We actually went to go see American Gangster opening night, and I don’t quite understand what all the ruckus is about. The movie was good but not ‘best picture shoe-in’ good. Russell Crowe’s ridiculous attempt at a Jersey accent made my brains inadvertently shut down a few times. Actually, maybe it was that good considering I haven’t been to the theater in at least four months. Not that the movies have been exceptionally poor, but the last couple of time we’ve been to the theater we always end up near those inconsiderate assholes who talk the ENTIRE time. My focus wasn’t so much on the movies playing, but on where specifically I could hit these people in their throats hard enough to render them mute for the remainder of the movie. I think what made the movie ‘meh’ for me was the fact that I watched the American Gangster Series on the History Channel the night prior to seeing the movie and it just so happened to be on Frank Lucas.

Jay’s album is also uninspiringly average yet solid, but this set is A MILLION times better than Kingdom Come. I was so damn disappointed with that trash that I actually threw it away. I rarely give my opinion on an album until it’s been on constant rotation for the first few days, then put away, then re-introduced into the playlist—gotta let it simmer for a while. That shit sucked from the second I put it in the stereo till the second it flew across the room to it’s new trashcan home. I think my cow-lip regard for Jay’s newer stuff is his fault for making me love Reasonable Doubt so much. Same with Nasty Nas and Illmatic.

Maybe I need to let go of the fact that it ain’t 1994-96 anymore and there aren’t a constant stream of solid releases that have me actually buying albums. Ah well.

Not that being socially conscious is anything new to any true fan of lyricism (see: Common, 3000, Kweli, Nas, Black Thought, etc), but coming from Chamillionare it was definitely a pleasant surprise when I heard “Hip Hop Police/Evening News” while flipping through the channels and (sadly) ended up watching BET. I’ve never really liked what I’ve heard from him, but I certainly respect the fact that he doesn’t curse in his music or follow any industry standard ‘cookie-cutter’ formula from what I’ve gathered.

The first half of the song is decent (you gotta love Slick Rick and whatever ridiculocity he’s espousing to), but I really enjoyed the second half of the video in which Cham’s depicted in a back and forth with himself in Whiteface. Take a look at the second half:

Pros: good message, decent beat, no standard issue rap video coonery (i.e. titties, asses, rented cars, borrowed money rolls)

Cons: been done before, will get no spins anywhere.

Of course, this will probably disappear soon because mainstream America doesn’t want to hear socially conscious music AND have no titties in the video. That’s a double-donkey punch. Why would MTV/BET play this again? They exist to perpetuate overarching myths about our music, not inform.

Color me shocked if I hear it on our lame ass radio stations, too.

Man this shit is great.

Good lookin’ Emawkc. I’ll be periodically posting some playlists of stuff I’m stuck on. Of course, this only last so long so I’d suggest getting on it if you like this. I’m sure there the records labels have already speed dialed their jerk lawyers.

SeeqPod Music beta - Playable Search

Back when music was authentic.

Back when artists used actual BANDS, not 40 ‘hype-men’ on stage flailing arms and repeating lyrics.

Back when getting shot didn’t secure you a record deal.

Back when you had just your voice, not a mega-producer with samples.

Back when you didn’t have to glorify murder to get respect.

Back when you could buy clothes that ACTUALLY fuckin fit and still be considered ‘cool.’ (so ghey)

Back when you couldn’t sell an album completely based on how much money you have (or pretend to have).

Back when the only gimmick you needed to sell was something called ‘talent.’

Back when music was real. When it was was great….MAN i need a time machine. I can imagine what the older generations think about our music now. After seeing the likes of James Brown, BB King, Chuck Berry or Al Green live—I’d wanna slap a kid square in the face who came up to me talking about a damn Young Jeezy. Are you serious? I shouldn’t have to get into heated discussions with people who continue to believe that most of these assholes you are force fed daily have actual talent. More often than not I just look at them blankly and continue on my way.

Tired Of Being Alone By Al Green

I can understand people who enjoy today’s music. I try not fault people’s individual tastes (failing more often than not). I can’t understand how people (especially Black people) have no idea who Dizzy Gillespie or John Coltrane are, but know every word to the latest shitty Dipset CD. How is that possible?

A true test of what people call classic is if they are still playing it 40 years later. Are there people out there who think 36 Mafia and Fisty Cent are going to be remembered and revered? What have they REALLY done for Black music? Music in general?

Some random tracks that had the pleasure of being repeated more than once on the Ipod when I was supposed to be working. I generally bounce back and forth between decades and genres with reckless abandon, especially since music has gotten progressively worse as each second goes by (see: Dipset). Anyways, I quit listening to the radio a long time ago and for good reason (see: Dipset).

Goodie MoB-Thought Process and Soul Food: Probably the most underrated group evAR. I wasn’t a huge fan of the last two efforts, but when this came out in 1995, I think I bought it because I was infatuated with Outkast and I knew they were in cahoots with Organized Noise…good move. This album has never left my possession–never will. Socially conscious when it was scarce.

Gnarles Barkley-Storm Coming: I’ve been a fan of Cee-Lo since the beginning, but I wasn’t feeling this CD ’till about the third time I heard it. Eventually led me right into Danger Doom. Innovative and creative.

Rage Against the Machine-Bombtrack: Sounds dope on a nice system. Confuses other Black people when played loudly on the way to work. The stars have to align properly for me to listen to RATM, as I immediately look for something to burn down or someone to punch.

Little Brother-Beautiful Morning: I love anything that comes out of the Justus League right about now. LB might be my favorite group of the last years. They almost cancel out the plethora of shitty groups (see: Dipset)… Almost.