10 Things Hip-Hop Should Apologize For

I just read this OUTSTANDING article about the social ills of Hip-Hop and I just thought you should read it exactly as it is, so I won't let my words get in the way. Here is the actual article I am reprinting for my fans and the link to the actual article:

Anyway, you'll see what I'm talking about. Well without further ado:

The Apology: 10 Things For Which Hip-Hop Should Apologize

by Panama Jackson on May 29, 2009 · 201 comments

in lists, pop culture

(Ya know, aside from all the social ills that so many people erroneously attribute to hip-hop.)

1. The Diplomats

They’ve singlehandedly crafted or perpetuated more horrendous trends than anybody: grown men wearing effeminate colors, looking dirty on purpose, “no homo”, non-sensical wordplay, etc.

And above all else, they are responsible for the ascent of Jim Jones who is responsible for everything wrong in the Black community. In fact, everything else on this list is Jim Jones fault.

2. Vibe Magazine

I may never get a mention by Danyel Smith after this, but for whatever reason, some people actually look to Vibe for hip-hop news and their WACK-AS-THE-F*CK Best Rapper Alive Tourney Bracket was the biggest miscarriage of justice since Dwight Howard’s technical for being happy to poo all over Verajao. Vibe owes hip-hop an apology for putting Bow Wow on the list and making Wale have to mother*cking play-in.

3. Diddy’s twittering

I think I hate Diddy right now and his million follower goal made me want to slap him with the Life After Death double album. By the way, I follow Diddy on Twitter. After all, Diddy is…hip-hop.

4. Oversensitivity, which is supposed to be the anti-thesis of hip-hop

If the kids look up to rappers, and rappers are acting like p*ssies, then our male offspring will presumably begin to act like p*ssies – which could clearly explain the uber-sensitivity that has been going around in the black community. The number one killer of black man is not diabetes, stroke, or heart disease.

It is lack of respect. The assumption of lack of respect comes from the overabundance of sensitivity and instigators wanting to witness the sensitivity. Sensitive thugs, you all need hugs.

B*tches.

5. Bad Nicknames

Gucci Mane, OJ Da Juiceman, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross (when the real drug kingpin Rick Ross is getting out of jail), Freeway (see Rick Ross), Papoose (what the f*ck is a Papoose anyway?), etc.

Because of hip-hop, a grown man can be referred to as Tangle Jig P Boo-Boo and nobody thinks twice about it.

6. Spencer Pratt’s burgeoning rap career

You know what, he doesn’t sound terrible. You know why? It’s because he’s mimicking every other craptastic rapper out nowadays. He sounds like the status quo. Somehow, his rap career became an actual possibility.

7. Pure ignorance

To wit:

XXL: One of the things that was eye-catching about the book was the graphical treatment, how some words are emphasized and bold and right in your face. It kinda reminds me of a book I’m sure you’re familiar with, Saul Williams’ “Said The Shotgun To The Head.” What was the reasoning…

Kanye (West) : You know what, I’m not familiar with no books. I don’t know no books, dead ass. That’s what we wrote in the beginning. I didn’t read 48 Laws [of Power], I never read “The Secret.” And Saul Williams is a good friend of mine, but I’m sorry…you know what? There are people who are genius designers that don’t know any other designers’ names.

Then again, he is the college dropout. So who am I to be surprised he “don’t know no books“?

8. Horrible and unintelligible slang

The best slang is obvious, not some over the top intentionally stupid stuff like some of the stuff that comes out of the (Father forgive me), Bay area. ESPECIALLY the Bay area. It’s gotten to the point where even black people don’t know what anybody is talking about anymore.

It used to be that when folks were making up shit, you didn’t have to spend weeks trying to learn it. It all made sense in the context of sentences or verses. To understand some rappers, you need to take a damn class. I already have 2 degrees so f*ck that very much.

Apologies are warranted.

