Official Blog of Hip Hop Scriptures - Virtual Hip Hop Museum
Kanye West dropped by to spar with Charlemagne tha God and the rest of the Breakfast Club at Power 105.1...the highlights?? Yeezy will be putting Charly Charl on a private jet or on a coach flight sometime REAL SOON!
F*ck hashtags and retweets, n*gga
No truer words spoken can sum up the recent events surrounding racial profiling at Barney's New York, and Jay Z's corporate partnership with the luxury retailer. Unfortunately for him, we live in a world that is largely influenced by the twitterverse, especially Black Twitter. Mr. Carter isn't exactly a social (media) animal, but during the summer Hov gave hope to millions when he not only came on Twitter to promote his upcoming MCHG album, but also to answer questions. That pretty much opened Pandora's Box. From there on, there was an expectation from your fans and your community that you were all in. Not to mention, you and your wife's appearance at a Trayvon Martin rally, was a signal that you were invested in social justice.
I am not suggesting that this is not the case. However, please recognize that one tweet within 48 hours of the debacle would have carried so much weight; something along the lines of "This is unacceptable. I'm on it." This would have been enough to quell the hysteria (momentarily) and also given him and his team time to investigate. Gone are the days where people are waiting on an official press release. That's the equivalent of watching your parents make nice with the schoolyard bully. And like it or not, you are in a patriarchal position round these streets. Did the Drake and J. Cole fiasco teach you nothing? You've got to be ENGAGED. In this sound-bite, hashtag, retweet society, THESE are the #newrules.
As our campaign winds down to a close, we really appreciate the support from you all! Our readership continues to grow, our funding - not so much. As we are a (one-person) startup ANY contribution between now and December 11th is greatly appreciated. Check out this week's #3 below :)
3. Common - I used to love H.E.R.
Reminiscin' when it wasn't all business
If it got where it started
Went from turntables to mp3s
From "Beat Street" to commercials on Mickey D's
Not about the money, those studs was mic checking her
But I respected her, she hit me in the heart
I might've failed to mention that this chick was creative
Once the man got to her, he altered her native
Told her if she got an image and a gimmick
That she could make money, and she did it like a dummy
Now I see her in commercials, she's universal
She used to only swing it with the inner-city circle
But I'mma take her back hoping that the shit stop
Cause who I'm talking bout y'all is hip-hop
QUESTIONS:
1. Do you remember the 1st time you heard this song? Did you know this was about hip-hop?
2. Do you agree with Common's sentiment? Does this still ring true today? Why or Why not?
3. Did you know about the beef that resulted after this song was released?
SOUND OFF in the comments below!
Today marks 28 years since LL Cool J released his debut album, Radio on Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions for the album took place during 1984 to 1985 at Chung King House of Metal in New York City. The album was primarily produced by Rick Rubin, who provided a sparse and minimal production style. Radio also features a sound that is punctuated by DJ scratching, mostly brief samples, and emphasis of the downbeat. LL Cool J's b-boy lyricism conveys themes of inner city culture, teenage promiscuity, and braggadocio raps.
The album experienced a significant amount of commercial success and sales for a hip hop record at the time, earning U.S. Billboard chart success and selling over 500,000 copies within its first five months of release. On April 19, 1989, Radio was certified platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), following sales in excess of one million copies in the United States. Initial criticism of the album was generally positive, as LL Cool J's lyricism and Rick Rubin's production were praised by several music critics. It has since been recognized by critics as LL Cool J's greatest work.
Reflecting the new school and ghettoblaster subculture in the U.S. during the mid-1980s, Radio belongs to a pivotal moment in the history and culture of hip hop. Its success contributed to the displacement of the old school with the new school form and to the genre's mainstream success during the period. Its success also served as a career breakthrough for LL Cool J and Rick Rubin. Radio has been recognized by music writers as one of the first cohesive and commercially successful hip hop albums.
(source: wikipedia)
We're getting close! The Countdown of the Top 10 Hip Hop songs about Hip Hop continues ...check out #4 below:
4. Dead Prez - Hip Hop
Uh, one thing 'bout music, when it hit you feel no pain
I'm sick of that fake thug, R&B-rap scenario, all day on the radio
Same scenes in the video, monotonous material
Y'all don't hear me though, these record labels slang our tapes like dope
You can be next in line and signed and still be writing rhymes and broke
You would rather have a Lexus or justice, a dream or some substance
Hard Core is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim. On November 12, 1996, it was released, in the United States, by the Atlantic subsidiary Big Beat Records. The album was notable for its overt raunchy sexual tone and Kim's lyrical delivery, which was praised by music critics shortly after its release.
