Old school new school need to learn though...

So I'm driving home today listening to Jay-Z's American Gangster lamenting over the state of hip hop yet again. This love hate thing of mine spiraling around in my mind yet again. I used to love her. Broke up with her. Called her back and split again. Feels like ghetto love with a project chick from MacDougal Terrace (shouts out to Tee Tot for my fam from Bull City and Demon Deacs who hit the yard before '93). I'm still conflicted. I feel like I felt after Jordan retired from the NBA the second time and you knew it was really over. I was kinda feeling like okay, I watched ball before Jordan and I'm gonna be watchin' ball after Jordan leaves. But in the back of my mind and I pretty sure everyone else's...we all really wanted someone to be next. We wanted T-Mac, Vince Carter, Penny Hardaway, Ray Allen...somebody anybody with some game to step and and be the man. Someone to step in and say "you held it down long enough...let me take those reins...". Someone to step up and make us say wow. I'm still feeling the same way about hip hop and trying not to be a bitter old man while holding on. Between prehistoric jibes reminiscent of our parents generation and complaints about how good our music used to be I find myself trying to check myself like a dysfunctional Hollywood celebri-tant.

I do think its judgmental to say that I don't like Lil Wayne cuz he doesn't sound like Biggie or rap about the struggle. "...But if I don't like him, I don't like him...that don't mean that I'm hating..." We just need room for some variety. Its like going into Baskin Robbins and finding out that all the stores now only carry chocolate and vanilla. I just need balance. There is room for Mike Jones, Slim Thugg, Rick Ross, and Lil Webbie. I'm reminded that my college room mate once told me that all hip hop doesn't have to be politically conscious, uplift the culture, or leave you wanting to hit the rewind button on your tape deck to hear Kane say "...put a quarter in your a$$ cuz you played yourself..."(showing my age there I guess). Some rap can just be fun. I guess I'm starting to slip into that generation where we're removed from the young target audience and our time is passing. It sucks cuz I don't think that the bubble gum rap or playstation beats that are dominating the charts and the airwaves don't have their place, I just want some balance in the force. Every time I hear Soulja boy and Lil' Boosie I'd at least like to get a Black Thought track or hear Dead Prez. Its all just the same thing. The young guns need to get money and they can have the videos where they shining and the Bentley cockpit is adorned in the butter soft Gucci leathers and the video honeys shakin' their triple Ds and clear heel stilleto pumps. That's fine that's where the money has gone and the game is played these days. "...the game ain't the same, its changing..." But somebody for goodness sake has to have have next...right?
We're watching Eminem pull his Marky Mark as I predicted back in 2000. He took rap. Hit it and passed her to the crew. If I'm on pace 5 years from now Marshall Mathers won't even want to hear about that jungle music that he so thoroughly dominated while he had a mic in his hands.

I can't keep watching T-Mac fizzle out in the first round of the playoffs and Vince pull up lame in the fourth quarter...sooner or later I need the hip hop Labron to "...come out of high school and go straight to the league..."...we need a chosen one...we need one of these apprentice Memphis Bleeks to step out of Shaq's shadow and finally get his league MVP after following Jay-Z to three championship banners and watching him break ranks with management and break camp for Miami. We need a rapper with basic but consistent fundamentals to be true to the game in the low post. A cat who lacks flash but can rock with a supporting cast of international break beats, flows, and charm desperate house wives, tango through Buenos Aires and win three championship rings for the Old School and for San Antonio. We need a bright, brash, young gawd to drop 30 pt and 10 dime games like he doesn't know any better and expect excellence and 5 star underground, unsigned hype from out of nowhere without financial acclaim and become an underground platinum iLLmatic legend. And it wouldn't hurt of is some old timers got back together one last time to Triumph for Boston just for the good old days and remind you that you still need to Protect Ya Neck

So I guess I'm not bitter I'm just really looking for a reason to stay plugged in. If most of you are like me, you probably can't remember the last rap album you copped and had to call up your man or your girl, your main chick, or your mistress and be like "...you gotta hear this..." You probably still listen to Jay-Z cuz even though the tomhawk dunk on a 7 foot New York Center is probably out of the question these days...the jumper is still wet and he can still do you every time down court, give you numbers every night and hit you over the head with a sportscenter Roc Boys every now and then...

