The First Wives Club: Bitter,Battered or Both?

As you may or may not know, ex-wife of comedian Steve Harvey, Mary Harvey has decided to speak out via YouTube about her baby daddy’s foul ways. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the whole Mashonda-Swizz Beatz-Alicia Keys debacle, and even Fantasia’s unfortunate situation. It got me to thinking, when the man is already gone or clearly on his way out of the door of a relationship, what’s the purpose of all the public bashing? Are these women simply bitter or genuinely emotionally battered from the experience? Or both? Who says you can’t cut down your ex if he was a dog to you, and make a few dollars in the process?

At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be any financial gain from Mary Harvey exposing the former couples’ dirty laundry, which is pretty fuckin’ filthy by the way. She exposes how Harvey’s current wife Marjorie used to call their personal home number asking for him under the guise of seeking employment. Apparently, she was not the only mistress, as Mary shared letters from another side piece detailing her decision to move to LA to be closer to Harvey, having an abortion for him, and explicitly describing the freak nasty activities I just can’t imagine a guy with a closet full of Easter suits pursuing, but I guess it’s always the ones you don’t expect.

Mary claims she was simply disgusted with his Essence Magazine cover, where he is heralded as some kind of relationship guru when he’s in fact a cheater who left her flat broke when they split. It’s hard to know the motivations behind one’s actions in her circumstance, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this parlayed itself into some extra cash for her. After all, Mashonda is now set to appear on VH1’s new Rapper’s Wives show, and I don’t think she was on anyone’s radar until she repeatedly tweet-bashed Alicia Keys. As for Fantasia’s situation, she claimed she didn’t know anything, which upon watching her VH1 show, I actually believe now. The wife suing for “Alienation of Affection,” however is clearly on some come-up shit, but I can’t simply say she’s jealous and bitter, though that may play a part in the equation.

Divorce and all the juicy details that lead up to it are extremely difficult for a former wife to deal with, especially in the public eye. I do feel that Mary Harvey has been through some rough shit with this man, and I don’t blame her for getting it off her chest, and possibly collecting a check for it, especially if it’s true that Steve Harvey’s 10 jobs having ass didn’t leave her with so much as enough to pay the water bill after she rode with him for 16 years. I do know however that getting what you are owed is one thing, and exploiting that for the rest of your life is another. As long as these chicks don’t use this as a sympathy crutch down the line, I say girl get your bitter ass some dough and then start your own money train. No one’s given Mary the side eye yet, and let’s hope it stays that way.

I'm Fxckin Kat Stacks Beyoch!

Thank GOD the Kat Stacks phenom has died down, but I couldn't pass on posting this funny shit.  It's all jokes, so don't take it no type of way.  Sad thing is, if she really dropped a song like this, the shit would pop, lol.

Big K.R.I.T. ft. Ragen Fykes (of Grillade) - Neva Go Back

Underground fave Big K.R.I.T. has proven that he can murder a mixtape and body a freestyle with relative ease.  It seems that the big time eludes him just barely, like if the perfect track that can balance Grade A hip-hop, a soulful hook and some pop appeal were put in the right hands, he would be the next to blow.  With the drop of “Neva Go Back” featuring   indie group Grillade, the King just may have that hit on his hands.  Lead singer Ragen Fykes’ hook paints an easy, laid back picture reminiscent of Mid 90’s Outkast, and perfect for reminiscing about childhoods spent running barefoot in Granny’s backyard.   That tone is perfect for this record, considering it was inspired by and dedicated to K.R.I.T’s grandmother, Miss Linnie, whom he remembers “cooking in the kitchen, something good for my soul.” The song has a timeless feel, brought about by the union of the MC’s rhyming and production skills and Grillade’s arrangement execution.  It’s only appropriate they package that chemistry for all to enjoy with the joint Big K.R.I.T x Grillade EP dropping soon.   Whether the songs blows up or not, I'm sure Miss Linnie is proud. 

