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asherah
Unregistered guest
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 10:23 am: | 
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Hum..rereading the title of this new thread I just started, I had to think on how MUCH there would have to be eliminated in hiphop if sexism and violence were no longer part of it..
What would be left of it? Sexism and violence is like the basis of gangsta rap (--that is at the end, the most popular in hiphop culture, right?)
But Omayra Leeflang was really cool when she proved that rap can be positive too, by rapping about RESPONSIBILITY in a program I just saw on TV.
HOORAY to this woman who undertakes ACTION against the sexist and violent attitude of hiphop-culture.
(Omayra Leeflang is the telecommunications minister in the Netherlands Antilles who started a code of conduct against gangsta rap for Antillean radio and television stations)
In the Dutch program, there were also a few rappers invited, who were offcourse trying to explain that words like 'bitch' don't have a real influence in the bad sense on women and that all these lyrics could never lead to gang rapings, and therefore have nothing to do with it.
For instance, one rapper said that the word 'bitch' doesn't really mean 'slut' or 'whore' but usually is used in the sense of 'shrew'(>if I'm translating this correctly) and 'bitch' would also be used to describe 'a rotten situation'.
And this would prove that the female is not being disrespected? 
A journalist remarked righteously how disrespectful this is towards women, to use the female for describing a 'rotten situation'!
Besides, images and lyrics have a TREMENDOUS effect on our subconscious mind and therefore on the whole society. Especially when we are submerged by it.
Rappers just like to shut their eyes for the responsibility they have in the degrading of women and want to ignore the FACT that their attitude is sexist and violent and how it DOES effect society.
Offcourse, they need to deny this, because without their sexism they'll loose their blown up ego's as well. Developing their feminity is too threatening for them, because they would have to step off their pedestal. 
And the women in their videos should refuse to act like sexobjects! Because, they, as women contribute to this damaging,degrading image of women.
Caribbean: Minister Bans Gangsta Rap
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Omayra Leeflang, the telecommunications minister in the Netherlands Antilles has started a code of conduct against gangsta rap for Antillean radio and television stations (article in Dutch). The late Ol' Dirty Bastard was cited as an example of how gangsta rap isn't positive for youth. Min. Leeflang argues that there is a link between gangsta rap and a high-profile case where a local girl was repeatedly raped by gangbangers. If the telecommunications ministry determines that one of the almost 30 radio and TV stations violates the rules, there are fines and the license may not be extended. The Netherlands Antilles includes the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St. Eustatius, and the Dutch half of St. Martin.
Seal Slams Rap Artists In Interview
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The British pop star condemns thug rappers for their derogatory treatment of women in lyrics and videos. Speaking to Sister 2 Sister magazine, he said that he believes these attitudes damage black cultures. "It's sad when you see the rappers on TV and in the videos making these derogatory videos towards women...kind of like sexual objects. It's sad because we're damaging our own. Like, in different cultures, you would never see that. Take for example the Jewish culture. They've been persecuted just like the black people, right? But you never see them eating their own. They don't. But we will. I really feel that there is a responsibility and what goes around comes around."
"At Last, Women Lash Out At Hip Hop's Abuses"
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The moderate-conservative New York Daily News columnist praises Essence magazine's new campaign to take on the slut images and verbal abuse projected onto black women by hip hop lyrics and videos. "The magazine is the first powerful presence in the black media with the courage to examine the cultural pollution that is too often excused because of the wealth it brings to knuckleheads and amoral executives. This anything-goes-if-sells attitude comes at a cost. The elevation of pimps and pimp attitudes creates a sadomasochistic relationship with female fans. They support a popular idiom that consistently showers them with contempt. We are in a crisis, and Essence knows it."
--taken from http://bookerrising.blogspot.com/2005_01_01_bookerrising_archive.html
And thanks for the men too, who have had it with the objectifying of women in hiphop-videos and who are condemning it!
I don't think though, that Seal is right when he says that the use of women as sexual objects is only present in the hiphop culture. I think it's just more explicit in their videos and lyrics. Other cultures do the same, sometimes in a more subtle way (which can be even more dangerous). |
asherah
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 10:27 am: |
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SHIT
the uhoh-image
was not meant to be there next to the title of this thread!
(I'm just starting to understand how to use these things) |
asherah
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 11:03 am: |
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Here's an example of how women (and not only black women) lower themselves by thinking it's cool and funny when their husband looks up to pimps.
Kevin,(Britney Spear's new husband), wore a baggy tracksuit with “The Pimp” on the back on their wedding. The wacky wedding theme continued as Britney’s pals — and her mum Lynne and sister Jamie Lynn — wore pink velour tracksuits with “The Maids” on the back. Most of Kevin’s pals were dressed in white tracksuits with “Pimps” emblazoned on them.
I like Britney Spears, but this was quite shocking, when I saw pics of her trashy 'pimping wedding' the first time.
Luckely, not everyone is blind for the consequences of making "Pimping" look cool:
Subvert the Dominant Pimpiarchy
How did the abusive, exploitative role of Pimp become the epitome of cool? Rachel Bell comments on this outrageous trend in modern culture.
http://www.thefword.org.uk/features/2004/11/subvert_the_dominant_pimpiarchy
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kola@aalbc.com
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 264
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 11:39 am: |
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EXCELLENT THREAD, Ashera.
Thank you so much. This is really fantastic.
The most wounding and truthful thing you wrote is still nagging in my mind:
"Besides, images and lyrics have a TREMENDOUS effect on our subconscious mind and therefore on the whole society. Especially when we are submerged by it."
This is where my own anger and frustration emanates from. The feeling HELPLESS to counter the evil (yes, EVIL) messages that are embedded in our psyche from the whole culture of Hip Hop.
