When his first few features dropped, I was a Drake believer. Like other cliche abusers, I claimed that the kid was a 'breath of fresh air.' In spite of his corny affiliation with 'Degrassi', I applauded his ability to infiltrate the industry sans gimmick. There was pure lyrical talent there, and while hypnotized by his ease of beat-riding, I missed the fact that this kid is a mere puppet.
Yes. Puppet.
Drake is either a puppet or a rapper who lacks Hip Hop knowledge. There are plenty of them out there - self-titled Emcees who fail to be aficionados of the genre they represent. I make this judgment based on one nugget: Drake's misguided adoration of Nicki Minaj.
The clueless and the talentless are in the same camp. I get that. Music industry politics dictate who an artist should hype at any given moment. Understood. But Drake coming out of his face to say that Minaj is the baddest female to ever do Hip Hop - Slap.
Slap in the face of Jean Grae.
Slap in the face of MC Lyte.
Slap in the face of Lauryn Hill.
Slap in the face of Invincible.
Slap in the face of Da Brat.
Slap in the face of Eve.
Slap in the face of Rah Digga.
Slap in the face of Bahamadia.
Slap in the faces of Infamous Syndicate [Shawnna and Teefa].
As a woman, feminist, writer and Hip Hop lover, I find it very disheartening that both rap fans and practitioners still fail [in 2010] to pay homage to women in the game - women who 'rock mics' with sensible lyrics in spite of the stigma of the raunchy female Emcee. As an optimist, I can only assume that the Barbie fandom will soon dissipate and we'll be blessed with a woman who comes hard, unapologetic and genuine. Until then, I'll endure this momentary exploitation of Hip Hop's Sarah "Saartjie" Baartman through clenched teeth.
Showing posts with label Hip Hop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hip Hop. Show all posts
13 Phrases #7: Rufio Jones
Here we go again. For this installment of 13 Phrases, I approached a friend, Emcee and writer, Rufio Jones of Detroit Cydi. Enjoy.
1. By day, I am a fairly ordinary guy with extraordinary powers. Namely the abilities to read betwixt the lines, listen, and care about things without being bothered by what others think.
2. I write best when I lay down to sleep but before I am successful. It's when I have no outside influences (like television or the internet) and I'm at my calmest. Words begin to pour in and don't allow me to comfortably stare at my eyelids. So I try and keep a writing utensil nearby.
3. When I find it difficult to complete a piece, I don't worry about it. I've found if I spend too much time on something, I begin to dwell. So I come back to it when I feel ready.
4. Three things that help me recover from Writer’s Block are doing something fun, watching something of the same subject matter I'm writing about, and strip clubs. They all help stimulate the brain (excuse any plausible double entendre).
5. I started writing because I loved words and how they sound together and how some words sound better together than others causing a hunt for Thesaurus.
6. I continued to write because I realized I had the ability to put those words together myself that I felt sounded so good in groups. There was no reason to rely on others to do what I was good at (if you noticed I ended my sentence with a preposition... shutup).
7. I will always write because there will ALWAYS be something to write about. There is a new subject matter every second.
8. If I weren’t a writer, I would probably be a gourmet cook in The Land of Liars and Charlatans.
9. The Authors who influence and inspire my work are Snoop Dogg and Too Short... seriously. Together they showed me how to write with a smooth flow, quickly tell an engaging story, and be funny while doing it.
10. The most important goal I have as a writer is to keep writing what entertains me. I am a fan of writing before being a writer. So if I create something that emotes what I intended in me, I know it will go over well.
11. People who read my work are most likely to snicker. I look at the world a LOT differently than most people. That translates into the things I write. So, because I attack a subject from a strange angle, people are likely to find it hilarious.
12. My most significant piece to date is the one I haven't written yet. I honestly never believe I can write something as good as what I did prior. Low and behold, I shock myself each time.
13. There’s nothing more important than not dying. The longer I stay alive, the more mistakes I can see corrected, lives can be changed, and goals attained. So I will not be biting any bullets or kicking any buckets for a nice while.
1. By day, I am a fairly ordinary guy with extraordinary powers. Namely the abilities to read betwixt the lines, listen, and care about things without being bothered by what others think.2. I write best when I lay down to sleep but before I am successful. It's when I have no outside influences (like television or the internet) and I'm at my calmest. Words begin to pour in and don't allow me to comfortably stare at my eyelids. So I try and keep a writing utensil nearby.
