Old School Scholar

When Hip Hop was first introduced to the mainstream does anyone remember how much fun we were having? Even before then? Why does it seem like everybody nowadays is posing all mean and serious? Have you ever notice on every Hip Hop magazine cover, whomever it features, rappers always have that police line-up look on their face? You can even hear it in their music. These so called rappers are always looking or sounding uncomfortable as if they ran out of hemorrhoid cream!

I have three questions about today’s rap music videos. After answering them with my views, there is a fourth question left up to you.

I have been reading an interesting story published by Sarah Yang of the University of California-Berkeley, regarding research on references to illegal drug use in rap music from 1979 to 1997. From what I read it was not necessarily an anti-rap music campaign according to its data. It was a fact finding analysis based on the lyrical content of the most popular rap songs (and other music genres) and illegal drug references.

When Hip Hop thrived in the late 80’s, everything at that time seemed to be good. The art form was loved, appreciated and most importantly getting respected. I’m not so sure about you, but in my opinion, something always seems to be left out or left behind or even left alone. The DJs were bringing it, the Emcees were flowing it, the B-Boys were rocking it and the Graffiti Artists were…

Ladies and Gentlemen, B-Boy Godfather, Wayne “Frosty Freeze” Frost of the Rock Steady Crew, has passed at the young age of 44. His passing occurred Thursday April 4, 2008, at Mount Sinai Medical Center in NYC due to suffering a long term undisclosed illness.

What is Hip Hop? There are a lot of different answers, depending on who you ask. Before I give my definition, let me start with what isn’t Hip Hop: Gangstas, Pimps, Hustlers, Drug Dealers. Basically, all the negative stigmas of urban life glorified in today’s rap music. It’s downright insulting to call the rap (or crap) music of the last few years Hip Hop. The early foundations of Hip Hop culture were built on the desire to escape the dreary existence of street life.