I think it's the worst thing that ever happened to black people, and this is why the ESTABLISHMENT circulates it worldwide--to poison a people that are mostly innocent/ignorant from the get-go.
BRITNEY SPEARS really shocked me. Or rather--her mother does. I think Britney is so desperate to prove that she's "cool" and not "white bread".
I totally despise SEAL, because of his much documented hatred for his African mother (he didn't go to her funeral) and because he's a blatantly colorstruck asshole who has a lot of nerve chastizing black people about the way they regard each other and their blackness. He's such a doufous hypocrite.
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asherah
Unregistered guest
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 12:32 pm: |
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Yes Kola, this is really frustrating!
Most people who are racist and/or sexist aren't deliberately like that, but think and act like it, because those sexist/racist images are every day pomped into their heads.
And it really doesn't matter if a rapper SAYS he respects women, when at the same time he continuously portrays women as sexobjects in his videos and raps about bitches, ho's and how cool he really is to be such a big pimping daddy.
These are empty words(rappers claiming to have respect for women), what really matters is what someone DOES and to what their attention goes.
They also like to use the excuse of how much they love and respect their mother.
(This was also mentioned on TV with Omayra Leeflang. The rappers said that Tupac had this song 'Dear Mamma' >as this was proof that rappers do respect women.
Yeah, Omayra said it too, their mothers are always the saints, but all the rest of the women are treated like shit.
The truth is, if their mother had real respect for themselves, they would have the same respect for other women.
If the vast majority of female images are women portrayed as sexobjects (and especially in a COOL context), then this will be the image that people will have of women, whatever they may think about them on the rational level.
For instance, I'm not so much into Chinese people, because the only times I came into contact with Chinese people were rather negative.
Therefore I have this idea about Chinese people. I might rationally think that everybody is the same inside, but that doesn't help. If the image in the subconsious is different, then that will rule, because the subconscious influences and rules the conscious mind, without us knowing it.
The only way I will REALLY have TRUE respect for Chinese, will be when I meet a chinese person whom I have respect for, because there isn't any other image of Chinese people in my subconsious mind.
--I did not know this about Seal. Would have to look it up, because it surprises me. I never would have thought that he is a hypocrite. (well, probably because I only have this postive image of him from his videoclips  )
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Chris Hayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 1035
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 01:48 pm: |
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When you finish with hiphop culture you can go to work on soul, blues, country music, rhythm and blues, pop, rock, jazz etc culture.
bell hooks wrote about how the misogyny in gangsta rap mirrors the misogyny in the culture at large.
So then you can work on political, entertainment, business, etc culture.
And then you can start on the Red states.... |
kola@aalbc.com
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 266
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 07:00 pm: |
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No actually Chris,
I blame movies like "THE MACK" and "SUPERFLY" and the powerful influence they had on creating a "chronic misogyny" in the black community when it comes to the creation of the SUPER-NIGGER.
MOTOWN certainly was brilliant, black and Romantic (most rappers STEAL the genius music for samples). James Brown and other Soul Singers were gifted, thoughtful and reflective--I never heard James Brown encouraging fathers to be dope dealers and PIMPS or singing about using other black men's daughters for sex and saving his love for a white man's daughter.
JAZZ (unlike the earliest Blues) is more about INNER reflection and survival than about debasing the womb from which one comes in order to feel good about ones self.
I really believe that Black Men in "our culture" don't have the courage and integrity to ADMITT that they've set in motion...the total destruction of our people. Especially after our future looked so bright following the 1960's.
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Yvette Perry
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 54
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 09:45 pm: |
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Hip hop began as a grass roots genre, and when enough people get fed up with the corporatization of it, it will return. There are some real positive groups taking their music right to on-line customers. My current favorite is The Strange Fruit Project. (http://www.strangefruitproject.com/) If acts like these get supported, that can only help.
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Chris Hayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 1039
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 11:45 am: |
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Kola:
I agree with you--until I think back about all the Jazzmen who got strung out on heroin and pimped--all the Soul Men who fired guns at each other and who got shot down--
It is interesting you mention Superfly. I remember the afro had been on strong--what here in St. Louis 3 4 years tops. Longer on the costs.
But it seemed like there was this tension. As soon as Ron O'Neal came out, these brothers started straightening their hair. It was like they couldn't wait to do it. Ron O'Neal's hair was like that--I know at the time some people whispered about a conspiracy to get black men back to conking their hair--they were using up a lot of doorags and grease and stuff in them conk shops--you had to have a professional conk.
They kept on through the Jheri Curl and all before they gave up--might they come back?
It is really something, all these hair politics we get caught up in. We would be better off if we just saw hair as something on somebody's head, but hey now its Billions of dollars. Wigs. Relaxer. Perms. Braids. Weaves. Dies. Beauty shops. |
Chris Hayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 1040
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 11:49 am: |
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Kola:
I know for sure that the hatmakers were making rumblings. Brothers had got out of hats--man they couldn't have that. I know black men kept the finer hatmakers in business. White men didn't wear Knox Jaguars and Stetsons and stuff. They got the brothers with first the Godfather and Robin Hood hats--thug image. Derbies came in, too. And there were the broadbrimmed Superfly hats--brothers be looking like those old women used to in those broadbrimmed sunday go to meetin hats--then when they got Teddy Pendergrass to wear them Cowboy hats. A good Cowboy hat was a hundred bucks back then--brother had to have on the best hat. A hat salesman was reminiscing all the good money he made because of Pendergrass the other day to me.
