Where are the Hp Hop artists?

Yesterday I was pissed off about the fact the NAACP showed up in Sanford this week, and I still feel it is too late in my mind. What I’m also upset about is the lack of Hip Hop artists speaking up. Well, I mean the more popular Hip Hop artists. All the usual suspects have spoken out along with a few other Hip Hop vets but that’s as far as it goes. Ghostface, Wyclef, Big Boi, Killer Mike, Kweli and few other seasoned vets have spoken out about what happened to Martin. Not to sound like I’m dissing any of these artists but they’re not on the radio much if at all these days. Where are the more popular rappers?

In a world where a rapper can diss another rapper Monday and by Friday get a response track it seems like I’m not coming across any songs by the names that flood blogs and websites about what happened to Martin. This isn’t by any means news and it’s been a case that has been Hip Hop since Hip Hop has become so popular, it’s why when Kanye spoke about Bush hating black people so any people showed him love. Between Katrina to this story about the murder of Trayvon Martin Hip Hop seems to have disappear when real shit happens. It is as if Hip Hop no longer is planted in the real world. Public Enemy career hit a major bump when they recorded “By The Time I Get To Arizona” because that state wasn’t honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Looking back that issue is corny that a career was somewhat tarnished. Fast-forward to the now and we get nothing close to that at all. David Banner dropped “Something’s Wrong” when   Derrion Albert was killed, that was it besides the Chicago MCs who jumped on a remix of the song. For some reason rappers choose to not make songs about real issues and rather go back and forth with one another about nothing that matters outside of their egos

Maybe I’m asking for too much? Still I’m not even seeing video interviews about this coming from the more popular rappers either. I personally think most of the rappers on the radio, BET and MTV suck but if they were to step up and use the medium to their benefit to speak about what’s going on I would respect them a lot more. These rappers aren’t even speaking on what’s going on and it’s not just them but those who want to be like them. I’m on many Hip Hop sites and blogs as well as Twitter and Facebook and I see people post links to new songs they’ve just recorded and have not heard them address what happened in Florida. The irony is and has been for years is seeing Russell Simmons speak out about this and many other things. There was a time when Russell Simmons wouldn’t let some his artists, the more popular ones, be part of social conscious songs. A lot of labels and artists have followed that trend today, leave the speaking out the those who names hold weight but music doesn’t rule the airwaves. I mean Rihanna and Chris Brown recorded two songs real quick and posted them and I’m not even seeing something from them.

At what point did Hip Hop stop reflecting the street? When did Hip Hop stop being the voice of voiceless? If Tupac was here in our record it today post it today world I’m sure he’d have a song twice a day about what happened to Martin, yeah it would get repetitive by day three but it would be Pac and people would still listen. Hell Pac would be doing interviews with anyone who would book him. If Chuck D. was in his prime today he would be on any outlet too. Are artists scared to say anything about what happened? Are we as fans more concerned about another stripper theme song and raps about cars, chains, sex and getting high that if one of these rappers switches up for just a day they’d lose their place in the mix? I’ve long said that I’m not a fan of radio rappers but when they seem to be the only ones blogs and websites focus on you’d think one of them would use their popularity to speak out about this injustice on a song. Jay – Z dropped a song about his daughter and it got airplay on radio and television. That was cute and this is sad and real shit and none of the rappers out now want to address real shit. Maybe because there would be no room for chains and big butt video vixens and that’s all Hip Hop has been since 2000.  If I’m wrong and there are songs please tell me.

The difference between Anders Behring Breivik and us in America is what he did not what he thinks

So we’ve learned the mayhem that took place inNorwayover the weekend wasn’t some terrorist act but a one man crusade of sorts. The idea was to address an idea that he shares with many not just inEuropebut here at home as well, we hate Muslims. Breivik had a video where he even when on to quote American bloggers who have blogs dedicated to Islamic hate. In one day I like everyone who has listened to the news about this story was introduced to a whole nother world of intolerance. This world is so deep that there are dividing lines of hatred going on within them. As of now many groups are of course denouncing the actions Breivik. One main reason is because his victims were white Europeans and the messages that is filled with hatred towards Muslims gets lost when the victims aren’t Muslim. That is actually the conversation in some forums throughout the web, that his point would have made sense if he had attacked Muslims.