Hard Core debuted at number eleven on the U.S. Billboard 200, the highest debut for a female rap album at that time, and number three on Billboard's Top R&B Albums, selling 78,000 copies in its first week of release, and reached the top ten of the Canadian Albums Chart. In the United States, Hard Core was certified double platinum by the RIAA, and is considered by many a classic hip hop album. (via wikipedia)
Welcome Back and TGIF! Continuing our Countdown of the Top 10 Hip Hop songs about Hip Hop ...our #5 spot comes in from the West Coast
5. N.W.A. - Express Yourself
Cause some don't agree with how I do this
I get straight, meditate like a Buddhist
I'm dropping flavor, my behaviour is heriditary
But my technique is very necessary
It's crazy to see people be
What society wants them to be, but not me
Ruthless is the way to go, They know.
Others say rhymes that fail
To be original.
Or they kill where the hiphop starts,
Forget about the ghetto and rap for the pop charts
Some musicians curse at home
But scared to use profanity when up on the microphone
Yeah, they want reality.
But you won't hear none.
Cause if you wanna start to move up the chart
Then expression is a big part of it.
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Pop Chart Lab has created a classification system for the many unique names of hip-hop artists in their new illustration, “Massive Map of Hip-Hop Monikers.” Signed and numbered prints are available to purchase online. Read more here...
Here we go again! We continue with our Top 10 Hip Hop Songs about Hip Hop series...be sure to check back as we countdown the greats. Last week, we discussed the #7 spot. This week, we showcase #6. Check it out:
6. The ROOTS - What They Do
World population confront their frustration
The principles of true hip-hop have been forsaken
It's all contractual and about money makin
Thin is the line that run between love and hatred
The game is ill-natured, it's nothing sacred
Thanks for your support! If you love Hip Hop please share this post with your friends.
Sean "Puffy" "Puff Daddy" "P. Diddy" Combs launched Revolt Tv this week, a truly revolutionary music channel that promises to go behind the music, engage it's audience via social media, and truly look at the industry and artists' stories.
Welcome Back to our Top 10 Hip Hop Songs about Hip Hop series! This week, we showcase the #7 spot.
Last night in Paris, celebrities gathered for a major fashion event hosted by H&M and Isabel Marant. Audrey Tautou, January Jones, Freida Pinto, Alek Wek, Olga Kurylenko, Isabel Marant and other celebrities entered the red carpet. The Sugarhill Gang did a live performance of Rapper's Delight.
Welcome to our first installment of the Top 10 Hip Hop Songs about Hip Hop!
You can help by making a contribution to our IndieGoGo funding campaign:
LL Cool J is a force in the entertainment biz. The Grammy-winning artist has not only tackled the music world, he has also won over audiences with his starring role on the CBS hit drama, NCIS: Los Angeles.
Now, the father of four is taking on a new challenge — the ACE Brand “A” Game Challenge, a contest that asks sports fans and aspiring young athletes to submit video entries showcasing their skills in sports for a chance to win $10,000. The campaign also benefits the non-profit organization, After-School All-Stars.
“My after-school experience was trying to keep my bus pass and hoping I could get home with my new sneakers on,” the star told Parade.com. “So anytime I can do something that benefits kids and gives them an opportunity to have an after-school experience, I’m 100 percent in.”
LL Cool J, 45, talked to Parade.com about going back to his New York roots, the upcoming 100th episode of NCIS: LA, the evolution of hip-hop, and more...read the rest of the interview here
Hip Hop Scriptures had the honor and pleasure of sitting in the audience for an in-depth interview with Dres from Black Sheep (courtesy of the NYC Hudson Union Society)
The room was packed with every demographic that comes to mind, yet Dres was clearly eager to share and seemed to be in a comfort zone. Enjoy his take on several different topics below:
On the meaning behind the album title 'Wolf in Sheep's Clothing': We were a lil' different, the Black Sheep of the Native Tongues [collective]. They were very Afrocentric...we had all of that in our hearts, but you couldn't see it by looking at us.
Being the 1st hip hop group on Jay Leno: Leno was a very cool dude whose head was much larger than all of ours (laughter) - I was thinking he had to be massively intelligent.
Hip hop used to be something you only heard late at night or on the weekends [on television].
