I’m not one for advocating one side over the other so when Solar responds I’ll be sure to post that too. Until then, sobering words.
Immortal Technique does what hip-hop was created to do. Speak Truth. Bars start at 1:45.
[Eyeballed At The Rap Up]
A man much smarter than I am once told me that Rap minus lies equals hip-hop. I think I liked hearing that.
The purpose of this essay isn’t to convert you to being a fan of hip-hop. Considering this is being published on a website whose readers are entrenched in it already it would make doing so pointless. I’m not trying to preach, I’m not looking to get self-righteous and begin to call out all the wrong I see in the industry – I do that enough. The real purpose of this essay is to explain why I love rap music and why it should be treated as legitimate as any other genre of music. No caveats, no Roger Maris asterisks, no footnotes. Read more…
So I went over the RS Twitter account and found that we had someone going by the name of VerbalStyles give a tweet-by-tweet review of the RS Mixtape. In seven 140-characters-or-less tweets, VerbalStyles, who is a New York-based DJ and producer, broke down the tape track-by-track and gave his opinion on each track and artist. Oh yeah, take the advice with a grain of salt. He was a little drunk when said review was written.
SomeOne – standard white rap; DK – nice MC but beat was nothing special; Submit – DOPE beat but bad mix, first cat is a Lil Wayne biter…other two MCs have nice flows but need to find a voice; AKA got that Digable vibe but two different choruses? GodChaserz producer could blow up tomorrow, MCs more bitin’; 810 I dig but vox needs to be louder, def fresh though. D. Julien – interesting, would do well at a hippie fest; Random – listen to Dilla much? E.A.R.T.H. interesting beat, sounds like Del/Living Legends but dude don’t do your own repeats! Ha. Not trying to hate on anyone, just half drunk and bored checkin’ your tape out. Would be more verbose if it weren’t for 140 character thing. All in all lots of talent but low on production value. Nonetheless curious to see what you guys find next. Respect.
Sober or not, we appreciate the feedback. Tweeted on July 2nd, 2009.
Today’s hip-hop landscape looks a lot like the lunchroom at an urban high school. What began as one thing, has grown into another, much bigger, more fractured thing altogether. While the casual observer might look at the rap genre as one thing, the more dedicated listener will note the distinct sub-categories that the music has to offer. Each category, while separate, will contain a bit of overlap for two reasons. First, each artist is influenced by the art of their contemporaries and predecessors. Secondly, what makes the product that each artist creates palatable for large audiences are the cords of similarity within the biographies of the entertainers and their fans. These shared experiences, stories, and viewpoints are the intangible elements that create the culture of hip-hop.
Here are the categories and their most notable figures:
Up and coming rapper Corey Gunz has a problem. It’s the same problem that most every rapper on the come-up is going to encounter: establishing his credibility. Read more…
On a cold Chicago day in early November 2008, the businesses that lined the Grant Park area closed down early and the streets were cleared and blocked off in preparation for the speech that would serve as the victory lap of a historic presidential race. The faces of Chicagoans were alight with hopeful anticipation and restless nerves. That sea of faces included accountants, plumbers, and law enforcement agents as well as politicians, athletes, and rappers. One of the latter, a hometown hero whose rap moniker is Common, was visible in the Windy City streets feeling that same buzz of emotion throughout the day. Later that night, he held a concert in the city where he performed his many politically charged songs that supported his favorite candidate (he even paused to listen to his victory speech). Common proved that night that his finger was on the pulse-beat of his city. But what of that other rapper from the “Go” who was absent on his hometown’s night to shine? Where was the author and performer of Homecoming, the nostalgic tale of a Chi-town upbringing? He was not among the sea of faces that poured into the park that night. For a person claiming to “put on” for his city, this is a pretty glaring dent in his armor. Read more…
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