9. Pink

The color, not the singer. Yes, The Dips hip-hop should apologize for introducing pink into hood culture making it possible for me to be held up by a guy wearing a ski mask and a pink polo shirt on it. This is a problem for me. I just don’t feel comfortable being robbed by a man in pink. I just don’t. This is Harlem’s fault. Lots of bad things come out of Harlem, if you think about it.

*shots fired*

10. Lupe Fiasco’s acclaim

Able lyricist with remarkably strange concepts at times (perhaps I’m not deep enough for him – I’m lying, you are full of sh*t if you thinks song about being a hamburger was deep), yet somehow, rap is so bad that people think Lupe is the next coming of Inspectah Deck’s first verse on “Triumph” which is by far one of the best, and most well known, verses in hip-hop (right after Rob Bases’s first verse on “It Takes Two”). Lupe is a beneficiary of wack times.

*****

So, for what else does hip-hop owe an apology??

-VSB P aka THE ARSONIST aka TANGLE JIG P aka YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD 3

Well until next time....
R. Steed (Big Goldie)
"Fluffy Puffy - The Media Mogul in Training"
www.inteentv.com
www.arewenotentertained.blogspot.com

A True Ambassador to the Rap Game!!!

We have had many people come along in the 30 plus year history of Hip-Hop and represent us as a people and a culture rather properly. We have had political, cultural, social and artistic agendas carried out in the name of Good Music. However, there can be no Heaven if there is no Hell? I and countless fans of rap across the globe have had to put up with a Snow for every Tupac. We have had to put up with a PM Dawn for every Biggie. We have had (and some are still enduring) a Tony Yayo for every KRS-One. We have lived through our fair share of Ying-Yang Twins for every Public Enemy. There are SO MANY wack rappers out there, that I could talk for weeks about the sheer amount of BULLSHIT that passes itself off as rap these days.

Nas said Hip-Hop was dead. I have heard arguments on both sides of this issue. Is it dead? Whose fault is it? Can it be resurrected? Or has Hip-Hop simply taken on another form? Hip-Hop at its roots was ALWAYS about having a good time and recognizing the social ills that plagued our community. In the 80's during the crack epidemic, this changed. Rap was filled with stories from New York, the south but primarily the west coast of drugs, guns, women and excess. True 80's. Lyricism and content gave way to style and lack of substance. The saddest part of all of this is that if you listen to or are ever involved in an argument with people nowadays about what is good rap music. Especially kids. Oohhh, the pointless arguments about who is better, Soulja Boy or The GS Boys. Gimme a break. I have heard people say Plies or Lil Wayne is the Greatest. You can't be serious?

However, we have had an ambassador for the rap game return from a self imposed hiatus. Jay-Z is back. You heard it here FIRST, "The Blueprint 3" is TIGHT!!! Jay bowed out with "The Black Album", which was a good album with some memorable tracks. His so-called return in "Kingdom Come" was not a "TRUE" Jay Z album and I only say that in the alienation of his true base - taking streets raps and everyday situations and finding a way to relate them to people who have not lived them. Last Friday, Jay-Z appeared on Bill Maher's show on HBO. It was refreshing to listen to an interview that I didn't have to get the newest slang dictionary to decipher. It was nice to listen to someone not say, "Yaknowutumsayin" or "Nawmean" every few seconds. It was nice to watch an interview with a rap artist who wasn't so high that he didn't know where he was, let alone who he was talking to. It was nice to hear someone talk about the art involved and that they weren't shitting on the buying public and putting down just ANYTHING in the studio. I think all rap artists should watch this interview as part of their hip-hop orientation and learn about longevity and building your brand to something more than a brief period of being "paid" because you could buy some big ass necklaces and old school cars.

Anyway, you'll see what I'm talking about. Well without further ado:

Rap's True Ambassador Parts 1 - 4
Don't believe me....check these videos out.....

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Well until next time....
R. Steed (Big Goldie)
"Fluffy Puffy - The Media Mogul in Training"
www.dashowtv.com
www.arewenotentertained.blogspot.com