Kayaro Blog

Friday, February 25, 2005

Ego Trip blog

This show better get an award

Thursday, February 24, 2005

PRODUCER DISCO D MAKES THE CUT WITH "SKI MASK WAY" ON MULTI-PLATINUM RAPPER 50 CENT'S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM TO BE RELEASED MARCH 8TH!

Peep the website here, and the 50 Cent Exclusive MP3 "Ski MAsk Way" here! (leave a comment if you want the MP3 link password)

My Blog Weighs A Ton-"~Hold It"~

SHOCKLEE ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

“THE PUBLIC ENEMY TRIBUTE PARTY”

The Official Opening Night Party of the PUBLIC ENEMY TRIBUTE WEEKEND at NYU.

An Event Honoring The Making of PUBLIC ENEMY'S Classic Album
'IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK' @ CRASH MANSION
(199 BOWERY @ SPRING ST. NYC)
Doors Open @ 8:00 PM

OPEN BAR FREE CAIPIRINHAS from 8:00-9:00pm Courtesy of Beleza Pura Super Premium Cachaça!

Classic Hip Hop and Funkology celebrating the making of the world's most inventive hip hop recording 'IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK'

Join the original PUBLIC ENEMY members, producers, record company execs, publicists, engineers, art directors members of the original Def Jam executive team and the nation's leading journalists involved in the making of the legendary album 'IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK'

SPINNING CLASSIC HIP HOP from '88-93'

SPECIAL INVITED DJ'S DOCTOR DRE AND KEITH SHOCKLEE of THE JUMP OFF SHOW on POWER 105.1 FM

*FUNKOLOGY BY HANK SHOCKLEE

*SOUNDS FROM DUB GABRIEL & BROOKLYN MASSIVE

*DJ SHAKEY THE FUNK QUEEN

*FUTURESHOCK

Special guest performances and classic MC's all night long

Hosted by A Girl Named Disaster

Live! Onstage! Artist JACKSON BROWN will paint a large oil portrait of Public Enemy during the course of the evening.

> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SPONSORED BY:
THE CLIVE DAVIS DEPARTMENT OF RECORDED MUSIC AT NEW
YORK UNIVERSITY

RAPSTATION.COM

BELEZA PURA SUPER PREMIUM CACHAÇA

THE JUMP OFF SHOW SATURDAY'S ON POWER 105 FM

BROOKLYN MASSIVE

BEAUTIFUL DECAY MAGAZINE

ALLHIPHOP.COM

BILL ADLER'S EYEJAMMIE FINE ARTS GALLERY

"Follow the Leader: Portraits of the HipHop Avant-Garde"
An Exhibit by Jackson Brown Now through April 2nd
LADIES ON THE MIC Empowering Women in the Arts &
Entertainment Industry

Check us on the web @ www.eyejammie.com

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

The Cyber Mix Tape Show-2/22/05

To download the show, click the explict content sticker.
(30 Minute mix set-yousendit link good for one week)
~Playlist ~
Headphone Microphone Intro-Q.Rock639
Bin Laden-Immortal Technique w/ Mos Def
Brooklyn Masala-Masta Ace
In My Life-Juvenile w/ Manny Fresh
Buckwild Inst.-PMD
Justify My Thug Blend/America's Most Blunted Madvillian
Love Of My Life -Brian McKnight blended w/ Like A Pimp -Lil Flip
Feel It In The Air- B. Siegel
Drop It Like It's Hot blend- Lil' Wayne/ Snoop Dogg w/ Pharrell
Thug Nature-2Pac

Still Tippin' on 404 Error Messages

The most annoying thing about being online sometimes is just being online.
You never know if your going to be able to post your latest thoughts or not. Even if you pay for server space or hosting, every once in a while, your website will just disappear. Most of the time, you will be able to save most of your information or your host provider will get it together and bring your site back to life, Soul II Soul style.

So a few days back, I was online, preparing a post for Valentine's Day. I was almost done, just about to do a final spell check when BLAM! Canhead froze up. I couldn't get back into my Blogging Dashboard. I sent emails to Blogger, checked back daily, and still nothing. It's weird..the site was still up and almost everything worked, but I couldn't add new post or correct any problems or typos.

