Peace to Kwanzaa

Peace & Greeting to All,

Happy Kwanzaa.....Since this is the first day of the seven guiding principles. May "Umoja" be blessed in your homes in communities today, and through out the year. Umoja/Unity stresses the importance of togetherness for the family and the community, which is reflected in the African saying, "I am We," or "I am because We are."

If you would like to learn more about Kwanzaa please go to www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/

One

Storme

The Rare Breed

We lost one...JB your a Champion!

Peace Fam,
RIP to the hardest working man in show business! Your talent was endless, and will live on. Stay on the good foot...Godfather of Soul.

"I am sixty eight inches above sea level ninety three million miles above these devils

Peace Fam, Here is another one from out the Golden Vault. Besides the Fugees here was another trail blazing threesome. They held BK down. Ladybug Mecca could liquify mics. "I am sixty eight inches above sea level ninety three million miles above these devils play me in the winter play me in the summer play me in the autumn any order you want ‘em i got ‘em drippin like water."

She is another one I would add to my "she-rock" list. She is also in that new Snoop dogg joint with E40,Mc Eiht,and DPG. They used her voice on the hook, and dropped her in the video. Good look out Snoop or whoever was behind that. Anyway this video is pure raw, BK style. They need to work on that comeback CD. Enjoy!

One
Storme
The Rare Breed

Easy Star

Peace Fam,
Ok...here is another one of all-time favorite mcs. This man spits straight flames. You need to check out song "Geneocide" it's crazy, and so true. Shout out to PRT! He is dropping some jewels in the article below ...seriously like Whitney on coke. Check it
I found this on Davey D's site. It is an article by Wise responding to another article that was written about Jay-Z.
Read, think, enjoy
One
Storme...the rare breed
=============================
Who The Hell Am I? Has Jay-Z Outgrown Hip-Hop?
An Intelligent Response…
by Wise Intelligent


This is a very well written, informative, and at the same time, inquisitive article. It reached its goal in provoking the thoughts of its reader, while at the same time inducing the reader with the opinion of the author. The less-observant reader will no doubt be persuaded to think that Hip Hop does not want to see the end result of the struggle (represented by Jay-Z, to the writer), and desires more so to continue in an infinite cycle of purposeless "ballin", "hustlin", and "coming-up!"

However, this is where this journalist and I disagree. Its not that Hip Hop does not want to see anyone fulfill their "dreams," its actually the fact that Hip Hop in its origin, at its root, deeply imbedded in its subconscious lies the precepts of its "original doctrine" which is "ACTIVISM." Hip Hop, like the BPP, CIBI, OAAU, etc., began as a "movement" to empower poor ghetto youth in America and eventually the world, with the result being defined here as the "upward mobility" of the "masses" and not the "individual" alone.

So the writer is correct when he says that "What Jay-Z has become is a dream materialized." But, the "dream" of Hip Hop was to see the "community" in a better place and not just one "nigga." What Jay-Z has achieved is nothing more than the "American-Dream", defined here as "the accumulation of personal wealth solely for the upward mobilization of the individual." This "Amerikkkan Dream" has been achieved by many of "niggas" before Hip Hop was born.

The problem has always been that most of our examples of a "nigga" who "made-it" represented "niggas" who failed to be continuously "ACTIVE" in the struggle of the masses of the people from which they came. Black youth in America at the time of Hip Hop's birth had long since abandoned the futility of the American "Dream" because they had seen so many brothers and sisters "make-it" and, yes, for them, the "struggle stopped!" And this my friends is the reason for the "dis-connect" with Jay-Z, Bill Cosby, Bob Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, and all the other "niggas" who represent the Amerikkkan "dream materialized."

Their is NO active presence of any of these "niggas" in the struggle still confronting the "black-communities" from which they came. So, yes "Jay-Z has more money than you (or he) has ever thought of and can now do things that were out of Hip-Hop’s collective reach." And so does all the other "niggas" on the long list of "niggas" who "made-it!" But, what do they do? They become spokesmen for @#%$ like "anti-Semitism?" I mean, not one of these niggas have ever put their image and likeness at the front of any real campaign to save the black youth of America (who need them more now than ever), the large majority of whom it is a well documented fact; will not see any parts of the "Amerikkkan Dream!" And this is why a line has been, and rightfully so, drawn between what is Hip Hop and what is rap.

With all this wealth and financial knowledge at his disposal, it seems like the only thing the "Jigga-man" has ACTIVE-ly done for the "black-community" with his money is brag, boast, and stunt in the face of 30 million black youth who literally don't have @#%$.

In the same lyrics quoted by this journalist, Jay-Z also speaks constantly of how he can take the next mans girl and "ball-her-out!" Nigga please, I know you can take my girl to Paris? I work an "honest" 9 to 5, I don't sell crack, I'm not a rapper, I like Hip Hop, I'm a fan of Jay-Z, but, must I be beaten over the head with the fact that you're rich and I'm not? In conclusion, I know that this manifest will be given the infamous "player-hater" status. I know that many will quote bullshit slogans like "I can save the world" or "I don't know the secret to success, but the secret to failure is trying to please everyone." But, lets imagine for a minute if Harriet Tubman would have adopted this same selfish position, and after she "made-it" to freedom, or after "achieving" that freedom and realizing her "dream" of being a free-woman, said "I can't save the world" or "I don't know the way to freedom, but the secret to slavery is trying to free others" and went shopping in Paris? Well, she didn't and she knew that she could not "save the world" but believed deeply that she could "save the BLACK WORLD" so she ACTIVELY got involved and organized the "Underground Railroad!" She is the "Poster-Child" for a "sister" who "made-it" to freedom, became the "realization of a dream" but understood that the "dream" was not fulfilled unless it was shared by the "masses." Proper Education Always Counters Exploitation....


WISE INTELLIGENT IZ......

The Talented Timothy Taylor "COMING SOON"

WWW.INTELLIGENTMUZIK.COM

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/WISEINTELLIGENT

Monie In The Middle..Where she at?!

Peace Fam,
It is cold outside. I thought I would give you one of the ladies to remember. Yes she had mic skills. I wish her and Latifah would get on a track together, and put it down just to put it down because they can. I think Monie is currently a dj in Philly. Do your thing. Thank you for the memories.
Shout out to the Native Tongues, and Zulus!
One
Storme
The Rare Breed

What you on huh....Dope or Dog food?

Peace Fam,

For the most part I strive not to post about all the dirt, and suppose "battles" between rappers, or their crews etc... Because you can get that on plenty of blogs or in numerous articles. However every now and then...someone will talk so slick. That I have to make a comment regarding the situation. Well I found this on Real talk NY blog. Lil' Wayne did an interview in Complex magazine, and his statements were highlighted. Now I must admit I have not read the full article, and we all know certain things can be taken out of context when people do interviews whether its a politician, actor, or local community activists. However it is very difficult to get these comments twisted. Here is what was said below.....my thoughts are in blue after his comments.

Comments on Jay-Z
“I don’t like what he’s saying about how he had to come back because hip hop’s dead and we need him,” he says. “What the f*ck do you mean? If anything it’s reborn, so he’s probably having a problem with that. You left on a good note, and all of the artists were saying, ‘Yo, this is Jay’s house. He’s the best.’ Now he comes back and still thinks it’s his house. But we f*cked b*tches in your bed already. It’s not your house anymore and I’m better than you.”
(In regards to being better than Jay-Z)“Who don’t? [to friends in the background] Ay-yo, am I better than Jay? [friends laugh and nod]. I ain’t got nothing to do with who he is. I’m better than him, though. I’m 24 years old… The dude’s like…? It’s scary. I’m 13 years deep with five albums and 10 million records sold.”

Ok..I try to look at things with a wider vision. I have an open mind so I think every rapper thinks he or she is the greatest that is all part of the game. However this is the same man who sang Jay's praises not to long ago. He is the same man who attempted to rock Jay's whole style. He was one of Jay's biggest stans pardon self I mean fans. So what would make him do a complete 360, and speak publicly about it. Well look no further then his associations/friends the Dipset. I think Lil Wayne is riding for his fellas yall....LOL. You know jumping on the bandwagon. WTF is he stressing on..? I mean really he is speaking on Jay's age when his "father" Baby is the same age as Jay if not older, and still rapping. Didn't they just release an album together? So what can he say about age. Next how old was Jay when he started..and..what? Then he goes on to say he is better than Jay lyrically. I know he is smoking glass or plastic... one he is a "self-proclaimed" great rapper. I mean is he really on anybody's top ten list for great lyricists? Seriously? I am not talking about your favorite rapper people. Well maybe he is for there are some people who would agree with him out there. However there is still no denying his dramatic switch of sides, and his side azz comments. Wayne for once be your own man..stand on your own two...not with Baby, not with Dipset, not on Jay's swagger. It's like Nas said...if you get personally offended because he said HipHop is dead then look no further then your self bro...!



