Malcolm X Reconsidered: A Daughter’s Perspective

Malcolm X Reconsidered: A Daughter’s Perspective

I am often reminded that during my father’s time, teachers in classrooms all across the world taught that Africa and her people had no history pre-Enslavement—before the bondage of Black people. The older men of my father’s day tell me the beauty of Malcolm was that for the first time in their lives, they heard good things—honest and accurate facts—about who they were as men

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Tupac was a father figure to Jada Pinkett-Smith

Tupac was a father figure to Jada Pinkett-Smith

Jada spoke frankly about her friendship with the late, Tupac Shakur, "Pac was one of the first male figures that I had in my life that saw the beauty and talent in my intelligence separated from sex.

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U KNOW We Rising to TO THE TOP!

LITERALLY, 10 seconds in to Jay Rock & Kendrick Lamar's To the Top, I heard White Boy's "U Know" featuring Kanye West

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Billion Dollar BLING - Diamonds in Sierra Leone

Billion Dollar BLING - Diamonds in Sierra Leone

'Bling' follows hip-hop's own Raekwon & Paul Wall, as well as reggaeton star Tego Calderón on their April 2006 voyage to Sierra Leone to gain insight into the country's diamond export industry. 

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Love and Hip Hop and Basketball

Love and Hip Hop and Basketball

Black History Month is halfway gone, and on the eve of this year's NBA All-Star Weekend, we thought we would examine the rich history of Basketball and Hip-Hop.

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J Cole Releases Video for 'She Knows' From Born Sinner Soundtrack

J Cole Releases Video for 'She Knows' From Born Sinner Soundtrack

Yesterday, just in time for Valentine's Day, J. Cole released  the 'She Knows' video via Twitter from his Born Sinner Album. (artwork by Craig Kulig)

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SOUL CLAP! Kanye West - 10 Years after College Dropout

SOUL CLAP! Kanye West - 10 Years after College Dropout

Then comes Kanye with his motherf**king College Dropout! Aww man, what a breath of fresh air. Liberation soul clap!!

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Hip Hop Producer/Dj Competition (Production/Turntablism)

Hip Hop Producer/Dj Competition (Production/Turntablism)

Dj's battled for the 'Turntablist Gold' last month in Long Beach, California. Producers took part in a beat battle for Gold in the room over. Winners of each received $1,500 cash! 

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A Black History Month Lesson From Beyoncé and Jay Z

A Black History Month Lesson From Beyoncé and Jay Z

What lessons can Beyoncé and Jay Z offer us as we enter Black History Month? 

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DELUXE REISSUES OF SOULS OF MISCHIEF’S CLASSIC 93 ‘TIL INFINITY, ON-SALE STARTING TODAY!!

DELUXE REISSUES OF SOULS OF MISCHIEF’S CLASSIC 93 ‘TIL INFINITY, ON-SALE STARTING TODAY!!

GET ON DOWN ANNOUNCES “HIERO LIGHT BOX” & “MUSIC BOOK 2-CD” DELUXE REISSUES OF SOULS OF MISCHIEF’S CLASSIC 93 ‘TIL INFINITY, ON-SALE STARTING TODAY

Get On Down will start taking orders today via www.GetOnDown.com, and orders will start shipping on March 7th.

The jewel-in-the-crown of this masterful reissue is the Souls Super-Bundle” – Only 500 of these bundles will be made available for purchase at this time, and they are only available via Get On Down.

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Bring That Beat Back! RockzSolid's Back to Gold City

Bring That Beat Back! RockzSolid's Back to Gold City

Rockz Solid, the name deriving from the nickname "Rocky" began rapping through her love of poetry and music. 

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MUST SEE! Kanye West Falls off Stage in Norway

All of the Lights??! Well the show must go on...LOL

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HHS Freestyle Fridays!

HHS Freestyle Fridays!

We are looking for the very best lyricists to go head to head on our YouTube Channel for our Freestyle Fridays Competition! To enter, simply submit a 30-second (or less) video of yourself freestyling with your best rhymes HERE or email us at [email protected]

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HILARIOUS! Drake Falls Off Stage

Drizzy was hilarious this past weekend as the host and musical guest on SNL. It was refreshing to be spared from watching Kenan Thompson play Whoopi Goldberg, [sidebar: Kerry Washington killed as FLOTUS Michelle Obama]! Cast newcomer Sasheer Zamata fit right in, and we're looking forward to more from her! Check out Drake's fall from grace below - the joke's on him :) 

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VH1's The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip-Hop

The Making of The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip-Hop, How A Book Went From the Shelves to the Screen

 A discussion on VH1′s Rock Doc Series with panelists Steve Stoute (author, CEO of Translation), Billy Corben (Director, Filmmaker), Brad Abramson (VP, VH1 Production & Programming), Keith Clinkscales (CEO, REVOLT Media & TV). Moderated by Lisa Cortés (Owner, Cortés Films) ... Read more HERE

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From Spoken Word to Hip-Hop: The Watts Prophets & Kendrick Lamar