3. When I find it difficult to complete a piece, I don't worry about it. I've found if I spend too much time on something, I begin to dwell. So I come back to it when I feel ready.
4. Three things that help me recover from Writer’s Block are doing something fun, watching something of the same subject matter I'm writing about, and strip clubs. They all help stimulate the brain (excuse any plausible double entendre).
5. I started writing because I loved words and how they sound together and how some words sound better together than others causing a hunt for Thesaurus.
6. I continued to write because I realized I had the ability to put those words together myself that I felt sounded so good in groups. There was no reason to rely on others to do what I was good at (if you noticed I ended my sentence with a preposition... shutup).
7. I will always write because there will ALWAYS be something to write about. There is a new subject matter every second.
8. If I weren’t a writer, I would probably be a gourmet cook in The Land of Liars and Charlatans.
9. The Authors who influence and inspire my work are Snoop Dogg and Too Short... seriously. Together they showed me how to write with a smooth flow, quickly tell an engaging story, and be funny while doing it.
10. The most important goal I have as a writer is to keep writing what entertains me. I am a fan of writing before being a writer. So if I create something that emotes what I intended in me, I know it will go over well.
11. People who read my work are most likely to snicker. I look at the world a LOT differently than most people. That translates into the things I write. So, because I attack a subject from a strange angle, people are likely to find it hilarious.
12. My most significant piece to date is the one I haven't written yet. I honestly never believe I can write something as good as what I did prior. Low and behold, I shock myself each time.
13. There’s nothing more important than not dying. The longer I stay alive, the more mistakes I can see corrected, lives can be changed, and goals attained. So I will not be biting any bullets or kicking any buckets for a nice while.
Contact Rufio Jones:
Email: hobbskha@gmail.com
Website: http://detroitcydi.com/
Buy: http://detroitcydi.bandcamp.com/
Email: hobbskha@gmail.com
Website: http://detroitcydi.com/
Buy: http://detroitcydi.bandcamp.com/
The "Beef" with BET
I have my own gripes with BET:
BET has boasted some pretty good series. The problem is the lack of consistency. BET sticks to a simple formula. BET = Mainstream Urban Radio + Visuals. Like radio, BET strives to appeal to its non-diverse audience. It's up to the audience to demand better programming, more shine for worthy artists and to actually tune in when they play it. The fact remains, when BET does play shows and specials that aren't based on absolute Stepit Fetchitism and Mantanery, I have a hunch that the regular viewers tune out.
Just like we demand of Hip Hop for instance, BET owes us balance. Fussing, fighting, fucking, and being excessively materialistic are all pieces of American culture. No one is asking for BET to shy away from reality. However, when all of these vices become the ultimate and only portrayal, BET's reality becomes BET's minstrel show. Where are the intelligent business women and men, the fine artists, the writers, the activists, teachers, etc. in the big scheme of things?
I started this post to touch on the BET Awards and the complaints about their Michael Jackson tributes throughout the show. I'm gonna keep that issue short. I actually think that BET did a pretty decent job of pulling things together in a matter of three days: The Ciara and Neyo solos. The Jamie Foxx routine. The Janet appearance. I won't complain.
I will, however, urge BET to raise the bar. The network is [unfortunately] our representation for the outside world. In spite of our beautiful black president and the multitude of talented artists, politicians and regular working folks who defy negative stereotypes on a daily basis, people continue to watch BET with hopes of understanding our culture. Be accountable and responsible.
Thank you.
- The excess of weak and pointless reality shows.
- The lack of support for less mainstream artists.
- The discontinuation of consistent BET News.
- Rocsi.
BET has boasted some pretty good series. The problem is the lack of consistency. BET sticks to a simple formula. BET = Mainstream Urban Radio + Visuals. Like radio, BET strives to appeal to its non-diverse audience. It's up to the audience to demand better programming, more shine for worthy artists and to actually tune in when they play it. The fact remains, when BET does play shows and specials that aren't based on absolute Stepit Fetchitism and Mantanery, I have a hunch that the regular viewers tune out.