So I thought I was forced to start over again, for the 3rd time. I started to make a new blog spot, dreading losing all my visitors and such. Then I checked it today and it worked. I'm back.

I am already outgrowing the blog space, as I want a media page, shopping cart and e-store, as well as blog and events calendar. Sooner or later I will have to upgrade to a paid host. But I'm back now, so let's get back to business. I will be back on point in a minute..ps any blogger.com bloggers have any problems lately? Let me know if so.....

Get the connection? Dark Phoenix..my blog died and is back..meaner and funkier than ever. ONE YOURSELF!

Sunday, February 13, 2005

Still tippin on four fours

Texas got it on lock right now. I was slow to catching on to the chopped and screwed sh!t, but I started banging it a few years ago. It was only a matter of time until Houston started to blow. "Still Tippin" is another example of that Swisha Blast! The chopped and screwed video is off the meter and the only real way to listen to it.

Listen and Read "Still Tippin"

Typed by: BigTexasRecords@yahoo.com
posted on www.OHHLA.com
** send corrections to the typist

[Hook - 2x]
Still Tippin' on four fours, wrapped in four fours
Tippin' on four fours, wrapped in four fours
Tippin' on four fours wrapped in four fours
Pimping four hoes and I'm packing four fours

[Slim Thug]
Now look who creeping look who crawling still balling in the mix
It's that six six long d!ck slim nigga sticking your chick
Pullin tricks looking slick at all times when I'm flipping
Bar sipping car dipping grand wood grain gripping
Still tippin' on four fours wrapped in four fours
Pimping four hos and I'm packing four fours
Blowing on the endo Game Cube Nintendo
Five percent tint so you can't see up in my window
These niggaz don't understand cuz I'm Boss Hogg on candy
Top down at Maxi's wit a big glock nine handy
Pieced up creased up staying dressed to impress
Big boss belt buckle under my Mitchell and Ness
Oh, Gucci shades up on my braids when I Escalade
When I'm riding Sprewells sliding like a escapade
I got it made the big boss of the north
Ain't sh!t changed I still represent Swisha House (Ha!)

[Hook - 2x]

[Mike Jones]
Four Fours I'm tippin'
Wood grain I'm gripping
Catch me lane switching with the paint dripping
Turn your neck and your dank missing
Me and Slim we ain't tripping I'm finger flipping and syrup sipping
Like do or die I'm po pimping Car stop rims keep spinning
I'm flipping drop with invisible tops
Hoes bop when my drop step out
I'm shaking the block with four eighteens'
Candy green with eleven screens
My gasoline always supreme
Got do-do the brown with a pint of lean
It takes grinding to be a king
It takes grinding to be a kin
First Round Draft coming
Who is Mike Jones coming
Slab shining with the grill and woman
Slab shining with the grill and woman
I'm Mike Jones (Who) Mike Jones the one and only you can't cloan me
Got a lot a haters and a lot of homies some friends and some phony
Back then hoes didn't want me Now I'm hot hoes all on me
Back then hoes didn't want me Now I'm hot hoes all on me
Back then hoes didn't want me Now I'm hot hoes all on me
(I Said!) Back then hoes didn't want me Now I'm hot hoes all on me

[Hook - 2x]

[Paul Wall]
What it do it's Paul Wall I'm the people's champ
My chain light up like a lamp cuz now I'm back with the camp
I'm crawling similar to a ant cuz I'm low to the earth
People's feelings get hurt when they figure out what I'm worth
I got eighty fours poking out at the club I'm showing out
I'm a player ain't no doubt hoes want to know what I'm bout
Biggest diamonds off in my mouth princess cuts all in my chain
Wood grain all in my range dripping stains when I switch lanes
Switched the name It's still the same Swisha House or Swisha Blast
Mike Jones he running the game and Magnificent bout his cash
Michael Watts he made me hot hard work took me to the top
G. Dash took me to the lot he wrote a check and bought a drop
I got the internet going nuts
But T. Farris got my back so now I'm holding my nuts
It's Paul Wall baby what you know bout me
I'm on that five nine south lead baby holla at me

[Hook - 2x]

Click the picture to enter the Swisha House!