Comments on The Clipse and Pharrell
”I don’t see no f*cking Clipse. This is a f*cking legend you’re talking to right here. How many years them niggas been around? Who the f*ck is Pharrell? Do you really respect him? That nigga wore BAPE and y’all thought he was weird. I wore it and y’all thought it was hot. What I gotta go in the store and say, ‘I like these colors but I can’t buy them because other rappers wore them?”

Again...I am tired with the overdosed cracked out ego. "He's a legend, he one of the greatest etc" I remind you again this is all self-proclaimed. I am all for self-esteem but sometimes in an interview you need to shut that sh%t down, and be humble. Because sooner or later you become Kanye'ish like at award shows when he loses, and we get tired of the garbage. I think if you read a lot of the people's comments they are beginning to feel that way. I don't know who the "yall" is...who thought Pharrell was weird. I don't know where the diss came from regarding the Clipse. Obviously it is something related to what the interviewer said or asked. However I know Pharell had his own little flavor going on which Hiphop has been known for since the beginning...it's called originality where if everybody is going right..some of us take a left. That's the fly lick right there...like Ghost talking about how he is going to freak his Clarks Wallabees with different colors. You know he was not going to rock the regular...ones etc...
And no Wayne no one is saying you can not buy them..... In fact you did buy them, you did you, now move on please stop playing into the media games. Unless this is all part of your publicity act to get people talking to say something for shock value...Just stop feeding the machine. This was pointless.

Comments on the Kissing Controversy
"I don’t fault nobody for misunderstanding. I don’t understand a lot of sh*t.Baby walked in the crib one day and was like, ‘Everybody’s doing this black mobsh*t. When I see you niggas, this is what we’re gonna do.’ And that’s why you’veprobably got a picture of me because I stuck with everything that man said. Butevery nigga’s done that. I’ve done kissed [Juvenile and B.G.]. No homo.Pause.”

Once again...be your own man. One day we all have to grow up from our "parents," and become leaders ourselves. Well whatever there are no pictures of you kissing Juve or BG. There is no tape of you being on a show kissing Juve or BG which started all this mess in the first place. Plus..I thought you and Juve never got along like that..so I really wonder why you would kiss this man. Listen whatever works for you all then it is what it is. There is no need for you to inform us that all of you did it (LOL). It's like when one kid get's caught, and was like I am not the only one who did it? In your world would that be snitching? LMAO. Anyway....let it go..stand behind your actions.


PS: Also one more thing because I heard this on one of your rhymes you stated...something about your the only south ni99a that could rhyme with the WU.
Please stop! Drop the pipe! And run like hell to the nearest rehab or shrink! You may need a refill.

One
Storme
The Rare Breed

Even if What We Do is Wrong.............

Peace Fam,

Fayette Crew 4Evea......

I was excited and depressed that one of my favorite shows on TV has come to it's season end. The Wire. Yes I am one of many that they called the "wired" a die-hard fan. I have been following this show since the beginning. The writing on this show is excellent. The depth of the characters and the details of the stories make this more than "cop vs crooks" drama on the tube. They really done a great job on who they cast for the roles. I am sure you have heard some of these comments over, and over on certain blogs, reviews etc.

However I am glad to announce that they will be back next season (5). See the article below. And I can not wait!!! Maybe they should even think about a movie, however 2 hours would still not be enough!

One

Storme

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Wire Renewed for Fifth Season
The beloved HBO series will return for a fifth and final year.
by Eric Goldman


September 13, 2006 - In very happy news, HBO has announced that The Wire has been renewed for a fifth season. To call the Baltimore set dramatic series "critically acclaimed" at this point is an understatement, as it has received nearly universal kudos, with many calling it not only one of the best television series currently on the air, but one of the best television series ever.Unfortunately, these amazing reviews haven't translated into a large audience and this past Sunday's premiere of season 4 garnered only lukewarm ratings for the show. However, Wire creator David Simon had said he intended the series to be told in five seasons, and the extremely loyal fanbase (including those of us at IGN) were very hopeful that HBO would allow for the series to get the proper conclusion it deserved. Previous seasons of The Wire have shifted the focus from the lives of drug dealers to the working class to politicians, with the current season focusing on education, and the kids and teachers living in a drug and crime filled area. Simon has hinted the final season will take a look at media, and in the press release announcing season 5, seems to imply a self-aware concept for the final season: "The last question we want to ask is this: For four seasons, we have depicted that part of urban America that has been left behind by the economy and by the greater society, and chronicled entrenched problems that have gone without solution for generations now. Why? What is it that we see and sense about these problems? To what are we giving attention, and what is it that we consistently ignore? How do we actually see ourselves?"

Eazy E: Eazy-er Said Than Done

Peace Fam,
RIP Eazy E
Remember to Support World Aids Day!

Knowlede is power. Check the article below, get the facts. You can also get more information at www.worldaidsday.org, and see how this disease is effecting the world.

One
Storme
The rare breed

By E.J. Mundell
HealthDay Reporter
Fri Dec 1, 5:02 PM ET



FRIDAY, Dec. 1 (HealthDay News) -- By now, most Americans know the drill: Practice safer sex, and HIV should leave you and your community alone.

ADVERTISEMENT

Except that it's not really working out that way for America's blacks. Study after study shows that HIV infections continue to escalate among this community -- especially among gay and bisexual black men -- even though they practice safe sex at rates that equal or exceed those of whites.


For example, a study published in time for World AIDS Day on Friday in the American Journal of Public Health found that young black adults who had engaged in no sex over the past year, didn't drink, and didn't abuse drugs were still 25 times more likely to test positive for a sexually transmitted disease or HIV than whites who practiced similar behaviors.


According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fully half of the nation's new HIV infections occur among blacks, who make up just 13 percent of the population. That rate continues to soar, despite the fact that condom use among blacks now tops 50 percent, compared to just one-third for young whites. According to the CDC, black women have 21 times the risk of white women of contracting HIV, while black males are eight times as likely to become infected as white men.


And, according to a recent five-city study conducted by the CDC, a staggering 46 percent of young gay black men in America now carry HIV -- a rate that equals or exceeds that of most nations in sub-Saharan Africa. By comparison, the infection rate among gay American white men hovers around 21 percent.


"However, black men who have sex with men (MSM) do not engage in higher rates of unsafe sexual behaviors compared to other MSM -- we found that in about 30 studies," said CDC HIV/AIDS investigator Gregorio Millet. He spoke at a Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) summit on the issue held earlier this week in New York City.


Millet noted that studies also show that gay and bisexual black men use illicit drugs at roughly the same rate as their white peers.


So, if black Americans are doing so much that is right, what is going wrong? Twenty-five years into the AIDS epidemic, no one really knows for sure.


Denise Hallfors, the author of the American Journal of Public Health paper, said that for too long, the CDC and other public health entities have looked upon HIV/AIDS from a solidly white perspective.


Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, most infections among whites were largely contained within specific groups, such as gay men and intravenous drug users. "The thinking was, you have to go after those very high-risk populations," said Hallfors, who is senior research scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation in Chapel Hill, N.C.


"So, those are the populations that the CDC focused on and did outreach with. And if you look at the data from our study, that makes perfect sense -- whites have very low rates of STDs if they are not in those risk categories. As soon as they enter those risk categories, their rates triple."


But the black community appears to work differently, with the borders between low- and high-risk groups much more blurred. "High-risk individuals can and often do cross over into low-risk groups," Hallfors said. "Once they cross over into the low-risk group, then they spread infection to the much larger community."


Because of the higher death and incarceration rate of black men, black women -- who tend to partner with black men -- have a smaller pool of potential mates to pick from compared to whites, Hallfors added.


"So, if you are a young black female adult and you go to church every Sunday, you have a pretty conservative lifestyle, you don't drink, smoke or do drugs, and you have even one or two partners in your lifetime, if one of them happens to be infected, you're sitting there with an STD," Hallfors said. And since this woman's apparently low-risk, church-going partner may have unknowingly contracted his infection from a prior high-risk contact, she believes she is "safe" and thus doesn't get tested for HIV, or gets tested far too late.


The same may hold true among gay black men, Millet said. "Black MSM are also less likely than other MSM to be tested for HIV," at least on a regular basis, he said. That leaves them more open to unknowingly pass the virus on to other partners.


There could be many other reasons for the virulent spread of HIV among gay black men, but the data just isn't out there, he said. Gay black men may be at higher risk because of their genetics, their lower rate of circumcision (circumcision reduces infectivity), reduced access to health care, their pattern of sexual partners, and their higher rates of incarceration -- one in four black men will serve jail time vs. one in 24 whites. "Unfortunately, there are all these hypotheses where we just don't have sufficient data," Millet said.


Until recently, there's also been little outreach to this hard-hit community, Millet added. "This epidemic has been raging among black MSM for well over 20 years and for some reason there have not been enough HIV prevention programs directed at blacks," Millet said.


Damon Dozier, director of government relations and public policy at the National Minority AIDS Council, said it's taken the recent release of shocking statistics to wake policymakers from their focus on whites.

