Does Size Matter?

                  Now this is something most people are familiar with. Hard drive space…what, didn’t see that coming huh? More so does the size of your music collection take away from how much you support musical artists? I’ll admit I have a lot of music. What I call my “crate,” to those hip hop heads, full of promotional music. Yet I do support these artists as well. My question really is does the space on your hard drive used to download those cd’s mixtapes and singles take away from how much work you support these artists? All those zip files add up. All that hard work that it took to put that album out. With one click, it’s now yours. Why is the music industry so vested in this topic? Some may say, “If I download this cd, it won’t matter a million others will buy it. Everything will be okay.” See that flaw in that logic, a) if a thousand people think that way, that’s a lot of money gone for everyone. Some artists will change their music entirely because of this. B) If you’re hard work keeps getting taken why would you keep putting music out.

               The music industry continues to fight back but the Zshares and Utorrents keep winning. My question to you is how do you justify downloading music?

The 2013 Future Thoughts....

It’s a new year. And you know what that means…a lot of resolutions that are going to be broken within the next 30 days. (Let’s be honest here we all know that one person who says they are going to work out, live better, budget better are going to be at the bar, drinking beer eating double fried wings) What we do want to talk about though is what we hope will happen in the year. That’s what this post is about what I’m hoping gets resolved about hip hop culture in the year 2013…

Can we see more diversity in the subject matter of the songs we hear?

We all hear the same thing out of most of the music we listen to. The grind of working in the streets till the late night hours, on the corner whippin work. Or how your life now is so lavish that you have to want more cars than the dealer ship or more girls then a playboy issue. I want to see the diversity between artists, venture out and showcase those skills you talk about having. I want to hear about your life growing up with your family. Biggie did it in “Juicy,” yes he mentioned what he did to make money but his main focus was showing how he went from rags to riches. Lyrical diversity is something that has always been something I favored for all artists.

Probability: 55%

Will this be the year of the emcee of the female kind?

Remember all those years back in the 90’s and first part of the 2000’s when female emcees were popping up everywhere and at least doing a semi decent album of sorts or coming out with something so classic that it stays in heavy rotation? I’m talking Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, Ms. Jade, Rah Digga, Queen Pen, and Charlie Baltimore to name just a few. They came out with songs, on everybody’s remix. When their mixtape or cd’s were released they were must have they were up there with their male counterparts as far as being lyricist. Now we are in a day and age where that doesn’t happen. A female emcee often has to be over sexualized and give us bubblegum lyrics. I want a female emcee to show how she can hold her own with some of the major musical contributors in the hip hop world without going pop or completely changing her image.

Probability: 40%

Hip hop and Homosexuality…when will we all get along?

This is my going out on the furthest limb. We all know that this has been the biggest debate amongst all who are involved. One side is saying that they will never fully be okay with allowing an artist who is gay by any means fully into the realm of hip hop. The other side is trying to show that even though they are same gender loving, they can be just as lyrical and important to the culture as a whole. Yes I know this whole Frank Ocean came out and said he was bi…isn’t that what you’re wanting? Yeah, but let’s look on the grander scale. He had Jay-Z and Kanye West back him up. Let me see Big Dipper or Deadlee come through put out an album and become just as buzzed and accepted. That’s what I want to see, let’s see how open hip hop is. Last I checked hip hop was the minority being talked about and decimated on. Now that the upswing has happened, the discriminated have become part of the discriminators. Where is that lyrical unity I have heard so much about on many songs? If you can talk about all of your side chicks, why can’t someone talk about his side dudes or side chicks from the female perspective? (Even though that lesbian rapper, gay rapper double standard is another topic) Let’s see hip hop expand its ears.

Probability: Realistically….10%

Those are some of my thoughts towards hip hop in the year 2013 hopefully some of them actually come true and growth for the year happens.