More Swisha House links
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/djscrew/
http://www.chamillionaire.com/low/
http://www.thescrewshop.com/main.html
http://www.screweduprecords.com/index.asp

Thursday, February 10, 2005

I thought I'd get Snoop's thought on the State Of The Union Address.
Click on the picture of Gizzogle for the results.

"When you see me in the street solider, salute me!"

Foli Tricks
I have become more and more interested in politics in the last few years. I bore all my friends with political talk until I'm blue in the face or they tell me to shut the hell up and put the needle on the record. I don't want to bore you either, but sometimes you have to press pause on the IPod and read the newspaper.

As you know, Son of a Bush delivered his State Of The Union speech a few days ago. I watched most of it (maybe 90%, a new record for me) and was amazed. The division between the Dems and Republicans was very visible. At times it looked like the parting of the Red Sea. Bush looked like he was ready to give the Dems a reaming in front of America. He didn't get in that azz as bad as I thought he would, but it was a sight to see.

One of the things that got my attention (and several boos from Barack's side) was the President's statements on Social Security Reform. I could try to translate what this means to you, but you might as well hear it from the Bush’s mouth.

Taken from C-Span.com

"The system, however, on its current path, is headed toward bankruptcy. And so we must join together to strengthen and save Social Security." "So here is the result: Thirteen years from now, in 2018, Social Security will be paying out more than it takes in. And every year afterward will bring a new shortfall, bigger than the year before.

For example, in the year 2027, the government will somehow have to come up with an extra $200 billion to keep the system afloat -- and by 2033, the annual shortfall would be more than $300 billion. By the year 2042, the entire system would be exhausted and bankrupt. If steps are not taken to avert that outcome, the only solutions would be dramatically higher taxes, massive new borrowing, or sudden and severe cuts in Social Security benefits or other government programs.

Fixing Social Security permanently will require an open, candid review of the options. Some have suggested limiting benefits for wealthy retirees. Former Congressman Tim Penny has raised the possibility of indexing benefits to prices rather than wages. During the 1990s, my predecessor, President Clinton, spoke of increasing the retirement age. Former Senator John Breaux suggested discouraging early collection of Social Security benefits. The late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan recommended changing the way benefits are calculated. All these ideas are on the table. I know that none of these reforms would be easy.

But we have to move ahead with courage and honesty, because our children's retirement security is more important than partisan politics. (Applause.)

I will work with members of Congress to find the most effective combination of reforms. I will listen to anyone who has a good idea to offer. (Applause.)

We must, however, be guided by some basic principles. We must make Social Security permanently sound, not leave that task for another day. We must not jeopardize our economic strength by increasing payroll taxes. We must ensure that lower-income Americans get the help they need to have dignity and peace of mind in their retirement. We must guarantee there is no change for those now retired or nearing retirement.

And we must take care that any changes in the system are gradual, so younger workers have years to prepare and plan for their future. As we fix Social Security, we also have the responsibility to make the system a better deal for younger workers. And the best way to reach that goal is through voluntary personal retirement accounts. (Applause.)

Here is how the idea works. Right now, a set portion of the money you earn is taken out of your paycheck to pay for the Social Security benefits of today's retirees. If you're a younger worker, I believe you should be able to set aside part of that money in your own retirement account, so you can build a nest egg for your own future.

Here's why the personal accounts are a better deal. Your money will grow, over time, at a greater rate than anything the current system can deliver -- and your account will provide money for retirement over and above the check you will receive from Social Security. In addition, you'll be able to pass along the money that accumulates in your personal account, if you wish, to your children and -- or grandchildren. And best of all, the money in the account is yours, and the government can never take it away. (Applause.) " Bold type mine.

The question remains. What the hell is he talking about? Private savings accounts that the government can NEVER seize? It all sound too good and I don't trust that m*th@f*ck@r (For all I know he’s the guy who set me up and had my buddy Angel Fernandez killed …sorry, Montana moment). So I did what all good Democrats do...Fact Checked it.

Here is the breakdown from FactCheck.org.