"I think that no one really paid attention to what was going on, but that 46 percent infection rate is a huge number," he said. "Because of that, the wool has been pulled from people's eyes."

But Dozier said that the CDC, especially, is less able to tackle these issues now than it was in the past. "The CDC prevention budget has been slashed over the past few years," he said. "It would take a number of dollars just to get them back to baseline. Our hope is that with this new Congress, with Ms. Pelosi [incoming House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat] as leader, that we can devote more money to prevention and direct those prevention dollars to that 46 percent demographic."

There are signs of a real turnaround at the CDC. Late in 2005, the agency's head, Dr. Julie Gerberding, met with black activists who had pasted signs reading 46% is Unacceptable to the front of their desks. As reported by The Advocate at the time, Gerberding told them that, "Whatever we are doing right now, it is not enough."

Since then, the agency has launched a flotilla of HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs aimed at specific black communities -- many with proven track records in turning attitudes and behaviors around.

And, on Thursday, Gerderding issued a statement noting that the CDC has "recently issued new recommendations to make HIV screening a routine part of medical care for all patients between the ages of 13 and 64." Most experts who deal with minority communities say getting individuals acquainted with their HIV status is key to helping them get treated, protect their partners, and slow the epidemic.

CDC investigator Millet said he believes the situation "is getting better, in that we are now asking the right questions -- there are more people from these affected populations who are doing the needed research."

Hallfors agreed. She said that papers like hers, and new data coming out of the CDC and elsewhere, "is really important, because policymakers can start to think differently. Whites and blacks are different, the dynamics are different, and you can't just treat these diseases the same for both groups."

Was that the wu-tang style you were using against me?...I've learned so many styles!

Peace Fam,

What a day...huh? Two posts for me in one day whoa...(lol). Anyway since I have been soaking up my various WU cds over the past week or so. I came across an article that some of you may find interesting. Plus I have my own infatuation with kung-fu/martial art flicks. But that is for another day, another convo.

Please take time to remember a master and lengend Bruce Lee.

One
Storme
The Rare Breed

Bruce Lee to get own theme park in China

Bruce Lee to get own theme park in China
Mon Nov 27, 2:30 PM ET

HONG KONG - A theme park with a statue and memorial hall will be built at Bruce Lee's southern Chinese ancestral home of Shunde, the president of his fan club said Monday.
The park will also contain a martial arts academy and conference center, Wong Yiu-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong-based Bruce Lee Club, told The Associated Press.

Wong said he couldn't confirm details of a report Monday in the Apple Daily newspaper that said the park was budgeted at $25.5 million and was expected to be completed in three years.
Wong said he attended the laying of the theme park's foundation in Shunde, near Hong Kong, on Sunday. He said Lee's younger brother, Robert Lee, and actress Betty Ting Pei also attended.
The newspaper said Ting donated a set of nunchucks — a weapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or rope — that Lee once used.

Lee, who was born in San Francisco, died of an edema, or swelling of the brain, in Hong Kong in 1973. He was 32. His action films included "Fists of Fury" and "Enter the Dragon."
Wong said he wasn't certain who is funding the theme park

Back in the day when I was a teenager..but I am not a kid anymore...

Peace Fam,

I ran across this on XXL magazine.com. It is the Clipse listing their favorite top ten classic CDs. I assume these are CDs that one can listen to from beginning to end. Some of the comments that people posted on the site are so funny to read. Some had me thinking to myself, (damn-don't take it so personal.) Remember it is their own opinions people! Plus they are NOT listing their favorite artists. It for classic CDs. I must say I am impressed. I love their list, their reasons, and memories that go along with it. It takes me back too. I was just listening to Only built for Cuban Linx today. Well anyway their CD Hell Hath No Fury is in stores now. I heard it was a banga. Sh%*t..for their classic list alone....go cop that! (LOL)

Please enjoy the little excerpts from their listing below.

One
Storme
The rare breed

RaekwonOnly Built 4 Cuban Linx…(Loud/RCA, 1995)

Pusha: “Cuban Linx was great ’cause you had this crew coming out of New York who just set hip-hop on fire, and everybody had their own character, but Cuban Linx was just the uncut raw version. Rae really painted a picture. The album itself was just a cohesive masterpiece. I’m talking bout from production to lyrics. Lyrically, they were trendsetters—they had their own slang, and they rapped it like they didn’t care if you knew it. You had to go find out what it meant. There was no explanation. You could tell they were totally doing them.”
Favorite Track: “Incarcerated Scarfaces

Boogie Down ProductionsCriminal Minded(B-Boy Records, 1986)
Malice: “Oh my God, yes! Criminal Minded. I remember when they came out and it was just underground. There was a couple big heavy dope dealers from New York in Virginia that we just all knew. They came to Virginia and they was cool with us. My man Reggie and Fred—they came with this Boogie Down Productions joint. It had “The P Is Free” on there, and it just wrecked my life. I wanted to be associated with New York, hustlin’, getting’ money, big chains…it was just so damaging to me. And then we have family in the South Bronx, and my cousin Snapper would just talk about what’s hot because New York had everything first. That whole album is crazy. What I need to do right now is revisit that album. I’m sure it will spark the motivation to get back into writing.”
Favorite Track: “Criminal Minded”

Jay-ZReasonable Doubt(Roc-A-Fella/Priority, 1996)
Pusha: “Reasonable Doubt is definitely the best of all the Jay albums. It set a new standard and it gave a face to the whole lifestyle—the whole street culture and the actual lusting for the finer things in life. There was a whole mystique that came along with Reasonable Doubt. I was into all the rumors that came along with it. People were saying like, You see Jay-Z as the face man, they loved Dame Dash as being the brash dude, but Biggs was like the mystery man. Even he played a part in it because he gave a sense of reality. You always heard the stories like, ‘He was in the streets for real’ or ‘he won’t get in the videos.’ It just added to the mystique of the whole Roc-A-Fella situation.”
Favorite Track: “Can I Live?”

Kool G RapWanted: Dead Of Alive(Cold Chillin’, 1990)
Malice: “Kool G Rap was one of my favorites. ‘Streets of New York,’ with that piano, is one of my all-time favorite songs. It’s a nostalgia, I remember where I was at when I got that. I had just got a brand new stereo system, brand new equalizer with the drum machine with the 4 pads on it. I just remember the video where he was spitting like crazy. I remember thinking he was such an ill lyricist.”
Favorite Track: “Streets Of New York”

Dr. DreThe Chronic(Death Row, 1992)
Malice: “I wasn’t a fan of West Coast rap—I didn’t understand it. I didn’t understand the white gloves and the permed hair. But when Snoop and Dre came on the scene with The Chronic, I could understand it and I respected Snoop as an MC. I thought he was insane, and he was so anticipated, just off that album. The music on that album, from beginning to end, you could just ride to that. It made me have a great feel for the West Coast and I really appreciated the sound from that side.”
Favorite Track: “Let Me Ride”

Mobb DeepThe Infamous(Loud, 1995)
Pusha: “That was it man. Young, rebellious, Black angst. It just embodied the ignorance of youth. When it dropped, that was the best thing since sliced bread to me. I was quoting that shit line for line. ‘I use to drive an Ac and kept a mac in the engine/Windows painted black with crack sales intentions.’ I was done. The videos in the Audi, oh my God. The cups of Hennessey. It was something different. It showed a little younger side to the wild street shit. ‘Shook Ones’ was a guaranteed fight started in any club that year.”
Favorite Track: “Shook Ones Part II”

Eric B. & RakimPaid In Full(4th & Broadway, 1987)
Malice: “When Rakim came out, he just changed the climate. Like how snap music came this year and took everything over, Rakim came and made everybody just talk when they rapped. It was just smooth and mellow. He brought a lot of knowledge of self to the table. When I first started rhyming, I used to scream like Run from Run-DMC, and he showed me that you don’t have to do that. You can just talk and get your point across. He just broke through the door and was just cool with it.”
Favorite Track: “Eric B. Is President”

The Notorious B.I.G.Life after Death(Bad Boy, 1997)
Pusha: “It totally showed the growth of Big from Ready To Die. It had so many dimensions to it. And all of them were just great interpretations of whichever lane he was in. If he was talkin’ about some gangsta shit on “What’s Beef,” or he was telling a comedic story on “I Got A Story To Tell.” “Praying On My Downfall”…there were so many great moments. Even if he went the R&B route with R. Kelly—“I’m Fuckin’ You Tonight”—he killed every vein of it. When he was recording it, he must have been like, Man, we keepin’ everything!”
Favorite Track: “What’s Beef”

Public EnemyIt Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back(Def Jam, 1988)
Pusha: “It was politically charged, aggressive, but still, they conveyed it in a way that you wasn’t preachy. They made you appreciate it and love it. It was some of the most militant shit I was hearing and it was great. And they crossed genres—it seemed like everyone was listening to them, not just hip-hop. They took issues head-on, it didn’t matter, they addressed it. This particular album was in their heyday, and I think it was the highlight of their whole career.”
Malice: “I remember walking through school with ‘Black Steel’ on my headphones and thinking that I was gonna do what I wanted and the teachers wasn’t gonna tell me nothin’. Chuck D said he wouldn’t go into the military and the government were suckers, and I just felt so empowered by that.”
Favorite Track: “Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos

HipHop just died this Morning.......