The spiritual and the psychological are powerful enough--when you get economic pressures they get irresistable. They have earth to go with the air and fire. |
asherah
Unregistered guest
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 07:55 am: |
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I just saw something about Ayaan Hirsi Ali
on TV. She has been accused by several Muslims for calling the prophet Mohammed a pedophile and other 'insulting stuff'. The judge didn't find that she crossed the line, but advised her to not use words again like 'pedophile' or 'pervert' to describe the Muslim prophet and she was (offcourse) allowed to continue with her second film on Submission.
I had to think again about a Moroccon-Dutch rap group that made a rapsong about Hirsi Ali to insult her(some months ago).
It's unlike American rap, but still, rap music was used again, with sexist language, to say at the least..(so I thought to post it under this thread)
14 januari 2005
Rappers face court
The public prosecutor has asked a court to impose a 150-hour work order on Den Haag Connectie, a Moroccan-Dutch rap group, for threatening the black moderate politician's life. The court in The Hague was also asked to impose a four-month suspended sentence on the rappers. Last summer, DHC's racist and sexist song, "Hirsi Ali Diss" - played on some radio stations - talked about wanting to break her neck, and that an assassination was being prepared in which she would be killed by a bomb attack. MP Hirsi Ali has been in hiding - reportedly in USA - for the past nine weeks, after filmmaker Theo van Gogh was murdered in November. She collaborated with van Gogh on the short film, "Submission", that argued that Islam sanctions violence against women.
http://ayaanhirsiali.web-log.nl/log/1654039
To get a taste of Arab Islamism for ex-Muslims you can read the shocking lyrics of the "Hirsi Ali Diss" on http://bookerrising.blogspot.com/2004/07/rap-song-delivers-death-threat-to.html
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kola@aalbc.com
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 286
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 10:47 am: |
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Thanks for Posting This ASHERA.
I agree 100% with Hirsi Ali.
Here's a "translated" page about Hirsi Ali, Kola Boof, Isioma Daniel and several other women Muslims who have been or are in HIDING for their lives. I personally have stopped hiding.
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.isioma.net/i-isio ma.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3DIsioma%2BKola%2BBoof%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D
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kola@aalbc.com
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 287
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 10:49 am: |
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Also---
I'm trying to write a poem in honor of THEO VAN GOGH.
My name is on the same list "to be killed" as his was, and so is Hirsi Ali. Unlike them, I benefit from being in the United States where it's MUCH HARDER to carry out these killings.
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kola@aalbc.com
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 288
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 10:51 am: |
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Boy.
I just noticed the PHOTO they have of me. I just knew I was going to die back in those days.
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Nyibol
Newbie Poster
Username: Africanqueen
Post Number: 18
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 12:14 pm: |
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I don't know if I'll ever understand Islamic or its people (specifically men) but they're brutal animals! Religion ain't nothing but man made disgusting rules. I believe in God, I don't believe in Islamic. I believe in Christ not Mohammed because Christ never believed in killing, but living. I believe there's one God for both Muslims and Christians who's suppose to be the judge of all of them. Women all the way baby:P. I just don't like the lyrics of this rap song... they're just satanic and God knows where they belong. Peace out! |
kola@aalbc.com
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 293
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 12:19 pm: |
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LOL
Nyibol, I agree.
I have to call you soon. I'm about to go on my walk and listen to the tape you made.
Thanks, Queen.
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asherah
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 06:00 am: |
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Theo Van Gogh didn't want police protection and some extremistic muslim took advantage of it to kill him, just because he had the guts to critisize Islam and call Allah (or was it Mohammed?) a goatfucker.
While Muslims think they have the right to beat women and consider them as inferior citizens.
Those Muslims who think it's justified to kill just anybody that critizes Islam, are SICK in the head.
Maybe you could publish your poem about Theo Van Gogh at the day of his death, one year later?
I'm sure they will remember him again that day in Holland.
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asherah
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 06:39 am: |
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I'm translating here a comment from someone(on the Hirsi weblog) to the disclosure of the judgement in advising Hirsi Ali not to use the term 'pedophile' again to describe the prophet Mohammed:
'A salient detail is the judgement about the pedophily of the so called prophet Mohammed. The judge states that Mohammed fucked a 9 year old child only 1 time. (considering the age, there is actually no mutual agreement, so the right term is "raped")
There was no pattern in it, therefore Hirsi Ali may only say it once, but may not keep on repeating it, says the judge.
A bit of a strange reasoning...How many times does someone have to rape a child to be known as a pedophile. And it's not that Mohammed was under treatment or had sit out his sentence...So the label pedoprophet doesn't appear to be injustified to me.'
Neither does it to me. I think it's dangerous when a judge gives an abandonment like that, just to soothe the Muslims. That's not speaking the truth about something because of anticipating and thinking that otherwise the whole Muslim community will react with violence again. But this kind of manipulation for 'the good' has dangerous consequences when other similar situations occur again and when it's necessary that the truth is told and no senseless arguments are re-used.
And if the judge thinks it's wiser to not insult the Muslims, then he would have said it just like that, instead of making such an idiot, pointless argumentation.
Besides, I and many other women take this as an insult too, that people think it's justified to fuck a nine-year old girl, just because their prophet did it and we may not even show our disgust about that.
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asherah
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 06:43 am: |
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B.t.w. Kola,
are you writing my nick, leaving out the last letter, cuz I'm not black and therefore can't resemble the personage Asherah of the keepers of the flame?
I did choose this nick already long time ago, you know |
kola@aalbc.com
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 297
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 10:52 am: |
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Hey ASHERAH,
I honestly did not mean to spell your name differently. I apologize.
And this will come to a shock to you---but I don't know who "Asherah" is in history/mythology...so I wasn't slighting you.
I don't ENTIRELY see you as "the white girl". And I like you a lot more than you could know.