You Pick the Hottest Cover

Diddy Covers Feb/March Issue of The Source

A good season for music covers I see. While Wayne rocks out with Rolling Stone, and Slim Shady Inc chops it up with XXL, Bad Boy Boss Man Sean "Diddy" Combs is the cover boy for the Fab/Mar issue of OG music mag, The Source.  I also want to see these most slept on albums they're talkin' about.  Pick up all these issues ASAP, or just read my blog daily...your choice :)

Yelawolf, Slaughterhouse & Eminem cover the new XXL

With news of Slaughterhouse signing with Shady last week, this XXL cover confirms it all, as well as Yelawolf's spot in the camp (he's so under the radar it's sick).  If this is the new Shady Fam, I'm a fan all over again.  And for the record, I still fucks with D12.  Pick up the new XXL ASAP

Lil Wayne Covers Rolling Stone

Weezy F. Baby in the cover story for the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone.  He speaks on his beef with some star Miami Heat players:

“Them niggas never speak to a nigga,” he says. “They don’t chuck me the deuce or nothing. Nigga spent all that money on them fucking tickets… Come holla at me. We sit right by them little bitch-ass niggas. At least come ask me why I’m not rooting for you.”

On reading The Good Book:
“I also read the Bible for the first time. It was deep! I liked the parts where some character was once this, but he ended up being that. Like he’d be dissing Jesus, and then he ends up being a saint. That was cool.”

On Solitary Confindment:
Solitary was the worst. No TV. No radio. No commissary. Basically you’re in there 23 hours a day.” The only upside was he had a window where he could watch cars go by. “I used to sit at that motherfucker all day,”


and more, pick up your copy ASAP

Kanye West & Jay-Z Go "H.A.M."

I, for one and beyond geeked for this Watch the Throne album 'Ye and Jay are dropping.  I thought "That''s My Bitch" was the first single, but this has been announced as the official drop. "H.A.M" (Hard As a Muthafucka), sounds beyond epic, but that's mostly due to Lex Luger's epic beat.  This shit is like a battle scene  from a Hip Hop opera.  Lyrically, these 2 rarely disappoint and they do come off hard as hell in this one.  Below I have posted both "H.A.M." and "That's My Bitch" for the stans (like me ;).

Snoop Dogg Ft. Marty James "El Lay"

It seems Snoop Dogg is jumping on the “exclusive releases on a certain day of the week” bandwagon with his new #puffpuffpasstuesdays (a bit long for a hashtag, but hey) and his first release is his ode to OUR (WESTSIDE!) hometown, LA with, you guessed it, "EL LAY" (Get it?) The Dogg Father drops knowledge on all the sights and sounds of beautiful Southern Cali, including riding down Sunset Blvd (’64 Chevy required) and everyone, from teachers to politicians rolling up that Kush.  Consistent Snoop collaborator Marty James sounds pretty good, like John Legend on training wheels, over this laid back, barbeque friendly production from Scoop DeVille.  It’s perfect 2-Steppin’ music for all those 2011 All-Star Weekend parties that will be poppin’ in LA this February.  While I’m sure this track will get major burn in SoCal, the country will have to wait until March for Snoop’s new full-length album, when Doggumentary officially drops. Hometown bias aside, this track bangs and hopefully I’m not letting these Chronic clouds around me cloud my judgment. 

Slaughterhouse Feat. Dres- "Back On The Scene"

Royce Da 5’9”, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Joe Budden, along with Black Sheep front man Dres are all letting us know that Hip-Hop’s Transformers, Slaughterhouse, are officially Back on the Scene. With a line up like this, and the damn near classic album they dropped in ’09, I for one have been fiendin’ for more from the group. Since then, all of them have dropped fire mixtapes or freestyles, and being the borderline stan I am for Slaughterhouse, my expectations based on recent material has been sky high. Honestly, I’m not sure if this lives up to them. While all of them bodied their verses over M-Phazes’ bouncy, throwback influenced track (peep the The Choice is Yours sample), it was almost like I’ve been spoiled by their over-lyricism, so when they don’t come as hard as possible, I feel cheated. But that’s my hang up. Dres’ hook brings back memories of a time when spitting like these guys was the norm and his voice definitely brings his signature energy to the track. So let the debate begin! Who came hardest? Good use of the sample? Are you picking up the new LP on Feb. 8th?

The Bad Bitch Fascination…Oversaturation

OK, so cheap attempts at a pause flow Drake would approve of aside, I’ve been thinking about this for quite a while. Women have been calling themselves “bad bitches” for years, and in the post “Ladies First” era of Hip-Hop, it became even more prevalent. It’s not that I necessarily have a problem with putting the image out there, I mean, these bitches do exist. Honestly, over the past few years, I’ve been getting pretty raw myself. My point is, with music and TV being so drenched in this image lately, are we changing what characteristics we want in a woman from reliable, trustworthy and potentially a good mother to a woman who will snatch a weave at any (inappropriate) moment just to make a point? Is that all you want? Is that all we are?