Bush made Social Security the centerpiece of his Feb. 3 State of the Union address. He gave more details of how he proposes to change the system -- but left out facts that don't help his case.

Social Security "Headed Toward Bankruptcy?"

The President painted a dire picture of Social Security's finances: Bush: The system, however, on its current path, is headed toward bankruptcy . And so we must join together to strengthen and save Social Security. "Bankruptcy" is a scary term that Democrats have used too, when it suited them, but it could easily give the wrong idea. Nobody is predicting that Social Security will go out of business the way a bankrupt business does. It would continue to pay benefits -- just not as many.

The President was a little more specific about that later in his address, while repeating the word "bankrupt": Bush: By the year 2042, the entire system would be exhausted and bankrupt . If steps are not taken to avert that outcome, the only solutions would be dramatically higher taxes, massive new borrowing, or sudden and severe cuts in Social Security benefits or other government programs. But how severe would those benefit cuts be?

In fact there are two official projections -- one by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and a somewhat less pessimistic projection by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The President referred to the SSA projection, which calculates that the system's trust fund will be depleted in 2042. After that, the system would have legal authority to pay only 73 percent of currently promised benefits -- and that figure would decline each year after, reaching 68 percent in the year 2075.

So there is the other side. I will need time to digest all this and give my 2 cents. Just wanted to share that with you party people.

A couple of days ago, I proclaimed it to be EPMD day here at Canhead. I didn't go overboard with the links but I did forget to put one major link. The Hit Squad is back on the road, doing it for the real hip-hop heads. So are Nervous Records.

The one time home of underground NY hip-hop, the company is back in action, ready to make history again with the new crop of hungry emcees. (Hey Mr. Weiss, don't forget about the house music!)

Check the link for more on the story.

"The Rape Over" Mos Def
(click image for song link)

"Accordian"-MadVillian
(click image for song link)

"Break of Dawn"-MadVillian
(click image for song link)

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

DVD

New DVD "The MC (Why We Do It)

Movies

Wu approved movie Ong Bak..heard the premier was off the meter!

It's a club banger!

You got to love how hip hop is dominating the entire music industry right now. Sure R&B has some input too, but since R&B is basically hip-hop now, it all adds up to love.All the Grammy talk these days ends up focusing on hip-hop.

I caught the “Charlie Rose Show” last night. His guests were Kanye West , Mimi Valdes, Jon Pareles and Doug Bord. I had to re-hook the television outs to the mixer and missed the Kanye interview, but I did manage to record this roundtable discussion. Quote of the day: “Club banger? What’s a club banger?”

All in all, good show. Check the link for the 2nd part of the interview which has the round table discussion and the quote of the day.
http://s35.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0F841LL3MWMAM0V756PBDO0KCF

You should have heard the Kanye interview; I will try to catch it if they replay it. Among other things, Kanye admits to never shooting a gun in his life, and that he does in his songs because he thought it made him sound cool.

He also refers to “Jesus Walks” as a subliminal trick, referring to the second line that goes like to radio programmers radio who say you can rap about anything other than Jesus and how that was planned to make radio programmers play the song. I’m sure this interview will fan the flames of the ghostwriting debate. He goes on to say “I put a lot of punch lines in songs, to gets your attention, like in “Jesus Walks” and “I used to sit there and umm come up with lines to help people out.”

WMHT Monday night 11:30pm/Tues. 1:30pm

Monday, February 07, 2005

Stereo Synthesis Selections

The Grammy's are coming! And guess who's going?

It Never Rains (or snows) in Southern California—they tell me—
I’m going. ..going…back…back…to Cali..Cali…
California….knows how to party….(repeat once)

Ok, let me not hype this up more than necessary because nothing is etched in stone yet, but it looks like it's a G-O for your boy. One of my patnas from waaaaaaaaaayy back lives in "L.A. L.A. big city of dreams" and has been telling me to get my lazy azz out there for a long while now. He has a business proposition for me.