Ladies & Gentlemen,

We got MC Nas in the house tonight and he is gonna tell you a little story about where he comes from...... and how he feels about Hiphop right now.

Peace Fam...I found this over at real talk NY (realtalkny.blogspot.com/). This could be Nas's cd cover. I guess time will tell.

In the meanwhile Nas has been doing his promotional thing lately. He has been out and about..doing interviews etc. He is one of my favorite lyricist. You can say what you want, love him or hate him. He flips verbals supremely.

Something I noticed about him, is that the title of his records always grab you. From "Illmatic, to Hiphop is Dead,"it causes talk amongst the people. The comments can vary. (On a side note: I have even read some people bugging out on his previous release cd's artwork.) Anyway we all know that an album's title is very important to an artist. I mean it is suppose to make a statement to the cd and as a whole. It can be a very personal thing between the artist, and their craft..unless the "man" aka big business comes in, and makes the decision for the artist. However in Nas's case I think it is safe to say he had a lot of input in naming his current cd. I mean he has been in the game for a minute now. That is a big statement to make that Hiphop is dead...culturally speaking. A lot of you all will agree with him, and a lot of you won't. Now once we get past the statement let us look a little deeper beyond the face value of the statement.

"Why would one of the "biggest" rappers proclaim Hiphop is dead?" As I read different little interviews( in between the lines) by Nas it had begun to become clearer, and clearer. There are a number of reasons that all add to the total. One a core group (not just purists or backpackers either....LOL) of Hiphop heads have been mumbling this for quite some time. The game is so unbalanced right now that it's sickening. It seems real mic skills & creativity are no longer respected. Political rap is look on as being corny. Female emcees can only be seen& heard on "click" cuts (help a girl if she tries to do a solo joint now a days and get shine), or either she has to expose an azz cheek or nipple or something. Now everybody has to go 7:30 in a situation or "create" a situation to feed the press engine, because maybe just maybe that will boost cd sales. And because of this unalignment it causes heads to feel frustrated. Where statements like "Hiphop is dead, f*%ck rap, ni99as is wack etc."

One of the main reasons I think Nas feels like he feels is because of the era from which he came, and the era from which most of the "top" rappers(30 & over) & lyricists were born out of. I decided it is that "cut from a different cloth" that Busta spoke on when he won BET's "Best Performance." It is certain statements made by members of the Wu, Jada, Stylez P, Scarface, IceCube, The Clipse, OutKast, DMX etc. There is a vibe of frustration, and I know because I feel it too. Sometimes at more times than others. The youth are not getting the whole spectrum of the culture. Their not even getting the diversity of the styles, and they don't respect it. Could you imagine a person who claims they are into jazz or a jazz musician, and that person never listened to Bird, Coltrane, Ella, Billie or Louie? Or if the person stated they suck, this "old head" etc... How could a person who is contining a culture or tradition be so wreckless (especially if you claim you have love for it)? How could you not respect the person who elevated the culture, and gave birth to your foundation of expression. That shyt would be, and IS FOOLISH. Straight like that.

To reflect on the "era" theory. It goes a little something like this. I say from 1985-1996. Hiphop had a "golden era" a peak era. It was in this era where the music, the culture and mic skill level flourished. You had a balance that has not since been duplicated, and I am not sure it ever will..so maybe it is dead. You could listen, and had a variety of selection of hardcore, party/club, storytelling, comedy, horror, lyrical skills, gangsta, and concscious. Now don't get me wrong..there were certain styles that had their peaks (eg: gangsta) where there was some saturation. However I could still hear a vary of styles on the radio, or at shows. So I guess heads that listened to the music in this era knew how dope it was, (and can"still" be, if we get our stuff together.) There were shows where MCs learned to tighten up their performance skills, because the audience was critical (they were not just expose to your videos or music via the internet), an expected, no they demanded a fire performance or you were getting booed off the stage. Or the crowd was leaving..something was going to give. You had to move the crowd.

So the essence of this era lingers in our souls like when Malcolm first heard Billie Holiday sing live. It is like a persistant itch that alot of my people from that "era" have either by a real love for the culture or bearing witness to the love of the culture from then to now. This love is carried by some industry insiders, writers, activists, mcs/rappers, b-boys, b-girls, djs, graffti/aersol artists..all the true school carry this itch like a virus. It reminds us to never let it go, and that it will be no relief until.....

So we have to keep speaking on it, and building. Because maybe this love we have for Hiphop will be passed on to the next generation. The masses won't get it, but there are a lot of young people who will and who do. It is our burden..each one teach one. So maybe just maybe it isn't dead.

I say it depends on YOU.

One

Storme

The rare breed

Who gives a f#$k about a goddamn Grammy?

Peace Fam,

I would like to take a moment and say RIP to Ed Bradley, and Gerald Levert. May you continue to live through memories, your families, and your legacies.

Well you may wonder what brings the rare breed out? Is it the stew of new music coming from some of our favorite artists...such as Jay, Snoop, Nas, The Clipse, or The Game? Is it the "new industry" disses coming from Jay vs Jim Jones/Dipset, Jim Jones vs Tony Yayo, Jim Jones vs Nas, Peedi Crack vs Julez Santana, Could it be Lil Wayne wanting to make "peace" with the Juve, BG, and Turk?

Nah....it's not none of the above. I mean I have given some thought to these things on different levels. However not enough to hit the keyboards. Sometimes I rather build on things that don't get as much "attention." And one of those major things are females in Hiphop. Since I am a female, and I love this culture as a whole, it is a part of me. I am drawn to speak on it. I know it's a quiet time on the front for females in a "commercial" sort of way. However when I read on Sandra Rose, that Remy(and the girl can spit) had basically stated some things about the BET HipHop Awards and their lack of female representation to the media. It made me raise an eyebrow.

First...I have yet to see an award show that proclaims to showcase this culture...do it in a organized, balanced way. Some have tried(and you could see their vision) just not well executed, and then there are others whose attempts have fallen so short it's like WTF? That was a waste of time. Think do we see any of the different elements? Do we see any underground emcees represented? Do we see different types of Hiphop such as...hardcore, pop/club, gangsta,jazz, lyricism, conscious, reggae/dancehall-Hiphop, reggatone? Freestyle? What about global recognition? Do we see diplays of graffti artwork blessing the atomophere? Dance battles? Where are the honors for activisim? I mean if the Vibe awards can give an award for best video ho..pardon self I mean vixen then I think we can do better etc... I could go on, and on. Maybe the sh*t is too big to contain in a 3 hour show? I mean these are major corporations that are behind sponsoring these events. And what would we expect from them....wasn't it PE who said it best "Who gives a f#$k about a goddamn grammy?" Not too long ago rappers boycotted some of the award shows.

However Remy has a valid point. She felt damn we have made some headway...right? We have our own award shows, and more than one at that. We have made some progress haven't we? Maybe not when you check it from it's raw form. In music you have males, and females who do this thing called rap, and to not have no representation on stage. That is disgusting. I mean that is basic, basic to the core. Damn the female emcees are not even good enough to hand out an award...wow! I mean they need to promote their music/& /face too.

Well Remy I guess they feel you should be thankful that you were in the taped ciphers..just spittin. I mean come on it was a situation where it was a demostration of skills right? Oh by the way I saw some photos of YoYo on the red carpet maybe that counts for something. Let me say I hope she continues to speak on situations like this for all female emcees. Keep reppin' it girl!

Peace

Storme

The Rare Breed

PS: Shout to Busta for winning "best live" performance. He deserved it, and he said some true things when he won that award!

Yo Yo - You Can't Play With My Yo Yo

Peace Fam,
Here is another female emcee that made her own way. She rarely gets her credit due. Big Respect to Yo Yo! I heard she is working on some new material. However when it comes to the ladies in the rap game everyone seems to be working on "new material" that either never sees the day of light or it is dropped so quietly that you would have to have bat ears to pick it up on the radar. On a side note..think about who is last female rapper in the game right now that has been heavily promoted? Lil Kim for a hot second then look what happened with her. She is trying to get out that situation right now. I have a feeling Eve may break the cycle with Aftermath/Interscope behind her. MAYBE..(I am saying a big maybe she was last out 5yrs ago)I am waiting to watch the out come on that one. Plus you know the youth have that attention defecit mentality when it comes to music. Anyway I am looking forward to the "brand new intelligent black lady" to spit" the homegirl don't play dat," and bring those dope stories..."every day I send a letter to the pen."
Yeah this goes out to all my black pearls.."ain't nothing wrong with being strong!"