The first tape that I ever bought, ever, at nine years old, was Foxy Brown’s Ill Na Na. I snuck and listened to it with my dollar store earphones and a walkman, and memorized just about every word. At nine years old, there’s no way I understood all of what Brooklyn’s Don Diva was saying or what I was reciting. When she said “Put your face in it, you wanna taste this shit?” she could have literally been talking about peach pie for all I knew. One thing I could process though was the concept that she was a “bad bitch” with Ill Na Na (Na Na being a term my dear mother broke down for me once she realized what I was listening to). She referred to herself as this repeatedly, as did Lil Kim and other female MC’s including Trina who titled her debut album The Baddest Bitch. With a few exceptions, it seems like there’s a requirement for female rappers to label themselves as such.

While music is where it started for me, younger girls can look at almost any reality show and get a dose of bad bitches on a weekly basis. Even these wealthy basketball/football/rich man occupation wives with country club memberships are sipping Ace of Spades with one hand and trying to smack somebody with the other one, all while keeping their balance in those Louboutins. Of course, there’s the mother of all bad girl shows, “The Bad Girls Club,” which is debuting its 6th season tonight. Here you can see 7 borderline schizophrenics go shopping, get drunk, pass out, throw up, strip naked, have sex, talk shit about each other, choke each other out, make out with the bitch you just choked, and do it all again the next night. Fun is fun, and I’m not against some of the things on that list in normal doses, but for a “bad bitch” apparently, this is a lifestyle that is often portrayed as being desirable.

On Biggie’s “Me and My Bitch,” he wants “ a bitch that like to play celo, and craps/ Packin gats, in a Coach bag steamin dime bags.” Honestly, I do get the appeal of it all. I mean if the alternative is dealing with a boring chick who can’t even gut a dutch for you, I guess you would go with a bad girl, but in the words of Andre 3000, “Where do all the good girls go? What club they hang at?”

Yo' mama's old fashioned, yo' daddy don't play/ You'll always be this lovely 'cause they raised you that way/ Hallelujah! Thank ya Jesus! Thank ya Lord!- 3 Stacks


Mr. Benjamin gets it. In “Behold a Lady” off of the zillion selling album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, he basically writes a love letter to all the good girls out there who can uphold the title of being a lady. He also lets us know that even good girls “get down” for him at home (translation: the Na Na is Ill).

I guess both sides of the fence have much to offer, but I do believe that while the whole bad girl thing is getting played, it does make for good TV. All that shit I just talked about BGC 6, and I will probably still watch it tonight. For me it’s just entertainment, but there are some out there who take lessons from these shows, thinking behaving in such a manner makes you a “realer” chick. Anyone old enough to read this post who thinks like that, sorry, but I can’t help you. Go read a book or something. As for my logical people out there, it’s clear that taking a few attributes from bad girls (confidence, assertiveness, quick-wit, etc.) meshed with some good girl tendencies (trustworthy, nurturing, can maintain some decorum) will yield the kind of woman that men desire and women would like to see more of on TV and hear about in the music. As with everything in life, it’s all about balance.

Lost One: Why the ’98 Lauyrn Hill May Never Be Found

As much shit as I talk without remorse within my column, I must admit this post has me feeling some kind of way, like the illuminati has planted surveillance devices in my laptop and are recording every keystroke, ready to pounce on me once they see where I’m heading with this write-up. Still, I feel as a writer for a site called Refined Hype, I must be able to fearlessly cut through the bullshit and get to the real, and in the essence of Ms. Hill, I’m going to speak my truth: As much as we as a culture refuse to accept it, the Lauryn Hill of the 90’s is gone, and as far as I can tell, she ain’t coming back no time soon.

Trust me, I do not make such a statement lightly or without careful observation to back it up. Her live show is now, for lack of a better term, abysmal. Review after review after review solidifies just how low quality a performance she puts on. During last years’ Rock the Bells tour, of which she was a headliner, song arrangements made the tracks almost unrecognizable, the band constantly drowned her out and she sped through her set, singing and rapping everything in almost double time as if she had somewhere else to be later and wanted to get the show over with. It was as if she hadn’t taking into consideration how much time, love and money her fans were giving her, hoping to have a moment with the Lauryn they fell in love with so many years ago. Her perpetual lateness to these shows was nothing but salt on an open wound, leaving fans that spent as much as $200 feeling not only cheated, but outright insulted.



