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Posts from August 2003

News Headlines

Y'all know what time it is . . . read on

What Do You Mean I'm Broke? I'm Gonna Eat Your Kids!

• Iron Mike Tyson Is Broke: He squandered $300 million.

• Now this is a show: Nappy Roots, Anthony Hamilton, Goapele, Little Brother, Jacki O, Kayne West, Novel and Mystic have been tapped to perform at the fourth annual Billboard-AURN R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, set for Aug. 8.

Bone Crusher loses his shirt.

• Now this is just plain silly. This dumb broad has too much time on her hands: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat – Texas) is demanding the tropical storms be given names that sound "black."

• Legendary music producer is trying to rebuild his community.

His Music Is the Blueprint
You never had to read between the lines to understand Kenny Gamble. His music was his prophecy: Wake Up Everybody . . . Message in Our Music . . . Give the People What They Want. So it should come as no surprise that the legendary R&B songwriter/producer and founder of Philadelphia International Records Kenny Gamble (akak Luqman Abdul-Haqq) is back home in South Philadelphia, trying to rebuild his community.

Opinions

• Def Sham? -- Is Russell Simmons Hip-Hop America's New Black Leader?

Weird News

• Ewww . . . no dollar for you bitch.

A stripper is facing assault charges for allegedly squirting a patron in the face with breast milk during a lap dance.

• In the small town of Zagreb (Croatia) . . . a drunken man learns that a dog's bite is worst than his bark.


Hip-Hop Blog Of the Day: Snoop Doggy Blog


Hip-Hop Quote of The Day:

"[Hip-hop] has blown up worldwide . . . but a lot of these kids out there today are not knowledgeable of the music or the culture. You've got the groups that are down with a group because they heard their song on the radio. Hip-hop wasn't meant to be like that. This radio play or no radio play thing got started when hip-hop got "a machine" behind it. Hip-hop has been corrupted by the "corporate mentality."
– Guru from Gang Starr

Holla!







We Don't Need Homo-Thugs . . . Just Great Rhyme-Spitters

Gay Rapper Caushun

Madison of Diesel Nation defended the "Homo-Thug" in reponse to an article that was published recently about "down-low" brothers.

Who are "down-low" brothers?

Well, according to the story's author Frank Leon Roberts:

The "D.L." brothers are African-American men who have sex with other men but do not identify themselves as gay. Mr. Roberts goes further and explains that "D.L. brothers are often no more insecure about their sexuality than anyone else. They've just embraced a low-key, mellow style that lets them admit to same-sex desires without necessarily coming out in the traditional sense. They 'come out' as D.L.

I have no clue what Frank Roberts is talking about. I have never heard of a D.L. brother. And as far as them being controversial in black America, the only controversy I see is author Frank's paranoia of gay men.

To be honest with you, I don't believe in all of this homo-thug, homo-rapper or queer-rapper nonsense. If you are gay and you got lyrical skills then you are rapper, a wordsmith, a poet or a rhyme-spitter. No need to slap a "homo-thug" tag in order to get a rep.

Reading Diesel's post reminded me of Lynne d. Johnson's story back in April about Gay Rappers Getting Record Deals.

The question was raised in the New York Times piece (written by Touré) – is the hip-hop nation ready for a gay [rapper]?

For me, the answer is quite simple . . . absolutely.
I'm in agreement with gay rapper Tim'm West:

"The openly gay MC is here. Will you or will you not respond to it? If you don't, I'm still going to keep making rhymes. I'm not interested in whether or not America is ready for me. I'm here."

Unfortunately, Touré has a really bad ear when it comes to this hip-hop shit and has pinned his hopes on a rhyme-spitter named Caushun to bring something fresh to the game. The flamboyant rhyme-slinger sees himself as hip-hop's homosexual Jackie Robinson that will break down the homophobic barriers in the music industry. His new CD titled Shock and Awe (now retitled Proceed With Caushun) is set to hit stores this summer and it's being distributed on Baby Phat Records – owned by rap mogul Russell Simmons and his wife, Kimora.

To be honest, I think Caushun is not a very good lyricist. He doesn't have "the voice" or the lyrical skills to take it to the next level. To listen to a couple of songs from Caushun, click THIS.

But I do believe that hip-hop is ready for a gay rapper – just one with strong lyrical skills, and more importantly, a gay rapper who doesn't use his or her gayness as a crutch.

Which brings me to this guy . . ?

Gay Rapper TruDog

Ladies and Gentlemen: Meet gay rapper TruDog aka The Notorious Homo Thug (real name Anthony Truly).

