Special Edition #3 2008
ALSO CHECK OUT THE 2008 UNDERGROUND RAILROAD & GLAMOUR GIRL BRIANA BRYANT
FEATURING: SLIM, YUNG BERG AND HUSTLE BUNNY JOY CRANFIELD
26-DIV
EDITORIAL Ceo/Editor-In-Chief Aviana “Miss E” Easter Cincinnati Director NOC
This issue is very different than the issues that I have published before. This issue is dedicated to the memory of my stepsister Briana Marie Bryant and Joy Cranfield. Both ladies were killed in September. I initially started to dedicate the issue to Joy but right when I was getting ready to release this issue I received the tragic news that my stepsister was killed by gunfire as well. It has been hard for me to put the finishing touches on this issue. After awhile completing this has almost been like therapy for me. It has allowed me to stop focusing on the negative/past and start looking towards the future. So without further delay I give your our 3rd special edition. Check out the pictures from the 2008 Diva Contest, Yung Berg, Slim, and the 2008 Underground Railroad. Sincerely, Aviana “Miss E” Easter www.intromagonline.com Aaviana@intromagonline.com
BRIANA & YUNG BERG
Chicago Director DjQuest95 Special Guest Writer: T. Easter Special Thanks: A. Favors ITW Marketing Love and Rock Clothing Rez Street Team Promotions Ric-Columbus Cliff Gulley-Talk of the Town Promotions Get Right EntertainmentCincinnati INTRO™ (ISSN, 1939-5477, issue#8, Sept/Oct 2008, is published bi-monthly by Aviana Easter, PO Box 202252 Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120, Single copy price is $2.00. Subscriptions price is $15.00 for six issues. Copy written 2007. All rights reserved. Submissions of photographs, illustrations, drawings, and manuscripts are considered unsolicited materials and the publisher does not assume any responsibilities for se items. Reproduction in part or whole without written consent from publisher is strictly prohibited. INTRO MAGAZINE I sa trademark production by Aviana Easter
The Underground Railroad: Hip-Hop’s express to escape the 2008 Minstrel Show African Americans have always been -strel Show album. In the article he faced with negative stereotypes in the gave a timeless definition of hip-hop. United States. During the U.S. colonial Jennings wrote, “I know what it period, African American slaves used the started out as was ‘party music.’ But it Underground Railroad as a means to es- was also more than that. It was somecape slavery. The Underground Railroad thing created by marginalized people was not an actual railroad, but a system of living in marginalized conditions. routes and checkpoints designed to help Hip-hop, as a culture, was a masterslaves reach free states. Along with the piece painted by folks with no art Underground Railroad, supplies, no art training, white people showed what “Hip-hop, as a and whose arts funding they really thought of Afrihad been cutoff.” can Americans through min- culture, was a Commercial rap is hipstrel shows. Minstrel shows masterpiece hop music made strictly made fun of African Ameri- painted by folks for the radio by very cans and displayed them as wealthy record compawith no art suplazy, buffoonish, cheerful, nies. The music is typiignorant, gullible and musi- plies, no art train- cally hollow in regards of cal. The Underground Rail- ing, and whose meaningful messages for road and minstrel shows African-Americans. Unwere major issues through- arts funding had derground hip-hop is hipout the 19th century. Albeen cutoff.” hop music that is not though no longer utilized, backed by wealthy record there are traces of both that exist in companies and not made for the radio. today’s music industry. The music usually consists of hip-hop Today, hip-hop is one of the most artists who speak about more adult popular forms of music throughout the issues such as politics, church, reducworld. What originally started as a cul- ing gun violence and raising a family. tural movement in the 1970s has become I believe it is morally wrong for record a million dollar industry. Hip-hop was companies to promote commercial rap used as a musical way for African-Amer- over underground hip-hop because 1) icans to speak about things that were hap- commercial rap is the modern version pening in their lives. Over time hip-hop of a minstrel show, 2) the issues spohas divided into two distinct sub genres, ken about in underground hip-hop commercial rap and underground hip- need to be heard, and 3) the growth of hop. underground hip-hop will show that A hip-hop artist named Derek Jennings African Americans are more than wrote an article about hip-hop in the thugs, gangsters, pimps booklet of Little Brother’s 2005 The Min and hoes. 5
