Dear Music

Dear Music,

I once loved all that you had to offer. The artistic beauty with the movement of your rythmic notation and your inspiring words of sexual embrace and life's worthiness. You
taught me things that my parents could not like how to love, be in a constructive reslationship, how to worship, how to love myself, and that have obstacles. You showed the world talents of great artists like Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Al Green, Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Billie Holiday.



You gave street love a new look with youngsters telling the world their life stories with gangbanging, living in poverty, hood life, new skills in the game came present with artists like Warren G, Tupac, Notorious BIG, Dj Quik, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, Nutty by Nature.


Yet over the years music you have changed. The things that were fly, artistic, inspiring, loving, and romantic has become sex orientated, degrading, and irresponsible.. Songs like lets get Jerking, Geeked Up, Pop Lock and Drop It, Pussy Poppin on a Hand Stand, Look Back At It. Artists like Trina and Lil' Kim are telling the world how bad they pussy is and how far down a dick can go down their throats. You have artists like Game degrading women and putting them as whores and easy. Or 50cent with a theme park of sexual activites and how a girl can benefit him.

Women are now not unworthy music especially Black women who either do whatever they are told like bend over girl show me wat u working with or being called whores because they are using sex to get in a man's music industry by wearing damn near nothing on music videos, degrading themselves and their families like vidoe vicines Michelle Ford and Super Head or letting men run them over for the sake of being ran over.


What happened music. Things used to be great when you had meaning and I don't mean the beats and instrumental enhancements of modern technology of computer usage such as T-Pain but the misleading music by the young and the old like Soldier Boy with him singing songs of ejaculation on a female's back and when the speciment is drying you place a sheet on her back and push her off of the bed and let her fly like superman. Like is this seriously music?

Do I honestly want my children listening to this nonsense and call it music? Music is artistic words and creative music coming together for popular view. Yes, economically that song or many of the songs stated are well with high volumes of ring tone sales and single downloads or album sales; but is it music?

Does it having meaning? Does it show character, optimism? Does it show creativity? Does it embrace life's goods and bads that young people cannot learn from their parents?

Or has music become an industry of money and no longer about good music? In which popularity of whatever nonsense can be expressed is beneficial to the public's view?

Damn music I once loved you but now I'm a little scared but there are people who are still trying to hold on to the true music like Musiq Soulchild, Beyonce, Common, Lupe Fisasco, LL Cool J, Mary J. Bildge, Lauryn Hill, Rahyeem Davon, Neyo, Ciara, Ashanti, Mariah Caery, Rhianna, Chris Brown, Ginuwine, Jill Scot, Angie Stone, Keisha Cole

Well I guess ill just keep listening to them because I don't know what's going. But when you get this please respond back,

Sincerely,
The Word to the Wise

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Max Payne

Over the weekend, I visited my beautiful family in LA. My mom and I went to the movies to see Max Payne. This is a shout-out to all of those thinking about spending their hard earned money to see the movie:don't.

First off, the movie is like three hours long, has absolutely no point at all, and brings in all these un-related elements, like flying birds and such.

It was so far fetched and abstract, I decided to spend my time wisely and go to sleep, as did my mother.

Overall, it was complete waste of time and money.

I'm going to go ahead and vote no on that one.

-Miki

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The Trifecta of Badassery.

http://www.myspace.com/janellemonae

(photo: ymib.com)

I love artists that step out of the box to do something completely different and out of this world. For awhile now, I’ve been listening to what I call the “holy trifecta” of badass, Afropunk-esque* females shaking up the industry.

One third of this trifecta is Janelle Monae, an Atlanta-based artist who has often been called “the female Andre-3000.” My fave songs are “Violent Stars/Happy Hunting” and “Metropolis.” She grabbed me with her futuristic sound. The girl has some serious talent.

J*Davey
http://www.myspace.com/jdavey

Another is Jack Davey, one half on the Los Angeles retro-funk duo, J*Davey. Jack Davey is a vixen with a lot of attitude, just listen to any of the sex-filled lyrics over synths and drum machines and you’ll see why. Make sure you check out J*Davey when they perform October 29th at the Barn! 7:30pm.

Santogold http://www.myspace.com/santogold

Lastly, there is Santogold. You may have seen her recently on MTV or have heard her songs in Budlight commercials, but she caught my attention a few years ago while still in the Philly-based punk band, Stiffed. Since then, she has come a long way with her eclectic beats and unapologetic lyrics. Don't Sleep on Ms. White.

* in case you were scratching your head, see previous blog about afropunk here.

-le chat noir

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Self-Proclaimed Art or Fad?