Of course, because you are white and I am not only Black but a well traveled African who is "conscious"--there are a lot of my feelings that you will never understand from the ground up.
You can only ascertain "surface" reactions, without the weight of the full history behind them. Such as when I viciously attack someone like SEAL. It's just something that you as a "white woman" really can't understand--because you have not lived in the SKIN of a woman who is Black.
But I really think your name is lovely and was going to ask you for permission to use it in my new novel for one of my characters---although, she wont' be white.
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Chris Hayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 1041
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 12:04 pm: |
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Kola:
If you have money to spend killing somebody or getting them killed is, unfortunately, all to easy. |
asherah
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 12:53 pm: |
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hi Kola,
thanks for clearing that up.
Well offcourse I have not lived your life, but I can tell you that I have a good intuition and sense other people very well.
I do am convinced that I have experienced the horrible castration as a woman in a previous life, but I can't prove that offcourse, I just KNOW what it feels like and never want to go back there.
About SEAL, I'm not saying you're wrong about him, I just don't know for sure what he stands for.
Offcourse, you can choose ASHERAH in your new novel. I did not choose this nickname by coincidence. Asherah is a Canaanite Goddess and was known as "She Who Gives Birth to the Gods."
If you google for the name, you will find a lot about Her.
Here's already a link with info about Asherah:
http://www.askwhy.co.uk/judaism/0240JGoddess.html
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Gabriel
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2005 - 12:19 am: |
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Wassup everybody! First I wanted to clarify that not all of the followers of the Islamic religion are bloodthirsty, chauvinistic, and fanatical. Although I'm not Muslim, I have personally met some who are actually very open-minded, righteous, and genuine.
About violence and sexism in hip hop; people around my age (I'm 17) usually end up enjoying those types of songs not necessarily for their lyrical content, but rather for the "HOT" beats that overshadow them. Take for example, Lil Jon's hit from about 2 or 3 years ago, "Get Low". That song had parties BANGIN'!!! Even though the lyrics consisted of "...TO THE WALL! TILL THE SWEAT DROP DOWN MY BALLS! ALL THESE BITCHES CRAWL!", girls would be not only juking (dancing for y'all older folks (^_^)), but singing the lyrics as well. I once took it upon myself to ask a female friend of mine WHY she would support the song, and she said, "I like the song because I KNOW he's not talkin' about me! He's talkin' about all them other hoes!" To which I responded, "Lil Jon isn't distinguishing between you and the other girls! He isn't saying 'ALL THESE BITCHES CRAWL... except you, *points at her* I love you shawtie!’ He's talking about ALL Y'ALL!" A common attitude among young black women today is that they are superior to one another, that they are so above their peers that disrespectful, degrading songs can’t possibly be directed at them. The idea is ridiculous!
My beliefs are that violence and sexism are poisoning hip hop simply because it is more readily accepted by the mainstream. Therefore, it sells! Many of the popular rap acts out now are more concerned with their paychecks over the artistry of their music. Look at the so-called “emcees” dominating sales: 50 Cent (who I can’t stand whatsoever; he has NO talent and his lyrics are subpar, his vocabulary is nonexistent and he has no wordplay), Trillville, Nelly, Ludacris (he has potential, but most of the time he’s so commercial), and etc. The new goal of hip hop is no longer to express the ideas, hopes, realities and dreams of the humanity. Instead it is simply a means to get rich! And quite frankly, this truth sickens me!
I’ll use an example, today at school I was discussing Enimem with friends of mine. Both of them are white, and they basically stated that they don’t like Enimem anymore because, “He’s too serious! He doesn’t rap about stupid stuff anymore!” In other words, since he’s starting to talk more about real issues he isn’t cool anymore. He’s too thought-provoking and intimidating: who wants to hear that depressing stuff? I mean, to become less ignorant and more aware of the REAL world… yeah OKAY!
Basically, I’m trying to say that at least for my age bracket, wack “music” is will be continually bought because it’s seen as fun, harmless, and the norm. As long as the garbage keeps piling up in landfills, and no one scrutinizes the main trash contributors, then only more contributors will surface; as long as mainstream culture keeps accepting BULLSHIT mistaken for song, and no one speaks out against those so-called greedy “artists”, the waste will continue to foul the hip hop culture and in turn continue the deterioration of the African American culture. |
kola@aalbc.com
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 336
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2005 - 01:17 am: |
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Wow. Great post Gabriel.
So thankful you came in. We love to hear from the guys.
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asherah
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2005 - 06:54 am: |
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GRRRR! 
I just finished a whole reply and pushed some wrong button which caused my browser to close down! |
Yvette Perry
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 66
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2005 - 08:07 am: |
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Great post, Gabriel. Have you expressed similar thoughts on some of the hip-hop blogs and discussion boards? It's great that you engaged in this conversation with your friend: That kind of conversation is necessary. Old folks such as myself have, I'm afraid, very little sway over the developing tastes and opinions of folks in your age bracket. |
cynique
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2005 - 11:54 pm: |
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Gabriel if you're 17, I'm Little Kim. Your comments were very insightful, which is why I have my doubts about the persona you have adopted. |
Gabriel
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 12:33 am: |
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To Yvette Perry: Actually I haven't tried to post on hip hop boards too often, solely because the ones that I know of are filled with VERY closed-minded, argumentative people. I'm sure as y'all probably know, it's very frustrating trying to get other people to see things from different perspectives, especially when they have very strong beliefs already ingrained in their mind.