InAmericawe may not be taking things to a violent level but our hate is just as strong. There are people throughout our country that go out of their way to protest the building of a Mosque. We have yet to separate between Islam extremist and all those who follow the Islamic faith and aren’t trying to. We’re the home of a pastor who found it necessary to burn a Quran for reasons that will never be acceptable. We’re one nutjob away from having our own Breivik. Again would that person actions be viewed different if they went out here and shot those of the Islamic faith as opposed to just Christian Americans?

It seems that it is now a global dislike towards Muslims and to keep blaming 9/11 here inAmericaisn’t an excuse anymore at all. This Islamic hate is nothing more than another reason to hate on people of color. Breivik himself did make it a point that he wasn’t taking his hatred to a racist level and somewhat called us here inAmericaout while he made that statement.

Hate is hate no matter how you paint it or act on it. This weekend someone acted on it in a cowardly level. As I’ve said before it’s sad how the internet connects us on many levels from our love for arts to entertainment and hatred. People seem to be flocking to sites where people are against something from race to religion and a way of life which ultimately is making our world a more divided place then ever.

The fact is that what happened inNorwaywill be old news in the next few weeks. The depressing part of that fact is that as well as Breivik actions in Norway will be old news so will the eye opening fact that there are so many hate groups in the world mainly here in America and Europe. Breivik stated that he went to a meeting inLondon, he lived inFranceand bought a farm inNorwaymeans this hate of his has spread to throughoutEuropewith him. What’s to stop the next hatemonger from traveling around then getting fed up and feel the need to express that haired? I’m all for freedom of press and one having hatred, and hate groups aren’t new at all. The fact that people are taking that hatred out to the public is something that needs addressed to put some kind of leash on what can be a deadly trend.

Who is really following Sarah Palin?

Once again we see, with our nation in crisis, President Obama stands by and does idly nothing while an injustice is committed here in this glorious nation of ours. It’s almost strange that the president has not yet made one statement on the issue of the death of young Caylee Anthony. Why the strange silence, Mr. President?

-Sarah Palin

While reading a blog it was noted that Palin had that that comment on her facebook page. Now keeping your hand in pop, in the moment, current affairs is cool but to throw jabs at the president for not addressing this silly shit is dumb. Yes the Casey Anthony aftermath shock and outcry is dumb. Like I said yesterday locally you can find people doing the worst shit that aren’t making it national headlines, get over it.

I’m not sure what anyone of the republican presidential hopefuls are getting out of even mentioning the verdict? That you’re in tuned with those who have nothing else better to do with their time than to cry over a case they have no real attachment to? If the president of the United States was to even have a comment about this, especially Obama, we’d be wondering why he isn’t doing something more constructive with his time. It’s easy for Palin and the other GOP talking heads to sit around and tweet, facebook update and make television appearances about the verdict, their job is to be in the media for all it’s worth so you know who they are. I would be pissed if any president made a statement about the verdict. I’m not a fan of the Super Bowl, Final Four, BCS predictions that the media asks the President. I’m not cool with winning teams of college and major sports going to the White House or the opening pitch shit either. When I see or hear old clips of Reagan quoting pop culture references of his time I get this weird nauseating feeling. The president shouldn’t have shit to say about any case unless it deals with our country. Yes to speak on the trail of Jared Lee Loughner is a given but Casey Anthony? Why not hire a staff of people to find fucked up cases where the defendant was found not guilty and make a fuss everyday? Anyone wanting to hear what the president has to say about this is looking for a fight. Like I said before if he had spoken out before Palin gave a half ass jab she and other would be wondering why is he even speaking on the subject, plus whatever he says won’t be good enough anyway.

I’m concern more about those who liked the comment by Palin really. 12, 429 people liked it?  What could be in their minds? Are people so against the man (Obama) that no one even gave a fuck about how silly her comment was and the fact that she flipped it on Obama like he should say something? Palin is going to have her loyal followers like Bush did and Obama does, yes some people are truly behind Obama hoping for the best. I’m not upset about that, the fact Palin comment became a story in itself is what throws me off. Now she’s getting her comment out to those who don’t follow her and aren’t really into her games. Now her comment can in a smaller way become a discussion in itself. It’s happened already I saw 5 blogs where her comment along with others is a stand alone topic. Maybe she was looking for attention and those who liked it just like anything she says. I’ve been to her facebook page, she’s boring as fuck to me which is surprising the way the media follows her every step… Maybe I had the wrong page and I’m too lazy to put real effort into finding her more exciting page. That sounds good I will go with that reasoning for now. If this is how Palin plans on getting peoples attention and showing she’s in the fabric of what’s going on in America maybe should try daytime televison, I’m sure her ratings will be hard to beat. I can’t front I’d watch the show if it was to happen just see what she’d do next.

