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Raise Up! Knaan is in the Building-Make Room at the Table for African Hip Hop

March 1, 2009 By

Davey DI met Somalian born rapper Knaan about 3 or 4 years ago in his current place of residence Toronto. We chopped it up back then and he assured me that it was just a matter of time before the US Hip Hop scene would open its arms to rappers from other shores. At the time that seemed far-fetched because even though we all know that Hip Hop is a worldwide phenomenon, very few heads in the states can cite more than 3 or 4 artists from neighboring Canada much less from overseas. Ask folks to name artists from Africa and the conversation is all but over…

On one hand we should not be surprised. After all, Hip Hop always reflects the mindset and cultural mores of the people and places that embrace it.Hence to the degree we can hardly name off any of the Provinces in Canada it should not be a shock that we can’t name off any of her artists.

Nowadays Knaan is increasingly becoming a household word here in the states. He’s already a superstar overseas. For many he’s a breath of fresh air who reminds us just how flavorful good Hip Hop can be. His creativity and overall conversation raises the bar. His global perspectives reminds us that this is a big world and our country is just a small part of it..

We caught up with Knaan during his visit at SXSW in Austin, Tx and chopped it up with him. We talked about his new album Troubadour which is a monster and what he was trying to get across. We talked about the challenges of knocking down doors in the US. Knaan quoted Saul Williams by agreeing with the assertion that Hip Hop has been republican in the past 10 years. Its been about money, closing its eyes to the realities outside its immediate borders and very unwilling to change.
He sees things changing for the better and that’s a good thing.

We covered a variety of topics including the recent move by Homeland security to scrutinize Somalis living here in the US as possible terrorists. We talked about the whole Somali pirates thing and discovered that what we been fed by mainstream news is a big lie. Knaan explained that the so called pirates are actually more like Coast Guards. They been patrolling the waters and stepping to foreign vessels that look at the un-centralized government in Somalia and hence feel they can do pillage the natural resources like over the top commercial fishing and illegal dumping of hazardous wastes. The Somalia pirates have been stepping to vessels for violating their water space and have taken the matter up to the UN only to have the main violators France along with the US veto any resolution..

knaanWe talked about the make up of Knaan’s album and what it was like working with Maroon 5’s Adam Levine and Hip Hop legend Chubb Rock. He explained that Levine was a real cool and basically came through and laid down vocals for free. He just wanted to show respect and appreciation for the music.

He talked about admiring Chubb Rock’s rhyme flow and how it was an honor to have the rapper turned school teacher to come through and lace him up.

Knaan also talked about his rhyme influences which actually come from the Rhythmic Poets of Somalia. These wordsmith have been around centuries before the first rappers in the Bronx

Finally we talked about the state of the world and how US and US Hip Hop fit into things. Knaan noted that the US is now going a period where many of its citizens are feeling vulnerable and at ease. he noted its the same type of uneasiness that many throughout the world feel on a day to day basis. Our economic hardships are routine for the majority of the people around the world and now that type of situation is on our shores and we will have to not only rise to the occasion be much more aware of what the rest of planet earth is experiencing.

Listen to the Breakdown FM Interview w/ Knaan by clicking the link below:

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Kanye West & That Pesky Gay Question!

February 6, 2009 By

Archived Article:

Kanye West & That Pesky Gay Question!
written by Khalil Amani
Jan 2009

Hey Kanye! This is your old crazy-ass gay uncle! Remember me?

Well, I’m not really your uncle and I’m not really gay, but I thought that would get your attention! It’s time for some real talk about gayness. That shyt really irks you, doesn’t it?

For years, some people thought that Prince was gay. Who knew that one day he’d go on record and say that homosexuality was wrong (based on his own warped understanding of being a “Jehopeless Witness”)-Prince condemning homosexuality? Who knew? WTF? (Lol)

But prior to Prince being religiously brainwashed, you never heard him ranting to the public that he wasn’t gay! Prince didn’t give a fuck about what us little ol’ peasants thought about his wearing eyeliner, mascara, high heels, and booty-cheek pants! Prince was our androgynous sex freak who brought the bomb songs into our bedrooms! (e.g. Do Me Baby, Adore, International Lover, The Beautiful Ones, Purple Rain) We gave Prince a ghetto-pass for being himself and never apologizing for his eccentricities.

Prince is one of the musical great ones!

Now look at you Kanye West-stuck in a genre of music (rap) that doesn’t take kindly to gayness. You’re desperately trying to straddle the fence between uber-macho maleness and eclectic/experimentational… musical impresario with a lemon twist of conscious gay rights advocacy. Two juxtaposing worlds! You admit that you get your fashion sensibilities from gay dudes (shhhhh!), but you’re quick to let the world know that you’re not gay! (Okay, wink, wink) That’s how heads are looking at you!

So you wanna be left alone so you can be “great?” Well you’re going about it all wrong! Why do you feel the need to answer to us mere mortals? Let’s see…you’ve got millions of dollars, famous as a motherfucker, got hella women on your jock, on top of the rap game, doing Louis Vuitton shoe deals and stuff, but you’re worried and upset over people writing false shyt about you and your sexuality? You’re upset that 50 Cent continues to diss you? Musically speaking, 50 Cent has already “Before I Self-Destructed,” so count his opinion amongst the haters of your work. (Ever seen the Titanic? GGGG-UNIT!)

