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THE MO'KELLY REPORT: Right is Right ... and So is Chuck D.
(March 14, 2006)
Yeah, THAT Chuck D.
Chuck D. has had ‘enough.’ Whereas I wish he’d have arrived at this emotional destination (in a public sense) long ago, I’m still pleased he’s here now. There’s more than enough room for him at the table. He’s had enough of the ridiculousness that is Hip-Hop these days. And if you think he (or I for that matter) was proud that Hip-Hop garnered its first Academy Award, you’d be right. We were proud; right up until the word ‘pimp’ was associated in connection with it.
Late last week, Chuck D. published a scathing review of the world of Hip-Hop, aptly titled The Bitch Slapping of Blackfolk Using The Hand of Hip Hop. A number of people emailed me, asking in derision whether Mo’Kelly had actually written it.
Naw, can’t say I did.
I’ve met Chuck on only one occasion…coincidentally at the Grammy offices some 10 years ago when I worked there. So no, there’s no ghost-writing going on, but evidently there does exist a shared viewpoint or two between us.
Where it’s a little more than slightly odd to give an editorial on someone else’s editorial, these indeed are odd times.
Chuck D. has had enough.
In his missive, he told of how he approached BET as to their imbalance in programming and how he was subsequently met with relative indifference.
No, you don’t say? BET … indifferent? Been there, done that.
Chuck articulated his frustration over the ‘stop snitching’ phenomenon that has engulfed Busta Rhymes and those associated with him. Imagine Israel Ramirez’s children growing up without a father and those in Hip-Hop are more concerned with ‘honoring’ a code…even though there’s nothing honorable about murder. Busta Rhymes’ bodyguard lost his life in the course of doing his job and Busta has no desire to cooperate in the investigation?
Stop Snitchin’ you say?!
How about ‘Stop Killing People on Video Sets’…that’s a better idea. That’s a much larger problem for Black folks than any violation of a prison mentality value set. Wait, how about stop killing cops in Las Vegas with the same gun you posed with on your album cover.
And before I forget, happy belated 9th anniversary of Biggie’s death. It’s good to know that we’ve gone further downhill in the time since. No better way to honor a man’s memory than to keep the same foolishness going that killed him.
Chuck also spoke of the civil rights struggles of decades past and how we’ve squandered the subsequent opportunities afforded by them.
Does any of that sound vaguely familiar?
Chuck…has had enough. I didn’t say Mo’Kelly, I said Chuck D. He went on to carefully share his disappointment over how youth today are more focused on material trappings and disregard the value of education. Chuck even closed with a thought-provoking question as to the alleged value of anything ‘pimp-like’ being either successful or associated with African-Americans.
If you’re thinking that we are of the same mind and same level of frustration you’d be right. If you’re thinking that Chuck and I write our editorials in concert (no pun intended) you’d be wrong. The real (and relevant) difference between Mo’Kelly and Chuck D. is that he IS Hip-Hop, representative of its rich history and forefather of those who have been benefited in his wake.
For all the credibility that I supposedly ‘lack’ as a critic of Hip-Hop…the same can not be levied at Chuck D. I may lack any and all street cred; I may be as ‘uncool’ as they come. I wear a belt with my pants and said pants hang on my waist…not off my a$$. My shirttails are always tucked in and I make it a point to attend church. The only white t-shirts I wear, fit me and are worn under a top-shirt…as they were intended. I don’t have ‘rims’ on my car and I also make it a point not to watch BET.
The point of the matter is simple…right is right, irrespective of the mouth from which it originates. If you find that what I have to say as an ‘outsider’ is spoken with ignorance of true Hip-Hop, you’d be right. I’d be loathe to quote any contemporary Hip-Hop lyrics and probably not as up to date on the industry as once upon a time.
But some things DON’T change. And right is right. I’m not saying that Mo’Kelly is right. But I am saying that Chuck D. IS…and you work that out mentally however you choose. If you’d rather ‘listen’ to Chuck instead of Mo’Kelly, that’s fine too. Just know that at the end of the day Busta Rhymes deserves zero respect until he does what is right…and that’s helping bring a killer to justice. Be damned any code, be damned any alleged street credibility or album sales. Have him look Israel Ramirez’s children in the eye and explain it to them, ‘cause I ain’t hearin’ it…and I’m not havin’ it. The words would be wasted on me.
And I will confidently add that if you believe otherwise, you are a fool too. Have one of your family members killed and then come try to sell me on the virtues of the ‘Stop Snitchin’ campaign.
For all of you rap sycophants claiming ‘racism’ at the recent alleged blackballing of Hip-Hop in Las Vegas …you’re probably right. Race is definitely a part of the equation. But murder is an even bigger part. Police are ‘funny’ like that…just FYI. Hip-Hop wants to act like they’re the only ones with a ‘code.’ Hip-hop may be cool with the idea of killing each other and doing nothing about it but the popos don’t play that. Hell, I’m going to stay away from Las Vegas on GP…because I’m not going to even chance any Vegas PD payback at my expense.
But don’t take my word for it…take Chuck’s, if that makes it any easier for this bitter pill to go down. Either way, know that right is right and it never changes.
To see Chuck D.’s look at the world of Hip-Hop: http://p076.ezboard.com/fpoliticalpalacefrm70.showMessage?topicID=180.topic
Send all appropriate hate mail to Chuck…this time. Just know I fully agree with everything he has to say.
The Mo'Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse...as well as entertain. The e-book "The Best of The Mo'Kelly Report" will be available in spring of 2006. Morris W. O'Kelly can be reached at dark.gable@sbcglobal.net and he welcomes all commentary.
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