Freedom of Press doesn’t include blogs when it comes to your job

So you have a blog and few times your job is the topic and there really aren’t many kind words either. You never call your job out by name or the people you’re speaking about, somehow the people at your job got hold wind of your blog read the post and decided to fire you. Well that is what happened to a paramedic in Connecticut and a teacher in Pennsylvania was suspended for speaking negative about some of her students. Now the debate really falls under freedom of speech and press and then there those who feel the action taken towards these two people is just. One reason being because it’s public, listening to Here & Now the host Robin Young asked Margaret DiBianca  who is the editor of the Delaware Employment Law Blog that if the teacher had said those same things at a dinner or some small get together would it had been as bad? The answer was no the problem with this is that a blog is public anyone could go to it and read it and the paramedic posted her comments on facebook which is also public. So I’m thinking let’s put the spin on it this way, what if the teacher had said something about one of those children to someone and that person contacted the parents of the kids then what? Or a co worker of the paramedic just blabbed out to the boss what was said about him? I mean at the end of the day it’s more about what was said then it is how and where, we all know that. I mean to think if I say it instead of type it on my blog,  on twitter, facebook or any other social network I can express my views but can also lose job is stupid, but that’s is what those two incidents are boiling down to.

 Right now as I’m listening to this segment again online I’m baffled as to what just happened to our freedoms? It’s strange that we now have such a social media workplace conflicts. DiBianca even gives examples of jobs wanting would be employers to log into their facebook pages and blog as to find out if there have racist views, promote, encourage or be part crime as well what comments that were said about you’re former job. That sounds ok on the surface but really most people that I know aren’t the same person they are at work. Trust me I know people who are important people at their companies and the off the job person is so different, it truly is like Clark Kent and Superman. Of course DiBianca is speaking on high paying jobs and not Burger King or Wal-Mart. From what DiBianca is saying it’s not really legal for jobs to ask employees to log into facebook account but would be employers at interviews are a different case. She spoke about how you can refuse to let the person interviewing you see your “personal” facebook updates and you could very well not get the job. She spoke like the employers should make sure they phrase things right when they ask but merging my personal life to my job is really what it is. I mean there are people who can go for years without any of the higher-ups knowing their names let alone what their job is, but as soon as the news spreads about a comment made on facebook the person is fired.

 Again it’s not so much about you as a person it’s about your opinion of your workplace. My job does this employees satisfaction survey around October and most of the question are really personal. Do you think your boss is bias, do you think management is friendly and approachable and would you recommend this job to someone looking for a job?  Now every department that’s not the big dollar departments find themselves having to explain the negative scores. What happens is if you really speak your mind defending your reason you scored management so low you are fired. Again jobs don’t want to know what your issues are in general and to have it as DiBianca put public makes it an even worst situation. My personal view, uphold your position and speak your mind, these outlets are there for a reason. Reading comments about these two incidents the women seem to be getting nothing but support and many teachers are defending the Pennsylvania teacher because they know the feeling and thoughts that go through their mind of having bad students. Then there those who are against the teacher, they are most likely upset that a teacher spoke about her students that way, not the situation. I mean that teacher would be fired if she told the parents of those children what she thought, even if she censored it, she would still be disciplined with lose of job being one of those results. So it boils down to don’t complain, and that’s sad. Like I said DiBianca said jobs will want to know have you said negative things about your former job, so go old school, you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all.

New ideas for the blog

Next week I want to start some new things music wise for my blog, would have started this week but I got plans this week so I’m getting stuff ready.

 First thing I’m going to start something called Mondays Poll where I ask which album was better between two albums and the next week give the results. Of course your input is welcomed and if I need to add a third album sometimes cool. To be fair it might not just be albums maybe songs vs. their remixes, or who had a better version of a song, depends on how I will.