You probably spin a lot of old CDs that you probably cant even buy in the stores anymore like Shook Ones part 2, Liquid Swords, and the Scenario Remix in between new Roots crew, Jill Scott, Kanye West, Common, Jay Z...and if you're feeling froggie...XM or satellite radio

You probably don't have Soulja Boy's album and can't wait for 50 Cent to JUST STOP rappin' all together and just Penny Hardaway his played out @$$ way into retirement. You pray and hope The Game isn't Sam Bowie and he'll get a chance to step out of the shadow of a semi-retired Jay-Z and show is Dream Shake on a an album made by a legendary producer before the legend goes to Phoenix to retire. You probably wish there were more feel good, club songs like Fat Joe and J.Holiday and you're scratching your head about T.I. knuckleheaded, parole violating, thuggnificiant, gangstalicious @$$ as the heir apparent to Jay-Z

Hip Hop...I hate to love you...and I love to hate what you're becoming...but I'll take you with all your imperfections and your blemishes...I'll take your misogyny, your pluralism, your hypocrisy, your irresponsibility, your drug abuse, your gun play, Jeezy moving more blow on three albums than Freeway Ricky Ross, Frank Lucas, Nicky Barnes, and Rich Porter moved in a lifetime and your "reality music", but I'll also take your good times, your summer anthems, your club bangers, your role playing and your love and inspiration and dreams...I got five on hip hop

So with all do respect to DaShawn Stevens...I hope that the young kids can keep Supermanin' and keeping hip hop on life support until the chosen one steps up and takes the game to the next level past the next call chilling from '93 until...

But if you find yourself like me feenin' and you've got MTV2...they've brought back Yo MTV Raps back...as I'm writing this...I'm listening to Fab Five Freedie freestyle in the back of a white Volkswagen convertible driving around mid-town as they slide into a the Pete Rock and CL Smooth "They Reminisce Over You"...ha...the good old days right...


One Luv to Boomer...Boogie man...Holla

Battle Beats

What was the best diss/battle rap of all time?

song title ~artist first and beef in parenthesis

The Bitch in Yoo ~Common (Common & Cube)
Kick in the Door ~Notrious B.I.G. (Biggie & Nas)
2nd Round Knock Out ~Cannibus (Cannibus & LL Cool J)
Who Shot Ya ~ Biggie Smalls (Biggie & Tupac)
Hit 'em Up ~ Tupac (Biggie & Tupac)
Ether ~ Nas (Nas & Jay-Z)
No Pigeonz ~ Sporty Theives (Sporty Theives & TLC)
The Chronic Album ~Dr. Dre (Dr. Dre & Easy E)
Wanksta ~50 Cent (50 & Ja Rule)
Every Eminem album ~Eminem (Eminem & Christina Aguillera, Benzino, Insane Clown Posse, Ja Rule, his baby moms, basically the world)
Ballin' ~ Jim Jones (Jay-Z & Jim Jones, Cam'ron & the Dip Set)
South Bronx ~ BDP (BDP & Juice Crew)
The Bridge ~MC Shan & Marley Marl (BDP & Juice Crew)
How you like me now ~Kool Moe Dee (Kool Moe Dee & LL Cool J)
4,3,2,1 ~LL Cool J (Cannibus & LL Cool J)
Takeover - Jay-Z (Nas/Mobb Deep & Jay-Z)

Please feel free to respond with your comments and please don't call Minister Farakahn (lol)

Another journal

D-Nice (yes that D-Nice) has a blog too. He's got a great piece on the oft mentioned Larry Davis. Only interesting because of his references in hip hop. Check out the article here

MTV

MTV's opinion

Regular Rant from Godfrey

Guess who's bizzack

Family!!! I found Brooklyn down south! Hahahaa...I admit since I left NY for Tabacco Road, I had slipped into the down south pace. And admittedly, I gave hip hop back cuz I agreed with Nas, and ya'll muthaphukcahs were bullshit with rap. But something has me listening again. No big long one this month and I don't know how many of these I'm gonna do. But the message this month is short sweet and simple. If you don't have Ghostface Killah's "Fishcale" ablum and you claim you like hip hop, then you frontin!!! Go cop that joint and in the mean time just enjoy my Hip Hop Minute blasts from the past. For those of you new to this thing...the links for my throwback editions are on the right.