Commercial rap is the modern day version of a minstrel show. The common themes of pimping, gangsterism, bling and slang are typically found in every song. Every artist claims to be a pimp or thug. Whether they are in colorful suits with long hair, wife-beaters and sagging pants, or oversized shirts with doo-rags, they are displayed as a typical black male. They come off as male prima-donnas and are shown in videos as being extremely narcissistic and very chauvinistic. These “pimps” are loaded with jewelry from head to toe. Their necks are covered with large pieces of jewelry that hang to their waist. If the man is not in a suit, his pants start at his knees and end at his ankles capped off by the newest pair of tennis shoes or Timberlands. On top of his appearance, the rapper stresses how easily he will kill or stomp somebody into the ground. They are the standard characters in commercial rap. The second, and maybe the more important, character is the “Ho.” She is in every single rap video there is wearing almost nothing. The Ho always makes sexual gestures with her lips. She dances seductively and is always seen with her pimp or thug. The Ho is always considered to be a conniving “bitch” who is very promiscuous and the subject of verbal and physical abuse. She is degraded to the point where she is nothing but eye candy on her man’s arm that can easily be replaced. These characters are the most prevalent in commercial rap and looked at as the typical African-American. It is this collection of images that the music industry pushes over underground artist who don’t fit that mold. The artists that the industry pushes justify it by saying
they are making music for the people. 50 Cent, a rap artist best known for being shot nine times, justified the content of his music over an underground artist in Spin magazine. He stated, “In the music business, you do what makes sense for music and business. So if the artist makes a record they know ain't gonna sell, then why do they allow the company to spend money marketing it?” When the music industry has an artist justifying the violent degrading nature of his music because of record sales, it only makes the industry right. It allows the industry to continue making decisions they believe are accurate about black people. The artist is selling millions of records and he fits into the mold that works. The industry executives know that the artist is not a direct representation of all black people, but it is their representation. They are in control of the music that comes out and those images are the ones they push. It is a modern form of minstrelsy where whites are once again mocking African Americans. The minstrelsy of commercial rap is the main reason why the issues spoken about in underground hip-hop need to be heard. “To be blunt, there are many avenues available for black folks wishing to live fulfilling lives in this country, but still precious few (*cough* rap and sports) that get the Good House Negro Keeping seal of approval from the mass media,” Jennings continued. “And boy it seems like the road to riches in the music biz is much easier for those whose subject matter mostly includes pimping, selling crack, strip clubs, and materialism. Sure, all those things exist, but is that ALL there is to talk about? ALL there is to us?” 6
Every African American man and body,” according to a December 10, woman does not deal with street vio- 2008 Prefix Magazine review of the lence, drugs and pimping women. They album. “Songs like "Heaven Somedeal with everyday issues that any where," which includes many of the white, Mexican or Asian person would guest artists singing gospel, may turn struggle with. Topics such as religion, you off. But Common brings together school, genuine love, friendship, homo- many different textures and goes off on sexuality and abuse are discussed in several musical tangents but still manunderground hip-hop. These are very ages to have DJ's cutting over a few important issues that someone may face tracks -- a refreshing touch. Still, Elecin his life, but commercial hip-hop stays tric Circus is one of the most daring away from it. One underground artist albums released in a while, and Comwho does not stay away from it is Com- mon shows a lot of balls to put out such a diverse collection, regardless of mon. Common is a Grammy “She dances how hip-hop fans might react to it. award winning hip-hop artist seductively If you like conscious rap mixed with a fresh, original sound, you who is known for spending the majority of his career in and is al- should dig this.” Another issue that is rarely, if the underground. Just recent- ways seen ever spoken about, in hip-hop is ly, mainstream media has bewith her the acceptance of adultery. Little gun to give him the credit pimp or Brother is an underground hipthat he so rightfully deserves. hop group whose song “Breakin’ thug” His catalog of music is one My Heart” on their recent album, of the most impressive and Getback, tackles the issue headcritically-acclaimed hip-hop music since its birth. He has constructed on. In the second verse of the song, songs that every man woman and child Phonte of the group raps about a woman can relate to. Some of the serious topics who learns that her husband is having he has covered include abortion, finding numerous affairs. She ends up leaving religion and death. Common is one of and taking the children to her mother’s the most respected hip-hop artists in the house. Although the scenario could be described as typical, Phonte’s set of genre today. Common’s 2002 album Electric Circus lyrics give light to a very real issue that is his most personal and diverse. He is never discussed. Phonte raps, “Momma was like, covers topics such as the effects of child "Baby now, I hate to see your tears / But molestation, cancer, homosexuality and true love. Many hip-hop albums before I been with your daddy for bout 35 and after Electric Circus have not delved years / And in my day, I had to turn a into those topics with so much sincerity. blind eye to cheatin'' / but I ain't never Critics recognized the range of topics had to wear no black eyes from beatings discussed on the album and praised it for / As long as he doin right, by you and the kids / How you gon expect that man its bravery. not to be who he is? “The album may not be for every CONT. PG 23 7
INTRO: So tell me about the new album. SLIM: Yup, well this is what it is its Slim from 112. Actually I have my own label entitled M3 productions. Its underneath Asylum/Atlantic so the way that I am doing it is that I assigned myself as an artist to my own label. I am doing it the independent way. Basically the album “Loves Crazy” is suppose to come out in September. I have my single “SoFly” featuring Young Joc and Shawty Lo in the remix. Its doing really well. Its in the top 20 across the board. Its doing extremely, extremely well. That's what it is. I didn’t want to do a solo project really but to start up the label faster I knew that I already had a sound/brand and the type of system that they had in Asylum worked for me. I put my stuff just to get things started. I am working on my new artist Diesel AKA Fresh Money. He also performed with me today. I am getting him groomed. Getting him on the stage so that he can get used to it so I can sit back relax and watch him grow.
INTRO: I loved 112! I will admit I didn’t like the way that the last album was promoted. I don’t think that it was promoted properly. SLIM: Here is the thing the one pro thing about being on Bad Boy. Its a boutique label and when it is a boutique label its not that many artists so that they can concentrate on one particular artist. Puffy is a marketing genius. So of course your gonna see us whether you like it or not. Fortunately for us we made quality music so our fans were there for us thru and thru. Once we left the system and went to another we had to get used to the system. The last album “Pleasure and Pain” went platinum. We have a fan base following.
“Fortunately for us we made quality music so our fans were there for us thru and thru”
INTRO: You didn’t want to do a solo project. Will you be doing another group project or better yet will there be another 112 album? SLIM: There will definitely be another 112 project. I can say that for sure because I am the CEO.
INTRO: You have a large fan base.