One
Storme
The rare breed

Gza Liquid Swords

A supreme lyricist period.

Knock, Knock Who da f%#K is bangin' at my door is it Abstract Commerical or Hardcore....

Peace Fam,

You know how lately I have been in and out. Just feeling plain moody, I am on my Beanie...with that feel it in the air shyt. Well I found some VH1 Honor photos online at allhiphop.com. From the title you know who...
He is one of the most underrated mcs out there.It's Gza. He is in my top ten of favorite lyricist, notice I said lyricist. Please for those who don't know go find out. Please enjoy the video Liquid Swordz.
We love you Gza! Peace to the whole Wu!

A Fly Girl..A Fly Girl...A Flyyyyyyyyy Girl

Peace Fam,

It has been awhile. I have been busy. Plus my energy has been real low on commenting on what is going on in the world right now. You know writers/artists are known to be a moody bunch. So that is how the story goes. I need a muse right now. I could comment on the tenth anniversity passing of Tupac (RIP PAC), however I will leave the tribute to be covered by those so many blogs & website's out there. All Hiphop.com did a pretty decent job on the man. The other big news has been on Jay-z and his "end" of retirement. We all knew it...when an artist has a true love for this culture and in Jay's case rhyming..he will do it until his lungs collapse. So as I was flipping through Entertainment Weekly the one with Jay on the cover...the story that caught my eye was the little short on page 22 by a Magrgeux Watson called "Rhymes and Reasons" Female rappers used to grace the charts. Why are they getting sold short now?

Wow...where is the Source or XXL on this one? Anyway in the article it is quoted "R&B pop stars are stealing female rappers' thunder by embracing street smart looks and hiphop sounds." She notes four major reasons.

Well I did ask the question a while back have female emcees lost their swagger? Afterall the mesh of R&B with Hiphop (Mary J Blige-love ya Mary & thanks to Teddy Riley-who dubbed it new jack swing)have been together for a minute now. So I guess my mind did not even travel there. The music corporate business in general has not been kind to artists nevermind to female rappers. I just figured like anything with racism,sexism etc it is a constant struggle that we have to battle. So I did not go there either with my thoughts. She also measured success from a "sales" point a view...and again I did not enter that realm, when I asked about swagger. However that does not mean it is not revelant to look at it from that stance. Of course she took the normal route of that quote about who listens to rap music which Davey D revealed the truth on that a while ago. Now a days skills rarely go with record sales...as MC Lyte once said "I don't create a character when I am on the microphone." Well those days are done. There are a whole bunch of "characters" in the game now. So I wonder are the pop divas stealing their shine? I don't think so..I think marketing,promotions,it's the fans' mentality on this issue now a day and a whole load of other bullsh*t are mixed up in this.

What this article did spark for me is that I would love to see some interviews with some female emcees on this issue. Or a more in-depth article about this. I mean...we want to know more than what designer they wear.

One
Storme
The rare breed

MC Lyte feat. DJ Premier - Wonder Years (2006)

Peace Fam,

I have been on a little vacation. But Iam back like Lyte the MC. She is in the words of Rev Run's cool's inspiration. Please check out her new video. Skills, and swagger this is what I am talking about. "Don't call it a comeback..."
Yeah...we love you Lyte!
Enjoy

Storme
The Rare Breed

Writing my Name in Graffiti on the Wall

Peace Fam,

Back in the day I had guys who would draw beautiful graffiti art on paper for me. Awww..I guess they knew steps to my Hiphop heart...LOL. No I didn't get a full wall mural tribute. But the pictures themselves brought me warmth & joy. You know it's funny because before this culture itself became known mainstream as "Hiphop" culture or a part(graffiti writing) of the culture. The youth just lived it out. They just did it from the soul. The colors the intricate details of my name,and the images "it was what it was" a work of art given in affection as a gift. Well this trip down memory lane caused me to wonder more on the history of the female in this beautiful artistic street painting showcase. Because most of us know some of the dangers that can be involved in this. I found this sum of history(see below) on the ladies of aerosol, and thought this would be great thing to spread the ode. Please read, think, an enjoy!

BIG RESPECT to ALL female Graffiti Writers out there from back in the day to today.

One
Storme...the rare breed



FEMALE WRITERS
©2001, 2003 @149st Do not republish without permission.

Young women participated in writing from its earliest days, but have always been in the minority. The assumption that the qualities required of a successful writer are gender specific have been dis-proven time and again by many young women. Throughout the years many young women have earned their places in New York City's aerosol art history.

Dona
blue

In aerosol art culture women face many obstacles not encountered by men. The late hours and desolate locations in which most writing is done can be particularly dangerous for women. As with many male-dominated fields the social atmosphere can be extremely harsh. Female writers are often subjected to all kinds of harassment. They are frequently the subjects of rumors such as "She sleeps around to get style." or "Her boyfriend writes for her". In general women have to struggle for respect for their accomplishments. Another barrier frequently encountered was possessive boyfriends who discouraged participation in a male-dominated field.


EARLY 1970s
Females to gain attention during the early 1970s were writers like Brooklyn's STONEY and COWBOY. GRAPE and CHARMINE were also early female writers. Probably the most prolific of the time period were Manhattan's BARBARA 62 and EVA 62. These women hit streets, public parks and subway stations with as much vigor as their male counter parts. KIVU, POONIE 1 and SUKI were also active around this time.


MID TO LATE 1970s
From 1974 to 1979 few young women made consistent efforts on the streets and subways. During this time period LIL LOVE 2 of Manhattan occasionally accompanied her brother LEE (Quinones) to the lay-ups, but for the most part female writers were not active.

In 1979 PINK also known as LADY PINK came into prominence. She would become the most enduring and accomplished female figure in the history of writing to date. Since that time PINK has been an ever-present creative force in aerosol art.


1980s
In addition to the continued presence of PINK the 1980s saw female subway writers such LADY HEART, ABBY, CHICK, SS, (LIL-LOVE TBK), DAWN, ANNA and BAMBI. LADY BUG gained attention for her throw-ups on the BMT division during the mid to late 1980s.


1990s- PRESENT DAY
The new breed of female writers shows a level of commitment seldom seen in earlier generations. These women are involved in bombing, burners, roller letters and tagging on the streets on New York City. Recent female writers to make significant impact are MS. MAGGS who broke ground in the early '90s. Brooklyn's DIVA, HOPE, and DONA of the Vandals In Control crew, they have produced many elaborate murals across the city. JAKEE from the borough of Queens was a prolific street bomber during the late 1990s. Other recent day female New York City writers include MUCK, FNS, CLAW, MISS 17, ICON, EROTICA 67 and NAISHA.

With aerosol art's expansion outside New York City in the 1980s many women across the globe pursued careers as writers. MICKEY of Holland and BLUE of Sweden have made significant strides and are a part of the New York writing scene, writing for the Fantastic Partners crew.

It is to the credit of all the generations of women that they thrive in a sometimes misogynistic "boys club" culture.

Just like a Jumbo, People Fiend......

A lot of times when I reflect on Hiphop, I have to ask myself about the contributions females have made to the game.

Seriously Roxanne Shante is one of those females that made her mark. Her attitude is what gave birth to a lil Kim or Foxy type of attitude. She brought that I am dissing everybody because I know I am the sh*%t...like what? She added a touch of glam with the furs, and jewels.

Some of these females today need a swagger. However the swagger needs to be backed up with talent. They have to create their own essence as this is my persona to make the people believe. It doesn't have to be stuck up...but there has to be a presence that is there beyond marketing because marketing can only go so far.

Are there any female emcees out there that have a true love for this anymore? Because I only get the vibe from a few.

For example when I hear Nas, Jay-z, Meth, Fat Joe, Jada,Busta and others build on the music in general I hear and feel how they are true fans of Hiphop...however I rarely feel that from some female emcees.

Maybe it is just me...I will have to think on this more.

One
Storme

Picture us coolin' out on the 4th of July..and if you heard we was celebrating that's a World-wide Lie!

Peace Fam,

Please take time out to remember your history, and live it out everyday. I know a lot of people celebrate it as a time to bond with family,and have some good food.
In that essence there is nothing wrong with that. Building family & friendship ties for stronger relationships is beautiful. However we must never forget....or get it twisted the sacrafice our ancestors gave. Stop, and leave the commericalization of the red white & blue at the door. What was the status of the African on that date in 1776? I think most of you already know. If we are to embrace this date of the 4th of July then lets celebrate true freedom fighters...people who truly lived their lives in the pursuit of liberty, peace, and justice for all...let us not forget Malcolm, Martin, Harriet, Fredrick Douglass, Sojouner, Paul, our personal immediate heroes or sheroes in our communities.. the list could go on, and on. And as we think about the past, don't forget to reflect on our current state of "freedom",and the new & old challenges we still face. As Harry put it so well for "the enemy is tenacious," and so must we be.

