Hip Hop
The Radio Doesn’t Reflect the State of Hip-Hop: It Ain’t Dead.
Written by Antwain Jackson |
“It’s no longer an art it’s an occupation.”—Stack BundlesHip-hop is a business; it isn’t a bunch of kids rapping over beats at parties anymore. The main objective when joining the hip-hop industry is to make money. This is why the streets are flooded with teens, young and old adults trying to establish a career in rap. The record executives could care less about actual talent, they want a gimmick or anything the can make them money.
This is palpable on the hip-hop radio airwaves. It seems like there is a bunch of rappers that lacks talent, but has great commercial appeal. The radio is filled with “happy go lucky jingles.” The majority of the songs have catchy hooks and beats but lacks content. This is the reason why there has been debate in the hip-hop community that “hip-hop is dead.” Yet, that is far from the case. It is up to the listener to filter their music. It is tons of great hip-hop out there, you just have to find it. Just because the radio plays the same 15 songs all day long that doesn’t mean hip-hop is dead. The radio doesn’t define hip-hop.
Little Wayne and The Rise of Young Money
Written by Jecquea Howsie |
Possibly the hardest working man in Hip Hop, Lil Wayne is busy positioning his burgeoning label for world domination.
To all of you star-crazed individuals looking to become a part of his empire- you have to be ready to follow his lead.
“These people all have a drive," Wayne told MTV News as he introduced his Young Money crew on his tour bus after an mtvU Spring Break performance."They all have the drive that I have, and that's 'never stop working.' We never get tired. Soon as I meet somebody like that, that never gets tired, let's do it. And when you ready, let's go,” he continued.
A Fete Worthy of a Black President
Written by Afrika Brown |
Long before Barack Obama had dreams of the White House there was Fela Kuti. Virile…valiant…visionary are only a few of the attributes that describes this legendary performer. He was born on October 15, 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria the son of a preacher and died on August 3, 1997 an icon, a trailblazer and the godfather of Afrobeat. One million people attended his funeral in Nigeria, the mark of a true statesman. Fela was not only voice of Africa, his lyrics spoke to all citizens who are not represented by the government of the country they reside in. He was a warrior wordsmith and his records were spears thrown with precise aim at bureaucrats bound to keeping the common people oppressed by using selfish ideology. Even after his death his incredible body of work, almost 70 albums, is still in demand all over the world.
The Price of Fame
Written by Jecquea Howsie |
What happens to you when your light dims?
Back in 2000 Bow Wow was a fresh-faced little kid rapping about ghetto girls. Now he’s a lost little puppy still searching for credibility within the Hip Hop world.
Let’s be real, Bow was never a “thugged-out” type of rapper. When he first stepped on the scene, he was welcomed by bright-eyed female fans, the ideal audience for a young rapper, but that type of popularity comes with a price.
Besides being brushed off as another bubblegum-rapper, you have no chance of ever being taken seriously. In all fairness, he was doomed from the start.
Swagg or Fagg
Written by Jecquea Howsie |
Have the new hip hop fashions hurt or helped a culture?
Skinny jeans are no longer reserved for the pencil-thin elite. Wiggling into them like worms having a convulsion, black men are now donning the ‘it’ jeans of the season.
Ladies, now it’s the men’s turn to squeeze into the tiniest denim trends on earth. So sit back and relax while the men butter-up their legs, roll on the ground, lie back on the bed and suck in their stomachs, while we zip up their current fashion choices.
September 2009 Album Releases
Written by Jecquea Howsie |
Kid Cudi’s Reaching New Heights
Blazing the new trail for Hip Hop, Kid Cudi is set to take flight on Sept. 15, with his new album Man on The Moon: The End of Day.
Universal Motown President Sylvia Rhone says, “"Kid Cudi is at the vanguard of a game-changing new generation of artists."
On the heels of his first single “Day N Nite”, Kid Cudi pushes the envelope when it comes to creativity, artistry and goes beyond musical boundaries. He’s the new kid of the generation and a breath of fresh air.
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