine
preferred at choice-strip clubs. Opulence, for sure. But, even then, little
harm was meantand felt. Soon, however, the bar loweredfrom carats to cars,
human life factored shortly: the waist-size, body-shape, skin-color,
hair-length, attitude-type, etc. Women now ranked as low as the 24 inch rims
many bragged excessively about.
Sickening, certainly. But millions of
fans lapped this up for years, unquestioning and undisturbed. It became
necessary chant for anyone with dreams of acceptance: for if you happened to
take pleasure more in the social
crises threatening the very world surrounding you, chances of commercial
success or affordable living slimmed greatly; but if you chose to join the
crowd which, just like you, couldnt wait to share with fans every immaterial
facets of their splashy (though spiritually empty) lives, lifted up as
substitutable for self-worth, a door at every major record label, major radio
and TV station, and major concert venue held your name emblazoned, bidding:
come in and do business
withforus.
The
bling-bling era was cute but it’s about to be done, Immortal
Technique swore 7 years ago. Look back carefully, and rosters of artists never
wavered through those years, never dropped the tempo of their march to the
graves of immoral infantilism. Not many understood what they considered poetry
could only count, to adults with the courage to think for themselves, as
self-parody and an embarrassment at what had become of musicrepeated loops of
content-absolved incoherence shot, unchanged, through the lips of diverse dolts
introduced, to an unwitting public, as artists and, the whopper of all,
creative artists at that! Lupe Fiascos brilliant satirical commentary mapped
this farce gracefully
Now come on, everybody,
let’s make cocaine cool
We need a few
more half-naked women up in the pool
And hold this
MAC-10 that’s all covered in jewels
And can you
please put your ti**ies closer to the 22s?
And where’s the
champagne? We need champagne!
Now look as hard
as you can with this blunt in your hand
And now hold up
your chain, slow-motion through the flames
Now cue the
smoke machines and the simulated rain
Pop
Artists
Just as many couldnt see their
creations as the farthest from Art, many, Im certain, would have been equally
befuddled if explained to that in a few years their names would be
unrecognizable to the millions of kids for which their music was once Holy
Grail. It would be unfathomable that a rapper once christened the next big
thing, and sure enough primed to sell out millions of CD copies, would in less
than 5 years be restored to anonymity, with no name in the street. I wouldnt
embarrass any such rappers in this editorialtheyve suffered too muchbut the
list runs endless. Today, king of the jungle. Tomorrow, unknown quarry.
The shock is hardest of all. Then sense
of betrayal sets in. The artists rage immediately flames at managers and
publicists and friends and fans and executives, unable to grapple with what is
truer than all the lies (s)he once heard as matter of course: that (s)he was
but a mere commodity, sold for a good price, but, like all disposable
commodities, set with an expiration date, upon which usefulness (and
relevance) passes off. The artist, after
much soul-searching, confronts this bitter truth: that (s)he was disposable,
that the music was only an immaterial part of the packageworm for fish, carrot
for donkeyand now another commodity has been placed on the shelf, whose date also
has been set.
One from a thousand
speaks in his own voice
The other 999
imitate without choice
My sympathy forever stays with the artist, for no human being deserves to
be used or abusedand, particularly, dehumanized. But how much sympathy can be
invoiced for hordes of hacks who delighted in swanking about crafting whole
songs in 5 or 15 minutes, and foolishly presenting this
wonder-of-the-modern-world as evidence of their divine artistic abilities. For
years, Hip-Hop fans took beating from scores of artists who strolled out to outdo
whatever the record stood at: to pen the fastest bar, hook, verse, or entire
song. Of course the thought and time put in always betrayed the ordinariness of
the composition. And as the ghosts of Usain Bolt attacked the hands of
so-called Rap artists, the channels of creativity began closing, reducing
commercial Rap songs to futile repetitions of long-established themes.
