With the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft the Oakland Raiders pick. . .
I don't know if any one happened to see 60 Minutes on Sunday but Cam'ron appeared on a segment with Anderson "I can be everywhere at once" Cooper that dealt with the snitching ethos that has swept the black community. If you get the chance check out the transcripts for the interview or what the interview. Not only is he delusional but also Cam might me the dumbest rapper ever. (Which is saying a lot because I still think Wayne is kind of. . . delayed. Even though that verse from DJ Khaled's "We Taking Over is hot.") Not only does Cam say dumb ish the fact that he looks completely ridiculous doesn't help out either. The links at the bottom of the page should let you watch Cam in action.
My youngest sister thinks I'm inappropriate. I guess I am.
Here's something about myself that I've never told anyone: When I go out in public I feel inadequate because I don't have a pair of stunna shades. You can't imagine how often I've cried myself to sleep about that.
M.I.M.S. is a bigger threat to the blacks than Jim Jones.
Do white people get embarrassed when they see each other dancing like George Bush # 43? What would the white equivalent of Coonin' be called?
Ohio State Center Greg Oden announced that he is making himself eligible for this summer's NBA Draft potentially making him the second older rookie in the Association's history at the tender age of 58. (Lebron was the Oldest.) Mario, weren't they in your Pop's unit in Nam?
Random conversations you don't want to hear at work: A group of my female coworkers were complaining about the length of today's shorts that are made for girls and the fact they can't find any jeans in The GAP. In the back of mind I was thinking, "It's because you're 49 and fat! Therefore excluding you The GAP's clientele list.”
The Five Wackest Songs of the Moment: 1) Party Like A Rock Star-The Shop Boys (The Shop Boys sound like the name of a doo-wop group from the fifties.) 2) Tatted Up- The Alliance ft Fabo of D4L (Come on, Fabo? Seriously, if you suck in one group don't make a song with another.) 3) MySpace Freak-C-Side ft Jazze Pha (Atlanta is really fucking up hip-hop. By the way don't any one dare say, "What about T.I. and Outkast?" I'm not talking about them dum dum.) 4)Wipe Me Down- L'il Boosie 5) My Lip Gloss-L'il Mama (I know this is just a radio single and somebody told me she is supposed to be the next "great" femcee. She should have come better than this.)
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/videos/id.130/title.60-minutes-stop-snitchin-part-1
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/videos/id.131/title.60-minutes-stop-snitchinpart-2
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
"Call it a Crisis of leadership."
Proposition Joe Stewart
Part 2: Rapes, apologies, and Black Leaders.
Okay we've moved past Don Imus and now it is time for black America to do something that Imus was forced/coerced into doing; apologizing. Many black folks aren't good with the words "I'm sorry." Hell, Americans as a whole don't say the words very easy. There's usually a lot of pining and hard swallowing involved. This black man is included in the above assessment. I don't know why we can't admit we are wrong from time to time but it takes some effort. (I know many of y'all are sitting there thinking, "White people don't do it either." My response to that is this: You are most certainly right but as many older people I know say from time to time "I ain't studying them right now!" This is about us and only us.)
So who get's this apology from Black America? Three white boys who were accused of sexually assaulting the "Ahem" exotic dancer at Duke University last spring that's who. It didn't take much for us to convict the three. (No I don't know their names. It isn't important.) As soon as the collective whole of Black America heard the news stories detailing the "crime" we all had flash backs of the numerous white on black rapes that have occurred throughout our stay in the Diaspora. (I like that word.) From that moment on the three rich, white, and Duke educated men were guilty in the eyes of most blacks (Except for Gina Jones, who called a the "ahem" exotic dancers bluff from the jump. Nice call Rae Dawn.)
So this is what I propose: The Jesse Jackson's and Al Sharpton's of the world, the same people who wanted Imus to recant must in fact do the same to the three Duke Lacrosse players. The three men were set up to be railroaded and dragged off to the gallows as soon as the vultures at every random 24-hour news station broke the story. The alleged victim was looking for a come-up, an over zealous D.A. was looking for black votes, and because of this three men were about to f'd over big time. You may be thinking that we don't owe the white boys shit. Well imagine that the rolls were reversed as the have been so many times in the past. If this were Durham in the 1950's and the men brothers we'd be in the streets filled with outrage. I'm not the most religious man you'll find but doing what's right is an important belief that I do have.