The Osiris of this

Its crazy to know that I have been around for so many hip hop moments. The life span of some artists. Their passing and just moments in the hip hop culture that I would not have thought I would see in person. One of which is the passing of one of the major members of Wu-Tang Clan. The man who had more trouble then you could think of. Big Baby Jesus, Dirt McGirt the guy who wanted his money back. The O.D.B as you can see aka Old Dirty.

Can't believe that eight years ago that he passed. I think this was during the period when I was getting really into my hip hop. All of the styles and just revisiting classic albums and artists. Which would include one of the most diverse groups in my opinion...Wu-Tang. You had a crew of friends who melded hip hop lyricism and Kung Fu. Two things that are always a good mix. (Kung Faux for example) You had all these members and then you get to O.D.B. He seemed to be the crazy persona that every group has. He brought rugged gutter style with the ability to give you some crazy flows. He was a versatile artist, he was on hip hop, rnb, anything where he would talk crazy on. That was his appeal, he was able to be so out there that you knew that once he was on a song he was going to give you some gold. Just think back to when O.D.B and Moriah Cary got together for the remix of Fantasy. You know that there was a lot of doubt about this collaboration. Yet it goes down as one of both of their most memorable songs. Its just that spark of energy that he brings to the track.

He was just that kind of artist he may have been someone of a 'Hip Hop Folk Star," but he was someone that everyone could identify with. He may have had his legal troubles and did his fair share of dirt. In this day who hasn't, he just showed even you can go through trials on your everyday and still make it. He would have been 44 years old on the 13th. Rest in Peace to the Dirt Dog, Dirt McGirt, O.D.B., Ason Unique, Osirus, Dirt McGirt, Rainman, Big Baby Jesus.

Voting for the Right Reasons

Its that time again, everyone its voting time. (Yes I know I'm just now writing about politics. I'm not big on politics) No, I'm not going to say vote this or vote that. Vote for who you think is the best representation of your political stances. If you don't know what or who to vote for. Take some time before you enter the poles on Tuesday and make some educated decisions. Don't just vote for horrible reasons which I know some will unfortunately do. Some will vote based on skin color. Others will vote based on which celebrities are endorsing. Its sad that as a country, we are getting to this point where this is an acceptable way to vote. Don't be bullied into voting either. Vote for the right reasons for who you want. Do not let people assume who you are voting for, I've had multiple conversations where it all circled around, “well we all know who YOU are voting for.” The thing is you don't know who I am voting for or what I think is important for this country. Don't let these type of thoughts corner you into thinking that your voice, your vote does not count. Just know that it does.

Music Labels the new NBA

Music labels are just like NBA teams. They want to comprise a super team to combat their competitors. Some of these new labels are expansion teams like the Toronto Raptors were back in the 90’s. They try to start out fresh with talent to compete with the major labels. Look at the Sony Music Entertainments, Warner Music Group’s or Universal Music Group. They are the big three of music labels. They are figuratively your NBA teams that always make it to the playoffs. The ones you have no doubt will do well. You’re Lakers, Spurs and now your Heat. They try to produce super teams enticing other players (artists) to come along with them to maximize both parties’ profits and make them the most winning label. I treat those big three like your owners. With each owner each team has their set rosters. G.O.O.D. music is like the label to be at the moment. They have comprised a slew (yeah we doing words like that today) of artists who could be your NBA super team. Lets look into the artists on the roster; Kanye West, Big Sean, Common, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, John Legend. This is a record labels dream team, full of players who can contribute on a consistent basis. They fall into the team of Def Jam its just one big chain of command. It all leads to knowing the top three labels are running the music industry. It’s almost as if you have to be apart of a bigger team to try to make something for yourself as a player in this musical game.


Yet the bigger question I pose to you is what that means for the smaller labels (teams). Does that mean that they either have to fold or should they try to make it and let what ever happens happen for their musical career?