To Cynique: Is that a compliment or an insult!? (^_^) A persona, huh? It's cool, I'm used to people underestimating me because of my age... *grins deviously* ;) |
cynique
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 01:48 pm: |
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Well, Gabriel, in the cyber world a person can be whatever they claim to be, can adopt any persona they choose. But sometimes they give themselves away. To me, you simply don't come across as an authentic 17-year-old-male hip-hopper, most of whom can barely expresss themselves in standard English, and who skills in writing an analytical treatise are even more lacking. I'm not saying these kids are dumb but their way of communcating have been reduced to a slang-ridden idiom. You seem unusually mature and articulate for someone the age you claim to be, so I am not really "underestimating" you, I am just verbalizing my skepticism. Whatever. |
Gabriel
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 02:03 pm: |
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Unfortunately there's no way I'll be able to convince you of my "persona", but what you just said is basically the problem of society itself: STEREOTYPING! Because I can actually express myself both intelligently and articulately, suddenly I'm not what you generalize as an "authentic hip-hopper". It's no wonder why we as a people feel the need to forbid anything that doesn't conform to the typical African American ideals! It seems to me that you have fallen into the hands of pop culture: every young black person who loves hip hop culture is supposedly ignorant, dumb, immature, and inarticulate.
By all means, can you fully explain your definition of what being an "authentic 17-year-old-male hip-hopper" is supposed to entail? |
cynique
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 02:18 pm: |
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I didn't say young hip-hoppers were dumb. To the the contrary, I find them to be very shrewd and innovative and creative, but the fact remains that they are out of the main stream and actually seem to take pride in rejecting the "norm". Yes, I did stereotype hip-hoppers but what do you care if I did, since I am old school and my opinion doesn't matter. I accept rappers and hip-hoppers for what they are; there's room for them in the musical spectrum. But the "keeping it real" mantra of the hip-hop culture is starting to ring a little hollow since its proponents are becoming increasingly superficial - and violent. |
Gabriel
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 02:35 pm: |
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If you listen to the radio at all, you'll realize that hip hop is no longer OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM! Look at these big awards shows like the Grammys, MTV Video Awards, and the AMAs: most of them are now advocating that stereotypical thug/pimp/hustler/gangster/get-money-anyway-possible image.
As for taking pride in rejecting the norm: you do realize that there are different norms for different cultures and societies, right? For example: in a rich gated community, it might be consider taboo to associate with lower-class citizens. In a black community however, it is usually taboo to enjoy other activities that don't fall under the common "black" activities, such as playing golf or enjoying rock music. What I'm getting at is that while the "hip-hoppers" reject the dominant cultures norms such as speaking "properly" or conducting one's self in an acceptable manner to the mainstream culture, we usually readily conform to the norms imposed on us from our own community. Look at 90% of the huge commercial rappers out now: their material consists of the "norms" rappers are supposed to cover: clubbing, partying, girls, sex, fake thug life, and so forth. If a rapper wants to be successful, he/she HAS to cover these topics! If they choose to tackle an actual issue, or if they choose to rap about struggles and situations in black communities with actual substance, lyrical content, and style, they will ultimately be ignored by the pop culture, seeing that it is seen as a THREAT to the pop image of hip-hop today.
By the way, you dodged my question so I will ask you again: can you fully explain your definition of what being an "authentic 17-year-old-male hip-hopper" is supposed to entail? |
cynique
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 03:07 pm: |
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To me, an authentic 17-year-old male hip-hopper is somebody wearing name-brand gym shoes and baggy designer clothes with the pants hanging off the ass; braids optional, may or may not have a baby's mama, known to smoke a little weed, affects a cool street-wise demeanor, and stammers in a lingo that incorporates the latest slang. At home, divested of his contrived image, he lolls around the house, eating bowls of cereal, limiting his activity to playing the latest video games, or talking on his cell phones. Isn't sure who the vice-president of the United States is but, he in the sphere of his little world, he does have a good jump shot.
As for everything else you've said, I been there, heard that and the more you "eluciate", the more I reminded that that hip hop is becoming hopelessly co-opted by the dominant culture, and in the process is gradually losing it uniqueness and has, in a word, become "boring." |
cynique
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 03:09 pm: |
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Oooops, that should be "elucidate." |
ABM
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 03:12 pm: |
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Cynique,
Hip-hop has only just recently become the cultural whore that the rest of Black art has long since become. |
cynique
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 03:39 pm: |
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Whassup, ABM? You couldn't resist commenting on our favorite topic of debate, could you? But believe it or not I agree with what you just wrote. Maybe Kola should approach you on another subject to get you to respond to her. (John Edgar Wideman??? Next they'll be saying I'm really Toni Morrison. LOL ) |
ABM
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 03:52 pm: |
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Cynique,
I still believe that hip-hop still has its virtues. But I concede the business apparatus that dominates it reduces the more earnest, sophisticated efforts of its artists to their least (base) common factors.
But there's still hope for hip-hop.
Recent successes of more creative, diverse groups like Outkast, Blackeyed Peas, etc. suggest there's still room for someone to make good, lucrative hip-hop music...without someone having to get shot. |
ABM
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 03:54 pm: |
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BTW: You're A LOT closer to Morrison than I am to Wideman...in age.
HAHA! |
Gabriel
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 03:57 pm: |
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To Cynique: everything that you just stated is EXACTLY what I was trying to point out: STEREOTYPES! Pop culture has obviously convoluted your perception of what "hip-hoppers" are supposed to be. Has it ever occurred to you that hip hop teens might be a group of people who is not afraid to STAND UP for what we believe in? That we refuse to ABANDON our culture just to satisfy the demands of the mainstream and the older generations who don't have a clue to its significance? To have a sense of solidarity with one another so we can easily join together in times of crisis? To be able to have one powerful, universal voice when we need to be heard? From what you're saying, you have not thought about what hip hop truly is. I would advise you to try to COMMUNICATE with someone of my culture and my generation! Chances are you MIGHT meet one who abides by your perceptions, but most likely you'll realize that we are not as superficial and ignorant as we may seem.
