YO MTV Raps!

MTV has finally done something in the last five or six years I can get down with. That's right starting in April they are going to air the old MTV Raps shows and may even have some new ones on the way.

Make sure the babies see this.

It's Like That Yall!!!

http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2008/03/27/19539686.aspx

Double Standard

Although Senator Obama’s speech on race was far from a panacea on the issue it certainly seemed one of the more insightful from a mainstream machine politician. To me the issue is not whether or not he has distanced himself far enough from Rev. Wright or Min Farrakhan, no my issue has more to do with those of us from the paler nation who cannot seem to understand that if any double standards do exist comes in large part from our unwillingness to see the warts of our history.
A recent issue that I think magnifies this point is many of the media pundits who have railed against Obama for referring to his grandmother as a “typical” white person. Because quiet is kept those same people who have intimated that Obama threw his grandmother under the train, would undoubtedly move to the other side of the street if they saw him advancing toward them with a hoody and some jeans on in Chi-Town, and his name was Omar. The point of the matter is his illustration was a perfect example of the micro vs. the macro. Meaning, his grandmother, probably for the love of her daughter and the life she brought into this world, indeed loved him and nurtured him as most grandmothers would. However, that does not mean she had any understanding of the double conscience experience that black folks in this country have to deal with on a daily basis. It is kind of like the “he so articulate” argument. Many in the paler nation do not understand the reason this is often taken offensively is because it implies an expectation of the opposite. It is said almost as if a black person being articulate is an aberration. Like when Bill O’Riley thought it was a revelation when he went to Sylvia’s dinner in Harlem and found they ran a business just like anybody else. Why the fuck was he surprised? Because he like most “typical” white Americans, no matter how many friends of color they may have, perceive most blacks as an other.
Many of these same pundits, most being conservatives, are the same who become indigent when slavery is brought up in race conversations, and quip “why don’t you just get over it” or “well, I didn’t own slaves.” But always seem to defend the Sons and Daughters of the confederates “Heritage not Hate” argument when displaying the confederate battle flag. Look, I live in VA and there are constant civil war reenactments and museums down this way but I never hear anybody telling those who hold that history dear to “get over it.”
If the recent statements and arguments being put forth by former vice-presidential candidate Ferraro and Bill Clinton are any indication it would appear white liberals continue to remain equally mired in the vacuum surrounding issues of race as their conservative counterparts. This is probably the more evil of the manifestations because they pretend to give a fuck. Until we in the paler nation truly accept our responsibility in creating the double standard that exist any conversation concerning race will continue to be recycled “typical” myopic bullshit.

What it is?

As most things in my life have been synthesized in some fashion through Hip-Hop culture I thought I would open with a question about Hip-Hop music that has been pulling at me for a minute now. That being what is Hip-Hop music? Below is not so much a definitive thesis but more of an opening thought in this expansive question. I hope over the next year to build on this thought in the hopes of possibly providing a tangible definition of what is Hip-Hop music.

I recently read Stanly Crouch’s “Considering Genius, Writing on Jazz.” Despite my differing opinions with Mr. Crouch on everything Hip-Hop I find that I have a tremendous respect for his insight into the realm of Jazz.
What stood out most in the book to me was his insistence that for a composition to be considered “Jazz” it must consist of certain aesthetics. In Mr. Crouch’s estimation for a song to be truly a jazz song it must incorporate some form the following elements; 4/4 swing, blues, the meditative ballad, and Afro-Latin grove. Although the nuisance of this can be argued the importance is in trying to define what makes something Jazz. Just because a piece of music may not have a vocalist and incorporate horns does not make it a Jazz record ya dig?
I think it is imperative that with so much of what is on the radio, MTV, BET, and the numerous other mediums being defined as “Hip-Hop” music, we should begin some dialogue on what definitively constitutes “Hip-Hop” music. Because far too much of what is being classified as “Hip-Hop” today would be better defined as pop music. Much like the culture has five foundational elements; Writing, DJing, B-Boying, Emceeing, and doing the Knowledge, I think it important to layout elements for defining the music. To be clear here I’m not referring to the music DJ’s played in the parks and clubs. I am referring to music composed and arranged by artist(s) creating their own song.
The foundation of any Hip-Hop song should contain innovative usage of existing music, often referred to as sampling. From Emcees rocking in the parks to the Sugar Hill Gang blasting out to the world with their first single, all rap/Hip-Hop records borrowed from existing songs. It is the how and why the DJ in Hip-Hop has in many ways become a musician. Two records come immediately to mind that I think illustrate this point the best; Public Enemy’s “It takes a Nation Of Millions” and the Beastie Boys “Paul’s Boutique.” Both albums borrow from numerous genres of music while still dialoguing with the sounds from the parks that came before them. Further building on Mr. Crouch formula, it is important for the music to dialogue with its past even as it innovates and moves into the future. Most compositions now that are labeled Hip-Hop have no dialogue with its roots in the parks. In fact Mr. Crouch argues that everything Miles Davis did from Bitches Brew on should not be considered Jazz because it did not dialogue with the essential necessary elements of Jazz as he defined them. I say this to highlight that although quantifying something in many ways seems to limit the scope it is equally necessary to provide some parameters else any piece of Music with a person rhyming over a beat could be considered Hip-Hop.
…to be continued

Nas is Back!!!

I want to thank I Self, Humanity Critic, Gunner Kauffman, and brother Mouzon for encouraging me to get back at it.

Peace!!