If you don’t already have a tattoo, you’re thinking about it, and if you’re not even thinking about it, then you are a small minority in comparison to your peers. The neck, behind the ears, collar bone, sleeves, wrists, and feet are all hot spots for the tattoo craze. Everyone is attempting to make up the most creative, personal, or unique design to ink onto their skin. Some would credit rappers like Lil’ Wayne for the born-again boom of tattoos that was previously lived out in the ninety’s, died down, and is now making a comeback. Others will deny any outside influence and proclaim that it is a form of art that they choose to display on their body. Either way, I am questioning whether or not this is a generation strongly dedicated to self-expression or if it is a craze that will be regretted in the future. Not all of us will be celebrities, many of us working towards a professional career, and there has been an unofficial standard set that brands tattoos as “unprofessional”. In this case, is the professional world going to be more accepting to tattoos or keep its standard set? If the professional world does not become more accepting of tattoos, will it be more difficult for the large amount of people in our generation with visible tattoos to break into and gain the upmost respect in our careers? If not, would it be fair that this perspective is based on what is looked at by Corporate America as a physical blemish? Even though it is a standard that has been set and known for many previous years? I bring this up, because I feel it is an issue that many fit into; I myself have a visible tattoo. The majority of us have been raised to believe that the choices we make in the present will affect our future. Is society becoming more accepting to a youthful population that chooses to express themselves in a particular manner, or is this a fad that we will regret in the future years to come?



Stormi J

Photo Credits to Google Images

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Dark Origins

The Most Ancient Zodiac, from Which all Subsequent Zodiacs Derive

The ancient people of KMT (KMT is ancient Egypt; Egypt is what Greek invaders called the land much later), meaning “coal black”, were the fathers and mothers of great intellectuality, knowledges and wisdoms from whom Western society has borrowed – rather, stolen and distorted – for credit is certainly not given where credit is owed.

BRIEFLY! We are talking black Africans. When KMT was at its golden age it was inhabited by black Africans! When we think of Egyptians we often think of light skinned Arab looking people. But no. We are talking before the Europeanization of KMT: before the Islamic occupation of the Nile Valley in 640 A.C.E., before the repressive Persian invasion in 343 B.C.E., before the Greek conquest in 332 B.C.E. The Nile Valley had thrived for centuries and centuries before Greek civilization was even thought of!!

ANYWAY..

Ancient inhabitants of the Nile Valley, BLACK people, made centuries of observations and analysis of the heavens. They divided the skies into 12 regions, each grouping of stars was assigned a zodiac sign, each sign associated with a “God” or a decan, each of whom were regarded as messengers of Heru – called Horus by the Greeks, hence the word horoscope. AND BY THE WAY... Heru is a central figure in the trinity of ancient KMT, referred to as the “Son of God,” bearing interesting resemblance to the Christian situation which would emerge damn near 4,000 years after the Nile Valley Civilization’s prime...

SO! Each zodiacal sign refers to the stars under which seasonal/agricultural happenings on earth took place, 12 parts of a process which lends to the greatness of the region—Agriculture is key to the greatness of these civilizations! Once the people’s basic need for food is satisfied, they can then focus attention on philosophical, scientific and mathematical issues... and if they hadn't done that Europeans would still be thinkin the world was flat. Ha..

Africa was fruitful and rich, nourishing to her people. Thus we have the cradle of all civilization, the mother, the stolen legacy.

Danielle Elaine

Reference:
Browder, Anthony T. Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization: Exploding the Myths – Volume 1. Washington, D.C.: The Institute of Karmic Guidance, 1992.

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JOE BIRD SOARS

Joe Bird, a UCR alumni with a degree in History and a rapper who proudly hails from Victorville. His self titled album "Joe Bird" is available at the Student Exchange, Mad Platter music store at the University Village, iTunes, and CDbaby. The album took roughly three months to make the album starting with the beats and writing lyrics to fit these beats. For the album to be made in such a short amount of time, it is the beats and music are fluid and are paired together nicely. That level of artistry is hard to find in many underground rap albums.

The artist states that he first fell in love with Hip Hop in Hampton, Virginia, where his mother, an Air Force veteran, was stationed. As he started to listen more, he fell in love with the music of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and The G Funk era. He believes that Ice Cube is the greatest rapper of all time. Just like Ice Cube, Joe Bird has been exploring other avenues of entertainment. In 2006, Joe Bird was cast in Professor Rickerby Hinds play "Straight From Tha Underground" in which a B-boy goes back in time during the time of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.

