Old School Scholar

Ladies and Gentlemen, step right up and watch a snake swallow its own tail! It is the dumbest thing you will ever see! Watch this serpent eat itself at its very own existence while it publicly rationalizes its witch-hunt against piracy! Don’t you dare laugh at its foolishness. It does not care about innocent people or respect culture. One day, if you are ever caught blasting your car sound system at a red light, you too will be crucified as a pirate!

Last night I came across some video footage recorded in 1986 at the dawn of the Golden Age of Hip Hop. What you are about to view are documented interviews from a Dutch televison reporter, Marcel Vanthilt. During this era, Hip Hop culture was making leaps in bounds in Europe as it was in North America. The intrigue in these interviews is quite evident why our culture burst into an international phenomenan. To this very day, Hip Hop Culture is not just fully embraced in Europe, but also in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, and the Middle East. Where ever there is a creative soul to be liberated on this planet, there is Hip Hop.

Fresh on YouTube, care of ThudRumble.com, we have turntablists QBert and Rafik having fun with Scratch Drumming. The two infamous DJs wreck shop by “doing an old school trick where they alternate between each other at the ends of each measure.” Simply said, these pros are doing what they always do in their zone when rocking the beats. This video was shot while chillin’ between takes of the new upcoming DVD Scratchlopedia Breaktannica.

For your enjoyment, here are three YouTube videos uploaded by the author HipHop360Video. This new footage covers the Hip Hop 360 Festival that took place in Ottawa, Canada from June 11-15, 2008. The festival is a joint effort between The House of Paint community and the Canada Dance Festival. The House of Paint is an organization of independent artists, groups and business members, coming together every year to throw a jam for their community according to their website.

There are many books and interviews on Hip Hop but none shine in comparison to works that document history and biography. Especially when it comes from the mouths of Brothers and Sisters like Grandmaster Flash. If you are a DJ or Hip Hop enthusiast you have no excuse not to own a copy of The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash.

Image via Wikipedia

Don’t you think it’s challenging enough for DJs to cut and scratch with CDs ever since they did away with vinyl? Nowadays, it’s even more of a challenge for DJs to find two songs of different tempos to mix with. Is it me or is it the same non-talented producer making all of [...]

I’m sure you’ve heard the term before; Alternative Hip Hop. What a funny name. I thought Hip Hop music had no bounderies or guidelines. I thought Hip Hop music was composed of a conglomerate of influences blended to create a unique sound.

It seems that I have a little more to get off my chest about Nelly’s comments on the BET Blog concerning Hip Hop vs. America, especially how He ended it. Here is the direct quote:

“Now, Hip Hop is making money, we’re making strides, we’re the biggest music on the planet, and we’re also the largest black employers on the planet, so its allowing more brother and sisters to do other positive things, and send my kids to some of the best schools in the country. And to solidify trust funds, leave trust funds, have health care. It’s a beautiful thing, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

I ran across something by Nelly the other day on the BET Blog that I found quite interesting, and it falls in line with my article Who’s really in charge? He was making reference to Hip Hop vs. America in which he took part last fall, and He goes on a tirade about how America wants to ban Hip Hop, gangsta rap especially, because they can’t control it.

Is it me, or do we seem to keep our ladies in Hip Hop on mute? Why is it that their gift is not as loud as the others? From what I’ve heard, Lady Pink is a well known Graff Artist, but did you see what I just wrote? “From what I’ve heard.”