One
storme

“What to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? ... To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, and unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants brass- fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings; with all your religious parades and solemnity, are to him, mere bombasts, deceptions, and pious and hypocrisy--a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.” - Frederick Douglas

When this man speaks...please listen

An Open Letter to Hip Hop About Some Real Important Shyt

Dear Folks who say they Love Hip Hop

I wish there was a way to make this issue of Net Neutrality more interesting. I wish there was a way to spice it up and make it compelling like some sort of beef within the rap industry. Maybe I should get Brad and Angelina to talk about it instead of their baby. Maybe Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton can utter a few words and force us to take more of an interest.

I wish Cam'ron spent his vast money holding press conferences, dissing punk ass Congress for taking tainted money from Verizon, SBC, and Comcast instead of going after Jay-Z. Im glad Jay-Z ignored Camron, unfortunately he remained silent as the President of Def Jam on this important issue. We'll see what happens after Def Jam finds it difficult or too costly to send out their e-post cards alerting me and others of their latest releases

Im sorry Miss Jones on Hot 97 was so upset and enraged that she felt compelled to make headlines calling Mary J Blige a bitch for not shouting her out at last weeks Summer Jam. Its too bad that she didnt use her 3-4 hours a day of airtime in the nations largest city to call the greedy Congress people who accepted money from these corporations Bitches. There aint gonna be any shout outs if the Senate follows Congress in passing this bill. Maybe she'll step it up when her parent company Emmis finds that folks from all over the country can no longer easily access their archived interviews on their website.

It's too bad that many of us found this issue 'too complicated' and 'too overwhelming' and hence directed our attention to Ludacris and Ice Cube's beef with Oprah. This is the feedback I got after stories ran on my website as well as AllHipHop.

Shyt I'm sorry Oprah was too busy telling Ed Lover that she really does love Hip Hop and that she listens to 50 Cent and his violent ass all damn day instead of alerting her millions of viewers about the issue of Net Neutrality.

Im sorry that KRS-One and others used these Internet airways to tell us about the Hip Hop Nation they want to build, but didnt issue a call to action to protect a main arm of our communication. Whether youre a Hip Hop or Rap Lover the elimination of Net Neutrality is gonna impact you..

Here's what's happening folks. The house has gone passed the COPE bill and rejected proposals to insure Net Neutrality. Those who sided with the Comcast and Verizon are well aware that the ability of ordinary people to communicate to the masses is a problem because its been the only thing holding them accountable. For the last 5 years, the biggest stories about government corruption, corporate swindles, global warming and no weapons of Mass Destruction has come through Internet bloggers who were able to push an issue to the masses and force Fox, CNN and other News outlets to pay some sort of attention.

Anyone who is an activist and championed causes ranging from Election fraud and Diebold Machines, police brutality Freeing Mumia, Global warming, Media Reform and Saving the South Central Farm in LA just to name a few this is will especially hit you hard, because the Internet and its neutrality provisions have enabled many of us to counter biased mainstream media outlets get information out about particular causes all over the world.

Yesterday that ability took one step closer to coming to an end. The mantra being sung on Capitol Hill is Shut it down, Shut that shyt down and redirect traffic to a handful of places and media outlets that they can influence and control.

Like Ice Cube said 'Laugh Now and Cry Later', because many of us will soon be crying when we see the Internet gets parceled up and we start paying outrageous tolls for basic amenities. And speaking of which why didn't Ice Cube talk about this issue instead of not being invited on Oprah?

Anyway your next steps should you choose is to call your Senator's office and tell them to stand up and protect your interests. Ignoring this, waiting for others to take on your responsibility or acting like the issue will simply go away will not change this.

While many of you may shrug this off and think it doesn't apply to you, stop and think of all the activities you do on the daily that involve the Internet. Such activities range from using phone cards which use Internet connections-(Many of y'all didn't realize that) on down to peeping your favorite blog... Many of y'all like to surf and check out my site, AllHipHop, Sohh, HipHopGame etc.. Folks that shyt is about to change in a big, big ,big way.

You're soon gonna be left with only being able to peep monthly issues of The Source and XXL, who neglected to address this issue. The Source bypassed this in their Media Watch column and Elliot Wilson from XXL obvious saw his shyt talking editorials as more important then keeping you informed. I guess I can understand, all these Hip Hop Internet websites were eating into business.

All you artists who felt like you can easily get your music out there via Myspace and the other sites, that's about to change Oh yeah lets not forget the punk ass RIAA who like to sue everybody. They stayed silent on this and in fact while all this is going on they have quietly been lobbying Congress to change laws so that they can fundamentally change the copyright laws in such a way that it will make it damn near impossible to pass things around via the net or do Internet Radio. Please read about this here:

www.kurthanson.com/archiv.../index.asp

and here:

p076.ezboard.com/fpolitic...=453.topic


Also lets not let Steve Jobs and his vast i-tunes network off the hook. Perhaps I missed it, but I didnt see him alerting us when you went to download your favorite song or stepped into his stores. Perhaps he figures he's rich enough to pay for the inevitable increases while the rest of us cant. In other words controlling 90% of the market is not enough.

Shame on former Black Panther, Congressman Bobby Rush for selling us out and supporting these corporations. Shame on the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and any other Civil Rights group pretending to represent our interests while selling us out and taking the money to front for these groups. And while Im glad former Congressman Ron Dellums did well in his Mayoral bid in Oakland, we should not forget that he's also a lobbyist with one of his main clients being Verizon so shame on him as well. How's Oakland gonna be a world class city that is a beacon for new technology and innovation when his client is one of the main people trying to shut down the Internet?

In closing I'm gonna say this and it may be sobering for some... It's what my pops told me after I got caught fuccing up and then went home and tried to kiss up to him so I wouldn't get in trouble. He told me to stop acting like a wuss and start acting like a man. He told me it was time I grow up and accept responsibility. He then punished me for 3 weeks not for the fucc up, but for me trying to kiss his ass instead of owning up to my mistakes. This is about to happen to all of us...

My point is this. Hip Hop is over 30 years old. We're not kids no more. This industry is not run by kids. To not involve ourselves in shaping the institutions that we rely on to get our information and music out is irresponsible. Thats some thing to pond about. Here's another breakdown on this issue courtesy of www.playahata.com

Peace out for now
Holla at your Senator before you holla back at me...

www.senate.gov/general/co...rs_cfm.cfm

Davey D


House Rejects Net Neutrality

The First Amendment of the Internet the governing principle of net neutrality, which prevents telecommunications corporations from rigging the web so it is easier to visit sites that pay for preferential treatment took a blow from the House of Representatives Thursday.

Bowing to an intense lobbying campaign that spent tens of millions of dollars and held out the promise of hefty campaign contributions for those members who did the bidding of interested firms the House voted 321 to 101 for the disingenuously-named Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act (COPE). That bill, which does not include meaningful network-neutrality protections creates an opening that powerful telephone and cable companies hope to exploit by expanding their reach while doing away with requirements that they maintain a level playing field for access to Internet sites.

"Special interest advocates from telephone and cable companies have flooded the Congress with misinformation delivered by an army of lobbyists to undermine decades-long federal practice of prohibiting network owners from discriminating against competitors to shut out competition. Unless the Senate steps in, (Thursday's) vote marks the beginning of the end of the Internet as an engine of new competition, entrepreneurship and innovation." says Jeannine Kenney, a senior policy analyst for Consumers Union.
In case there was any question that Kenney's assessment was accurate, the House voted 269-152 against an amendment, offered by Massachusetts Democrat Ed Markey, which would have codified net neutrality regulations into federal law. The Markey amendment would have prevented broadband providers from rigging their services to create two-tier access to the Internet with an "information superhighway" for sites that pay fees for preferential treatment and a dirt road for sites that cannot pay the toll.

After explicitly rejecting the Markey amendment's language, which would have barred telephone and cable companies from taking steps "to block, impair, degrade, discriminate against, or interfere with the ability of any person to use a broadband connection to accessservices over the Internet," the House quickly took up the COPE legislation.

The bill drew overwhelming support from Republican members of the House, with the GOP caucus voting 215-8 in favor of it. But Democrats also favored the proposal, albeit by a narrower vote of 106 to 92. The House's sole independent member, Vermont's Bernie Sanders, a champion of internet freedom who is seeking his state's open Senate seat this fall, voted against the measure.

Joining Sanders in voting against the legislation were most members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, including its co-chairs, California Representatives Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey, as well as genuine conservatives who have joined the fight to defend free speech and open discourse on the internet, including House Judiciary Committee chair James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisconsin, and Intelligence Committee chair Pete Hoekstra, R-Michigan.

The left-meets-right voting in the House reflected the coalition that has formed to defend net neutrality, which includes such unlikely political bedfellows as the Christian Coalition of America, MoveOn.org, National Religious Broadcasters, the Service Employees International Union, the American Library Association, the American Association of Retired People, the American Civil Liberties Union and all of the nation's major consumer groups.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, opposed COPE, while House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, and Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, were enthusiastically supported it.