Pop
Music
The mind that produced Poet Laureate
II (Canibus) certainly could not take pride in coughing up entire songs in 5
minutes. A certain patience that only great artistspainters, writers,
poetspossess, patience to sit still until the right words or shadows and
colors can be brought forth, has never known most involved in making Rap music.
Prolific artists like the GZArenowned for such painstaking creations as
Queens Gambit, 0% Finance, Labels, and Publicitymust have fallen into
light comas upon each sighting of peers
and colleagues whose bank accounts
boasted millions of dollars for essentially restating what the last man
dictated from some previously published script.
It takes me a while to write sometimes because
Im always reconsidering words, revealed the GZA in a 2006 interview. I go
line-for-line. Every time I write I try to go line-for-line. Its a puzzle to
me. Thats how I write: this has to fit here
and that has to fit there.
Two years later, he again outlined his
work ethic, and the high bar of quality set for his craft: I like the patience
that I have. I once said on the Crash Your Crew song, I seen a million try to set a flow/ Thousands at shows/ Observed with
the patience of watching a flower grow/. So, I have a lot of patience when
it comes to writing. I mean every rhyme that I write, I usually draft five or
six or seven times. (Exclaim!,
Nov. 2008.)
This talk must sound foreign to
countless artists comforted for years that a first draft is best because it
speaks to the most specific details of the hearts cries, and that needless
tinkering for grammatical or dramatic accuracy borders on artificiality or
Nerdism, and can only drive away real Hip-Hop fans. To this end has rubbish
been approved for 21st century Hip-Hop standard. And with many major
record label executives sub-literate to any conception of Artsince artists are
put on excruciatingly tight schedules that smite the mere possibility of
contemplation-before-creationartistic integrity is an early casualty.
In todays climate, Prince Paul could
never launch A Prince Among Thieves
on a major record label. The time required to assemble a line-up of epic
quality, to program a storyline of classic complexity, to produce the record
with success true to the integrity of his vision, would all be denied. The
thought aloneto create operatic Hip-Hop, and craftily insert dialogue,
character, plot, flashback, narrative at every
turnwould more than likely elicit slammed-shut doors at the offices of
the Big 4 record factories.
The force of compromise is often stronger
than the public acknowledges (and gives artists the credit for battling). A man
with a message, and a strong belief in how that message should be offered
publicly, who is then informed his message is unfit or too intelligent for the key-demographic the label plans to market
to, can spiral out of controlas many Rap artists unfortunately have, through
their careers. The microphone then serves as instrument to punish the rage and
furythe I-have-had-it-up-to-herenessbuilt up within meetings where White
executives claim to know more what Black and Brown audiences deserveand what
flies above their heads. Nothing here is pretty, and what comes off often
irritates, as Talib Kweli fired
And you see that
there microphone
Ain’t no place
to work out your self-esteem issues
Do that sh**
when you alone!
I beg of Kweli, and those in his camp,
to be more compassionate of artists suffering deflated egos, robbed of their
sense of worth. When denied any sense of agency, sense of ableness to speak
against the wicked doings of the rulers in high places, its easy to rather
jingle about how many Rolexes wrap their wrists, than how timely the moment is
for true social change and true revolution of values. Its easy to rather
scribble rhymes about countless lives theyve physically and personallywithout
the jail-time one would expect and hope forsent over hells gates, than
address increasing inner-city violence, a racist and classist economic system,
or a Prison Industrial Complex built on the backs of children and adults priced
with little opportunity since birth.
Unplug it on
chumps with the gangsta babble
Leave your 9s
(mm) at home and bring your skills to the battle
Pop
Culture
None of this, however gory or ghastly,
deviates from script: for most Rap artists are little other than slaves to a
system they lack full understanding of. When a rapper entertains young
massesmillions around the world tuned to this endless streamwith tales of
gang exploits, drug sales, court cases, illegal
businesses, and steel-like toughness, only one side emerges victoriousand
neither the rapper or the fans had a shot to start with. The rapper is blessed
with chump compensation, and fans (many of them from suburban families) are
transported to a high upon which only Scarface
and The Godfather has thus far been
capable of lifting them.