Just like we demand of Hip Hop for instance, BET owes us balance. Fussing, fighting, fucking, and being excessively materialistic are all pieces of American culture. No one is asking for BET to shy away from reality. However, when all of these vices become the ultimate and only portrayal, BET's reality becomes BET's minstrel show. Where are the intelligent business women and men, the fine artists, the writers, the activists, teachers, etc. in the big scheme of things?
I started this post to touch on the BET Awards and the complaints about their Michael Jackson tributes throughout the show. I'm gonna keep that issue short. I actually think that BET did a pretty decent job of pulling things together in a matter of three days: The Ciara and Neyo solos. The Jamie Foxx routine. The Janet appearance. I won't complain.
I will, however, urge BET to raise the bar. The network is [unfortunately] our representation for the outside world. In spite of our beautiful black president and the multitude of talented artists, politicians and regular working folks who defy negative stereotypes on a daily basis, people continue to watch BET with hopes of understanding our culture. Be accountable and responsible.
Thank you.
Scheme Magazine Features by Ain HD
Since January of last year, I've been doing a piece here and there for an independent Hip Hop ezine, Scheme Mag. I've posted snippets in the past, but below is a complete listing of the features I've completed thus far. While each piece brought me closer to artists who've inspired me (be it pre or post interview), I've grown especially attached to a few people whose work I've continued to follow and draw inspiration from, such as mr. soul, Simon Illa and Joslyn Rose Lyons. Scheme Mag has definitely been a great outlet for me to showcase my skills as a journalist and help shine a light on creative people who are doing amazing things within their genre. Enjoy!
Jake One
Christina K.
Kevin “mr. soul” Harp
Jean Baylor
Joslyn Rose Lyons
Algebra
Danny!
Kumi Hues
Simon Illa
Buff1
Invincible
The Redland
Sweet Rush
Goldi Gold
Jake OneChristina K.
Kevin “mr. soul” Harp
Jean Baylor
Joslyn Rose Lyons
Algebra
Danny!
Kumi Hues
Simon Illa
Buff1
Invincible
The Redland
Sweet Rush
Goldi Gold
The Femcee.
As I prepare to review Stacy Epp's album, The Awakening, and after completing my Invincible piece for Scheme Mag, I've been struggling with the word Femcee.
Widely defined, a Femcee is a female emcee. (For more nifty terms, check out The Urban Dictionary.)
As a Hip-Hop enthusiast and a female, this terms bothers me because it implies that females lyricists are in another class, creating more separation within Hip-Hop. It also implies that one who holds the title "Emcee," must (by logic) be male. Female rappers, such as Jean Grae, Invincible, and Rah Digga, are topping many of their male counterparts when it comes to pure rhyme skills. It's no hush hush fact that women are wildly underrepresented in the most controversial and important facets of American culture: Hip-Hop. Not only is the female emcee rare in the big scheme of things, but females at-large are generally disrespected by the images and lyrics of the "ruling class." In order to break the barrier it has to start with the way we view the female emcee, which has to be as an equal. By creating and subscribing to lingo that in itself is separatist, we're setting ourselves back.
Widely defined, a Femcee is a female emcee. (For more nifty terms, check out The Urban Dictionary.)
As a Hip-Hop enthusiast and a female, this terms bothers me because it implies that females lyricists are in another class, creating more separation within Hip-Hop. It also implies that one who holds the title "Emcee," must (by logic) be male. Female rappers, such as Jean Grae, Invincible, and Rah Digga, are topping many of their male counterparts when it comes to pure rhyme skills. It's no hush hush fact that women are wildly underrepresented in the most controversial and important facets of American culture: Hip-Hop. Not only is the female emcee rare in the big scheme of things, but females at-large are generally disrespected by the images and lyrics of the "ruling class." In order to break the barrier it has to start with the way we view the female emcee, which has to be as an equal. By creating and subscribing to lingo that in itself is separatist, we're setting ourselves back.
Detroit Under the Lens of Hip Hop
Invincible and Finale nailed this track. Gentrification, the demolition of Paradise Valley aka Black Bottom, the rebellion of '67, and hell, the mayor, have all but destroyed Motown. Fortunately, Detroit has soldiers who encourage its inevitable revival, whether it's through Hip Hop, Poetry from heavy cats like Third Eye Open, street or fine art. I may no longer be in the D, but the D will always be a part of me. So I was glowing when I caught this video. I'll actually be interviewing Invincible on Friday for Scheme Mag. Stay tuned...