Even if we were to give her a pass for a crappy show and coming on stage whenever the hell she felt like it, it’s not only her actions, but her attitude that are a problem. No doubt she is IMO the greatest female MC to touch a mic, and I honestly believe that if she were on that mission, she could body more than half of these guys out here who consider themselves the G.O.A.T. Still it wouldn’t kill her if she humbled herself. After reading this statement she made to a crowd after she was three hours late, I had to reassess my devotion as a fan.

“I spent my entire 20s sacrificing my life to give you love. So when I hear people complain, I don’t know what to tell you. I personally know I’m worth the wait.”

Worth the wait? If this were anybody else, I’d probably go into a “bitch, please…” rant, but for Ms. Hill, I’ll simply say this: Yes, you were are the shit, and we all know this, but it would mean a lot to the fans who have supported you throughout the years for you to have the courtesy to at least show up on time. I understand that things happen that may make any artist a bit late to a few of their shows, but after three hours of waiting, telling someone who spent good money on you (during a recession) that you are so high and mighty that you are “worth the wait” is simply tacky and inconsiderate. Then you have the nerve to follow up a statement like that with a horrible performance? I’m sorry, but in that instance, you weren’t worth the wait.

That’s not to say she doesn’t still have it, but between consistent lateness and show cancellations, lack of new material, poor stage presence and an obvious attitude problem in regards to her spot in the industry, I just don’t think her heart is in it anymore. It’s not that she cannot be the phenomena she once was, it’s that at this point in her life, she chooses not to be, and ultimately I guess that’s OK.

She’s focusing on other things now, like motherhood and trying to maintain a normal private life, which I can in no way hate on as they are important for anyone with a family to do. I’m just done anticipating her return with wide eyed hopefulness. I’m that girl who played "The Miseducation" on repeat as I slept, indoctrinating myself with its lyrics and melodies. I’m the girl who still quotes lines from "Blunted on Reality" and "The Score" because whatever Lauryn breathed on, even 15 years ago, still has relevance and worth. Deep down, we’re still waiting for that woman to return, but until that day we can’t let our nostalgia cloud the obvious truth that her "Final Hour" may be approaching sooner than we’re ready for.

Keri Hilson’s Justification: “Sometimes, I Wanna Be F**ked!”

By now, I’m sure we’ve all seen Keri Hilson’s most recent video for “The Way You Love Me” featuring Rick Ross. I’m also sure you’ve already read the lovely Danielle Harling’s hilarious video breakdown for it. But over the weekend, Keri felt the need to address the situation and let the people know why she felt the need to swear excessively and slang her kitty box toward the camera lens repeatedly. “Sometimes, I don’t want to be held and caressed, sometimes I want to be fucked!”

Well said sister.

Let me explain, and also warn my mom to stop reading. While she spoke with Perez Hilton about the response the video has been receiving, she broke down how much of her album was conceived while having conversations with her girlfriends about men, relationships, sex and the like. I suppose those convos served as lyrical inspiration for her, yet in an effort to be as real as possible, she ended up writing a crude record. That being said, while there is clearly no finesse to the songwriting (it sucks) the sentiment behind the lyrics do speak for a certain mind state that we as humans experience from time to time. Yes, some women do think that there pussy is good enough to keep a man hooked. The difference is, Ashanti can make that same point by saying she has that “Good Good.” The fact that it is so bluntly stated is the problem people are having, not the meaning itself. Also, as far as lyrics are concerned, I think we’ve mastered the concept of “clean” and “dirty” records. Obviously, if it bothers you that much, don’t watch the video on Worldstar. I’m sure an edited (both audio and visually) version will hit airwaves soon enough and you could buy the clean copy if you happen to like the record sans fuckery.

Our other objection is the fact that this is “Pretty Girl Rock” Keri Hilson. We just don’t see this from her. Christina Aguilera a few years ago, sure. “Don’t hate me ‘cause I’m beautiful” girl, no. As an audience, we expect certain delivery from certain artists, and this ain’t the Hilson we were learning to love over the past few years. Then again, who are we to dictate her career? She must have known she was taking a gamble with this song/video, yet she did it anyway. Whether or not I personally like the video, I’ll give it up to the girl for that.