While the song plays and the beat goes
on, however, both artist and fan are denied slices of their humanity: artists
find their dignity missing when told their capital function in life is to crank
out destructive and pathological representations of reality, and overrule any
possibility of inner-city Black and Brown kids struggling and overcoming.
Struggling, here, represents the end to many meansan ongoing, mindless
activity disconnected from any sense of hope and change. Nihilism and fatalism
are fetishized overas worthy answer to constant disappointment over failed
struggle. Fans, whether poor or privileged, are robbed of the importance poets
once served in societyas prophets and oracles, drawing up inspiration for a
better tomorrow and a better today, exposing the inhumanity of life to force
radical change. When artists find more value in embodying and embellishing,
rather than erasing, decadence, a line has surely been tipped over.
It is the principal function of popular
culturethough hardly its avowed purposeto keep men from understanding what is
happening to them, for social unrest would surely follow, and who knows what
outbursts of revenge and rage, William H. Gass insisted more than three
decades ago in Fiction and the Figures of
Life. (New York: Knopf, 1970; p. 272) You see traces of this sad spectacle
everywhere, even with the year-long health care debate, with many, sick to
their lungs, railing against socialized insurance, with senior citizens
decrying government-run programs as Communist and Marxist. If only their
eyes were introduced to reality, and their ear drums turned the way of
truthtruth that reveals the inhumane and deadly practices of gluttonous health
insurance giants: gladly denying coverage to dying children and overweight
infantsthere would be, as Chris Rock promised a month ago, riots in the
streets They would burn this muthaf**ker down!
Those who sway the future of our planet dont
sweat bullets much, however, thanks to a public that does not wish to know
their own nothingnessor their own potentialities either, and the pleasures of
popular culture give us something to do, something to suffer, an excuse for
failure, and a justification for everything. (p. 273)
Rappers can get real cranky when sober,
when pushed to stare down the truth in all its ugliness, So, the business,
poet Black Ice revealed years ago, feeds them all the weed and ecstasy and a
little bit of paper to provide some pacification from all the bullsh**
frustration they serve you.
Now, the high is
just an illusion: lies and confusion
But, just for
that rush, just once, these young bucks’ll go through it
So, in essence,
theyre still flooding our streets with thugs, drugs, and killing
They just using
these record labels to do it
The public fares no better. When shaken
out of tabloid-induced coma, bricks rush into office glass windows, buildings
explode, planes crash into skyscraperspandemonium ensues. For years now, the
rulers have fed the donkey its carrot, and blissfully led it down many rivers.
And Rap music, for many, is that slim, orange, pointy, juicy vegetable. They
swear greater command of what is held before them for consumptionyou hear the
proverbial I know he aint talkin bout me from female fansbut reality spells
differently. William Gass explained:
The objects of
popular culture are competitive. They are expected to yield a return. Their
effect must be swift and pronounced, therefore they are strident, ballyhooed,
and baited with sex; they must be able to create or take part in a fad; and
they must die without fuss and leave no corpse. In short, the products of
popular culture, by and large, have no more esthetic quality than a brick in
the street. (pp. 272-273)
And though lacking any finish,
complexity, stasis, individuality, coherence, depth, and endurance, they possess
that one quality requisite to claim the hearts of a culturally illiterate
publicsplash. (p. 274) The commercial, dominant Rap music content of the
last decade falls in this laneof engaging beats and superfluous styles lacking
bitterly in substance. But as with a mansion of cardsno matter how well adorned
or spruced upwith time the foundationless structure gives in.