Among the Democrats who followed the lead of Hastert and Boehner as opposed to that of Pelosi were House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer and Maryland Representative Ben Cardin, who is running for that state's open Senate seat in a September Democratic-primary contest with former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume. Illinois Democrat Melissa Bean, who frequently splits with her party on issues of interest to corporate donors, voted with the Republican leadership, as did corporate-friendly "New Democrats" such as Alabama's Artur Davis, Washington's Adam Smith and Wisconsin's Ron Kind all co-chairs of the Democratic Leadership Council-tied House New Democrat Coalition.

The fight over net neutrality now moves to the Senate, where Maine Republican Olympia Snowe and North Dakota Democrat Byron Dorgan have introduced legislation to codify the net neutrality principles of equal and unfettered access to Internet content into federal law. Mark Cooper, the director of research for the Consumers Federation of America, thinks net neutrality will find more friends in the Senate, at least in part because the "Save the Internet" coalition that has grown to include more than 700 groups, 5,000 bloggers and 800,000 individuals is rapidly expanding.

"This coalition will continue to grow, millions of Americans will add their voices, and Congress will not escape the roar of public opinion until Congress passes enforceable net neutrality," says Cooper.

Cooper's correct to be more hopeful about the Senate than the House. But the House vote points up the need to get Democrats united on this issue. There's little question that a united Democratic caucus could combine with principled Republicans in the Senate to defend net neutrality. But if so-called "New Democrats" in the Senate side with the telephone and cable lobbies, the information superhighway will become a toll road.

Peace I am Out Jettin' like a Runaway Slave....

I thought a national museum dedicated to slavery, its about time. It is due for our ancestors. However I think it is very needed now for this generation. I will it brings the truth, and no watered-down sh*%! Drink it straight with no chasers.

Yes I will this to be a part of the light in our darkness.

One
Storme


By Ed Wiley III, BET.com Staff Writer

Posted June 5, 2006 – For a grandson of slaves, Saturday night’s star-studded shindig in the nation’s capital was just the kind of event needed to raise the necessary $200 million for the long-overdue United States National Slavery Museum.

The tally of ticket sales and pledges isn’t in yet, but if attendance and public exuberance is any indication, former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, now mayor of Richmond, is well on his way to seeing his decade-old brainchild become a reality.


Nearly 1,400 people turned out for the $100- to $300-per-person “We Are One People”gala, which featured such celebrities as Bill and Camille Cosby and singer-dancer Ben Vereen. By paying more, you got to hang out with those celebs in a separate reception after the three-hour event.

The museum, designed by architect Chien Chung Pei to stand on the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg, Va., will serve as a vehicle to help the nation heal, says Wilder, the grandson of slaves who was named after abolitionist Frederick Douglass and poet Paul Laurence Dunbar.

“Slavery has been a subject so many people never really wanted to talk about,” said Wilder, who in 1990 was the first African American to be elected a U.S. governor. “This is the only museum dedicated to the education of slavery.”

Wilder has been appealing to donors and corporations to contribute to the museum fund. He also established a Web site, www.usnsm.org, to help raise the needed money.

I Came to Bring the Pain...Hardcore..

Peace Fam...

I came across an article on Meth..another one of my favorite emcees. Please review the full article below.

I found this to very interesting, although most will probably read it and not think much about it. I was intrigued by him confessing some of his own self-realization. It seemed to be very honest in his discussion about his business driven reasons for the push of his last cd, and the people he worked with. He pointed out how his image begin to be more directed as a "party/good time" emcee. I am sure he still is however from PLO style to Bring the pain it's a long time coming. He is definitely skilled in his art of mic verbals. He was raw in the fact that he admitted basically that he got caught up, that he could not see it, and made mistakes. He is taking accountabilty for it. He is also saying that he doesn't like it, and he needs to be more focused, and get back on point. A lot emcees especially now don't do this, not in the public anyway.

I love the line they quoted of his in the article..."Now they just gon' front/ Like my joints is on Proactiv and they just don't bump/ Then n---as gonna say I lost my skill/ When in fact they all been programmed and lost they feel."

How true this is on certain levels which I will address in a future post. In the meantime enjoy the article.

One
Storme...the rare breed



Method Man Drops P-Diddy and Finds Clarity Method Man Drops Diddy, Seeks Clarity On New LP, 4:21 ... The Day After

In the few years since his last LP, Tical 0: The Prequel, dropped, he's read unfairly disparaging appraisals of his skills in magazines, had his pride tested, gotten his car and most of his jewelry stolen (that famous Meth diamond ice pick? Gone!) and seen his wife battle a severe illness.

"There were a lot of things that needed to be changed in my life and career," Meth said Tuesday at New York's Electric Lady Studios. "Everything! I needed that moment of clarity."

The title of Meth's new album focuses on that clear-headedness: 4:21 ... The Day After.

"Four-twenty [April 20] is the national weed-smoking day, according to those who chief," he explained, sitting on a piano bench. "I basically said '4:21' because I'm the day-after dude. Plus, four [and] two [and] zero only adds up to six. '4:21' gives you that perfect seven. So this is sort of the day after, a moment of clarity, so to speak. When you're waking up from that night of partying and sh-- like that, what goes down."

4:21's street record, "Yah Mean," features Fat Joe and Styles P. and is the kind of pavement-embedded record one would expect from Meth. The album's first single, "Say," includes a sample of Lauryn Hill's vocals from her 2001 performance of the Bob Marley classic "So Much Things to Say" on MTV's "Unplugged." The track finds Meth at perhaps his most pensive, talking about people who say he may not have it on the mic anymore, among other things.

"See, it was 'Clan in the Front,' " he raps over an acoustic guitar. "Now they just gon' front/ Like my joints is on Proactiv and they just don't bump/ Then n---as gonna say I lost my skill/ When in fact they all been programmed and lost they feel."

"I hate the way mutha-----s was talking, like I was the worst thing to happen to MCing," he said of the inspiration for the song. "And there's n---as out there doing way worst sh-- than I ever did in my life.

"It's like finally getting the joke and figuring out everybody is laughing at you — 'All this time, I ain't know' — but still having that power to strike back at 'em," he added. "Like 'I'm gonna reverse the joke. The joke is on y'all, 'cause I get it now.' "

Another moment of clarity arrived while Meth was figuring out who he was going to work with on 4:21, his fourth solo album. Kwame and Scott Storch both supplied beats, and RZA is back on board as well (see "RZA Happy To Once Again Be The Peanut Butter To Method Man's Jelly").

"On the third LP, it was suggested to bring in Harve Pierre and P. Diddy," he began to explain about exactly where The Prequel went wrong. "Who am I to argue? Puff knows how to sell some records. But that wasn't the direction to go in, and I know that now.

"I didn't know that when people look at me, they didn't just look at me as a performer who goes around and has fun all day," he continued. "They want me to say something. I got [so] caught up in the other hoopla that I stopped saying anything. I just got wrapped up in trying to make hit records and SoundScan. ... I just wanted to get my album out. Def Jam was going through their transition, and I felt that if I didn't get my album out, I wasn't gonna be at the label."

Now, looking back, Meth says he sees that he needed to look inward to find the right direction.

"I wasn't true to myself [on The Prequel] for the simple fact that, look at who I was working with," he said. "I'm not trying to take nothing way from Puff, he's the biggest artist on Bad Boy. But Puff with Meth don't mesh. We don't party the same way."

4:21 ... The Day After is due July 18.

— Shaheem Reid

All Day in Black Girl's Life...Can You See What I See...

Rap Videos: The Effects On Black Girls
By Randy Dotinga, HealthScoutNews

Rap music videos often portray a world teeming with sex and violence.

But can they make teenage girls do bad things?

While the authors of a new study say the answer to that question remains elusive, they add their research has uncovered a potential connection.

The study found that black teen girls who view more rap videos are more likely to get in trouble with the law, take drugs and become infected with sexually transmitted diseases.

"We can see there is some link, some association," says study co-author Gina Wingood, an associate professor of behavioral sciences and health education at Emory University in Atlanta. "Maybe they see what's on the rap music videos and think that's how teenagers act, and that's how I should act."

While sociologists have devoted plenty of time studying how music affects teenagers, rap videos haven't gotten much specific attention. "We said, 'Let's look at adolescent females and ask them questions about rap music and other media venues, like gospel, hip-hop and music videos in general," Wingood says.

The study findings appear in the March issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Phone calls seeking comment about the study were not returned by spokespersons for Island Def Jam, a record company that releases rap records, or the Recording Industry Association of America (news - web sites), the main trade group for the recording industry.

Wingood and her colleagues went to health clinics in Birmingham, Ala., and studied 522 black girls from 1996 to 1999. All were sexually active and between the ages of 14 and 18.

Girls who watched the most rap videos (more than the average of 14 hours a week), were three times as likely as the other girls to have hit a teacher (7.1 percent versus 2.4 percent). They were also 2.5 times more likely to have been arrested (17.3 percent versus 7.2 percent), and nearly two times more likely to have had sex with multiple partners (19.3 percent versus 11 percent).