"Ya'll nickahs used to be good like Ken Griffey"
~The Game

Hip Hop Hour, October 2000, Volume 1

Hip Hop Minute, October 2000

It’s been a while but the nasty African is back from poppin' his colla
(E-40) on the left coast and I got a story to tell (Biggie). This month I'll start with ya'lls words following the firestorm of controversy that fueled last issue's letters to the editor (maybe I should make more inflammatory comments just get ya'll out of your seats more often). Then I'll tackle this month’s topic and discuss my absence from the hip-hop arena these last few months (other than the man givin' a nickah a 'ish load of work). Well since ya'll been lookin' for the man here I go (Mystikal)....

Now being a long time fan of commercial rap I am going to come to its defense. Now back in the day my moms only let me listen to Fresh
Prince, the Fat Boys, and MC Hammer. I even had the chance of seeing Mr. Stanley Burrell live at the Charlotte Coliseum on the "Turn This Mutha Out" tour with Oaktowns 357 and B Angie B. (Act like yall don't remember that shit if you want to) Commercial rap makes you nod your head at the club which is all it is supposed to do, Its fun. Everything aint supposed to be uplifting or cultural. Some stuff is just meant to be fun. If it weren't for cats like Puff and P, parties at The Power Company and Baby Shamue's would have been wack (drunk or not). SO power to the commercial cats. Leave the revolution to educated folks who know. Keep coming with the fun.

-Stephen Leach

I was discussing w/ my roommate just the other day…the new and improved busta...platnumbed and iced out...no more crazy clothes...a nuuh that has come into his own...but ur right mnm is fundamentally sound and one of the nicest out there..hey i'm a fan remember I helped ya'll believe it the great white hope...mc

-Diya Williams

Dawg, I like MnM, too. But, you must think if any black hip-hop or MC tries to wild out like Chez Wiggah, they ass would get no love. His shit is tight, but there were bruhs doing the same shit before him and where are they now?

-Samuel Harrell
[Editor]: but I just saw Fredro Starr on Moesha the other day, don't
you get UPN?

Hay you didn't ask if I could be quote..... I am going to have to get
my lawyers on you.... See you in court mister....

-Anonymous

I love this shit. Please let me deliver this to the masses.

-I. DeAndrei Drummond

Although I know it is a touchy one for...at least 75% of Black men our age and younger...I was around to see Curtis Blow style rap blow up into the Gold chain fashion reviews of Run DMC, to the "gansta shit of 86" with NWA So on and so forth. I even have my all time favorites: Kool Moe Dee, 2-Pac, Reggie Noble (sp?), Outkast + Goodie Mob,Young MC( just joking on the last one my nigga). Hypothetically Hip Hop is the expression of the soul of our young culture, an outlet of love and hate experienced by the underrepresented minority. Realistically, within the lyrical content and the associated hype of Hip Hop, positivity is the exception, not the standard. Hip Hop is the most sought after music style for teenage brothers by far, and also happens to contain the most "explicit lyrics labels."...what you hear not only affects what comes out of your mouth but more importantly what resonates in your mind. Excessive cursing, violence, revenge, alcohol and drug abuse, rampant promiscuity...AND PROUD OF IT. The Bible prophesies that in the last days people will glory in things that they were once ashamed to even speak of. Hello, does anybody see this connection...how about uplifting the soul and spirit of our people with our music in general. The revered Lauren Hill declared "Music is supposed to inspire, so how come we ain't getting no higher."...I don't have the answer for what clubs would do without the crowd movin thump that Hip Hop brings, but objectively speaking are you really surprised that an award show all about Hip Hop got out of hand, or that for every two Hip Hop clubs that open, 1 is getting shut down because it got out of hand...