Ya’ll Should All Get Lynched.
Never heard of this cat, Nyoil, but he's definitely scored some major props from me with this record, which actually was circulated via the web in 2006. It's as catchy as it is controversial, and the animation is sick. The only thing that could improve this track would be some moderate name dropping.
Sometimes, I Find A Gem.
Every now and then some underground DJ or producer-on-the-verge drops a mixtape that pretty much puts the shit on the radio to shame. For a hot second, music lovers (like myself) are fooled into thinking that Hip Hop is going in a new direction. Then we turn on the TV and find that it was all in our imagination. Still we relish in those mixes that offered that sweet release from the mundane... if only for a second. Anyway, this download offered one of those moments. An Al Green inspired Hip Hop mix with lyrics from some of the best, over the music of the soulful himself. Check it out... and thank Omer Saar.
Hip Hop Saved My Life...
This is "old news," but since I've dubbed this video one of the best of 08, I decided to post it. For the love of Lupe, watch it. If you're not a Lupe fan-- maybe b/c he put that cap on the number of albums he'll release during his Hip Hop career and you refuse to get too attached-- the video is still a beautiful tribute to the art.
I know that I'm constantly ragging on Hip Hop, but I have to admit, the industry does allow for a few real artists slip through the cracks. By no means is the playing field even, which is why I write for SchemeMag.com (plug). We all know and hate that the fluff far outweighs the real. But until more videos like this one make it to BET (Belligerently Evil Television?), keep on diggin'. As much as I'd hate to admit it, Myspace is a great place to start if you're looking for phenomenal Emcees. Unfortunately, the site is cluttered with too many nonsensical rhymers who couldn’t get a deal if they were related to Diddy (Ugh) himself. If you can't stand to sift through the shit to find the gold nuggets, check out labels like Stones Throw, Definitive Jux, and Barak Records to start
I know that I'm constantly ragging on Hip Hop, but I have to admit, the industry does allow for a few real artists slip through the cracks. By no means is the playing field even, which is why I write for SchemeMag.com (plug). We all know and hate that the fluff far outweighs the real. But until more videos like this one make it to BET (Belligerently Evil Television?), keep on diggin'. As much as I'd hate to admit it, Myspace is a great place to start if you're looking for phenomenal Emcees. Unfortunately, the site is cluttered with too many nonsensical rhymers who couldn’t get a deal if they were related to Diddy (Ugh) himself. If you can't stand to sift through the shit to find the gold nuggets, check out labels like Stones Throw, Definitive Jux, and Barak Records to start
To Honor My ANTM Adventure...
Yep, I accompanied my roommie this morning during her ANTM audition. I stood outside for roughly 30 minutes until the "supporters" were ushered into the lobby to wait for 3+ hours. The view from the lobby was supreme. I'm not knocking those with high confidence, but even I know that I'm not super model material, and I'm pretty fly. In a phrase, the ANTM tryout line was comparable to the line outside the club on any given Friday. It made me think of this video for some reason...
Hotstylz feat. Yung Joc - Lookin Boy from Raydio G on Vimeo
Hotstylz feat. Yung Joc - Lookin Boy from Raydio G on Vimeo
Hot Video from The Grouch of Living Legends.
The independent Hip Hop scene in Cali is a beast that I try to keep up with. So, when I saw this video from The Grouch I was impressed and relieved to get a dose of freshness on this rainy Friday. Not only is the video creative, but the lyrics are real and a slap in the face to some of you high and mighty artsy fartsy folks. :-) Come down a notch. Enjoy...
Happy Born Day, Dilla.
There's not a Hip-Hop lover in the world who can deny that Dilla made a timeless contribution to music. I remember when I first got hip to Jay. From that point on (being a Motor City native), I compared any and everything that came out of Detroit to Dilla's eclectic catalog. I was honored to freelance a review of Dilla's posthumous release, The Shining, which featured a range of artists and a bold and energetic intro by Busta Rhymes. Since then, I've been building my Jay Dee collection, most recently with the Dilla instrumental/Busta collab, Ruff Draft. So today I'm honoring the man who left "The D" with a beautiful soundtrack. We'll love you always.. Rest. In. Paradise.
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