The argument that I’m hearing most is that this vid is a desperate attempt to for Keri to step into the limelight, which I will admit I 90% agree with. I mean, even I can say that the multiple up close and personal crotch shots were completely unnecessary and tacky. And why are we licking metal doors? The video is awkward and unimaginative, but so are 80% of other videos out there, so why hold her to a different standard?

My point is that, while it’s clearly not the best of Ms. Hilson as a songwriter or as an artist, it is not as bad as the negative hype surrounding it would lead one to believe. No, it is not as bad as a BET Uncut video (Look up Ludacris’ “Pussy Poppin’, and get back to me). And yes, there were some WTF double takes throughout the video, but whether you call it desperate or good publicity, we’re all talking about it, and I think that’s the point.

From Jay-Z to Nicki Minaj, the Art of the Subliminal Diss

Nicki, Nicki, Nicki. Girl, I am proud of you. Finally admitting that “Roman’s Revenge” was about Lil Kim instead of that PC “It’s a general response to all the haters” bullshit you first claimed. I guess it would take Hip-Hop’s Barbara Walters, Angie Martinez to get it out of you. I really didn’t understand not admitting it in the first place when it was so obvious. That’s the thing about subliminal disses, the appeal is that there is an unspoken connect between the artist and listener, especially if we’ve already chosen sides and want our rep to go in. Of course, we as fans can get a little carried away, creating drama where there is none, but I’d say more often than not, reading into these lines is usually warranted, whether the artists wants to admit it or not. Many lines will go over the heads of an average listener, but those of us who really know this Hip-Hop shit aren’t fooled for a minute.



Jay-Z is by far the king of the subliminal. I wouldn’t be surprised if literally a third of his songs took shots at someone. While he’s also named names here and there and blatantly got vicious with a few (and I do mean few) in the biz, his M.O. has been to sneak nameless shots in on album tracks and freestyles that most likely won’t be released as singles. Fans end up looking at him with admiration for talking that shit when he deems it necessary, not completely backing down from confrontation. Then again, by him not being direct, artist aren’t directly offended by what he says, even if there is suspicion that the line is about them, making it easier for them to give Jay the benefit of the doubt. I guess depending on who you ask, it’s either genius or a pussy move.

While Hova may have perfected the art of the subliminal, it’s a tradition that goes back far before he picked up a mic, and obviously still has its place in the game. With the release of “Roman’s Revenge,” Nicki addressed the issue with the Queen Bee that’s been bubbling for a good minute. As much as I love Kim, and am loyal to her as a fan and all she’s done for women in this game, Nicki’s Hot 97 interview brought up a lot of good points that plenty Barbz have been screaming since Kim and Ray-J first spoke on the Queens native biting the BK reps’ swag. Kim stated also that she felt Nicki had been taking subliminal shots at her before she even said anything publicly with lines like “I just killed, like, every rap bitch in the building,” and her line in a Diddy-Dirty Money’s track where she said “did I kill the Queen in Alexander McQueen.” While the “kill the queen” line could be taken as a subliminal shot (reaching, I know), lines about “killin’ rap bitches” are pretty standard. To quote Remy Ma when she was at the height of her issues with Ms. Jones, “Am I supposed to come out and say I’m the second best?” Respect is one thing, kissing someone’s ass is another, and I understood the need for Nicki to finally address the issue. But why do it subliminally?

While a subliminal record may seem like the safe way out, it’s actually a far more clever way to come at somebody. Lyrically, subtly is much harder to achieve than brashness, and it takes a certain kind of finessing to write a subliminal record as opposed to a straight “Fuck You” anthem. Also (w/ a few exceptions, Jay and Nas for one), not stating specifics is also a way of leaving the door open for the future reconciliation of the two parties. No sense in completely burning bridges for your entire career. My thing is, outside of the song itself, we may as well be honest about who and what we’re talking about. Within art, there is room for multiple interpretations of a piece, but the artists usually do have something specific in mind that inspired the work. So when a journalist asks what the deal is, why not just be upfront from jump? I can honestly understand the argument for and against subliminal diss records, but as long we don’t blow little shit up into major problems, I don’t have a problem with being sly or overt, just keep me interested and keep it honest.

From Cee-Lo to Kanye, the Pros & Cons of Leaked Albums

Within the last week, highly anticipated albums by Cee-lo, Kanye West and Rihanna have all been leaked in their entirety to the blogosphere. Usually when this happens, we look at the situation as a black and white issue; good for the public, bad for business. Here, I’d like to break the album leak down further, and let you guys know its real implications for the labels, artists, press and fans.