You’re starting to look mighty gay bro.! (As straight heads like to say!)

Why do you think you’re getting so much attention? Because you’re the shyt! That’s why! Remember what Steve Harvey recently said (as it relates to Katt Williams calling him out); “A stray dog don’t bark at parked cars!” If you weren’t ’bout it, ’bout it’ no one would be checking for you! You’d be some D-List entertainer on a reality show trying to make a comeback! But this is what the price of fame at its height brings-unwarranted, unsolicited attention-email hackers and Internet geeks whose sole purpose in life is to live vicariously through you! Go read the book Sula, by Toni Morrison. There are people out here that would absolutely shrivel up and die if they had no one to talk about, degrade, castigate, diss and hate on. (Like Byron Crawford/Bol and some of those XXL bloggers) This is the reason for their existence and you, Kanye, are their “Elixir of Life!” (Medical cure-all)

And some of these hip-hop sites and bloggers would like to make you a rapping pariah (outcast) because they don’t like your music. Shamelessly, some bloggers are trying to direct hip-hop and shape public opinion as to what is and isn’t hip-hop.

It would mean the world to them to say, “We at Hateration.com ended Kanye West’s career… hate, hate, hate!”

Enjoy the fame and all that comes with fame while you can, because there’s a graveyard filled with the bones of has-been rappers who think they have a second chance at rap supremacy (Can you say Jaz-O?)

Like me, you’ve opened the floodgates of doubt by acknowledging your gay-niceties. Like me, you want the world to know that you’re straight as an arrow. But unlike me, you haven’t found out that it really doesn’t matter. Hip-hop heads are hell-bent on believing what they want! The more you protest your straightness, the more heads are apt to believe that you have some gay tendencies!

So I’m gonna tell you what your mama would’ve told you (your mama and my mama are in heaven, looking down on their sons)-“Do you and forget the haters! Do you and stop trying to prove that you’re not gay! Do you and let people speculate all they want!” Word to our mothers!

The “great” ones don’t answer to the masses! The great ones are above public ridicule! Go read the “Prince Manual on Royalty” and get a clue! Mofos wanna believe you’re into bi-sexual porn-great! I know you’ve got your own website/blog, but dispelling idiotic rumors is best left up to your public relations people. Stop stooping to answer the ignorance of the peasantry! Take a page out of the “Rick Ross Book of Silence” and let the peasantry have their say. Be about greatness! Stop stooping to answer the ignorance of the peasantry! Be about greatness! Stop letting that pesky gay question fuck with you!

In your recent Vibe interview you said, “I don’t believe in a religion that has something against gay people. …I was taught to hate gays. And I don’t really believe in any of that. …I break every rule and mentality of hip-hop, of black culture, of American culture.” (February 2009 Issue) That’s very progressive of you to not believe in religious bigotry and homophobia. Have you been reading my book? (“Hip-Hop Homophobes…”)

This is what I teach and I beat all hell out of the idea that a “god” has anything to do with man’s condemnation of homosexuals. I don’t give a damn if it is in your Bible! A “god” DID NOT write the Bible! Ignorant, homophobic, and misogynistic men wrong the Bible and forged God’s signature. This is what the laity (common folk) doesn’t know or understand. They read the Bible and believe every word to be God’s hand writing! Evidentially, you, Kanye have read up on Bible compilation and history. For how can one, after all of our religious brainwashing against homosexuality, come to that conclusion, if not by study and inquiry?

Kanye! You say you are here to “break every rule and mentality of hip-hop, of black culture, of American culture.” Do you wanna really shake up hip-hop? Do you wanna do something super-progressive? Are you willing to put what others think of your sexuality aside? Would you like to introduce the world to a genre of rap that has been lurking on the periphery of the mainstream rap world? Wanna do the most innovative thing for rap since the advent of gangsta rap?

Here’s a “rule and mentality” that hasn’t been broken: Sign the first outwardly gay or lesbian rapper to your label! (G.O.O.D.) (I can hear a rat pissin’ on cotton!) They ain’t lookin’ for a seven-figure signing bonus (although nobody’s turning down money!). They are looking to be heard!

You don’t know any gay or lesbian rappers? Well let me help you! There’s a gay rapper from the “Middle East” (North Carolina) named TwiZza who’s a beast on the mic! There’s a gay cat out of Los Angeles-Last Offence, with the lyrical dexterity of your favorite rapper. How about FELONi?-One of the realest lesbian MC’s reppin’ Detroit. Or my lil man Nano, reppin’ the Bay area or a young gay rapper named Bry’NT from New York or my niggas .. and Sonny Lewis, two of the grimiest wordsmiths reppin’ Brooklyn. Not to mention the “Face of Gay Hip-Hop,” my dog Deadlee! (I can name 100 other gay/lesbian rappers!)

So what it do Kanye? Signing a gay rapper is a win-win for hip-hop and humanity! It’s time to move from rhetoric to action! You are the biggest voice in hip-hop that advocates against homophobia. Why not “put your money where your mouth is?” God has equipped you with the knowledge, strength, and foresight to kick in the door of the last bastion of human ignorance-homophobia! If hip-hop heads wanna say you’re gay, then answer back with Redman’s words-“I’ll be dat!” Are you ready to be eternally etched into hip-hop history?