And by the way, hip hop is NOWHERE near boring, if you know who is staying true to themselves in the game. If you want to hear some great hip hop music, I would suggest artists such as Common, The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Tupac, De La Soul, Jean Grae, Mystic, or Nas.
To ABM: the stupidity of your statement just PROVES how little you know about Black art. Our forms of self expression are nowhere NEAR the cultural whore status you accuse it to be. Exactly what types of music do you listen to? What do you read? What kind of upbringing did you have? Because based off your claim, you seem to have been either sheltered, had Blackness defined in a convuloted fashion, or you're just plain ignorant! But since you're referring to Black art as a "cultural whore", please compare our art to the so-called "art" that America hails: Britney Spears, Ashanti, Lindsey Lohan, Ashley Simpson, Lil Jon, Marilyn Manson, Madonna, and SO many other talentless individuals. Then come back and hopelessly try to validate your ideas when you obviously don't know what you're talking about!
I can help you out in the music area, though. If you want some great BLACK artists, check out Anthony Hamilton, Fertile Ground, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Fantasia, India Arie, Alicia Keys, Rahsaan Patterson, Janet Jackson (specifically her "Velvet Rope" or "Rhythm Nation 1814"), Floetry, Incognito, Treo Logic, Bilal, Amel Larrieux, Prince, Brian McKnight, Kindred the Family Soul, Sade, Kem, or any of the other artists I've listed for Cynique. You can even check out great artists from other races, such as Teena Marie and Joss Stone, who realize that Black art is BRILLIANT and choose to express themselves through it as well. |
ABM
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:12 pm: |
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Gabriel,
HAHA!
You know. I've been gone a while. And am not yet up for squabbling, especially with foks I don't know.
So if you don't mind, I think I'll for now archive your comments and refer to them at a time when I'm in a more combatative mood.
'Sides. I think you'll find Cynique to be MORE than enough for you contend with. |
Gabriel
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:13 pm: |
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And how often does Black Eyed Peas talk about social issues in a way that isn't nonthreatening? And why is it that Outkast was only recently accepted by mainstream culture AFTER they started to lighten up on their material and chose to experiment with different sounds? If you mentioned Outkast to any white person about 5 years ago, I BET you that they would look at you like WHAT THE HELL! But you see, Outkast decided to go a different route compared to what they used to do, one that was friendly, acceptable, and comfortable for the MTV crowd. THAT is why they are everywhere NOW, because with their latest albums they chose not to address issues in black communities. |
kola@aalbc.com
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Username: Kola
Post Number: 353
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:18 pm: |
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Gabriel said:
I would suggest artists such as Common, The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Tupac, De La Soul, Jean Grae, Mystic, or Nas.
KOLA:
That's funny. Those are all the ones I like. Although the absolute BEST rapper, IMO, is Lauryn Hill----when she raps. Her acoustic MTV CD raps were nothing less than masterpieces, and like so many great, great artists--I believe her work won't receive its fully "understanding" until at least another good 25 years. She's an absolute genius.
______________
But I agree with ABM.
You can name a "few" viable artists, Gabriel...but at least 400 Rap/HipHop artists release CDS each month. And the overwhelming majority of them are TRASH, cultural sell-outs and total whores....and when I say "whore", I'm talking about the MEN in Hip Hop.
I believe that Hip Hop has created more destruction, selfishness and shallowness in our community than anything else.
And no one can deny that both the art forms and the culture of Hip Hop itself are DEEPLY "sexist" and "colorist".
Despite those "Great" artists we get now and then.
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Gabriel
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:19 pm: |
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ARCHIVE my comments!? (^_^) I see you need time to find a way to prove your weightless points! You clearly have NO idea what my generation's culture is all about, and your words just now PROVED IT!
Here is another person I'm sure you and Cynique will find artistically credible: Talaam Acey. He's a SPOKEN WORD artist, a new form of BLACK ART that will hopefully begin to be recognized soon. |
cynique
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:20 pm: |
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Obviously we have a generation gap here, Gabriel. Caught up in the passion of your youth, you are trapped in the "exception not the rule" syndrome. I didn't obtain my impression of a 17-year-old hip-hopper from the media. I got it from observing the teen-aged hip-hoppers that are all around me; in my family and neighborhood, in the schools, and malls! They're everywhere, boppin along, projecting their image. If indeed you are what you say you are, then you are the "exception not the rule". And you keep saying that that I am calling these kids dumb. I am not. But I would have reservations about them becoming the leaders of tomorrow. LOL As for hip-hop being boring, to me it is evolving into that because the culture takes itself sooo seriously and is sooo impressed with what is no more commendable than any other music genre. Obviously we will not reach a common ground, but take heart in the fact that you have youth on your side. |
kola@aalbc.com
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Username: Kola
Post Number: 354
Registered: 02-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:22 pm: |
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No, Gabriel.
OUTKAST "grew up". That's what happened young one.
And you have people who loved the rage and anger in my earlier books like "Pure Nigger Evil" and "Nile River Woman"--comparing me not to other authors, but to rappers like KRS ONE and PUBLIC ENEMY----but they don't like it that I've grown up "some", mellowed out a little and that with AGE...comes restraint.
You're just as radical as ever...but you realize that you pick and choose your battles more wisely.
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kola@aalbc.com
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Username: Kola
Post Number: 355
Registered: 02-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:26 pm: |
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Spoken Word Artist.
A NEW form?
You must be kidding Gabriel.