Without putting "my business in the street" (like I haven't done that before), I'll just say that this sounds like a pretty good idea. Plus he might be able to scoop up a couple of tickets to the big show next Sunday night. I'd go just for the vacation, but the chance to catch up with an old friend, talk business, and star gaze at the Grammy's is just too much for me to pass up. If we don't get in the Grammy's, f’ it. You know how the after parties are. Mind you, I don't really care much for the Grammy's. But it's LA. Do I need an excuse to go to LA?

I'll keep you posted.
-----------------------------------------
News

~A moment of silence for the passing of a great man
~Another moment of silence of the passing of an American Institution.

~Say What? ~

"Yao Ming" -Use it instead of yanowImean? (Hashim is the first one I heard say it)
ex. CanheadRecords.blogspot.com is the sh!t, yaoming?"

~~Triple Play~~

"Carnival Town"-Norah Jones

"Another Star"-Stevie Wonder

"Harder, Better, Faster, Strong"-Daft Punk

~MP3 Review~

"Dance Monkey" Sage Francis
This is a busy next level track from Mr. Francis. The album is out now. I'm trying to get a copy to review for ya.(vinyl please Hilary...one copy is fine but Q really needs 2) Make sure you check him out when he comes through your town. It looks like the enitre label is hitting the road this month so try and catch a show. This track "Dance Monkey" is pretty ill. Fans of his should not be disappointed, but he might get a few new heads with beats like this one. I'll let you kow when I hear the CD but click that MP3 up there and tell them I sent you.

Late Record Review

The Game-The Documentary CD
I didn’t want to review this at first. Only because every fool and their momma has something to say about duke. But I gotta speak my peace. This is a tight CD. Yeah, it’s not the classic that they are hyping it to be, but on the other hand, it is one of the hottest albums out in 2004 (that’s right, it deserves to be in the 2004 list, since we all heard half of the album online a little after Jive Turkey Day.) Game has a nice flow, but it could be a little tighter at times. I know many of you, haters and non-haters alike, will try to blast my opinion on this matter. But I am one of those who will give a emcee a pass if he has a decent flow and is just getting in the game. No unnecessary hate from El Q (not when I’m going…going..back..back..to Cali..Cali in a week)

First off, the intro is aiight. I am one of the few who like album skits. (Remember Pun’s MacinthebackoftheAc ? Hell even Pharcyde did it up with “Quins’ on his way” only to get the whole idea jacked and crunked up by Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz on “Weed Man”) This one is quick. The bangers are "Church For Thugs", “Higher”, “No More Fun and Games”, "Start From Scratch" w/ Marsha of Floetry, “Hate It Or Love It” w/ 50 and “Running” w/ Tony Yaro (Hi Tek)and the radio cuts. The thing that kills this CD is the collabos. “We Aint” and “Like Father, Like Son” would have been totally off the meter if it wasn’t for Slim and Mr. Rah Rah Rhymes. “Don’t Need Your Love” w/ Faith is typical radio shhh, but this joint does nothing for me. "Don't Worry" w/ Mary is cool but still feels kind of off point, yaoming?

Regardless, Game does stand out from the rest of the Aftermath crew. I wasn't on point in FYE and picked up the CD without the DVD. So now I have to go buy that joint again. (Look on my sales on E-Bay, I’ll dump off the CD only copy for mad cheap) The CD flows pretty smooth for the most part, with only a few fast forward joints. Cop that.

Heres a few links on the kid.
The Game aims to revive West Coast rap
Rapper the Game Is Player of the Week
BIG DAVE MIXTAPE-NIGGAS FOR LIFE-EAZY E & GAME
Aftermath site

~~Mixtape Review
DJ Kay Slay-“2005 Live” Hosted by Papoose and Jim Jones.

Tight! Kay Slay does his thing as Jim Jones and Papoose hold him down. Papoose is a problem, check out that crazy freestyle on Track 17. “Terrorizing everything!” Jim Jones reps Dip Set and flips sh!t on with Papoose on the first freestyle. Cd also has new heat from Geto Boys, Game, 50, Remy Ma, JR Writer, freestyles from Canibus, Hell Rell and Styles P.. “2005 Live” also has that joint by Juelz “Ya’ll Done Fucked Up” and “The Whole Hood” by Bun B. Kay Slay brings lots of fire as usual.