“I’m not gay although I wish I were to piss off homophobes.”

Kurt Cobain-Dead Grunge Rock Star.

Author Khalil Amani describes himself as spiritual adviser to Gay Hip Hop and Kanye West

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Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News, archive articles Tagged With: , , , , ,

Breakdown FM: Welcome to Sota Rico Meet Maria Isa Minneapolis’ Next Star

August 8, 2008 By


Maria Isa is a fixture in the Minneapolis Hip Hop scene.The daughter of two Puerto Rican revolutionaries who used to get down with Young Lords and the freedom movements of the 60s and 70s, Maria brings a well-heeled politic and an infectious vibe when it comes to her music.

We talked to her about Minneapolis’s Hip Hop scene and the important role that groups like the Rhymesayers played in bring attention to a city that for years was only associated with R&B acts like Prince and Morris Day & the Time.

She talked about how steeped Minneapolis is in Hip Hop culture and how all four elements are prominently represented. She talked about Minneapolis being not only home to dope rhymers but also skilled b-boys and b-girls, graf writers and turntable masters. She described it as one big family and that at any given moment something good is jumping off in Minneapolis.

We talked about the important role that annual festivals like B-Girl B played in providing crucial platforms for the female Hip Hop community.She talked about some of Minneapolis’s other female stalwarts like film maker and fellow Puerto Rican Rachel Raimist.We talked about Rhymesayer/poet Desdemona and photographer B-Fresh.The list goes on.

We then turned our conversation to how Puerto Ricans fit in. We were curious as to whether or not PRs in the midwest played a major role in Hip Hop evolution the way they did in New York.We also found out why Maria calls her part of town Sota Rico.. Don’t get it twisted folks, Puerto Ricans have a strong presence in the midwest and they definitely get down.

We took our convo deeper as Maria explained the difference between Latin Hip Hop and Reggeaton. She noted that oftentimes people like to lump them all together, but in fact there are some unique things that one should take time to explore.

Maria broke down the important political situations facing Puerto Rico and how she tries to incorporate much of that knowledge in her music. She talked about the angst many feel because Puerto Rico is a commonwealth which is fancy word for colony. its sad that Puerto Ricans are considered US citizens yet cannot vote for the President except in primaries.

We also talked about the Latin/Brown diaspora and how the importance of bringing about Brown unity especially with issues like immigration. As a Puerto Rican Maria notes that she has the responsibility of giving voice to those who are here ‘illegally’ and can’t speak for themselves.

Maria’s album ‘Split Personality‘ is incredible and packed with cultural and political references and that pay homage to Hip Hop and her Puerto Rican heritage.

Listen to Breakdown FM Interview w/ Maria Isa


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Born in Aztlan-Meet Hip Hop Zulu King Apakalips (Respect His Lyrical Prowess)

May 1, 2008 By

We sat down and talk with San Jose rapper, activist, teacher & Zulu King Apakalips. He’s one of the Bay Area’s best kept secrets. Listen to the Breakdown FM Interview w/ Apakalips HERE:

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When we talk about Bay Area Hip Hop we often focus on what is happening in Oakland which is considered Ground Zero. It is in ‘Tha Town’, that we find the likes of Too Short, Digital Underground, Keak da Sneak,Hiero, Blackalicious, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Saafir, Zion I, Mistah FAB and so many more.After Oakland, the spotlight usually turns to neighboring San Francisco which is home to Bay Area legends like San Quinn,Rappin’ 4tay, Paris, Michael Franti,DJ Q-Bert, DJ Apollo and in recent days artists like Big Rich.

Sadly many overlook San Jose which is actually the largest city in the Bay Area and the epic center to high tech Silicon Valley.Perhaps its because San Jose is 45 minutes away from Frisco and Oakland which are just minutes apart or perhaps its because companies like Apple, Google, Oracle and other high tech giants dominate the news and overshadow SJ hip Hop. Whatever the case, make no mistake San Jose and the South Bay region has had major impact.

San Jose and the South Bay is or has been home to some notable folks who we all know and love.DJ King Tech of the Wake Up Show, producer Fredwreck, producer Kutmasta Kurt, DJ Peanut Butter Wolf and his Stones Throw record label started out of San Jose.DJ Kevvy Kev who is headed to his 25th year on the air, pioneering graph writer Scape One, female dance pioneer Aiko, Grand Diva Kim Collete, prolific writer AdisaBanjoko, Hip Hop Congress president Shamako Noble are some other names that also come to mind when we talk about folks who put the SJ and the South Bay on the map.Anyone from this part of town recalls the legendary b-boy battles that were routinely held at the Hank Lopez Center with the full support and cooperation of the city which was step up from San Francisco and Oakland.

This is the conversation we had with Apakalips a long time fixture in the San Jose rap scene who just released his masterpiece of a solo album called ‘The Otherside‘ Originally from Southern Cali, this community activist/ school teacher started out around 2002 with a group called Tributairies .They were best known for blowing up the Iguanas Cafe in downtown San Jose where they sparked off Lyrical Discipline.This was a weekly Friday night gathering which attracted emcees from all over the South Bay who would come through and test their skills.It was done in the same vein as the Lyricist Lounge in NY, the Good Life in LA or the now legendary underground parties and freestyles sessions at 4001 Jackson street in Oakland put together by Mystik Journeymen and the Living Legends crew.

