Negro Please

*SMH* Is this what Nas was talking about on Hip Hop Is Dead? The fact these wet-behind-the-ears rappers pop shit and have no regard for their elders who've paved the way for their asses? His album better be a classic.

C. Hamilton needs to humble himself cuz he could easily find his way back to his old cardboard mat. You ain't been off the streets that long, homie.

H/T to I.G.O.D. over at the9elements.

Going Green

Call me a flip-flopper but when I see that there isn't a desire to change, when my votes and needs as an American are being disrespected, I will defect and join a space that has my interests at heart. I was a Democrat, then Independent, and I will soon be changing my political party to Green.

I respect their platform. They're not kowtowing. They're not appeasing to racists and chauvinists. Their platform is radical in the sense that they are pro-American. They have strong ideas on education, the economy, affordable housing and gentrification, HIV/AIDS in America, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Y'know --- issues. And they're proud liberals.

I know some will say that it's not wise to vote for a candidate that's least likely to win. What I say to that is it is not wise to continue throwing your vote away. It is not wise to subscribe to a two-party system when it is not working. We need different perspectives brought to the political table. Americans have the right to plentiful options and it is time that we act like it.

Voting for the FISA Bill, kowtowing to AIPAC, changing positions on oil drilling, coming off soft to appeal to stubborn and ignorant voters --- I can't accept that. And I won't accept that for the superficial desire to have a Black president.

Cynthia McKinney - Run Cynthia Run
Rosa Clemente - Rosa Clemente, VP Nominee for the Green Party

Jackass of Spades: Jim Jones aka...

... Jimmy Ones (as per Nas who asserts that "There's only one Jones in New York.").




*Sighs*

Have you really followed Nas, Jimmy? Nas always touches on socioeconomic issues.

I mean, how many mainstream or marginally successful rappers as of right now are really addressing the self-esteem of Black people? How many in that group are addressing the sexism towards women via The Bible? How many in that group have challenged the media's racist coverage of Black people in an intelligent fashion? How many in that group have touched on racism in a constructive manner?

If Nas were like the aforementioned group who wants to be real-life American Gangsters and/or the Black Tony Montanas (yes, yes, Nas sold out in the past), you wouldn't have shit to say. Or maybe you would. Dumb rappers are always beating their chests and trying to prove how "real" they are by being studio gangstas or pulling other rappers' cards. *Rolls eyes*

Somebody Rick Ross this dude already. He hasn't figured out that his time is up.

H/T to my dude IGOD at T9E.

The 9 Elements - In A Shock To No One, Jim Jones Calls NaS A Dweeb For His FOX Stance

Jay-Z Creates Trust Fund for Sean Bell's Children

EXCLUSIVE: Jay-Z Establishes Trust for Sean Bell's Children

By Houston Williams

Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter has established an educational trust for the children of Sean Bell, the unarmed African-American man who was shot and killed by police on the day he was to be married. Sources have confirmed with AllHipHop.com that Jay-Z is working closely with Nicole Paultre Bell, Sean Bell's widow, to institute the trust funds for both of their children. Nicole Bell appeared prominently in Jay-Z’s Rocawear "I Will Not Lose" advertising campaign with images that caused indignation within the NYPD's Benevolent Association. The process began prior to the not guilty verdict for three police officers accused of slaying Sean Bell. A well-informed source close to the matter told AllHipHop.com that Nicole Bell’s lawyers didn’t want to initiate any activity during the trial. More Stuff...

I am so touched by this cuz the Sean Bell verdict is still breaking my heart. This is a really beautiful thing. Much much props to Jay. A fine example of Hip Hop doing good deeds :-)

VH1's Miss Rap Supreme

Aside from the lesbian chic crap/sex as a selling point (*Yawns*), the show looks pretty interesting. The show airs tomorrow at 10 ET.

*Sighs with nostalgia* I used to love me some Yo-Yo.



"You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo"




"Black Pearl" f/ Big Bub

*Sighs again with nostalgia* What do you think has happened to the Female MC? Do you think she still has a place in Hip Hop? Am I the only one that'll run to the record store (knocking an old lady down in the process) if L. Boogs drops another one? Should I let go of that dream?

Obama Campaign Financed by KKK as per Snoop Dogg

What's he been lacing his weed with lately?

Snoop Dogg Criticizes Barack Obama

In a candid interview on Thursday with London newspaper The Guardian, Snoop Dogg commented on U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama, accusing him of receiving funding from historically anti-black organization the Ku Klux Klan.