Cons

• Material (the songs themselves, track listing, unconfirmed features, sample clearances, etc.) may not be complete. Hearing incomplete music that is not representative of the final product (especially if it’s garbage), will turn off some fans when it comes to the finished product being released. You only have one chance at a good first impression.

• Leaks ruin the surprise factor. Part of the thrill of opening Christmas gifts is actually waiting for Christmas day. While technology has instilled the desire for everyone to have “the exclusive,” there is something to be said for waiting until official release days to enjoy a record along with others, especially those who aren’t internet savvy enough to download it before hand (yes, they do exist).

• Creates an even worse relationship between the artist/label and the press/bloggers. Many artists whose material gets leaked are quick to blame bloggers for the problem. If I can quote an analogy from David Dennis of Smocking Section, “If LeBron's decision to go to Miami would have leaked to the media a week before his press conference, he wouldn't have been upset at ESPN for reporting it.” The same should go for these albums. Blame the label intern who copied it while the engineer was on a smoke break. Don’t send me some passive aggressive email about it.

• Possible loss of revenue. The most obvious reason, many people simply won’t buy the official copy if they have one that is “close enough.”

Pros

• For many, leaks are appetizers and official joints are the main course. Rarely is a leak, no matter how close to the released date it is available, is exactly what the official album will be. There are always changes and extras that a Hulkshare download can’t get you, and millions of loyal fans who prefer quality over expedience.

• If the album is getting positive feedback (as the three aforementioned albums are), it will almost guarantee even higher record sales, not less. The leaks act as promo to coincide with great reviews which excite fans to pick up the real deal. Also, those fans who want the real thing will buy it, and not from a plastic mat laid on the ground on 125th.

• It’s good testing for the next go round. Labels always have their projections for album sales, the effectiveness of certain marketing, etc. When a whole album leaks, these artists should learn the lesson, sans bitterness and create a more accurate plan the next time around. This will in turn improve the labels limited knowledge of just how important the World Wide Web is to business, because clearly they don’t get it yet.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but the overall point is that an album leak truly is not the end of the world. The frustration of artists is completely understandable, but there is always a way to turn things to your favor. As for me, I’m playing this Kanye leak all day every day, but believe I’m getting my special edition, explicit copy on the 22nd, and the great thing is, I know I’m not alone.

Black Boys Rock Too!

Last night, BET premiered “Black Girls Rock!” a celebration of Black women’s accomplishments on and off screen. Honored were author Iyanla Vanzant, actress Keke Palmer, internet phenom Teresa Clarke, Major General Marcelite J. Harris, musical visionary Missy Elliot, entrepreneur Raven Symone and the legendary Ruby Dee. All of these women without a doubt deserve all the praise in the world for their contributions society. God knows how many more Black women and girls out there are making strides to change the world we live in for the greater good, making it a cleaner, safer, more fun, more equal and more educated place for all women to thrive in. Shows like this are so necessary to boost the esteem of young women who do not see themselves in a positive light on television, and it would be nothing but a blessing to watch the “Black Girls Rock” movement continue to grow.

Now, it’s time to give love to the fellas out there who are about their business! For the record, I love men. ALL men. But clearly, black men need a boost more than ever these days. Just as BGR does for young women, we must drill into the minds of black men their worth as fathers, businessmen and educated contributions to society. As much as we encourage our young women, we need to plant in little boys the ideals of responsibility and self-love. In fact, we may need to drill these ideals into their minds even more so than young women. For the last few years, black women have been doing laps around black men when it comes to high school completions, pursuing higher education and entering the corporate world. Clearly, our brothers need some further encouragement. Viacom peddled entertainment would have us thinking that the image of the black woman shaking her ass is the worst of it because the males involved are usually in positions of power. These so called “powerful” positions are still detrimental to the black men admiring them. While women are without a doubt being exploited, we are teaching our sons to be the exploiters, which is just as sad.

