The Hip-Hop Herald: 09.04.08
Posted by Patrick Robinson on 09.04.2008
Game could be off to jail again, while Prodigy's stint is making him a wiser man, Suge Knight only spends 48 hours in jail and is back on the streets, Snoop is FINALLY welcome in Australia, and KRS-One welcomes Soulja Boy to hip-hop!
"Can't do this…and we don't do that…" Ok so "Shawty Say" has grown on me like a rapidly growing fungi, much like the one this lady tried to show me whilst I was doing deliveries today. Nasty business fungi.
Anyway, I went looking for some CDs today, and discovered that they DIDN'T have Protools, but did manage to have Kardinal Offishall's Not 4 Sale album, which isn't actually meant to be released until September 9. I also caught the video for Nas' "Hero" today which is the first time I've seen a Nas video on MTV since "Hip-Hop Is Dead" or "Hip-Hop Has Been Severely Injured" as the censored version would have you believe.
I'm also horribly behind in terms of adding stuff to iTunes, there's about forty-odd albums waiting to be uploaded and a half-dozen CDs to be ripped. Sounds like a fun way to spend a Sunday night to me… Ok enough delay, I need some music cause I'm falling asleep and the phone is starting to piss me off with it's incessant ringing.
The News
Top Story
KRS-One Welcomes…Soulja Boy To Hip-Hop?
In a moment which I'm sure will surprise everyone, KRS-One met with Soulja Boy this past Tuesday (August 26) to discuss the state of Hip-Hop culture. The first time meeting was moderated on Rap City by host Q45, who started off the conversation by asking Soulja Boy if he was Hip-Hop.
"I guess so, man. I hope I'm Hip-Hop" Soulja stated sheepishly. "I've been number one on the Hip-Hop charts."
The conversation moved on to how both artists viewed the definition of Hip-Hop for their generations.
"You know I have a long, drawn out answer for that," KRS joked. "Let's start with the simple stuff: breakin', MC'ing, graffiti writing, DJ'ing, and beatboxing. That's the original elements of Hip-Hop. But the way in which you display that can be in infinite kinds. Every generation brings their own kind of presentation."
That's the five elements that any hip-hop head should be able to rattle off faster than their own phone number of course. I think most people would agree with this assessment too, these are the base elements that hip-hop was born from, and therefore, any music that wants to call itself ‘hip-hop' should include a contemporary homage to these elements.
Soulja Boy offered a similar stance in his reply but emphasized the party element of Hip-Hop's origins: "Hip-Hop is having fun: rapping which is basically what I do, dancing, and partying. I'm the life of the party so I think it's all about getting it in, having fun and not thinking about the consequences."
That's always going to be a problem in my opinion. A lot of these new rappers don't think about what might happen when they begin calling out respected artists, or in a way, challenging the norm. They might see it as ‘fun', but to a large part of the hip-hop community, it's seen as being disrespectful.
He then went on to detail his frustration at being called out by numerous veteran artists such as Ice-T, and how his "old school" influence was listening to 50 Cent's early records when he was 11 years old.
Before you jump in and start waving your hands in the air and making blubbering noises like I was about thirty seconds ago, there's a kind of ‘modification' comment by KRS that is important to include:
"Every 10 years, we get a "new" old school. In 87, we thought that 1977 was the best time for Hip Hop. In 97', we said 1987 was the best era for Hip Hop. Here we are in 08, and we're discussing 97', 98'…This is showing us first how time flies, and also how new blood is brought into Hip Hop. We can't be dissing new blood that comes in and expect [Hip Hop] to exist."
THAT comment is something that gets overlooked all the time. Other rappers have touched on it, but they haven't really laid it out like that before. And it's true! To me, ‘old-school' is say, 1985 – 1990. You then have the Golden Era, and the boundaries of that era do vary from person to person, but to me it's from 1990 – 1996, basically when Pac and Biggie died and we ushered in a new mindset of hip-hop. It was the party and glossy lifestyle that Diddy and Master P portrayed that inspired the ‘new-school' artists, such as Talib Kweli, Common and Mos Def to bring hip-hop away from that glossy rap, to a more realistic style.
But think about it, to someone who is Soulja Boy's age, the Golden Era is more than 10 years ago, making it essentially, what we called old-school to them. They are the ‘new-school' today.
Furthermore, Soulja Boy revealed that out of all the artists that have made disparaging remarks about him, KRS-One is the only MC to speak to him personally about hip-hop culture. KRS took the first steps to heal the expanding rift between new and old school hip-hop artists by explaining the perspective of the pioneers.