TruDog says he's bringing some new flavor to the game and it's called "Flip-Hop."

What is Flip-Hop?

Flip-Hop is hip-hop with a twist of gay empowerment, fag-hag advice and irresistible tracks with funky and catchy beats.

On TruDog's new CD The Notorious Homo Thug, he believes that a "homo-thug is a myth." He's currently selling his disc independently in New York via his record label TruDog Records and is generating a lot of buzz in the local area. "It's not enough [for] people to listen to my music," says TruDog about his CD. "I want them to masturbate to it as well."

Ahhh . . . okay.

I haven't heard any of his music, so I don't know how hot he is with the lyrics. It's a sure bet that he's probably not a good rapper. And so far, this looks like a joke to me. The only good thing about this cat – I guess – is that he's helping to promote "safer sex in the 'hood" with his CD. Apparently, on the disc, TruDog graphically explains (or displays?) the proper method of applying a condom to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

Like I said before, I'm all for gay rappers in hip-hop . . .

But we don't need homo-thugs . . . just great rhyme-spitters. Gay or Straight.

Holla!






You Do the Math

Free Weezy -- It's the ROC beeyotch!


"Freeway got it in like 10 in the mornin'
And I can get it to ya like 10 while you yawnin' mayne . .
Still deliver the order mayne!
And I ain't talkin' bout chicken and gravy mayne!
I'm talkin' bout bricks, 'o ye-yo, halves and quarters,
4 and a halves of hash, you do the math
Swing past us scoop up your daughter
She wanna roll wit' a thug that rap, you do the math
He won't blast 'til my stacks in order mayne!"
Freeway "What We Do"


"Math" also is slang for "figure it out"


Holla!






Let It Flow

The Floetic Femcee Flo Brown

"I've been a student of hip-hop since I was a lil' girl. I see it as a divine creation, and being a part of it is a blessing. Writing and performing what I write is one of the most valuable and intimate things to me, and I would never give it up. God Bless Hip-Hop."
– Flo Brown

If you are like me, you are anxiously awaiting Jean Grae's upcoming CD from BabyGrande Records.

And if you are like me . . . you are looking around for the next female MC that's bringing that fire.

Well, folks wait no more . . .

Flo Brown is a dope rapper with fiery lyrics and a passion for hip-hop. Her debut CD Whateva Comes to Mind is hotter than a fat woman wearing courdroys in the summer.

You can purchase her disc only at her official website.

Flo Brown is a New Jersey-area spitfire who has been toiling around the underground/poetry scene for quite some time now. She has performed on the Lyricist Lounge, Philly's Black Lily showcase and has toured with the Roots. Tired of major labels offering her unfruitful development deals and broken promises, Flo decided to take control of her destiny and independently produced the CD through her label, Ghetto Abnorm.

The 13-track disc features production assistant from beatmaker DJ Jazzy Jeff who blessed Flo with four banging tracks that complement her thought-provoking lyrics. Flo calls herself a "feminine guerrilla" – which she attributes to her struggle as a female rapper trying to get her message heard in the concrete jungle (aka "the streets").

Baltimore City Paper has a nice interview with poetess Flo Brown. Highlight Quote:

"MC-ing isn't really about being male or female," she says. "The way I look at it, it is all animalistic. Like I'm a person out here who happens to be a female, but in the jungle, nobody cares if you are a female form. If you fall prey, you fall prey. The thing people fail to realize [is] that this [MC-ing] is about wit and intelligence, and men and women equally possess that."

For those of you in the New York area, Flo Brown is about to invade your town. The floetic MC is hitting club venues like the Lion Den and Joe's Pub in August. I suggest y'all be in attendance to witness some electrifying hip-hop.

On Aug. 14, Flo Brown and several performers of L.I.F.E.L.O.N.G.'s Struggler's Paradise album release party.

The Lion Den
214 Sullivan Street (between West 3rd & Thompson)
Time: 8 p.m.

On Aug. 19, Flo Brown will be performing at The Ave Magazine's debut release party.

Joe's Pub
425 Lafayette Street
Time: 8 p.m.

In the meantime, support this exceptionally great femcee. Flo Brown is selling her debut CD Whateva Comes to Mind independently, y'all. She has no major-label backing whatsoever -- she is selling her debut disc all by herself. Now that's hip-hop!

Not only is she a hellified rapstress, she's also a businesswoman, too. Don't sleep on her!

RecKognize the real – support artists that actually put out a quality product with songs that don't appear to be manufacture in a studio booth.

Hip-hop is not dead . . . it's just in another spirit.

I just show y'all what's up . . . are y'all listening?