SLIM: Fortunately for us when we drop an album our fans are like “We got you”. We sell the records its just the the hype around it. Sometimes we work with the hype and sometimes we work without it. We feel that as long as we make great music we can we have the have the outlet to get it out there. We kinda have ourselves 68% out there. That is why I started my own label. Me and Puff are in cahoots right now. He is grooming me to be a young CEO. He hit me up and said that “ I feel you, I am feeling you right. You are making the moves” I reached Cont.next page
11
out and asked him to help me out. We are still boys. He seen me out there working. I didn’t ask him for anything. He came to me and said “I got you”. INTRO: Tell me a little about Diesel. Who is he? SLIM: 19 yr old phenomenon. He is probably the best 19 yr old rapper that I never heard. I will go on record with that. You don’t have to baby-sit him. He can really put his words together. He knows how to write songs and put them together. He can work with the younger artists that are out right now. We did a song called “ Freak Bunch” with legends like 8 Ball, MJG, and 36 Mafia. I don’t know many 19 yr old s that can get down like that. INTRO: He was able to step to the plate. SLIM: I think I found a diamond in the ruff. I have to give a big shout out to my M3 staff. They really hold me together because I will admit at one particular point in time I was ready to give up. When God has a plan for you sometimes the devil comes in and tries to mix things up for you. You have to see the bad before you can see the good. There were a lot of times where I thought that certain people had my back didn’t. So just going through that over and over again I decided to got to Australia to do some soul searching. I went to Bondi Beach and said to my self what am going to do? I had incredible investments. I was making a whole lotta money their. However I still had a love for music. I wasn’t sure if I was going to give up music or what. My staff and I were all friends first before we were in business together. That’s
why we call ourselves Fam First. They grabbed me and said “listen to yourself. Tell your fans that you don’t want to sing anymore and listen to what they have to say”. So I did it first in Australia. I told the fans that I wasn’t going to sing anymore and they started crying. I had some fans asking me “How could you do that to us”? I had one guy come and ask me that he has been there since the beginning and that my songs helped him through his life why my songs don’t help me through mine. That is why the new album is called “Loves Crazy”. Its like a music type therapy situation. Not only will it help everybody else but it will also help me. You know I said that if this was my last hurrah then I said that I am going to do it my way. Frank Sinatra my way. I said that If I am going to do it then I want to be the CEO. I thank GOD for using his talents through me.
12
ROBIN THICKE “SOMETHING ELSE” I was really excited when I received the opportunity to review Robin Thicken's new album “Something Else”. Robin is one of my favorite R&B artists. The new album is Robin’s sophomore record on interscope records. Robin has definitely earned the title of the new R&B king. The new album gives a Marvin Gaye appeal. Track #5 “Dreamworld” puts you in slight reminiscence of of a more laid back Jim Morrison song. Dreamworld is a song wanting more of the world and its ideas. “There would be no black and white. The world would just treat my wife right”. Robin’s single Magic featuring Mary J. Blidge has reached #6 on the Hot R&B/Hip hop songs and peaking at #85 on the top 100. This Cd is a must have for R&B fanatics.
13
On September 5th aspiring artist Joy Cranfield was shot killed. Joy was ½ of the hip-hop group “Dey 2 Much” with her sister Jazz. Joy’s life was lost after she was struck by two stray bullets from two teenagers guns whose argument escalated to gunfire. Joy went outside to search for her brother when she was shot. A fundraiser was held at United Skates in Wickliffe, Ohio in memory of Joy. The event was hosted by Platinum Producer Yonny and female rapper Mz. Skittlez. There was a raffle to raise funds for the family with give aways provided by clothing line “Love and Rock”. During the event DjQuest95 spoke with the attendees about their comments on Joy and their words to the family. CHIP DA RIPPER- It was an unfortunate accident. Jazz just keep pushing. SLAB ENT- Our deepest condolences goes out to the Cranfield family. CALI MILES- Joy and Jazz were full of heart and soul. Joy was a beautiful and talented artist. Her music will live on.
ANASTASIA- Stay strong and keep your head up.. Keep singing and performing. SAMANTHA- Sing baby sing. SUMMER- We need to wake up- Parents need to start teaching the fundamentals. Musicians can play a part as well because these children listen to our music. SINCERE- Joy was one of the most talented females that I was blessed to meet. Stay strong Cranfield family. YONNY- It was tragic not a loss. Her music will still live on. SKITTLEZ- Trust and believe he will never be forgotten. She was an angel in my eyes. NESSECARY- Life is to short for unnessesary so live everyday with a purpose. MATLOCK- She was beautiful and professional. She is in a better place now. God bless her family.
MGK- Its darkest before the brightest day. Things happen for a reason.
JAZZ- I wish this tragedy never happened. I appreciate the time that we had together. Her voice will live on in our music.
DJ XPLOSIVE- I came out to show my love and support for Joy. She is in a better place now.
SHIMMY- She was a beautiful person.
