To all Hip Hop DJs, what is your definition of a hardcore Hip Hop beat? Which rap song that's out right now demonstrates your meaning of a hardcore beat? In my opinion the term hardcore beat has, for some reason, been generalized very loosely. I believe nobody popular today knows what a true hardcore beat sounds like. So allow me to give you my definition of a hardcore beat. A hardcore beat in Hip Hop is the type of sound that truly represents the streets. It's the sound that belongs to us: the hustling underprivileged, the struggling middle class, and the 4AM ...
We are saddened at Old School Scholar over the passing of Grandmaster Roc Raida aka Anthony Williams. It is another death that has caught us completely off guard, however we are more celebratory over his excellent contributions to the Hip Hop Culture and turntablism. Let no person's life ever be in vain when they have truly lived it. In the Hip Hop culture, Roc Raida lived it exponentially! Apparently he was severely injured from a mixed martial arts sparring session according to third party sources. After two surgeries on his spine Roc Raida appeared to be doing fine, however he experienced ...
Has anyone notice that it seems rappers of today have few subject matters to rap about? They either have what I call skirt chasing lyrics, political lyrics, or material lyrics. I can't be the only one who wants to give their lyrics the benefit of the doubt, but I always end up tuning them out! What they talk about (whenever I'm able to hear what they are articulating) just simply bores the Hell outta me! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! Maybe their creativity is limited when it should be limitless. Maybe they just want to be followers when they should be trendsetters. I mean, how many times ...
On the day of February, 12th, 1955, a boy was born and a childhood dream began to form. During the adolescence stage of his life, he became an artist when he discovered he was blessed with the gift of comedy. And through the years while developing his art form of stand-up comedy, this young man never awoke from his childhood dream. A mystical day in 1987 arrived when opportunity spoon-fed this comedic artist a taste of his own special dream. I can only imagine how his taste-buds were immediately surrounded by goosebumps when, on January, 2nd, 1989, this man’s ...
The other day, I saw these 7 and 8 year old shorties blazing videos everywhere online with their B-Boy skills. While most kids at their ages are busy playing with action figures and video games, these little boys are doing freezes, flares, and headspins! The two kids I am talking about are now infamously known as Angelo "Lil Demon" Baligad and Jalen "J-Styles" Testerman. Believe me, these little brothers are bringing the fire! Personally, I am proud to see these kids enthusiastically exploring the culture which makes me feel extremely hopeful for Hip Hop's future. By the time Lil Demon ...
To the up and coming DJs who may be reading this; this one is just for you. Part of being a true school DJ is knowing the fact that music as a whole is universal. You know how most people go around saying " I don't listen to white folks music!" or " whatcha playing that black music for?" Well for you to think or feel the same way is without doubt a no-no. You must expand your mind as well as your heart to all styles of music. Such as Jazz, Pop, Rock, Reggae, Big Band, R and B, ...
I trip sometimes when I hear shorties talking about when someone is too old in Hip Hop, or how an emcee is so old, when he rhymes he spits dust! This kind of talk sounds twisted and distorted. It does not make sense to me. It would be like a seed damning the roots where it came from, or a Baptist minister dissing Jesus. It is baffling! There are times I hear that question, "when are you too old for the Hip Hop culture?" My answer is "there is no age limit." Understand the key word here: culture. Culture means a way ...
Just like how we use to do it way back when, Saturdays use to be a big deal to hang out with the fellas and watch Kung Fu flicks! Well guess what! Kung Fu Saturdays are baaaaack! Expect new classic Kung Fu movies posted every Saturday for your old school enjoyment! Let's get this started with The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (aka The Master Killer) starring the legendary Gordon Liu! Please install the Veoh Player to enjoy this feature length presentation in your browser as well as download the video. Watch chamber of shaolin.avi in Martial Arts | View More Free Videos Online ...
This is my response to the racial fallout over Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. I have read and responded to several articles online, and I felt I should recreate my comments as a post for our audience. Note: I did enjoy this plot-anemic movie and its tremendous action. I went to the theaters to have fun expecting the same flavor as the first Transformers film. My expectations were met, but I did feel it needed more story than laughs and chuckles. Yes, I did chuckle at the twin Autobots for their surprising errant remarks even though the twins were ...
Welcome back to another episode of Kung Fu Saturdays at Old School Scholar! As you probably can tell I am a big fan of the Venom Mob and their feudal tales of treachery, vengeance, and honor. Every movie these guys are in has something to do with deceit and the seven deadly sins. Of course these are the ingredients that keep people glued to soap operas for many years and more to come! Which is why today's classic episode goes down in legendary fandom for all martial arts movies; The Five Deadly Venoms [aka Shaolin Deadly Poisons]! When we were kids, acting ...