Endless times have I heard the defense,
I dont like the rhymes, but the beat is tight! and, refusing to grab a brick
and smash over the heads of these otherwise intelligent people, I walked off
disturbed. How pitiful do we determine a woman whose purse has just been picked
by the neighborhood conman, and, though knowing all this, respondsI dont
like the act, but hes good-looking? It would sound unreasonable if the
structure of popular culture did not rest on this very foundationthe
unbelievable, unexplainable gullibility of an ostensibly aware public. [P]opular
culture is the product of an industrial machine, wrote Gass, which makes
baubles to amuse savages while missionaries steal their souls and merchants
steal their money. (p. 274)
However uncool preachers might be today,
sermons need to shoot off from rooftops to millions worldwide trapped in this buffooneristic
enterprise, shorted for all their worth and fed deleterious values, many of
them too young to estimate the total effect of the destruction until later
onat stages almost irreversible. This muck cripples consciousness, Gass warned.
Therefore no concessions should be made to it. (p. 275)
[Next weeks editorial would extend this
topicof whether the muck has so crippled consciousness, not only of
listeners but of Hip-Hop itself, that all life has been sapped, dragging away to
the valleys of death.]
Tolu
Olorunda is a cultural critic whose work appears in various online journals. He
can be reached at: To***********@***il.com.
Kimbo Slice is gone.
The UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) has unceremoniously dismissed the Florida pugilist after he lost his second UFC fight on Saturday Night. Kimbo was beaten in classic form outlasted and convincingly. The thing is, in an odd Hip-Hop sort of way, Kimbo was us.
The quintessential underdog, the dude honed his skill in Florida backyards and parking lots. He fought for piddly money to get his food on the plate. He wasnt supposed to be at the meteoric heights of the UFC to begin with, but somehow he made it. He wasnt even close to being the best fighter, but everybody loved the Kimbo Slice saga.
You love to hear the story again and again .
Kevin Ferguson, Slices real name, rose to prominence after his street brawls grew virally on the internet and in the underground DVD world. He was big, Black and appeared to be your worst nightmare in a dark alley. But, rise..Kimbo did.
He adapted, trained and took his natural skill to professional Mixed Martial Arts. The defunct EliteXC bet the farm on Kimbo, who had become a mainstream spectacle, and when he lost, they went out of business. (He was paid $500,000 for his 14-second losing effort again Seth Petruzelli) Dana White, the head of the UFC, had publicly dissed Kimbo and his skills as a fighter. He saw the loss against Petruzelli. Yet, White gave him a shot. No matter what people thought of him, Kimbo Slice was interesting. Quite simply, he got viewers and put bodies in seats.
But in the UFC, Dana White is god and so White giveth, White taketh away. But Kimbo Slice was never supposed to be in the UFC. He created a path that was not trodden and one that wont be followed anytime soon. How Hip-Hop of him. We always find away against all odds, no matter how far-fetched the outcome seems.
I rooted loudly for Kimbo Slice. I wanted him to win each and every time he fought. Why? For one, the story is familiar. Two, I heard the snickers. I saw their noses turn up when he was mentioned. It was odd witnessing haughtiness in a brutal sport like MMA. It could even be argued that those conceits got exactly what they wanted to prove in the first place that Kimbo Slice wasnt worthy. Exploit him a bit, get some voyeurs to watch the sport and kick him out as fast as possible. Laugh at him as he weakly covers up from a flurry of punches from ex-football player Matt Mitrione.
Maybe maybe not.
The story of Kimbo Slice isnt over yet, but his time in the UFC is. Hes outta there. Now time will again tell how Hip-Hop he really is. Hes lost the battle, but hes still got one hell of a war to tend to.
Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur can be found at twitter.com/chuckcreekmur
Ice Cube is the West Coast overdose. He doesnt have anything to prove and yet, he still puts it down for Hip-Hop on the left side of the map. Hopefully, this is the beginning of the new wild, wild West.
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.
SEE SOMETHING? SAY SOMETHING!!!!!
THE DAILY TWO SENSE!
