Entertainment: The nonsense that entertainers get away with, that us normal people would be arrested for.
Erick Sermon feat. Marvin Gaye, this song is smooth ass classic hip-hop funk – something to do a lil’ two step to. If you don’t know who either of these two guys are, leave this site now and go to wikipedia/youtube, lames.
Erick Sermon is still doing production work I believe, and the great late Marvin Gaye’s works live on in sampling.
Apart from ‘beautifullest’ not being a real world, Keith Murray provided a lyrical dose with this debut track that focused on a simple boom bap beat, and raw lyrics. Released in the mid 90’s, this song was well received as this was a time when lyricism was promoted in the mainstream. Now, Keith Murray is working on new material, but unfortunately like most that reappear after long hiatuses, he probably won’t fit into today’s climate, but can’t stop from trying. Production by the great Erick Sermon of EPMD fame.
Alternative Hip-Hop gets picked up in the mainstream
Flobots are an Alternative Hip Hop band from Denver, Colorado, formed in 2000. To date, they have released two albums (counting Onomatopoeia) and one EP. Flobots found mainstream success with its major label debut Fight with Tools (2007), featuring the single “Handlebars”, which became a popular hit on Modern Rock radio in April 2008.
Gotta give it up to this alternative hip-hop group for being on a major label (Universal Music Group) and focusing on real lyrics. Support real hip-hop and not that bullshit on the radio!
.:: LiBM ::.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flobots
Ever wonder why you are just attracted to a certain entertainer? Even if they have lacklustre skills? Above average skills? One of the key components that one can rock to a ‘Soulja Boy’ and a Kanye West, is the fact that these artist’ bring something more than lyrics and beats – emotional energy. Really it is emotions that is transformed into energy, that is then absorbed by the audience. When you get chills after hearing a song by Kanye or Tupac, its partly because the emotions that they breathed on the track was so energetic, potent, that it sent a chill down your body. When Soulja Boy yells ‘Youuuu’, you know that you gotta move; these artists’ energy, through songs, brings you INTO the song so that you can experience what they are saying. You get the vantage point of the artist, Tupac brings you to the Oakland blocks, Kanye takes you on an acid trip in hip-hop electro music, and Rick Ross takes you on a ride in Dade County. Once I understood the concept of emotional energy, it built my ideal that there is a reason why certain artists exceed:
Busta Rhymes
One of hip-hop’s best live performances
Papoose
Lyrically gifted; very potent MC, but will never go anywhere because his bars lack feelings
Talib Kweli
A grassroots, social minded MC, very lyrical, but lacks emotional energy.
Kanye West
Pretty much the emotional energy of a Busta Rhymes, taking down a notch, and the lyrical skills of a Talib; the Louis Vutton Don gets it in; even though he is very arrogant.
Canibus
Was very hot in the late 90’s with mindblowing lyrics, but lacked energy to sustain the masses
You know, it is kinda funny that maybe emotional energy can be tied to the overall intelligence of an audience; for example, very lyrical rappers rarely make it to superstar status because it takes a higher intellect to understand their lyrics. Yes, you may be saying that Lupe and Kanye are the exception, but these artists only broke the fold with emotionally charged singles – Lupe’s ‘Superstar’, and Kanye’s ‘Jesus Walks’.
.:: LiBM ::.
The full-length video of the Adidas House Party featuring everyone from Run DMC, Russell Simmons, Missy, David Beckham, Method Man, Redman, Kevin Garnett, Estelle, Young Jeezy, and of course classic and fresh Adidas shoes. This is the full-length commercial, not the 30-second chop up that you see on your regular TV channels. Only one thing, has anyone ever been to a fly house party like this? I recall all my house parties been barely full, and not having that much style, but I still had fun in the ‘bashment jams’ … my West Indian Caribbean people will not what I mean!
.:: LiBM ::.
Happy Up Here from Röyksopp on Vimeo.
Royskopp is an electronic music duo hailing from the Norweigian region of the world, so I am guessing that is Norway. Kanye West latest album 808’s & Heartbreak is definitely influenced by the sound of Royskopp and their fusion of electronic house music and hip-hop music. Royskopp first became known to me in that funny Geico commercial with the Caveman, anyhow Royskopp seems to be dropping something this year and here is the latest video, pretty unique and creative.
And here is the very funny Geico Commercial with the Royskopp hit ‘Remind Me’
Too funny – this picture is circulating around the net and showcases some really good Photoshop skills to include batterer Chris Brown, Officer Rick Ross, and Fat Joe. The funniest aspect of this mock up though is the ‘We Arrest’ (play off ‘We the best’ by DJ Khaled) Music Group … something tells me that 50 Cent and the thisis50.com boys are at it again. These Internet Soldiers are working overtime to globally disgrace people … welcome to the new age of hip-hop beef.