"What most of us are expecting is a continuation of the legacy, that the work we did in the 70s, 80s, and 90s was not in vain. That's really where the hurt is coming from. That the younger generation would forget about us and the struggles. We had to fight for this, even to have a Rap City. We expect those that come after us to keep that torch lit."
I've always maintained that the new breed of rappers would get significantly more respect if they acknowledge the existence of rappers such as KRS-One and Public Enemy, rather than call them outdated, or dinosaurs of a past era. They don't have to like their music, I personally, don't enjoy KRS-One on the whole, but I'm hardly going to disregard his impact on the genre, which is something that has happened in recent times.
Acknowledging the success of his younger peer, KRS made it a point to emphasize to Soulja Boy the influence he can have in building the culture: "Right now we're dealing with a generation gap with younger people and us supposedly bitter old school Hip-Hoppers. By us being here we can settle a lot of the generation gap that is out here in the community today. And let me just say this [as] KRS-One, big respect to you and welcome to Hip-Hop!"
Now Soulja Boy in particular does irritate me, as he was asked if he'd change from the repetitious style of the hook and overly simplistic lyrics, but he said he wouldn't because that's what his fans want. I could honestly tolerate his music if it didn't sound so redundant. Hell, if he just started putting a little more effort into his lyrics, such as actual hooks, instead of the name of the song repeated constantly, I would actually have some sense of respect for his work ethic after reading excerpts from this meeting.
Game For Jail Again?
Remember that fiasco with Game punching his cousin in the face at a funeral some time back? Well, turns out that his cousin has indeed pressed charges as he is being charged with battery (but there's no batteries involved!),
As Game is already on probation due to a firearms offence earlier this year, he could be up for another jail sentence.
Because his last stint in jail was REALLY long.
Prodigy – ‘Wiser MC'
Prodigy's three year prison sentence on unlawful gun possession charges has convinced him to change his way. Prodigy guarantees he'll be a more focused MC upon his release. In a brief phone interview, Prodigy detailed how he's been using his incarceration to sharpen his mental faculties and mentor fellow inmates, particularly young minorities.
"I'm just taking it easy, day by day serving my time like a man. Doing what I gotta do. I read books everyday. I kick it with some of the younger inmates in here, passing books on to them. [We] pick each other's brains."
Prodigy, was sentenced to three years in prison last October in a plea bargain deal for his third gun possession charge.
Prodigy promises the fans a more focused Pee upon his scheduled 2011 release, as prison has allowed him to reflect on past mistakes and given him the opportunity to brainstorm potential collaborations, a comeback tour, a autobiography, and possible remixes to H.N.I.C. Pt. 2.
"When I get back out there in the real world it's gonna be on. I'm much better, much wiser [than before the incarceration]. It's going down, trust me."
Here's some free advice for Prodigy, move FAR AWAY from 50 Cent and stop beefing with ANYBODY. Prodigy has possibly the worst win-loss record in beef history; I don't think he's ‘won' any he's been in.
Suge Knight's Back On The Streets
Suge Knight, was arrested on drug and assault charges last week. He's accused of: "beating his girlfriend while brandishing a knife."
Suge was hit with multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, battery domestic violence and illegal possession of prescription drugs. According to the report, Las Vegas police responded to a report of a vehicle striking a curb. When they arrived on the scene, he was found standing over his girlfriend with the aforementioned knife in hand.
However, Suge posted a $19,000 bail, and was released from the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas. Along with paying the bond, Suge is also expected to appear in court in Las Vegas on September 26th to answer the charges.
Just further proof that you should be scared of Suge Knight. Whatever happened to the guy that knocked him out?
He looks like a canary here…
Kottonmouth Kings Are Obscene
I think it's funny whenever any hip-hop group is labeled as ‘obscene', particularly in a case like this when the group in question doesn't even get that much airplay. I mean, come on, if you're going to label the group obscene after this, what the hell do you hear on the radio?
The group are under fire after a performance in Vail, Colorado over lyrical content. Citizens of the small town filed complaints after the culmination of the show, which also featured Snoop Dogg.
In a story published by the Vail Daily entitled "Keeping Vail's Concerts Clean," the Kings were blasted for condoning illegal behavior. Promoters of the show were told to "take another look at who they allow to perform during both ticketed and free concerts in city limits."
Vail Special Events Coordinator Sybil Navas sounded off on the incident, saying, "We would prefer that they were not brought back under the town's sponsorship."
The Kings refused to take the incident lying down. Front man Brad "Daddy X" recently penned an open letter to the Vail Daily.
"God bless America! In 2008 and we are still talking about censoring artists. I bet these right wing zealots have quite a porn collection stashed in their closets. While we are at it let's ban dirty dancing, lock up the TV and close down the movie theatres. Let's ban Olympic athletes from competing if they protest the Chinese government, let's cover women with veils from head to toe in garments so they are not provocative.