You know, I wonder if most Graff writers believe that a white wall or a train (either commuter or freight) is the number one surface for their creations. I sure as hell hope not, but I must admit that I do at times get the impression that it's the only medium writers can think of. Well, I'm gonna make an attempt to help you think beyond the wall and the train. Follow me on tour down these avenues for ideas that you may not have thought of. Have you ever thought about opening up your own Graffiti art gallery or festival ...
Our Hip Hop culture, I'm proud to say thus far, has never given birth to wars. However, since the beginning of its own birth, the standard of excellence was already established through competition. And our Hip Hop culture has provided a lot of battles in its history. Some battles have become famous; some have become infamous; and then there are the ones which are legendary. Legendary battles such as The Rock Steady Crew vs. The Dynamic Rockers; The New York City Breakers vs. The Rock Steady Crew; Kool Moe Dee vs. Busy Bee; The Fantastic Romantic Five MCs vs. The Cold ...
To our fellow visitors, have you seen the infomercial Hip Hop Abs? I come across it almost every weekend when I get up early in the morning. Now I do believe if you have a creative idea to make money, you should do what you can to follow through with it. After all it is the true essence of entrepreneurship, is it not? Anyways, my question to you is, "do any of you feel that this Shaun T character has insulted our culture by using its name to make money?" It brings up all sorts of other questions as well. For ...
Missing in Hip Hop music today, in my opinion, are two types of rhymes. Before I tell you what they are in a question, I want everyone to understand this is a simple message for up and coming MCs, rap artists, and rappers. If you know one please send him this message. If you are one, I want you to be honest with yourself meanwhile thinking about your future. Now first ask yourself this, when was the last time you've gone on an ego trip or even told a story in a rhyme? Must we depend on rap artists such ...
I have been getting a distinct impression that most of us involved in the Hip Hop culture generally admit that the state of the rap world today is on a life support system. Rappers are claiming to have the new flava, but their cheerleading style leaves most of us with that sour, bitter taste in our mouths. Concurrently, there is a large group of old school rap stars (which is becoming a lot larger by the way) that are saying out loud, "we need to bring back the real Hip Hop!" So what exactly do they mean by that term? Are ...
This story will continue over the week as a 4 part series. Enjoy! Read Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 Most people out there are convinced that rap music fell deeply in love with the fast and the furious money the mainstream has to offer. We at Old School Scholar feel that they're engaged to get married and the killer is their minister. The love for the money is the killer's greatest weapon against the impoverished, the indigent, and the lower class where most Hip Hop artists come from. Why I say it's the killer's greatest weapon ...
That damn Bloodsucking Corporate Machine! Here I am hired to DJ at one of the biggest jams of my life, and it doesn't feel right. I mean something is way off! I am playing all of the popular songs, but it smells too good in here! For some reason this crowd likes dancing to this garbage! I cannot stand hearing it myself, however you gotta play what's hot. But it just smells too good in here! I use to love cuttin' and mixin' the old school sounds, and now the BCM (Bloodsucking Corporate Machine) has got me so bored outta my mind ...
This story will continue over the week as a 4 part series. Enjoy! Read Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 I've been told by many to wrap a black band around my left bicep because there has been a death in our family. A sad day has come and gone, an assassination has occurred. A cold-blooded homicide, and what makes it worse is that the killer is still at large! It has become a special case, because it is not who has been killed, it's more like what has been killed! The grapevine keeps yelling in my ...
Yes! It is to be said that I did go and check out Hollywood's first Hip Hop biopic Notorious! It is the story of the life, and short career, of Christopher "Biggie Smalls aka The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace. Now in my opinion, as far as biopics go, this movie is a lil' less than average. The main character was portrayed to be the typical ex-drug dealing rapper from New York who has risen from the gutter into fame and fortune. However, what I was truly expecting to see was the artist and the depth of his lyrical gift. What I mean ...
This interview was conducted in part due to our large reception towards the recent video release of Old School Scholar MegaMix One by GrandSinister Ice. It was such a fantastic, traditional megamix we were inspired to create a special promotional video to compliment it. The Video is posted after the following article. Enjoy! Q Ball: What inspired you to create MegaMix One for Old School Scholar? It has been a very long time since I have heard an authentic megamix! GS Ice: Well that's just it. As of late, especially on YouTube, I have yet to hear a mix that honors the ...
For months, there has been rumblings around the net about Michael Jai White's tribute film to blaxploitation movies of the 1970s called Black Dynamite. It has created such a buzz when it was first screened at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival that, Sony Worldwide picked it up for distribution. Since then, many critics throughout the net have raved over its theme, direction, story, wit, action, and humor as one of the comedies to watch for in 2009! The film's plot even has that notorious evil nemesis, "The Man." When I first heard about this film, on Ain't It Cool News.com, I ...