"The KKK gave Obama money. They was one of his biggest supporters... The media won't tell you that. They don't want you to know that. They just want you to know that this nigger befriended this other nigger who be threatening your values. But we all know all presidents lie to get into fucking office. That's they fucking job."
According to a reporter for Gone Hollywood, Obama denied these allegations, saying that the rumors are "completely untrue."

Snoop is not the only Hip Hop figure that has openly expressed discontent towards the U.S. presidential candidate. In an interview with the Black Agenda Report, Russell Simmons accused Obama of being a "controlled politician."

"I think about one-fourth of his campaign contributions came from small donations made over the internet, even though he collected more than any other democratic candidate from Wall Street people. So at the end of the day, he's controlled, too. That's my point. He's a mouse, too, like everybody else," Simmons added.

Although Snoop has expressed his opposition towards Obama, he believes that he will become America's next president.

"In America's eyes, that muthafucker's gonna be president 'cause [John] McCain can't fuck with him. Hillary [Clinton] can't fuck with him. He's winning over white people, white ladies.”

Reported by Krysten Hughes.

Source

Ummm... Where's Snoop getting his info from? Why would the KKK back Obama when he's not a separatist? Would Obama even be electable if he were a separatist? Of course not.

So does this mean that Russell is renouncing his support for Obama? My heart would surely be broken if he did :-/

These Are Still My Joints!!!

"Freedom (R&B Version)"



"Freedom (Rap Version)"

Man, I still love these joints. They made me feel so good and empowered when I first heard them. I was 13 at the time (Dag, I'm getting old, LOL!) and it just made an impression on me to see healthy, inspiring, different images of Black women on TV. Boy do I miss that.

In my opinion, during this time, there was such a huge surplus of talented artists and the vehicle for variety was there. I wish it could be that way again. Nowadays, finding good music is a project as it is not as simple as turning on the radio and/or the TV to discover refreshing new artists. Thank God for the Internet though.

Obama to Be Featured on Q-Tip's Upcoming Album

This should be interesting.

Q-Tip Taps Barack Obama For Upcoming Album
written by Brandi Hopper

A Tribe Called Quest front man Q-Tip has reportedly enlisted presidential hopeful Barack Obama for his upcoming solo album, The Renaissance.

"I've got Norah Jones on there, but Barack is the big one," Tip told the New York Post's Page 6. "You'll see what happens, I can't reveal too much."

Along with Obama, who will be prominently featured on one song, Spike Lee will also make a political guest appearance on the album, set to drop this June.

The Renaissance will be the Queens rapper's first solo CD since 1999's Amplified. The artist's sophomore album, Kamaal The Abstract, was shelved after Q-Tip's label, Arista, considered the album too experimental. The album was supposed to come out in 2002.

In related Obama news, the Illinois Senator won the Wyoming caucus this weekend. Obama had 61 percent, or 5,378 votes, to contender Hillary Clinton's 38 percent, or 3,312 votes, according to the Associated Press. Obama won seven delegates and Clinton won five.

Source

Hip Hop Historical Site Saved From Gentrification

This is very good news.

Birthplace Of Hip-Hop Saved
by Chris Richburg

Efforts to save the birthplace of Hip-Hop culture proved successful as the New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) rejected a proposed sale of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue to a developer Mark Karasick. According to Sen. Charles Schumer, the HPD cited the fact that current rents could not be sustained if the sale of the property had gone through. The decision is the latest chapter in the struggle for Sedgwick Avenue tenants to preserve their building. Tenants enlisted Hip-Hop co-founder DJ Kool Herc last year to help save the property after word got out that the 100-unit apartment building’s owner planned to leave an affordable housing program. The building has also been deemed eligible to be listed on national and state registers of historic sites.

Source

Nas Discusses "Nigger" Album, Touches on the Voting Rights Act and Its Expiration

A few years ago, I’d received a forwarded email from my friend about the Voting Rights Act expiring in 2007. I wonder if Nas got the same forwarded email which serves as nothing more than misinformation.

Here’s the email:

As everyone should be aware, in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voters Rights Act. This was created to allow Blacks the right to vote. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed an amendment to extend this right for an additional twenty-five years. You guessed it . . . In 2007 (ten years from now),
Congress will decide whether or not Blacks should retain the right to vote. In order for this to be passed, thirty-eight states will have to approve an extension. For me, as well as many others, this was the first time that we had heard this — thus, bringing concern to all of us! What many Blacks before us fought and even died for as well as the milestones that we, as Blacks have achieved, this can be taken away from us . . . AGAIN!

