Scalding Stereotypes And Paying Homage It's The Hip-Hop 3rd Degree W/O
Nov 07 '02
The Bottom Line Feed your brain with knowledge, not McDonald's
(Q: Hip-Hop to you?)
I’d like to thank Paul for even thinking of inviting me to his write off and use this time to apologize to him for my late and rude self. I have been really ill, and was working on this while in bed. I was down to the last two questions when the news of JMJ being gunned down flipped across my screen. It makes me proud, yet sad that I had paid homage to him before even know that’s what it was. Isn’t it odd how life, players and circles touch our lives? One almost feels like a coat rider, or a hit seeker, but I am none of those things. I was merely someone touched by a man, an angel.
The participants in this write-off are:
Boffie
Cletta1201
DVON
Ekidd911
E-Kleptic
GamblinFamily
Konspirator01
Madtheory
MagnumForce
Paulyoungotti (host)
Redmethodman
Roheblius
Speeddemon571
Lets start off generally. What is hip-hop to you? What is your background in
hip-hop? How committed a fan/participant are you?
Happening upon Hip-Hop was no accident for me. I grew up in the right area, the right time, the right issues to get myself attached to hip-hop. Not only was the urban area where I grew up loyal to each other, but they were loyal to the culture that is hip-hop. I can recall being elementary school aged and latching on to Run D.M.C., Salt N Pepa, Public Enemy, YZ, 3rd Bass etc. I am not as committed a fan as I once was. Allow me to explain. In the beginning there was groundbreaking original, well thought out music being fed to the citizens. Now it seems that the platter that once was Filet Mignon is now lukewarm, microwaved skirt steak. I find it hard to wade through the endless piles and heaps of cRAP that is being pushed onto a disc. However, there are some artists that will make me stand up and take note and come off with my money. I hope that the approaching New Year brings better talent, and brings back some old school artists that are surely missed.
(Q: Favourite Rap genre?)
What would you say are your rap tastes? What styles you into? Underground,
Westcoast, Pop-Rap, Eastcoast, gangsta etc etc. If it doesn’t fit into
simply one, say your preferred combination.
I think I fit into two mold here. The favorite sub-genre I have is NO secret at all. Old sKool all the way. I am my most happy with an LP version of the Boogies Boys, Run D.M.C, Kool Moe Dee, the list goes on and on. What keeps me drawn to the Adam’s rib of Hip-Hop is the infancy of it all. Innovative and path paving are great ways to describe this genre. All the things you hear today in hip-hop are possible because of the old skool heads who decided it was time to do their own style of music, forgoing what the mainstream had to say.
My second mold here is Underground. There are some artists who refuse to sell out (or at least as of yet) to the poppy-rappy world. Those artists make the kind of music THEY know THEIR fans want to hear. Most of the artists I care for and admire still dabble in and out of this scene. Can you tell I’m just not the biggest mainstream fan?
(Q: Your personal anthem?)
If there’s a rap song that you feel describes YOU – your personality, your
life etc, (basically your personal anthem), then what is it?
Rock Box by Run D.M.C. Now before you say I’m all on Run D.M.C’s tip since JMJ was slain please note that I started this review BEFORE the news hit my radio. Rock Box has remained a favorite song of mine for as long as I can recall.
BEATWISE, it fused rock, rap, electric guitar and raw energy.
LIFEWISE, if anything describes my taste in music and my turn at the turntables as a teen it’s this song. JMJ was one of those men that I wanted to emulate when I slapping vinyl onto the turntable.
PERSONALITY WISE, everyone knows I am a take no crap kind of woman and this song is in your face telling you like it is. Sounds exactly like me.
(Q: Quick-Fire questions:) (explanations are needed)
- Favourite three hip-hop songs of all time? (in order)
1. Rockbox by Run D.M.C. This song as stated above fused all the elements and genres of music that I would embrace in my adult years.
2. Fly Girl by Boogie Boys Another song that I listened to in the days of breakin’ and turntables. It was one of the first songs that I hooked on.
3. I Can’t Live Without My Radio by LL Cool J, Hate on him now all you want but back in the day old boy could put it down. This song is my theme song. It’s on almost every CD I make, and I live by it.
