It's Bigger Than Hip Hop

It's been a great August and neither of us has done any blogging.  We seem to write more on facebook these days, but I digress.

I've been to a few "Hip Hop" events and I have also read a few Hip Hop articles that are the inspiration for me writing this post. One of the articles was posted yesterday on www.hiphopdx.com.  The responses to this article made me think about where Hip Hop has been and where it is going.   I know this seems to be written about so often, but it is our passion for HIP HOP that makes this topic such an anomaly.

A few weeks ago Red Hook park had a free show with the legendary Hip Hop Producers, DJ Scratch and DJ Premier.  I mentioned to her that because of our age we are fortunate to have been around and actually enjoyed the Golden Era of Hip Hop.   You cannot claim to love Hip Hop if you do not know about either of these guys...PERIOD.  The two DJ's played songs from the Motown Era (before Hip Hop was born) thru the Golden Era.  It was amazing to me to be a part of and witness my generation going bananas when they went thru the "classics".  I often think of what songs will be played in the next 15-20 years, when these late teens/early 20 somethings will be my age.  That is another topic for another day.  It is hard for me to think of any songs that will touch anyone like T.R.O.Y or Dwyck (if you have ever been to a "Hip Hop" party, this song most likely was played and it is not a song that I particularly care for) or anything that Wu-Tangs came out with (Enter The 36 Chambers).  To watch this crowd go nuts is an understatement, they really took it there.

It is important for me to stress that I got sick and tired of the whole Mafiosa Hip Hop thing during the 90's, but I remember when it was 1st done.  In my humble opinion, not many people could do it like Raekwon, Ghostface, & Nas.  Just like everything in Hip Hop, everyone started copying the format and it got old and stale.

Again, it seems that todays lyrics and wordplay is just corny.  Maybe it's my age, but is there really any discussion about the lyrics that came out of NYC, especially emcees from New York area during the 80's & 90's? I appreciate the new "style" of rappers today.  Kid Cudi, Wale, Charles Hamilton, Skyzoo, & etc., but we have to remember that without my generations Hip Hop stars, none of this would be possible.  I'm all about evolution and growth in Hip Hop, but I can not and will not accept what my Beloved Hip Hop has become.

I remember when the Hip Hop radio played more than 15 different songs all day.  Hell I remember when there wasn't even a Hip Hop radio station.   Maybe we should go back to those days, and then the radio would be forced to play more artist (underground and popular) to fill up the time slot.

I've been saying for awhile now that Common needs to do an updated version of "I Used To Love Her".   It would be really interesting to hear about the many changes that Hip Hop has gone thru.

If I ruled the world, I'd love em' love em' baby

I like to imagine sometimes... On the short 3.2 mile ride to work this morning I was led to this abandon building that I love on Fulton Street. I refurbished it in my head, I gave it a name, I love it... It would be some kind of multi-cultural center. It would be called Do, Not Die. The old Bed Stuy aka Do or Die would be lost in the center. Love would be printed on the walls in graffiti, cursive, bubble letters and so on. Trust would be felt when you walked in the doors. Music would fill some rooms, computers, tutors, turntables, cooking classes, mentoring sessions, parenting workshops, alateen meetings and whatever else brings young people closer together with a peace of mind. This would be in the 4 walls that I would help create. I would let him have his say too... I dream of this and think, just a little bit that one day it will be possible. I could teach little kids Shell Silverstein poems. I can help teenagers recover from drug and alcohol filled homes with the help of a 12 step program especially for them. Mom's could come and learn how to cook healthy food for their children with chefs who donate their time. Teachers who began to teach to help kids would be able to do so without the politics of test scores and numbers. Computers would be available for everyone to use as a learning tool, not for watching youtube (I see young kids watching Dipset videos when I'm in the library). I want to be part of this community, I want to give back to help raise children as loving, kind, respectable and honest kids. I would love to have the means for this one day. In the meantime I will go volunteer somewhere. I will take suggestions on places and my search begins tomorrow... I owe something to Bed Stuy, I have found myself here. I have spent the last 18 months falling in love with myself and it has taken place on these streets.