Incredible Bass from The Choice is Yours: We got the loop from Hamilton; Lawnge found it. It was actually for Chi (chee). Back then, artists took snippets & embellished them; made it able to rock the party. We just wanted to prove that we belonged, that we fit in & that there were options. Trying to introduce ourselves as an option. Options are what is missing today - everything is monotonous, cookie-cutter.
On the The Choice is Yours (Revisited): In the early 90's, everything was remixed. I wrote three new verses. Mercury records really liked the third verse, but wanted to keep the first two verses from the original. I wanted it to have this really high energy that really didn't exist on records at the time.
How long did it take to compose choice is yours? I write all day. As a lyricist, I always have music in my head...that leads to lyrics. I'm constantly jotting. I pull from so many different sources. I expound on a combination of prolific statements. That's my process & I like it a lot. I have people tell me years later "I just got that [line]" & I love it!
Inspiration for Strobe Light Honey: It was actually from a true life experience. I had met this girl & mind you - I was VERY drunk. On the dance floor, one of the most beautiful girls that ever walked on the face of the earth. She lives deep in New Jersey & invited me to dinner the next day. It was an hour train ride. I remember walking past shacks & tin roofs. That's what her house looked like. The sweater she was wearing looked like a curtain. She looked NOTHING like a woman, let alone the one I was dancing with. A vermin ran across the floor. I told her I was leaving to go buy some ginger ale, and walked back to the train station instead. On the ride home, I thought I" should NEVER drink again". I actually ran into her 3-4 years later. She said "Do I know you?" I knew exactly who she was, & I said "No"
Lessons Learned: We did some things really well, & some things really poorly. We were kids. I got to see the world in the transition of becoming a man. Donald Trump can't buy the lessons that I've learned. I was part of a group that introduced hip hop to middle America. We formed this bridge for others to walk over.
The Black Sheep Breakup: As men, we grew to be in different places. Maybe he was walking, & I took a train. Sometimes you arrive at different times. Once I understood that Philips light owned Polygram who owned Mercury, I realized that it was all about the bottom line. Sometimes you need to look at things from the "roof" & step back. I was missing some shots that I should've made.
Moving Forward: It's so important to discover yourself. I'm still discovering myself & enjoying the ride.
Where did Black Pool of Genius come from? Stevie Wonder is my muse. He is the reason why I started writing songs. Key of Life. That's when I understood the importance of words. "From the black pool of genius" (how Donny referred to Stevie's vast collection) was from a Donny Hathaway cover of Stevie Wonder song. When I heard him say that in the intro, I thought "Wow I want to be in that pool".
On the current state of Hip Hop: I've grown to feel that much how there are subdivisions in jazz & rock, there is the same in hip hop. Most of today's music is rap, not hip hop. Rap music is corporate - how can I sell something? Hip hop is cultural, something you can grow from. It's become a corporate liaison. I look at the program directors, they are the "parents". I look at the artists as ditch diggers; they don't realize the ditch is for them. They'd rather be broken than broke. Hip hop is still growing. I think it will correct itself. It's starting to happen a lil bit now. It's happened time & time again with jazz & rock.
** From the Audience Questions**
Future projects? I feel like my best days are still ahead of me. There's so much good music that I have yet to share. I speak to anyone that speaks to me & I'm "elated" if you ask to take a picture with me.
On writer's block: You just have to not care - to not care is to write anyway. Write about having a problem writing. If you just keep trying, good will come. I promise you you'll get past it. Don't be afraid to fail. Don't be afraid to fall. Embrace it.
Words of advice: Everyday is the opportunity for greatness. I earn a lot that has nothing to do with a dollar.
Family Life: His oldest son Honor is in a band called Cerebral Ballzy. They are the first group signed to adult swim. Honor rounded out the top 3 of NME's 2011 Cool List. He's one of those Skateboard kids that are brilliant. He taught himself to play guitar in 3 months. Dres is an avid golfer, has even won a few tournaments. "I've always been down to learn".
From The Black Pool of Genius Album:
Kanye sat down with BBC's Zane Lowe -
From Part 2 of the interview:
"When someone comes up & says 'I Am A God', everyone says who does he think he is? I just told you who I thought I was...a god! Would it have been better if I had a song called 'I am a N*GGER?! Or if I had a song that says 'I'm a Gangsta'!Or if I had a song that said 'I am a PIMP! All of those colors and patinas fit better, on a person like me, right? But to say you are a god - especially when you got shipped over to the country that you're in & your last name is a slave owner's. How could you say that - how could you have that MENTALITY?"
"People are slowed down by their perceptions of themselves. If you're taught you can't do anything you won't do anything. I was taught I could do everything."