- Favourite three artists of all time?
1. KRS-One, an fundamental spirtual, responsible artist who has evolved but not sold out.
2. Run D.M.C., fundamental as well in getting the fusion of rap/rock and deep turntable driven rap out there. These 3 men literally defined a genre that thrives today.
3. Public Enemy, another rap/rock group. They were key to me then and still are now. Listening to their old stuff one would never tag it as old. It’s still as fresh, raw and original as it was then.
- Favourite three rap albums of all time?
1. Anthology by A Tribe Called Quest….All of Tribes best stuff in one place. Sign me up. The fusion of solid, eerie and different beats makes this album a stand out in my collection.
2. By All Means Necessary by Boogie Down Productions A very necessary album in any fans collection. The man, the myth the master. More needs not be said.
3. .The Great Adventures of Slick Rick by Slick Rick, One of the FIRST albums I personally owned. It was mine bought and paid for with my measly allowance. I never loved a release as much as I do this one.
(Q: Hot, lukewarm or Not?) (at the time of asking)
- P. Diddy – Not (I don’t care how much dough and tail your rolling in, your still whack)
- Wu-Tang Clan – Lukewarm
- Dr. Dre – Lukewarm (He’s got it in him, but damn dude stop Washin’)
- The Neptunes – NOT (Can’t ever get into this new redundant step they’ve got going)
- Cam'Ron – NOT (Oh boy, more like UGH boy)
- Nelly – NOT (Did anyone ever tell you that band-aids are for wounds..wait you are a wound…nevermind)
- Timbaland – I’m in between on Timbaland. He’s done some OK stuff and some not so OK stuff…
- Bubba Sparxx – NOT (Thank you drive-thru)
- Chino XL – Is there something between lukewarm and not?
- Ja Rule – NOT! (Oh man not enough space here!)
(Q: Your opinions on Emimem, please)
Scandalous 2Pac imitator who’s just a trash-talking fad? Or talented, if
misunderstood, “great white hope” who will do good for hip-hop?
My opinion on Eminem is neither cut nor dry. I think he’s got a heap of talent hiding under the dollar signs in his eyes. I am waiting to see his acting skills. Would I call him the great white hope? No, not at all. He’s an artist who came on the scene strong as nails, and has kind of let his music flip mainstream modes. I still think he has some good in him for the world of hip-hop. He’s not the first door opener, barrier breaker or white rapper for that matter. 3rd Bass took a stab at AGES ago. Scandalous, yes 2Pac imitator hell I don’t know. Seems like no matter what time you come in at now you’re said to be emulating someone. Especially if that someone opened a door, that you’re now trying to tip-toe in.
(Q: Tupac or Biggie and why?)
Tupac. I might catch a little heat on this one but it was Tupac’s song Brenda’s Got A Baby that first really hit me. Especially since he might as well been singing Erica’s got one. I go with the artist who first deeply set his roots in my heart. Biggie I gotta give ups to as well though.
(Q: Who's the Greatest of All Time)
Who’s your choice for G.O.A.T, or Greatest of All Time? Your choice needs to
be justified.
Most might think I am going to go with KRS-One on this one. And truth be told I almost did. However, I am giving this accolade to the grandfather himself Afrika Bambaataa. In the early 70’s at the infancy of the movement later to become known as hip-hop was Afrika Bambaataa with his bricks laying the way. In order to justify my selection just do a search on the artists who select the sound as an influence. Looking at Hip-Hop today one might not immediately know that grandfather wanted peace and love! Think about this line “party people” the next time you slap one of your cd’s in. I know you know the song!
(Q: Hip-Hop's most annoying prejudice)
Hip-Hop is an unfairly accused music form, as we all know, so what's the
most annoying stereotypical prejudice concerning rap to you? List your
reasons why this particular prejudice is incorrect.
The line:
“We’re not against rap, we’re not against rappers, but we are against are those thugs”
comes to mind. Some people are very quick to slap a parental advisory on anything that contains strong language. I don’t see anyone ID’ing me to watch some of the booty, boobies and violence shown on TV. The music gets labeled as the music of thugs and criminals. If it’s a white child who listens to the music all the more media fodder. I think a lot more people should put half as much effort into censoring their own children, than others.