Every time an issue such as Imus and the Rape Scandal at Duke arise one thing can be guaranteed: Rev. Al or Jesse Jackson will chime in on behalf of black folks. Like Proposition Joe told Stringer Bell on The Wire "We have a problem. Call it a crisis of leadership." On the national level I feel that we are more often than not represented by reactionary glory hogs who seem to only show up when their is a large problem that will garner media attention. Their solutions to ME only put band-aids where stitches should be. I've discussed MY issues about the men who are "Nominated?" to be our national representation before and they haven't change. I think if we continue to respond only when the "Reverends with talk show types" tell us to respond we will continue to appear rudderless and I think we are much better than that. Frankly, I don't think the Reverend Al, Jesse Jackson, Stanley Crouch, Julius Caesar Watts and Russell Simmons aren't bad men. My mailman isn't either but I don't want him to be my voice to the world.
Part 3 coming soon.
Proposition Joe Stewart
Part 2: Rapes, apologies, and Black Leaders.
Okay we've moved past Don Imus and now it is time for black America to do something that Imus was forced/coerced into doing; apologizing. Many black folks aren't good with the words "I'm sorry." Hell, Americans as a whole don't say the words very easy. There's usually a lot of pining and hard swallowing involved. This black man is included in the above assessment. I don't know why we can't admit we are wrong from time to time but it takes some effort. (I know many of y'all are sitting there thinking, "White people don't do it either." My response to that is this: You are most certainly right but as many older people I know say from time to time "I ain't studying them right now!" This is about us and only us.)
So who get's this apology from Black America? Three white boys who were accused of sexually assaulting the "Ahem" exotic dancer at Duke University last spring that's who. It didn't take much for us to convict the three. (No I don't know their names. It isn't important.) As soon as the collective whole of Black America heard the news stories detailing the "crime" we all had flash backs of the numerous white on black rapes that have occurred throughout our stay in the Diaspora. (I like that word.) From that moment on the three rich, white, and Duke educated men were guilty in the eyes of most blacks (Except for Gina Jones, who called a the "ahem" exotic dancers bluff from the jump. Nice call Rae Dawn.)
So this is what I propose: The Jesse Jackson's and Al Sharpton's of the world, the same people who wanted Imus to recant must in fact do the same to the three Duke Lacrosse players. The three men were set up to be railroaded and dragged off to the gallows as soon as the vultures at every random 24-hour news station broke the story. The alleged victim was looking for a come-up, an over zealous D.A. was looking for black votes, and because of this three men were about to f'd over big time. You may be thinking that we don't owe the white boys shit. Well imagine that the rolls were reversed as the have been so many times in the past. If this were Durham in the 1950's and the men brothers we'd be in the streets filled with outrage. I'm not the most religious man you'll find but doing what's right is an important belief that I do have.
Every time an issue such as Imus and the Rape Scandal at Duke arise one thing can be guaranteed: Rev. Al or Jesse Jackson will chime in on behalf of black folks. Like Proposition Joe told Stringer Bell on The Wire "We have a problem. Call it a crisis of leadership." On the national level I feel that we are more often than not represented by reactionary glory hogs who seem to only show up when their is a large problem that will garner media attention. Their solutions to ME only put band-aids where stitches should be. I've discussed MY issues about the men who are "Nominated?" to be our national representation before and they haven't change. I think if we continue to respond only when the "Reverends with talk show types" tell us to respond we will continue to appear rudderless and I think we are much better than that. Frankly, I don't think the Reverend Al, Jesse Jackson, Stanley Crouch, Julius Caesar Watts and Russell Simmons aren't bad men. My mailman isn't either but I don't want him to be my voice to the world.
Part 3 coming soon.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
We've Got Issues
"The world is going one way, people going the other . . ."
Malik "Poot" Carr
It looks like even fictitious characters even see that something is amiss with the world. Poot, a mainstay from HBO's The Wire made the above comment to describe how bad off things may be. He was telling his now departed boy, Bodie that the planet was getting warmer due to global warming but people's actions seem to be moving in the opposite direction.
