Op-Ed: The Mis-Education of Henry Louis Gates, Jr

By Abdul Arif Muhammad, Esq. In an April 23, 2010 Op-Ed piece for  The New York Times entitled “Ending the Slavery Blame-Game,” Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. argues that a moral, historic, political and economic equivalency exists between the culpability and responsibility of some Africans who participated in the transatlantic slave trade with the nations […]

Guru’s Brother Writes Heartfelt Open Letter

Originally published by Boston.com. Click here for the original story. “Positivity, that’s how I’m livin..’” So goes the lyric from my brother’s early hip-hop song, “Positivity.” My brother Keith Elam, the hip-hop artist known as GURU—Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal—died this week at the too-young age of 48 because of complications from cancer. ‘Positivity’ was what […]

Do Not Meet Your Heroes!

[Original Source]I’m not a whistle-blower, rat or any other term synonymous with snitch. With that said the following stories shall leave the guilty nameless. My agenda here is to crystallize my point, not expose wack behavior. Before I state my premise I’ll first explain my need to.  Last month I received an assignment to interview […]

Rich Kids, Hip-Hop Discourse, and the Rage of the Rabble

Editor’s note: The views expressed inside this editorial aren’t necessarily the views of AllHipHop.com or its employees.Last week, I penned a “firey” editorial flamed toward the recent rise of “rich kids” in Hip-Hop—those who out of suddenness developed an interest to Rap music-making, and in a few months only had multiple labels vying for their […]

Rich Kids in Hip-Hop: Who Said the Gates Were Closed?

[Editor’s note: This post is a direct response to Tolu Olorunda’s editorial entitled, “Rich Kids in Hip-Hop: Who Let the Gates Open?“]Editor’s note: The views expressed inside this editorial aren’t necessarily the views of AllHipHop.com or its employees.I’m writing this because I’m so sick of limiting beliefs in rap music. I’m sick of the idea […]