November 28, 2007 | Tags: none

After some recent meditation, I realized that I’ve been doing this hip-hop journalism thing for a minute now. Not Kim Osorio, Jake Paine [1], Brandon Perkins or Adisa Banjoko “for a minute,” but since about early 2003, when I first got to college. I admit that I was pretty wack at first, utilizing overused words in my album reviews and dickriding MCs (pause) in my interviews. But over the years, I’ve gotten a lot better. I’ve learned how to describe albums as well as anybody (well…Aqua Boogie’s still killing me, but that’s not the point), and I think I’ve knocked out quite a few classic interviews, if I don’t say so myself. After getting bylines in the likes of XXL, URB, SCRATCH and more, while I’m not the best writer that I can be just yet, I’ve even taken the step of mentoring younger, up-and-coming scribes. [2]

While I’ll be the first to say that my writing isn’t as good as it can be just yet, I’ve been able to soak up game from all of the aforementioned names and more, and I’ve got advice to offer from it. And from the looks of it, a lot of these new mufuckas need it. With blogs as abundant as busto bitches and editors hiring their boys to write about rap (word to Mark Lelinwala, you told me that exact quote like three years ago), the game needs saving.

Be punctual, professional and accountable. This is crucial in any job, but for whatever reason, a lot of people feel like it isn’t as important in hip-hop. Even though rappers don’t always follow this rule themselves, you should always handle everything you can on your end to make sure everything happens the way it should. Solid tees and Timbs may be tolerable in your hip-hop magazine’s office, but showing up at interviews two hours late and blowed isn’t a good look, even if you’re interviewing Snoop himself.

You’re Not a Star. You’re not Sway, Amanda Diva, or Carson Daly just yet, homie. You cover the stars; if you want fame, you’re in the wrong business. In this industry, if you’re not one of the aforementioned names, no one gives a fuck about you, aside from your editors or maybe a few loyal readers; niggas don’t read bylines no more. [3] Focus on doing your job well, and if it’s meant to be, popularity will come.

Do Not Do This To Say I Met (insert rapper here). Too many mufuckas just get in this business to mingle with the “in” crowds, and that’s fucking up the game on various levels. You’ve got “journalists” who are hotly pursuing artists not so they can deliver a great story, but so they can kick it with these cats and brag about it back on the block. Relationships may form with artists as you interview them for various stories, but even that’s not guaranteed. As legendary music journalist Lester Bangs said it best: These aren’t your friends.

No Free Lunches: This is another universal journalism rule, but can be especially crucial in hip-hop: don’t take shit from people. Don’t let an artist buy you gifts, and don’t let an A&R get you a drink at the club. Because as soon as you take, you’re expected to give. Whether it’s a favorable review, excessive coverage of bullshit, or whatever. I don’t care how tempting that dinner at Justin’s is.

Be a journalist, not a robot. Let’s face it: a lot of these artist interviews in various media outlets are wack. Sometimes it’s because the interviewer is friends with the artist and doesn’t want to ask tough questions; sometimes it’s because the interviewer is too busy tripping out that this cat has more money than them; and sometimes, they’re just bad journalists in general. But ask these people the tough questions. Trust, it’s high risk/high reward task: when I asked DJ Quik about rumors that he ghost produced on The Chronic, he went on a huge tirade before angrily hanging up (after ironically, minutes before, complimenting me on my questions) and asking if he could do some drops for me so I wouldn’t ask him those questions. But when I asked Slum Village’s T3 why one of the SV albums was wack, he actually apologized and went on to tell me why the CD wasn’t as dope as it should’ve been. I’m not advocating shock value questions, but it’s fucked up when the best Jay-Z interview of the year is done by an old white man on PBS.

[1] Shouts for the assistance, homie.
[2] I know…youngsters are trusting me, now. Crazy right?
[3] But then again, did they ever?

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the writer and not necessarily those of HipHopDX.com or Cheri Media Group.

On the count of three say "Fuck the police!"

November 13, 2007 | Tags: none

Props to Sickamore for putting me on game. Since y'all don't read the news (word to Aaron McGruder), I'll only post what I think are the most important important parts. But essentially, a woman called police to ask for help dealing with his son. Cops arrived, and they shot the kid for holding for what turned out to be a hairbrush.

Man, 18, Is Fatally Shot by Police in Brooklyn

A young man was fatally shot last night in a hail of 20 bullets fired by five police officers who responded to his mother’s 911 call for help in a domestic dispute in Brooklyn, the authorities said.

