Scarface is calling it a day-Politics Has ruined the Music Biz

oce cube summed it up in true to the game, no more hip hop just white fans and vanilla ice

Hiphop is fast food. Put out the crap as fast as you can and the dummies buy it up. Brad is 100% on point. It can’t go back. It will never go back. There is still good music out there but it’s so underground that lazy people don’t wanna dig for it. I liked when Hiphop was mainstream cuz it was easy access. I’m one of the lazy ones. I’ll just keep bumpin my 80’s and 90’s can’t miss bangers.

Scarface, I’ve been saying this since 1994 that the Bronx were the Judas’ of Rap Music. That “Eat dat watermellon” video by Nas and them is a trip. Baby Boomers won’t like it, but damn that’s the same thing I said back in ’94 on Rapologist Speaks ’94 and spoke about NAs and The Geto Boys, as well. “The Orign of Rap Music” told you all’s parents back in 1994 – “…rappers rely more heavily on gimmicks, rather than talent, which is the stage Rap Music is in now – ‘ A Loss of Orign.'” This was written back in 1994, along with the critique – “…for it all goes back to – how little Americans really know about the Origins of Rap Music”. Negroes started talking about Gil Scott-Herron, The Last Poets, Jamaicans, whatever David Toop taught you all. What he didn’t teach you all is “who you really are and what ‘you’ created using two turntables and a microphone”, becauase had you’d known that 15 years ago this madness perhaps would have been dealt with. But we live and learn, and as KRS-One once said “And You Must Learn!” Google that one.

Bamboowalk, I think you forgot who was letting those groups in the late ’80’s record those songs. Those same people knew if they tried to take it too far, they had Niggas With Attitude just waiting in the wing to “niggerize” the rest of the Black youth throughout America. If you are old enough, you know something wasn’t right about PE when they fired professor Griff. Those groups were about selling albums to make them ew’s rich. hip-hop is not a culture, its a word that European people made up for nursery rhymes that the record companies adopted when the pushed Syvia and another guy named Bobby Robinson out to make all of the money and control their children’s (Black People) minds. Groups recorded only what the “parent” companies would distribute even back then.

“hip-hop is not a culture, its a word that European people made up for nursery rhymes that the record companies adopted when the pushed Syvia and another guy named Bobby Robinson out to make all of the money and control their children’s (Black People) minds.”

interesting spin but unfortunately wrong on both counts, Rev. hip-hop is indeed a culture; it was a culture before it was an industry.

the hip-hop industry began with Slyvia and Bobby who jerked EVERY SINGLE GROUP THEY HAD on Sugarhill. maybe you need to do some more learning before you quote KRS-One.

As for NWA, they were an indie label group who were somewhat political and represented a voice which hadnt been heard yet. Straight Outta Compton didnt “niggerize” hip-hop–by this i assume you mean the promotion of gangsta rap over so-called conscious rap–that happened later, in 1993, after dr dre came out with the Chronic. again, that was also somewhat of a political record–it was made in the aftermath of the LA riots–but also one which was selling more units than anything else on Interscope at the time, including rock, which had hit rock bottom following the death of Kurt Cobain. When all those East Coast labels saw that the West Coast was running shit, they came back with their own gangster-type music which wasnt political at all–Biggie Smalls, DMX, Ja Rule, etc. So there you have it.

and PE came back after the griff flap with “Fear of a Black Planet.” they didnt own their label so it was either get dropped or drop the anti-semite. i’m pretty sure they made the right call, since that album is classic. it’s not like griff rapped, DJed or made beats.

I saw the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the first man to walk on the moon in 1969 this year, I just watched a special on Woodstock from 1969 this year, but its a damn shame that this year ;because of some old, ignorant, bitter brothers from the Bronx who still hold on to a petty Black-on-Black crime grudge and had to run to the Jews and give them the control of Rap Music; who renamed it Hiphop to sell mainstream and globally, we are not celebrating “Rap Music’s” 30th year Anniversary (1979) this year. The Honorable Minister Farrakhan said you all were their children. Know your history and know whose culture your stereotyping us all for.

Great points in this article and I feel his frustration, but how much of this is merely growing pains?

I’m in homies age group (read: old) but I’m excited about the possibilities that new technology brings to the forefront in regards to creating music as well as a movement. These youngstas out here ain’t really sweating record deals like that because with the internet they are creating their own buzz and taking charge of their careers for better or worse.

Who’s really cutting edge; The guy stuck in the 90’s still waiting for some A&R to shape and mold their image and babysit them by providing per diem and a (usually) fucked up advance, or the motivated artist well versed in the web game and with more energy to actually hit the streets with their product and touch the people?

