When Ludacris insisted that he had "hoes in different area codes," the country didn’t take it too well. Bill O’Reilly blasted him. Pepsi fired him. Women’s groups all over the country called for a boycott against him. The objection to Luda’s lyrics was widespread and long-lasting. But on the other side, no biggie. O’Reilly alluded […]

Most times, if the news fails to cover a compelling minority story, we as a people are the first, if not the only, to call much needed attention to events that seem to conveniently fall through the cracks. What incenses us as African-Americans is seeing one story from our community ignored for a similar story […]

Who: Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli & Other Guests Where SOB’s Club, New York City When: May 24, 2005 Today’s big budget concerts are like legalized assault on the senses with a penchant for elaborate lighting, fierce pyrotechnics, jumbotrons, dancers and the loudest sounds. It’s kind of hard to remember the simplicity of a performer […]

Labels don’t care about Hip-Hop culture no more, they care about success and dollars, so everyone’s following a formula rather than being original. First everybody started wearing suits and making those R&B friendly songs. Now people are going too far to the left with it. It’s played out. The producers started using the sped up […]

Just ask any street corner of Hip-Hoppers what their favorite Hip-Hop drinking song is. 2Pac, Nas, DJ Quik, Three-6-Mafia, and of course The Liks come to mind. For me, it’s always a toss up between “King Tee’s Beerstand” and KMD’s “Sweet Premium Wine.” But there is no toss-up in saying that live Hip-Hop and libations […]

“This kid has sold nearly 50 million copies. This kid has no business not having his money. This child has absolutely no business not having his paper and he has no business not being happy” – Bizzy Bone, May 3rd 2005. Now imagine if every rapper had to hand in a resume before releasing an […]

raze – v.t. to level to the ground; to tear down The growing appreciation and recognition of Hip-Hop’s conscience rappers culminates in the much anticipated release of Common Sense’s sixth album, Be. With added attention given recently to such stars as Mos Def, Talib Kweli (collectively known and slept on as Black Star) the Roots, […]

A couple of years ago I heard a song from Mystik Journeymen of Living Legends where Sunspot Jones was rapping about the underground and he referenced a conversation he had with MC Hammer. He noted that Hammer had said the ‘underground’ was the name people that hadn’t made it big used to describe their music. […]

MTV’s prank-based reality show Punk’d is one of the best in the business – its nothing shy of hilarious. For example, I loved when they played the prank on R&B singer Brandy, and her younger brother Ray J. The staged skit had Brandy pleading with an African American police officer who pulled them over. But, […]

Snoop Dogg – Apollo Theater, Harlem Monday, May 2, 2005  As light rain trickled down onto the Harlem streets Monday night, another reign was taking place inside the city’s world famous Apollo Theater.  “I feel good being up in Harlem,” yelled Snoop. And Harlem felt the love.  The night was an ode to old school […]

May 9, 2005 Mr. Abraham H. Foxman National Director Anti-Defamation League 823 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 Re: Millions More Movement Dear Mr. Foxman: I am writing in response to your latest newswire release dated May 2, 2005 entitled, "ADL Urges Prominent African-American Leaders to Reconsider Their Support of the Millions More Movement." […]

My name is Assata Shakur, and I am a 20th century escaped slave. Because of government persecution, I was left with no other choice than to flee from the political repression, racism and violence that dominate the US government’s policy towards people of color. I am an ex-political prisoner, and I have been living in […]

I am truly interested in making our community a better place, therefore I do use rap music to inform me of the lives of the unfortunate youth that are being deprived in the Black community. The problem I have with rap music is the manner in which this information is delivered. The lyrics are laden […]

I’m letting you all know – shadows no longer exist. It’s common knowledge that we are being watching and monitored like never before, whether its your Ez Pass, instant messenger conversations, email, 2way pagers, “security” cameras and most of the other modern conveniences we enjoy these days. But, since Hip-Hop is the new “mafia” to […]

“Like the n***as who own the liquor stores/ crack, cocaine, pimps, ‘n w#####/ livin’ up on this earth before/ a n***a like Daddy was born/ but they be makin’ it seem/ that my music ‘n crime a team/ but I’m speakin’ the truth not dream/ so what in da f### they mean?/ my lyrics ain’t […]

“Like the n***as who own the liquor stores/ crack, cocaine, pimps, ‘n w#####/ livin’ up on this earth before/ a n***a like Daddy was born/ but they be makin’ it seem/ that my music ‘n crime a team/ but I’m speakin’ the truth not dream/ so what in da f### they mean?/ my lyrics ain’t […]

Just a day in the life of “Hip-Hop Eshu: Queen B***h 101” could’ve answered all the questions posed about the course last semester, including whether or not it would deal with the upcoming trial of Lil’ Kim. Somewhere along the line, someone decided to simply re-title this course that developed out of my on-going research […]

The following is an educated opinion with a few references of common sense so if you are offended…you should read it twice. I am responding to the article, “Lil’ Kim: The Ladies Speak up on Verdict”. While the well written display of solidarity is pleasing and Lil’ Kim’s situation may provoke sympathy, we can not […]

When Black blood soaks into American soil, money sprouts up. Since America was first created, much of its wealth has been rooted in Black Death. The Trans-Atlantic slave trade, made this nation stronger than it could have ever imagined and is the base of all the economic success it achieved since 1865 (when slavery was […]

Has the American Dream for cream been masked over top of Dr. King’s? These days unity between the races is easy to see, but is it truly the vision of he who gave his life for the civil rights movement? Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see White and Black hands held together… only they’re clasping […]