.:: LiBM ::.
50 Cent is a very funny guy – I thought that this was another attack on Rick Ross, but it seems to have nothing to do with ‘Officer Ricky’. If the hip-hop thing doesn’t work out, 50 Cent can definitely take a leap into acting, as he displays soome of his talent in this funny video as Pimpin Curly deals with hoes and their tirades …
50 is too much in this.
.:: LiBM ::.
Curtailing the cycle of violence
This whole Rihanna and Chris Brown ordeal is really devastating to both the artists and their fans, but what needs to be discussed more is the prevalence of domestic violence in the Black family. Domestic violence is really troubling in the black community, as it usually has a cycle effect – as children growing up watching their Dad physically abuse their Mother will usually grow up and exhibit similar behavior to their potential mate. Thus, to stop domestic violence, it needs to start at home with the family, and conflicts need to be resolved with discourse as opposed to physical actions. Here are some alarming stats of black domestic violence that will NOT make you wonder why even though a talented, and rich entertainer such as Chris Brown is not immune to black domestic violence as he grew up in a household where he saw his mother being physically abused by his Step Dad.
Stats:
Overall, African Americans were victimized by intimate partners a significantly higher rates than persons of any other race between 1993 and 1998. Black females experienced intimate partner violence at a rate 35% higher than that of white females, and about 22 times the rate of women of other races. Black males experienced intimate partner violence at a rate about 62% higher than that of white males and about 22 times the rate of men of other races.
Callie Marie Rennison. and Sarah Welchans, U.S. Dep’t of Just., NCJ 178247, Intimate Partner Violence (2000), available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/ipv.txt
African-American women experience significantly more domestic violence than White women in the age group of 20-24. Generally, Black women experience similar levels of intimate partner victimization in all other age categories as compared to White women, but experience slightly more domestic violence. (Estimates are provided from the National Crime Victimization Survey, which defines an intimate partner as a current or former spouse, girlfriend, or boyfriend. Violent acts include murder, rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault.)
Callie Marie Rennison, U.S. Dep’t of Just., NCJ 187635, Intimate Partner Violence and Age of Victim, 1993-1999, at 4, (2001), available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/ipva99.htm
Approximately 40% of Black women report coercive contact of a sexual nature by age 18.
Africana Voices Against Violence, Tufts University, Statistics, 2002, www.ase.tufts.edu/womenscenter/peace/africana/newsite/statistics.htm
The number one killer of African-American women ages 15 to 34 is homicide at the hands of a current or former intimate partner.
Africana Voices Against Violence, Tufts University, Statistics, 2002, www.ase.tufts.edu/womenscenter/peace/africana/newsite/statistics.htm
In a study of African-American sexual assault survivors, only 17% reported the assault to police.
Africana Voices Against Violence, Tufts University, Statistics, 2002 www.ase.tufts.edu/womenscenter/peace/africana/newsite/statistics.htm
The Family is where most of our problems start from – how we deal with situations at home is a strong precursor and indicator on how we will relate with the world. Thus, the resolution lies in re-building the family unit and teaching and practicing positive family values – its the only way to stop the cycle of violence.
.::LiBM::.
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Sources:
http://www.abanet.org/domviol/statistics.html
The beef between Joe Buddens and Saigon may be getting hot, after Saigon’s weak entry, and Buddens hard diss track, Saigon delivers a scathing diss record.
Michelle Williams is 1/3 of that group known as Destiny’s Child. Now, Michelle was the addition to the group comprised of Beyonce and Kelly Williams, so in the public eye, she always had a difficult matter of ‘fitting in’ and/or ‘finding her lane’. Personally, I always thought of her as ‘filler’ to the group, but I gave her some credibility when she was the first one out of the group (I believe) to go and release an independent album – a gospel album too, that was critically praised. However, that was several years ago, and since then her group members have put out multiple independent albums with moderate to great success.
Beyonce can be defined as the diva – the Single Ladies video booty poppin’ diva (drool), and Kelly can be described as the Nubian Chocolate sister that ‘lives next door’, and to me, Michelle was always the one that lacked character; lacked personality – and of course, in the R&B pop arena, personality is everything. Anyhow, jumping forward, MichelleWilliams TV is I guess her way of remaining relevant in this social media, and in this episode, she calls out a fan for attacking the way she dresses. She is actually quite funny; in a sarcastic, condescending manner, and it is another example of how harder recording artists must work from Hip-Hop to R&B to Rock, to remain relevant and connect with their audience.
.:: LiBM ::.