I spoke too fast! Solar is back in the hot seat!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His email got hacked and all sorts of crazy stuff about Guru has popped out. Aw damn!
This dude is a piece of work and the internet soldiers of Gang Starr arent playing!
RICK ROSS TO SIGN KOOL G RAP?
You know who Kool G Rap is right? I dont know about some of you Hip-Hop masterminds. Anyway, everybody knows Rick Ross. Well, Kool G Rap is definitely one of the best rappers to ever do it. Everybody from Jay-Z to Big Pun to Chino XL (basically everybody) knows and respects G Rap. Well, the word in the music industry is that the BAWSE Rick Ross is looking to sign G Rap to his Maybach Music imprint. Now, what does this mean? Not sure. It certainly means G Rap could get a energy boost in his career. Since the old schoolers are sticking around, why not? It also means Rick Ross gets a team member with unquestioned credibility and lyricism on his team. I will keep you updated on this one! Oh yeah .at one point we thought 50 Cent was going to sign Kool G Rap but it never happened.
Appreciate a link back if you use this rumor love and respect on a sunny Saturday!
THE FAKE DIDDY WANTS TO SIGN THE FAKE RICK ROSS!
Oh boy..I thought Ive seen it all. But this one takes the cake take that, take that. I got an email from the Fake Diddy and he wants to sign and manage the Fake Rick Ross. Here he is. LOL!
Here is the fake Ross. LOL I know yall sick of Rawse rumors. I dont make this stuff up I just report back.
KOOL G RAP, 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 al*************@***il.com.
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(AllHipHop News) The email and Twitter accounts of Solar were hacked and a number of documents were leaked on the Internet today (May 9th). Unknown individuals Twittered from Solars account (Solar_7Grand) account tonight, as well as from an account registered to late rapper Keith Guru Elam (GuruGangStarr). Throughout the evening, the intruder released a series of emails sent to or from Solar, including the controversial statement allegedly made by Guru, while he was dying of cancer. Remember that I am doing this for Guru. We all deserve the truth, the hacker Twittered. Ive posted these e-mails for you, now let me know what you think of them. Should I post more? Should I stop? Am I smooth? Elaborate! Ive got around 800 mails lol, so it will take a while The unknown individual has been Tweeting from Solars account since May 7th. Tonight, the individual released a number of sensitive emails from Solars account. The hacker released nude pictures of women addressed to Solar, royalty statements made out to 7 Grand Records, which Solar co-owned with Guru, in addition to a tour rider.The individual(s) even held a Q&A session using Solar’s account and joked: “I would love to pay 500 bucks to see Solar pressing F5 every 5 seconds on his twitter right now.”Since “Gurus death on April 19th, Solar, his partner in 7 Grand Records, has been under intense scrutiny for the dissemination of information, as well as his handling of the legendary rappers death as his health care proxy. A number of supporters of Guru have publicly questioned his relationship with Solar, including Gang Starr member DJ Premier, the Elam family, trumpeter Nick Brownman Alian and Solars ex-girlfriend Tasha Denham. A website dedicated to exposing Solar, www.f**ksolar.com also popped up last week and has been releasing information about Guru and Solars business and personal relationships. Solar released a statement last week denying recent allegations by DJ Premier, who claimed that Guru was left unkempt in his final days on earth. My people and I would never tolerate any mistreatment of Guru in any way, shape, or form, Solar said. Did DJ Premier complain to the hospital authorities about what he claims he saw?! If so who were the hospital authority? [sic] What was their response?”http://xs.to/image-4B3A_4BE71142.jpghttp://xs.to/image-B168_4BE70CB5.jpghttp://xs.to/image-4B3A_4BE71142.jpghttp://xs.to/image-C9E2_4BE70F9A.jpghttp://xs.to/image-9B24_4BE70D9A.jpghttp://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3254/solar4.png