Mood Music

We all have a song or album in its entirety that once we hit that play button, the entire mood of your day changes. From a dull pain of the boring work day to the over stressed and over worked business day. All it takes is just one song, one album, one punch line to some that can jump start your mind. I can personally say there are lots of songs that all it takes is that beat drop to get things started. Think about it… remember when “Knuck if you Buck”, came out. Think about how much energy you felt run through your body as soon as the beat came on. No matter what you were doing that song came on and you knew it was going to get crunk. You could be driving your car down the freeway; beat drops it all goes out the window with your previously calm demeanor. You are now shaking your imaginary dreads in the air probably doing about 70 speeding for no reason. Just because you felt that song take you back to 2005 and the moment when you first heard the song. It’s not always about the hard energy songs either. Sometimes a song can take you in the totally opposite direction. Look at Drake, (yes I am about to get some people in their feelings) Marvin’s room is something we all can relate to. That drunken phone call you know you shouldn’t make, yet you are still calling that guy/ girl up just to try to change and convince them that you still have feelings. Nine out of ten times, you are going to not get energy off of this song. Yet, you will sing this song loud in your home thinking about the last time you drunk dialed someone and how you were all in your feelings. Even at the workplace, you can have your Pandora on full blast at your desk and soon as Drake lets that first tear filled note across those speakers you are going to start into your last phone call. We all have done it, singing that course as if your life depended on that last note to hit correctly.

That’s the main thing; music especially hip hop is a gateway into ones emotions. You can feel mind swaying trying to decipher what your next emotion moving song is going to be. You even set yourself up for your feelings. Take a moment and look at your playlist titles. I bet there are few of the playlist based off of an artist and more of the playlist when you are in your feelings. Mood playlists consisting of, “Monday commute” which we all know isn’t always the best time of the day.

Back again here is the Incredible

It’s been a while… to too long. In the time which I’ve been away, I have a new job. Worked with kids volunteering and started freelance writing on the side. I have put my creativity on the back burner. (The worst thing I could have done to my career.) I have decided to start my blog back up for real this time. I cover more than just music, I write about everything from my perspective. Yes it’s been said and done before but no two views are ever really the same. I want more artist’s spotlights and more different articles. 

Something I do want to focus on, the elements of Hip Hop and show how we as people are a product of hip hop. The Dj, Emcee (MC), Graffiti and Breaking (B-boy/girl); can’t forgot about beat boxing either. Hip Hop has been an ever-changing movement/ genre/ lifestyle. It has touched everything and everyone at one point or another. My blog will reflect getting more influence by the elements. 

Plus there will also be the comedy and funny stories that I have done before. I am going to do better and I shall. 

This is something I found interesting

There was a segment called “Misty's Matter's of the heart.” Usually it's something basic to the extent of, “ oh I think my husband is cheating how should I approach this?” type deal. This one Monday's question was something straight from left field. The question was posed to women, if your gay male friend wanted to know what it as like to be with a women, would you let him? We all know that is a out there question but something that would take a lot of thought. First of all I though wow, that is a question for sure. I thought “Hey that is kind of proactive and lets see how open these women of Columbus are.” As more people answered it made me realize so many people had thoughts like, “No they have STI's and that's nasty.” (That was a lot of the callers I heard.) Oh and the one that stuck out the most was this one strong women. “No!, they stick it in booty holes, and that's how Aids/HIV gets spread.” My first reaction was wow, she has some strong feelings about the gay's. The main thing that her strong statement made it seem as if all people thought so negatively about the homosexuals. Why are those views acceptable for people to thinking. Even though Black women are more likely to get STI's like HIV than homosexual's. Why is it always seeming as if homo's will always do wrong. This question, weird as it may be. I think it could spark a bigger debate. The debate of, why are there so many negative thoughts and connotations with your homosexual friends.