As for the album, it is refreshing to hear a distinct voice in the midst of a somewhat constrictive genre. Bird has a way with words and a talent for creating beats and music to deliver those words. With that being said, it is a little disappointing that someone so talented resorts to the tired old clichés (making money, drugs, sex) that makes a lot of rap music little more than explicit lyrics set to nice beats. All of the songs are worth listening to, if not for the lyrics, for the beats. The beats are catchy and dance worthy, the kind of songs you can imagine hearing at the club or pumped up loud in someone's car.

Joe Bird states that he was exploring his versatility as a rap artist. He explored many different themes such as being a college student, living in the High Desert, and many other personal and non personal. Bird has an amazing talent for versatility, which is undeniable.

Several songs such as "Back It On Me", "Ballot or the Bullet", and "Any Day of The Year" are points where the music and lyrics are at its best. "Ballot or the Bullet" is one of the more poignant songs on the album, but with other songs with less thought put into the lyrics, the message is a bit muddled. Bird's lyrics are brutally honest, regardless of what he is talking about. His honesty is to be appreciated and with this honesty, he could reach a wider audience.

Overall, the album was enjoyable. The effort is commendable and the CD is worth listening to, if not for the lyrics, for the fluidity between music and lyric. Bird states that his album is made for anyone that likes different styles of hip hop. If he were to choose a specialty of the genre perhaps the more poetic and thoughtful side of hip hop, he has the potential to go far and become a big name in local music. He states that he likes the vulgar rap, but he also states that it is not his entire persona. The album explores different sides of Joe Bird, but as a listener, I want more. Joe Bird has talent which if, nothing else, should be recognizable and defines Joe Bird as an artist to look out for. Check him out at http://www.myspace.com/birdjoe.

Najela

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Here's to you, Afropunk.

Before it was trendy to rock monroes and snakebites, and a skateboard was a part of your swag, there were the black hardcore punk pioneers Bad Brains. Before Vans became a hit song and Lupe encouraged folks to “Kick, Push,” there were the Atlanta punks of The Slack Republic. Before Pharrell warned us about the “f*ckin posers,” people knew the band on their t-shirt because they were die hard fans. Before vests and skinny jeans were commonplace among your favorite rapper’s physical aesthetic and Mohawks became reduced to something less than a political statement, there were Afropunks.

The term was coined by film director James Spooner who, in 2003 at the Toronto Film Festival, introduced the world to oft ignored social and racial issues that are still prevalent in American (and black) society. Much like its title, Afropunk: The ‘Rock n Roll Nigger’ Experience, the provocative 66-minute film shocks its audience while presenting the “other black experience” that very many people still fail to comprehend. Spooner dedicates the film “to every black kid who has ever been called a nigger and every white kid who thinks they know what that means.”

The film succeeds in shedding a light on topics of cultural identity and acceptance that includes music from artists like Tamar-kali, The Slack Republic, Cipher, the legendary Bad Brains and more--music you otherwise wouldn’t hear on 106 & Park. The film allows audiences to observe the full spectrum of black experience that which makes us all beautiful. Afropunk has since then created a platform for discussion and provided a much-needed sense of belonging to minorities within a minority.

Even before the inception of “Afropunk,” though, there were black kids just trying to find themselves despite a world full of blueprinted expectations of them. There were individuals who were defined by their skin tone, judged by their attire, and often alienated for their lifestyle choices by whites and blacks alike. As someone who has actually been told that I “wasn’t ghetto enough,” “spoke white,” and listened to “white people music,” this feeling is all too familiar.
Something is different, though. The same black kids who ridiculed and manifested their lack of understanding towards a subculture are the same people who have recently adopted a bastardized, watered-down version of the punk rock aesthetic (Shop Boyz anyone?) in hip hop music.

This is a necessary digression that begs the question, what happened to hip hop? It’s easy to say that hip hop is transforming and evolving but it is difficult to believe when it’s starting to seem like a culture of bandwagonism, driven by ring tone sales and new dance crazes.

These days, though, 80’s enthusiasts the Retro Kidz, are rapping about a “new era” in hip hop that is basically a cheap, gimmicky version of the golden era. KRS-One, who gave a hip hop lecture at UCR last year, said it best when he noted that old school hip hop had originality and authenticity and that the hip hop acts of today are just trend chasers. No passion, just business. This is evident in the genre-hopping of hip hop artists who exploit genuine rock music in hopes of huge sales (remember Lil Jon’s Crunk Rock?).

It’s no wonder that most alternative black kids have viewed this as a mockery of their culture when they were called a “fag” five years ago for wearing jeans that fit.
So this is written in appraisal to those who are judged for who they are and are still raising a middle finger to the stereotypes made of them. Anyone who is made an outcast because of their physical appearance and remain true to themselves. Here’s to you, the trailblazers, the trendsetters, the afro punks. Because, after all, being black in America is punk rock enough.




-le chat noir

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