Apakalips later went on to join the Universal Zulu Nation and eventually became the president of the Gateway chapter and quickly made it one of the more active chapters in the country. Apakalips would routinely hold unity meetings as he’d gather the heads of key Hip Hop and community organizations and tastemakers in the San Jose community to find common ground and to collectively work on projects impacting us all. He was tapping into the fact that San Jose had some of the pro-active heads who have some well heeled Hip Hop organizations around that have done incredible work. Shout outs to Hip Hop Congress, D-Bug, MACLA, Funk lab and Miese to name a few.

During our interview we talked about the release of his new album ‘The Other Side‘. It has been critically acclaimed and for many its a throwback to a date and time where people allowed their creativity to roam completely free without fear of violating some sort of record company politics or copyright laws. The Otherside has unexpected samples that give this an album your traditional boom bap sound on one track and a Latin tinged sound on another. Still on other songs you will hear the influences of drum and bass. No two songsare alike, yet the album has a consistent theme in terms of being gritty and lyrically sound.

The ‘Otherside‘ covers many topics including, California’s unique contributions to Hip Hop and its b-boy, b-girl tradition and its cultural influences. During our interview we talked about how Hip Hop is a form of communication and within it cultural expressions and activities like dance and rap go way beyond Hip Hop, and in fact are deeply rooted in traditional Mayan, Aztec and African traditions. Apakalips felt that it was important that we view Hip Hop with a larger historical and cultural lens.

We talked about the social and political movements that proceeded Hip Hop and how they impacted Hip Hop culture in the past and today.We particularly built upon the legacy of the Black Panthers and Brown Berets.Aakpalips reminded us that during the hey days of those organizations in the late 60s and early 70s we had Hip Hop expressions in the west coast with pioneering groups like the often overlooked Black Resurgents dance crew who were strutting and roboting long before Michael Jackson, dancers on Soul Train or the word Hip Hop was coined.

We talked at length about the important role Latinos played in Hip Hop, specifically the role Chicanos here on the West Coast. Apakalips lays out the long history and reminds us that just like their Puerto Rican counterparts on the East coast, Chicanos were down with Hip Hop from the very beginning especially in the areas of graf. He noted that here in the west Chicano writers, taggers and muralist had a big impact on Hip Hop.We talked aboutthe early emcees and deejays and the influence that icons like Julio G and Tony G who were part of the legendary KDAY Mixmasters in LA had on West Coast Hip Hop culture.

We also talked at length about the long social and cultural connection that NY had with LA. Long before there was some media driven East-West coast war, early Hip Hoppers were routinely going back and forth and building with one another. It was all love throughout the 80s. Apakalips talked about how pioneering Hip Hop and Latino figures like Hen G, and Prince Whipper Whip and Zulu King Afrika Islam hooked up with Ice T and helped set a tone for things to come.They set off famous Hip Hop club nights like Radiotron Water the Bush and Club United Nations and formed groups like Rhyme Syndicate and the Zulu Kings.

We ended by talking about some of the challenges facing San Jose’s Hip Hop community.One thing that is being addressed is the homeless problem. Apakalips and many others feel like the city hasn’t been doing enough. They are also addressing issues facing San Jose’s growing migrant worker population. In recent days they have also been dealing with an oppressive promoters law which requires anyone promoting an entertainment event to pay a 500 dollar fee and get a license which will allow one to put their name on flyers and pass them out.

written by  Davey D

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The Dream Reborn.. Rev Yearwood Meets Dr King

April 13, 2008 By
This is the incredible keynote speech that Rev Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus delivered the other week in Memphis, Tennessee at the Dream Reborn conference.In this speech Rev talks about the important role the Hip Hop generation plays in the freedom movement. He reminds everyone that we have made a lot of great strides but we have along way to go. He also reminds us to not allow ourselves to become side bars to the struggle. he insist that we be front and center and take destiny into our own hands. The speech is very moving… We remixed and added a few surprises to give it some extra flava.Please enjoy

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Casual of Hiero Weighs in on Museum Controversy….Furious Styles is a Jerk.

March 26, 2008 By

Casual of Hiero Weighs in on Museum Controversy

I also applaud the people working with the development of the new Bronx museum. I really think its important in telling the story of Hip Hop aswell. I also think that Furious Styles is a Jerk.


(Casual is referring to the article we passed around earlier which is located here:
 http://p076.ezboard.com/fpoliticalpalacefrm73.showMessage?topicID=20.topic

casual-HieroTo support the exclusion of Gangsta rap from a hip hop museum is like the act of excluding the mention of African Americans in the development process of America. His erroneous assessment of “gansta music” further proves his disconnection from our society. He is like a outsider looking in. “Gangsta Music” is the opposite side of the spectrum. The Yang to our Yin. A Museum with no mention of gangsta rap will receive no merit. Not even a room?.. a wall? Gangsta rap is the fuel pushing hip hop to the front of main stream music, It has enveloped and eclipsed your traditional “Positive Hip HOP” for many reasons, the main reason being,.. The aloof attitude of the positive hip-hopper.