Why does it seem as if once you come out as a homo, you are automatically given the wrap sheet full of stereotypes, stigmas and characteristics. For example, as a gay male you are perceived as weak, flamboyant (flamer), disease spreader and so forth. For women you are manish, a tomboy, into softball and or basketball and many more. Yet some of those same things are exactly what all other sexualities deal with. Each one deals with stigmas of being “this or that.” As if sexuality transmitted diseases are only with homosexual's while heterosexual's deal with immunity as far as that goes. What makes that logic seem valid in our community?

The Art of a Freestyle: A thought

I wonder what will happen in the future, as technology grows and evolves. The art form will have to evolve with it. Will the freestyle slowly phase out? The “off the dome,” part of it and become off the phone? The allure of it will slowly fade away and become a long lost art form. Which is a big part of the culture. I have no problems with this “pre-written,” freestyle or free verse. My question is why do it?Where is it? I know talking about something like this may seem like a rant. Which is what I do not want this to be like. My question is, where and when did freestyles change. Some of my readers are like what do you mean? If you think about how many times have you heard a freestyle and loved it? Now re-listen to it, and think about the flow. Now to the untrained ear its no different. Yet, there are many who Black Berry Freestyle or (BBF). Some examples of artists who I have noticed who do this consist of Lil Wayne, Joe Budden, and more.

My favorite happened to be battle rappers who used their skills to the extreme. When you battle your mind has to be quick and sharp. You can tell a veteran from a rookie in the battle world. By the way they react and respond to what their opponent says. I stated before, “pre written freestyles,” are even present in the battle world. Trust me, I have seen it before, I was doing a battle, final round and the I was battling was nice, until his style changed. His verse dynamics changed and it did not seem right. The battle went on, and oh by the way (I called him on it in a verse, ha!) Needless to say I lost the battle, don’t you just love hip hop politics...anyway. Once this happened it made me rethink how battles are past and present.

No matter if you believe it or not, written freestyles are being passed off as non-written freestyles. It is becoming the new “it",” thing to do now a days. Prime example, Black Entertainment Television (I use that term loosely). Who remembers the tv show “The Basement,” Many of the artists who appeared on the show actually previewed the beat they were going to freestyle to. So it gave them time to prepare for what they were about to rhyme about. Which goes against what the show and the basic skills of the art form are about. Going further, some of those freestyles, became real verses for other songs that many people recite now.

I wonder what will happen in the future, as technology grows and evolves. The art form will have to evolve with it. Will the freestyle slowly phase out? The “off the dome,” part of it and become off the phone? The allure of it will slowly fade away and become a long lost art form. Which is a big part of the culture. I have no problems with this “pre-written,” freestyle or free verse. My question is why do it?

Social Networking Politics: Social Commentary

It’s funny how our generation is about injustice, and fighting for equality.  As much as it is funny, it is really sad. We care about politics only when it gets “twitter,” or “tumblr,” famous. The people who decide that “man this is something important,  my best friend, cousin, brother should know about this case.” If a case doesn’t make a social network I would strongly say  85% of our generation would not  know heads or tails of current events. Those people would be deaf to new policies, proposals and laws. Now to some they will argue, “ Chris, that’s how social networks work. They spread the word and make more people aware, sparking them to delve deeper into the issue. “ This is true, I am not going to deny that. Yet, where are the socially conscious ones at when it does not hit those networks. Where are those socially charged people at? Clearly they are talking recklessly throughout their days. Not knowing what’s going on, how they’re falling behind in the news stories that don’t make the major news networks. Yet, ask them when some big social experiment is…they know where it is. Which to me is a shame, if we spent half as much time caring about the events that actually change our daily lives than to who is having a new baby or an album leaking, those changes we “fight for,” would be happening a little more sooner than later.  The values and things we deem important have changed. For a generation that wants change, we sure do go out for it…

 

 

Don’t we?

Deeper than Hip Hop- Why so much hate?

