SCORE

The BET Documentary aired August 30

http://dai.ly/a9FnAG

Truly this is a conversation piece that is needed for those in tune and not in tune with their Hip Hop History where women are concerned.  For me everyone showcased, ever single person I witnessed the moments as they happened.  For me it was a feel good moment.  It was an each on teach one moment, kudos for this one BET.  You can tell when someone has respect for the entire Hip Hop Movement through their writings as a blogger, contributor, freelance etc. because they know the history.   They don’t talk ‘slick’  of the ‘paved the way ones’ because of their love for a newbie rap artist on the block.  There is nothing wrong with each generation having their favorite rapper, that is the beauty of  Hip Hop. What is wrong -when you don’t know your history.  

Knowledge is power when you are in this business of the written word to the public, journalist or no- be about it.  The history is out there for you whether you lived in the moment or not.  I try to be well versed on a broad subject matter because I seek the knowledge of times before my time.  I like to be thorough and that thoroughness has taken me far.  Knowledge is power.  

What makes me ILL ( yea you know I reached back for that Ill ) are those who be ILLING not  being their own definitive person in the rap game as a female, male whatev’s.  Back in the day there were so many female emcees like BET Documentary touched on -each one had their own definitive voice.  You didn’t have those arguments about people sounding alike or biting someone’s style because these females were on their positive ‘cocky’ – Thank God For It.  What I feel is wrong with some of this generation is that Hip Hop was a movement that had it’s big shares of struggles.  The culture, the movement was dismissed by parents and grandparents, the media as a ‘fad’.   Then you had the various forms of censorship for more provacative rap lyrics,  government, politicians began getting in the mix labeling artist dangerous, putting groups on watch listings  and so much more. 

Like any movement/culture you have non-clarity at times.  What outweighs what many feel is a loss of clarity for Hip Hop Culture today is the LOVE.  I am feeling a Tribe Called Quest Moment L-O-V-E but I am kicking this one for me and my ladies ( a play off Lyte’s dj ).  There is so much love from those of us who were there in the beginnings.  When I hear some of the generations of today saying ’go sit down’, ‘you too old’, ‘your time is up’ - you have to give respect where respect is due. In Hip Hop Culture there is no such thing as 1, 2, 3, 4 Yo Time Is Up ( I am straight punning on this one -remember Jade ?).  

I remember getting an autograph and talking with Yo Yo in Charlotte NC at Simmons Soul Food Restaurant in Charlotte in the 90′s.  She was so cool.  I remember meeting TLC when they first came out .  They were doing a promotional tour and stopped by my University in Charlotte JCSU.   That was a moment because we all were around the same age, Left Eye was in her baggy gear with the condom over the eye, all so down -good times.  I remember dyeing my hair auburn with Dark n Lovely ,  just like MC Lyte for my Graduation Pictures.  I was already rocking the look by my sophomore year. Everytime people see my Grad Pictures from high school they say, oh yea you had that ‘Lyte Look’ ( laughing ).

YOUNG GENERATION

We are your pioneers official ages  49-37 give 36. I give those ages because I was 8 years old when the Sugarhill Gang’s ‘Rappers Delight’ came out and my youngest uncle ten years older than me was a senior in High School.  If you are 36 you were 5 when it all started so I give you the IN ( lol ).  The pioneers include those who became emcees, doing the movies based around the HHC, those of us who saved our allowances to buy the records, go to the Hip Hop Inspired movies, watching ‘Yo MTV Raps’, BET, making our way to the concerts,  saving money or asking for money to stay in the latest colored lee jeans, jordache, gloria vanderbilts, calvin kleins, sergio’s,  namebelts, double knuckle rings, earrings with our names on it, necklaces with our names on it,  getting permission or sneaking to get our hair done like Lyte, Salt n Pepper, Yo Yo, happy to get those addidas, k-swiss, filas, pumas etc.   We wouldn’t listen to our parents or grandparents saying ‘cut that noise off and go to bed’,  we bought the eight track, the records, cassette, and cd’s.  Yea, your pioneers who embrace the new who are doing it from a perspective whereas it enhances.  It’s boring seeing someone bite a style, as the saying goes from back in the day, it’s wackety wack wack. 

Jean Grae is nice with hers, and I love the energy of thought when it comes to her and others in the more underground setting.  She could easily go commercial especially with this video I am gonna show but it’s not all about the commercialism when you aren’t true with your craft.  When you look at the longevity and respect being a pure caricature in Hip Hop doesn’t mean much when your bars don’t penetrate deeper than the moment of things.

Um did anyone else catch her asian flair from 2008?

Where have we seen that lately?

I love her concept from TAXI DRIVER

70′s Movies Starring Robert Deniro and Jodie Foster

Look closely at the end of video….

It’s A Young Deniro clip from the movie

Creative Much!

Knowledge Is Power People

One Love To : Monie Luv, Antoinette, Mia X, Sparky D, Finesse and Synquis, Bahamadia, Mystic, Sole, Vita, Deadly Venoms and more who are so unsung.  The power can be brought back when there can be consistency in the chosen path no matter how much success comes.  It is very easy to get thrown off track but I do believe Women In Hip Hop can still flourish and more on the roster at the same time. That is what I look forward to seeing. 

Missy, Lyte definitely made some strong points on the emotional levels of women, the ‘male dominating factor’, the message being put out there regarding women, truly this conversation could keep going and peel back so much crusty layers that have yet to be uncovered.

It was so good seeing this documentary cover so much and still yet there is so much more to cover.   I would love for someone to put Antoinette in the mix and give her the props.  She was one of the first rappers when I was about 11 or 12 that had the censorship on the cassette.  She could hit the bars like Lyte and Roxanne Shante.  Lyte’s swagg was so smooth on this documentary -  that is my girl.  One love to B Angie B – Angie Stone.  She represented South Carolina on the real my maternal families state and yes Carolina South was very proud for the ‘FUNK YOU RIGHT ON UP’.  I feel pretty good about the future of Hip Hop when it comes to women.  Young ladies out here are hungry to be heard and promoting diversity, is what will expand the playing field.  Yes I am one of those pioneers of Hip Hop Culture who would like to see a plethroa of women on the scene making it happen.  Again, Kudos to BET, let’s the conversation continue to happen.  SCORE.

 One Love To The Ladies Of Hip Hop

You’ve been deja vu’d,

BEBE