Over the last three weeks a lot of doo-doo has been hitting the fan and it made me realize that this country and the many demographics in it have a lot of issues that we need to handle. I know self-reflection is usually a very frightening endeavor but at this point it is much needed.
This is bigger than Don Imus, Rape charges at Duke, lack of black leadership, or Monday's unfortunate incident at Virginia Tech: A big dose of honesty is needed before we go any further into the future.
The words "Those are some nappy-headed hoes" were the opening salvo in what would become a major incident in the media two weeks ago. I'm not going to re-hash what Don Imus said because we know the circumstances surrounding the incident. Imus is a shock jock that made a career out of being an insensitive prick. As a rule of thumb insensitive pricks with radio shows generally have listeners who are insensitive pricks. Y'all know how birds of a feather get down so I won't elaborate any further.
The post comment fallout is when the real issues arose surrounding Mr. Imus. Imus went on Al Sharpton's radio show (See the above sentence about Insensitive pricks.) to apologize/tell his side of the story/clear the air. During the interview Imus said something that struck me as very poignant. He brought up the point that rappers make comments like this about black women all of the time. (Anyone ever hear the saying about a broken watch being right twice a day?)
Imus' comment brought out responses from throughout the Hip-Hop Community. Most notably from Snoop, who had this to say in defense of hip-hop:
"It's a completely different scenario," said Snoop, barking over the phone from a hotel room in L.A. "[Rappers] are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We're talking about ho's that's in the 'hood that ain't doing sh--, that's trying to get a n---a for his money. These are two separate things. First of all, we ain't no old-ass white men that sit up on MSNBC [the cable network home to Imus] going hard on black girls. We are rappers that have these songs coming from our minds and our souls that are relevant to what we feel. I will not let them mutha-----as say we in the same league as him."
I may be reading what Snoop said the wrong way but to me it came off as him saying we [blacks] can call our black women whatever we want, when we want, but you can't. I find Snoop's position ironic considering he once showed up to an awards show with two black women on leashes as if they were actual bitches. (Yes, bitch was used in the proper context.)
Don Imus is in fact an asshole, Snoop is full of shit too, but black men and women and hip hop seriously need to take a look at it self. This isn't a new argument by any stretch of the imagination but it seems to boomerang back to the forefront every couple of months. As a people we have got to stop destroying ourselves verbally and mentally on the national stage for the delight/dismay of the rest of the nation.
Brothers, we really have to get our shit together. Yes, that is an over simplified way of getting to the point. The way we treat each other and the women in our lives. Imus had a point. How can we selectively be misogynists? "She's a ho, but she can be at times." The random woman on the street is an object but our mothers, sisters, and daughters aren't? That rational makes no sense especially since we belong to a group of people who have been victims of multiple types of emotional abuse since we arrived on the continent (By-the-way, the Diaspora is a fucked up place isn't it?) we should realize by now that when we are called things long enough you either shrug it off or become that. I love hip-hop and most of the culture that comes along with it but this aspect needs to change.
Sisters, I hate to say this but y'all are to blame here too. The moment y'all put your foot down and show some solidarity for a change would be the first step in righting a lot of the misogyny that occurs in the black community. I know that isn't as nearly easy as it sounds but it has to be done. You aren't whores, bitches, or objects placed on the planet to be used up and shat upon. A little self-policing would go a long way. Like the Goodie Mob said, "You've got to respect yourself before I can."
As a generation of people we also have to lean on the music industry to straighten it's act up. The Jimmy Iovines and Russell Simmons of the world really need to check themselves. This is mostly because they have a final say in what music gets shoveled to the masses. Jimmy Iovine could probably give a fuck but Russell "I'm a black leader because I'm rich" Simmons needs to take the forefront on this issue. There are financial factors at play here but the last time I opened a magazine and saw a Baby Phat ad those were Russell's little daughters with Kimora and I'm pretty sure they aren't bitches or whores.
I know I didn't offer any concrete solutions but hopefully those who happen to read this will take something from this blog and discuss an enact some solutions among there people. Stay tuned for the second part of this rant.
Malik "Poot" Carr
It looks like even fictitious characters even see that something is amiss with the world. Poot, a mainstay from HBO's The Wire made the above comment to describe how bad off things may be. He was telling his now departed boy, Bodie that the planet was getting warmer due to global warming but people's actions seem to be moving in the opposite direction.