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Seemingly born out of the 1965 Watts riots, The Watts Prophets used the art form of spoken word to be the voice that detailed the harsh realities of a time before them, their present, and the perils of a future if the "dead" did not "wake up"! But they also spoke of love and romance, and everyday life in their surroundings. Today's Kendrick Lamar of Compton introduced a fresh voice, detailing his life growing up in the inner city of his west coast hometown. Hip-Hop used to be primarily a voice, a way to tell the truth about the world we live in. This why Mr. Lamar has & continues to maintain the respect and admiration of Hip-Hop's pioneers. Enjoy below the some of the West Coast's finest spoken word and hip hop:

The Watts Prophets - I Remember Watts

 

https://youtu.be/Tz4bmFfBJyU

Kendrick Lamar - M.A.A.D. City (Featuring MC Eiht)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10yrPDf92hY

'I Remember Watts' vs. 'M.A.A.D. City'

When you hear The Watts Poets say "To light up Los Angeles, it only took one [watt]. I remember Watts...a place where winos and have-nots took their treasured possessions to pawn shops.." are you able to draw any parallels when Kendrick Lamar growls "..Seem like the whole city go against me, every time I'm in the streets I hear YAWK! YAWK! YAWK! YAWK!" ?

Quincy Jones & The Watts Prophets - Beautiful Black Girl

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVINVxJCztk

No Make Up - Kendrick Lamar

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQtWY-ZxFTw

'Beautiful Black Girl' vs. 'No Make Up'

"Hey Beautiful African Girl, I got something I wanna say to you...Girl, I love you. I love you Beautiful Black Girl & I need you so bad" Whew! Color me inspired. This romantic spoken word piece by The Watts Poets was set to music, and blessed by the legendary Quincy Jones. KDot futhers the sentiment when he shares "The roses on your face light up the sky. Those lips are colorful all the time. Do you mind...no make up today? Her prettiness, the wittiness of colors on her skin tone...

As you can see, The Watts Prophets' influence continues on today! Had you heard of them prior to reading this post? Share your thoughts below in the comments.

Hip Hop Smithsonian, EzineArticles Basic Author
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2013 Top Ten Digital Hip Hop Bios

2013 Top Ten Digital Hip Hop Bios

Currently, there are 100+ digital hip hop bios available for you to dissect, enjoy, and win arguments with your friends & family! Here, we break down the top 10 of 2013

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LAST CALL!!! Top 10 Hip Hop Songs About Hip Hop - #2, #1

LAST CALL!!! Top 10 Hip Hop Songs About Hip Hop - #2, #1

Our funding campaign wraps up this Tuesday, December 11th. We hope you've enjoyed counting down the Top Ten Songs about Hip Hop! We close out this week with Biggie and Tupac!

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Author Maco Faniel Sets the (Houston hip-hop) Record Straight!

Hip Hop Scriptures recently caught up with Maco Faniel, author of Hip-Hop in Houston: The Origin & The Legacy. Enjoy our interview below!

HHS: How did you balance writing for different audiences?

MF: This book was originally my Master's thesis, so it was highly academic with regards to language. I changed some of the language for the book to make it more accessible. I strongly believe that God has positioned me to merge the street and academia. While I consider all of my work to be scholarly, I want my momma to be able to read it (laughs); and people from various walks of life. 

HHS: How did you stay motivated & inspired?

MF: I feel as though I already know what death looks like, having experienced depression for a number of years, so I made a decision to pursue life at all costs. I really believe in taking opportunities, and I understand that it takes discipline and commitment to achieve success. So far, I have been able to sell 1,100 copies of my book in just 4 months!

HHS: How have folks back in Houston received your work?

MF: The local hip-hop community has given positive feedback. They're excited about it, and for finally being recognized for their contributions. My whole music collection while growing up was inundated with Houston hip-hop and other regional styles.  This book is important for many reasons - While recently viewing the AMA's we all basically witnessed cultural appropriation - Black style was used as a backdrop. Future generations could grow up thinking that Macklemore or Justin Bieber were the originators.

HHS: Excerpt from the book: His most poignant claim was that hip-hop
must be understood in the appropriate context, else it falls victim to
misunderstandings and lies.
(summary of Jay-Z’s argument from Decoded: Jay-Z in Conversation with Cornel West). Can you expound upon this?

MF: Let's take N.W.A.'s 'F**k the Police' for example. It's easy to dismiss it as simply hateful rhetoric against the police. However, the appropriate context is police brutality; driving while black; taking a kid out of a Crips set and dropping him off in a known Blood set. Some people dismiss hip-hop as having no culture, or as material put out by degenerates. People tend to think this can't be real life that they're rapping about. It's all about culture. In Houston, for example, we have a car culture. When you turn 16, you get a car. Instead of a radio Raheem, we draw attention to ourselves by our cars. Ultimately, anything out of context is a lie.

HHS: Which current hip-hop artists have your ear?