Sports:

Don't cry kid. Deep down we all knew the outcome.Come on, Stevie saw NE taking Philly last night. I can't talk sh!t about it because I HAD TO WORK LAST NIGHT! Its a small thing really. You know, the whole LA thing this weekend..... So I didn't see a thing. But I knew it. I told you.

Yo E, you lucky I didnt bet you last night. I would not have let you off the hook with a little 5 dollar bet either.(Dude wanted to bet against me and Frat that TO would score a touchdown. Easy money.)

So that's that. It's over. Let the Madden tournaments begin!

PS-Un4tuneknitlee, I am da king of typos, so if yo see 1...holla.

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Houston, we have a problem

Breaking News

Ladies and Gentleman, I really hate to use profanity in this blog. But what the f--- is wrong with Houston? Somebody please help him. Seriously, help the man before it's too late. I don't want to hear another record, McDonalds jingle, or nothing from him until he has had serious therapy. My prayers are with you Houston.

Links below....
Singer says devil made him gouge eye out
Singer Houston hurts eye after suicide try
R&B Singer Houston Gouges Eye Out After Apparent Suicide Attempt

~MIND YOUR BUSINESS!~

Speaking of entertainers with alleged sucicide attempts, I herby proclaim this to be EPMD day here at Canhead. You are commanded to follow the links below and get your EPMD on. (Peace Sonja) I want more info on the Rakim-EPMD beef Na was talking about on "UBR", I slept on that back in then.

http://www.defjam.com/artists/epmd/frameset.html

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:4tkxu3x5andk

http://www.rollingstone.com/artist/_/id/4209?rnd=1107553123500&has-player=true&version=6.0.8.1024

http://endorph.sevcom.com/pmd.html

http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/e/epmdfeature99.jhtml

In the spirit of EPMD day, I present to you the lyrics to one of my favorite EPMD songs. I could relate to this song, and felt their pain when "E Double had to push while Emdee steered". Sure they have bigger hits, like the club monster "Headbanger", the slick "You're A Customer", or the OG classic "You Gots To Chill". This song seperates the men from the boys. If you know the song I'm talking about just by the hint I gave, you are hip-hop in the flesh. Your ghetto pass is renewed for another 400 years.(message!)

Enough with the chit-chat. Let the song lyric jacking begin.

Artist: EPMD
Album: Unfinished Business
Song: Please Listen to My Demo
Typed by: OHHLA Webmaster DJ Flash

[Dub] Yo whassup P?
[PMD] Yo nuttin man just coolin kick back in the studio wit DJ Scratch
and my man Frank B, reminiscin about how we was tryin to shop
our demo and everybody was dishin, youknowhatI'msayin?
[Dub] Yo P tell em whassup man

Verse One: Parrish Smith
We was coolin in my car one day you see
Clockin a double nickel on the L-I E
When it dawned on us that it was, ten o'clock
Turned on the tunes to hear the DJ's rock
The hands got to clappin, the fingers got to snappin
E and I was coolin, with his mans, he was snappin
In and out of fantasies on how large we can get
Coolin in rocks and Benzes with the ground effect kits
I wanted black, E was on the two-tone
Stupid boomin system with the hands-free phone
The dream gets better and I would like to go on
but I was brought back to reality by a toot of a horn
Smoke everywhere, oh just what we needed
On the way to shop our demo and the car overheated
Feelin real low, low enough to die
Holdin up traffic, on the FDR drive
We had to play ourselves, in the fresh dipped gear
E Double had to push while MD steered
There went our dreams, to cruise in golden limos
And all we kept sayin was please listen to my demo

Please listen to my demo (3X)
Please-please-please-ple-please listen to my demo

Verse Two: Erick Sermon
In the year eighty-seven when we first took off
when I jumped to P-6-8 and broke North
Walkin the big city streets of Manhattan
Buildings, whole nine yards, so enchantin
Thinkin if we got a chance, we could rock it
Funky fresh demo tape in my pocket
We was walkin, and got dissed twice today
Then we stopped at 1974 Broadway
We walked in with grins on our chins
And P had juice from Mr. Virgo Simms
He played the tape and we started to laugh
Played ?if it was sock? and they swoop and backstab
People start to smile inside we buckwhylin
Sayin this all started back from freestylin
They liked it, and they were very kind
But me and P was like, "Yo E, where do we sign?"
Went in the backroom, things was luvy duvy
Met Ron Resnick, and his partner Juggy
Things was cool, as I remembered
We signed the dotted line, now we Fresh Record members
Had dreams, of fancy cars and limos
And I wanted was somebody, to listen to my demo

Please listen to my demo (3X)
Please-please-please-ple-please listen to my demo
Please listen to my demo (2X)

And the rest is history.