If this issue has taken you by surprise as well, I encourage YOU to contact your Congressperson, alderperson, senator — anyone in government, that you put your vote behind and ask them what are they doing to — firstly, to get the extension and furthermore, make our right to vote a LAW. This has to become a law in order for our right to vote to no longer be up for discussion, review and/or evaluation. (Remember: Blacks are the only group of people who require permission under the United States Constitution to vote!)

As Black people, we cannot “drop the ball” on this one! We have come too far to be forced to take such a large step back. So, please let’s push on and forward to continue to build the momentum towards gaining equality.

Please pass this on to others, as I am sure that many more individuals are not aware of this.

It’s now 2008, and we can still vote. This is the reason why we can still vote:

The remedy to this injustice was President Lyndon Johnson’s proposal — and Congress’ passage — of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It didn’t guarantee blacks the right to vote; they’d already held that right since the ratification of the 15th Amendment ninety-five years earlier. The Voting Rights Act provided for enforcement of that right. The Voting Rights Act authorized the federal government to send federal registrars to counties where local registrars refused to accept the registration of black voters, to send observers to monitor elections and ensure that blacks were allowed to vote (and that their votes were actually counted), and to mandate that certain areas obtain the approval of the Attorney General before making changes to their voting requirements or procedures. The Voting Rights Act was never intended to be in force permanently.
It was initially effective for a period of five years; that period was later extended for another five years, then another seven years, and finally for another twenty-five years, ending in 2007. Even if the Voting Rights Act is not extended again in 2007, this will not mean that the right to vote will “be taken away” from blacks — it will simply mean that the federal government will no longer require states to seek federal approval before changing their voting laws. We should see this as a positive — that we as a society have finally (if slowly and painfully) progressed to the point we no longer need to take special measures to ensure that every citizen has a fair opportunity to participate in a democratic voting process. There are times when we should get all riled up about what our government is doing, but this isn’t one of them. (Source)

I checked with Snopes after receiving that email, and forwarded that link to my friend and everyone she emailed. Every so often, it’s nice to get an email that informs us to take action but we can’t accept everything that’s fed to us. We have to be certain that we take action against something that’s an actual threat.

Here’s the John Lennon song that Kelis brought up:

“Woman Is the Nigger of the World”

How true are these lyrics? Props to John Lennon. Also, props to Yoko Ono for inspiring this song.

50 Cent Endorses Hillary, Thinks Obama Might Be Killed

50 Cent, Dave Matthews, Perez Hilton, Others Endorse Candidates For Super Tuesday: 50 throws his support behind Hillary Clinton: 'I just think she could do a good job.'
By Garth Bardsley, with additional reporting by Gil Kaufman

While the press has been monitoring politicians as they endorse each other for president in advance of Super Tuesday, MTV News has rounded up a series of last-minute election choices geared especially for the pop culture-oriented.

On "The O'Reilly Factor" Monday night, Bill O'Reilly showed footage of 50 Cent giving his endorsement to Hillary Clinton. "I just think she could do a good job," said the rapper, who added that he has nothing against Barack Obama but thinks America isn't ready for an African-American president. "I think they might kill him," he said.

Late last year, 50 spoke in favor of the former first lady to Rap Up magazine, among other outlets. "I'd like to see Hillary Clinton be president," he said. "It would be nice to see a woman be the actual president and ... this is a way for us to have Bill Clinton be president again, and he did a great job during his term."

(Source)

Bill Clinton was a good president? For real?

Being scared for Obama's life is silly. Like Michelle Obama said, as a Black man, Obama could be killed at a gas station. A lot of the older Black generation feels this same way. It's just sad how regressive people can be. Or to use a better word, fearful. We shouldn't be so fearful. Imagine the likes of MLK, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, Harriet Tubman, and countless others not standing up for what they believe in. I'm grateful to them for having the gumption to stand up for what you believe in. Also, props must be given to those who still don't cower to the establishment.

Fear should never serve as a hinderance. That's simply not a way to live.

The Miller Boys Celebrate "Black History"

"Black History" by Master P f/ Lil' Romeo

Props to Master P for making another thoughtful video as of late. Also props to him for trying to invoke thought into the minds of young Hip Hop listeners.