A few months ago I wrote a post about my disillusionment with hip-hop. I was desperately hoping that my love, which was on life support at the time, could be revived. As hip-hop lay dying on the operating table I prayed that Dr. Q-Tip and A Tribe Called Quest could resuscitate my loved one. As I watched her lay in a feeble position I wondered if putting her in the 36th chamber with Wu-Tang Clan could liven her up. But I thought ODB might scare her and give her a heart attack. She needed something softer and more melodic, because the current state of music was killing her softly. Then I realized that L-Boogie aka Lauryn Hill could teach her about the Miseducation of the rap game, and why she is an not an ex-factor, but the x factor. Unfortunately, Ms. Lauryn Hill was missing that thing (flow, harmony, delivery, and coherence).
This past weekend I attended the Rock the Bells concert in Washington D.C. Since 2004 Rock The Bells concert series have been exciting audiences all over the country with the prospects of seeing hip-hop’s classic artist all rip the same stage. Other than an old Rap City episode it is rare to find KRS One, Rakim, Slick Rick, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, Lauryn Hill, and Snoop Dogg all rocking the same venue. Although my ticket was paid in full I felt like I needed electric relaxation to kick it because the concert was everything but a g thing. Read more »
If the Southern segregationists had to assemble an ideal 4 X 100 meter relay team they would probably be unstoppable. Senator Trent Lott would be the first leg. Since he believes that all the problems in the United States could’ve been avoided had Strom Thurmond been elected President in 1948, he will get a fast start trying to chase history. The second leg, which runs the longest distance (110 meters to be exact), would be run by Strom Thurmond. Thurmond would be ideal for this position because of his stamina. How many people can argue continually for 24 hours 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 (the longest filibuster ever conducted by a single senator)? Even Rush Limbaugh gets tired. Senator Joseph McCarthy would run the third leg so he could tell the anchor if there are any communists behind him. Finally, Governor George Wallace would run the last leg. Although he might not be the fastest on the team, he could always use fire hoses and canines to take care of the competition. However, this team wouldn’t be passing a baton. Batons are for cops without warrants. No, this dream team would be passing the “Southern Strategy”. Read more »
“I’m a hustler baby/I’ll sell water to a well”- Jay-Z. If Mr. Sean Carter took a stroll with me down Michigan Avenue this past weekend, even he might have been surprised by the ingenuity of today’s youth. As I strolled past the Chicago River on Wacker Drive I saw the beautiful Chicago skyline. Every time I take public transportation north of Roosevelt I’m always amazed at how the city magically gets cleaner. I digress. As I sauntered down Michigan Avenue last Saturday I saw capitalism at it’s finest. No not rogue capitalism. Bernie Madoff and Jack Abramoff are still incarcerated. I saw young Black kids using their varied talents to make money.
Although the city of Chicago may deem some of their business ventures hustles illegal (I saw two kids get citations for blocking the walkways), I look at them as creative ways for young folks to practice entrepreneurship. Heck if people can use exotic financial instruments to manipulate the free market, I believe kids should be able to use their talents to give them access to markets.
Xenophobia? No. Misinformation? Yes. As the 2010 midterm elections rapidly approach Republicans seem to be eyeing seats like hungry dogs. John Boehner practically salivates every time he sees Nancy Pelosi’s seat. Although some pollsters are predicting a shift in power come November, the Republicans could be licking their wounds after the precincts close. Senator Lindsey Grahams’ recent comments about modifying the 14th amendment to change the birthright clause could easily land the Republicans in the dog house. Although many Republican operatives have recognized that Graham’s proposal to re-examine the 14th amendment could be politically suicidal, the damage seems to be done. Graham’s misguided understanding of immigration policy in this country is about as ridiculous as America’s infatuation with the television show Jersey Shore. Read more »
This right here is my ___________. You can probably guess the next word in this sentence. If not, you probably haven’t listened to the radio much lately (I don’t blame you if you haven’t). If you haven’t guessed the word let me give you a hint. It isn’t the oversized, gaudy chain dangling from your neck. It isn’t your custom Louis Vuitton suede shoes either. It definitely isn’t your smooth stroll you put on when you walk into the club. Your time is up….the word is swag. “Manners + Style+ Confidence= Swagger”-Fonzworth Bentley. This past weekend I had the unique opportunity to learn about swagger. No, not the “hop up out the bed kind”. I learned how swagger could empower young people and change lives. Unless, you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you would know that we are living in the age of swag. Everyone claims to have it, however most people really have no idea what it means. Let me explain swag through my weekend.
In these tumultuous political times it seems like Democrats are searching for an antidote to cure their sagging poll numbers. If pollsters are remotely correct about their predictions for the 2010 midterm elections, the Donkey’s may be licking their wounds. Yes, it seems like Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the rest of the Dems may be having a pretty depressing Thanksgiving. If the Democrats want to salvage their chances of staying in power they may need to turn to the Good Reverend. No, not the one who had an affinity for jeri curls and sweat suits. No, not the one who believes in pushing rainbows either. I’m talking about the Reverend who can sing you back into the good graces of your significant other. It’s time for Speaker Nancy Pelosi to tell her Democratic colleagues,“Let’s Stay Together” on the agenda. If Rahm Emanuel continues to tell Democrats to act like limousine liberals Democrats he’ll be asking himself, “How Do You Mend A Broken Heart?”. Finally, President Obama may need to tell the Tea Partyers that all he wants is “Love and Happiness”. Well maybe the old time crooner can’t solve all the Democrats woes, but he probably can do a heck of a lot better than the other Al Green running for United States Senate in South Carolina
When I first heard about Alvin Greene, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, I thought it was a joke. I was waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out of the background and say “you’ve been punked!” Sadly, Ashton Kutcher never showed up. Soon thereafter, I realized Mr. Greene was a real candidate who actually won. Read more »
Once again Sarah Palin has set the blogosphere on fire. This time though it wasn’t the kerosene on her tongue that set the Internet ablaze, it was the kerosene on her fingertips. This Pit-Bull With Lipstick makes ignorance looks cool. Heck, if I could receive a 1.25 million book advance for jumbling up the Bush doctrine on national television among many other public blunders, I would be living in a penthouse on Michigan Avenue. Unfortunately, I probably won’t see any of that money because I don’t have enough space on my hand to write a book.