Corrections and F--- Ups

Sorry, I slipped up in last post. It's “Opie and Anthony”, not Andy as I had written. (Guess I was thinking about Amos and Andy, happens all the time)
I should have posted the following links at the end of the last post to…You really should click on them.
~Quote from last post
Next post: I give my two cents on the Michelle Malkin piece in the New York Post on Michaeal Jackson and Snoop Dogg. Love the way she ties the two together so neatly. "It racism, that's what it is!" You should check it out so you'll know what I'm rambling on about.

“I may even address the whole BET thing and why some white folks really get upset that there is a channel called BET.

Well, my reaction to Malkin piece will have to wait until another post. I am getting backlogged with stuff. I’m working on a Blogcritic.org approved T.I.CD review for ya, The Drama Karma story is about to get another chapter, and I think the time for me to school you on house music is long overdue. So next week should be greasy grimey good-good. Stay tuned.

~~~Note to webpage designers at Vibe.com. Is it really necessary to have 2 pop-ups for your homepage? People have pop-up stoppers for a reason. From one Q to another Q, show a little love player. Kill one of the pop-ups. (Keep the one with Alicia Keys. lose the other one)
Don't expect to see posts from me until Monday, maybe Tuesday. Why? Because tomorrow is

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!!! Don't bother me while the game is on please. See ya!

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Shock Jocks...They All Sound The Same To Me

Black to the future: date:::about 10 hours after hearing the “Tsunami Song”::::::

It’s 6:30 in the morning. The snow isn’t P-Funk style just yet, (you know, not just knee deep) but it’s getting there. After I fight for 20 minutes with the ice covering my hooptie, I get in and pull off into the winter mess. I reach for the on switch on the radio and what it’s the first thing I hear early this morning? Some freak on the radio talking about “nigger this and nigger that.” Do I take offense to this strong use of words so early in the day? Nah, not really. I actually expect it. See, my radio is preset to hear the words of wisdom from the self proclaimed “King of All Media” Mr. Howard Stern.

I’m a NYC area transplant, and the only morning show strong enough to get my attention this early is Stern’s. (Sorry TJMS, I check ya’ll out to) When I was living downstate, I listened to the home of hip hop and r&b, back when the original haters were terrorizing New York. I don’t really take offense to very offensive morning show programming. In this regard I am probably just like the rest of my races status in America, a minority. I know there are millions of you who can’t stand the mere thought of Howard Stern, and any of the copy-cat shock jocks that have flooded morning radio. There are times when I turn the show off, not really in disgust. It’s more like when you’re drinking and you know you’ve had enough. Recently, hip-hop morning shows have been a hot bed for controversy. The main issue is the use of offensive and racially insensitive material. Granted the material in question is just that. But the question it raises to me at least is this.

Ethnic jokes have been the staple of American comedy forever. It’s no wonder. Since comedy is basically a way of exaggerating our reality to find humor in it, and racism is an ugly blemish on our all of our combined cultures, it seemed inevitable that the two collide. This is not in any way trying to excuse this. My intent is more to examine the issue of racially charged humor and how long it has been a part of American culture. Some of our favorite comedians perfected it, and all races have their form of it. While there seems to be a serious increase in the use of it, especially in the morning show markets, it is not something new. I’m sure there is someone who may be better versed in the subject. But from my perspective, looking at the entire mess from about 50 feet (respectable non threatening distance) it seems that the matter needs to be addressed by all. The references are endless.

Early American films took great liberties in how they depicted members of other races. It wasn’t uncommon for Italian actors to play Native Americans, Europeans or any other race. The Charlie Chan franchise alone should make Americans shake their heads. Many of our classic films use racial humor or stereotypes. The Marx Brothers used to thumb their noses at the establishment of the day. They also exaggerated their own cultural stereotypes in a way that entertained and made a commentary, if not at first recognized or even intended.