It is so difficult being black in this country, and no, I’m not going to get on my soapbox and sing the same sad song about slavery and the like (although I could, rightfully). Instead, I’ll bring up the latest in the injustice of today’s legal system against black and brown people. Friday afternoon, Johannes Mehserle, a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) cop was sentence to two years with time served on the charge of murdering Oscar Grant, a black Oakland resident, at a train station. Video shows Grant being held face down on the platform by another cop who already had his knee in Grant’s back. For some reason, Mehserle thought Grant still needed to be tased, but “accidentally” pulled out his gun and shot him at point blank range. You mean to tell me that a trained cop doesn’t know the difference between his own taser and a gun? And even if it was a mistake (bullshit), what warranted him breaking out a taser when he was already surrounded by 6 other cops and pinned to the ground? The criminality of it all is so obvious that it’s sickening, and the fact that this cop is getting away with 2 years (of which he will end up serving 14 months) for taking this man’s life is a gross miscarriage of justice, as was the Sean Bell case and so many other cases like it. This sends the message to young black men that your life of no value and it is imperative that we counteract these messages with words of encouragement, support and love. I’m also sad to say this story received less coverage than Weezy coming home. I love Wayne to death, but more important things happened last week, and I feel the need to shout out my brothers who are staying on the right side of the law just as much as my brothers who are coming home.

So this is for you, father who never misses a little league game. This is for you, sole black man in the boardroom who feels obligated to laugh at the casually thrown around, semi-racist jokes. Here’s to you, ex-con who is honestly changing your life for the better. And to all the little black boys out there who don’t feel loved and don’t truly love themselves, this is for you overcoming the hurdles placed in front of you and succeeding beyond what you thought possible. BLACK BOYS ROCK!

Jasmine Mans vs. Nicki Minaj: There’s Room For More Than One Female Emcee

For those of you who follow slam poetry, the name Jasmine Mans should be somewhat familiar. The idea of a poet critiquing their reality through colorful language and expressive gestures should also come as no surprise. So when University of Wisconsin Sophomore Jasmine Mans released her now heavily debated spoken word piece “Nicki Minaj” last week, I was little surprised at the reaction it garnered. Then I thought about it a little bit more and realized that when you are figuratively carrying the torch for female MC’s all by your lonesome, whatever you do will be called out by somebody. The thing is, this isn’t simply a case of a girl hating on Nick, she actually speaks with intelligence and insight as to why Nicki is such a disappointment to her and others hoping to resurrect this thing called the female MC. While we should not silence either party, there are definite misconceptions on both sides that need to be addressed.

Spit some shit it for girls who kiss girls and got beat down to their backs.

With this line, Mans addresses the bisexuality of Nicki’s lyrics, yet how she will never claim a sexuality if you ask her straight out, which is interpreted by Mans to be exploiting the GLBT community by using those lines to appeal to a lot of young guys fantasy of a girl who likes girls (a la Katy Perry circa 2008). While it is true that Miss Minaj avoids questions about her sexuality like the plague, she has also been a vocal component of Gay Rights, covering Out Magazine and speaking on the unexposed gay scene within Hip-Hop, not to mention her gay following is second to none for a Hip-Hop artist.

Barbie, I think NYC is making you forget you come from Queens.

Jasmine is touching on the fact that not only in Jamaica Queens, but in many hoods in the USA, there are serious socio-political issues that need to be addressed in order for change to take place, and the fact that Nicki, with the platform she now has, is not speaking on these real issues (Queens) in order to seek the approval of the mainstream (NYC), is a disservice to her community. While her singles and most of her guest verses aren’t addressing the plight of the hood where she grew up, if you know her beyond radio play, she hasn’t shied away from speaking on some real shit. Just one example would be her verse on French Montana’s “New York Minute” remix, where she spits “Brought my man down/ Before they even get a cap and a damn gown/ And there gotta be a heaven/ Cause Sean Bell'll never get to make it to his weddin' / But a star will arise/ And she'll originate from the streets of Southside.”

Now, a few critiques of Jasmine Mans from the Barbie’s and Ken’s of the blogosphere.

Why does this chick think Nicki Minaj is obligated to go beyond the call of duty when other entertainers don’t? She could've stated the role of females in hip hop in general, but she went straight at 1 chick.

I must admit, this was also one of my first thoughts. There were plenty of women in Hip-Hop that could have earned this same criticism. Why are we singling out Nicki like she’s the first woman to rhyme lick and clit? For one, one of the points of spoken word is the effect change in the present, not to mull over the issues of the past. As of today, Nicki is considered by most to be thee baddest bitch on the mic. She everywhere, and if you have a problem with certain trains of thought or establishments, you address the one who is currently waving the flag. That may not be entirely fair to Nick, but it would seem ridiculous to go after Foxy Brown or others who laid the groundwork for her if they’re not currently relevant.