Positive Hip Hoppers(for lack of a better term)or should I say hip hop optimist can always point you to a time when hip hop was better, more meaningful, and artist were more positive.
But truly there was no time like this, and if there was, it didnt last long. There is no evidence that there is more gangsta rap now than there was in the 1980. (And for any hip hop historian who wants to debate this,.. We can go song for song.)But there is evidence that gangsta rap has grown into a more lucrative commerce than “Artsy Rap”.

Here is a point I would like to make. Furious Styles shares the views of most Upper Middle Class, American-College educated Black Men. This problem you have with Gangsta rap mirrors the problem you have with the lower classes of society, your own Race, even your own less accomplished family members. This is western philosophy at its best. Bottom line is-you feel you are better than the people who achieved less. Do you believe the persons singing about Murder, Guns, Drugs, Sex, Mayhem, etc,. has know place in a museum of Hip Hop History?. You want to shelter you children from this awful exposure to reality like your hiding porn. But the truth is,… N.W.A. Can save your daughters life, So Can Justice-Ice, KRS-One, Tupac, Ice Cube and even listening to Too-Short Can Help your Daughters with their street smarts. And here is a quote for Furious Styles to further expose his insensitivity to your struggles;

I understand the age old worn out statement that Gansta Hip Hop is a product of the environment, its bigger than the thugs, pimps and playas, we dont own the planes that bring drugs into our communities, the-had- a- bad up bringing, no daddy in the house, being shot, the streets, etc. etc. etc.. etc.. But the fact of the matter is that these artists are pushing stripper music into the ears of our children, they are talking about crack selling, distribution, and murder, and wonder why we have so much violence in the lives of our youth.- Furious Styles

What is your major malfunction? Do you think living with no dad helps? Or being shot? Or having a bad upbringing? Surely your dad was there, you never been shot, and you had a good upbringing, that is why you are so insensitive to others reality. Your like a inconsiderate bitch.

And SO IS THIS WHY WE HAVE SO MUCH VIOLENCE? IS GANGSTA RAP THE REASON WERE IN IRAO OR AFGANISTAN? DID GANGSTA RAP PLAY A PART IN COLOMBINE OR WAKO? GANSTA RAP SURELY DIDNT BRING DOWN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER DID IT? AND IM SURE BLACK WALL STREET AND HEZBOLLAH HAVE SOME SORT OF CONNECTION?

And whos the Judge?

Is K.R.S.-One not a Gangsta? Did he release a album called Criminal Minded? Did he tote a Uzi On the cover of “My Philosophy?” Or is he afforded a period of time to change his views that now young artist wont be allowed?

Will Ice Cube Be in your Museum? He is definitely one of the most positive Artist to Date, Yet he grew from this most awful Gangsta rap, Bitches, Hoes etc…. Shall his efforts be slighted by your Museum?

On the other Hand Tupac? was he positive or a optimist or just a Soft Thug? who’s the person to say that a particular song or artist has know purpose universally?

Go ahead and build your little “Twinkle Toes” hip hop museum and “Georgie your own wee-wee”, But the truth is, The more divisions we place, the smaller each category gets, and leaving gangsta rap out of a hip hop museum confirms your intend to lie to your children, and your successors.

P.S. All of my releases have been positive by your standard,..bet i wont be in that bitch either,… some museum.

Casual of Hieroglyphics

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I Say Let them (Gangsta Rappers) Get There Own Museum

March 23, 2008 By

This article is in response to the recent controversy that emerged around the new Hip Hop Museum in New York. The city council which funded part of the museum is insisting that gangsta rap not be aprt of the exhibit. Here’s the article..
p076.ezboard.com/fpolitic…D=16.topic

I say Let them Get There Own Museum.
by Furious Styles

I applaud the people working with the development of the new Bronx museum. I really think its important in telling the story of Hip Hop, that we leave something for future generations to be proud of and to strive for. I believe wanting to be an emcee and to rock a party or have a good time, or to talk about yourself and how fly you are, or cleverly showing your battle ability without degrading people because of your lack of vocabulary, or talking about women and relationships in a nurturing and healthy way, or various societal issues is great. If you are a history of music, these songs with these topics and mood from the 60s and 70s are considered classics, and stand the test of time no matter what new microwave pop corn new act that pops up. Examples- Chage Gonna Come- Sam Cooke, Whats Going On- Marvin Gaye, Sweet Thing Chaka Khan.

But when you begin talking about or glorifying death, murder, mayhem, pimping, misogyny, incest, guns, cocaine, women as objects to just dance, or portray black people, or the Hip Hop generation as a group of people who live in the club, @#%$, fight, drink, steal, or do anything counterproductive to life, I feel firmly that you have no place in a museum, or in the history of Hip Hop, except in showing what was wrong with our culture, and how we should never have future generations go down that road but learn the lessons of history.