These cats are building up a ‘virtual’ army to with the hustle and that’s the bottom line, they are “gettin it in” to coin a cliche. Dudes like Scarface are legends in the game but he’s obviously pretty salty with the politics of the business. That’s a 90’s phenomenon and imho just boils down to not having the right people around you (like a good lawyer). For example, you don’t see P-Diddy or Jay-Z complaining right? That’s because their business game is on point and they have graduated from just being artists to becoming moguls.

The only thing cats can really do is try to school themselves on the business side of the game so as not to be crying bitter tears later on in life when their shine is fading and their show money drys up.

Davey D I don’t know what kind of dough you are making from this site but I appreciate the fact that you keep the content coming and don’t complain.

Staying positive, the first basic ideal! ONE

It should be noted that the word culture has multiple definitions depending on the circumstances (how it’s used). So, it’s interesting to me that out of all the definitions to choose from, someone, in an attempt to say that Hip Hop is not a culture, chose a definition that doesn’t adequately apply to Hip Hop. A thorough check of the word will reveal several definitions that apply to Hip Hop. This exposing of partial truths (incomplete definitions in this case) in order to make a point is an old oppressive and divisive tactic that adversely affects all, but especially Black people.

The fact of the matter is that Hip Hop IS a culture in today’s society. Whether the term came from Europe, Dizzy Gillespie’s Bee Bop era, Cab Calloway’s or Duke Ellington’s orchestra/big band era, etc. is irrelevant to the fact that Hip Hop is a worldwide culture today. As with any culture of people, those within it share a common basic mind set that manifests itself in a plethora of ways. Very roughly stated, true Hip Hop is a state of mind that is dedicated to uplift, educate, entertain, and/or inspire others manifested through various art forms. Those art forms include (but are not limited to) not only MC ing (rapping), but also, spoken word (poetry), turntablism, numerous dance forms, fashion, and graffiti art. Then there are all the offshoots and different styles of those art forms. Rapping is just one part of MC ing.

Gangsta and other commercially manufactured rap are just subsets of rapping. However, they’re the ones that are being capitalized on and marketed to the world as Hip Hop. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your view) their images represent the face of Hip Hop to the larger world outside the culture. This is why most of people who truly represent Hip Hop culture have all but turned off the radio and gone underground for their music. They are not the target audience anyway. This is why more and more artists are looking for less and less record deals and going the indie route. Better control of you destiny is usually more appealing. This is why Scarface quit. He saw the cold, unyielding, mis/un informed, greedy corporate side of it, as was no longer willing to play the role designed for him. They all reject the represented ‘status quo’ as it currently relates to what the world has been misled to believe is Hip Hop.

But this is also why the 360 deal came out. The fan base is slipping, but they’re spending their money somewhere. New artist signings are down, but those artists are signing something somewhere. Current artist are quitting or not resigning, so what’s a conglomerate to do? Generate more capitol by basically tapping into Hip Hop’s manifestations. If they figure out a way to capitalize on Hip Hop and all of its subsets, they will.

But as an ages old saying goes, “Only those who bend over………”. My hat’s off to Face for having the knowledge and courage to follow his heart. I hope more take that lead.

What’s funny is someone said they think I’m bluffing. What do I have to bluff about? Contact Dj Gary O in Philly on WDAS 105.3 and listen to the tape “Rapologist Speaks ’94”. He has a copy of the tape, so does NY WBLS and a California once top radio starion. When this thing come 360, you all are going to say, “Damn, they tricked us”. It’ll be like a Black man telling you that Christopher Columbus didn’t discover America, nor did Leaf Ericson, or whoever, because the Black Man had already been here and erected statues of himself . You won’t believe it!

Maybe I’m just too old for you kids, but I remember this jewish guy name Lyor Cohen laughing; after he curbed his pawn Russell Simmons; about how he just picked a young rapper from a video and made him a star. Jews tell you in hip-hop who to like, you all just don’t get it. That didn’t happen when Black people were the fans of Rap Music. There was a term called “whack” and that shit meant something to us. That was when it was a “Black thing”. Got to hear “Rapologist Speaks ’94” on those west coast rappers. Too Short, Ice T, please! LISTEN TO THE TAPE PEOPLE, I BEG YOU!!!

Why in the world would you just give up like that? So many people simply say “I’m out” as oppose to staying in the fight, or educating others how to change the game. Scarface is in a rare position, despite not having full control of the business. It is imparative that he continues to put out music in order to spread the message. He may not change the business side of the game, but I guarantee someone he influences will.