Let me tell you something....Bessie Smith had lyrics and subjects more "representative" of todays HIP HOP culture than Foxy Brown and NAS do right now.
None of this shit is new, baby boy.
It's all recycled and refried.
Trust me. We know...ALL....about your "generation's" culture.
LOL
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cynique
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:27 pm: |
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ABM says:
BTW: You're A LOT closer to Morrison than I am to Wideman...in age.
Cynique responds:
Really? How old is Wideman?
Guess I'll never live down being old, in spite of the fact that I still like to live it up. C'est La Vie.
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kola@aalbc.com
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Username: Kola
Post Number: 356
Registered: 02-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:30 pm: |
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Talaam Acey isn't doing anything that the Watts Poets LPs didn't do in the 1960's.
They created the form, not Talaam Acey.
And in fact, Gabriel, there was an actual BLACK ARTS movement in the 1960's. So funny you should use that Moniker to describe something "new" and "revolutionary".
The shit is OLD. But at 17, I guess it's news to you.
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Gabriel
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:37 pm: |
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To Kola: I FORGOT ABOUT LAURYN HILL! (^_^) But still, out of those 400 CDs, aren't most of them the ones that the mainstream actually recognizes? Of course those are the ones that are probably garbage, but there are MANY MORE underground artists who strive to remain true to the essence that is hip hop! I know that it's hard to believe when everyday we are bombarded with these horrible songs on every station, but believe me there are many more unrecognized artists that still have TALENT.
And Kola, it's not only the MEN that perpetuate those images. Believe it or not, some WOMEN in hip hop also preach the same ideas that poison our communities: look at Lil Kim, who portrays herself as slutty, shallow, and materialistic. Look at Beyonce, who has so much potential but chooses to rock her long BLOND hair and sell herself as a sex object. Look at Destiny's Child, who's singles "Lose My Breath" has lines like "Take me out so deep when you know you can't swim,
Need a lifeguard and I need protection,
So put it IN me deep in the right direction!" and "Soldier", which states that only the stereotypical "thug" is worthy of going out with them! Look at new artists like Toya and Brooke Valentine; Toya wrote a song about "Country Boys", while Brooke Valentine talks about beatin' other girls asses in her "Girl Fight" single! These portrayals do NOTHING to teach black women to love and respect themselves, and not to accept anything less!
What I do agree with is that the MAJORITY of hip hop trash contributors are men, but it is not only my gender. |
Yvette Perry
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Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 67
Registered: 01-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:38 pm: |
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If the only way you get your hip-hop (or any other genre of music) is via commercial radio, then of course all you're going to get is what has been deemed homogenized enough for mass culture. I am way too old to be showing up at concerts of local artists (I can hear the young people now teasing each other about "There go your MOM), but I do enjoy listening in on acts that promote their stuff directly through the internet. and surprisingly, I found one group I really like through listening to NPR: the Dakah Hip Hop Orchestra.
I do not have anything against this current crop of acts making money off of their product--I think it is too easy for some of us to generalize and romanticize and assume that the only "pure" muscicians are the ones that died broke for their art. And I do appreciate that these days you can find almost as many African Americans behind the artists as there are artists themselves.
Gabriel: I just checked out some of Taalam Acey on his web site: I second your recomendation, Thanks!--http://taalamacey.com/ |
kola@aalbc.com
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Username: Kola
Post Number: 357
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:42 pm: |
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Gabriel, you're a cute kid. So you can stay, my love----but I am not responsible if your parents come later claiming that I contributed to your delinquency. They should have blocked your computer.
And YES.
Without women's support of Sexism---it cannot exist.
Just as without Black People's support of White Supremacy-----it cannot exist.
You're right.
We on the bottom are BIG TIME supporters of our own oppression
....and that includes me, because although I am quick to crucify a sexist man, I also have had lots of good times and great fun sexing and manipulating them. I do confess. I have taken advantage of sex and color, whenever possible, and USED IT to my benefit.
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Yvette Perry
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 68
Registered: 01-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:44 pm: |
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Kola: Talaam Acey isn't doing anything that the Watts Poets LPs didn't do in the 1960's. They created the form, not Talaam Acey.
Kola, shame on you, my African sister (smile)--Watts Poets, or Nikki, or any other of them folks didn't create it either--That form been 'round long long time in Africa. Or maybe I'm the one now romanticizing? LOL |
Yvette Perry
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Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 69
Registered: 01-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:45 pm: |
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KOLA--HUSH talkin to that boy about such things!!! LOL!!! |
kola@aalbc.com
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Username: Kola
Post Number: 358
Registered: 02-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:51 pm: |
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LOL Yvette!
Many in Africa try to take credit for "blues" and for "spoken word"...but I disagree.
West Africans created GOSPEL (out of spiritual mysticism) and Beat (ceremonial), which via the slaves, turned into blues/jazz.
And all African religious and social instruction/history was reached through "ORAL GRIOT" circle teaching....YES....but I don't think it's quite the same AT ALL as what
Naturally, ALL of the musical culture in the Western Hemisphere really does come from BLACK/AFRICAN roots.
But I feel that the Black Americans have surpassed us all.
Our music on the Nile River (those 9 countries) is EXTREMELY different from West African music or American music.
***In my DVD, you will hear me singing 2 songs with a Nubian JAZZ band. But the music is NO RELATION to real Sudanese/Egyptian cultural music.
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kola@aalbc.com
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Username: Kola
Post Number: 359
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:52 pm: |
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LOL Yvette.
LMBAO
girl, I forgot he was a kid
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kola@aalbc.com
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 360
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 04:55 pm: |
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Although...when you hear the Nubian Jazz...you will find it NOTICABLY DIFFERENT from American Jazz. It's more "drunk sounding" and more sensual, because we have a very sensualized culture.