Can any of you tell us at Old School Scholar, what makes these four specific rap lyrics so different from one another? "Commentating / illustrating / description giving / adjective expert / analyzing some by the musical mix / seeking people of the universe / this is yours!" - T La Rock "I came in the door / I said it before / I never let the mic magnetize me no more / but it's bitin' me / fightin' me / invitin' me to rhyme / I can't hold it back / I'm looking for the line" - Rakim "It's nothin' to ...
I want you to see evidence where Hip Hop culture shines at its brightest, and how it enlightens a possible future for those who once envisioned tomorrow as a blur. I want you to feel how it made you feel the first time you found Hip Hop kissing you on the cheek with open arms. Do you remember when? Were you just a kid grooving along trying to pass the time meanwhile seeking your identity and wondering how you fit in this world? What was it like your first time when you saw B-Boying, a Graff mural, or a DJ ...
This story will continue over the week as a 4 part series. Enjoy! Read Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 There are those that say "rap music sold out to the BCM (Bloodsucking Corporate Machine), and it's proud to have done so, it has no regrets." Well, if you're an avid visitor to our website, you know how I feel about that in our article The Green Dictator. Click on it and read it. You'll understand (I hope). A few are mentioning that rap music isn't dead; it's just suffering from Alzheimer’s, it has forgotten where ...
I found these three YouTube videos an hour ago by a brother called Spazaru22 representing The Boogie Down Bronx. They are from a short documentary called Getting Up: A Graffiti Documentary. I have been searching for information on who shot and directed the flick, but to no avail. I hope Spazaru22 can get back to me with insight because credit is always due. This film is narrated by several famous writers on the culture, drama, and lessons of being a Graff outlaw. Old school legends Cope 2, Futura 2000, Chino, and Daze speak from their experiences and history as artists ...
There are many films out there listed as Hip Hop movies just because it has an urban setting or a bunch of rappers turn actors, but is that really a Hip Hop flick? Yes, you may hear some beats banging on the soundtrack during a police chase through the hood but you will see no culture on display! Does that qualify as a Hip Hop flick? You better not think too hard on that answer. Okay, you may see a film with a bunch of scantily-clad hood rats popping bottles of Cristal and strutting around a Bentley shining on chrome. And ...
I have this question that I wish to ask everybody. The question is simply this, "does money measure the depth of your love and respect for the Hip Hop culture?" Now, if your answer is a quick "Hell No," stop to think about this first. You see the BCM (Bloodsucking Corporate Machine) is forever proud to let us know that everybody has a price. Now, allow me to repeat the question again, "does money measure the depth of your love and respect for the Hip Hop culture?" Let me give you a few relative scenarios to explain what I'm talking about. ...
This story will continue over the week as a 4 part series. Enjoy! Read Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 Blame is laid down on the radio waves. Some people are screamin', "they need to be called radio slaves!" Well let's see, could the killer that we're hunting for be operating from all urban radio stations nationwide? It could very well be that the killer may not be working alone at these stations. So who's helping the killer out? Could it be the presidents of these stations? Or is it the program directors? You see until around ...
Ladies and Gentlemen, little did I know that the recording industry was nine months pregnant! Therefore because of this fact, I must man-up and extend my congratulations to the industry for giving birth to a brand new musical genre, but the sad part is this; the industry has yet to give it a name? So I tell you what I'll do, from the kindness of my heart, I will volunteer to give it a name! Party people in the place, from this day forth, I would like to give this new sound in the recording industry a title. It is a name ...
I got to give props for Bust The Facts, care of DMC Showcases, for posting about this rare footage of DJ Cheese at the 1986 DMC DJ Championship. I do not know about you, but this is a first for me in seeing this video. I am still wondering why I never did any video research for this groundbreaking performance that introduced Hip Hop style turntablism to the DMC competition. Of course there were more notorious DJs who are even more infamous of ripping the DMC battles like Cash Money, DJ David, Mix Master Mike, Q Bert, Craze, ie Merg, ...
I know some of you have already have seen Bomb It: The Movie as well as own the DVD, but most graff writers, street artists, aficionados, and Hip Hop culture heads have not got a chance for one reason or another. Well, thanks to Babelgum and the creators of this documentary, we get to watch it for free whenever you want right here! If you own or have watched classic graff writing videos like Style Wars, Infamy, Write and Unite!, and Piece by Piece, then you got to see and own Bomb It: The Movie which documents the international graff culture. ...
When most people think of Hawaii they think of the beach, surfing, hula dancers, tropical fruit, and volcanoes, but after you check out these videos you will rethink of those typical images. The volcanoes you will see erupting from these clips is pure funk and flavor the way only Hip Hop can!
Check out this week’s kung fu action flick by the Golden Harvest upstart, John Woo! This flick is dope as hell starring Venom Mob favorite Wei Pai, The Snake! Check it out right now!
For your graff fix, check out this grungy old video showcasing writers in action from the NYC. You don’t want to miss out on this documentary because there are some legends in the house. Check it out now!
