May 25, 2013

Sebastien Elkouby: Rap Music, Censorship and a Real Life Conspiracy

rapper (with mic)

*Ever since I began publicly speaking out against the mainstream music industry, its corrupt practices and deliberate dumbing down of rap music, I’ve been told by many, including industry insiders, that my claims are unfounded, unverifiable and the stuff of paranoid conspiracy theorists. But what is a conspiracy? Does it always have to be hatched [...]




The Journal of Steffanie Rivers: The Not-So Invisible Man

steffanie rivers

*Thirty-five years ago when I grew up in east Tennessee the only people I saw with tattoos were members of a motorcycle gang. I had to go to school on the other side of town to see white people, because only black people went to my church and lived in my neighborhood. When my teacher, [...]




Kim K. Says Don’t Sleep on the Reality Television Game

Kim Kardashian

*Maybe by now everyone is pretty much over the fact that Kim Kardashian is famous for no reason, which gives her room to explain why her ‘career’ is a legitimate pursuit. In an interview with V magazine, the socialite attempted to justify her celebrity status by comparing reality television to the rap game. “It’s always [...]




Lauryn Hill and Nas Continue with ‘Black Rage’ Tour (Video)

nas-and-lauryn-hill

*Is Lauryn Hill really back? No, really back with those soul tingeing lyrics and political messages? The songstress kicked off her “Life is Good/Black Rage” tour with Nas on October 29th and it looks like it’s been a hit. The next stop on the tour is Dallas. Although she hasn’t released any new music since [...]




Jam Master Jay Murder Still Unsolved; Reward Offered

jam master jay

*It’s been ten years since beloved Hip Hop pioneer, Jason (Jam Master Jay) Mizell, was laid to rest after being murdered in the Hall of Fame Music store. For the first time since his untimely death riddled with mystery, Run DMC is on tour without their beatman. The group kicked off a tour last month, despite [...]




D.L. Hughley Goes Hard on Lupe Fiasco

DL-Hughley-Humor-Mill

*Lupe Fiasco is like the rapper with a heart in the industry; the man who keeps the moral compass of the industry. But comedian and political commentator D.L. Hughley criticized the rapper for being out of touch with reality. “He’s bright as hell, but dumb in the ways of the world,” Hughley told Hot 93.7/Hartford. [...]




Kanye and Momma West Filmed Rapping (Video)

kanye & donda west

*Some rare footage of Kanye West and his mama was recently found. The rapper and his late mother, Donda West, were recorded rapping together back in 2003. In the clip, the two are hanging out, talking about old music and forgotten sounds. Then they both started rapping one of his lines together. She asks her [...]




Lupe Fiasco is Fighting for Freedom Through Music

lupe_fiasco(2012-b&w-med-wide-upper)

*Lupe Fiasco is cool. An underestimated artist with a lot on his brain. The rapper, whose given name is Wasalu Jaco, is a mover and a shaker and spits lyrics with powerful meaning. Though his popularity is vastly different than his other contemporaries, he has the ability to generate a movement. While he’s getting ready [...]




Snoop Dogg Becomes Rastafarian: New Name is Snoop Lion

snoop

*Snoop Dogg has decided to finally evolve, but into the unexpected type of artist. The Long Beach native is turning in his gun slinging lyrics to embrace the love and harmony of reggae. On Monday at a news conference in New York, he said he was “born again” during a visit to Jamaica earlier this [...]




Rap Music is Latest Weapon Against Gadhafi

Milad Faraway, a.k.a. Dark Man, 20, left, and Mohammed Madani, a.k.a. Madani Lion, 22, center, of the Music Masters rap group

*Libyan rebels are going back to the glory days of rap music, pre-hip hop, when it was used as a form of revolutionary poetry against THE MAN. When rap music exploded on the scene some of it was fun, but a lot of it was telling the stories of the ghetto life that mainstream America was not ready [...]