In rehearsals, Black Americans really LOOOOVE my background band.
Now if only I could sing.
LOL
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Xosha
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 05:03 pm: |
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Kola, Yvette is right.
All that '60's stuff is derived from the "Griot Oration" of West Africa. Sure, it was religious in Africa, but it was still the roots of what WATTS POETS 'n Nikki 'nem did.
In South Africa--the "Griot Oration" is almost like "rap" music and yet it comes from ancient times.
But you are right, Kola, when you say North African music is not related. That is true. That is why you don't see the connection of the West African music to today's stuff. Yvette is right. It is the same music, passed down.
But Sister Kola.
You talk too nasty, though. You have dirty mouth.
I read your board through one eye open, one eye closed.
Why you tell things on the "cut" women like that?
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kola@aalbc.com
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 361
Registered: 02-2005
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 05:12 pm: |
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XOSHA...this is the "Kool Room" where anything goes. Troy promised me that or I wouldn't do it.
Being from the Xosha tribe, I'm sure you think my mouth is dirty. Just blame it on me being Half Arab and raised by Black Americans----as I'm sure you've already done. LOL
OK...OK
For you and the other Africans like Nyibol---who are so modest---I will tone it down.
But I really DO NOT tell ALL my business. I just enjoy giving that illusion, loved one.
tima
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Gabriel
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 05:16 pm: |
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OK, y'all are seriously making me feel more and more juvenile LOL! <(^_^)> I admit that I've NEVER heard of the Watts Poets, but what I am saying is that neither the hip hop culture OR the rest of Black art is dead! Sure there are those who are guilty of advocating degrading images of women and stereotypical men, but there are just as many who are trying to uplift our communities and to dissolve those negative images! They are just a whole lot harder to find because of the media always portraying us as thugs, and quick to shun anything that doesn't supplement this image.
And about Outkast: I think that there is a fine line between "mellowing out" as you put it, and "SELLING out", which Outkast was VERY close to doing. Outkast basically changed their ENTIRE image, from men that overcame their circumstances to them becoming the ultimate hustler/pimp and the other becoming a spacey, weird, almost supernatural SINGER! Artists like Common I would say mellowed out and matured: he went from talking about getting pussy, hardcore thug life, and radical black empowerment messages to introspective works about fatherhood, love, life, and a more mature approach on politics and ghetto life. Outkast went first from talking about the hood, to talking about how "Fresh and Clean" they were (I LOVE THAT SONG THOUGH!  ) to talking about some "HEY YA!!!"? I mean come on! That is practically the opposite of anything remotely close to what they used to be!
To Cynique: the keyword here is OBSERVED. There's a huge difference between observing us and interacting with us. I'm confident that if you take the time to talk to us, then you'll realize that we really do have some knowledge in our heads, even if we have a tendency to embrace that hip hop image. |
Yvette Perry
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 70
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 05:18 pm: |
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Hey, does anybody remeber that Gil Scott-Heron song from a while back where he was talking to the rappers? What was that called? |
kola@aalbc.com
Moderator
Username: Kola
Post Number: 362
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 05:33 pm: |
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Gil Scott Heron.
Girl...I LOOOOOOOOOVE that man!!
My father had ALLLLL his music.
I don't agree with EVERYTHING he said (his sexism and homophobia, I tuned out)....but that man put a whole LOT of syrup in my...uhm..."backside". *(Winking at Xosha).
Yvette, I love him!
What would we call him? Girl, I don't know. But he was definitely responsible for "rap" and "hip hop" coming about, I think. He had to be.
_________
Gabriel, it was Gil Scott Heron who coined the phrase: "The revolution will not be televised"......as well as my favorite phrase...."Niggas is SCARED of revolution".
Now I could have had my children for that King, I won't lie.
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Linda Chavis
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Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 15
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 06:55 pm: |
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Cynique: Not defending Gabriel but my 17 yr old grandson is articulate as Gab, wears his baggy pants, those caps they wear when the hair is freshly braided, is graduating this yr from HS with a 3.5, planning on college or culinary arts school, doesnt smoke weed or drink and states he is not going to indulge based on what he sees in the HOOD and has been working for me in an afterschool/literacy program for children located in low income housing for 3 years. Oh yea..and he loves hip hop.
Linda From Ohio |
ABM
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 2156
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 07:49 pm: |
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Cynique,
HAHA! Just messin' withcha about the age thing. No matter how old/decrepit you are, I'd still do'yah (if I were drunk, the room was pit-black, I got amnesia and forgot the WHOLE thing after it was over, etc.).
You know I had to get back at you for comparing me/Kola to Bobby/Whitney on Kola's other topic. |
cynique
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 12:21 am: |
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All is forgiven ABM. Illinois pulled off a miracle and won and all is right with the world!
To Gabriel: I do more than observe the kids I spoke about. Because I am so curious about them, I do talk to a lot of them and what I wrote is the impression I have. I reiterate that I am not accusing them of anything except being immersed in a lifestyle that, because it is more style than substance, tends to thwart their intellectual growth.
Linda: Actually, I think, nowadays, all kids are hip hop to some degree, especially when it comes to fashion. Obviously some don't adopt the hip-hop philosophy of thumbing their nose at the rest of the conventional world.
To all: I listen to rap music all the time and I like a lot of it. But I am not hip hop. I just like to diversify my interest so I can be a well-rounded person. I don't expect young people to be anything that I, myself, am not. |
Yvette Perry
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 112
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 16, 2005 - 04:19 pm: |
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"Russell Simmons returning to Def Jam"
http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2005/04/15/defjam/index.html
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