YOUNG RAY- I came to support the family. I lost a brother so I know how Jazz feels. 15
Two teens charged in Maple Heights shooting Posted by Stan Donaldson/Plain Dealer Reporter September 26, 2008 17:08PM MAPLE HEIGHTS -- Friends of Briana Bryant said the 15-year-old girl had a bubbly personality and a radiant smile. The straight-A student would try to make others laugh between classes at Maple Heights High School, friends said. She liked history, Spanish, and the Cleveland Browns, primarily because she had a crush on wide receiver Braylon Edwards. But her life was cut short Thursday. Police said the Maple Heights sophomore died from injuries sustained after she was shot in the abdomen. Police said it's possible that Briana was shot accidentally. The incident was originally reported as a home invasion to police by some witnesses, but investigators determined otherwise, according to a press release from the department. Two teens face charges in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court related to the shooting. One boy, 16, has been accused of being delinquent by way of murder and illegally having a gun. Another boy, 15, is accused of being delinquent by way of tampering with evidence. Both appeared in court Friday and denied the charges. They are scheduled to return to court in two weeks. Police responded to a call at 4:20 p.m. that a person had been shot inside of a home in the 5200 block of
Kohout Street. Briana was flown by helicopter to MetroHealth Hospital where she later died. Police have not released any additional information about the incident and said the case is under investigation. Neighbors said they saw the teenager from time to time as she walked home from school. Many of them said she appeared to be a normal teen and was respectful. A few of Briana's classmates stopped by the home to pay respects to her family. Some of the students said the high school football team would dedicate their next game in her honor. Charlie Keenan, superintendent of the Maple Heights City Schools, "She was a great kid and was very well liked," Keenan said. "This is a tragedy."
I never will forget the day that I took my nephew to the “Ohio Hip Hop Awards”. When I took him home that night he told his grandfather “Auntie knows everybody”. The day of Briana’s funeral I thought to myself “Auntie may know everybody but everybody loved Bri”. Even though she was my step sister I still treated her like we had the same blood flowing thru our veins. That was my baby sister. I still look for her to walk around the corner with my purse claiming it for her own. Everyday I wake up still wondering if I am still dreaming. Briana is now Heaven’s Glamour Girl. I would say more but it hurts too much.
WE NOW TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR BOTH LADIES
17
Friday Aug 1st was a busy day for the Cleveland Entertainment Scene: The Russ Par and the gang invaded the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and the Committee of the Ohio Hip Hop Awards also held their press conference to announce the official nominees for the awards show @ Club Cyrus in the Flats. During the conference the rapper Yung Berg stopped by after his performance at the Russ Parr Back to School show. Yes Cleveland - Mr. ‘’Hey Sexy Lady’’ himself was in the building – he was cool laid back – enjoying C-Town on yet another day for Hip-Hop to Shine. I asked Yung Berg Berg how many units has the single “Sexy Can I” – which he performed with Ray J (Brandy’s lil Bro - & Kim Kardashian’s boy toy) done? He stated that the single was closing on Diamond.
. 4) October 2008- He gets slapped by Maino for talking reckless about him.
In closing – many artist use the LIL or Young prefixes as a way to describe themselves or maybe to add longevity to their careers. Just to me more and more the truth of the word the real definition plays out all to many times…….. Grow up D.J.Quest95
His new project entitled ” Look What You Made Me” on Sony Epic records featuring the single “The Business” which featured Chicago’s own Diamond Models headed by Heaven Alexander was poised to be his next big single --but Young Berg has ran into/ lead him self into a series of mishaps. 1) August 2008 – Made comment “I really don’t care for Dark Skinned Women – which hurt his record sales…. 2) September 2008 – Was arrested for guns and weapons… 3) September 2008 – Got into a fight at a Detroit Club – was seriously hurt and lost his Chain – and the kicker – He was fighting with another artist on the SAME LABEL
21
THE MINSTRAL SHOW CONTINUED: / I ain't sayin’ that it's right, but we often pay the price / cause a woman's life is love, a man's love is life / and he gon live it to the fullest, / and I ain't tryna pull you down, or sound like a broken record / But you should know by now that ALL n**as is dogs / Better to have a rich Pit than a broke German Shepard, uh!”