I understand the age old worn out statement that Gansta Hip Hop is a product of the environment, its bigger than the thugs, pimps and playas, we dont own the planes that bring drugs into our communities, the-had- a- bad up bringing, no daddy in the house, being shot, the streets, etc. etc. etc.. etc.. But the fact of the matter is that these artists are pushing stripper music into the ears of our children, they are talking about crack selling, distribution, and murder, and wonder why we have so much violence in the lives of our youth. Oh, by the way, what you listen to does make a difference on your psyche, mental health, self impression, everything. . Check out the movie where the dude at McDonalds for a month. If music is food, and you are what you eatThink about it.

If gangstas, pimps, playas, hustlas, tricks, ballers, killers, rapist, murderers, foul mouth imdividuals want a museum to display their works, let them build there own. But for me, I want my kids to take their kids to a museum where they can learn the importance of all the men and women on stage and behind the scenes that made Hip Hop music that had something to say, something to evoke and stimulate thought about life, family, the world, having fun, etc. And I hope my childrens children dont have to go somewhere where they have a Shrine for Nelly but none for Kool Herc, where theres the new track with Trina dissing Khia, but no ladies first by Queen Latifah, where there will be walls of shots of 50 cent, but no remembrance or understanding of Tupac. And yeah, Tupac would be in my museum and 50 wouldnt.

Again, for those of you who may have missed it, read the last 3 lines of the first paragraph. At least with Tupac he was well rounded, and had different dimensions to himself, and was able to challenge himself to talk about more than the bullshit. Most of these new dudes have no reference to Hip Hop history, and have nothing else to talk about. And great artists who have wonderful things to add in the world of music are labeled underground, cant get radio of video play, and are forced to watch people be destroyed for the lack of good musical food. Yeah I said it.

_Furious Styles

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Filed Under: 2008 Daily news, archive articles, Industry news & Views Tagged With: , , , ,

The Return of LA Hip Hop… Blu is in the Building

March 10, 2008 By

Whoever said Hip Hop was dead, obviously had not peeped Blu, a South Central LA native who defies any and all stereotypes we like to associate with cats from the hood and West Coast emcees.

For starters we have to take special note to the way the tall lanky emcee spells his name. There is no ‘E’ at the end and its a oversight that he often rhymes about. Second, Blu got hip to Hip Hop late in life. He is the stepson of a strict pastor who forbade him from listening to Hip Hop while he was growing up. His biological father is a member of the Bloods who listens to gangsta and Bay Area turf raps. To this day Blu’s dad calls him him ‘Flu’ instead of Blu. Thats how deep it gets.

According to Blu, he got turned onto groups like De La Soul only after hearing DMX. His musical upbringing and ultimate influences before being introduced to Hip Hop was centered around a diverse collection of artists ranging from Al Green to Thelonious Monk to Bob Dillon. It’s no mistake that the lead song off his ‘Below the Heavens‘ album is a remake of the Del’s classic ‘My World is…‘

Blu says he regrets missing the Golden era of LA Hip Hop which was personified by legendary spots like the Good Life and Hip Hop staples like Freestyle Fellowship, Jurassic 5, Project Blowed and the late Bigga B to name a few. However there’s no denying that his lyrical prowess and charismatic style kicks in where those legends left off.

Blu acknowledges that it was people like Charli2na of the J5 who sat him down and laced him up with lots of info and tales surrounding the scene of that bygone era. Much of what 2na told him was underscored by radio shows like The Wake Up Show and Friday Nite Flavas before it was unceramoniously taken off the air.

As Blu honed his emcee skills he cites Inspectah Deck of the Wu-Tang Clan, LA legend Cashus King and Planet Asia as being big influences. With respect to Deck, Blu says that he’s the illest emceee when it comes to kicking off a song. He cites the track Triumph as the one where Deck truly shines. Blu’s one regret with the new debut album ‘Below the Heavens‘ was not having Deck on. However when peeping songs like ‘Simply Amazing‘ you can clearly hear how he was inspired.

During our interview in which Blu walked us through a variety of songs including ‘Narrow Path‘, ‘Simply Amazing‘, ‘Show Me the Good Life‘ featuring singer Aloe Blacc of the Dirty Science Crew and ‘Bullet through Me‘ off an upcoming album called ‘Piece Talks‘, he admits that he has a lot to say and his feverishly working to put out 6 different projects which will allow him to get everything off his chest. He refuses to be limited by industry driven categories and limitations.

For example, in the song ‘Bullet Through Me‘ which is off the Piece Talks album produced by Ta’arach, Blu does an experimental cover of a Paul McCarthy song. He admits that upon first listens many will question where he is going and what he’s doing, but folks will learn to get passed any hesitations. His ultimate goal is to put fun back into Hip Hop and be creative. He also wants to help bring national attention back to LA and west coast Hip Hop. In 2008 where everyone is talking about Change, Blu’s attitude and outlook is right in step. This looks to be a big year for him.

by Davey D

You can peep the Blu interview on Breakdown FM by clicking the link below

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Meet the Godmother of LA Hip Hop-Medusa the Gangsta Goddess

March 8, 2008 By

Every once in a while I feel compelled to do my duty as a productive citizen and generously give back to the community. Sometimes I volunteer my time. Other times I give money. Still on other occasions I give sound advice. Today I wanna take some time out and give some sound advice to anybody who is an aspiring artist as well as to those who have been around the block a few times.