The Pit-bull With Lipstick might be rabid because she was surely foaming at the mouth in her latest tweet about the prospects of a mosque being built near Ground Zero in New York City. This even made me put my thoughts about Mel Gibson’s recent comments on the backburner. Back to the caricature Sarah Palin. On Sunday Palin tweeted “Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. Pls reject it in interest of healing.” She was referring to the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Initiative’s plan to build a $100 million dollar cultural center, gym, and mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero. The Republican Party has a bad (or good depending on who you’re asking i.e. Lee Atwater) habit of creating “us against them” wars. The National Republican Trust PAC recently submitted an ad that was rejected by NBC and CBS that expressed extreme dissatisfaction and fear about the prospects of a mosque near the same place where George W. Bush stood up to that country with “weapons of mass destruction”. As reported by Politico the ad says “On Sept. 11, they declared war against us,” a narrator says. “And to celebrate that murder of 3,000 Americans, they want to build a monstrous 13-story mosque at ground zero.”
As much as things change, they stay the same. No matter how many anti-diarrheal pills new wave Black leaders try to give Rev. Jesse Jackson, he will continue to just let it flow. Although I haven’t agreed with many things that he has said recently I respect the fact that he has focused less on castrating Presidents and focused more on fighting the plantation mentality in sports. Although many people are claiming that Reverend Jackson hyperbolized the situation, I believe that behind every exaggerated metaphor is some grain of truth. Look (in my best Obama voice), Lebron James is a mega star, with a fat bank account (barring any Pac Man Jones incidents) and has more endorsements than I have shoes. Yet, even with this, he, like most professional athletes perform in highly regulated industries. David Stern basically outlawed Sean John, Rocawear, Ecko, and Timbaland boots with a stroke of a pen. Allen Iverson had to buy a whole new wardrobe! While these measures may still seem minor, they do show that professional athletes are under constant surveillance on and off the field.
Back to Kunta Kinte Lebron James. When Dan Gilbert, the Cleveland Cavaliers owner, issued a polemic directed at Lebron, it seemed a little overboard. Yes, Lebron brought a lot of money to Cleveland businesses. Yes, Lebron brought excitement to his fans night in and night out on the court. Yes, he gave many Clevelanders something to be proud of. But even all those yeses didn’t make Lebron obligated to stay. As much as we forget, Lebron James is a person not a product. He is a gifted athlete who has the right to pick up and take his talents elsewhere if he pleases. If his career goes downhill the next few seasons from now Gilbert will probably gloat about his wise business decision. Lebron might not be a runaway slave and Gilbert might not be a disgruntled master, but Jesse Jackson was not completely off base. Read more »
“Die young, but fuck it we flew first class”- Rick Ross. Nihilism in hip-hop is about as old as hip-hop itself . For years rappers have boasted about their carefree attitudes towards everything from sex, to drugs, to money. Although the glorification of these things did not start with hip-hop, they sure were accentuated by it. I still vividly remember watching the Jay-Z and Jermaine Dupri “Money Aint A Thang” music video as a third grader and being enamored with the images of pretty women, sports cars, and thoroughbred horses. At that very moment I thought that success was watching Jay-Z and Jermaine Dupri throw money at the camera and drive fast cars. Fortunately as I grew older my idea of success became less narrow, misogynistic, and superficial. For twenty years I’ve had a relatively good relationship with Hip-Hop. We have had our ups and down, but we are still in love. As a hip-hop aficionado I sometimes find myself questioning my criticisms. Am I too hard on the genre? Why should I blame rappers when they are merely just a reflection of society-at large? However, I believe that with anything you love, you must be critical and hold it accountable. So Hip-Hop, because I love you I must critique you.
Last week, we here on the Black Youth Project blog celebrated the life and legacy of musical genius and pioneer, Michael Joseph Jackson. Even when the public questioned his sexuality, sanity, and Blackness they never questioned his talent. A pet monkey, child abuse allegations, and an indescribable skin disorder didn’t stop the “Billie Jeans“ and “Dirty Dianas“ from chasing this “Bad” entertainer. Whether he was “Black or White”he was always a “Thriller”. The soft-spoken Jackson was vociferous any time he touched the stage and screamed his poignant messages of healing and self-reflection. Last Sunday at the BET Awards Chris Brown gave an “Off The Wall”tribute to the gloved one. As I watched Brown emulate Jackson’s dance moves to a tee I sat in awe. Brown, who usually puts on a good show, really outdid himself in this one. But did Brown moon walk, sing, and cry his way back into our good graces? Being the cynic that I am, I am inclined to agree with Summer and say that the tears were a little contrived. Although many “teeny boppers” were still unwaveringly loyal to the “Run It” man he has still had an uphill PR battle over the past year.
Last week, we here on the Black Youth Project blog