(AllHipHop News) Family and friends gathered at the Ikeda World Peace Auditorium in Los Angeles this past Saturday (May 8th), to pay their final respects to the hardest working DJ on the West Coast, DJ Hideo. Hideo Sugano’s 15 month fight with colon and liver cancer ended on April 24th, 2010 as he passed away surrounded by his family and close friends. The Buddhist ceremony paid tribute to the life and legacy of the DJ who was a son, brother, father, friend, teacher and hero to all who knew him.DJ Hideo worked for KKBT 100.3 The Beat as Mix show Director and Program and Production Assistant for nine years. Additionally, he served as the DJ on the Steve Harvey Morning Show, Soul Assassins Radio with Cypress Hill and others. Up until his passing DJ Hideo was a respected professor at the Scratch DJ Academy, founded by Jam Master Jay of Run DMC. He helped guide new students to the understanding of the true meaning of Djing and its respected position in Hip-Hop culture and history.DJ Spinderella, The Poetess, DJ Mo Dave, DJ K-Sly and Tawala Sharp were a few of his former KKBT, 100.3 the Beat family member’s who were on hand to give tributes, and testimonials that spoke to the spirit of the man whom everyone agreed always bore a smile. Cancer survivor/singer/songwriter Krys Ivory sang an inspiring acapella of I Believe I Can Fly and long time friend Lady of Rage, alongside DJ Rectangle lifted the crowd with an old school performance of one of Hideo’s favorite song’s Afro Puff’s.Throughout his illness, Hideo used his situation to speak to people on the importance of early detection and encouraged his peers to get colonoscopy’s because early detection can be key in preventative health care. Im hoping I can help people stop waiting until its too late. Use me as an example, look at Hideo he was always so happy and energetic but he still got cancer. he told AllHipHop.com in a 2009 interviewHideo left behind his parents, a sister and brother and loving daughter Danni and a wealth of friends. Due to lack of sufficient health insurance the family is still overwhelmed with enormous hospital bills as a result of his hospital expenses. To make donations please visit www.djhideo.com
(AllHipHop News) Will Smith has signed on to star in Men In Black 3, which will be released in 3D. Smith will be reunited with director Barry Sonnenfeld in the movie, which will feature a plot centered around the rapper/actor traveling back in time, to 1969. According to sources, producers of the 3D flick are currently negotiating with MIBs previous co-star, Tommy Lee Jones and actor Josh Brolin, who will play a younger version of Jones character. MIB in 3D will be executive produced by legendary filmmaker Steve Spielberg and is slated to hit theaters on May 25, 2012, during Memorial Day weekend. Men In Black 3 will be released by Columbia Pictures.
If you are a fan of Jay-Z, you were pleased at the Saturday Night Performance. The Brooklyn mega star was on the Betty White-hosted show in all of his rock inspired splendor. The Medley, as we like to call it included PSA, 99 Problems, and Empire State of Mind. He also performed “Young Forever” with Mr. Hudson. Check it out.
Jay-Z The Saturday Night Live Medleyvideo platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player
Jay-Z and Mr. Hudson Young Forever
We are living in precarious and dangerous times. The economy remains unstable,
joblessness is continuously skyrocketing, development is stagnant and
unpredictable circumstances around the world are exacerbating the fears of
many. But what is also quietly
bubbling underneath the surface is a far more treacherous and detrimental push
for a shift in American psychology that in effect undermines the core
principles upon which this great nation was founded. It is the concerted, conscious effort to stoke the qualms of
many with a great divide that is once again pitting us against them. Except this time, the them could
virtually be you, me or any one who slightly looks as if he/she doesnt belong.