My heartfelt advice to you is as follows; If you happen to be booked for a show and the promoter has you coming on AFTER this LA based artist named Medusa… DO NOT DO IT. Have your manager re-negotiate your contract, but do not go on stage right after her. You may be able to get by if they let the deejay play an hour long set or something or you have an artist like KRS-One performing alongside you… Maybe if you’re a bit sadistic and like pain then following Medusa might be the thing for you to do. This woman is not to be followed.

Check our Breakdown FM Intv w/ Medusa

If you are a battle emcee who has won a few contests and you’re feeling good about yourself and your looking for new challenges-Be warned! DO NOT set your sites on Medusa. Don’t let your homies or an over ambitious promoter set you up.

If you find yourself on the bill and they schedule you to go one on one with her, the best thing for you to do is call in sick. Go on vacation.. leave the building. A true friend does not let their good friends get in the ring and trade lyrical jabs with Medusa. She will cause you extreme embarrassment, lots of pain and is likely to end your career if its in front of a large crowd. This woman who is often dubbed the Angela Davis of Rap or the High Priestess is no joke. Please Believe that.

When we look back on Hip Hop history one name that we simply will not be allowed to ignore is the Gangsta Goddess, The Angela Davis of Rap, the Top Cat of the clique Feline Science, the Godmother of West coast Hip Hop-the High priestess-Bow down to the one and only Medusa.

Most people know Medusa the ‘Top Cat’ of the clique Feline Science as colorful engaging pioneering sista who has been rocking packed houses here on the west coast for the past 15 years. This skilled emcee hails from the legendary night spot-The Good Life Cafe which gave birth to legendary groups like Jurassic 5, Freestyle Fellowship, Volume 10, Kurupt, WC and many many more. Anybody who was anybody paid their dues at the Good Life back during LA’s Golden Era of Hip Hop in the late 80s/early 90s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQAKXrJ5N5k&feature=relmfu

Medusa was a regular to this haunt and later Project Blowed, where she not only held her own but would routinely surpass her male counterparts. As she explained during our recent sit down, that there were many a days she had to step into the arena and battle her Good Life comrads.

One memorable bout involved Peace from Freestyle Fellowship who she took out during a Source Magazine battle at the House of Blues. Many who know Medusa and hear about her past wins are not surprised, this is a woman who once she gets on stage -all eyez on her and you can feel her energy down to the core. Like I said before, if you can beat a cat like Peace or even just hang with him, then you are truly-no joke…

Medusa has always been known as a cutting edge, fierce emcee who is always willing to push the envelope. This was best illustrated on another memorable evening when she first performed what is now her signature song. ‘Power to the P’ is a spoken word piece that pays tribute to the female’s private parts. Medusa wanted to see how far she could go in terms of kicking up dust while adhering to the Good Life’s strict ‘no cursing’ policy. She laughingly recalled how it shocked everyone senses because it was very descriptive, very provocative and yet still ‘clean’.

“It took a minute before everyone realized what I was doing. Once people caught they started cheering and flicking their lighters”, Medusa noted. She said the sexually suggestive content prompted the owner B Hall to rise up and make her stop but that brief performance got everyone talking to this day.

Long before many groups were on the scene with a live band Medusa and Feline Science were out and about in LA breaking ground. Medusa explained that she’s a child of the funk era and came up at a time when Hip Hop was still unklnown in many parts. Groups like; Parliament/Funkadelic, The Barkays, Confunkshun, Brass Construction to name a few were the order of the day.

She noted that she always wanted to fuze Hip Hop and funk and bring those two experiences to a new heights. She explained that using band allows for so much more freedom of expression. And yes her band includes a DJ. But as she noted, it was wrong for so called music critics to place limits on what Hip Hop should ultimately be. She scoffed at those who claimed Hip Hop was ONLY two turntables and an emcee with a mic. It’s so much more.

Long before it was acceptable to sing while you rapped, Medusa was out in the fore-front alongside artists like Lauryn Hill,Queen Latifah and the Force MDs who came before them who were paving the way by including harmonies and melodies with their raps and re-introducing that style to the Hip Hop audience.

During Hip Hop’s pioneering days groups like Crash Crew, Cold Crush Brothers and Grandmaster Flash frequently incorporated singing with their raps. It was considered Hip Hop back in those early days and then seemingly overnight it was a practice that was seriously frowned upon. It seems like some high brow, out of touch music critics got it in their heads that singing ‘wasn’t real Hip Hop’ and they went straight to the bank with that high profile distorted definition. During the period that Medusa included singing with her group Feline Science, it was ground-breaking. Today its commonplace today as we now have everyone from Mos Def to Snoop Dogg singing as well as rapping.

For all of us who know Medusa the emcee, there are many who recall that long before she rocked the mic she was a dancer. We didn’t call those who pop-locked, strutted, tutted, robotted and all that good stuff b-boys or b-girls back in the days. But let the record note that Medusa’s been popping since the 70s. She hooked up with a dance crew called the Groove-A-trons and been dancing ever since. During our recent sit down, Medusa went into detail about what the scene was like during those early days.