Hip-hop on the business side? It’s better to existed than not at all. If hearing groups that have no regard for political correctness or label sensiblities than its out there for you to find. I think P.E bent some too when they fired Griff, but business is business. Live to fight another battle. Business wise hip-hop is exceedingly more advanced than other music genre’s as vehicles for artist self actualization, economically and creatively. You just don’t see people emerge from the artist level to the levels of Jay-Z, Ice Cube, Latifah, Diddy, 50 Cent, Ludacris, Master P, Snoop and the rest of the moguls. Pop has Madonna, Rock has Rob Zombie. However the talent disburtion of hip hop artists is unrivaled. Look at TV advertising, rappers are just second to athletes.

Are their whitemen outside of hip-hops traditional culture base who are even richer and have power to call shots. Yeah. What you want hip-hop to do kill them? The 360 deal is a knee jerk reaction to hip-hops cultural and entrepreneurial brilliance. Corporate stick up kids. Scarface sees it and calls it for what it is. Scarface himself is an executive. He came up under one of the best in biz J. Prince. Scarface was the president of Def Jam South. He won’t be going on any poverty tours anytime soon. If Face performs its because he want to entertain and inform his people.

Robert, where can I get the book and the tape?

There’s a difference between importance and priority. Teachers are more important than rappers. Doctors are more important than athletes. However cultural priority is given to the former mentioned because they make money for other people.

White America has celebrity worship but actors are higher up in the pecking order than rappers and singers. Now with the reality TV phenom everybody wants to be a psuedo celebrity. The difference between that and black kids with hip-hop is that the average white kid dreaming of being the next Tom Cruise is steady getting his education in the meantime. Their celebrity cult doesn’t have a negative subculture attached. The criminal/drug subculture has embedded itself in hip-hop ethos. Hip-hop didn’t start it. It would be here without it, but hip-hop helps maintain it by making it appear more appealing than it really is. Pimping ain’t easy.

A Philadelphia scholar, not one of my favorites, by the name of Dr. Molethe Assante would have you going back to vodoo or koptic religions in Africa to find this spiritual education. “Tear it down”, you say, many say “hip-hop” is a religion. “Tear it down and build it up right”. Both of you guys hit on some good points, but Black people “we” have our priorites wrong. God, the importance of an education, pride, dignity, and respect has been lost as a part of our “culture” and replaced by elements that ain’t got nothing to do with us. If they want to sell Sunny delight, its the white kid “Breakin'”. If you even have credit to get a free credit report they have a white guy “rapping”. You can be so frustrated with your “own” race that you’ll get mad at another race because you can’t make your “own” race understand, that’s crazy, yo!

jubiq, hit me up at cywriter@embarqmail.com with an address for excerpts of “The Origin Of Rap Music” and “Rapologist Speaks ’94”. Can’t sell it, too much back interest due to me. Peace!

“The criminal/drug subculture has embedded itself in hip-hop ethos. Hip-hop didn’t start it. It would be there without it, but hip-hop helps maintain it by making it appear more appealing than it really is.” “Helps” – helps do what? “Hurt” – who gets hurt behind all this maintaining “ignorance”. I was reading somewhere on here where on one of these posts a guy was glorifying “ignorance’ of the past instead of learning from it. All I can say is read – “THE ORGIN OF RAP MUSIC” – 6) What really has nothingto do with “Hip-Hop”?
A) Grafitto B) Poppin’ C) Breakin’ D) Crips-Bloods

The answer was – D) Crips and Bloods. The Crips and the Bloods were “California” gangs rivaling, which some how made its way into the whole montage of the California Gangsta’ genre via a Hollywood movie known as “Colors”. This 120 minute depiction of urban violence among Los Angeles gangs and the La Ploice Department by Dennis Hopper, released in April 1988, merely broadcasted to the rest of America what was allegedly occuring in South Central Los Angeles, California. We can thank a white guy named Dennis Hopper for advertising gangs to be spread all throughout the rest of this country for box office buck. At the same time, Eazy E was and his California group N.W.A. later began boasting about gang violence and the police , as well. Much like the movie “Wildstyle”, by a jew named Charlie Ahearn, the movie “Colors” subliminal effect had kids all across the nation starting to try to be like, or copy cat, the gang codes and memberships that they had saw in the movie… ” More, obvioulsy, but you get my point how movies as well as music has been used to negatively indoctrinate our young people. “Colors and Relaity Rap = gangs and prison for our youth”. Nothing to boast about, celebrate or reminisce about with a smile.