For the past few days, we have been inundated with images of
the now infamous failed Times Square car bomb suspect, Faisal Shahzad. What began as a thorough search for the
person or persons involved in this foiled attempt has culminated into a drastic
transformation in dialogue that is establishing dangerous precedent for many to
be presumed guilty on the basis of their national origin, familial ancestry or
travel records. When authorities
first released footage of an initial suspect over the weekend, the vast
majority of broadcasters and reporters stayed clear of mentioning this mans
race. Save for a few exceptions,
the bulk of coverage on all three major networks conservative Fox News, more
liberal MSNBC and fair and balanced CNN werent focusing on this mans Whiteness, but rather leading with copy like officials are
seeking a middle-aged man seen here or they are searching for a man in his
40s. Fast-forward to Mr. Shahzad
and all you see blaring across your TV screen is this mans ethnicity and ties
to another land far far away off in the distance somewhere. But it isnt only Pakistanis or
Pakistani Americans that should be deeply concerned about this troubling
imaging and change in verbiage.
This past month, Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona signed the
most controversial immigration bill in our countrys history. Literally institutionalizing and
justifying racial profiling, this SB 1070 legislation transferred immense
authority into the hands of local police that are often-times notorious for
their biased behavior and poor judgment (one needs to only look at NJ were
racial profiling was found even at the state police level). But what is even more troubling than
the potential backlash against all minorities in Arizona, is the ripple effects
this is having across the nation.
Several other states are already pursuing their own versions of
immigration reform which amount to nothing more than criminalizing and
dehumanizing certain groups of people.
The politicians and pundits that are pushing this anti-immigrant message
need to be reminded of the intricate benefits that immigrants from all over the
world have bestowed upon the United States and the plethora of ways in which
they continue to do so. If the
backers of this SB 1070 wanted to be truly honest, they might as well say if
youre not White, show me proof you belong here because thats literally
what this bill means.
Everyone is familiar with the inscription on our symbolic
emblem of freedom, the statue of liberty, that reads in part: Give me your tired, your poor, your
huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
But ask yourselves, how did we go from that optimistic, inclusive message
to one filled with fear mongering, division and a sense of entitlement? If you are Brown, Black or tan in
Arizona, whos to say your family members werent here before the area even
received statehood in 1912? And as
some on the right push for all Pakistanis and all Muslims – whether citizens or
not – to be monitored and watched, they are in fact turning back the clock on
decades of progress. If they
espouse that we end political correctness by questioning everyone who
doesnt look like us, what is to become of our inalienable rights that led
the vast majority here in the first place?
For those who do not see the ominous bias in our mainstream
press when it comes to coverage of others versus
coverage of so-called natives, just watch and observe over the coming days,
weeks and months as Shahzads background is probed and dissected. But unlike when Timothy McVeigh
slaughtered scores and injured hundreds, the focus wont be on his own troubled
life (which includes the recent loss of his home and other economic troubles),
but it will instead be on any ties to extremist elements. Now in no way am I condoning his
behavior or stating that he didnt have ties to any groups in Pakistan, but
what I am doing is reminding people that when Joseph Stacks flew a plane into
an IRS building less than three months ago and killed an African American man,
he was not labeled a terrorist.
And yet this foiled attempt in Times Square, where nothing thankfully
happened, will almost certainly create a backlash for Pakistanis, Muslims or
anyone that resembles them.
As the jargon gains momentum with talk of homegrown
terrorists and the cells within, we have to wonder, are we at stake here to
slowly lose all of our basic fundamental civil liberties? There is now even talk from politicians
like Senator Joe Lieberman pushing for legislation that would strip anyone
accused of terrorism of his/her citizenship. But if terror and terrorism are terms used at our own
discretion, do we now hold the power to determine ones allegiance, patriotism
or love of country? If we can now
be stopped in Arizona simply for jay walking and asked to produce our papers,
isnt that creating and justifying bigotry and racism? Are these consistent regressive
maneuvers a reaction to an ever-unstable economic future? Or is it something more nefarious at
play? When did the United States
of America became a land of us verses everyone else?
These are indeed volatile times, and we should all be very,
very afraid.