Over the last three weeks a lot of doo-doo has been hitting the fan and it made me realize that this country and the many demographics in it have a lot of issues that we need to handle. I know self-reflection is usually a very frightening endeavor but at this point it is much needed.
This is bigger than Don Imus, Rape charges at Duke, lack of black leadership, or Monday's unfortunate incident at Virginia Tech: A big dose of honesty is needed before we go any further into the future.
The words "Those are some nappy-headed hoes" were the opening salvo in what would become a major incident in the media two weeks ago. I'm not going to re-hash what Don Imus said because we know the circumstances surrounding the incident. Imus is a shock jock that made a career out of being an insensitive prick. As a rule of thumb insensitive pricks with radio shows generally have listeners who are insensitive pricks. Y'all know how birds of a feather get down so I won't elaborate any further.
The post comment fallout is when the real issues arose surrounding Mr. Imus. Imus went on Al Sharpton's radio show (See the above sentence about Insensitive pricks.) to apologize/tell his side of the story/clear the air. During the interview Imus said something that struck me as very poignant. He brought up the point that rappers make comments like this about black women all of the time. (Anyone ever hear the saying about a broken watch being right twice a day?)
Imus' comment brought out responses from throughout the Hip-Hop Community. Most notably from Snoop, who had this to say in defense of hip-hop:
"It's a completely different scenario," said Snoop, barking over the phone from a hotel room in L.A. "[Rappers] are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We're talking about ho's that's in the 'hood that ain't doing sh--, that's trying to get a n---a for his money. These are two separate things. First of all, we ain't no old-ass white men that sit up on MSNBC [the cable network home to Imus] going hard on black girls. We are rappers that have these songs coming from our minds and our souls that are relevant to what we feel. I will not let them mutha-----as say we in the same league as him."
I may be reading what Snoop said the wrong way but to me it came off as him saying we [blacks] can call our black women whatever we want, when we want, but you can't. I find Snoop's position ironic considering he once showed up to an awards show with two black women on leashes as if they were actual bitches. (Yes, bitch was used in the proper context.)
Don Imus is in fact an asshole, Snoop is full of shit too, but black men and women and hip hop seriously need to take a look at it self. This isn't a new argument by any stretch of the imagination but it seems to boomerang back to the forefront every couple of months. As a people we have got to stop destroying ourselves verbally and mentally on the national stage for the delight/dismay of the rest of the nation.
Brothers, we really have to get our shit together. Yes, that is an over simplified way of getting to the point. The way we treat each other and the women in our lives. Imus had a point. How can we selectively be misogynists? "She's a ho, but she can be at times." The random woman on the street is an object but our mothers, sisters, and daughters aren't? That rational makes no sense especially since we belong to a group of people who have been victims of multiple types of emotional abuse since we arrived on the continent (By-the-way, the Diaspora is a fucked up place isn't it?) we should realize by now that when we are called things long enough you either shrug it off or become that. I love hip-hop and most of the culture that comes along with it but this aspect needs to change.
Sisters, I hate to say this but y'all are to blame here too. The moment y'all put your foot down and show some solidarity for a change would be the first step in righting a lot of the misogyny that occurs in the black community. I know that isn't as nearly easy as it sounds but it has to be done. You aren't whores, bitches, or objects placed on the planet to be used up and shat upon. A little self-policing would go a long way. Like the Goodie Mob said, "You've got to respect yourself before I can."
As a generation of people we also have to lean on the music industry to straighten it's act up. The Jimmy Iovines and Russell Simmons of the world really need to check themselves. This is mostly because they have a final say in what music gets shoveled to the masses. Jimmy Iovine could probably give a fuck but Russell "I'm a black leader because I'm rich" Simmons needs to take the forefront on this issue. There are financial factors at play here but the last time I opened a magazine and saw a Baby Phat ad those were Russell's little daughters with Kimora and I'm pretty sure they aren't bitches or whores.
I know I didn't offer any concrete solutions but hopefully those who happen to read this will take something from this blog and discuss an enact some solutions among there people. Stay tuned for the second part of this rant.
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