I’m going to forgo listing why this is incorrect, simply because it’s a hot button for me and there just isn’t enough space in the world. I will say this if what they assume is true then why am I successful, productive, contributing citizen? Shouldn't by their very standards I be in a cell block? OYE! LOL
(Q: Your dream rap album?)
Tell me about your DREAM rap album. Tell me about the collaborators – what
rappers, what producers would create your perfect album? What label would it
be on? Go as far to describe the actual songs and musical stylings found
within.
My DREAM album would be just that, seeing as how the rap world lost yet another talent too many.
I’d choose Run, and D.M.C(80’s style), LL Cool J (80’s style), and KRS-ONE. Producers I would select would be Dr. Dre, and an Afrikka Bambaataa of course.
The songs would revert back to the dirt and dust from which it all started. I’ve racked my brain thinking of songs and have come up totally empty. I’m looking for a cross between
Mary, Mary, Rock Box, I Can’t Live without my Radio, Self-Destruction, Criminal Minded and Planet Rock. Guess I put some thought into it after all. What would this song be called, that’s a really long title eh?
The stylings found within would pull from rock, rap, funk, psychedelic, hardedged, and almost socially acceptable. Ya know it’d have a parental advisory but only cause it used some words kids hear all the time. Not cause it was All Eminem/Kim in the place.
(Q: Favourite 'style' of rapping?)
What would it be? Think about your favourite emcee – is he speed-rap, tounge
twisting Twista style? Or rapid-fire, up-tempo Inspectah Deck? Or slow and
deliberate Fabolous? (lord forbid you’d actually like Fabolous but he’s just
an example) Or poetically smooth Nas? Any style’s welcome, but needless to
say, justify your decisions.
I tend to lean towards two sides. The spiritual poetic side, and the rapid fire damn all style. Sometimes life calls for introspection, and reflection. One seeks to remember where they came from, where they are going and how they are getting there. You know the poetic and spiritual side of things to keep one grounded and sane. It’s just that little something to cry about and raise your hands in AMEN to. On the other hand some days just call for some serious break stuff, flip off that booger picking, cell phone talking, book reading, makeup applying driver that just can’t concentrate on the road of life. Or whatever nasty little bump life throws at you. For those times you need that fast, hard in your face sort of flow.
(Q: Your Hip-Hop Utopia: what is it?)
If you could envisage a ‘utopia’ for hip-hop, then what would that be? Would
it involve kicking out all the commercial trash? Or maybe gangsta rap? Or
getting rid of needless, negative beef? Whatever it is, give me details.
Basically, it boils down to you getting rid of ANY and ALL of the negative
elements you see in hip-hop today and detailing the way forward.
My Utopia would start by locking Ja-Rule in a cage and taking away his record deal J Of course I move on from bitter Ja-Ruleism’s to say how I would want to get rid of all the negative beef that exists in the world of hip-hop today. Damn man can’t a brother play pinball, go to a Mike Tyson fight, or chill out without getting shot? Music is meant to move, and evolve our lives not end them. One sometimes wonders why the violence exists but the crab effect exists in all aspects of our world. Hip-Hop is no different.
If your wondering what the crab effect is..
BEWARE OF THE "CRAB" EFFECT!
What's the "crab" effect? Well, if you're ever down at the waterfront docks when the crab boats
come in and they place the catch of crabs in a large container - just watch the action by all those
crabs. They are all trying desperately to climb out and just about the time when one almost gets
to the top, the other crabs reach up and "pull" him back down with them.
*taken from: http://www.adsaplenty.com/CrabEffect.htm
after reading that one seems to get a real grasp on all the beef out there. In my Utopia I’d do away with the crab effect. Seems to me a person used to be happy when someone came up. I think once you get with that program a Utopia you have.
(Q: Favourite rap lyric of all-time?)
Self-explanatory, this one.
"Don’t make a goal, be the goal. You are your goal. So in hip hop, you are doing, advancing, protecting, preserving, and educating yourself." KRS-One
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Member: Just Another Blue Gal
Location: Cypress, TX
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