-W. Lamont Heartwell

Damn ya'll had a lot to say. Well I'll start off with the way the last editorial ended. I've quite honestly been disgusted with what has been considered hip-hop lately and that (combined with work) left me disillusioned and searching for answers in the only place I could seek solace...my old hip-hop albums (I still can't believe Fat Joe slapped Jay-Z), Dead Prez, and the new soul/funk music that was pumping out
(D'Angelo,Lucy Pearl, Jill Scott,...). The juxtaposition of random super fictional violence from the wanna be thugs to the over the top superficial "millionaire" reformed ruffians left me...honestly ...scratchin' me head. And I'm doubly in trouble cuz Philadelphia is my favorite basketball team and Allen Iverson is one of my favorite athletes. The fiction was just underwhelming, I thought P and Mobb Deep said that this era was sparked by "reality music"? I hadn't bought any new rap albums cuz that's exactly what was coming out...rap. I didn't feel like listening to it and damn sure didn't feel like writing about what was available. Then add to to that the EMBARASSMENT of the Source awards. We proved that there was no way the Puerto Ricans were going to upstage us in the public eye of controversy. But the combination of Wu-Tang's new song and Outkast's senior album injected my heart with a booster shot. But that still sets up the backdrop for this month's issue. Where do we go now? I've talked about the class of '87 (Rakim, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane...and let's sneak in KRS-ONE for arguments sake). I've talked about the class of '95 (Biggie, Nas, Tupac, Kwasi...and let's sneak in Jay-Z for the same reason we snuck in Kris even though he came strong in '97). I look around and see a generation lost. Kats copying what they see and unlike a generation ago they are not interjecting their own appeal to what they grab. It used to be even if you'd grab someone's style, attitude, or flavor you put your spin on it. Just take for instance the phenomenon of the do rag under the baseball cap. U-God of the Wu-Tang Clan started rocking that style when he started losing his hair circa 1994.
Shortly thereafter, Ghostface Killah joined him for largely the same reason. Ghost put a hat on top if his wave cap and U-God started rockin' a fitted cap. Don't believe me? go check the C.R.E.A.M. video. Now we got every knucklehead trying to get in the rap game rocking the same look and feel. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to rush Memphis Bleek and just start Sprewelling his azz anytime I see him in New York. And what's going on with Lil' Zane? What's it gonna be nickah? Are you gonna wear the wife beater or take it off. I've never been one to discrima-hate on another nickah especially if he puts a premium on physical fitness, but this wife beater pulled up over the head is just totally krossed out and whiggady whiggady whack! He's not even the tightest young talent coming out of the ATL. Lil' Bow Wow could shit on him ten years from now if he didn't write another rhyme after today. Zane shouldn't even be allowed to show his face in public after 4:30 PM until Lil' Bow Wow says it’s cool to come out and and carry his jock strap to pop warner games. And let's hand Jermaine Dupri the "Daddy Warbucks" award right now. Showing once again that there is no shame in exploiting the services of children to put an extra dollar in So So Def's piggy bank. Go head JD!!! Who said life was a hard knock?