The police said they believed that the man, Khiel Coppin, 18, had a gun. But when the gunfire stopped, it turned out that he had been holding a hairbrush.

Doesn't this sound familiar?

An officer told Mr. Coppin to put up his hands, and when he did he dropped the hairbrush and the shooting began, although one officer called out to stop the gunfire, Mr. Sanchez said.

Officers started chasing Mr. Sanchez and knocked him to the ground after, he said, he protested: “Why you got to shoot him like that, for nothing?”

A similar description of the shooting was given by Precious Blood, 16, who said she heard about 10 shots fired, most if not all by one officer. Another officer called out: “Stop, stop, stop shooting — he’s down,” she said, but the shooter kept firing, “like he was playing with a toy."

Word? Let's go the extra mile in shooting, but not the extra mile in caution.

The law enforcement official gave a different version of the encounter, saying that Mr. Coppin charged toward the officers and refused repeated orders to stop. The police said they were also exploring the possibility that Mr. Coppin was trying to prompt a shooting, a phenomenon known as “suicide by cop.”

Get the fuck outta here.

--

I know, not all police are bad. And these cops say that they genuinely feared for their lives. Maybe these cops aren't as genuinely racist as I'd initially assume - maybe they just panicked, and did what they thought they could. But either way, cats need to get their mind right. People are dying for nothing; and if I'm not mistaken, they're trained to do everything aside from killing first. Cats like me can't even go to their car and look through their pockets before four - you read correctly, four - cop cars are surrounding me, with officers questioning me about trying to steal my own car (my bag had books, homie; I'm a student). Or like my homie walking home from a high school basketball game - moms couldn't pick him up on this day - and cops yell at him to "pull over" like he's driving a vehicle, saying that he "fits a description."

And they wonder why we don't trust em.

I've got more music shit coming in the next few days, but just had to put this out there first. Stay safe, y'all.

What are you guys' favorite anti-law enforcement songs? I've gotta stick to my MI roots and go with the Dilla joint quoted in the title/summary, but that's just me.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the writer and not necessarily those of HipHopDX.com or Cheri Media Group.

Jay-Z & Nas, "Success: The EP"

November 06, 2007 | Tags: none

[1]

Excuse my recent Jay dickriding, no Gangstalicious. But homie has always been my favorite rapper, and after the disappointing (though not by any means “wack”) Kingdom Come, I’m really excited about this American Gangster shit. But more importantly, perhaps, are his recent heatrocks with Nas.

“Black Republican” was dope as hell, but “Success” was a new monster altogether. I don’t know if it’s their previous sampling of each other’s music, running in similar circles (and vaginas), or both of them being from NY, but their chemistry is incredible. It seems like their history as rivals only makes their records more compelling: they may have resolved their differences for the reasoning of making money together, but their competitiveness seems to come from both standard rap face-off fare and from a previous beef. Nas’ former flame was smashed, and Jay lost a battle by blowout. Not only do they have to prove something to fans and hip-hop aficionados: they have something to prove to each other.

So how ill would it be if they joined forces for an EP? It could be released on Def Jam, but pushed the same way that Jay is pushing American Gangster: no overtly commercial singles or T-Pain hooks, but just that real shit. Not a full LP, but a solid six to nine songs that are all bangers from top to bottom, that’ll leave listeners drooling for more but incapable of complaining cuz these fuckers actually sat down and did it. The possibilities! “Dead Presidents 3,” with Jay and Nas both updating their older flows and Nas playing off of the sample that the previous two used. Obligatory song produced by Kanye. A dual reunion with Primo: “NY State Of Mind Pt. 3,” or or “Friend Or Foe ’08,” with them being rival dealers. Maybe even an entire EP produced by Primo? Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Detailed songs about their respective wifeys, Beyonce and Kelis. Maybe even a track that has each of them telling their experiences with Carmen Bryant, or some fictional joint about what could’ve happened. Even their braggadocio tracks would be incredible. The song ideas are endless, and with their dual veteran status, they’re more than capable of knocking out concepts. Album title? I’m taking ideas. But offtop, I’m thinking “Success.”

Shawn and Nasir, I want royalties. Paypal the kid.

--
[1] Shake, you're the man.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the writer and not necessarily those of HipHopDX.com or Cheri Media Group.

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On the count of three say "Fuck the police!"

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