Why do black women just hate to see other black women shine? It’s always females who got something to say, especially black chicks. We stay tearing each other down.

This is the classic “she’s a hater” response, sprinkled with some good old fashioned racial implications. The term “hater” as I understand it should apply to those who talk shit for the sake of shit talking, bringing others down for no reason. Jasmine more than explained her position in this poem, and while there are questionable metaphors throughout, it’s clear she is passionate and has the best of intentions for the culture to evolve into something greater. As for the “black woman” aspect, which I’ve been hearing a lot lately, so I’m not allowed to speak my mind against someone’s ideals that I fundamentally disagree with because we are the same race and/or gender? I’m not even going to go heavy into that notion.

The overall point I’m trying to make is that not everything has to be a battle or a beef. Some people rock with Minaj, some people don’t, and there are legit reasons to be on either side of the fence. The “hate” simply appears to be more plentiful now than before because she’s pretty much the only chick poppin’ at the moment. You used to be able to counter a Queen Bee with a Queen Pen, or the creative silliness of a Missy Elliot with the Tomboy sexy of a Remy Ma or Eve. With just one woman in the spotlight, not everyone can get what they want anymore, therefore we want Minaj to be all things to all fans at all times, and that’s just unrealistic. No matter how you feel there is room at the table for a Minaj and a Jasmine Mans, and no reason why we can’t continue to have these debates if we stick to the facts.

Top 10 Reasons Why MTV’s Top 10 Rappers List is Ridiculous

So MTV recently released their latest “Hottest MCs” list right on the heels of BET’s “Top 10 Rappers of the 21st Century” list, which were pretty much just duplicates of each other. While these are the top two lists everyone’s been yapping about, several blogs decided to create their alternate lists in order to “right the wrongs.”Also, some websites and radio stations have been putting out their individual lists that include top producers, songs of certain decades, more rappers, blah, blah, blah. While I understand that Hip-Hop is a competitive culture, and the formations of these rosters is usually seen as an innocent assessment of one’s success in the industry, here are a few reasons we might need to dead this tradition, at least for a while.

1. These lists ultimately contain the same MC’s each time, with little to no variation. We should definitely give credit where credit is due, but stroking the egos of the same five artists who already know they’re the shit seems pointless.

2. These lists encourage up and coming MC’s to compromise in order to fit the criteria used to judge them. Some skilled MC out there is thinking, “If Waka Flocka’s non-rapping ass can make top 10, then dumbing down might not be such a bad idea after all.” Now, if that MC has any sense of self, they’ll push that thought out, but for some, it’s a temptation perpetuated by these lists, as well as other forces.

3. All credentials to make the lists are considered equally important, for example, money earned is viewed as being just as important as lyrical skill, which cheapens the artfulness of Hip-Hop.

4. Many of the artists included on these lists have publicly stated that they could give a fuck about being on them anyway.

5. A good portion of Hip-Hop is never represented, yet these lists give the impression (to someone who may not know any better) that it’s a well rounded depiction of the culture.

6. The terms “MC” and “Rapper” are used interchangeably, while most Hip-Hop heads know that the two have different connotations. Creating a true “rappers” list and a “MCs” list would yield slightly different results.

7. Novice Hip-Hop fans use these lists to justify their ignorance of the culture through the professionals who are doing the rankings. The average Joe or a vet Hip-Hop journalist both have the right to their opinion. However, if your frame of reference for Hip-Hop starts in 2005, and only consists of Top 10 radio hits, don’t use the fact that Gucci Mane is on a Top 10 list to justify him being a greatest anything. Do a little research and then tell me how you feel about the game.

8. There’s always some obviously biased producer/DJ/journalist, etc. on the panel trying to move their affiliates up a slot or three.

9. Some Hip-Hop lists that include our fallen soldiers will always rank them highly out of respect and nostalgia, ignoring the fact that some of our living gods may actually be more skilled.

10. Where the hell was Fab?

Now, I’m honest enough to say that the above list could just be a symptom of my current annoyance with all the hype around these lists in their current state, and that it’s possible that I’ll catch writers block three hours before one of my deadlines and make up some bullshit list to keep me afloat. Hopefully, said list will do more good than harm, keep the culture honest and big up those who truly deserve it. But until then, in the words of MJ, This is it.