MF: It's funny...I don't actually listen to hip-hop on the radio when I'm in the car driving. I listen to the R&B station. But when at home, I listen to J. Cole - I think he had best album out this year. I also listen to Kanye West, Jay Z, Scarface, Drake and A$AP Rocky. I grew up in a different time, so I can't identify with a lot of the new stuff (Trinidad James for example). Sometimes while listening, I'm thinking, "Do I have to be on molly to get this?"

HHS: Excerpt from book: We came back in an hour, and I had like eight bars. He said
his rap, and everybody started laughing, but when I said my rap, they started
raising their eyebrows. They seemed impressed. So when I saw that…I
started [thinking], “Maybe I got something right here!” That’s how it all
started—turning that lil’ eight bars into a verse and eventually into a song (Willie D)
 Does everyone think they can rap nowadays?

MF:  Everyone thinks they can rap. However, they (eventually) come to realize that they can't. Hip-hop never started as a career move for most successful artists. Today, for the most part, as in the past people do it for FUN. A lot of people believe in the possibility of overnight success because of things like YouTube, and other online vehicles. They lack hustle - you have to build your craft. Kendrick (Lamar) is a "new" artist, but he put in years of work behind that. To quote Slim Thug's 'Already Platinum' referred to the fact that he was already (financially) successful from selling music out of the trunk of his car. Malcolm Gladwell got it right when he cautions that you have to put in at least 10,000 hours to reach some modicum of success.

HHS: As I read the book, I noticed what seemed an almost unspoken alliance between the South & the West Coast. Is this accurate? 

MF:  Yes, to an extent there was, and still is. There's definitely a shared experience of being marginalized within the music industry by radio stations and record companies for decades. And there are similar spatial realities for both Houston and L.A. and Comptom. Everything is spread out, we have to have cars, many Texas people migrated to Cali.

HHS: You're currently working towards a PhD at Rutgers. Talk a bit about your previous experience as a teacher, and how you infused hip-hop.

MF: As a professor, I use music all the time to teach. Take history, for example. I will break down the lesson the the neighborhood level (e.g., Sunnyside vs. 3rd ward). I use the music to help students understand context - how we define ourselves; how we define 'other'. As a class, we break down how a song discusses this. I'm known to play music in the classroom while students are reading. I freestyle a lot during lectures to make it a comfortable environment. We look at popular imagery. I have even used some of the more popular Kevin Hart memes. I especially enjoyed the Ike Turner one (laughs). It's all about taking something familiar to make them pay attention to the content.

HHS: How will obtaining a doctorate ultimately help you, and what are your plans for the near future?

MF: Working towards my PhD allows me to obtain additional skills and knowledge. It enhances my ability to critique, to be an analytical thinker and provides me with both credentials and legitimacy. I spent 8 years working in the corporate and non-profit sectors, while there I was always distracted by big ideas and the troubles of the world. I not only wanted to help eliminate these troubles, but I also wanted to undertand them more. So, graduate school was the next step for me. Then  I read a lot of self-help and business books; I was studying success. So, beyond a career, and a stream of income. I want my work to be about social justice. I want my work to help liberate people.  I want to help people lead more fulfilling lives.

HHS: What do you think of Kanye West, and his current platform?

MF: I defend him in his critique of our capitalistic economic and political system. He, like many socially conscious persons, grapples with the need to eat, success, and speaking truth to power.  His latest “rants” puts a lens on who controls the means of production, and how they go about doing it. Unfortunately, we live in a society that socializes us in regards to what vocations we should pursue, and often suggests that we should only do one thing in this life. When one tries to step outside of that socialization, we often find that we are questioned by the gatekeepers of industry and also questioned by society at large. Although I don't agree with everything Kanye says or his method of delivery for that matter, the media discourse about him depicts him as a crazy and angry black man. When some one is labeled crazy, it is easy for us to dismiss the truth of what that person says—to filter through the distractions and hear the point that Kanye is trying to make.

HHS: Thank you so much again for agreeing to do this interview. We really appreciate it! I can't wait to put this book in the mail to Houston and send my Dad his copy :)

To order your copy of the book, please visit: http://www.macofaniel.com/hip-hop-in-houston/


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Lorde Denies Dissing Drake and Nicki Minaj

Much has been made recently about Lorde's monster hit 'Royals'. Critics and fans across the blogosphere have weighed in on whether there are racial overtones or if she's simply taking a shot at hip-hop. Let's hear from the 'queen bee' herself.

 

From MTV UK: 

After accusations that she had badmouthed both Minaj and Canadian rapper Drake, the Royals singer took to Twitter to defend herself. “I have nothing but love and admiration for both nicki and drake (have said this x1000),” Lorde tweeted last night.

 

“Just because their songs aren't my reality (being 17 and from auckland) doesn't mean i don't admire their musicianship and careers!,” she stated in a follow-up tweet.

 

In a recent chat with Interview Magazine, the talented songstress was quoted as saying: “Around the middle of last year I started listening to a lot of rap, like Nicki Minaj and Drake, as well as pop singers like Lana Del Rey.”  Read more here


 

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