I understand a free community production and family entertainment (I even have a young daughter of my own), but the Kottonmouth Kings concert had a cover charge to get in; we didn't force anyone to be there.
Come to think of it church is free, maybe we should put censorship stickers on bibles, because in the pages seems to be a lot of rhetoric about war violence, rape, incest and sex, so I hope they don't let their children hear that stuff.
It's funny how people get upset about a group like the Kottonmouth Kings (who spread a message of peace and good vibrations), yet when we were in town there was a bar on every corner and more drunk idiots roaming the streets then I can count. Goes to show you that alcohol is America's drug of choice."
There's a couple of good points, and a couple of misguided points there but the message is certainly solid, especially the fact that they weren't charging a free show, and that those who paid to be there, wanted to be there. The last point he makes is also interesting, how many people actually consider alcohol to be a drug? I know the majority of the people I know wouldn't, but it actually is.
In Other Snoop News
Ok, so yesterday I lamented the fact that Snoop had again been denied entry into Australia, but it seems I should wait until I begin lamenting as the decision to overturn the previous decision, has in fact, been overturned.
Australian Immigration officials questioned the Snoop's eligibility to enter the country due to his criminal past (but we allowed 50 Cent in?). Now, Snoop is continuing with plans to appear in the region. The approval overturns an August of 2007 decision, which kept the rapper out of the country. Snoop Dogg was supposed to co-host the MTV Australian Video Music Awards, but he was banned from entering Australia after he failed the character test.
"As a result of public concern and interest, the department has decided that in fact we will be undertaking a more thorough assessment of Mr Broadus' character. However, the decision on the granting or refusal of a visa application is made on the individual merit of the case consistent with the legal criteria for the class of the visa," an Immigration Department official said last week.
He will kick off a tour of New Zealand and Australia with Ice Cube and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, starting on October 27, when the rappers will appear at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington.
From there, the tour will hit Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Tour dates are listed below:
October 27, Wellington, TSB Arena
October 29, Brisbane, Entertainment Centre
October 31, Sydney, Acer Arena (I'M GOING AND YOU CAN KISS MY ASS IF YOU TRY AND STOP ME)
November 2, Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena
November 5, Adelaide, Entertainment Centre
November 7, Perth, Burswood Dome
An Active Imagination Is A Must
If you were wondering on Game's process of selecting beats, here's an excerpt from an interview he did with MTV.
"Whenever I call a producer and tell them how I want the beat to be, I paint a picture. I called Just Blaze, and I'll be like, 'Yo, picture Jay-Z being in an elevator in the Bronx. ... It's broke, and all of sudden he presses the garage button and it shoots through the roof. He lands on Jupiter. And he walks out in all black. I want that record!' And Blaze will be like, 'All right. I'm about to do that record'.
When you listen to my album and people say, 'You know how to pick beats' — nah, I know how to pick scenarios and producers who understand my scenarios and know how to transform them into music. When it comes out the speakers, it sounds like what I asked for."
Jay-Z in an broken elevator in the Bronx landing on Jupiter. Wow. Sounds like something Lil Wayne would say actually…and what beat was this anyway? I want to hear it!
Sales Figures
The Game makes his debut this week with L.A.X. and takes out the Number 2 spot (behind Slipknot) with 238,400 copies sold. Other debuts this week include Beyonce's sister, Solange who's album, Sol Angel &The Hadley St. Dreams took out the number 9 spot with 46,300 copies sold. In a rare moment of hip-hop justice, V.I.C. also debuts this week, but crashes hard with only 7,000 copies of Beast sold, less than GZA's first week.
Lil Wayne and Rihanna hold down the number 6 and 12 spots respectively for the second week running. Wayne sold 54,000 copies this week, bringing his total to 2,316,000 (and possibly Triple Platinum by this time next year) and Rihanna moved 37,300 copies of the re-release of Good Girl Gone Bad, bringing her total to 1,713,000 (and possibly Double Platinum this time next year).
Ice Cube continues to perform admirably (it is an Independent release after all) with 30,300 copies of Raw Footage sold this week, landing him the number 14 spot. Nas, Plies and David Banner continue their descent, albeit slowly. Nas sold 12,200 copies of Untitled this week, bringing his total to 362,500. Plies edges towards that Gold Plaque still with 10,600 copies sold this week, giving him a total of 480,200. David Banner drops out of the Top 50, coming in at number 51 with 9,100 copies sold bringing his total to just under 133,000.
Next week, there's the debut of Young Jeezy to watch for, will he take the Number 1 spot?
Before We Go…
That's it for another week folks, I'm running late for work again so I'll sign off here.