But what I really wanted to tackle this month is the future. The 90s
saw the emergence of a new demographic. The female lyricist has been
touched on in the past from Roxanne (all derivations), to Ms. Melody, to Boss and Yo-Yo, to Hurricane G. The female voice and thought sort of had a back seat. We saw MC Lyte, Queen Latifiah, and Salt-Peppa make huge strides to pave the way for the explosion that hit the scene in the late 90s and grabbed both conscious and economic success. I think we were all caught for a loop when Foxy and Lil' Kim stepped up with their hardcore and explicit lyrics about gun tottin', pistol poppin escapades and their risqué bedroom romps and club rendezvous with same language "reserved" for men. For the first time women said what they had been saying amongst themselves...on wax and saying "Fellas anything ya'll can do we can do too". It was both shocking and entertaining to hear these females talk about roles we had traditionally reserved for men. They served notice that there was another voice in hip-hop and it gave the sound another boost of energy. It seemed murky for a while there with the Gangsta Boos and Mia X's of the world pushing that envelope and it I thought that those female rappers were going to bring that movement to a head, blurring the lines of masculinity and femininity and then came our saving grace in the voice of a disgruntled Caribbean gal from the Fugees. With style and grace, beauty and elegance, and let's face it, raw in your face lyrical skills, Lauryn has game. She proved that not only could you say what the hell was on your mind and state your prerogative but you didn't have to cross sex lines to do it. In 2000, I personally am starting to feel Rah Digga not only for rhyme style cuz she got lyrics to go (A Tribe Called Quest), but something about here in general.

I'm feeling her for a lot of the reasons I feel Vivica Fox. Don't get
it twisted Dirty Harriett is cute but she's no Vivica. But Ms.Fox has
that raw ghetto feel to her that makes her appealing because she's
gorgeous but so..so...project. And I know I'm not the only one feeling
her hood rat lady like essence. (there's just something about a girl
that can rock Timbs and let you roll a blunt while still being able to
show up at dinner in a sun dress with style). But I'm gonna remain
objective and leave it up in the air to the public. Ultimately hip-hop just reflects what's going on (thanks Marvin, see I give credit where credit is due, some nickahs in hip hop should take a clue) like any other art form. Unfortunately, its been difficult to maintain that social pulse because of the misogyny between hip hop and rap. The unfortunate marriage has made strange bedfellows for the art form and the commercial machine. Its been difficult to tell if what Sole and Kim are saying is really what the women are feeling or if what Lauryn has to say in right on point or if the ladies out there are ready to pick up their Dessert E's and roll for No Limit grabbin' their crotches gangsta style. Or is this argument off base and are all today's women as affable as the lovely Ms. Hill. I'd like to think that was so, but I know that we have a lot of issues going on today and the ladies wouldn't be saying what they were saying if everything was peachy keen, so maybe they are all correct. We have a lot of ladies to choose from.

I'll leave ya'll with my assessment of what's going on outside of NY.
Some people would like to think that's the only place that matters and
has it made (Special Ed) but if we're gonna let our sound keep growing,
the future may or may not be in the five Burroughs. So here's the Best
of the Rest (in no particular order...somebody said Toronto and Canada
was up in heah)

West (aka tha Left Coast where they be poppin' collas):
Ras Kas - quite easily one of the best lyricists in hip hop period end
of story and I'll go to the mattresses with anyone that disagrees with
me

Xzibit - he's the West coast's answer to Meth, ruff and rugged he's got
charisma that both the east and west can embrace I'm excited about his
upside

Kurupt - hey he grew up in Philly and he's still got game

Snoop - I really really thought that he fell off? How did he get his
street credibility back? Was it really worth your soul Calvin? Well,
welcome back Mr.Broadus...

Tash - he's better than Ja-ro, cool blend of Cali luv and B-boy tempo

Alcholiks - one of the original B-Boy groups still around (Pharcyde are
ya listening)

Jurassic 5 - they sound like they're from the east coast to me they've
got next over there for the Left Coast b-boys(I can't believe the
Pharcyde just fell off like Dr. J)

Midwest:
Scarface - I still sit a lone in my four cornered room looking staring
at candles, go ahead and scoff, but there are only three people not
from Roc-A-Fella on Jay-Z's Oct. 31st album and he's one of them

8Ball - laugh if you want to but everything on Suave House at least
goes gold (Rufus Williams Wake Forest '96)...I'm not buying his albums,
but game recognize game "sho nuff!!!" (Tela, "Hoes in da Club")

Eminem-"...cuz shady will f**kin' kill you..."(Eminem)...Detroit what
Detroit Whut!!!

