Stop Listening to Trash - Another Attack on Hip-Hop

Today in Chicago, 20 new billboards featuring the slogan "Stop Listening to Trash!" and the names of several hip-hop artist like, Ludacris, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Snoop Dogg and so on were put up in predominantly black neighborhoods. The Saint Sabina church put up these billboards. The billboards are in response to all of the post-Don Imus controversy and to denounce artist that demean women and perpetuate violence. Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of Saint Sabina church said, "If we are going to end the violence and the disrespect of women, we must fight every form of negativity, including the music industry."



I'm surprised by the actions of black leadership, because this is such a counter active move to publicly condemn this music. This is the best publicity for these rappers. It is like when the Parental Advisory stickers went on Metal Music in the 90s and all of those records went instantly platinum. If they were really trying to make a message they should be promoting rap that has a more positive message instead of condemning anything. Condemnation leads to division, and that is the last thing that needs to happen in the black and latin communities. I'm wondering what is going to happen next and how many more displays like this are going to be put up around the nation.

Here comes the Busdriver

So, I just found out about this eccentric underground LA rapper by the name of Busdriver. I'm really loving his vibe and his eccentric rhymes. The track that I put down here "Less Yes's More Nos" is pretty amazing. I digging everything about it and it is just making me want to learn so much more about him. He is no newbie to this hip-hop game. He released his first CD in 2001, Memoirs of the Elephant Man. But since he was 15, in 1993, he has been showing up at the world famous open mic at the Goodlife Cafe. Well, enjoy the track.

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Forget Bergdorf Goodman Give Me Hoodman

There is a relatively new clothing line out there that inspires me so much, because its fashion with a message. Hoodman clothing developed by Edwyn "Eddie" Hoang is a line of t-shirts with very defined political and social statements. This line of t-shirts promotes everything from Barak Obama, world peace, and social equality in the media.



The clothing line started in 2006 with shirts featuring support for Barak Obama. Joining the world of Obama-mania, Hoodman was not afraid to put this political icon on a t-shirt. Hoang's idea is "to use 'cool' to sell politics." This is not a new idea at all. We all remember 2004's "Vote or Die" or "Rock the Vote" campaigns backed by Diddy and other hip-hop elite. Sadly, that campaign ended with no surge in the youth vote at all. Hoang is trying to show that his line of fashion is purely political and liberal to the fullest. With strong anti-war shirts, "I Ain't Got No Quarrel" featuring Ali, there is no wonder that Barak Obama and Youth for Barak Obama aren't willing to set-up fundraising with the shirts anytime soon. Regardless,there is no need to have direct contact with a candidate to keep on showing support. I really hope that Hoang in coalition with other Obama supporters can expand the shirts outside of NYC



The new line that is featured in all of these pictures is not as overtly political as the first line. At first glance someone would think that it is a novelty Nintendo t-shirts line, but on the contrary it is the most socially aware of the lines. This line is about "identity and negative treatment of hip hop identities and characters." I'm in love with this line and I plan on getting a t-shirt or two for sure. To highlight how hip hop is not only to blame for teaching children about violence he creates a juxtaposition of parent friendly (but with a violent reality) Nintendo characters with hip hop stars like DMX, Andre 3000, and Snoop Dogg. Also through this he is displaying how there are virtually no Black or Asian characters in Nintendo games. He jokingly says, " Do The Right Thing? had black people with Italians, why can't Mario Kart?”



sources:
http://formatmag.com/fashion/hoodman/
http://allhiphop.com/blogs/lifestylefashion/default.aspx

Hello World

Hi World,

This is me, Miss B. I'm starting a new endeavor exploring the world of Hip Hop and a bit of R&B. I'm in love with Hip Hop culture like so many people in this world. I want to put an unique prospective on this Hip Hop game. I'm a woman who has lived in three destinct regions that posses a different voice when it comes to Hip Hop. I was born and spent a good chunk of my life in Houston, Texas. I suckled at the tit of Scarface and the Geto Boys. I'm a member of the Screw moment. I'm waiting for someone to really take Screw to the mainstream. Then I moved to Boston and really got into to the whole EastCoast sound. Now, I live in Chicago the home of Kanye West,and Lupe Fiasco.

I really don't know what I'm going to do with this blog, but it is going to be all about Hip Hop and my thoughts on it. I'm going to comment on new and old, mainstream and undeground.