Nida Khan is an independent journalist and producer working in both print and radio. She is currently a news correspondent with WRKS 98.7 Kiss FM NY, and is a member of the production team of Rev. Al Sharptons nationally syndicated broadcast, Keeping it Real. Nida previously served as the Editor-in-Chief of elan: The Guide to Global Muslim Culture, and has contributed pieces for such diverse outlets as the Associated Press, Alternet.org, DUB Magazine, Lifetimetv.com, The Source Magazine, The Womens Media Center and more.Nida can be found at:
(AllHipHop News) Rapper Game was looking for a friendly chart battle with Drake when both men had albums set for a June 15 release date.
The R.E.D. Album has been pushed back, but his Canadian peer is still set for the summer release.
Before the change in date, Game anticipated going head-up with Drake.
It’s all in the love of Hip-hop I’m a fan of Drake, the Compton rapper told AllHipHop.com It’s not even a competition its more like go out and get both albums because they’re both good.
Game suggested that Drake would sell more, due to his buzz, but said his own was growing rapidly.
Usually I say [I will sell more] but that ni**a’s buzz is [very loud] but we’ll see. One thing about it though Im about to pound the streets so whoever is on his team better be ready because that’s the competition. 400 bars was just the beginning, Game said.
The Game recently released a popular mixtape, The R.E.D. Room, which has sustained his popularity in the streets and internet. Furthermore, he has released a number of videos.
The R.E.D. Room is set for a June 29 release date now.
Game – “Shake”
video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player
Game – “400 Bars”
video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player
(AllHipHop News) Rapper DMXs stint in a drug rehabilitation in an Arizona jail is going very well, according to a judge handling the rappers case. The judge denied DMXs original request to leave the jail and appear on Dr. Drew Pinskys Celebrity Rehab television show. DMX, born Earl Simmons, has infamously battled substance abuse over the past decade.He is currently serving six months in prison for violating his probation after he admitted to using cocaine. Before entering into prison, Dr. Drew offered to treat DMX at his center in California. TMZ.com reports that the a Maricopa County judge denied DMXs request to appear on Celebrity Rehab because he is making good progress in the rehab program he is currently enrolled in, which ends in July.
AllHipHop loves Freddie Gibbs. The Breeding Ground soldier is far past those early days to become one of the best Hip-Hop has to offer. Well, impresses once again with “The Ghetto,” his latest music video. The video is honest, raw and even draws influence from the 90’s (“Keep it Real by Miilkbone and later Jay-Z and Big L rapped over the same beat). Check this and the other spitters that came before it.video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo playerJay-Z and Big L – Free Style.
This early freestyle is classic.
Milkbone – “Keep It Real”
For those that know, Milkbone was ill. The forgotten White rapper.
The trend of album sequel continues with Busta Rhymes as the New York staple plans another chapter from from his 1998 opus E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front.
Busta’s manger Chris Lighty sent out the message via Twitter. Lighty simply said, “Extinction.Level.Event 2 ……prepare yourself.”
The message was subsequently retweeted by Busta Rhymes. Like the first E.L.E. 2 is inspired by movies of pending destruction and doom on planet Earth, Lighty said.”From the Intro of the new Busta Album your going
to know your [sic] in trouble and you just turned on 2012 the movie on warp
speed,” he said.
E.L.E. yielded a number of popular songs including “Tear da Roof Off,” “Do It to Death” and “What’s It Gonna Be,” a hit song that featured Janet Jackson.
E.L.E. also had an impressive line of producers like Busta Rhymes Nottz, DJ Scratch, Swizz Beatz, Rockwilder, Diamond D, D-Dot, Nasheim Myrick and others.
Extinction Level Event does not have a release date, but he was slated to release The Chemo, his ninth solo album, this summer.Other artists that rose to prominence in the 90’s have begun creating sequels to their most popular albums. Capone-n-Noreaga and GZA have sequel albums in the making.
Busta Rhymes recently released “Stop The Party,” an unofficial theme song for “Iron Man 2 that features Swizz Beatz.” Listen below.