Bone Thugs- Hey if Cleveland wants this to be there lasting
contribution to rap and then I guess this is what will be their contribution
(feel, free to laugh on this one, I know I am, hehehehehe)

UGK - Maybe Jigga and Three 6 Mafia know sumthin we don't about these
trill azz nickahs (Three 6 Mafia "Sippin On Some Sizzurp")

Nelly - he's got skill, just need to work in content...triple platinum
and he's just getting started, let's keep watching him and hope he
doesn't get polluted

Da Brat - I know she keeps claimin' Southside but she means Chi-town

South:
Outkast - you'll see, Oct. 31st if you didn't already know...so fresh
and so clean...I won't spoil it for you...Snoop Leach sit tight I got
you

Goodie Mob - I'm probably the only one who bought their third album,
but they keep repin' positivity and spiritualism

Juvenile - I'm gettin' tired of him and Cash Money but he's
creative...and he still helps me get my man on at the club...BLING!

Mystikal - where was No Limit before he got there

C-Murdah - He's still...in [2000], where they [no longer] label [Percy]
a drug dealer (Master P "Bout It Bout It")...the ONLY affiliate of
Percy with rhyme skill

One Luv
K

Album Tip: If it wasn't clear before and you didn't hear me the first
few times GO GET the Outkast album, so fresh and so clean Oct. 31st
ya'll


...and oh yeah Jay-Z's coming out Oct. 31st, I don't have his album yet
he's keeping it in Fort Knox after that Un Rivera thing should be
decent though Vol. 3 type stuff

Hip Hop Minute, Vol 3 (The Throwback Edition) - Guess Who's Back

All right tru believers. I'm thinking of bringing
back my periodical. That's right damnit, I'm talking
that comback shit. Hell if Deion, MJ, Lemieux,
Clemens, Agassi, Juvenille, and Schooly D can do it
then so can I. (Just playin' about that last one)

Some of ya'll may be new to my newsletter so I have a
golden oldie (attached) from the archives lined up one
to get some of ya'll warmed up if I decide to come
back. For those that don't know in the distribution.
I've got a love jones (got engaged) and by the way I
can rap... I had a monthly column I used to write. I
whipped out a golden oldie on Women in Hip Hop to get
the juices flowin' so you know what to expect if I
keep it up.

This one will be short and I'll start with a tribute
to Jadakiss. Man I love that Why remix. Kiss be
askin' some real azz questions. "Why the dream team
keep gettin' blown out" and I think its Nas that asks
"why the school system is more concerned with my son's
braids than his grades". Whooooo ooooh. I said the
Roc is in the building!

Well Kiss I have a few questions to ask too:
Why Jay-Z got the dopest girl in the game?
Why the Wu keep coming up with albums that's lame?
And if Snoop wife hit him up Blu Cantrell Style
Why I'ma pay 20 bucks for Snoop Girls Gone Wild?
Why lawyers in Eagle let Shobe beat that case?
What the hell I want rap from Minister Mase?
How come Eight Ball and MJG signed with Bad Boy and
Puffy?
They used to be classic underground, one of the dopest
to me
Now the just back dancers dancers, shufflin, like
teenagers and AJ on 106 and Park doin' shows for Free
Why come Kanye all over everybody album and videos?
Why come nickahs don't get labeled video hoes?
And if Fat Joe and Terror Squad keep leanin' back
How come the only one gettin' paid is Joey Crack?
Why Usher got his business all in the streets?
Why LL keep writing whack rhymes to average beats?
Why they give Meth and Red they own show?
Why its on TV and don't nobody know?
Why olympic swimming take so long?
Why Peddy Pablo the only rappin' and Goodies, her
song?
Why is J-Lo a Puerto Rico...Hoe!
A Puerto Rico...Hoe!
A Puertio Rico...Hoe!
Why?

All right that's it from me...Enjoy the pics (don't
ever let anyone tell you he's not the luckest bastard
in hip hop). Enjoy the collectors item. Don't know
how many more I'll be doing. Peace and I'm out.

"Sometimes I test myself to see if I still got it..."
~Prodigy, Mobb Deep