The researchers then followed the girls for a year. Forty-one percent of those who watched the most rap music videos developed a sexually transmitted disease, compared to 33 percent who didn't watch as many videos.

Wingood and her researchers looked at several factors that could affect behavior, such as age, income level and extracurricular activities, including church attendance. However, only two factors other than rap music viewing boosted the rates of promiscuity, drug and alcohol use, and violence among the teens. Those factors were lack of employment and lack of parents who monitor teen activities.

Wingood acknowledges she doesn't know whether the watching of rap videos directly affected the girls' behavior or merely reflected interests they already have. "Maybe they want to be independent and autonomous adolescents, and this is how they express it," she says.

Michael D. Resnick, director of the National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Research Center at the University of Minnesota, says sociologists have found plenty of evidence that the media -- including music and television -- affect the health, attitudes and behaviors of teens.

"Young people are listening and observing," says Resnick, who is also a professor of pediatrics. "Adults may think they are not, but they, like adults, are social beings and respond to the environment around them."

"When that environment is one that desensitizes us to violence and to treating each other with caring and respect, we see predictable results in young people and in ourselves."

Does Hiphop Need a Messenger?

This is my thoughts regarding the previous article. First the author does feel Hiphop needs a messenger. He feels Hiphop needs someone more in the vein of Tupac.

Well I will say I overall I agree. However I would like to add, Hiphop doesn't need ONE messenger. It needs many. That is one major problem with movements, and leadership. Because once the leader returns to the essence...the movement is lost. There is usually no direction.

One also has to take in account that Hiphop became big business, and once big business stepped into the ring..things have a way of becoming blurred. We know big business in most cases doesn't speak for the people. But rather manipulates the public as consumers for their own pockets & gains.

A lot of people in the Hiphop community feel as though balance needs to be brought back, which I think is essential. There are a lot of "messengers" out there. The only thing is one has to dig to find them. More than likely you will not find them on your local radio or video channel. They do speak to the soul. If any one is speaking truth to power will touch the people, now we know that everyone won't be touched because as humans we are far more complex than that (see book pic above), and some of us are to far lost for that. However I think when it comes to the youth, and the next generation it is never too late to give up. There are "messengers in the making" among us.

We need to think about cultivating the next new "messengers/leaders". People have to find more creative ways to get the "other" messgages out there, and it not just the responsibility of the artists. It includes all of us. The industry insiders, and the knowing public. The ones that are tired of hearing the same old..same old. We have to support,demand and promote balance.

Afterall, if the youth don't know. They just don't know. But the ones that do know need to spread the word, and take action. That may mean even if you purchase one of their cds, go to a concert, donate/volunteer at local Hiphop or arts program in your community.

The article could have been written on how the author misses Tupac(and I miss him too), how Hiphop lost a messenger etc and how he would love to see another dynamic an artist of conviction...oh it was....My bad..I just got a little lost by the extra rant on other present day “conscious"rappers and their messages that he seemed to dismiss. And as for tapping into this generation's anger....I would like to say that this anger has been around for a long a time, passed through generations....,and it's bigger than Hiphop.

One
Storme...the rare breed

Hiphop Needs A Messenger...

What's Up Fam?

Below you will find an article I read on Davey D's site by a guy who feels Hiphop needs a messenger. I will post my thoughts next.


Hip Hop Needs a Messenger
Story by Hector Gonzalez // Art by Fernando Amaro Jr.

www.siliconvalleydebug.co...iphop.html

Rap music now a day is in the worst phase that it has ever been in. I can't think of one song on the radio that is worth listening to a second time. Rap careers seem to come and go and not many rappers that have come out since 2001 have made it past a third album, and even when they do, their albums are anything but memorable. With the exception of Jay-z (99 problems) , Nas (I can) , the Game (Dreams) , and Kenya West (Jesus Walks), every other rapper getting radio play can be thrown out the window. Rappers are all about the money and have lacked to consider the power that they carry by simply sending a message so powerful that it could literally change the history of this country forever.

What hip hop needs is a messenger, it needs another Tupac.

I'm from a generation many times referred to as the “hip hop generation,” I grew up listening to it and have been a part of it since a young boy. I would like to believe that hip hop is more than just entertainment, as having the potential to lead a movement for our generation. Back in September Friday the 13th of 96'when Tupac was pronounced dead after being shot 6 days prior, I was in 8 th grade. Back then I didn't really understand the importance of Pac. It actually took years and even adulthood to fully understand his words and importance to society as a whole.

Thug Life
He was the son of a Black Panther, who not only claimed to live a ‘Thug-life' but also claimed that the injustices of this country is what made him a thug. Thug life was a movement in which there were 26 points to the code of a thug, the term “THUGLIFE” itself was an acronym for Tupac. It meant The Hate U Gave Little Infants Fucks Eveyone.

Tupac was more than just a rapper, he literally was a messenger because he was able to tap into a whole generation by his words and conviction. No other rapper has had the same magnitude because no other rapper has mastered those elements. In the days following his death I saw countless footage of people all over America mourn for Tupac. A class at the University of Berkeley was introduced whose curriculum was solely based on Pac's lyrics, murals of his face were painted all over America, and countless youth still wear the image of Pac on their shirts throughout the streets of America. In the Bay Area, a social worker by the name of David Inocencio asked incarcerated youth to write about how they felt about the death of Tupac, the writing was so powerful that it became a weekly publication called the Beat Within where incarcerated youth write about their lives.

Tupac was ahead of his time. If he were alive today he would be the biggest threat to President Bush, I think even far greater of a threat than Osama. This is because in this country there is the spirit of millions of people waiting for a leader to speak to them. Tupac was becoming this voice for the people. When Tupac was alive he would spit on T.V. cameras, flip off courthouses and even dis' politician like Bob Dole and Dan Quayle.

A rapper of this magnitude is needed now more than ever, we are living in a politically tense times, the prison system is growing, no jobs, and Hurricane Katrina was a reminder that people of color are still second class citizens.

Conscious Rap
Hip Hop thinkers have always talked about the value of the music but never about how to tap into the heart of the listener.

I've heard people like KRS One (Rapper, philosopher and founder of the Temple of Hip Hop), Afrika Bambata (Founder of the Hip Hop organization Zulu Nation) Davey D, (Radio Commentator for KPFA and columnist for the Mercury News) talk about Hip Hop being special because it is the voice of the ghetto and that rap music allowed rappers to deliver a message to their community. In the documentary “Soundz of Spirit,” a film on hip hop and spirituality, Davey D actually compared rapping to preaching and although I would agree with him 100%, there are such things as bad preachers and the rappers of today are bad it. Considering that all of these important figures to hip hop are saying that rap is the voice of the ghetto, and that rap music has a message, then it would be completely rational to say that because rap now a day isn't delivering a true message, then rap is no longer special nor important if rappers like 50 cent (Window Shopper), Bow Wow (Like You), and Dem Franchize Boyz (I think they like me) are taking the shine. Even the cliché analyzes people give rap by saying that it is the reality of the black youth is a false one because most of the black youth and other youth of color are not living the life style that 50 raps about. I hate to say it, but the rap of today sounds pretty dumb.

Many “conscious” hip hop activists make the claim that people like Common, Mos Def, Tali Kweli and Dead Prez are able to tap into the youth and perhaps lead a conscious hip hop movement because those artists are generally considered positive. Although I would agree that they are, that is not what this generation needs. The conscious scene, although it educates, ignores and leaves behind the people who are truly suffering in America. It may not do it intentionally, but it does it regardless. Going to a Dead Prez show is like going to a Hip Hop hippie concert. Dead Prez's ‘Revolutionary But Gangsta' album by no means has the potential to tap into the hearts of the poor youth across America. What makes rap so beautiful is that rap allows people to reflect on their lives, so although Wu-tang Clan are perhaps the better lyricists, NWA will always get more respect, because people were able to relate their lives to the realities that NWA was talking about. It's the same for people like Dead Prez, they definitely educate and are talented, there following consists of college students, activists, and coffee-shop hip hoppers, while Mike Jones for example- in his line ‘back then they didn't know me/ now I'm hot they all on me” is more relatable because poor kids, including myself when I was in my teens, would fantasize about getting paid so that girls would jock.

Many rappers, although maybe spreading good messages, have not been able to tap into the anger of this generation. This anger comes from the frustration of feeling trapped with the mentality of a hustla', because hustlin' seems to be the only form of escaping out of the ghetto for youth in America. This anger and frustration is real and authentic, it is not fake like most rapper's trying to claim to be gangsta's and not fake like ‘conscious' rappers trying to get everyone to be activists.

The hip hop generation of today is lost and confused and doesn't seem to know where it's going except to feed the multi billion dollar industry that is ultimately being controlled by old white males in office boardrooms. The underprivileged youth of America are ready and prepared for war, all they need is a leader to finish what Tupac started.