She explained how she first got exposed to emceeing via the song ‘Rapper’s Delight‘. Later on she was inspired by watching Ice T do his thing at the now defunct Radiotron which was made famous in the movie Breaking.This Godmother of west coast Hip Hop took us down memory lane and spoke in great detail about west coast Hip Hop’s early days. She also went into detail about the difference between spoken word and emceeing. We later morphed into a discussion about emceeing techniques including the skill it takes to truly ride the rhythm. Medusa also spoke about the challenge many emcees have in terms of keeping their egos in check. Far too often emcees overshadow the beats that are provided to them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaG25NR2xL8&feature=relmfu

Medusa also broke down the challenges one faces doing the independent hustle. She feels the grind is necessary but a good thing in the end. She said the trick to being successful is to be consistent. We also talked about the challenges she faced as a woman in the male dominated industry.Medusa started off by explaining that one needs to first love themselves in order to gain confidence.

She revealed that she was once incarcerated in a woman’s prison called ‘Civil Brand‘. It has since closed down. For her it was a wake up call and she came out determined to never ever go back, but she was also made aware and tuned into the plight of women who were starting to come into prison in increasing numbers.

She talked about this experience and how it made come out stronger and the end result was Medusa becoming how she came to form Feline Science. She said that came about after she felt she was being rejected to be a member of a group called ‘Masked Men’. Years later she realized she wasn’t being rejected, but instead being encouraged to start her own group which would and did become an entity on to itself. Everyone who got down with Feline Science both men and women all took on cat names with Medusa being ‘Top Cat’.

Medusa talked about how the music industry has seemingly only given a platform to one female emcee at a time. She recalled a conversation with Rah Digga who expressed the same concern about how only one female at a time ‘gets their run’. Much of this has to do with so called critics claiming that listeners can’t really tell the differences between female emcees. It’s an idea that Medusa soundly dismissed.

Medusa concluded our interview with Medusa talking about how women need to go about striking a balance between maintaining control of their art, but being willing to confidently work with folks and giving way to other ideas and perspectives when working on a project. Medusa talked about how being so rigid and controlling may have led to her not being able to work with Dr Dre. In retrospect there was a way to maintain ones credibility and still turn over control to a dope producer.

Medusa is currently set to drop her new album Gangsta Goddess. You can check her site at http://www. myspace. com/medusa

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Breakdown FM: Meet Hip Hop’s ‘Hitchcock’ Mykill Miers

September 4, 2006 By

Depending on where you sit within the diverse spectrum of Hip Hop music and culture, Mykill Miers is either someone you never heard of or a long time fixture in LA’s burgeoning underground scene who gave us classic albums like ‘It’s Been A Longtime Coming’. However, no matter where you sit, you most likely have heard his work.

When this longtime vet is not snatching off heads at rap battles or keeping young gang bangers in check at Juvenile Hall, he’s busy producing music for a long list of TV shows and commercials. Being Bobby Brown, America’s Top Model, America’s Top Chef,VH1, Old Navy, Sprite, Diet Pepsi and this upcoming season of The Apprentice are just a few of the many places where Miers has left his musical mark.

“It’s extremely important that, I as a Hip Hop artist have multiple streams of income”, he explained. He went on to emphasize the importance of artists remaining independent and owning their masters.

He noted that he’s able to license his material and do business all around the world and not have some major label taking a substantial cut while not seriously breaking him off or pushing him to the next level. “It’s all about the hustle”, he concluded.

He also added that its important for independent artists to ban together, share resources and create avenues that they control that will lead to increased exposure.

In our interview Miers offered up a lot of insight and oftentimes overlooked history about LA’s Underground scene. He spoke about central figures like the late Bigga B. He talked about how he came up and earned his stripes at the Good Life Café in South Central LA. This is the spot that gave birth to groups like Freestyle Fellowship and Jurassic 5. Miers likened those early days in the late 80s early 90s to the Apollo. He noted that cats were unforgiving if you came on the mic and did not bring the heat.

Battles were par for the course and Miers is more than tested. He’s one who is set to grab the mic and take a cat down anyplace, anywhere and at anytime. This was clear during our interview when we asked him to lay out the type of approach he would use if he had to battle fellow emcees and friends, Xzibit, Rakaa of Dilated Peoples, Snoop, Game and Jurassic 5.

Miers also spoke to us about the direction Hip Hop has taken with major corporations running the ship. He had some choice words for a number of rappers who he feels have sold their souls to be promoted by the corporate machine. He says he’s sees the type of negative impact much of today’s music has on the kids he works with everyday at Juvenile Hall. “They see artists like 50 Cent as a hero or even a brother. Everything these artists do these kids who are locked up wanna do”, Miers explained. He stressed the importance of providing balance and guidance.

He noted that him being an emcee has helped him to be relatable to the kids he works with. It allows him to have positive influence over more than a few. He also talked about how he avoided the lure of gangs in both his personal life and his music, while his brother engaged in it hardcore. He noted that being an athlete saved his life and that he wanted to commit himself to changing lives.

Miers is gearing up to release his new album ‘Trials of Job’ and is also working on doing a big concert inside Juve Hall which will hopefully include everyone from Xzibit on down to Jurassic 5.

Audio interview below with Mykill Miers and Davey D on Breakdown FM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkv1o_DWI6I

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Filed Under: Breakdown FM Interviews, Hip Hop Articles 2006 Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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