Second is realest shit I ever heard. I was of course going to do realest shit they ever wrote but Jay and Big didn’t write and there some verses that are just sick from both men. Then there is that fact some people don’t write the shit they record so that then becomes another issue with the first option. It will be just a verse unless the whole damn song was just that on point.

 I still will be posting reviews on Thursdays ,just looking to do more and will also be doing more movies/DVD reviews too.

 I’m not turning this into a music or hip Hop blog just looking to have a bit more fun on here since what happened in Tuscan I’m sure political wise and revolution popping up all over in the Middle East there will not be a lot of room for light stuff.

Double standard of promoting music

So while uploading Blax Soul on this blog yesterday I thought about submitting the mixtape and beat cd to other blogs. With that said I thought I would go to a blog I’ve been checking out for a little over a year and check out where to submit my music. The owner of the Blog I went to has a label and a roster of artists himself so he also is going through the strenuous task of getting his artist exposure and knows woes that comes with it. What I found intriguing and kind of pissed me off was the “suggested” dos and don’ts on how to submit your music to the site.

 After reading these “suggested” requirements you realize being a blogger willing to take music from artists looking for some sort of exposure is like being a small label thrust into a bigger and better situation. Meaning when you know how much trouble one goes through to get from point A to B you would think you as now the site in this case taking music from artists would make it easier for people going through the same thing, that isn’t the case at all. Now I understand no one can sit around and listen to all the music submitted to them all day every day and of course you even want to make that exercise easier on yourself as the blogger.  Me personally I think someone would at the least put the effort to inform people you’ve gotten the submission and will check when they can, again more so this blogger because he has been and may be still going through the same process.

 The don’ts part was probably part where I really became pissed and confused really. Now the blogger says don’t send stuff to his personal email which is totally understandable and in my opinion if they (artist submitting music) did do that they were too lazy to really look around the site to find where to submit the music. A part where I didn’t agree with is the don’t hit me up on twitter or facebook with links to your music and videosthing that was said. Now again as a blogger and head of a label the guy knows the importance of promoting online anywhere and anytime possible and getting a fan base to follow your movement. I have to be honest I hate seeing tweets and facebook status filled with “download my new mixtape here” as much as the next man but being an artist myself I respect it. Somehow this is shunned upon by this blogger who if your following his tweets and updates his facebook you get what he is doing label or site wise. So how does such a double standard get by? Well because as artists looking for exposure no one ever wants to make waves against someone who can place their music in front of many potential downloaders’ of your music.

 Now with all that said I’m going to take time and think about even submitting my music to the blog.  One reason is because like I said I’ve check the blog out for awhile and have myself downloaded artists trying to get some shine and yeah I liked some stuff and found some stuff just not in a fit of what I run with. I know I’ve downloaded stuff and many other people have to and again it’s a helping hand aspect that counts. On a personal not (to myself) I do need to get things in order. I will be working on Soul Of Art and getting more music done on my end. I haven’t really been on my grind music why mainly because when it comes to that “real” Hip Hop you have to hunt down the audience to even begin to present your music to them. Then comes the part of them taking the time to listen, again I’m a real example of not checking for music because of names and looks. I know that is really petty it’s also how people are because names and a picture is all a potential listener can go by. So again yeah all criticisms aside I most likely would be putting forth the movie mixtape and beat cd to the site. I’ll update you when and if it makes the blog.

?uestlove Lesson

 

I made it a conscious effort not make a Hip Hop blog with downloads and video clips and whatever else everyone else has poppin on their blogs. Not saying I’m not for it because the ones I frequent keep my spirits up that real Hip Hop is still in rotation somewhere.

 So I was checking out Diggers  Union Local 1200 one night and saw they had a post from the T.R.O.Y blog, went there and really don’t want that download  after all. I decided to check the spot out and came across this Questlove mix dirt_dog posted.  Now I am not big on sample mixes or really too many things that have to do with exposing what was used to make classic shit, even if I’m curious to know. But I have to say I like this for one reason   ?uesto is actually cutting in this mix. It’s not some lame ass one song after the other, it’s really has some thought to it. So if you are into the sample mixes and want to hear some Hip Hop classics  original samples this is what you need in your life click here.