In commercial rap, the Ho accepts infidelity only for the chance to have her revenge. Phonte’s verse shows that all women don’t want to have their own affair. It shows that some women really do love their husbands, but it is their mother who tells them to continue living a mistreated life. Real issues such as the ones that described above are hidden from a person who just turns on the radio to hear music. The real issues are hidden from those who are trying to find people that are talking about them. It is because of artists like Common and Little Brother that make underground hip-hop so great. They are talking about real issues that everyone confronts at some point in their life. The growth of underground hip-hop will show that African Americans are more than thugs, gangsters, pimps and hoes. Despite what commercialism has done with rap, underground hip-hop maintains the essence of what hip-hop has always been about. It holds the reality of everyday life that people from all ages can enjoy. That is what made hip-hop grow into one of the largest forms of musical entertainment in the world today. Its ability to define a culture in a way that everyone can see and relate to is what makes the growth of underground hip-hop to mainstream media important and morally right. There are many artists nowadays that are saying motivational things but just need the chance to be heard. Artists such as Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco and MURS rap about topics that are relevant and fun. Talib Kweli is a perennial underground hip-hop artist. His albums Black Star and Reflection 22
Eternal are critically-acclaimed classics and considered essential hip-hop records. Since those albums, Kweli has struggled to find a balance between the underground and mainstream audience underground hip-hop to mainstream media important and morally right. There are many artists nowadays that are saying motivational things but just need the chance to be heard. Artists such as Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco and MURS rap about topics that are relevant and fun. Talib Kweli is a perennial underground hip-hop artist. His albums Black Star and Reflection Eternal are critically-acclaimed classics and considered essential hip-hop records. Since those albums, Kweli has struggled to find a balance between the underground and mainstream audience while maintaining his positive socio-political messages. His latest release, Eardrum, debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. It was the highest debut he ever had. The album is filled with messages about positivity in hip-hop and the world. Despite the album debuting at number two, the album never received a video for the lead single and the singles never heard the light of day One of his songs entitled “Oh My Stars” shows Kweli speaking to his children. The message that he gives to them is something every parent with a child could relate to. It is also a message that many children should hear. Kweli raps, “And even though mummy and daddy might fight all through the night / Argue and fuss, you a part of us that we've got to get right / I don't love you to death, cause I love you to life / And you a teenager, you might not want my advice / You
.might be full of spite, think you're grown, still a tyke / And say things that cut like a patient under the knife / I say this, cause I was once a teenager too / And respect for my peers is really all that I related to / But I made it through, you gonna make it too / So much I wanna say to you...” What parent would not like hearing a song with lyrics like that on the radio? It is very musical and the entire song is filled with similar lyrics. He is an African American man who is professing his love for his children. Most African American males are considered horrible fathers and known for leaving their families behind. To have an artist who is a proud parent is a good thing. It shouldn’t be hidden in the underground like it is. Along with Talib Kweli’s messages to children and adults, Lupe Fiasco is another artist that talks about things that receive little light in the world of hiphop. His first single “Kick, Push” chronicles the growth of a kid who uses a skateboard. As the kid gets older, his attachment to hi skateboard grows and the events in his life revolve around it. Hip-hop artists claim to be many things, but a skater is not one of them. A skater is typically viewed as a punk-rock white kid. Yet through Fiasco’s song and lyrics, he has opened the door for an alienated part of the hip-hop audience to find a home. The chorus for the song captures the essence of a young skater. “And so he kick, push, kick, push, kick, push, kick, push, coast / And away he rolled / Just a rebel to the world with no place to go / And so he kick, push, kick, push, kick, 23