Holla!






A Critical Beat•Down

Nas -- The Firebug

"Vibe don't know what the fuck hip-hop is . . .
The Source and XXL are barely on it, you know what I'm saying?
Hip-hop has been misrepresented since it's been on the scene.
Hip-hop has never be properly represented 100 percent."

– Nas

The state of hip-hop journalism has come under fire – literally.

Embattled rhyme-spitter Nas is featured on the cover of XXL's sixth anniversary issue, burning in effigy hip-hop/urban magazines The Source and XXL, two magazines that are at war with each other. Inside the magazine, Nas is burning Fader, Vibe, Blaze (now defunct) and other music publications. The reason: To make a statement that all of those aforementioned hip-hop/urban magazines do a horrible job of covering hip-hop music and culture.

Writer/editor-extraordinaire Jermaine Hall conducted the interview with Nas and he pretty much asked the spiritual rhyme-spitter all of the right questions. Some of the highlights in the article include:

• Nas defending record executive Steve Stoute's reputation. (The Source magazine recently published an unflattering report on Steve's alleged unscrupulous business practices.)

• His love for Kelis ("She's smart, original and creative").

• And his viewpoints on Amerikkka ("America is so scared of Black power so much. They're so scared of this shit. Not just hip-hop, but just true shit. They really fear the results of a black power movement").

XXL: Now that your own situation with [Jay-Z] seems to [have] calm down, would you ever do a song with him?
Nas: Next question, B.
XXL: No? So I thought that when [the diss war] was all over, you two would probably come together and do some music.
Nas: I don't want nothing to do with him.

As far as Nas' gripe with magazines, I have to agree with him. I feel some of these so-called hip-hop magazines are negligent when it comes to thoroughly reporting on hip-hop music and its culture. But much like the record industry, the publishing game is also a business, meaning, whoever is hot – gets the covers, and those who are not, get 500 –word write-ups if any coverage at all. The record industry is not artist-friendly and lately, neither are hip-hop magazines.

I think Editor-in-Chief Elliott Wilson is doing a great job over there at XXL. [And big-ups to his whole editorial staff, as well.] Elliott's monthly antagonistic rants against The Source have erupted in a magazine war between the two powerhouse publications. Elliott's beef nearly went cataclysmic when the magazine’s August issue feature a caricature of The Source co-founder Raymond "Wack-Zino" Scott and his son. An angered Wack-Zino charged up to the office of Harris Publications to bust some heads – mainly Elliott's dome.

In a recent interview with Africana.com, XXL Editor-in-Chief Elliott Wilson talks candidly about the incident with Wack-zino, the idea behind the Nas cover and the state of hip-hop journalism.

Hip Hop Magazine Beatdown: We Interview XXL's Editor Elliott Wilson

Elliott also is setting some lofty goals for the magazine. "I'm giving myself until next September to be number one," he says. "And if it doesn't happen I can kiss Dave Mays' seat, but it will happen."

We will have to wait and see . . .

In The Source's defense, CNN did interview with The Source founder David Mays. Although David didn't talk about his beef with XXL, he did speak on the magazine's 15-year history and the future for hip-hop culture.

Deconstructing hip-hop from its Source

Here's an interesting statement from David Mays on the future of hip-hop music:

"In order to preserve its cultural validity, going forward, it's a crucial time for the music. I think it will go back to the streets a little more. It's gotten to this peak commercial saturation point. We just came out of a party and "bling bling" era of the music. I think it's heading back to more socially conscious perspectives and points in the music. "

While it's nice for David Mays to make a comment like that, it's very sad that his magazine doesn't reflect rap music's pendulum towards "the socially conscious perspectives and points in the music." It's also a damn shame that Wack-zino and David don't have any respect for the magazine's editors and writers. It's evident by the way Wack-Zino and David tamper with the editorials in the magazine every month.

Meanwhile, Vibe magazine is going to sell a "ba-dunka-dunk-dunk" worth of issues with this:

Vibe plans to premiere ten commemorative covers [in August] displaying some of the top artists in urban music history including Jay-Z, TLC, P. Diddy, Aaliyah, Dr. Dre, R. Kelly (!!) and a shared Tupac and Biggie cover.

Oh boy, now that's going to be a seller!

"Life comes before the music – people should always remember that."
– Nas

Holla!

Editor's Note: Speaking of beefs, Jon of Hip-Hop Anonymous posted a story about the DVD documentary Beef, which chronicles the history of "dis-a-thons" in hip-hop (from Kool Moe Dee Vs. Busy Bee to the Tupac Vs. Biggie battle).