Why does Hip Hop (Rap) get a bad rap from many non-listeners? It is as if they believe everything they hear about the genre. Oh it’s misogynistic views towards women mean that’s what all those so called “artists” speak about. The lyrical content is only about drugs they have sold or have smoked. Oh no talks of drugs then it’s the women. Wait women…let me rephrase that, the bitches, hoes(whores), skeezers, jumpoffs, breezys, tricks, sluts, run thoughts, etc. The only other thing they talk about is their “bling bling,” lifestyle. You know those hundred thousand dollar cars, their new mansions and the jewelry that could snap the neck of a small child. These arguments though valid to some, to others including hip hop scholars like myself, that is far from the truth.

Many don’t realize that there is more depth within the lines of these songs. Yes, songs about killing yourself (Suicidal Thoughts), hustling to make ends meat (Grindin). The phrase “Deeper than Rap,” is going to be the definition to many of these songs. These lyrics and countless more paint vivid pictures to showcase their struggles as musicians. Sometime the face value of a song is only the gateway to the truth meaning.

Now the main topic that those against hip hop haters is the treatment of women. Groups have said that all the males do is degrade women. Noting some of the worst artists as, Too $hort, (Uncle) Luke, Notorious B.I.G, Three 6 Mafia and countless more. Now yes things may have been said or videos shot but even those songs are party songs. Not saying that is the reason why they are okay to do what they have done or said. Yet, we do not discuss other genres that have done or artists who have mistreated women. It is as though their genre gives them a free pass. When Jordan Knight came out with his song (Give it to You), Everyone loved that song, making it on chart after chart. Even though the song itself was filled with hypersexual lyrics, and innuendos throughout. Oh it is just a harmless pop song that the kids wont catch. So is the song “Make it Clap".” Yet the rap communities lyrics are always under a microscope. Same premise just because the genre is different they treated the Busta Rhymes as though his song was the worst. Why is it that the microscope of hip hop is ten times stronger than any other style of music? We focus on how every song is misogynistic towards women. Songs like Dear Momma prove a point. Look at 2Pac, people deemed him as the worst yet when Dear Momma cam out everything was okay. Then you have his song, “I get around.” That instantly made him a misogynistic person.

This is Part 1…

O.C

These two thoughts have been floating around in my head. Both of which I have posted, just in case you have not read them. Here are both of them combined. The first is about new hip hop artists as a whole. The second is about so-called musical saviors. Read them and let me know what you think.

A lot of ya’ll cats make hip hop cause your bored. You never really realized what the true meaning of this vast culture was. You are only in it for your name sake. If you took a minute to actually think about it. You are doing exactly what hip hop doesn't stand for. Glorifying ones self for personal gain. Education is a facet of hip hop. Come on now, that’s something that we all should know. Yet to some people hip hop is their meal ticket and by no means am i knocking that hustle. Do you young blood. but like the quote says there are too many emcees not enough fans. Sometimes an emcee needs to be a fan before he EVER decides to step to the mic trying to rock it..for the ahem greater good/ saving hip hop from the riff raff/putting the city of blank on my back.

Whats the fate of your favorite genre? Are you ready to do what you can or can’t to save it. Yeah that's right I'm talking to you up and coming artist who feels as though you are gods gift to music. the one that must “change the game so that the future can thrive” yeah let me just be the first to say you better do what you do u lil dreamer you. In reality. You are about the twentieth person to say some shit like that. and you see ain't shit change but the day. You want to spark change then listen to other artists and collab. do something new and stop trying to say your the new fresh sounds that music needs. unless you are gods gift and starting a new musical renaissance u ain't gonna do shit but drop a few albums maybe get a buzz that will last a lil while then end up at Costco grabbing carts talking about I'm the next MC such and such. Again I'm not trying to knock you what you do your craft is good. but you have to have realistic goals. You can’t take over the game in a day. you better rent that game first figure it out then make your moves. remember its chess not checkers. Simple bitches need simple games. If you want complexity then you need to evolve and grow up.