push, kick, push, coast / So come and skate with me / Just a rebel / Looking for a place to be / So let's kick...and push...and coast.” Now with Talib Kweli as the proud parent and Lupe Fiasco as the skater, MURS could be looked at as the average joe. He isn’t perfect and does not claim to be. MURS takes pride in being an underground hip-hop artist. His appeal is that he comes across as someone a person could bump into on the street and not have nightmares about. His last album, Murray’s Revenge, received positive reviews because of the issues he chose to talk about. The All Music Guide wrote: “In Murray's Revenge, like in his 2004 release, Murs 3:16, his even-paced delivery shies away from ten-cent words and his songs often deal with the standard rap subjects — a hard life, women, and his own talent — but he is also unafraid to dispel some social constructs that many of his peers only help to perpetuate. In "Dreamchaser" he explains that the draw to gang life is because of a lack of positive opportunity ("We all chase money 'cause we scared to chase dreams"), and he discusses the difficulties of not fitting cleanly into racial stereotypes in "D.S.W.G. (Dark Skinned White Girls)," an issue that's fairly common in contemporary, diverse America. When Murs does slide into talking about himself and his skills — a topic no true MC can avoid — he's such a good storyteller that his boasting isn't boring, and he's also willing to admit the bad decisions he's made, creating a real sincerity in his rhymes. Some of the songs are meant to be didactic, but he's usually subtle enough to convey his message without being preachy ("For if a soul is avenged through the deeds of a friend/Then success has al
ways been the best form of revenge"). It's not all seriousness, though; Murs has always been one for a chuckle, and there are some humorous tracks (the aptly named "Silly Girl," for example), but there's enough quality, content, and warm West Coast soul samples in Murray's Revenge to make it a good album that should please fans of any type of hip-hop. If underground hip-hop albums contain so much positive and relatable issues, why aren’t artists such as Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco and MURS heard on the radio? Why aren’t their videos on MTV’s Total Request Live? Why don’t they even have videos? Why are these artists, who are making critically-acclaimed classic albums, having such a difficult time finding a buying audience? These are very easy questions that all contain one simple answer. Those artists don’t fit in the mold of the hip-hop minstrel show. Through commercialization, industry executives want people to believe that hip-hop is filled with pimps, thugs, gangsters and hoes. They want everyone to think that every woman dresses in scantily clad material and wants sex all of the time. The images produced on the television screen that are considered “hip-hop” make African American males look scary. If a person turns to a channel to find an angry blackman talking about how he will kill somebody, then that is what the person will think? This is not morally right. That is why I believe it is morally wrong for record companies to promote commercial rap over underground hip-hop. What kind of morals do industry executives have if the only things they promote CONTINUED PG 27
24
are sex, drugs and violence? They can not be very high at all. Especially not when there are artists out there who show that black people are more than those stereotypes. Hip-hop music originated with African Americans and now in 2008 commercialism has taken away its true meaning. The 2008 Minstrel Show will continue as long as people keep a deaf ear to underground hip-hop. “My culture's not a trend, being Black is not in / But for you it's just a phase you're gonna have to transcend / While even if I tried, I could never blend in / To society's mainstream, American dream / Yeah, it's all one love, but remember one thing / This music is my life, not a cultural fling / It's an expression of the soul when we dance and sing / And you are blessed to have a chance to even glance the scene.” – MURS, And This Is For, MURS 3:16 the 9th Edition. Jennings, Derek. “The Minstrel Show,” The Minstrel Show. September 13, 2005; ABB Records, Recorded in Oakland, CA. Aaron, Charles. “The Spin Interview: 50 Cent (Bigger, Longer, and Uncut).” July 6, 2007 http://www.spin.com/features/magazine/2007/07/0707_5 0cent/ Behmaram-Mosavat, Omeed. “Electric Circus,” December 10, 2002. Spin Magazine http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/common/electriccircus/12995/ Little Brother. “Breakin’ My Heart,” Getback. October 23, 2007; ABB Records, Recorded in Oakland, CA. Greene, Talib Kweli. “Oh My Stars,” Eardrum. August 21, 2007; Blacksmith Music, Warner Bros. Records. Fiasco, Lupe. “Kick, Push,” Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor. September 19, 2006; 1st & 15th Atlantic. Brown, Marisa. “Murray’s Revenge,” All Music Guide, March 21, 2006. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ulf 6zf05eh8k Carter, Nick (MURS). “And This Is For,” MURS 3:16 The 9th Edition. March 23, 2004; Definitive Jux