Stepin Fetchit was the original sell out, paving the way to Hollywood for thousands of minority actors by playing the role of a dumb slow witted Black man. At the movies, “The Godfather” depicted an entire Italian family as murderous criminals. “Scarface” shows the Cuban bad guy murdering his way to the top. John Wayne movies were full of stereotypes and general hatred towards Native Americans, Asians, and any one else who got in his way.

Archie Bunker ruled television and spawned a Black counter part to appease the growing African American fans, in the form of George Jefferson. In both “The Jeffersons” and “All In The Family”, many of the half hour shows ended up with some lesson on racial acceptance and what happens when people let their prejudices guide them. “Sanford and Son” (my favorite)brought their form of racial equality to America and again they were embraced. Fred Sanford was from the old school, and he didn’t care who knew it. He was leery of the police, his Latino neighbors, and even his own race, as he would express his displeasure with his son’s stereotypically shady friend Rollo constantly. Again, many shows would end with a lesson in acceptance of those of another color.

“Welcome Back Kotter” was basically a “Rainbow Coalition” of high school aged kids in a all black neighborhood, during a time when we all didn’t get along. The traded light jokes about each others and learned to get along as one. (Thanks Mr. Ko-tteeer!)

Fast forward to our day and we have two runners up in “The African American Ethnic Humor Sitcom Of All Time” awards. “The Chapelle Show "and the classic “In Living Color” duke it out for favorite off color show in the hood. And with good reason, the shows are sharp, quick witted and afraid of nothing; well maybe Dave is more fearless that Keenan was. Both show are hailed as great by some, and hated by others. But they are prime examples of the American tradition of using race for humor and its constant use.

Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, George Carlin, Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle, Margaret Cho, Jamie Foxx, Howard Stern, Opie and Andy, Star and Buc Wild, Ms Jones and the Hot97 crew are all guilty of the same crime: the use of ethnic humor. So are all the above mentioned, critically acclaimed actors, writers, directors and comedians. And so are we. We are all guilty of it. We will always be guilty of it. Any time you look at someone of another race and think ANYTHING prejudicial about them and even think about giggling or making a smart remark, you’ve just joined the ranks of ethnic joke user. The question is, where do we draw the line? If it’s ok to fire the Hot 97 morning show crew, does that mean that we start to fire everyone else? Most will say it is a free speech issue, which it is. But I think there is a deeper issue below that isn’t being addressed.

This is a form of comedy that can be therapeutic, when done properly. It doesn’t have to be cruel, or hateful to be effective. It can be a way of addressing things that have been said about other races and cultures and show how they are similar to others. If comedy is a tool to help us laugh at some of our unflattering characteristics, what form of comedy is more appropriate than ethnic humor? But the trend is to go to the extreme, push the envelope and be as outrageous as possible. This is where the problems begin.

There will always be someone who is offended by an off color joke, as there should be. But every joke isn’t worthy of the execution squad. Punishment maybe, but the guillotine may be too severe a punishment for the crime. It's a thin line between something being a truly funny joke and the same joke sounding like a slur or insult. All incidents are unique and need to be examined, but let’s try not to lose our heads or sense of humor either.

Here are a few links on the subject, if you’re still interested.

Asian Media Watch

Ethnic Humor byRuth Schwartz

Hillary Has History of Racial Gaffes

Why stereotypes are never just innocent fun

Challenge prejudice by not tolerating ethnic jokes

Next post: I give my two cents on the Michelle Malkin piece in the New York Post on Michaeal Jackson and Snoop Dogg. Love the way she ties the two together so neatly. "It racism, that's what it is!" You should check it out so you'll know what I'm rambling on about. I may even address the whole BET thing and why some white folks really get upset that there is a channel called BET.(I think they meant the emphasis to be on Entertainment rather than Black, but that's just me)

Cheers mate~